? Lily
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?The voices were growing louder. Her grip on the pen faltered, and it clattered to the floor. Heart pounding, she got up and rushed toward the door, stepping into the main hallway as the shouting intensified.
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?She recognized her father’s gruff, stern tone.
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?"Is this what we taught you to become?! Is this how you plan to rule? A ruthless, mindless dictator?!"
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?Her brother’s voice followed—frustrated, pleading, hurt.
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?"How many times do I have to tell you?! I never ordered any deaths! Why would I ever order executions?!"
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?"Bullshit! You’re telling me all your political rivals just dropped dead on their own? That, after months of peace, there’s suddenly an insurgence of terrorists—who only happen to kill those that threaten your power?!"
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?"I never even wanted the throne, Dad!"
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?"And I never wanted you as a son."
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?Lily’s breath hitched. The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. She could feel them settle over the room like a death sentence. Even from behind the door, she could feel Axel's pain. She could hear it in the crack of his voice when he responded, raw and disbelieving.
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?"Y-you... you don’t mean that—"
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?"That’s what I thought too... turns out I meant every word."
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?His voice was cold, venomous.
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?"H-honey... maybe you should calm down—" their mother’s soft, pleading tone barely cut through the tension.
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?Axel latched onto it like a lifeline. "M-Mom... you believe me, right? Y-you know I’d never... I’d never kill without reason. You know that, don’t you?"
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?Lily hesitated before peeking through the small crack in the door.
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?Her mother’s lips quivered, but she turned away. She couldn’t look at Axel.
?
?Lily’s heart ached. The pain on Axel’s face was unbearable, his eyes filled with a desperate hope that crumbled into silent devastation. She wanted to move, to step in, to say something—anything—but the words caught in her throat, the fear and tension keeping her rooted in place.
?
?Axel stood motionless for a moment. Then, without a word, he turned and walked away. His usual cocky confidence was gone. He looked hollow.
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?Lily stepped inside, her voice shaky. "Dad—"
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?Her father’s gaze snapped to her. He looked just as she remembered—his crown atop his head, dressed in royal garments. The disappointment in his eyes softened slightly when he saw her. Her mother, however, still couldn’t meet her gaze.
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?"Ah... sweetie, we missed you," her father said, his tone notably softer.
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?She forced a small smile. "I... I missed you too, Dad, but—"
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?He cut her off. "You’re the Crown Princess now, Lily. You understand that, right?"
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?Her eyes widened. Her heart dropped to her stomach.
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?"W-what?"
?
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?Her mother looked just as shocked and horrified.
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?Axel froze mid-step, his grief turning to rage in an instant.
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?"No! Don’t you dare! She’s too young for this!"
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?The king’s gaze hardened. "Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do... you disgraceful boy."
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?Axel flinched, just barely. But then, he masked it behind clenched fists and fury.
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?"Are you serious?! You’re putting your own daughter through this?! Punish me however you want, but leave her out of it!"
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?"I am not punishing her. I’m giving the throne to someone who deserves it."
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?"I don’t give a damn about your fucking throne! That’s my sister! And I’ll be damned if I let you put her through hell!"
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?Lily’s chest tightened, a whirlwind of anxiety and affection for her brother crashing over her. He was hurting—yet even now, his first instinct was to protect her. And for that, she loved him all the more.
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?The king’s expression remained unreadable, but the weight of his authority pressed against them both. “It is not your choice to make, Axel.”
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?Axel stepped closer, fists clenched so tightly they trembled. “And what? It’s hers? She had no warning! No say in this!” He turned to Lily, eyes burning with urgency. “Tell him, Lily! Tell him you don’t want this!”
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?Lily opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
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?She didn’t want this. She wasn’t ready. But the way her father looked at her—expectant, certain—made her stomach churn. Would he turn on her too if she refused? Would she be cast aside like Axel?
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?She swallowed hard. “I...”
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?Axel’s face fell. “Lily, please—”
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?“Enough.” Their father’s voice was final. “You will not interfere in matters of the throne.”
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?Axel scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping him. “Right. Of course. Because I was never meant to be part of it, was I?” He took a step back, shaking his head. “You know what? Fine. Take your perfect heir. See what happens when you break everything you touch.”
?
?Lily saw the moment the last shred of hope left him. The moment he stopped fighting for their father’s approval and let himself fall into the inevitability of it all.
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?Axel turned on his heel and stormed out.
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?“Axel—” Lily started, but he was already gone.
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?She wanted to go after him. She wanted to tell him she didn’t want the throne, that she still needed him. But as she turned back to face her father, his gaze pinned her in place.
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?“You will be a better ruler than he ever could have been.”
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?She wasn’t sure if it was meant to be reassuring. It only made her feel sick.
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?Her mother finally spoke, her voice hesitant. “Lily, you don’t have to—”
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?“Yes, she does,” her father cut in.
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?Lily exhaled shakily. She had always been a survivor, adapting to whatever life threw at her.
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?She just never thought it would throw this.
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?And Axel...
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?She had to find him. Before it was too late.
?
?
?Lily shifted on her feet, her body tensed as if ready to run after Axel. But her father’s presence loomed over her, heavy and immovable.
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?“You will be a better ruler than he ever could have been,” he repeated, watching her closely, as if daring her to defy him.
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?She barely heard him. Her heart was pounding in her ears, screaming at her to go after her brother, to tell him this wasn’t what she wanted. But she couldn’t just turn her back on the king—not yet.
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?Her mother’s worried gaze flickered between them. “Lily, you don’t have to decide anything right now—”
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?“Yes, she does,” her father snapped, his voice final. “The kingdom needs stability. Axel has proven himself incapable. You will take his place, and you will do what he never could—lead. He'll be held accountable for his crimes".
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?Lily clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms. She wanted to scream at him, to tell him he was wrong, that Axel wasn’t the failure he made him out to be. But she knew better. Arguing with him wouldn’t change anything.
?
?So she swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. Not in agreement, but in understanding.
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?Her father seemed satisfied. “Good. We will begin preparations immediately. You’ll have much to learn.”
?
?Lily barely waited for him to finish before she turned and left the room, her pace quickening with every step. She needed to find Axel.
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?She needed to make sure he was okay.
?
?
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?She found him in the dimly lit study, hunched over her desk. At first, she thought he was just sitting there, staring into nothing. But then she saw the parchment in his trembling hands.
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?Her letter to Knox.
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?Lily’s breath caught in her throat.
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?Axel’s fingers gripped the edges of the paper so tightly it crumpled slightly. His eyes scanned the words, his expression unreadable, but his body was tense, shoulders rigid with something barely contained.
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?Then, slowly, he let out a shaky breath—a breath that sounded more like something breaking.
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?“Axel...” Lily stepped forward carefully.
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?He didn’t move. Didn’t look at her. Just kept staring at the letter, his jaw clenched so tight it looked like it hurt.
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?“You love him.” His voice was barely above a whisper, but it cut through her like a blade.
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?Lily’s stomach twisted in guilt.A small part of her had known his feelings for Knox. But the selfish part of her hadn't cared.
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?Axel finally turned his head, and when he met her eyes, she felt her heart shatter.
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?He looked... lost.
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?Not angry, not even hurt in the way she expected. Just... hollow. Like something had been ripped away from him, leaving nothing but a gaping wound in its place.
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?“You love him too,” she said softly.
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?His breath hitched, and for a moment, he looked like he was going to deny it. But the fight left him before it could even begin. His grip on the letter loosened, his hands dropping to his lap.
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?“I—” His voice cracked, and he stopped himself. He let out a bitter laugh instead, shaking his head. “I don’t know why I’m surprised. Of course it’s you.”
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?Lily took another step closer, but Axel flinched like she’d struck him.
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?“It was always going to be you, wasn’t it?” His voice was distant, almost numb. “You were always the one who could still love, who could still... hope.”
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?Lily’s throat tightened. “Axel, that’s not—”
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?“Do you know what it feels like,” he interrupted, voice suddenly sharp, “to have everything slip away? To realize that no matter what you do, no matter how hard you try, it’s never enough?”
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?Lily froze.
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?Axel exhaled shakily, his fingers curling into fists. “Dad doesn’t want me. Mom won’t even look at me. The kingdom thinks I’m a murderer. And now—” He swallowed, voice raw. “Now even this.”
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?She didn’t know what to say.
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?Axel let out another short, humorless laugh. “It’s funny. I thought maybe... maybe if I fought hard enough, if I held on tight enough, I could keep something. Someone.” His hands trembled. “But it doesn’t matter, does it? Everything I love just... slips through my fingers.”
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?Lily’s chest ached.
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?She had never seen him like this.
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?Axel had always been so loud, so cocky, so frustratingly full of life. But now, all of that was gone. And what was left behind—this broken, grieving thing—was terrifying.
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?“Axel,” she whispered.
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?He looked at her again, and for the first time in her life, she wasn’t sure if he could be saved.
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?“I don’t think I can do this anymore, Lily." His voice was quiet. Defeated. "Good luck with Knox"
?
?Lily’s breath stilled.A sudden, crushing fear settled in her chest.
?
?Because for the first time...
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?She realized she might actually lose him.
?
