The days following the king's announcement were a blur for Celestia. The weight of his request pressed heavily upon her shoulders. She had spent the last several years meticulously crafting a life that allowed her to avoid such responsibilities—to avoid becoming entangled in the affairs of the kingdom, to avoid being used once again. But now, the fate of Rochefort was in her hands, and the task felt as daunting as it was unavoidable.
She had always known that one day, she would have to step up to her duties as the heir of House Rochefort, but she had hoped that day would never come. Now, with the kingdom on the brink of war, that day had arrived much sooner than she expected.
