Celestia's POV
The throne room was packed.
Every member of the High Council stood in a semicircle before the Emperor's throne. Nobles I'd known my entire life. Men who'd smiled at me yesterday and promised to attend my wedding.
Now they looked at me like I was something shameful.
Emperor Valoreth sat on his throne, ancient and terrifying. He'd ruled for forty years with an iron fist, and even at seventy, his presence could make grown men tremble.
His eyes fixed on me as the guards marched me forward. Cold. Judging. Already decided.
And there, standing three steps below his father's throne, was Aldric.
My breath caught.
He wore his ceremonial wedding armor, silver and gold, polished until it gleamed. His dark hair was styled perfectly. He should have been waiting for me at the altar.
Instead, he stood here, looking like someone had killed him and forgotten to bury the body.
When our eyes met, his face crumpled with anguish.
Celestia, he whispered.
I wanted to run to him. Wanted to grab his hands and make him explain. Wanted to hear him say this was all a terrible mistake.
But the guards held my arms firmly, forcing me to stop ten paces away from him.
Kneel before the Emperor, one guard commanded.
I didn't kneel. Couldn't. If I knelt now, I'd never stand again.
I said kneel!
Let her stand. The Emperor's voice rolled through the throne room like thunder. She may not have that privilege much longer.
My heart hammered against my ribs.
Emperor Valoreth leaned forward, studying me like an insect he was considering crushing. Lady Celestia. Do you know why you've been summoned?
No, Your Majesty. My voice came out steadier than I felt. I was preparing for my wedding when
There will be no wedding. He cut me off. Your sister has confessed to carrying Crown Prince Aldric's child. The palace physician has confirmed her pregnancy. The evidence is clear.
Gasps rippled through the assembled nobles, even though most of them already knew. This was theater. A public execution of my reputation.
Your Majesty, I said carefully, with respect, I don't understand how
The Spring Harvest banquet, interrupted Duchess Elara Silvercrest, gliding forward from the Council. She was beautiful and poisonous, wrapped in silver silk. Three months ago. Crown Prince Aldric and Lady Vivienne were seen leaving together. Multiple witnesses confirm it.
That's not true! Aldric's voice exploded through the chamber. I don't remember leaving with anyone! That entire night is a blur!
Because you were intoxicated, Your Highness, Duchess Elara said smoothly. Which does not change the facts.
What facts? Aldric's hands clenched into fists. I don't remember being with Vivienne! I don't remember anything after the third or fourth drink!
Perhaps you should have shown more restraint, the Emperor said coldly. But what's done is done. The girl is pregnant. The timing matches. The physician's report is conclusive.
Let me see it! I demanded. Let me see this report!
My father stepped forward, pulling the same document Vivienne had shown me from his jacket. He handed it to the Emperor, who glanced at it briefly before passing it to me.
I read it again, hoping I'd misunderstood the first time.
I hadn't.
Lady Vivienne Ashford is confirmed to be three months pregnant...
My hands shook. I looked up at Aldric. Did you sleep with my sister?
I don't know! His voice broke with frustration. I swear to you, Celestia, I don't remember! I would never deliberately
But you might have accidentally? The words tasted like poison.
I don't know, he repeated, anguished. That whole night is blank. Like someone took an eraser to my memory.
How convenient, murmured one of the Council members.
Aldric spun on him. Are you calling me a liar?
I'm saying a pregnancy doesn't lie, Your Highness.
Enough. The Emperor's voice cracked like a whip. What matters is the situation we face now. Lady Vivienne is pregnant with what may be the imperial heir. Lady Celestia was betrothed to the Crown Prince. We have a scandal that threatens to destroy the alliance between House Valoreth and House Ashford.
He stood, and everyone automatically took a step back except me. I was too numb to move.
Duke Ashford, the Emperor addressed my father. I am giving you a choice. One of your daughters will marry my son. Choose wisely.
The throne room went completely silent.
I turned to look at my father. Surely, surely—he would choose me. I was the one who'd been engaged for ten years. I was the one trained to be Empress. I was the one Aldric actually loved.
Father, I whispered. Please.
He looked at me. Then at Vivienne, who'd been brought in and stood trembling near the door, tears streaming down her face.
This is an impossible choice, Your Majesty, Father said slowly.
And yet you must make it, the Emperor replied. Vivienne marries my son and legitimizes the child, maintaining our alliance. Or you refuse, and House Ashford is stripped of all lands, titles, and privileges. Your choice.
My father's face remained blank. Calculating.
I knew that expression. I'd seen it countless times growing up—the face he wore when negotiating trade deals, political marriages, strategic alliances.
He was weighing which daughter was worth more.
Father. My voice came out stronger now. I've prepared my whole life for this. I know the Council members, the trade agreements, the political landscape. I can be the Empress the Empire needs. Vivienne is sweet, but she's not trained for
Vivienne carries the heir, Father interrupted, still looking at the Emperor. That changes everything.
No. No, he couldn't
A potential heir, I corrected desperately. We don't even know for certain the child is Aldric's! There could have been others
THERE WERE NO OTHERS! Vivienne's scream echoed through the throne room. I've never been with anyone else! Only him! Only that one night!
So you admit you seduced the Crown Prince? Duchess Elara's voice was silk and venom.
I didn't seduce anyone! He came to my room! I thought—I don't know what I thought! Everything was so confusing! Vivienne dissolved into sobs.
Aldric stared at her, confusion and horror warring on his face. I came to your room?
You don't remember? Vivienne looked at him with desperate hope. None of it?
No! I remember drinking at the banquet. I remember feeling strange, dizzy. Then I woke up the next morning in my own chambers with no memory of anything between!
Perhaps you should drink less, Your Highness, Duchess Elara said sweetly.
Or perhaps someone should investigate how a man can lose an entire night of memories, I snapped at her. Don't you find it suspicious?
Her eyes narrowed. Are you suggesting the Crown Prince was drugged?
I'm suggesting something isn't right about any of this!
What's not right, the Emperor said, is that we're wasting time debating what cannot be changed. Duke Ashford, I am losing patience. Choose. Now.
My father looked at me one last time.
I saw the decision in his eyes before he spoke.
Vivienne, he said clearly. I choose Vivienne to marry Crown Prince Aldric.
The world tilted sideways.
No, I whispered. Father, no
She carries the imperial heir, he continued, addressing the Emperor as if I wasn't standing there breaking apart. The alliance between our houses must protect the next generation. Celestia will understand that duty requires sacrifice.
DUTY? My voice cracked. What about your duty to me? I'm your daughter!
So is Vivienne. His voice was ice. And she's the one who succeeded where you failed.
The words hit like a physical blow. Failed? I failed?
You had ten years to secure the Crown Prince's complete loyalty, Father said. You had ten years to make him incapable of looking at another woman. You failed.
He was DRUGGED! I screamed. Something's wrong with this whole situation and you're too blind to see it!
I see a scandal that must be contained. Father turned back to the Emperor. House Ashford accepts your generous offer. Lady Vivienne will marry Crown Prince Aldric in three days. The alliance continues.
NO! I lunged forward, but the guards caught me, holding me back. Aldric! Tell them! Tell them you don't want this!
Aldric stood frozen, his face a mask of anguish.
SAY SOMETHING! I screamed at him.
I... His voice was barely audible. If there's a child... if Vivienne is pregnant...
If? I stopped struggling, going completely still. You're choosing a maybe-baby over me? Over us? Over everything we've planned?
It's not about choosing! Celestia, please understand—if that child is mine, I can't just abandon—
What about abandoning ME? Tears streamed down my face now, all composure shattered. Does that not matter?
Of course it matters! You matter more than anything! But if there's a child—
There's always a choice! I shouted. You're just too much of a coward to make the right one!
Aldric flinched like I'd struck him.
Enough of this drama, the Emperor said. The decision is made. Crown Prince Aldric will marry Lady Vivienne. As for you, Lady Celestia...
He paused, and cold dread flooded through me.
You have been publicly humiliated. Your engagement broken. Your reputation in ruins. His smile was cruel. No respectable nobleman will want you now. Fortunately, Lord Harren of the Borderlands has offered to take you as his wife.
The throne room spun. Lord Harren? He's dying! He's cruel! He's twice my age!
And yet generous enough to accept damaged goods, Duchess Elara murmured.
I refuse! I struggled against the guards. I won't marry him!
You have no choice, the Emperor said flatly. Either you marry Lord Harren, or House Ashford loses everything. Your father's lands, his title, his fortune—all stripped away because of your scandal.
I turned to my father, desperate. Father, please! Don't let them do this to me! I'm your daughter!
He looked at me with those cold, calculating eyes.
You're the price of preserving House Ashford's future, he said quietly. A necessary sacrifice.
My knees buckled. If the guards hadn't been holding me, I would have collapsed.
The wedding will take place immediately, the Emperor announced. Lord Harren's representative is waiting in the chapel. Sign the contract, girl.
Never. I lifted my chin, found one last shred of defiance. I'll die first.
Then you doom your entire family. The Emperor's voice was final. Choose, Celestia. Your pride, or your house.
Aldric stepped forward, reaching for me. Father, please, not Lord Harren! Send her anywhere else! I'll pay whatever price
You'll do nothing, the Emperor snapped. You've caused enough chaos. Guards, take Lady Celestia to the chapel. If she won't sign willingly, her father will sign as her proxy.
NO! I screamed as they started dragging me away. Aldric! ALDRIC, DO SOMETHING!
He stood there, tears streaming down his face, absolutely broken but completely frozen.
Our eyes locked across the throne room.
I love you, he mouthed, his face wrecked with anguish.
I hate you, I mouthed back. I will hate you for the rest of my life.
They dragged me through the side door toward the chapel.
Behind me, I heard Vivienne sobbing.
Heard Duchess Elara's satisfied laugh.
Heard my father giving orders as if he hadn't just sold his daughter to a monster.
And I heard the Emperor announce to the assembled court: Crown Prince Aldric and Lady Vivienne will wed in three days. The Empire celebrates a new beginning.
While I walked toward my ending.
Can Celestia escape before the marriage becomes official?