After some time, when the king's fury had finally subsided, he summoned a private meeting in the palace hall. Present were his most trusted administrators, wise advisors, influential nobles, respected dignitaries — and both Queens of the kingdom.
The air was heavy with tension as the king began to speak.
"The messenger," he said slowly, "came to remind us of the Royal Marriage Alliance — the one forged many years ago, when our kingdom was drowning in war. Back then, we desperately needed more men for the battlefield. The Kingdom of Whisperwood offered their aid, but in return, we promised them a royal marriage between our bloodlines."
The room fell silent.
"It is now time," the king continued, his voice strained, "to fulfill that vow. Their king has requested the hand of one of my daughters — for his third son."
A murmur rippled through the hall. Everyone knew who the third son of Whisperwood was.
The Devil.
A man feared across kingdoms — rumored to have blood colder than iron and eyes that could burn through souls.
The moment the words left the king's lips, Queen Rachel erupted.
"No!" she screamed, her voice trembling with rage and fear. "None of my children will be sent to marry that monster! They are all I have — I will not lose a single one of them!"
The hall buzzed in uneasy whispers. Queen Hazel, the king's second wife, was about to speak when the king slammed his hand against the table.
"Enough!" he thundered. "This is not the place for arguments. You will both respect yourselves in front of the elders and nobles of this realm."
Silence.
The king exhaled heavily, his crown seeming to weigh more than ever. "I have called you all here to find a solution," he said, voice quieter now, "for I cannot give any of my children to the Devil. Yet at the same time, I cannot break this alliance. To do so would be to invite war — a war we cannot afford, a fire that will burn us all."
Uneasy murmurs filled the chamber again.
Finally, one of the king's oldest advisors stepped forward. "Your Majesty, the alliance must be honored. To break it would doom us. The only way is to choose one of your daughters for this marriage."
The king's face darkened. "You ask me to sacrifice one of my own?"
But before he could continue, several others spoke in agreement.
"It is the only way, Your Majesty."
"Better one than all."
"To defy Whisperwood is to destroy ourselves."
Their words cut through the king like knives. His chest tightened with the weight of their truth. He was about to sell one of his daughters — a princess of his blood — to a man everyone called a demon.
A sacrifice for peace.
His heart shattered at the thought.
He rose slowly from his throne. "I need time," he said. "Three days. I will send my reply to Whisperwood in three days."
He dismissed the meeting. But even as the nobles and queens filed out of the hall, he could still hear their whispers echoing through the marble corridors — whispers of sacrifice, whispers of fear.
When the chamber was finally empty, the king stood alone, gazing through the tall glass windows of the palace. Beyond them stretched the vast lands of his kingdom — green fields, golden towers, the people he had sworn to protect.
And now, to protect them, he had to destroy someone he loved.
His reflection in the glass looked pale, broken.
Then, the sound of soft footsteps echoed behind him. Queen Rachel entered, her gown trailing across the polished floor. She fell to her knees before him, tears streaming down her face.
"My lord," she cried, "please don't do this. Don't send any of my children to their deaths! I beg you — I cannot lose them. Not like this."
The king's heart ached at the sight of her tears. He knelt to lift her gently to her feet. "Rachel," he said quietly, "you have nothing to fear. I will handle this."
But Rachel shook her head violently. "If someone must be sent," she said through her sobs, "then send Luna. She's useless here — she has always been. Better she be of some use to this kingdom than a burden."
The king froze.
For a moment, he could barely breathe. The mention of Princess Luna, his youngest daughter, pierced through him like a blade.
He remembered her as a little girl — quiet, kind, eyes filled with wonder. The daughter he had pushed away after her mother's death, too broken himself to comfort her. Instead of love, he had given her distance. Instead of protection, he had given her blame.
And now, his queen called her expendable.
"Enough!" the king roared, his voice echoing through the empty hall. "Not another word against her!"
Queen Rachel gasped, stepping back. But the king's anger only grew.
"Guards!" he shouted. Two royal guards entered immediately. "Take the Queen to her chambers before she speaks another word that will anger me further."
The guards bowed and gently led Rachel out, her cries fading down the corridor.
When the hall was silent once again, the king pressed his hands against the table and lowered his head, his thoughts a storm.
Then came another knock — softer, gentler.
Queen Hazel entered quietly.
"My King," she said with a small bow, her voice calm. "I will not question your decision, whatever it may be. My children are still young — they cannot yet bear such a burden. But I know you will choose wisely. You have always done what is right for the kingdom."
Her words carried neither fear nor anger, only quiet strength.
She stepped closer, placing a hand over his. "You are the heart of this kingdom. Sometimes, a king must make painful choices for peace. If one of your daughters must go, let it be seen as an act of honor, not sacrifice. You carry the blood of kings, and so do they. Any daughter of yours would bring pride to the throne — even in darkness."
For the first time that night, the king felt a small measure of peace.
He nodded slowly. "You are wise, Hazel. You have reminded me of my duty — and my burden."
She smiled faintly, bowed again, and left the chamber.
The king stood there for a long time, staring into the night sky through the tall windows.
Finally, he made his decision.
Princess Luna.
He would choose her — not because she was weak, but because she had endured so much already. She had been neglected, unloved, and cast aside. Yet, in her silence, she had shown more strength than most in the palace ever did.
If he sent any of her elder sisters, they would face Queen Rachel's wrath. But Luna… Luna had already learned how to survive pain.
Still, guilt tore at his soul. He promised himself that no matter what, he would protect her — even from afar. He would keep a close watch on her, ensure her safety, and one day, he would make it up to her.
As the moonlight washed over him, the king whispered into the silence,
"Forgive me, my child."
And in that moment, the fate of Princess Luna was sealed.