Arius hadn't slept.
Not truly. Not since the night Seraphine walked into the council chamber with Caelum at her side, her silence louder than any betrayal. He'd spent the hours since pacing the halls of the royal archives, rereading old war treaties and letters from his father—searching for something, anything, that could explain how everything had come undone so quickly.
But there was no explanation. Only choices. And consequences.
He stood now in the royal strategy room, surrounded by maps and ledgers, his hands trembling as he traced the borders of the eastern provinces. The rebellion was spreading faster than expected. Towns that once pledged loyalty to the Pendragon name now flew banners of fire and ash. Caelum's influence was no longer a rumor—it was a reality.
Cedric entered quietly, carrying a sealed envelope. "From Lord Halbrecht. He's withdrawn his support."
Arius didn't react.
Cedric placed the letter on the table. "That's the third noble this week."
Arius finally spoke. "They're afraid."
"They're opportunists," Cedric corrected. "They see Caelum rising and they want to be on the winning side."
Arius's jaw tightened. "Then we remind them who the rightful heir is."
Cedric hesitated. "There's more."
Arius turned.
"Seraphine's been granted command of the eastern diplomatic corps."
Arius blinked. "By whose authority?"
"Caelum's," Cedric said. "He's calling it a temporary measure. Says she's uniquely suited to 'soothe tensions.'"
Arius laughed, bitter and hollow. "She's the one lighting the fires."
---
Private Chambers – Later That Night
Arius sat alone, staring at the pendant Seraphine had once given him a golden dragon, wings outstretched, carved with the Pendragon crest. It had been a symbol of their bond, forged in secret during the early days of courtship. She'd worn a matching one. He wondered if she still did.
He remembered the night she gave it to him. They'd been in the old library, hidden behind shelves of forgotten lore. She'd placed it in his palm and whispered, "So you never forget who you are. Even when they try to make you someone else."
He hadn't forgotten. But she had.
A knock broke the silence.
"Enter," Arius said.
Cedric stepped in, followed by a young woman Arius didn't recognize.
"This is Elira," Cedric said. "She's a scribe from the eastern court. She defected this morning."
Arius studied her. She was barely twenty, eyes sharp but weary.
"I have information," Elira said. "About Caelum. And Seraphine."
Arius gestured for her to sit. "Speak."
Elira hesitated. "They're not just building alliances. They're rewriting history. Caelum's been circulating forged documents claims that your father promised him succession. That you were never meant to rule."
Arius's blood ran cold.
"That's treason," Cedric said.
"It's working," Elira replied. "People believe it. Especially in the outer provinces. Seraphine's been delivering the letters herself."
Arius leaned forward. "Why defect?"
Elira's voice cracked. "Because I believed in you. I believed in what you stood for. And I couldn't watch them turn your legacy into a lie."
---
Council Chamber
Arius entered with Elira at his side, scrolls in hand. The nobles looked up, surprised by his presence. Caelum sat at the head of the table, smug as ever.
"I have evidence," Arius said, voice steady. "Of forgery. Of treason. Of a coordinated attempt to rewrite royal history."
He placed the scrolls on the table. "These letters bear my father's seal—but they're fakes. The ink, the phrasing, the dates. All wrong."
Caelum didn't flinch. "Desperation doesn't suit you, cousin."
Arius ignored him. "Elira was part of the scribe circle. She can verify the forgeries."
Lord Varron leaned in. "And what do you propose we do?"
"Strip Caelum of his titles," Arius said. "And remove Seraphine from diplomatic command."
Murmurs filled the chamber.
Caelum stood. "This is a witch hunt."
Arius met his gaze. "No. This is justice."
---
Seraphine's Quarters
She was waiting for him.
Arius entered without knocking, the pendant still in his hand.
"You've been busy," he said.
Seraphine didn't look up. "So have you."
He stepped closer. "You're rewriting my father's legacy."
She finally met his eyes. "I'm preserving it. You're the one tearing it apart with your weakness."
Arius's voice was low. "You used to believe in me."
"I used to believe in a boy who thought love could save a kingdom," she said. "But kingdoms aren't saved by love. They're saved by power."
"You think Caelum loves you?"
"He doesn't need to," she said. "He gives me what you never could."
Arius held up the pendant. "You gave me this once. Said it would remind me who I am."
Seraphine's expression didn't change. "Then maybe it's time you remembered."
He dropped the pendant on the floor and walked out.
---
War Room
Arius stood before his generals, eyes burning with resolve.
"We move at dawn," he said. "Caelum wants a war of whispers. I'll give him a war of fire."
General Thorne nodded. "And Seraphine?"
Arius hesitated. "She made her choice. If she stands in our way, she falls with him."