A kingdom of Ash and Echoes

Chapter 6: The Weight of a Kingdom

The Royal Gardens, Palace of Avaranth

The air in the royal gardens was thick with the scent of roses and jasmine as Lyriana walked slowly along the stone path, her thoughts heavy. The quiet rustling of leaves, the gentle chirping of birds—these familiar sounds did little to ease the turmoil swirling in her heart. The garden was her sanctuary, a place where she could escape the weight of her title, but even here, she could not escape the burden of her responsibilities.

Her mind kept returning to the same thought: the prince. His arrival next summer was now an inevitable truth. The finalization of Seraphina's betrothal to Prince Cedric had been declared as a matter of national importance, and every day that passed felt like another nail in the coffin of her sister's happiness. Lyriana clenched her fists as the reality sank in. Seraphina had never loved Cedric, not in the way a wife should love her husband. She had loved someone else—someone whose name was now only whispered in the corners of the palace, a man she could never be with.

A soft voice interrupted her thoughts. "Lyriana."

She turned to see her older brother, Callum, standing at the far end of the path. His tall frame and commanding presence were impossible to miss. He was the heir to the throne, the one everyone expected to step into their father's shoes when the time came. His dark eyes, sharp and calculating, met hers, and for a moment, she saw something there—concern? But it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

"What is it, Callum?" she asked, her voice more clipped than she intended.

He began walking toward her, his boots making soft sounds on the cobblestones. "I've been meaning to speak with you," he said, his tone carefully neutral. "About the council's latest plans."

"I know what they've said," she replied bitterly. "It's all about preparing for Cedric's arrival. They don't care about the people or the unrest stirring in the kingdom. They only care about maintaining the illusion of control."

Callum's expression didn't change, but Lyriana could see the hint of frustration beneath the surface. "The council doesn't see it that way. They believe Cedric's arrival is essential to stabilizing the kingdom. We need to show unity, Lyriana. You know as well as I do that any sign of weakness will be exploited."

"I don't care about their games," she retorted, her hands balling into fists at her sides. "I don't care about politics or the crown. I care about what's right for Avaranth."

Callum regarded her with a mixture of concern and something else—disappointment, perhaps. "You don't understand, do you? You're not just a princess. You're a symbol. And your actions, your words, will have consequences for more than just your personal feelings."

Her chest tightened at his words. They were not new. She had heard them all her life, from her father, the council, even Callum himself. But today, they hit differently. She was tired of being a symbol, tired of being told what to do and who to be. She had her own dreams, her own desires, and they didn't align with the cold, calculated politics of the court.

"I understand perfectly," she said quietly. "But I won't stand by while Seraphina is forced into a marriage she doesn't want. I won't stand by while the kingdom burns from the inside."

For a long moment, Callum was silent, his gaze unreadable. Finally, he sighed. "You've always been too headstrong for your own good. If you push too hard, you'll tear the kingdom apart."

"Then let it burn," she whispered, her voice low but steady. "If that's what it takes to rebuild it."

Her brother's expression softened, and for a brief second, she saw the brother she once knew—the one who had played with her in the gardens, the one who had been her protector when they were children. But that brother was slipping away, just as she was slipping away from the person they both expected her to be.

"Be careful," Callum warned, his voice barely above a whisper. "The prince's arrival isn't the only thing we have to worry about. There are rumors of other forces—rebels, factions outside the kingdom—who are waiting for the right moment to strike."

Lyriana froze, her heart skipping a beat. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Callum said, glancing around to ensure no one was listening, "that the unrest you feel is only the surface. There are whispers of something far darker beneath it. Something that could tear everything apart. And I don't think the council has any idea just how deep this runs."

The weight of his words settled over her like a thick fog. Lyriana felt a shiver run down her spine. She had suspected as much—there was something insidious lurking within the kingdom, but to hear it confirmed by her brother left her feeling unmoored. Who, or what, could be behind such whispers?

Before she could ask more, the sound of approaching footsteps caught her attention. She turned to see Seraphina walking toward them, her face pale but determined.

"Lyriana, Callum," Seraphina greeted them both with a forced smile. "I was hoping to find you."

Lyriana took in her sister's appearance—a calculated calm in the way she held herself, but the tension in her eyes was undeniable. Seraphina had always been the picture of grace and poise, but recently, there was a brittleness to her demeanor that Lyriana couldn't ignore.

"What is it, Seraphina?" Lyriana asked, her voice softening.

"It's about the prince," Seraphina said quietly, glancing around as if ensuring no one was listening. "Father has sent word that Cedric will arrive at the start of summer. The preparations are already underway, and I—"

"I know," Lyriana interrupted, unable to mask the bitterness in her tone. "I know everything."

Seraphina's eyes softened, but there was a hint of sadness in her expression. "You're not the only one who's trapped, Lyriana. I'm doing this for Avaranth. I have to marry Cedric to keep the kingdom safe."

"But at what cost?" Lyriana asked, stepping closer to her sister. "What happens to your happiness? To your heart?"

Seraphina's eyes flickered, but she quickly composed herself. "I have no choice, Lyriana. And neither do you. We are bound to this kingdom, to its future."

Callum stepped in then, his voice sharp. "Enough, both of you. The prince's arrival is inevitable, and we must all do our duty. This is not a time for rebellion or defiance."

Lyriana felt a surge of frustration. "Isn't it?" she snapped. "Isn't it time for someone to stand up for what's right?"

Seraphina's gaze softened, but she didn't respond. Instead, she turned and began to walk away, her footsteps echoing through the garden. Lyriana watched her sister disappear into the distance, feeling the weight of the conversation settle in her chest.

Callum stayed behind, his expression unreadable. "You're pushing too hard, Lyriana," he warned again. "The kingdom doesn't need more chaos. It needs stability."

She looked at her brother, but this time, she saw him for what he truly was—the crown's chosen heir, willing to sacrifice anything to keep the kingdom intact. And in that moment, Lyriana knew that she could never be that person. She had her own path to follow, even if it meant risking everything.

"I'll be the change this kingdom needs," she said softly, her voice unwavering. "Even if it means tearing it all down first."