The chamber was heavy with the weight of tradition and expectations. Tapestries depicting scenes of historical battles and noble deeds hung from the walls, their rich colors dimmed by the low light of the setting sun. In the centre of the room, the council of elders sat in a semi-circle, their faces stern and impassive.
"The betrothal of Princess Adela and Lord Maximillian will ensure peace between our two kingdoms," spoke a portly man, his voice echoing off the stone walls. "We must move forward with the ceremony as soon as possible."
The murmurs of agreement rippled through the council chamber. Adela's stomach twisted, the knot of anxiety growing tighter with each passing moment. She knew her duty to her kingdom, but her heart still yearned for true love. Speaking of true love, she was still living by the expectations that strangers could just show up at her door after the third day of the meeting.
"We are in agreement, then," the councilman continued, turning his gaze to Adela. "Princess Adela, what are your thoughts on the matter?"
Adela's eyes darted to Maximillian, who smirked at her from across the room.
Adela straightened in her chair, a spark of determination flashing in her eyes. "My lords, I must speak." She paused, her gaze sweeping the room. "I am honoured by the alliance you wish to make with Lord Maximillian, but I can not, in good conscience, agree to this union."
A stunned silence descended upon the chamber, followed by a flurry of whispers and gasps. Adela, undaunted, continued.
"I understand the importance of this union for our kingdom, my lords," Adela said, her voice steady and measured. "But I also know that I must be true to myself. A marriage without love is not a union; it is a prison sentence."
Maximillian's smirk faded, replaced by a look of puzzlement. The council looked at one another, whispers filling the air like a flock of startled birds.
Adela held her head high, the very picture of defiance. "If you insist upon this marriage, I shall do my duty as a princess and a future queen. But I fear that it will only breed resentment and discord in the kingdom. Is this truly what you desire?"
The council members exchanged glances. One of them, an older woman with greying hair, spoke up. "Princess Adela, you must understand that we are not trying to force your hand. We only seek to maintain the peace and stability of our kingdom."
Adela's gaze was unyielding.
Adela's words were like a gauntlet thrown down before the council, a challenge to the very foundation of their society.
"If that is the case, then allow me to offer a solution," she said, her voice ringing with conviction. "In the wild, the pack is often led by the Alpha female, the matriarch. If you are not forcing me to marry, then why not allow me to rule as Queen Adela the First, the Woman-Alpha of our kingdom?"
A stunned silence followed Adela's proclamation as the council members grappled with the implications of her words.
The council chamber erupted into a cacophony of whispered arguments and incredulous murmurs, the calm order of the meeting disrupted by Adela's bold proposition.
Some council members appeared horrified at the idea of a woman ruling alone, let alone a young, unmarried princess. Others, however, seemed to be considering her words with a growing sense of intrigue.
Maximillian, in particular, looked troubled, his expression darkening as he exchanged glances with his fellow council members.
The portly councilman who had spoken earlier cleared his throat, struggling to maintain a semblance of decorum.
Indeed, Maximillian's concern was rooted in more than just tradition or politics. He knew that if Adela ascended to the throne as an unmarried Woman-Alpha, it would effectively nullify their betrothal and the promise of rewards from Darius. His plans for wealth and power were now threatened by Adela's sudden resistance to their union.
As the portly councilman struggled to speak, Maximillian took the opportunity to intervene. "My lords," he began, his voice smooth and controlled, "I fear that the princess is misguided.
Maximillian straightened his shoulders and cleared his throat, exuding an air of calm confidence. "Princess Adela is wise to seek a way to rule without the burden of a husband," he began, his words deliberate and measured. "But let us remember that we are not wolves in the wild, but human beings bound by the laws of nature and the order of society. A woman alone, no matter how strong, cannot rule as a man can."
He paused, his eyes scanning the chamber for signs of dissent or agreement. Seeing only rapt attention, he continued, "But what if there were another way?
Maximillian smiled, sensing the council's interest. "Princess Adela wishes to be a Woman-Alpha, and I commend her for her ambition. But what if, instead of ruling as a single, unmarried queen, she were to rule with a consort?" He paused, allowing the council to consider his proposal.
"A consort would provide the stability and strength that a king would bring to the throne, without forcing the princess into a traditional marriage. She would be free to rule in her own right, with the counsel and support of a man she trusts."
Maximillian's plan seemed almost too clever, but the council members were not so easily swayed. The old woman with the greying hair shook her head. "Princess Adela has made her wishes clear. She desires to rule without a husband, not with a consort."
"But—" Maximillian protested, his confidence wavering for the first time.
The portly councilman held up a hand to silence him. "This is not a simple matter, Lord Maximillian. We must consider the ramifications of breaking from our traditions."
Maximillian, now realizing the council would not be swayed, reluctantly conceded. "Very well," he said, his voice carrying a hint of bitterness. "Then let the wedding be set for three weeks then."
The council murmured their assent, the discussion shifting to the logistics of the ceremony. Adela sat in stony silence, her heart sinking at the thought of her upcoming nuptials. Three weeks. That was all the time she had left to find a way out of this unwanted alliance.
She would not go down without a fight.
As the council meeting came to a close, Adela rose from her seat, her heart heavy with resignation and a sign of hope.
She left the chamber, her steps echoing through the silent halls of the castle. The night air was crisp and cool, and the moon hung low in the sky, casting eerie shadows across the courtyard.
Adela paused, closing her eyes and lifting her face to the moonlight. She whispered a silent prayer, a plea for the stranger in the cemetery to somehow find a way to save her from this impending fate.
The sound of approaching footsteps broke through the silence of the night, and Adela's breath caught in her throat.
She turned, her eyes widening in anticipation, her heart beating faster in her chest.
"Oh, at last, stranger." She whispered, her voice almost a prayer.
And as the figure emerged from the shadows, a single thought flashed through her mind: her prayers had been answered.
The stranger smiled, his features illuminated by the moonlight.
"Oh, so it's you. I wasn't expecting you though I was." She said, her face flashing with a smile.