The Crowns Gambit

❦ Chapter Twelve: Atlas ❦

The corridors of the castle feel endless as I walk through them alone, the echoes of my footsteps lost in the emptiness around me. Despite the late hour, my mind is racing, tangled with the events of the day and the weight of what lies ahead. Charlotte's words, her resolve, are fresh in my mind, and the memory of her strength fills me with a sense of pride I can't quite shake. But another name lingers there too—Alexander.

I didn't expect much of him in the beginning, just another name on the Crown's Choice list, another competitor. Yet as time passed, Alexander showed a sense of dignity, a quiet understanding of the stakes, that set him apart from the others. Part of me even admired him, though I'd never say it aloud. And now, with everything that's happened, I need to talk to him, to make sense of where we all stand.

When I finally reach his quarters, I knock firmly, waiting in the silence. After a moment, I knock again, louder this time, but there's no answer. The room is quiet, dark. Confused, I flag down a nearby servant, hoping they might know where he's gone.

"Alexander?" The servant looks at me with a hint of regret in her eyes. "I'm afraid he's left, sir. He... withdrew from the Crown's Choice just a few hours ago."

"Left?" The word catches me off guard, an unexpected blow. "Did he leave any message?"

She nods, producing a sealed letter from her apron pocket and handing it to me. "He said it was for you, my lord."

My chest tightens as I take the letter, breaking the seal with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. I lean against the stone wall, letting the silence settle around me as I unfold the parchment and begin to read.

Atlas,

By the time you read this, I'll be gone. Perhaps my decision will come as a surprise; I imagine you expected me to fight until the bitter end. But sometimes, knowing when to walk away is its own strength.

I've seen the toll this journey has taken on you, on all of us. Oliver's death affected me more than I anticipated, and I know it must have shaken you as well. He wasn't just another competitor to me—he was a reminder of the fragility of this endeavor, of the lives we're playing with. His passing has stayed with me, leaving a weight that's hard to carry, a reminder that sometimes, ambition comes at a cost too high to pay.

From the moment we began this journey, I sensed the Crown's Choice wasn't mine to win. Not because I doubted my own worth, but because I came to see something in you—a fire, a purpose, an honesty—that felt genuine. You are a man who values loyalty above all else, who respects not just the title he bears but the duty it brings. That is rare, Atlas, and it's a quality that deserves respect.

I won't deny that I entered this competition with my own ambitions, my own desires for power and position. But standing beside you in this fight, watching you make choices that were as painful as they were necessary, taught me more than any crown could. I learned that the world needs people like you—leaders who aren't afraid to question their own motives, to see past their own needs.

More than that, I saw what Charlotte means to you. I'm not blind, Atlas. I see the way you look at her, the way she grounds you. I once thought I could have that, too, but I've come to realize that some things can't be forced. There is a bond between you two that speaks of promises beyond words. Perhaps that's why I've decided to let go, to allow myself to step back and make way for what was always meant to be.

Leaving now feels right, even if it leaves a sting in my chest. I have no desire to be an obstacle in your path or in hers. Consider this my final gesture of respect—for you, for her, and in memory of Oliver, who reminds me that some sacrifices are worth more than titles.