The summons had been delivered before sunrise.
By midday, the great council chamber of Bexton Kingdom was filled with the most respected elders in the kingdom.
For generations, the Council of Elders had served as the voice of tradition.
They were guardians of the ancient laws that governed the royal family, and whenever a matter arose that could affect the future of the kingdom, their counsel was sought.
Today, however, the matter before them was unlike any they had faced in many years.
At the center of the discussion stood three names.
Princess Lilian.
Princess Evelyn.
And Edward.
King Adrian entered the chamber slowly.
Every elder rose.
“Be seated,” the king said.
The elders obeyed.
Queen Amelia sat beside the king.
Princess Lilian had been invited as well, while Evelyn waited outside the chamber, unaware of what decision would soon determine her future.
The king looked around the long table.
“We have gathered because time is no longer on our side.”
The eldest councilman, Lord Benedict, nodded.
“Your Majesty, we understand.”
“Edward has completed five years of service.”
A murmur moved through the chamber.
“Only two years remain before his obligation is fulfilled.”
Another elder spoke.
“And when he returns, he will expect to marry Princess Evelyn.”
The king nodded.
“That is correct.”
He paused.
“But the royal law says that the second princess cannot marry before the first.”
Every eye turned toward Lilian.
She lowered her gaze.
King Adrian continued.
“For five years, we have hoped that Princess Lilian would marry before Edward completed his service.”
No one interrupted.
“We have presented suitable men.
Princes from neighboring kingdoms have expressed interest.
Noble families have approached the palace.
Several formal proposals have been considered.”
He looked toward Lilian.
“Yet none has resulted in marriage.”
Lilian remained silent.
The king’s voice softened.
“My daughter has not refused marriage because she wishes to dishonor the kingdom.
She has simply not found a man she believes she can spend her life with.”
One elder cleared his throat.
“Your Majesty, the law cannot be changed merely because the princess has not yet chosen a husband.”
“I know.”
“And Edward’s service cannot override the royal tradition.”
“I know that too.”
The king leaned forward.
“That is precisely why I called this meeting.”
Lord Benedict placed both hands on the table.
“The law is clear.”
“Then remind the council,” King Adrian said.
The elder stood.
“According to the ancient royal law of Bexton, the elder princess must marry before the younger princess.
The order of succession within the royal household must be respected in marriage just as it is respected in matters of inheritance and ceremony.”
He looked toward Lilian.
“Princess Lilian is the first princess.”
Then he looked toward the empty seat reserved for Evelyn.
“Princess Evelyn is the second.”
He returned his attention to the king.
“Therefore, Princess Evelyn cannot marry before Princess Lilian.”
Silence followed.
King Adrian nodded.
“But what happens if Edward completes his seven years and Lilian is still unmarried?”
That question changed the atmosphere.
The elders exchanged glances.
For several moments, nobody answered.
Finally, Lord Benedict spoke.
“Then the law must be obeyed.”
“And what does obedience require?” the king asked.
The elder hesitated.
“Edward cannot marry Princess Evelyn.”
“That much is obvious.”
“Then he must either wait.”
“For how long?”
“Until Princess Lilian is married.”
The king shook his head.
“Suppose Lilian remains unmarried for many years?”
Lord Benedict looked at him.
“Then Evelyn must remain unmarried.”
Queen Amelia expression tightened.
“And Edward?”
The elder sighed.
“Edward has already given seven years of his life in service to the crown.”
“Exactly,” the queen said.
“His sacrifice is recognized.”
“But does the law recognize it?”
The elder did not answer.
The king looked around the room.
“That is why we are here.”
Another elder, Lord Samuel, spoke.
“Perhaps we should consider the circumstances of Edward’s service.”
King Adrian looked at him.
“Edward did not enter the king’s service merely as a soldier seeking advancement.
He entered it because he wished to marry Princess Evelyn.”
“Yes.”
“And he has fulfilled the conditions placed before him.”
“Yes.”
“Therefore, if we prevent him from marrying Evelyn when he returns, we must determine whether the law provides another course.”
The chamber became quiet.
Lord Benedict nodded slowly.
“There is.”
Everyone looked at him.
“The ancient law contains a provision for precisely such a circumstance.”
King Adrian leaned forward.
“What provision?”
“If the younger princess has a suitor who has completed the required royal service but the elder princess remains unmarried, the suitor may be assigned to the elder princess.”
Evelyn’s future seemed to disappear from the room in an instant.
Queen Amelia looked at Lilian.
Lilian’s face had become pale.
King Adrian stared at Lord Benedict.
“You mean Edward?”
“Yes.”
“Edward would be required to marry Lilian?”
“Yes.”
The words fell heavily upon the chamber.
Lilian slowly raised her head.
“But Edward loves Evelyn.”
Nobody spoke.
She continued.
“How can the law require him to marry me when his heart belongs to my sister?”
Lord Benedict’s expression was solemn.
“The law does not govern the heart, Princess.”
“Then what does it govern?”
“The order of royal marriage.”
Lilian shook her head.
“That does not make it right.”
The king looked at his daughter.
“Lilian.”
She turned toward him.
“I cannot take Evelyn’s happiness from her.”
“You would not be taking anything.”
“But if Edward is forced to marry me, what would that make me?”
Queen Amelia reached for her daughter’s hand.
“No one is saying you must accept a marriage without understanding what it means.”
Lilian looked at her.
“But what choice would I have?”
The room fell silent again.
Because that was the cruelest part of the law.
It offered an answer, but not necessarily a happy one.
King Adrian stood.
“I will not accept a decision that treats my daughters as pieces on a chessboard.”
Lord Benedict bowed his head.
“Your Majesty, the law is older than any of us.”
“And I am its king.”
“Yes.”
“Then I have a responsibility to understand it.”
The king walked slowly around the table.
“If Edward returns after seven years and Lilian remains unmarried, you say he must marry Lilian.”
“That is what the law requires.”
“And if he refuses?”
Lord Benedict took a breath.
“Then he cannot marry Evelyn.”
“And if he still wishes to marry Evelyn?”
The elder looked at the king.
“Then he must begin another seven-year period of service.”
The king stopped walking.
“Another seven years.”
“Yes.”
A stunned silence filled the chamber.
Seven years had already demanded much from Edward.
Seven more would mean fourteen years between the beginning of his service and the possibility of marrying Evelyn.
Queen Amelia looked troubled.
“That is an extraordinary burden.”
“It is the law,” Lord Benedict replied.
King Adrian returned to his seat.
He looked toward Lilian.
“What do you say?”
Lilian’s hands trembled slightly.
She had never imagined that her unmarried state could lead to such a decision.
She loved Evelyn.
She had never wished to stand between her sister and Edward.
Yet she was also unwilling to marry a man simply because tradition had placed her first in line.
“I cannot promise that I will marry Edward,” she said quietly.
“No one is asking you to promise that today,” the king replied.
“But if the law forces him toward me, what happens to his happiness?”
Lord Benedict answered.
“The law assumes that royal duty must sometimes come before personal desire.”
Lilian looked at him.
“Then perhaps the law does not understand love.”
Nobody responded.
After hours of discussion, the council finally reached its decision.
Lord Benedict stood and read the resolution.
“First: Princess Lilian shall remain the first princess of Bexton Kingdom, and the royal law concerning the order of princesses’ marriages shall remain in force.”
“Second: If Princess Lilian is unmarried when Edward completes his seven years of royal service, Edward shall not be permitted to marry Princess Evelyn.”
“Third: In accordance with the ancient law, Edward shall be offered marriage to Princess Lilian, thereby fulfilling the requirement that the elder princess marry before the younger.”
“Fourth: If Edward accepts marriage to Princess Lilian, his seven years of service shall be considered complete.”
“Fifth: If Edward refuses marriage to Princess Lilian and continues to desire Princess Evelyn, he must undertake another seven years of service before he can receive approval to marry Princess Evelyn.”
Seven more years.
The decision was final.
King Adrian closed his eyes briefly.
He had hoped the council would find another way.
But the elders had chosen tradition.
Lilian remained seated.
Her eyes filled with tears.
She turned toward her father.
“Father, I never wanted this.”
King Adrian looked at her.
“I know.”
“I don’t want Edward to hate me.”
“He will not.”
“You cannot know that.”
“No,” the king admitted.
“I cannot.”
Lilian lowered her head.
“And Evelyn?”
The king sighed.
“She will have to hear the decision.”
Lilian’s heart sank.
“She loves him.”
“I know.”
“And he loves her.”
“I know.”
“Then why must this happen?”
The king had no answer.
Outside the chamber, Evelyn waited.
She had been told only that the council was discussing an important matter concerning the future of the royal family.
She did not know that the decision had already been made.
When the doors finally opened, she looked toward her father.
One glance at his face was enough to tell her that something was wrong.
“Father?”
King Adrian approached her.
“Evelyn, we need to speak.”
She looked beyond him.
She saw Lilian.
Her sister’s eyes were filled with tears.
Evelyn immediately became afraid.
“What happened?”
King Adrian took a slow breath.
“The council has made a decision concerning your marriage.”
Evelyn’s heart began beating faster.
“Edward?”
The king nodded.
“He has only two years remaining.”
She smiled faintly.
“I know.”
“But there is a problem.”
Her smile disappeared.
“Lilian?”
The king looked at her.
“Yes.”
Evelyn understood immediately.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“What did they decide?”
The king hesitated.
Then he spoke.
“If Lilian is still unmarried when Edward completes his seven years, Edward will not be permitted to marry you.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“What?”
“He will be required to marry Lilian.”
Evelyn looked at her sister.
Lilian immediately shook her head.
“Evelyn, I never asked for this.”
Evelyn’s tears began falling.
“I know.”
“And if Edward refuses, he must serve another seven years before he can marry you.”
Evelyn’s lips trembled.
“Another seven years?”
King Adrian nodded.
The palace corridor seemed to grow silent.
Seven years had already felt like an eternity.
Now there was a possibility of another seven.
Evelyn looked toward the distant window.
Edward was still out there somewhere, serving the king, believing that only two years remained before he could finally return to her.
He did not know that the future he had been fighting for had just become uncertain again.
Lilian stepped toward her sister.
“Evelyn…”
But Evelyn pulled her into an embrace.
“This is not your fault.”
Lilian began to cry.
“I don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t.”
“But Edward—”
“We don’t know what will happen yet.”
Evelyn held her tightly.
Inside her heart, however, fear had already begun to grow.
Two years remained.
Edward would return.
And when he did, he would have to choose between the woman he had spent seven years serving for—and the ancient law that demanded another path.
The meeting was over.
But the real battle had only begun.