Wings of Ambition Shackled by Fate

He wasn't serious, was he? Queen? Her? No, there was no way. She didn't want this. She couldn't want this. This had to be some kind of sick joke.

"Are you serious, Antonius?! This little girl, who barely just came out of her diapers, is supposed to be your queen?!" Athea's shrill voice grated against Valeria's fraying nerves. For the first—and likely last—time, Valeria found herself agreeing with the snake-like woman. She wasn't that young, but the sentiment was clear.

"Why wouldn't I be serious?" The king's tone was cool and unbothered, a stark contrast to the chaos his declaration had caused. "And be careful how you speak about your new queen."

The smirk on his lips, as if this wasn't the most important decision of their lives but rather a form of entertainment for him, made Valeria's stomach churn. Her hands trembled in her lap. She was on the verge of panic when Lara rose from her seat. Out of all his wives, Lara seemed the kindest. The woman carried herself with warmth and gentleness, and she'd known the king the longest—since childhood, in fact. Lara had the qualities of a queen: patience, composure, and the wisdom that came with age and experience. Why not her? Why not any of the other women at this table? Why her?

"Antonius," Lara began softly, walking toward him, her voice like a soothing balm in the tension-filled room. "What Athena said wasn't meant to insult Valeria. She's a wonderful girl, truly, but that's just it—she's still so young. You need a queen, a partner. Did you really think this through?"

Valeria glanced toward Aisha, the quiet and distant wife who had barely reacted to the announcement. To her surprise, Aisha wore the faintest smile, though its meaning was indecipherable. Was she happy to see Valeria suffer? Amused by the king's antics? Or relieved that she wasn't the one chosen? Whatever the reason, that subtle smile ignited a spark of anger in Valeria's chest. Was her misery funny to this woman?

The king took Lara's hand in his, and Valeria stiffened at the sight. His expression softened—not with love, but with the fondness one might show a long-standing friend. Yet, there was no trace of romance in his gaze, none of the passion Lara likely longed for. It was painfully clear that she truly loved him.

"I thought this through more than you think," he replied, his tone calm but firm. "You know me better than anyone, Lara. I would never make a rash decision when it comes to my empire. Valeria was trained her entire life to rule. She wanted her father's title—she fought for it. I know what she's capable of. She will reign better than anyone else here. So please, sit down. There's no more to discuss."

His words were final, but Athea wasn't one to stay silent. "This is nonsense!" she spat, slamming her hands on the table as she rose to her feet. "One of us is far better suited to be queen! I don't accept this. Did you even bed her yet? Your marriage isn't even official!"

Valeria's heart skipped a beat. Athea's voice, high-pitched and venomous, echoed in the dining room. She wanted to disappear, to vanish from the room entirely, but her body remained frozen in place.

The king's smirk didn't falter. "You're correct. Our marriage hasn't been consummated yet, but that will change tonight." His cold, matter-of-fact tone sent a shiver down Valeria's spine. He would do it tonight. Panic and fear filled Valeria. "And I didn't call you all here to argue or seek your approval. This is my decision. You will accept it."

"Antonius, she can't be queen." Lara's voice trembled with quiet desperation. "Why are you doing this?"

Before the king could respond, Athea's voice cut through the air once more, shrill and full of rage. "So that's it? You'll bed her every night from now on while the rest of us rot away in this palace?! Is that it? You like younger women now, don't you? We were young once, too, before you ignored us, left us here to waste away!" Her breathing was ragged, her eyes wide with fury. "I've offered myself to you countless times, but you wouldn't even look at me—or at any of us! But this child is worthy of your bed, of being the mother to your heirs? Why not one of us? Why her? I won't accept it!"

Valeria's mind reeled. He only slept with each of them once? She couldn't comprehend it. These women were beautiful, desirable by any measure. Why had he married them only to cast them aside? And now, after just one month of their marriage, he was naming her queen? It made no sense. None of it.

The king's patience finally snapped. He grabbed his plate and hurled it against the wall, the sound of shattering porcelain echoing through the room. "Enough!" he roared. "You will all shut up! I didn't ask for your opinions—I didn't call you here to argue! I wanted a quiet family dinner to share the happy news. If you can't be happy for me and your new queen, then get the hell out of my palace! You are free to leave!"

Silence fell over the dining room like a suffocating blanket. No one moved. No one spoke. The king's chest heaved with the force of his anger, his icy blue eyes daring anyone to defy him further.

But they wouldn't leave. They couldn't. Valeria understood that now. These women had nowhere to go. They couldn't return to their families, who would disown them for failing to maintain their positions. They wouldn't find husbands again—not after being discarded by the king. They were trapped here, just like her.

One by one, the women lowered their gazes. Athea sat down, her lips pressed into a thin line of fury. Lara followed, her shoulders slumped with quiet resignation. The king, satisfied with their compliance, reclaimed his composure. He called for a maid to bring him a new plate and began eating as though nothing had happened.

Valeria's voice broke the tense silence. It was quiet, distant, and yet it carried through the room like a blade. "I don't want to be queen."

The king's fork froze mid-air. Slowly, he turned to face her, his expression darkening. "What did you just say, my dear?"

Valeria raised her chin, meeting his cold gaze with defiance. Her voice was louder this time, steadier. "I said, I don't want to be queen."

The room held its breath.