The annual Royal Selection, held in King's Landing, sought a suitable bride for Prince Edmund, the King’s heir. In my last life, it was I who claimed victory. Prince Edmund wed me as his Princess Consort. Lady Seraphina, the woman he loved, fell gravely ill, fading away in sorrow. After he ascended the throne, he never crowned me Queen. Instead, a solemn effigy of Seraphina graced the throne. He made me kneel before it for three days and three nights. "Had you not deliberately damaged Seraphina's lute strings, she would have triumphed. It was your meddling that kept us apart." "This crown, this throne, was meant for her." He condemned my father, the Duke of Ravenshield, seizing our lands and condemning him to the gallows, all to quell his Kingly rage. My mother, consumed by grief, beat her head against his coffin until her spirit departed. The House of Blackwood was undone. But in this life, during the Royal Selection, I deliberately injured my wrist, withdrawing from the contest. If Prince Edmund desired a life bound solely to Lady Seraphina, I would grant them their wish. 1 "The victor of the Royal Selection is: Lady Seraphina, daughter of the Lord Chamberlain!" The Grand Adjudicator’s voice boomed across the Great Hall. A murmur rippled through the gathered nobility. "Can you believe it? She won!" "I heard Lady Eleanor Blackwood twisted her wrist. Lady Seraphina was truly blessed by fortune." "Didn't the King and Queen favor Lady Eleanor as Prince Edmund's Princess Consort?" "But it was declared that the victor would be the Princess Consort. Prince Edmund himself set the terms." Prince Edmund, a radiant smile gracing his features, eagerly grasped Lady Seraphina's hand and stepped forward. "Father, Mother, this is the consort your son has chosen." His eyes held an undiluted tenderness, while Seraphina's cheeks flushed a vibrant crimson, as if about to bleed. Yet, her hand remained clasped tightly in his, never faltering. All eyes turned to me, my wrist still swathed in bandages. A mixture of pity and veiled amusement danced in their gazes, anticipating a spectacle. Even the Queen Consort eyed me, her lips parting as if to speak, then closing. It was widely known that she had intended for me to be the Prince Consort, having even discreetly approached my father, the Duke of Ravenshield, to prevent him from betrothing me elsewhere. Now, a sudden turn of events. The Queen hesitated, then addressed Prince Edmund: "Do you harbor affection for any other lady? Your father is in good spirits today; perhaps, if you speak her name, he might consent to a dual union." Her gaze flickered to me, a subtle hint that if he spoke my name, the King might command him to take two consorts. But the Queen was mistaken. For I, Lady Eleanor, harbored no desire to wed Prince Edmund again. In my last life, Prince Edmund accused me of breaking Seraphina's lute strings, ruining her chance at triumph. Yet, such a petty act was beneath me. Had he possessed even a sliver of clarity, had he truly considered my character, he would have known I was incapable of such malice. But his heart had already been seized by the sight of a tearful Seraphina. She had wrenched her hand from his, weeping, "I know Lady Eleanor despises me, but I only wanted a fair chance to win your affection. Why would she deny me even that? Is it simply because her father is the powerful Duke of Ravenshield?" Her words, a poisoned seed, laid the groundwork for my father’s downfall after Edmund’s coronation. Later, I discovered the truth: the ancient melody I had performed during that fateful competition, a lost ballad, had mesmerized even the Maestros of the Royal Conservatory. My performance had caused the Royal Gardens to burst into unnatural bloom, a sign of true artistic mastery. Seraphina, seeing her defeat imminent, had deliberately snapped her own lute strings, feigning a tragic accident to ensure her loss. 2 This life, I would offer her no such opportunity. I chose to feign an accidental injury to my wrist at the Vernal Ball the night before, rendering me unable to compete. Anything to avoid falling into her snare again. If they wished to be bound to one another, I would grant them their singular devotion. I would ensure I remained far, far away. Upon hearing the Queen’s question, Prince Edmund declared with a booming voice, "Mother, Seraphina is the only woman I have ever loved. Now that she has claimed victory, I humbly ask that you seal her as my true Princess Consort." "My heart's desire is to be bound to Seraphina alone, for all time." The Queen sighed, a weary breath escaping her lips. "I have no objection to you naming her your Princess Consort. However, you are my trueborn son and your father's heir. You cannot have but one consort. You must ensure the succession, provide a thriving line for the Crown. Do you understand?" She looked pointedly at Seraphina, whose eyes remained fixed solely on Prince Edmund. Love, perhaps, grants boundless courage. Seraphina stepped forward, her voice trembling slightly, yet resolute. "Your Majesty, once Prince Edmund and I are wed, I shall strive with all my might to bear many children for the Crown. But Prince Edmund has sworn he will never take another woman." "Every woman yearns for a singular bond with the man she loves, a life bound to one another alone. Surely, Your Majesty, you yourself cherish such a dream? I humbly implore you, do not grant any other noblewoman as a secondary consort to Prince Edmund." Silence descended upon the hall, then erupted into a cacophony of varied expressions among the assembled nobles. The faces of several high noblewomen, whose daughters had hoped to become secondary consorts, turned as dark as storm clouds. "Lady Seraphina is bold indeed! Not yet Princess Consort, and already dictating who Prince Edmund may or may not take as a secondary consort!" "Which prince takes but one wife? Especially the King and Queen's trueborn heir! What is she thinking? Does she wish the Prince to have a meager line?" "Any lady who weds into Prince Edmund's household now will surely face a harsh future." "It seems Lady Seraphina intends to monopolize the Prince's affections entirely." Prince Edmund, hearing Seraphina’s plea, knew it was ill-advised, yet his protective instinct prevailed. "Please, Mother, grant us this wish." The Queen closed her eyes for a moment, then waved her hand dismissively. "You may all depart. A royal edict concerning the betrothal will be issued in three days." All the courtiers filed out, a river of silk and velvet. I had not yet reached the palace gates when a voice called out, "Lady Eleanor!" It was Seraphina. Behind her, a lady-in-waiting carried a tray laden with jewels Prince Edmund had bestowed upon her. Seraphina smiled, approaching me. "My apologies, Lady Eleanor. I never imagined you wouldn't compete today. I truly thought you would win." I offered a faint smile. "My congratulations, Lady Seraphina. May your heart's desire be fulfilled." Her eyes welled up, glistening. "Will you resent me? I know the Queen favored you. But I love Prince Edmund so deeply, and he promised to wed me. For him, I had to set aside our friendship. Please, don't hold it against me." "This pomegranate brooch, Prince Edmund gave it to me. I wish to gift it to you, a token of our sisterly bond. May you soon find a worthy lord and bear many children." I took the trinket. Before I could speak, a man’s hand snatched the brooch from my grasp. "That was my gift to you! Why would you give it away? It was a blessing for us to have many children after our wedding. How can you be so careless with my intentions?" Seraphina gazed at Prince Edmund, her expression coy and charming. "Your Grace, my sister is distraught at not being chosen. I merely wished to comfort her. You needn't be so illiberal." 3 Prince Edmund’s eyes, however, were fixed on me, a mocking glint in their depths. "Distraught? Lady Eleanor, it is my mother who favored you, not I. I hope you understand that. The Queen doubtless valued your father's influence. But when I ascend to the throne, I shall be King! All will be my vassals, and all will support me, will they not?" "I shall not rely on a woman's sway to solidify my reign. And I never once said I would wed you." "In days past, I found our conversations pleasant, and your wit engaging. But I never imagined you harbored such grand ambition, to become my Princess Consort." I watched them, a duet of self-serving condescension. My patience, however, had worn thin. I took a step back. "Your Grace, my presence at the Royal Selection was merely by royal decree. Every legitimate daughter of a three-star lord in King's Landing must attend. As for relying on influence to bolster a kingdom, or any talk of you marrying me—let us dispense with such foolishness. It might cause your future Princess Consort undue distress." "Should she misunderstand, and believe you imply her family is less powerful, how would Lady Seraphina bear the slight?" With that, I turned and departed. Lady Seraphina was naturally suspicious and petty. Her father, the Lord Chamberlain, held one of the least powerful offices among the King's ministers. Compared to my father, the Duke of Ravenshield, her family's standing was truly insignificant. Three days later, the royal edict naming Seraphina as Prince Edmund’s Princess Consort was proclaimed. Seraphina immediately arranged a garden party, inviting all the noblewomen of King's Landing. Who dared refuse, given Prince Edmund’s favor? At the garden party, Seraphina was adorned in shimmering jewels, her hair bedecked with the ornaments Prince Edmund and the Queen had showered upon her. Not yet a Princess Consort, yet she carried herself with the full pomp and circumstance of one. I recalled how, in my last life, she had been admired by Prince Edmund for her understated elegance, her disdain for opulent jewels, praised for her ethereal grace. I wondered if, in this life, Prince Edmund would still remark on her unworldly purity, seeing her now. Seraphina, before all the guests, tightly grasped my hand. "My dear sister, when I wed, would you consider being my Maid of Honor? To accompany me into the royal chapel on my wedding day? With a few dear sisters by my side, I might feel less apprehensive." Her face wore an expression of pleading, yet her eyes glinted with triumphant amusement. In her mind, she was the undisputed victor, and this was her moment to publicly humiliate me. "As the Princess Consort, who you choose for your Maid of Honor is your prerogative. Who in King's Landing would dare refuse my future Princess Consort such a courtesy, Lady Eleanor? What say you?" The voice belonged to Prince Edmund, who had just entered. Even for a ladies' garden party, Prince Edmund had hastened to lend his presence, a testament to his deep affection for her. All eyes were on me, awaiting my reply. If I assented, it would signify my submission to the Princess Consort's authority. If I refused, I would openly defy Prince Edmund. Prince Edmund brimmed with confidence, and Seraphina radiated smugness. But they had forgotten: my father was the Duke of Ravenshield, master of formidable forces. Aside from the King and Queen, I bowed to no one. I gently, but firmly, disengaged my hand from Seraphina's. "My apologies, I fear I may not be able to attend your wedding, Your Grace. My father has sent for me, desiring my return home. Our departure is set for the very day of your nuptials with Prince Edmund." Seraphina stared at me, her eyes brimming with moisture. "Is my sister truly so angry with me, so upset? How could it be such a coincidence that the Duke of Ravenshield just happens to send for you now?" 4 My lady-in-waiting, sensing my cue, answered on my behalf. "My lord Duke's messengers arrived last night. They bear tidings of a betrothal already arranged for my lady. My lady has been in King's Landing for half a year now; it is high time she returned home to prepare her trousseau for her nuptials." At these words, Prince Edmund's face visibly darkened. "You are returning to the Northern Marches? Your father sent you to King's Landing not to find a noble husband here, to wed within the capital?" "I know you are displeased that I chose Seraphina. But what if I promised you that, after our wedding, I would take you as a secondary consort?" Seraphina's face turned ashen. Before she could speak, I interjected, a faint smile on my lips. "What jest is this, Your Grace? Was it not just the other day, in the Great Hall, that you declared to the Queen your desire for a singular bond with Lady Seraphina?" "Moreover, a legitimate daughter of the House of Blackwood would never stoop to being a secondary consort." Prince Edmund gritted his teeth. "Lady Eleanor, must you always be the Princess Consort? Is this empty title truly so important to you?" I looked at him, genuinely bewildered. "Your Grace, I never expressed a desire to be your Princess Consort. I have simply been away from home for too long, and my parents yearn for my return. I have no kin in King's Landing. Returning home is only proper. Does Your Grace believe it acceptable to deny someone the right to return to their family?" Prince Edmund's face grew progressively darker. "What if I refuse? What if I insist on marrying you?" "Then Your Grace will surely be disappointed. Lady Eleanor and I are already betrothed. Does Your Grace intend to abduct my future wife?" I turned, and there, entering the estate, was Sir Kaelen Vance, the Knight Commander. He was clad in rugged travel leathers, his face still bearing the dust of the road, clearly having ridden a thousand miles to reach King's Landing. He strode in, taking a stand by my side, silently shielding me. Prince Edmund glared at him. "Knight Commander, are you not sworn to the borderlands? How dare you enter King's Landing without royal summons?" Kaelen merely smiled. "I come by the Duke of Ravenshield's command, to deliver a vital war report to His Majesty, and to escort Lady Eleanor, my betrothed, back to the Northern Marches." "His Majesty, I trust, will understand my youthful fervor, that I might seize this duty of delivering dispatches for the sake of escorting my future wife. Coupled with our recent, glorious victory, His Majesty surely will not hold it against me." He then looked at me, his eyes holding no one else but me. "My Lady Eleanor, this garden party seems exceedingly dull. I know a place just outside the city where the peach blossoms are in full, exquisite bloom. I could take you there; it would be infinitely more beautiful than this confined garden." I smiled, rising. I curtseyed to Prince Edmund and Seraphina. "I shall take my leave now. I fear I may be long departed by the day of your wedding, so allow me to offer my best wishes for a century of harmony." With that, I walked towards Sir Kaelen and followed him out of the manor. Prince Edmund rushed after us. "Lady Eleanor, can being a mere Knight Commander's wife truly compare to being my secondary consort?" "Should I ascend to the throne, I promise you the rank of the most favored Lady of Silverwood. How does that sound?" Kaelen vaulted onto his steed, extending a hand to me. "Do you still recall how to ride?" I smiled, reaching for his hand. "Fortuitously, I haven't forgotten." I swung myself onto the saddle, sharing his mount, and we galloped away towards the city gates, leaving Prince Edmund's desperate words and his despair behind. Prince Edmund’s wedding was a grand affair. On the morning of the ceremony, my carriage was already prepared, ready to depart. Unexpectedly, our procession crossed paths with the bridal procession on the streets of King's Landing. I had deliberately chosen a route their wedding party would avoid. Yet, Prince Edmund, for some reason, had chosen this very street. Clad in his ceremonial wedding robes, he stood before my carriage, blocking our path. "Eleanor, are you truly leaving?"
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