out of the kingdom

out of the kingdom
The dawn had barely broken when I stirred, though I hadn’t really slept at all. My thoughts had been a tangled storm, circling endlessly around the same grief, the same image of Eric lying lifeless on the cold floor, the events that had happened yesterday.
They were no more’ the thought passed through my head. It felt as though i did not know the amount of relief that had happened, and honestly, i may never know the relief from Lucia, but someway, i felt as though i had gotten justice for my parents even though i did not know they needed it initially. But Kandlin? His death was personal, like i had finally been freed from som shackles.
I took in a deep breath after i was done dressing up, lookimg at the room one last time, my eyes landing on the potrait of Caudly one last time. “I think i have to go now” i said
When I stepped into the courtyard, the air was damp and heavy with morning mist. Aiden was already there, his figure half-silhouetted against the pale glow of the rising sun. He moved with quiet precision, preparing Eric’s body for the journey—wrapping him with care, every movement solemn, as though he carried the weight of both protector and executioner.
My throat tightened. For a moment, I simply watched him. His strength was unmistakable, but there was gentleness in the way he touched Eric, as though honoring him even in death.
I cleared my throat and stepped forward. He turned at the sound, his eyes sweeping over me in quiet surprise. I had dressed with purpose, the heavy cloak around my shoulders, boots laced, hair tied back. I wanted no one to mistake me for a girl who might be swayed.
“I’m coming with you,” I said, my voice steadier than I expected. “I won’t leave him. I can’t. Not when he’s alone.”
Aiden’s jaw tightened, and I could see the argument flicker in his eyes before it even formed on his lips. But before he could speak, another voice split the air.
“Absolutely not. Advika, we have talked about this” i opened my mouth to say something but i was cut of by walking steps towards us.
The queen’s footsteps rang sharp against the stone as she swept into the courtyard, her gown trailing behind her like a dark cloud. Her gaze cut through me, cold and commanding. “Advika, you will not leave these walls. Do you understand me? The palace is where you belong. The pack can bury their Alpha without you. You have a castle, a kingdom to run”
Her words struck like a blade, but something inside me had already hardened. Perhaps it was grief. Perhaps it was the weight of everything I had lost. Either way, I no longer felt the pull of her command.
I squared my shoulders and met her gaze head-on. “With all due respect, Your Majesty, I’d rather die than let him be carried away without me. He was my stepfather. My Alpha. He deserves my loyalty now more than ever—and I won’t abandon him because you demand it.” besides, if you had gotten off your stupid ass and came to help then may be we would not have lost him.
Her eyes narrowed, sharp with fury. “You dare defy me—”
“Yes,” I cut in, my voice rising, my chest tight but unyielding. “I dare. Because mourning him within these walls would kill me faster than anything else you could do.”
For a moment, the courtyard held its breath. The queen’s lips pressed into a thin line, her fury simmering, but I didn’t waver. I couldn’t. Something told me that this was my last chance at freedom
I turned to Aiden, my decision already sealed. “Take me with you. I won’t let him make that journey alone.”
Aiden’s eyes lingered on me for a heartbeat, and then he nodded once. Silent, resolute.
“if you take her out of these grounds, you become an enemy to the kingdom.” the queen said, looking intently at him
“Aiden,” she said, her voice quiet but sharp enough to slice. “You are to remain within these walls. If you step beyond them with the girl, you do so as an enemy of this state. And you know what happens to enemies of the crown.” she said, repeating herself again.
Her words echoed.
I stole a glance at Aiden. His jaw was tight, his hand flexing at his side as though it longed for a blade. He didn’t answer right away, and the silence was so thick it pressed against my skin.
The queen’s eyes flickered toward me, sharp and full of disdain, like I was nothing more than a reckless spark that threatened to burn her kingdom down.
Finally, Aiden turned his head, not to the queen, but to me. His eyes locked with mine, and for the briefest moment, the world narrowed down to just us—like it always did when he let the mask slip.
“I already lost her once,” he said, his voice low but steady, like he was speaking to himself as much as anyone else. “I’m not about to lose her again.”
My chest tightened. I swallowed hard, because those words—those dangerous, reckless words did a lot to me. Though i did not know what he meant by losing me once
He bent, grasping the corpse, and lifted it with practiced strength. Then, without waiting for permission, without sparing the queen another word, he took my hand in his free one and started toward the doors.
I half expected soldiers to rush forward, blades drawn. I half expected the queen’s voice to lash out like thunder. But there was only silence—heavy, suffocating silence—as we crossed the vast chamber.
Each step was a rebellion. Each step was a declaration.
And though fear coiled in my stomach, though I knew what it meant to defy a queen, I tightened my grip on Aiden’s hand and walked with him.
Because if he was willing to risk everything to keep me, I wasn’t about to let him face it alone.