The sun rose slowly over Cressenhold, casting a golden hue across the vast city. From her balcony in the royal palace, Princess Ruby Pennington could see the rooftops of the bustling capital. The morning was quiet, but Ruby knew that inside the palace walls, tensions were brewing. The once-solid kingdom of Ustaria was beginning to fracture as her father, King Harley Pennington, grew weaker by the day. The question of succession loomed over the court, stirring uncertainty and fear among the nobles.
Ruby took a deep breath, letting the cool morning air calm her racing thoughts. She had never wanted the throne. Unlike her older brother Harris, who viewed the crown as his birthright, Ruby had always seen leadership as a burden. Yet, as her father's health declined, Ruby could no longer remain on the sidelines. David, their younger brother and Harley's favorite, was becoming a growing threat, and Lilliana, their enigmatic sister, remained an unpredictable factor—seemingly uninterested in power, but always watching.
Ruby's approach had always been different. While Harris commanded loyalty through military strength, David charmed and manipulated, and Lilliana quietly worked in the shadows, Ruby had built her influence by connecting with the people. The lower nobles, merchants, and common folk saw her as a beacon of hope in an increasingly ruthless court. But as the struggle for power intensified, Ruby realized that her compassion and diplomacy might not be enough to secure her place in the shifting dynamics of Ustaria's royal family.
She had always believed that her siblings underestimated her. Harris dismissed her as too soft, David thought her naïve, and even Lilliana, while cordial, seemed to view her as little more than an obstacle in the way of her own ambitions—if, indeed, Lilliana had any at all. To the world, Lilliana's actions were so subtle and hidden that not even her siblings saw her as a serious player for the throne. But Ruby knew better than to fully trust anyone, especially when so much was at stake.
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The Three Rivals: Harris, David, and Lilliana
Ruby's thoughts shifted to her brothers. Harris, with his military might and aggressive demeanor, was the obvious contender for the throne. He was their father's eldest son, and in many ways, the natural heir. Harris had long believed that leadership came through strength, and he had the loyalty of the army to back his claim. But what Harris gained in brute force, he lacked in subtlety. He saw the throne as something to be seized, not earned, and Ruby feared that his rule would lead Ustaria into endless conflict.
But it was David who troubled Ruby the most. Their younger half-brother had always been their father's favorite, doted on by Harley in a way that had fostered David's sense of entitlement. While Harris believed in leading with strength, David had no real desire to lead—he craved power for its own sake, and the control it gave him over others. David's increasingly reckless behavior was becoming a problem for the court. He had no qualms about using fear or force to get what he wanted, and rumors of his exploits with noblewomen were spreading.
David had no hesitation in forcing himself on anyone he desired, knowing that his status as Harley's favorite would protect him from consequences. Ruby had seen the way David looked at her, how his sense of ownership over everything in the palace extended to his siblings as well. She shuddered to think of what he might do if he ever gained more power. He was unpredictable, dangerous, and, most importantly, had their father's unwavering favor.
Then there was Lilliana. Unlike Harris and David, Lilliana was quiet, calculating, and always seemed disinterested in the throne itself. To the court, and even to her siblings, Lilliana played the role of the dutiful daughter, supportive but never ambitious. But Ruby had always suspected that Lilliana was far more dangerous than she appeared. Her alliances, her meetings with Duke Findlay Windsor—Lilliana moved through the shadows, manipulating events in ways no one fully understood.
Yet, even now, Harris and David did not see Lilliana as a threat. They believed her to be uninterested in the crown, content to play her role in the background. And that, Ruby thought, made her all the more dangerous. Lilliana's ability to stay under the radar, to let others dismiss her while she gathered influence, was perhaps the most cunning strategy of all.
Ruby couldn't help but wonder how much Lilliana was already manipulating behind the scenes. She might not be open about her ambitions, but Ruby had learned not to underestimate her sister's intellect. Lilliana's hands were in more places than anyone could see, and that made her unpredictable.
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A Visit from Lady Edeline Hawke
Ruby's thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Her maid entered and bowed, announcing the arrival of Lady Edeline Hawke. Edeline had been one of Ruby's staunchest supporters from the lower nobility, a sharp-witted woman whose loyalty had proven invaluable.
"Your Highness," Edeline greeted her with a warm smile, though her expression held a hint of urgency. Ruby appreciated Edeline's honesty—there was no need for pretense between them, and their friendship had been forged in the fires of shared goals.
"Edeline," Ruby replied, smiling softly as she motioned for her to sit. "You're here earlier than usual. Has something happened?"
Edeline's smile faded as she took her seat, her eyes filled with concern. "There are things you need to be aware of, Your Highness. The court is shifting faster than we expected."
Ruby's stomach tightened. She had known that something was coming, but hearing it confirmed unsettled her. "What do you mean?"
"Harris has become more aggressive in his pursuit of the throne," Edeline explained, leaning forward slightly. "He's been making alliances with key military leaders and merchant families. His support is growing, and many of the more ambitious nobles are starting to fall in line behind him. He's positioning himself as the rightful heir, and if he isn't challenged soon, he may claim the throne outright."
Ruby nodded, her face calm, though her mind was racing. She had expected Harris to make his move, but hearing the details of his growing power base made the situation more urgent. "And David?" she asked, her voice tight with concern.
Edeline hesitated, her expression darkening. "David is becoming a larger problem than we anticipated. His... activities with some of the noblewomen have started to draw attention. There are whispers that he's been using his father's favor to force himself on women who catch his eye, and the court is beginning to take notice. But as long as he has King Harley's support, no one dares to speak out against him."
Ruby's heart sank at the thought of David abusing his position so openly. She had always known her younger brother had a cruel streak, but this was something far worse. If David's behavior continued unchecked, it could destabilize the court and damage the Pennington family's reputation beyond repair.
"And Lilliana?" Ruby asked, though she already had her suspicions.
Edeline's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Lilliana has been meeting with Duke Findlay Windsor regularly, but her intentions remain hidden. Publicly, she has shown no interest in the throne, and most of the court doesn't see her as a contender. But I would be careful, Your Highness. Lilliana is... difficult to read."
Ruby sighed, her mind working through the implications. Harris was amassing power through brute force, David was leveraging their father's favor to do as he pleased, and Lilliana—while outwardly quiet—was weaving her own web. Ruby couldn't afford to wait any longer. The time for action had come.
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A Plan Forms
After Edeline left, Ruby sat in silence, the weight of her decisions pressing down on her. Harris was moving swiftly, and David's unpredictability made him an even more dangerous element in the already volatile mix. But Lilliana's subtle maneuvering was what truly concerned her. No one saw Lilliana as a threat—no one except Ruby.
It was time for Ruby to act. She had always believed in leading through compassion, through building relationships with the people and the lower nobles. But now she realized that she would have to step deeper into the political arena if she hoped to protect Ustaria from the chaos her siblings were creating.
Her next move would be to consolidate her support among the lower nobles and merchants, the people who had always been her strongest allies. But she would need to do more than that. She needed to show the court that she was not a passive player in this game, that she had the strength to lead if called upon. Harris may have the military and David may have their father's favor, but Ruby had something more valuable: the trust of the people.
Her path was clear. She would need to meet with her allies, rally them to her cause, and make it known
that she would not sit idly by while her brothers tore the kingdom apart.
Ruby stood from her chair, her expression resolute. She may not have wanted the throne, but if she didn't act, the future of Ustaria could be lost to ambition and cruelty. And she could not let that happen.