Journey to Become the Zenith

The Queen’s Decision

The court fell into silence.

The messenger’s final words seemed to hang in the enormous hall long after his voice had faded.

Nobody spoke.

Nobody even seemed willing to breathe too loudly.

The information he had delivered was simply too heavy.

Fantom City had changed.

The Prince was alive.

Victor stood beside him.

And the people of that distant territory were beginning to believe that their future might no longer depend upon the royal capital.

For the nobles, that was not merely rebellion.

It was the beginning of something far more and very dangerous.

A new center of power.

Queen Amara remained seated upon her throne.

Her crimson eyes moved slowly across the gathered nobles.

She could see the fear hidden behind their anger.

They weren’t only worried about the Prince.

They were worried about themselves.

Their lands.

Their wealth.

Their influence.

If Fantom City became prosperous, their own territories might begin losing people.

If the Prince gathered enough supporters, those same nobles might eventually find themselves standing beneath another ruler.

One noble finally broke the silence.

"Your Majesty, we cannot continue waiting."

His voice was controlled, but the urgency beneath it was obvious.

Another noble stepped forward.

"The longer Fantom City remains independent, the stronger it becomes."

"Exactly."

A third noble nodded.

"If the people hear that the Prince has established a safe territory, they may begin leaving their homes."

"Not may," another corrected him. "They will."

Several nobles exchanged uneasy looks.

"People always follow prosperity."

"And if Fantom City becomes prosperous..."

The noble didn’t finish.

He didn’t need to.

Everyone understood.

Queen Amara slowly raised her hand.

"Enough."

The room quieted again.

Her expression remained calm.

"Do you believe I am unaware of the danger?"

The nobles lowered their heads.

"No, Your Majesty."

"Then stop speaking as though I am."

Her voice wasn’t loud.

It didn’t need to be.

The pressure of her authority spread through the hall like a cold wind.

The nobles remained silent.

Amara leaned back slightly.

"There is another matter."

Her eyes became sharper.

"Our neighboring Blackthorn kingdom has not stopped attacking our borders."

The atmosphere changed immediately.

Several nobles exchanged glances.

Amara continued.

"We have already lost soldiers defending our eastern frontier."

"The enemy continues probing our defenses."

"They are waiting for an opportunity."

Her fingers tightened slightly around the armrest.

"If we send a large force toward Fantom City now, what do you think our enemy will do?"

Nobody answered.

Amara looked at them one by one.

"They will strike."

Her voice became colder.

"And they will strike where our defenses are weakest."

One of the nobles swallowed.

"But Your Majesty..."

Amara interrupted him.

"Not now."

Two words.

That was all.

Yet they carried the weight of a command.

The queen rose slowly from her throne.

The long silver fabric of her imperial robe moved across the marble floor.

"We are surrounded by enemies."

Her crimson eyes swept over the court.

"Our neighboring Blackthorn kingdom continues its attacks."

"Our borders require soldiers."

"Our people require protection."

"And you are asking me to begin another conflict while we are already fighting one."

A noble stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, Fantom City is different."

"How?"

"The Prince is your family."

Amara’s expression changed slightly.

The noble continued carefully.

"If we allow him to establish himself, he could become a threat from within."

Another noble immediately supported him.

"Your Majesty, a rebellion inside the kingdom is more dangerous than a foreign enemy."

Amara stared at them.

"Is that what you believe?"

"Yes."

The queen sighed.

It wasn’t an angry sigh.

It was tired.

Almost disappointed.

"You want me to fight a battle because you fear what might happen."

She looked toward the messenger.

"Yet none of you can tell me how powerful Victor truly is."

The messenger lowered his head.

"That is true, Your Majesty."

"And none of you know how strong the Prince’s forces have become."

Again, silence.

"Then what exactly are you asking me to do?"

The nobles struggled to answer.

One finally said,

"Send an army."

"Against what?"

The noble froze.

Amara’s gaze hardened.

"You don’t know their numbers."

"You don’t know their strength."

"You don’t know their defenses."

"And you don’t know Victor."

She paused.

"Yet you want me to send soldiers there."

Nobody spoke.

The queen slowly turned toward the great windows overlooking the capital.

Beyond them, the evening sky had begun to darken.

"That would be foolish."

A noble clenched his teeth.

"Then, Your Majesty, what are we supposed to do?"

Amara turned around.

"Wait."

The noble looked shocked.

"Wait?"

"Yes."

Her voice was firm.

"Let them do what they do."

Several nobles stared at her.

Amara continued.

"Once we crush our neighboring enemy, I will personally go to Fantom City."

She paused.

"And I will meet my brother."

The words struck the court differently.

Some nobles looked relieved.

Others looked stunned.

A few exchanged glances.

The queen had made her decision.

Not because she didn’t care about the rebellion.

But because she understood something they did not.

A kingdom fighting on two fronts could easily destroy itself.

"We cannot afford a second battlefield."

Amara’s voice softened slightly.

"Not now."

She looked toward the gathered nobles.

"My decision is final."

Every noble bowed.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

One after another, heads lowered.

Even those who disagreed understood that the discussion was over.

The court slowly began to disperse.

The sound of footsteps echoed through the enormous hall.

The messenger was escorted away.

The ministers left.

The generals followed.

Soon, only a few people remained.

Aura stood near one of the pillars.

She had listened to everything.

Her red eyes remained thoughtful.

She looked toward Amara.

"Your Majesty."

Amara glanced at her.

"What is it?"

Aura smiled faintly.

"You really intend to meet him yourself."

"My brother?"

Aura nodded.

Amara’s expression softened.

"Of course."

Aura hesitated.

Then she said quietly,

"I think you’ll find him very different from the person you remember."

Amara’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"You’ve met Victor."

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