Phoebe's POV
I had issued the decree, and it worked despite the resistance. Even with countless people arguing they'd rather fight than abandon their homes, they had no choice once they saw my command.
They were told they'd lose their houses, but that didn't matter to them. What stung was the retreat—the bitter taste of letting enemies penetrate their territory.
I explained that the enemy wouldn't claim their land because we had a plan. A plan I couldn't reveal.
Only then did they agree to evacuate.
I also gathered every healer available. We'd need them when battle came—and battle was inevitable.
But healers were scarce here...
"I'm Millie, and this is Katherine, my little sister." A girl around sixteen introduced herself and her younger sibling, barely a year her junior. "It's an honor to meet you, my queen."
They bowed nervously, clearly intimidated by meeting their sovereign for the first time.
