Extra Chapter 15 – The First Day as Queen Again (POV Luna)
The morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a golden glow over the chamber. It should have been a peaceful start to the day—soft light, cool air, the steady rhythm of my daughter's quiet breathing against my chest.
But peace was the last thing I felt.
Today, I would return to my duties as queen.
I had spent the past weeks in a protective cocoon, wrapped in the warmth of my child's presence, with Rhydian by my side, shielding me from everything that lay beyond these walls. But the kingdom would not wait forever. My responsibilities had not disappeared just because my world had shifted.
And it had shifted in ways I could never have imagined.
Aurora stirred against me, her tiny hands curling into my nightgown as she let out a soft whimper. I ran my fingers gently over her silken hair, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
Would she understand why I had to leave her, even for a few hours?
Would I?
The door creaked open, and I didn't have to turn to know it was Rhydian. His presence was something I felt before I saw him—steady, unwavering, a quiet force that had always kept me grounded.
"You should get ready," he murmured, crossing the room to sit beside me on the edge of the bed. "The council will be waiting."
I didn't move.
"I know," I whispered, still tracing soothing circles on Aurora's back. "But I don't want to."
Rhydian was silent for a long moment. Then, gently, he reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "Luna…"
I sighed. "I know my duty. I just—" My voice faltered as I finally met his gaze. "What if she needs me while I'm gone?"
"She will always need you," he said softly. "But you are her mother and her queen. You don't have to choose between the two."
I let out a breath that felt too heavy. "It doesn't feel that way right now."
Rhydian reached down, his fingers brushing over Aurora's tiny hand. She stirred but didn't wake, her delicate lashes fluttering against her cheeks.
"She's safe," he murmured. "She will always be safe."
I wanted to believe that.
I did believe that.
But logic and emotion had never been the best of allies.
Still, I forced myself to move, to untangle myself from the warmth of my daughter's embrace. Rhydian took her carefully from my arms, and as soon as her weight left me, I felt the ache of it.
Like losing a piece of myself.
I turned away before the tears could come.
The council chamber felt colder than I remembered.
The air was thick with the scent of parchment and candle wax, the deep hum of voices filling the space as the advisors settled into their seats. They quieted as I entered, their gazes shifting to me—not unkind, but expectant.
It had been weeks since I had stood here.
Weeks since I had sat at this table and held the weight of this kingdom in my hands.
I had expected to feel stronger walking in, but instead, there was a hollowness inside me. An absence.
I took my place at the head of the table, and the meeting began.
Treaties, border security, grain supplies—one by one, the topics passed before me, and I nodded in all the right places, responded when necessary. But my mind was elsewhere.
Would Aurora be sleeping now?
Had she cried after I left?
Had she reached out for me only to find empty air?
"Your Majesty?"
I blinked.
Lord Greysen was watching me, his lined face polite but curious. I realized the room had gone silent, waiting for my response.
I opened my mouth, scrambling for the words I should have heard but hadn't.
A quiet knock at the door saved me.
The guards stepped aside as a servant entered, bowing quickly before approaching my chair. I tensed, already knowing what he would say before the words left his lips.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but the princess—she won't stop crying."
The room was silent.
I felt the weight of their gazes on me, but all I could hear was my daughter's cries ringing in my ears.
I was already moving before anyone could stop me.
The moment I stepped into the nursery, the ache in my chest loosened.
Aurora was red-faced and wailing, her tiny fists clenched as she fought against the comforting hands of her nursemaid. But as soon as I scooped her up, her cries faltered, her frantic little breaths easing into quiet hiccups.
She clung to me, her hands grasping at the fabric of my gown, and I felt my heart break all over again.
"I'm here," I whispered, holding her close. "I'm here, my love."
Rhydian was leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, watching me with a look that was equal parts amusement and understanding. "You didn't last an hour."
I shot him a glare. "She needed me."
He pushed off the doorframe, stepping closer. "I know. But, Luna…" His hands found my waist, grounding me, steadying me. "So does the kingdom."
I swallowed hard, pressing my cheek against Aurora's soft hair.
"I don't know how to do both," I admitted, my voice barely more than a breath. "How am I supposed to be everything she needs while also being the queen they need?"
Rhydian exhaled, brushing a kiss against my temple. "You don't have to do it alone."
I looked up at him then, and for the first time today, I let myself believe him.
Because this wasn't a burden I carried on my own.
This was our kingdom.
Our family.
And somehow, together, we would find a way to balance both.