The summons came in the afternoon.
Lunara was still at the watchtower when a palace servant approached her parents. The man spoke politely, but his tone carried weight. In Nyvoria, polite words could still be dangerous.
Her mother's hands trembled as she wiped them on her apron. Her father bowed quickly.
They were led through halls they had cleaned a thousand times but were never meant to walk as guests.
Inside a quiet chamber, an official waited. His robe was fine. His smile was not.
"The king has taken notice of your daughter," he said.
Lunara's parents froze.
"That is… an honor," her father replied carefully.
"It is more than that," the official continued. "Prince Caelum requires a wife. Someone strong. Someone respected by the people."
Her mother's breath caught. "Our daughter is a soldier."
"Yes," the man said. "That is why she is suitable."
Silence stretched.
"What choice do we have?" her father finally asked.
The official's smile faded. "You misunderstand. This is not a request."
He placed a small pouch on the table. Gold. More than Lunara's parents had ever held.
"Your family will be protected," he said. "Fed. Housed. No longer servants."
Her mother stared at the pouch, tears filling her eyes. "And if we refuse?"
The man's voice remained calm. "Protection can be withdrawn."
That evening, Lunara returned home tired but steady, expecting nothing more than food and rest.
She found her parents sitting too straight.
Her mother looked at her like she was already gone.
"What happened?" Lunara asked.
Her father struggled to speak. "The palace… they want you to marry the prince."
The words landed heavily.
"No," Lunara said at once. "I won't."
Her mother stood and gripped her hands. "Please listen. They offered protection. Safety."
"At what cost?" Lunara asked.
Her father looked away. "We were afraid."
The room felt smaller.
"You chose for me," Lunara said quietly.
Her mother broke down then, sobbing into her hands. "We didn't know how to protect you any other way."
Lunara stepped back.
She had faced blades without fear.This hurt more.
That night, Lunara returned to the city walls. The moon hung low, pale and distant. She rested her hands on the cold stone and stared toward the border.
Marriage. Duty. Obedience.
Somewhere beyond the darkness was a land that taught its children to conquer.
Somewhere beyond that was a boy who had hesitated when he should have killed her.
Lunara did not know why she thought of him now.
But the thought stayed.