Chapter 1
“Checkmate,” Thurston said gleefully, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied smirk. He crossed his arms smugly over his chest, his grey eyes gleaming with triumph beneath a tousled sweep of chocolate-brown hair.
Across the table, Victoria let out an exasperated breath, glaring at the chessboard as if it had wronged her personally. With a flick of her fingers, she knocked one of her own fallen pieces over.
“I loathe this game,” she muttered, her small voice petulant, lips pursed in a pout that matched the deep furrow between her brows.
“You only say that because you always lose,” Thurston said smugly.
Victoria narrowed her eyes at him. “That is entirely beside the point.” She turned her attention to Mrs. Celine, who sat on the couch, eyes drifting lazily over a book as if she had not a care in the world.
“Can we do something else now?” Victoria asked, swinging her feet restlessly beneath the table.
Mrs. Celine barely looked up. “I brought you new books. Shall I fetch them?”
“I meant something fun.” Victoria replied, her tone plaintive as she slumped lower in her chair.
“Reading is fun,” Mrs. Celine said, turning a page.
“No, it is not.”
“You may have all the fun you wish for later.”
Mrs Celine said firmly. “Right now, it is time for your lessons.”
Victoria groaned loudly, throwing her head back. “I am so bored.”
“We can keep playing,” Thurston said with the grin still on his face, clearly still enjoying himself. He leaned forward and began resetting the chess pieces methodically. “Chess is fun.”
Victoria shot him a flat,unimpressed look. “You only say that because you always win. I daresay you would not enjoy it so much if Cassia were your opponent.”
Thurston gave a casual shrug. “That is hardly my fault. If you made more of an effort, you might actually win someday.”
She let out a dramatic sigh and slumped even deeper in her chair, then threw her stocking-clad legs up onto the table with a thud, her small feet swinging slightly. ” Chess is dull. Everything is dull. This whole day is dreadfully boring.”
“Victoria, take your feet off the table,” Mrs. Celine said firmly, her tone sharp with disapproval. “That is not proper behavior in the presence of a gentleman.”
Victoria cast a slow, exaggerated glance around the room, then raised one delicate brow. “A gentleman? she asked, tone dripping with mockery. “I see no gentleman here.”
Thurston scoffed, grabbing a chess piece off the board. With a mischievous gleam in his eyes, he tossed it toward her.
He missed. But in her haste to dodge, Victoria lost her balance. The chair wobbled, then tilted completely. With a surprised gasp, she tumbled to the floor with a thud.
“Victoria!”Mrs. Celine’s book fell to the floor as she leapt up, her face etched with worry.
Thurston’s chair screeched backward as he scrambled toward her, his earlier amusement vanishing in an instant. He dropped to one knee beside her, his grey eyes wide, unsure whether to reach for her or not.
“Are you hurt?” he asked, his voicesoft.
“Vic?”
Victoria pushed herself onto one elbow, wincing as she did so. She pressed a hand to her arm. “I am fine,” she bit out, though annoyance burned in her chest.
Thurston’s smirk had vanished. “I—I am sorry,” he said, shifting uncomfortably.
Mrs. Celine folded her arms. “You should be. Look at what you have done.” Then, turning back to Victoria, her expression softened. “I shall fetch the physician. Do not move from that spot.”
Victoria gave a small nod, watching as Mrs. Celine hurried out of the room. Once the door clicked shut, she shifted, extending a hand toward Thurston.
He blinked. “Do you need something?”
“Help me up.”
“But Mrs. Celine said—”
“My back aches, and I do not wish to sit on the floor any longer.”
Thurston hesitated, then finally sighed and offered his hand. The moment his fingers curled around hers, Victoria yanked him forward.
With a yelp, he lost his balance and collapsed beside her, landing with an indignant grunt.
Victoria stood, grinning. “Now we are even.”
Thurston groaned. “That was not funny.”
“It was funny.”
“You are impossible.”
“I know.”
He rubbed his elbow. “I think I sprained my ankle.”
Victoria rolled her eyes. “Do not be such a baby.”
“I am serious,” he huffed. “I do not think I can move.”
Victoria hesitated, guilt creeping into her expression. “Truly?”
“Truly.”
She sighed and knelt beside him. “Where does it hurt?”
“My ankle.”
She hesitated. “I did not mean to hurt you.”
“It is quite alright,” he said, a small smirk playing on his lips. “I did start it, after all.”
“Here they are!”
The library doors swung open. Mrs. Celine strode in, followed by the palace physician and Sir Cedric, the king’s guard assigned to the young princess.
The physician frowned. “I thought you said the princess was injured.”
Mrs. Celine halted abruptly at the sight before her, brows knitting together. “She was—“She looked between them, unimpressed. “What exactly is going on here?”
Mrs. Celine’s gaze sharpened as it landed on Thurston. “And what happened to you?”
“I fell,” he said simply.
Sir Cedric sighed heavily. “We do not have time for this”. He walked over to where Thurston was.“Can you walk?”
Thurston hesitated, then nodded. “I believe so.”
“Good enough.” Sir Cedric’s voice was clipped. “His Majesty has summoned you both to the council chamber at once.”
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The corridor was eerily silent, save for the sound of their footsteps against the polished stone floor. Victoria and Thurston's hands were laced together as they walked behind Sir Cedric.Thurston's heart pounded against his ribs, but he kept his face carefully composed. His father had always told him that a man did not show fear, especially not before a girl.
Victoria was shaking. He could feel it through her small, cold fingers. Thurston held her hand firmly as they followed Sir Cedric toward the heavy wooden doors of the council chamber.
She looked up at him then, her wide green eyes brimming with fear and unspoken questions. He wished he had an answer, but he didn't. They had never been summoned to the council room before. He racked his brain for what they could have possibly done to warrant such a summons. The broken vase? But that wasn't the first one. The horse riding incident? He had taken her despite her governess's protests, but that hardly seemed worth summoning the council. Or perhaps.......
"You both may enter," Sir Cedric's voice cut through his thoughts
Victoria halted, her grip on his hand tightening. "I don't want to," she whispered, barely audible.
Thurston turned to sir Cedric. "Do you know why he called us?"
Sir Cedric's expression softened, though he remained formal. He knelt slightly to be at Victoria's level. "I do not know, but it cannot be that bad, little one.
"I do not want to go in," she murmured, shaking her head.
Thurston exhaled, lowering his own voice. "It's alright. I will be there with you. I won't let anything happen to you."
She stared at him, unconvinced. "What can you do? They are all bigger than you."
His lips curled into a smirk. "Yes, but I have something they do not."
Victoria frowned. "What?"
"I am training in combat," he said, lifting his chin slightly.
She scoffed. "You fight with Sir Francis. It does not count. You can barely beat me."
"That is not true," he argued.
"It is," she countered.
Sir Cedric sighed. "Are you both finished with your bickering? The king is waiting." He straightened, giving them a mock-stern look. "If you need reassurance, call for me. I shall come and save you from the terrifying council."
"Truly?"
"Of course."
Victoria hesitated before exhaling shakily. She gave a small nod. "Alright."
Sir Cedric pushed open the grand double doors. A hush fell over the chamber as every head turned toward them. Victoria stiffened beside him. Thurston could feel her instinct to move behind him, but he held her hand firmly, keeping her at his side.
From across the room at the right side of the king, his father, Duke Garrick Elmsford, looked displeased. The king sat at the head of the table, full of power and confidence, even though his body looked weak and frail. He was very ill, yet most people forgot that. He had always been larger than life, a man whose presence alone demanded respect, as if sickness could never truly touch him.
The king beckoned them forward with a wave of his hand.
"Come," he said, his tone unreadable.
Thurston hesitated. Victoria's fingers curled tighter around his, as if she could anchor herself to him. He barely had time to process it before Arthur's gaze flickered downward.
"There is nothing to fear," the king said, softer now. "None of you are in trouble. Come."
Victoria hesitated, then slowly released Thurston's hand. Together, they stepped toward her grandfather, standing at his sides.
King Arthur gave Victoria a reassuring smile before facing the council. "I have heard all you had to say on the matter of my successor," he announced. "I have given your suggestions much deliberation."
The king paused and for a while before he continued.
"After much deliberation, Duke Elmsford and I have made a final decision concerning the future of Malveria."
"I have considered all the protests and arguments," King Arthur continued. "Most of you advocated for Duke Elmsford, given his family's close ties to the throne, while a few preferred the princess."
King Arthur exhaled heavily. " The duke is a wise choice in terms of experience and age, but he cannot be king while Victoria stands aside.
Belvaris has made its stance clear—they will withdraw their peace treaty if Victoria is cast aside."
The hush that followed was thick with tension. Even Victoria understood what that meant. Without Belvaris alliance, the kingdom would be left exposed to other kingdoms especially Norwyke.
Then, the king spoke the word that made the air in the room turn to ice.
"Suggestions were made that I marry Victoria off to the duke."
Victoria blinked, the words not quite settling. Marry?
Thurston's body went rigid beside her. She turned her head slightly, and her stomach twisted at the look on his face—his mouth slightly open, eyes widened in horror.
His gaze snapped to his father, repulsion twisting his features. He looked as though he might be sick right there in the middle of the chamber. Victoria had never seen him so still, so utterly shocked.
But then the king spoke again, his voices firm.
"But I will not give my granddaughter to a man old enough to be her father. That is not an option." He paused for a second before he continued. "That is why I have chosen the princess as my heir."
The chamber erupted. Some voices rose in protest, others in agreement. Victoria heaved a sigh of relief, grateful that she won't have to marry the prime minister. Though at the same time, she was surprised. She had never imagined that her grandfather would pick her as his heir. Ever since the last heir, her father, died, people had become worried about the throne's lack of heir. Naturally, none considered her for the position, even though she was the only available option. The thought of being queen was a welcome thought to her. She knew the other option would be to marry whoever becomes king.
King Arthur raised his hand, and the noise ceased at once. "Personally, I have no problem with Victoria being my successor," he said, his voice sharp. "But I am not blind to the reality of what will follow my death. I want to ensure that the peace of my reign remains. Her rule will be met with resistance. She will face rebellion. That is inevitable."
"Her rule would be more secure if there was a more formidable match by her side. Prince Orville Wyndham would be the most logical choice, but he is both her cousin and heir to his own throne." The pause stretched long enough for Victoria to feel the tension thickening like a noose around her neck.
"That is why the duke and I have decided that Princess Victoria will be betrothed to Lord Thurston Elmsford."
The chamber erupted again, louder this time, the protests and murmurs blending into a chaotic mess of voices.
"This is absurd!" Lord Mortimer bellowed.
"Thurston can just serve as king instead!" Lord Ellingford called out, his voice like steel.
King Arthur did not flinch. "As long as Victoria is alive, she is the first in line for the throne. I will not pass her up for someone else."
"She will still be queen if you make Thurston king," Lord Edward said carefully.
"Not the ruler," Lord Norbury murmured darkly. "Just a queen that breeds."
Victoria flinched. King Arthur's voice sliced through the tension.
"Victoria can and she will rule."
A silence fell over the room, heavy and final.
Lord Ellingford opened his mouth again, but the king did not allow him the chance. "It has already been decided upon by the prime minister and me. There is no room for discussion."
His gaze swept across the chamber, daring anyone to challenge him. No one spoke.
Victoria swallowed hard. Everything had been decided for her. She had always known that at one point, her grandfather would engage her to a duke's son or maybe a council member even but she never thought that it would be this soon. Her future, her very life, was now bound to Thurston in a way she had never imagined. And beside her, Thurston stood stiffly, his face carefully blank, she wondered what was going through his mind. Though she would never admit it to him, she was happy that it was Thurston. She loved him and she knew he loved her too. They practically grew up together as siblings and even though it's weird to imagine her married to him at some point, she was grateful that it was him. She knew she would never be a victim of most of the scary stories she had heard about the married ladies and the way their husbands treated them.
"From today," King Arthur declared, "they both will be a part of the council to prepare them for their future roles."
"The people will not accept this "Baldric said.
"On the contrary," Garrick interjected. "I believe it is a wise decision. Regardless of her gender, the princess has no challenger to her birthright. Thurston, however, does. No matter what people claim, the boy has no greater right than anybody to be made king." Murmurs spread across the room, some reluctant, some in agreement.
"If there are no further objections," Arthur declared, "then it is decided. From this day forth, both Victoria and Thurston are official members of this council to prepare them for their future role. Thurston Elmsford will succeed his father as prime minister upon Princess Victoria's ascension. They will be wed when Victoria is of age.
