The palace remains unchanged. Every towering wall, every grand hallway, just as I left it. Yet, after three months away, something feels different. Or maybe I am the one who has changed.
One thing is certain: I am no longer confined to that wretched chamber that once suffocated me. Now, I share Cassian's. He insists on it, refusing to let us be apart. I love my privacy, the serenity of Wild Haven, but here, within the palace walls, Cassian is relentless.
Esther, still my personal maid but more like a trusted friend now, moves beside me as we walk through the corridors. The guards and maids remain the same, yet their demeanour toward me has shifted. Their bows are deeper, their gazes filled with acknowledgment, perhaps even reverence.
Cassian was adamant that we greet Queen Morgana upon arrival. I despise her presence, but I do not object. She is, after all, my mother-in-law.
We enter the grand sitting room where she awaits, her face unreadable, yet her cold eyes pierce through me.
"Cassian, I see you've brought your wife back." Her voice drips with disdain as she deliberately ignores my greeting.
Cassian's grip tightens around my hand, his voice unwavering. "It's a good thing. Divorce is forbidden in the royal house of Matica, remember?"
Cassian's lips curl slightly, a flicker of something dark flashing in his gaze. "I don't know about that, Queen Mother. I love her, and I need her by my side."
Silence.
She does not argue. She does not lash out. She simply watches us before turning her attention away.
Cassian leads me back to our chambers, but my mind lingers on her reaction. Why didn't she fight back this time?
This morning, excitement flutters in my chest as I stand before the heavy wooden doors of my library. The one place I missed the most.
Esther steps forward, unlocking the door. The scent of aged paper and polished oak greets me, filling my senses with nostalgia. Everything is clean, untouched; Esther's doing, no doubt.
But the moment I step inside, I feel it.
A presence.
I freeze.
My eyes immediately find the King's portrait, his gaze unwavering, penetrating.
My breath catches. Did… did he just smile?
It's faint, almost imperceptible, yet something about his expression feels different. A trick of the light? A hallucination?
Or is it something far more unsettling?
A cold shiver slides down my spine, but I push it aside. I won't let the past haunt me.
But deep inside, I know this is only the beginning.
***
I take Cassian's advice and start making myself comfortable in the palace. If I am to stay here, I refuse to live like a guest.
The first change is the garden. My favouriteoutdoor spot. The only place within the place courtyard where I feel free.
I instruct the palace gardeners to alter the landscape; plant more jasmine, more lilies, and an expansion of the stone pathway so I can walk barefoot when I please. I even request a hidden gazebo, a place where I can escape prying eyes.
Christmas is only days away.
Esther informs me that the palace has no particular event planned. Just another silent, joyless holiday in these cold marble halls.
Unacceptable.
I decide to create one.
I sit in my library, scribbling furiously on parchment, drafting a list, sketching ideas. A grand ball? A banquet? Something new, something that leaves an imprint.
Cassian walks in just as I'm lost in my thoughts. He watches me for a moment before smirking. "You're plotting something."
I grin. "I'm making Christmas worth remembering."
He tilts his head. "How extravagant are we talking?"
"Extravagant enough to shake this palace to its core."
Cassian chuckles. "I knew I married a queen, not just a princess."
His next move stuns me.
He pulls out a sleek black card and places it on the desk. "This is yours."
I blink. "What is it?"
"Your own account." He says it so casually, like it's nothing. "I don't want you depending on the palace purse. Ever."
A rush of emotions floods me. Cassian trusting me with financial independence? Giving me control, power - something I never truly had before?
I pick up the card, running my fingers over its surface. A black Amex. No limit.
I glance at him. "Why are you doing this?"
Cassian steps closer, his voice low, firm. "Because no one in this palace should ever have the power to control you again."
My breath catches.
For the first time, I feel untouchable.
***
The decorators are hard at work, draping garlands and stringing golden lights along the palace's cold marble walls. I oversee everything from my garden, my safe space, until a sharp, furious voice cuts through the festive hum.
"What is going on here?"
I turn slowly, already expecting the hostility. Queen Morgana stands at the entrance of my garden, eyes blazing, lips pressed into a thin line.
I smooth my gown and greet her with a polite nod. "Your Majesty."
"Why are there new staff?" she demands, her gaze flicking towards the unfamiliar faces; my new guards, my personal chef, the decorators. "And why is the palace being decorated without my permission?"
She's furious.
I don't flinch. Instead, I smile. "I didn't realize I needed your permission to settle into my home."
Her nostrils flare. "Making yourself comfortable, you say?" she snaps. "Mind yourself and your role. I am still the Queen here."
"No doubt about that." My voice is steady, unwavering. "Now that you're here, I might as well inform you; I'm hosting a Christmas Ball here in the palace."
Her eyes widen. "A Christmas Ball?" she hisses. "For what? This has never been done in the history of this palace."
I shrug, unbothered. "Well, times change, Your Majesty. The younger generation needs life here. Cassian thinks it's a brilliant idea. And a Christmas Ball won't hurt anyone."
She glares at me, furious, breathing heavily like she's barely holding herself back.
Then, without another word, she whirls around and storms off.
I exhale, a victorious smirk tugging at my lips. Let the battle begin.