The Secret World of Briar Rose(105)
She let them believe in this fairy tale. The story needed a happy ending, one where the kingdom would come together and celebrate. The couple should announce the wonderful news together, the godmothers suggested. Ezran pressed his lips tight, and behind gritted teeth, new plans formed in his mind. Whatever he considered, Amelia had more than enough time to imagine a different ending.
At the break of dawn, they emerged onto the balcony together. Fractured sunlight glowed across the hopeful faces of Gyldan. The kingdom cried in joy, falling to their knees, their prayers answered. Amelia tried not to think about how the man who wanted to kill her was holding her hand, pretending to be in love, only so that he could pierce his sword through her heart once they were alone. She placed her other hand over her chest, touching the necklace that a girl from her dreams once gave up.
Amelia broke away from Ezran’s grasp as she approached the center of the balcony. She scanned the crowd of faces, and for the first time, spoke loudly to them.
“As your new queen of Gyldan, I will make my first order.” She pointed to the man standing opposite from her. “Prince Ezran will be imprisoned for murder and treason until proven rehabilitated.”
A ripple of outraged gasps surged through the crowd. Amelia turned as Ezran lunged after her in blind fury. His sword aimed for her heart until the blade froze in midair, his limbs locked in position. Confusion spread among the crowd, but the shrill croak of a raven notified Amelia who’d pulled the strings.
Lightning flashed from the sky. A bolt shot from the clouds and shattered Ezran’s sword. Malicine flew toward the balcony, their staff gripped in a tightly wounded fist. The people of Gyldan screamed in panic as they assumed a second murder attempt. Amelia waved her hands and urged them to calm down, but her voice was mute against the uproar. Malicine snarled for the crowd to silence. Within seconds, their lips sealed shut, their feet rooted to the ground.
The silence made Amelia’s breaths too loud. She curled her fingers into fists and tried to still herself before continuing.
“Before I turned eighteen, Malicine revoked my curse. Which means I did not wake up from true love’s kiss. I woke up because I decided so.” Her voice trembled as she pressed forward. “I do not need a man’s love to be the reason why I am alive. And I will not stay married to a man who is too blind to realize our family’s treasure has always been Gyldan.”
She turned to Ezran, waiting for recognition to settle upon his face. His features remained frozen under Malicine’s spell, but she could see the war raging in his eyes. She hoped that, over time, he would understand.
“Ezran is unfit to be your king. But the truth is, I am unfit to be your queen as well. No ruler can save Gyldan, no matter how much gold they have in their blood.”
Amelia had never been suited for the throne, and yet, she could not think of a single person who deserved to sit there as well. Not her father, whose thirst for conquests only stained blood in his legacy. Not her godmothers, who chose to waste their magic for vanity. Not even Lilith, whose peace and virtues alone could not survive violence.
The gold in Amelia’s veins shimmered under the light, and she thought about how useless it was in the end. Centuries of wars and violence for earthly minerals and imaginary titles, all so that the cycle could repeat once more. She remembered the destruction in the Otherworld, how quickly another universe was tarnished under greed and power.
If Gyldan were to avoid the same fate, the kingdom needed something different. She did not know what that would look like yet. But if she could dream impossible things, she could dream this.
“Gyldan was once a kingdom built out of nothing. We welcomed people from all lands and creeds, and that was what made Gyldan today. There were no saviors, kings, or gods. The only thing we have is each other. That is why I will step down as queen and abolish it all. The soldiers, the Fae council, and the monarchy.”
Amelia waited for someone to speak before remembering magic had sealed their lips shut and planted their feet to the ground. Malicine raised their hand to the crowd, facing the guards and faerie godmothers.
“Before I restore everyone’s bodily functions, know that any mutiny against your former queen will result in dire consequences. As a reminder, I have the capability to create and destroy entire worlds. Rest assured I can make yours a living hell.” Their fangs gleamed in a poisonous smile. “If you think my tyranny is a problem, that is all the more reason to find the right leaders.”
Amelia felt the braided metal of her necklace slick with sweat. She wished Corin could see this scene unfold, but Corin was not here. It would be a very long time before she would arrive in this world, and Amelia had so much to do before then.
? ? ?
GROWING PAINS CAME naturally with drastic change. Amelia was not fond of pain, and the people of Gyldan were not fond of change. Many left in droves, believing that a kingdom without a proper ruler would result in invasion. Others who couldn’t leave remained skeptical. Only a handful expressed interest in serving as officials in Gyldan, hardly enough to decide the future of a former monarchy.
While Ezran remained in prison, her godmothers left the kingdom, refusing to help as advisors so long as Malicine was there. With no offer of wealth or status, the rest of the Fae possessed little interest in meddling with mortal affairs and seemingly disappeared from the human eye. But Malicine was worth more than any faerie, and if Amelia could find any solace in life, it was the steady presence of her companion.