Chapter 204 - Dawn of a New Kingdom

Chapter 204 - Dawn of a New Kingdom
KIERAN
I stepped closer, placing a hand on my shoulder. “A fine scholar,” I said with a faint smile, “makes a fine king.”
Cassius’ lips trembled with disbelief. “I… I never—”
Alistair’s eunuch approached with a sealed scroll, the royal decree. The sick king’s trembling hand reached for it, but his strength failed.
Kaira gently took it from him, her tears falling silently onto the parchment. She passed it to Cassius, bowing slightly.
Amelia and Darius exchanged a look, relieved, maybe even proud.
Cassius exhaled shakily, then smiled and turned to embrace Amelia tightly.
Sunlight finally broke through the clouds outside, spilling across the chamber floor.
I stepped back, watching the moment with quiet peace, the kingdom healing itself as another life began to fade.
Alistair’s hand, still resting weakly on my arm, gave one last squeeze before it slid lifelessly away.
Kaira gasped softly.
Fiona bowed her head.
Cassius and Amelia stood frozen mid-embrace.
I closed Alistair’s eyes gently, whispering,
“Rest now, Your Majesty.”
The first rays of morning painted the walls gold as the last King of Lykos drew his final breath.

LYKOS — ONE MONTH LATER
The kingdom finally breathed again.
Light had returned to its streets, no more spirit beasts, no cries of war, no smoke from the ruins. The air carried peace instead of fear.
But not everything remained.
The witches were gone, most fled into the Vaeloria, a few buried in silence beneath the new dawn they never lived to see.
King Cassius ruled wisely.
He was calm, clever, and everything Lykos needed after its storms. The ministers admired him; they called him “the Scholar King.” His reforms came swiftly and his charm won the court’s heart.
Yet, what I never knew was that Cassius’ heart had long belonged to Amelia.
From the palace balcony, I watched them in the garden below.
They laughed softly under the pear tree, sunlight glinting through the leaves. Cassius said something that made her blush, and she playfully pushed his shoulder. I smiled faintly to myself.
“Finally, Amelia has found the kind of mysterious man she wishes for,” I murmured.
“I knew I was never the one for her.”
Then I saw it, Cassius leaning in, their lips meeting in a gentle kiss.
I chuckled under my breath.
“Well… Cassius has finally become a man,” I said quietly, turning away.
And as for Darius and Fiona, after the chaos, the council granted them a quarter of Lykos to call their home after their marriage. It was peaceful, the kind of peace Darius never believed he deserved, yet Fiona gave him freely.
As I walked down the long corridor leading out of the palace, the sound of my boots echoing faintly, I caught sight of Kaira.
She was no longer dressed like a princess, her gown was plain, her hair tied simply, her expression calm and bright.
“And where are you off to, dressed like that?” I asked with a teasing smile.
Kaira turned, caught, then grinned.
“The Duchy,” she said lightly.
I arched a brow. “Mmm,” I hummed knowingly. I already know who she's going to see. “I'm coming with you.”
Kaira blushed, trying to hold back a smile.
“And why would you come?”
“Because,” I said playfully, stepping beside her, “someone needs to make sure nothing stupid happens before marriage.”
Kaira laughed, swatting my arm. “You’re impossible.”
We left the palace together, riding toward Late Duchess Eloise’s mansion.
When we arrived, Ivan was the first to come out to greet us. His eyes lit up when he saw Kaira, he moved forward instinctively for an embrace, then paused awkwardly when he noticed I was standing behind her.
I cleared my throat, muttering, “You’re early…”
Then my gaze shifted, I froze.
Behind Ivan stood Adeline, her posture graceful, her eyes shy but steady.
She smiled faintly and greeted, “Princess Kaira. Prince Kieran.”
But I wasn’t listening, my eyes fixed on her, unmoving, my heart sinking and rising all at once. I whispered her name, voice trembling slightly:
“Liora…”
Ivan noticed, quickly taking Kaira’s hand. “We’ll… be inside,” he said hurriedly, leading her away to give us space.
Adeline looked confused, wanting to speak, but I interrupted softly:
“Come with me.”
I led her quietly through the streets, not to the mansion, but to a small, weathered house at the edge of the woods.
She paused, eyes widening.
“This… this was my aunt’s house,” she whispered. Memories flickered through her mind though the memories she had here weren't good ones.
I nodded, then guided her around the back.
There, beneath a willow tree, two simple graves lay side by side. One for Mallory and the other for Talia. They died during the chaos.
Her breath caught.
Her knees gave way.
She fell to the ground, sobbing softly.
I knelt beside her in silence, offering a small bouquet of white wildflowers.
“For them,” I said gently.
Adeline took the flowers with trembling hands and laid them down. The breeze rustled through the leaves as if whispering blessings from the dead.
When the silence settled, I finally spoke.
“I’ll be leaving soon,” I said quietly. “For Lunvaris.”
Adeline turned sharply, her tears glistening.
“When will you come back?”
I looked toward the horizon, the sunlight bending through the trees.
“It might take a long time,” I said.
She reached out suddenly, grabbing my hand. Her grip was firm, desperate.
“Then I’m going with you.”
I looked at her, not to see Adeline, but Liora shining through her eyes, and for the first time, I didn’t argue.
I simply nodded.
“Then we’ll go together.”
The wind carried the last petals from the flowers across the graves, and as we rose, it almost looked like the world itself was blessing our journey.

THE END