” I was ready for a prophecy.
I wasn’t ready for her.”
Third Person
The palace didn’t make a grand announcement.
It simply prepared itself.
From the outside, nothing appeared different.
The halls remained dark stone.
The torches still flickered on the walls.
The deep silence persisted everywhere.
But beneath it all, the atmosphere had shifted.
This was evident in the servants—they moved faster, kept their eyes lowered, and everyone was anxious.
She was on her way.
The Great Hall was being filled with “shadow flowers,” which only grew in the darkest corners of the kingdom.
They had scents like night air and damp earth.
Servants handled them with care, ensuring each table was perfect.
Today, every detail mattered.
Queen Astrid moved through the palace at a steady pace.
She didn’t hurry.
People naturally slowed when she passed to show respect.
She stopped once to adjust a flower that was leaning awkwardly, then continued onward.
A young servant almost collided with a vase in her haste.
The queen caught her arm before anything shattered.
“Slow down,” the queen said softly.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty! I’m just worried about the arrival…”
“She is a guest,” the queen replied.
“She isn’t an emergency.”
The girl nodded and stepped more carefully.
Queen Astrid watched her go and exhaled quietly.
She’s really here.
For twenty years, she had observed her son, Kael, growing colder and more distant.
She had waited and hoped for this day all those long years.
And now, it had finally arrived.
In just a few minutes, the girl would come.
Elsewhere in the palace, three council members stood by a window, observing the courtyard below and speaking in hushed tones. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
“A human girl,” one said, sounding slightly anxious.
“The prophecy doesn’t care if she’s human,” the oldest replied.
“I’d rather have a human queen than a king lost to the curse. We should watch and wait.”
By mid-morning, everything was prepared.
The hall was ready, the torches illuminated brightly.
Queen Astrid stood at the top of the stairs, appearing composed and still.
She seemed to be waiting for an ordinary moment, but only she knew the truth.
**
Kael
I was twenty minutes early.
I rarely do that.
I am a king.
I don’t wait for others; they wait for me.
Yet here I was, standing alone in the cold mist where my world met the human one—early.
I told myself I was here for “strategy.” I wanted to see everything clearly.
But that was a lie.
I hadn’t slept.
I had spent the whole night pretending to be busy, yet I had been thinking about her.
I wondered if she had cried.
If she were awake in her room, she would feel frightened about leaving her life behind.
I had sent Riven alone to fetch her.
I was clear: no guards, no loud music, no intimidating soldiers.
I told him plainly, “Don’t frighten her.” Riven didn’t reply, but his expression said everything.
He knew the “Ice King’ worried about frightening a human girl.
Now I stood at the boundary.
My face was fixed in stone, but inside, the bond was screaming.
I could feel it as if something was pulling at my chest, dragging me toward the light.
She’s close.
I inhaled slowly.
I had to remain calm.
Remember you’re a king, I told myself.
The air shifted, and the light swirled like smoke.
She’s crossing, everything is certain.
The bond struck me powerfully.
It felt like a sudden warmth waking after years of winter. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
I kept my expression impassive so that no one could see my feelings.
The boundary shimmered; the light bent.
Then she stepped through.
First, the warmth.
It was gentle and sweet, out of place in my cold world.
It smelled of home and of something I’d never had but suddenly recognised.
Then I saw her.
She appeared small against the dark stone of my kingdom.
Her clothes were too thin for the cold.
Her hair was hastily tied back, probably with trembling hands.
Her eyes were wide and sharp, viewing the grey sky and black towers with pure fear.
She looked at me.
I stood there, mere feet away, gazing intently at her.
She stood still, as if we were the only two in the world, lost in our own realm.
I had prepared a speech, stiff, formal words to assert my dominance.
But all those words vanished from my mind.
The bond went silent, and an odd quiet settled over us.
For twenty-five years, I had led armies, faced monsters, and never felt lost.
Yet, now, I realised I was the one unready.
I stepped forward and approached her, my gaze fixed on her, and hers on mine.
At this moment, no one else mattered.
I noticed her curious eyes.
When I leaned closer, I was at a loss for words—completely unsure what to say.
Then she spoke…
Her voice was very soft, sending shivers through me.
But what she said caught me by surprise…
She’s finally here!
After 11 chapters, Lena has officially entered Erevon.
Seeing the “Ice King” show up 20 minutes early because he’s secretly nervous is my favorite part.
Question: What do you think Lena’s first words to him will be?
Let me know in the comments!
Don’t forget to add this to your library for Chapter 12!