Aeris’s pov
Walking down the corridor, my guards surrounded me, their presence both a shield and a reminder of the stakes at hand. I was on my way to meet King Nathaniel of the northern territory—a meeting that never sat right with me. Yet, I had no choice. The kingdom's safety depended on extracting the truth buried beneath rumors or, perhaps, revealing the secrets long hidden in the shadows.
Arabella remained close by, her presence hovering as she had insisted on preparing me for the meeting. While she spoke of strategies and caution, my mind drifted to Caspian. I knew he wouldn’t want me facing this alone. His protective nature would drive him to fight for my kingdom as fiercely as he’d fight for me, but I had to prove that I could manage this myself. I was queen, and this was my resp
