The tension in the royal dining hall was palpable as the scroll from the Kingdom of Emberlyn lay on the table, its seal broken but its contents yet to be fully revealed. Queen Sienna, with her sharp eyes and ever-calculating mind, allowed a smirk to flicker briefly across her lips. She exchanged a glance with her son, Prince Jade, who mirrored her expression. They believed they had finally uncovered something damning about Emily, something that would shake her standing in the court. Little did they know their premature satisfaction would soon be shattered.
Queen Sienna, ever the actress, replaced her smirk with a concerned look and spoke softly, her voice dripping with mock worry.
"What is written on the scroll, Your Majesty?" she asked, feigning innocence.
King William's face darkened, his usual calm shattered by the gravity of the situation. He clenched his jaw, holding back the storm of emotions that threatened to break loose. Without replying to Sienna, he rose from his seat, casting a steely gaze across the room.
"I want every maid and guard to leave immediately," he commanded, his voice cold and firm.
The servants exchanged uneasy glances before bowing and hastily exiting the hall. The heavy doors closed behind them with a resounding thud, leaving only the royal family to face the chilling contents of the message.
The king's hand tightened around the scroll as he passed it to Adrian. "Adrian," he said, his voice low but commanding, "read it aloud."
Adrian took the scroll with a heavy heart, feeling the weight of what he was about to reveal. His fingers shook slightly as he unrolled the parchment, and the crest of Emberlyn gleamed ominously under the candlelight. The atmosphere grew oppressive as everyone awaited the message, their breaths held in anticipation.
Adrian began, his voice steady but laced with unease, "To the King of Aquorion, this letter comes directly from my hand, and I expect you will recognize the severity of that. I am not one to waste my time with pleasantries or diplomacy, so heed my words carefully."
A cold silence enveloped the room as Adrian continued, his voice growing darker with each sentence.
"In one week's time, I will arrive in your kingdom, and I expect to have my answer by then. I have made my decision: Princess Emily shall be my queen, and there will be no negotiations or delays. She will stand beside me as my wife, whether by her choice or by force."
Emily's blood ran cold. Her hands clenched under the table, knuckles white. Adrian hesitated for a moment, his eyes flicking to his sister before continuing.
"And now for the warning. Should you, Your Majesty, or Princess Emily attempt to oppose this union, I will raze your kingdom to the ground. Every man, woman, and child in your royal castle will fall beneath the swords of my army. I will ensure no one draws breath, save for the princess, who will witness the destruction of all she loves before she is made my queen."
The room fell deathly silent, the weight of Niklaus's threat suffocating everyone present.
Adrian swallowed hard, his voice shaking slightly as he continued. "This is not a matter of negotiation. You have one week to decide whether you will be my ally—or my enemy. The consequences of your choice will be final. Yours, King Niklaus Mikaelson of Emberlyn."
Adrian's hand trembled as he finished reading, the scroll falling limply to his side. His jaw was set in a tight line, but the anger in his eyes was unmistakable. The silence that followed was thick, almost unbearable.
Emily's heart raced, her chest tightening with a wave of emotions. Fear. Anger. Shock. It was all too much. The pocket watch, the cryptic message—it all made sense now. The watch wasn't just a token; it was a sinister countdown, a prelude to this twisted demand.
Her vision blurred, and without thinking, she stood abruptly, the legs of her chair scraping loudly against the marble floor. The sudden movement broke the oppressive silence, and all eyes turned toward her. Emily bowed hastily, her voice barely above a whisper, "Your Majesty, I must excuse myself."
Before anyone could stop her, Emily fled the room, her steps hurried and uneven. The long corridors of the castle seemed endless as she ran, her thoughts spiraling into a vortex of confusion and terror. She could feel the weight of Niklaus's ultimatum bearing down on her, suffocating her with its cruelty.
She burst through the doors of her chamber, slamming them shut behind her. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she leaned against the door, her body trembling with the overwhelming pressure of it all. The cool air of her room did little to calm her racing heart.
Emily's eyes darted to the nightstand, where the pocket watch still lay. That damned watch. She stormed over to it, her hands shaking as she picked it up. The music began playing again, the eerie melody filling the room. It was mocking her now, reminding her that time was running out.
She hurled the watch across the room, watching it crash into the wall and fall to the floor with a dull thud. The music stopped abruptly, but the silence that followed was even more deafening.
Tears stung at her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She wouldn't give Niklaus that satisfaction. But what could she do? How could she fight this?
Her mind raced with questions, but there were no answers. She moved toward the window, staring out at the kingdom she loved so dearly. The skies above were dark and brooding, clouds swirling ominously on the horizon. A storm was coming, one she could neither predict nor control.
Niklaus had made his move, and now, she was left with an impossible choice: sacrifice herself to save her family or risk the destruction of everything she held dear.
One thing was certain—Niklaus would stop at nothing until she was his queen. And the thought of it sent a cold shiver down her spine.