The king had not slept well since the day Edward had made his decision.
For seven years, the young man would serve the crown faithfully, endure every command placed before him, and prove that his love for Princess Evelyn was strong enough to withstand time.
At the end of those seven years, if Edward fulfilled every condition, the king had promised to consider granting him permission to marry Evelyn.
But the king could not forget the other side of the royal law.
Princess Lilian was his firstborn daughter.
And according to the ancient law of Bexton Kingdom, the elder princess had to marry before the younger princess could be permitted to marry.
It was a law that had governed royal marriages for generations.
No king before him had dared to break it, and he feared that doing so would bring dishonor upon the crown.
Yet there was one troubling question that had begun to haunt him.
What if Lilian remained unmarried for the next seven years?
What if Edward completed his service and came before the throne to claim Evelyn’s hand, while Lilian was still without a husband?
The king sat alone in his chamber, staring through the tall windows as the evening sky darkened over the palace gardens.
His heart was heavy.
He loved both his daughters equally, but he could not ignore the reality before him.
At last, he summoned the queen.
When Queen Amelia entered, she immediately noticed the sadness in her husband’s face.
“My king,” she said softly, “you sent for me.”
The king looked at her for a long moment before answering.
“I have a matter that has troubled my heart.”
The queen came closer and sat beside him.
“Then tell me.”
The king sighed.
“It is about Lilian.”
The queen’s expression changed.
“Our daughter?”
“Yes.”
He lowered his eyes.
“Edward has begun his seven years of service.”
“I know.”
“He is doing it because of Evelyn.”
The queen nodded slowly.
“And that is where my concern begins.”
He turned toward her.
“The law says Lilian must marry before Evelyn.
But what happens if seven years pass and Lilian remains unmarried?”
The queen was silent.
The king continued.
“Edward is not serving me because he desires Lilian.
His heart belongs to Evelyn.
We both know that.”
“Yes,” the queen whispered.
“And when those seven years end, he may come before me and ask for Evelyn’s hand.
But if Lilian has not married, what shall I do?”
The queen looked down at her hands.
“The royal law would forbid Evelyn’s marriage.”
“Exactly.”
The king rose and walked toward the window.
“I do not want to destroy Edward and Evelyn’s happiness.
Neither do I want to break the law that protects the order of our royal family.”
He paused.
“And I fear what Lilian may face if we leave this matter unattended.”
The queen understood.
For several moments, neither spoke.
Then she rose and walked toward her husband.
“Perhaps,” she said gently, “you are looking at this as a king when you should first look at it as a father.”
The king turned toward her.
“What do you mean?”
“Speak to Lilian.”
He frowned.
“About marriage?”
“About her future.”
The queen placed a hand gently upon his arm.
“She must understand the law before the seven years pass.
She must know what is expected of her.
If she wishes to choose her own future, she must begin preparing now.”
The king’s expression softened.
“You think she should be told that she may have to marry before Evelyn?”
“She deserves to know.”
“And if she refuses?”
“Then we will have to face that when the time comes.”
The queen paused.
“But there is something else.”
“What?”
“If Lilian remains unmarried when Edward completes his service, the council may insist that Edward’s obligation to the crown be used to satisfy the royal law.”
“You mean…”
The queen nodded.
“Edward could be placed in a position where he would be expected to marry Lilian.”
The words hung heavily in the room.
Neither of them wanted to say them aloud.
Edward loved Evelyn.
Everyone who had watched the two young hearts grow closer knew it.
He had accepted seven years of service not because he desired wealth, power, or another princess.
He had done it because he wanted Evelyn.
Yet the royal law cared little about the desires of young hearts.
The queen finally broke the silence.
“That is why Lilian must understand the possibility.”
The following morning, Queen Amelia sent for Princess Lilian.
Lilian arrived in her mother’s private chamber wearing a pale blue gown.
Her expression was calm, but she immediately noticed the seriousness in the queen’s eyes.
“Mother, you asked to see me?”
“Come and sit beside me, my child.”
Lilian obeyed.
The queen reached for her daughter’s hand.
“I need to speak with you about your future.”
Lilian smiled faintly.
“My future?”
“Yes.”
The queen took a breath.
“You know the law of our kingdom.”
Lilian’s smile disappeared.
“The law concerning marriage?”
“Yes.”
Lilian lowered her eyes.
“I know that I am the elder princess, and that I must marry before Evelyn.”
“That is correct.”
“And Evelyn?”
“She is in love with Edward.”
Lilian’s heart tightened at the mention of his name.
She had seen the affection between them.
She knew that Edward had chosen seven years of service because of Evelyn.
“I know,” Lilian whispered.
The queen studied her daughter’s face.
“Then you also know that Edward has begun his service to your father.”
“I know.”
“He is determined.”
Lilian nodded.
“Very determined.”
The queen sighed.
“He intends to complete the seven years so that he may be permitted to marry Evelyn.”
Lilian remained silent.
There was no jealousy in her heart.
Perhaps there was sadness, but she did not blame Evelyn.
She knew her sister’s happiness was genuine.
“What does this have to do with me, Mother?”
The queen squeezed her hand.
“Everything.”
Lilian looked up.
“If seven years pass and you remain unmarried, the royal law will stand between Evelyn and Edward.”
Lilian’s eyes widened.
“I understand.”
“No, my child,” the queen said gently.
“I need you to understand more than that.”
She leaned closer.
“The council may demand that the law be fulfilled.
And because Edward will already have completed seven years of faithful service to the crown, there is a possibility that the council could consider him a suitable husband for you.”
Lilian froze.
“For me?”
“Yes.”
“Edward?”
The queen nodded slowly.
Lilian stood from her seat.
“But he loves Evelyn.”
“I know.”
“And Evelyn loves him.”
“I know that too.”
“Then how could such a thing happen?”
The queen’s eyes filled with sadness.
“Because royal laws are not always guided by love.”
Lilian turned away.
She had never imagined Edward as her husband.
She had never dreamed of taking Evelyn’s place.
And the thought of being placed between her sister and the man she loved made her heart ache.
“I would never want to take Evelyn’s happiness from her,” Lilian said.
“I know.”
“I could never accept a marriage that would destroy my sister’s heart.”
The queen rose and embraced her.
“My daughter, this conversation is not about forcing you to marry Edward tomorrow.
It is about preparing you for what the future may bring.”
Lilian rested her head against her mother’s shoulder.
“What should I do?”
“Begin thinking about marriage.”
“To whom?”
“That is for you to discover.”
The queen gently lifted her daughter’s face.
“You still have seven years.”
Lilian looked at her mother.
“Seven years.”
“Yes.”
“Seven years for Edward to serve the king.”
“And seven years for you to determine your future.”
Lilian slowly nodded.
But inside her heart, a strange fear had awakened.
What if she failed?
What if no man came forward?
What if the years passed quickly and she remained unmarried?
And what if, at the end of those seven years, the kingdom placed Edward before her?
The thought frightened her.
Not because she wanted Edward.
But because she knew his heart belonged somewhere else.
Later that evening, Lilian walked alone through the royal garden.
The moonlight fell softly upon the flowers, and the gentle sound of the fountain filled the silence.
She thought about Evelyn.
Her younger sister had found love.
She had found someone willing to sacrifice seven years of his life for her.
Lilian smiled sadly.
“How fortunate you are, Evelyn.”
Then she looked toward the distant palace towers.
“But what will become of me?”
A voice suddenly came from behind her.
“Lilian?”
She turned.
It was Evelyn.
“Why are you alone?”
Lilian quickly wiped away the tear that had escaped her eye.
“I just needed some fresh air.”
Evelyn came closer.
“Are you all right?”
Lilian hesitated.
She wanted to tell her everything.
She wanted to say that their mother’s warning had frightened her.
But she could not bring herself to disturb Evelyn’s happiness.
Instead, Lilian smiled.
“I am fine.”
Evelyn took her sister’s hand.
“You know you can tell me anything.”
Lilian looked at her younger sister and felt her heart soften.
“I know.”
The two sisters stood together beneath the moon.
Neither knew what the future would bring.
But somewhere beyond the palace walls, Edward continued his seven years of service with one purpose in his heart—to earn the right to marry Evelyn.
And within the palace, another story had quietly begun.
The story of Lilian’s uncertain future.
The queen had defended the royal law not because she wanted to destroy love, but because she feared what would happen if love and tradition collided after seven years.
For now, Edward’s heart belonged to Evelyn.
Lilian knew it.
The queen knew it.
The king knew it.
But seven years was a long time.
And in a kingdom where the law could command what the heart could not, no one could say what would happen when the final year ended.
The queen could only hope that before that day arrived, Lilian would find a love of her own.
A love that would free her from the burden of the royal law.
And perhaps, somewhere in the vast kingdom of Bexton, destiny was already preparing the answer.
For the seven years had only just begun.