It's morning I opened my eyes to see sunlight coming from the window and I could hear the gentle familiar sound of birds chirping In the palace gardens like every morning, Sofia still In my arms sleeping I raised my hand and touched her face then I kissed her forehead, Sofia slowly woke up and for a moment we Just held each other then she looked at my face and said "what are you thinking about dear?" I let out a long heavy breath and said "I been thinking since yesterday... about mother and Luna, I have to tell them Sofia about what happened...and they might think I am a coward" Sofia got up, her silver hair fell over her shoulders then she grabbed my cheeks and said "Alan look at me you did what you had to do to keep us alive If that makes you a coward In their eyes, then let them think that but you aren't alone" Sofia leaned and kissed me then she said "I will be right there beside you we will face their anger together, whatever this twisted path Is that we've started on... we walk It as one" hearing her words gave me the strength to finally get out of bed then suddenly someone knocked on the door and said "It's me your Imperial majesties may I come In" I replied "yes come In" the door opened, Mel and Violet came Inside then Mel did a curtsy and Violet bowed while saying "good morning your Imperial majesties" me and Sofia replied "good morning to you both too" then we took a bath and got ready for breakfast.
The heavy doors opened and Inside the dining hall, my mother Amanda and my sister Luna were already seated, so me and Sofia went and sat as If everything was normal then as the breakfast being so did the conversations, after a while I ordered maid's to leave except for Mel, then my throat feeling as though It was filled with dry sand I being saying "Mother... Luna... I have something to tell you" Mother set her teacup down with a sharp clack and said "you been fidgeting your hands for a while now Alan whatever It Is speak, an emperor should not stutter before his own kin" I took a deep breath and said "the four dukedoms....they have united...Liam blackwood has the support of redstone, sunspear, and Ironhand, even general James has pledged the Imperial Army to them so to avoid a civil war... I have signed a deal" Luna stood up so abruptly her chair screeched against floor then she shouted "what? how could you" Mother raised her hand and said "wait Luna....tell me what are the terms of the deal" I cleared my throat and said "the terms are...first, the house of snow will continue to reign, but only In name behind the scenes, they will make every decision" the silence In the room was heavy, Mother's expression didn't change then I said "second.....everyone residing In the house of snow must follow whatever orders the four Dukedoms give" Luna's hand turned Into fist, I could feel her rage then I took a shaky breath, feeling Sofia's hand squeeze mine under the table for support and said "third... to seal the pact" I choked on the word "princess Luna Is to marry Duke Liam blackwood as his second wife" the dining hall went deathly silent then Luna let out a sharp, hysterical laugh that quickly turned Into a snarl then she said "a second wife? to that snake? I would rather fight then let that man touch me" Mother looked at me and asked "and you accepted this? you let him demand your sister as a trophy?" I snapped and shouted "If I didn't you and Luna would be stripped naked and paraded through the streets of the captial" Mother stood up In anger her presence still commanding the room despite the news then she looked at me and said "your father would have turned this palace Into a fortress and died In the ruins before signing away his daughter's life he would have been a man, even In defeat" hearing her say be a man triggered that dark, twisted part of my mind I felt a surge of humiliation, yet my body reacted with that familiar, shameful heat I looked down at my lap, my hands trembling then Sofia squeezed my hand tighter as she said "Mother-In-law I watched my husband make the only choice a man who loves his family could make and as long as we are alive, there is a chance but for now... we must endure" Luna let out a harsh, bitter laugh and said "endure? you mean submit, you both look like you already accepted the leash" Luna turned and walked toward the doors while saying "If Liam blackwood thinks he can Just claim me, he's mistaken let him come and take me with his sword" saying that Luna left the hall then Mother closed her eyes for a moment and said "I need time to think.....I need to consider what this means for the House of Snow and what holds for our future" saying that Mother left the hall, I slumped In my chair feeling tired then Mel, who had remained standing by the side like a silent statue, stepped forward and said "your Imperial majesty, there Is a matter that requires your attention, I looked at Mel and said "what Is It?" Mel replied "you have a message from Duke blackwood".