The grand halls of Valmere Palace stood eerily quiet. The death of Queen Isolde had sent shockwaves throughout the kingdom. For thirty years, she had ruled Valmere with grace and wisdom, ensuring prosperity and peace in a time when other kingdoms were torn apart by war. Now, the future lay in the hands of her only heir—Princess Lavinia.
But Lavinia was no ordinary heiress.
Seated in her private chamber, Lavinia stared out the large arched window that overlooked the sprawling kingdom. Her fingers trailed along the gold-embroidered velvet armrest of her chair, a twisted smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She was only days away from being crowned the new queen, yet her thoughts were not on the throne, the kingdom, or even her people. No. They were solely fixated on one person—Selene.
Selene. The name was poison in Lavinia's mind, burning with the heat of a betrayal she could never forgive.
They had once been close. Lavinia, born into royalty, and Selene, the daughter of a general, had met as young girls. Their bond was immediate, and over the years, it blossomed into something more—something neither of them had spoken aloud. It had been perfect. Until Selene broke her heart.
Lavinia clenched her jaw, eyes darkening with fury. How dare Selene betray her love and marry that nobody, Dorian? How dare she throw away everything they could have been for a simple, provincial life? But Lavinia wasn’t one to forgive, and she certainly wasn’t one to forget. Now, with the entire kingdom bowing at her feet, she had the power to make Selene suffer in ways no one could have imagined.
There was a knock at her door. “Your Highness?”
“Enter,” Lavinia replied coolly, her voice composed.
The door creaked open, and in walked Captain Reynard, the head of the royal guard, a man with unwavering loyalty to the crown. He bowed low. “The preparations for the coronation are complete, Your Highness. Everything is in place.”
Lavinia’s gaze flickered to him, her expression unreadable. “Good. And what of Selene?”
The captain straightened, clearly confused. “Selene, Your Highness?”
Lavinia rose from her chair, her presence commanding. Her black mourning dress flowed behind her as she moved toward the captain. “Selene. You remember her, don’t you? Daughter of General Maren. My dear old friend.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I remember her.”
“I want you to bring her to me,” Lavinia said, her voice laced with venom. “And her husband.”
Captain Reynard hesitated. “But, Your Highness, she lives outside the capital now. It may take time—”
Lavinia raised a hand, silencing him. “I don’t care how long it takes. She will be here for my coronation. She will see my ascension, and she will understand her place in this kingdom.”
The captain bowed again. “As you command, Your Highness.”
---
Days passed, and the capital buzzed with the excitement of the upcoming coronation. Lavinia’s cold exterior during the mourning period for her mother had been noted by the nobles, but no one dared speak against her. They knew Lavinia was no Isolde. She was harsher, more calculating.
Selene, however, had no idea what was awaiting her.
It was late evening when she and Dorian arrived at the palace, summoned by the soon-to-be queen. Selene hadn’t seen Lavinia in over three years. The last time they spoke had been the night of her wedding. Lavinia hadn’t attended. Instead, Selene had received a letter—one that still haunted her. Lavinia’s words were cutting, filled with anger and heartbreak. She hadn’t expected to ever see her again.
As they entered the grand palace hall, Selene’s heart raced. Dorian, always protective, placed a comforting hand on her lower back, guiding her forward. “It’ll be fine,” he whispered. “She’s probably just inviting us to the coronation.”
Selene wasn’t so sure.
They were led into the throne room, where Lavinia sat regally on the dais. She looked every bit the queen—powerful, poised, and untouchable. But the moment Selene laid eyes on her, she could feel the bitterness radiating off her.
“Your Majesty,” Selene said, bowing. “I... didn’t expect to be summoned like this.”
Lavinia’s lips curled into a small, sharp smile. “Selene. It’s been far too long.”
Dorian stood by Selene’s side, feeling the tension between the two women. “Your Highness, we are honored by your invitation.”
Lavinia’s gaze briefly flickered to Dorian, her smile faltering for a moment. “Dorian. Yes, I suppose I should congratulate you both on your... marriage.” The word dripped with disdain. “How does the simple life suit you, Selene?”
Selene’s heart tightened. “It suits me fine, Lavinia.”
“Oh, I’m sure it does,” Lavinia replied, her voice deceptively sweet. She rose from her seat and descended the steps, approaching them slowly, her gaze never leaving Selene’s. “I’ve missed you, you know. We were so close once, weren’t we?”
Selene nodded slowly. “We were.”
“But you left me,” Lavinia said, her voice dropping to a whisper. “You chose him over me.”
Dorian stiffened at that, realizing that this was not a normal audience. “Your Highness, with all due respect—”
“Silence,” Lavinia snapped, cutting him off. “You have no right to speak in this room.”
Selene stepped in front of Dorian protectively. “Lavinia, please. What do you want from me?”
Lavinia’s eyes glittered dangerously. “What do I want? I want you to understand what it means to betray me. You think you can live happily ever after with your little husband, while I’m left to mourn our friendship? No. I will make sure you feel the weight of your choices.”
“What are you talking about?” Selene asked, fear creeping into her voice.
Lavinia stepped closer, her voice a low hiss. “I will tear apart everything you care about, Selene. I will ruin your life piece by piece. And when I’m done, there will be nothing left for you but regret.”
“You can’t be serious,” Dorian interjected, stepping forward. “You’re the future queen. You have a duty to your kingdom, not personal vendettas.”
Lavinia laughed—a cold, mirthless sound. “My kingdom? Oh, Dorian. I’d burn this entire kingdom to the ground if it meant watching Selene suffer.”
Selene’s eyes widened. “Lavinia, stop. This isn’t you.”
Lavinia’s gaze hardened. “You don’t know me anymore, Selene. You haven’t for a long time. Now leave. Enjoy the coronation tomorrow. It will be the last time you smile.”
As the coronation approached, Selene could feel Lavinia’s threat looming over her like a dark cloud. Something terrible was about to happen, and she knew Lavinia was capable of anything. Dorian wanted to flee the capital, but Selene refused. She wouldn’t be intimidated.
But the day of Lavinia’s coronation arrived, and as the crown was placed on her head, the kingdom unknowingly slipped into the hands of a queen who would stop at nothing for vengeance—even if it meant destroying everything she held dear.
Lavinia’s reign had begun. And for Selene, the nightmare was only just starting.
The coronation feast was lavish, with nobles from across the kingdom in attendance. The room was filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and musicians playing cheerful tunes. But for Selene, each moment dragged painfully as she watched Lavinia on her newly claimed throne, dressed in regal white and gold. The queen's cold, calculating eyes seemed to follow her every move.
Selene clutched Dorian’s hand under the table. “We can’t stay much longer,” she whispered.
Dorian nodded, keeping his expression calm. “We’ll leave once the ceremony ends. We’ll find a way to stay safe. I’ll speak to General Maren—your father’s old ally—perhaps he can help.”
But Selene wasn’t sure help would come. Lavinia had changed. This wasn’t the friend she had grown up with, the girl she’d once shared her secrets with. This was a woman filled with a deep, unrelenting hatred.
As the night progressed, Lavinia stood to give a speech. The room fell silent. She raised her goblet, her voice echoing through the grand hall.
“My loyal subjects, tonight marks the beginning of a new era for Valmere. As your queen, I will continue to lead with strength, wisdom, and justice—”
Her eyes found Selene, and she paused.
“—But let it also be known,” she continued, her voice hardening, “that betrayal will not be tolerated. Those who think they can undermine my rule, or me personally, will face consequences. I will not allow anyone to jeopardize the stability of our great kingdom.”
Selene’s heart pounded. The threat was clear, but it was veiled behind royal rhetoric. The guests applauded, unaware of the layers beneath Lavinia’s words, but Selene knew better.
After the speech, Lavinia descended from her throne and approached Selene and Dorian. The air between them grew thick with tension as she smiled, an icy expression plastered on her face.
“Selene,” she said, her voice deceptively sweet. “Walk with me.”
Dorian tensed, but Selene nodded. “Of course, Your Majesty.”
They walked together through the palace gardens, the evening air crisp and cool. The silence between them was deafening until Lavinia finally spoke.
“You should have stayed away,” Lavinia said softly, almost regretfully. “I was willing to let you live your little life, out of sight, out of mind. But you had to come back, didn’t you? You had to show me what I lost.”
Selene swallowed, trying to stay calm. “I didn’t come here to hurt you, Lavinia. I was called by you. I didn’t want this.”
“You didn’t want this?” Lavinia stopped and turned to face her, anger flashing in her eyes. “You didn’t want to destroy me? You didn’t want to choose him over me? You didn’t want to make me feel like a fool?”
“Lavinia, I loved you once. But we were never meant to be like that. You can’t keep holding onto the past.”
Lavinia’s face twisted with pain and fury. “You don’t get to tell me what to let go of! I have the power now, Selene. I can destroy everything you love. I could have Dorian executed with a single command. I could make your life a living hell. And there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”
Selene’s chest tightened with fear, but she stood her ground. “If you do this, Lavinia, you’ll lose more than just me. You’ll lose yourself. You’ll lose the kingdom. You think you can use power to fix what’s broken, but it’ll only leave you more empty.”
Lavinia sneered. “Don’t pretend to understand me.”
“I understand you better than anyone,” Selene said, her voice soft but firm. “You’re hurt. But revenge won’t heal you.”
For a moment, something flickered in Lavinia’s eyes—a shadow of the girl she once was. But it vanished just as quickly, replaced by cold resolve.
“I don’t need healing,” Lavinia said sharply. “I need you out of my way.”
Before Selene could react, guards emerged from the shadows. Lavinia waved her hand dismissively, her voice now void of emotion. “Take her.”
Selene’s eyes widened. “What are you doing?”
“You’ve left me no choice,” Lavinia said, turning her back on her former friend. “I’ll ruin you, Selene. You’ll rot in a dungeon, far from here, while I rule without the weight of your existence hanging over me.”
The guards grabbed Selene’s arms, but she struggled, her heart racing. “Lavinia, don’t do this! You’re making a mistake!”
Lavinia didn’t turn back. “Goodbye, Selene.”
---
The cell was cold and dark, far beneath the palace. Selene sat on the floor, the weight of everything crashing down on her. She had known Lavinia was angry, but this—this was something else entirely.
She heard footsteps, and the door to her cell creaked open. For a moment, she thought it was the guards, but then Dorian rushed in, his face pale.
“I got you out,” he whispered urgently. “But we need to go now. We don’t have much time.”
“How did you—”
“No time to explain,” Dorian said, pulling her to her feet. “We need to get as far away from here as possible.”
They ran through the dark corridors, slipping past guards, until they finally made it to the edge of the palace grounds. The night air was cool against Selene’s skin as they hurried into the dense forest beyond the walls.
As they fled, Selene looked back at the towering silhouette of Valmere Palace. Lavinia’s reign had begun in blood and betrayal, and it would only get worse from here. But as long as she and Dorian were together, they would survive. And perhaps one day, Lavinia would see the price of her vengeance.
But for now, the kingdom was in the hands of a queen who cared more for her own spite than for her people. And that, Selene knew, would be the beginning of the end for Valmere’s monarchy.
Merci pour la lecture!
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