The weight of the crown felt heavier with each passing day. As I sat at the grand oak table in the council chamber, the air around me was thick with expectation and tension.
My advisors, seated in a semi-circle, were all waiting for me to make the final decision on the guest list for my coronation.
This was no simple task. Every name on that list carried political implications, and the wrong move could upset the delicate balance I was trying so hard to maintain.
"Your Majesty," said Lord Harlan, a seasoned diplomat with silver hair and sharp eyes, "we must include the envoy from the Western Isles. Their alliance is crucial to securing our trade routes."
I nodded, absently twirling the quill in my fingers. The Western Isles rich in resources, but notoriously fickle when it came to diplomatic ties.
