The messenger's words settled over the room like falling ice.
Princess Maya must stand alone.
Zayn didn't speak at first.
He just stood there—completely still—his fingers still wrapped around my wrist as if he needed to confirm I hadn't vanished right out of his hold.
"Maya…" he whispered, voice raw.
"This is my fault."
Azael slammed the door shut, the echo slicing through the suffocating silence.
"That woman," he muttered sharply.
"She doesn't want to test Maya. She wants to break her."
I swallowed hard. My mouth felt dry. My palms felt cold.
Zayn turned to me so fast it made tears sting my eyes.
"I won't let this happen," he said fiercely. "I'll go to the Queen Mother right now—"
"No," Azael cut in.
"And you know why."
Zayn whirled on him. "I don't care about the consequences—"
"You should. Because if you go to her now," Azael said quietly, "she'll claim Maya can't speak for herself. She'll say you're fighting her battles. And that is exactly the argument she wants."
Zayn froze.
Azael continued inside the stillness.
"The Queen Mother doesn't want Maya gone. Not yet."
His voice lowered.
"She wants the kingdom to doubt her first."
I felt the truth hit my chest like a slow, heavy blow.
Zayn looked at me, anguish written across his face in a way he couldn't hide—not as a prince, not as a man, not as a husband.
"Maya, you don't have to do this," he whispered.
"You don't have to walk into that room alone. I can refuse. I can pull you out of this palace right now."
"And then what?" Azael asked softly.
"Then the world will say she fled before even being tested?"
Zayn put his head in his hands.
I couldn't breathe.
And yet—I had to.
Because they were both right.
If I didn't show up…
I would become the girl who married a prince and hid behind him.
But if I did show up…
I would be facing the most powerful people in the kingdom by myself.
With royal nobles trained from birth.
With Lady Celestine beside them.
With the Queen Mother above them all.
And me—just Maya.
I closed my eyes, my voice small and shaking.
"What… what do they do in a council session?"
Azael stepped closer.
"It's not a trial," he said gently. "But they will question you. Evaluate you. Watch you. Every movement. Every breath."
Zayn's jaw clenched. "This isn't fair."
Azael ignored him.
"They'll want to see your upbringing… your composure… your knowledge of the royal houses… your understanding of duty."
My throat tightened.
"I don't know any of that."
Zayn moved instantly, taking both my hands.
"You don't need their rules," he said, voice low and burning.
"You just need to be honest. Speak from your heart. They'll see the woman I married. The woman I chose."
Azael exhaled a humorless laugh.
"Zayn, the council doesn't care about love."
I flinched slightly at that.
Zayn turned sharply.
"But they'll care about how she carries herself."
"And how she survives under pressure," Azael added.
Another blow.
Zayn sat down suddenly, burying his face in his palms.
"Maya…"
His voice cracked.
"I promised you a peaceful life. Instead, I'm giving you a battlefield."
I knelt in front of him.
"Zayn, look at me."
He did.
His eyes were storming.
Hurting.
"You didn't give me a battlefield," I said softly. "You gave me a life worth fighting for."
His breath trembled.
Then Azael cleared his throat.
"We start now."
Zayn and I turned to him.
"Start what?" I asked.
"Training," Azael replied.
"Royal composure. Public speaking. Court etiquette. How to stand. How to answer. How to keep your heart steady even when your hands want to shake."
I blinked.
"Tonight?"
Azael nodded once.
"Tonight."
Zayn stood immediately.
"I'll help too—"
"No." Azael shook his head.
"You'll distract her. She needs pressure. You soften it."
Zayn's mouth opened… then closed.
Because he knew Azael was right.
He kissed my forehead, holding my cheeks like he was memorizing them.
"I'll be right outside the entire time," he whispered.
"You're not alone. Not even for a second."
I smiled weakly. "I know."
But fear still curled inside me.
Azael stepped in front of me, posture straight, eyes sharp.
"Princess Maya," he said in a tone I'd never heard from him before—cold, royal, commanding.
"From this moment until dawn, you are training to stand before a kingdom that believes you don't belong."
My breath hitched.
Azael raised his chin slightly.
"So tell me…"
His eyes pierced mine.
"…why should they accept you?"
My mouth opened—
nothing came out.
Azael didn't blink.
Zayn stiffened.
And I realized…
This wasn't training.
This was the first step into the fire.
Before I could find my voice—
A sudden knock interrupted everything.
A guard stepped in, bowing. "Your Highnesses, forgive me… but the Queen Mother requests Prince Zayn's presence. Immediately."
Zayn tensed violently.
Azael cursed under his breath.
"She's trying to separate you."
Zayn pulled me into one last embrace.
"I will come back," he murmured.
"Don't stop training. Don't lose focus. Don't be afraid."
But when he pulled away…
His eyes held one thing he tried to hide—
Fear.
he planted a soft kiss on my lips
And he left, the door shutting behind him…
Azael stepped closer, looking down at me, voice soft but firm.
"Now," he said quietly.
"Again."
His gaze didn't waver.
"Why should the kingdom accept you?"
think about it...
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