Chapter 309

Ashley pov

Since the king left, there’s nothing but silence around us. That is, until the Council invites us inside and leads us all to a room where we are supposed to have a discussion with them.

Unfortunately, I’m the only one who can enter, so the rest of us stay behind closed door.

The chambers are quiet, the kind of silence that is both uncomfortable and eerily comfortable at the same time. Every eye in the room is on me - waiting, watching. I stand there, trying to steady my breathing.

One of the Council members, a graying old man with sharp eyes and a voice that seems to cut through stone, clears his throat. “Ashley Kingston,” he says, his tone formal, “the kingdom has suffered greatly under the rule of King William and the chaos brought by the late prince, Kaiden. We are at a crossroads now, and the decision falls to you.”

My stomach turns. I don’t want this kind of responsibility, but I can feel the weight of their words sink into me.

“You have a choice,” the man continues, his voice calm but firm. “You may leave. Walk away from all of this and live your life however you choose. Or-” He pauses, glancing at the other Council members before turning back to me. “You may take up the leadership. Bring this kingdom back to its former glory. Lead us into a new era of peace and prosperity.”

Freedom or leadership.

The words flash in my head like a storm. Freedom sounds tempting, so damn tempting. I could walk away from all of this, leave behind the blood and chaos, and just live. But then I think about the people who are still here, the ones who need someone to step up and make things right.

The Council watches me in silence, waiting for my answer. My voice feels stuck in my throat, so I just nod once, letting them know I’ve heard them. “I need time,” I whisper.

“Take all the time you need,” the Council member says. “But not too long. The kingdom can’t afford to wait forever.”

I nod again and turn to leave the chamber, my legs feel shaky beneath me. Outside, Gio and Constantine are waiting. They’re leaning against the wall, their expressions a mixture of concern and curiosity.

“Well?” Constantine asks as I approach.

I don’t answer right away. Instead, I motion for them to follow me, and we step outside into the courtyard. The air is cool, the scent of rain lingers although I didn’t notice when it started raining.

I stop near a stone bench, turning to face them. Gio crosses his arms, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studies me. Constantine raises an eyebrow, waiting for me to speak.

“They gave me a choice,” I say finally, my voice barely above a whisper. “I can leave and never look back. Or I can stay and lead the kingdom.”

Gio’s eyes widen slightly, and he lets out a low whistle. “That’s a lot.”

“No kidding,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair. “I don’t know what to do. Part of me wants to run as far away from this place as I can. But the other part of me...” I trail off, looking down at my hands.

“The other part of you knows you can’t turn your back on them,” Constantine finishes for me. His voice is softer than usual, yet his expression is serious.

I nod slowly. “Yeah.”

Gio steps closer. “Look, Ash, I’m not gonna lie. This is huge. Like, life-changing huge. But if anyone can do it, it’s you.”

I blink up at him, surprised. “You think so?”

He nods. “Absolutely. You’ve already proven you’re strong, smart, and capable. You’ve been through hell, and you’re still standing. That’s more than most people can say.”

Constantine nods in agreement. “He’s right. And you wouldn’t be doing it alone, Ash. You’d have us. We’d be by your side every step of the way.”

My heart aches at their words. “But what if I mess up? What if I make things worse?”

Constantine places a hand on my shoulder. “Everyone makes mistakes, Ash. Leadership isn’t about being perfect. It’s about doing your best, learning from your failures, and fighting for the people who need you.”

Gio grins, his usual playful spark returning for a moment. “Besides, if anyone gives you trouble, you’ve got a giant bear and a wolf to back you up. No one’s gonna mess with you.”

I can’t help but smile at that, even a small laugh escapes me. “You make it sound so simple.”

“It’s not simple,” Constantine adds. “But it’s worth it. And I believe in you. We believe in you.”

Their words sink in as their support wraps around me like a warm blanket. For the first time since this whole mess started, I feel a real glimmer of hope. Maybe I can do this.

I take a deep breath, looking between them. “Okay,” I breathe out. “Let’s do it. Let’s rebuild the kingdom together.”

Gio grins, clapping me on the back. “That’s the spirit!”

Constantine nods proudly. “You won’t regret this, Ash. We’ll make sure of it.”

With their support, I feel a newfound drive to do better. I turn back toward the castle, my steps more confident than before. The Council is waiting, and I know what I need to say.

When we return to the chamber, the Council members look up.

I step forward, my head held high. “I’ve made my decision,” I start. “I will lead this kingdom. But I won’t do it alone. Firstly, Gio and Constantine will stand by my side as my advisors. Secondly, alongside me, my second-chance mates will take the throne. All three of them.”

The room is silent for a moment, and then one by one, the Council members nod their approval.

“Very well,” the sharp-eyed man says. “The kingdom is yours to guide, Ashley Kingston. We will support you however we can.”