Five years later…

  Rhett sat in a carriage, staring out the window as they moved steadily through the countryside of Vespera. The road to Aston stretched out endlessly before them, winding through the hills toward the capital.

  Though it had been several years since the end of the war with Drurus, it was time to finalize the last piece of his agreement with Mathias—the marriage contract.

  Now that Lilibeth was five, as per tradition, Rhett and Amara would need to enter an agreement on her behalf, promising her to one of Mathias and Kenna’s ever-growing horde. However, the decision on whom she would marry would not be made just yet.

  Rather, this visit would mark the beginning of the selection process from among the chosen princes. From this trip forward, every word they spoke, every choice they made, and every interaction with Lilibeth would be watched. Because not only would they become the husband to Rhett’s only child, but they would become his heir too.

  Rhett exhaled slowly, tapping his fingers lightly on the windowsill. For now, everything was quiet and peaceful. He watched the hills roll one after another, or the distant birds flying through the sky. That was until something moved from the corner of his eye, catching his attention.

  Lilibeth shuffled restlessly from one side of the carriage to the other, pressing her tiny hands against each window in search of something interesting. Finding nothing to hold her attention, she flopped back onto her seat with a dramatic sigh.

  “Papa,” she grumbled. “I’m tired of riding in the carriage.”

  Rhett smiled slightly as he turned to face her.

  “I know, littlest love,” he said, glancing out the window next to her. “But we’re nearly there. Just a few more hours.”

  She huffed before spreading her arms out like wings.

  “I wish I could fly like Papa Silas. Then we’d be there quick, quick!”

  “If you had a dragon, sweet one, you wouldn’t be able to shift until you were older,” Rhett said carefully.

  He didn’t have the heart to tell her the truth. That she would never have a dragon. That she shared no blood relation with either him or her mother. But Lilibeth dreamed of soaring through the skies beside her father, of flying through the clouds and chasing storms. One day, he would have to watch the light leave her eyes when she realized that the dream would never come true.

  But not today…

  “Fine,” Lilibeth muttered, crossing her arms in a pout. But the frustration on her face slowly melted into a sorrowful expression. “Can I come sit with you?”

  Rhett looked down at his side, where Amara lay curled up, resting her head on his lap.

  “No, sweet one,” he replied gently. “Your mother’s sleeping. Let her rest.”

  “But I want to cuddle,” Lilibeth whined as she scooted forward on the seat.

  “I said no—”

  Before he could finish, Amara lifted one arm slowly, reaching toward their daughter. Lilibeth’s face lit up, and with a giggle, she jumped across the carriage and into her mother’s arms.

  Amara shifted, sitting upright and pulling her daughter onto her lap. She pressed a kiss to Liliebeth’s head, letting the child snuggle against her chest.

  “You should be resting,” Rhett said with a sigh.

  Amara gave him a look, raising her brows toward him.

  “I would be well rested if someone hadn’t kept me up all night.”

  “You say that like it was my idea,” he smirked. “But you were the one who crawled into bed—”

  “Rhett!” She hissed, pointing with her eyes toward Lilibeth.

  But it was too late.

  “What did Mama do?” The child questioned curiously.

  “Nothing,” Rhett muttered, leaning back against the carriage seat, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Your mother is perfect. She did absolutely nothing wrong.”

  “You hear that, Mama? You perfect,” Lilibeth declared, twisting around in Amara’s lap to look up at her mother.

  “Not as perfect as you, my littlest love,” Amara said before leaning in to pepper the girl’s face with kisses.

  Lilibeth squealed, squirming in her mother’s arms.

  “Mama, stop!” She giggled, trying to wiggle free from the onslaught of affection. “That’s too many!”

  Amara laughed as the girl finally managed to escape, slipping from her lap and hurrying across the carriage. She climbed up onto the opposite bench, then wiped her cheeks with both hands.

  “Gross, Mama,” she muttered, attempting to scowl even though she was smiling.

  “That’s fine,” Rhett stated with a chuckle. “I’ll take your mother’s kisses then.”

  He turned to Amara, cupped her chin, and guided her face toward his. Their lips met in a gentle kiss. Across the carriage, Lilibeth gasped and quickly covered her eyes with both hands.

  “Ew!” She complained, peeking through her fingers.

  The couple pulled apart, unable to contain their laughter. Rhett then extended an arm toward his daughter, motioning for her.

  “Come sit with us.”

  Lilibeth lowered her hands suspiciously, eyeing him.

  “Are you going to kiss me, too?”

  “Only if you ask,” he promised.

  After thinking about it, the princess slid down from the bench and walked over, crawling onto Rhett’s lap. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her to his chest as Amara leaned into his side. The three of them sat in silence for a while, listening to the creaking of the wheel and the occasional command from the soldiers.

  Then Lilibeth let out a long sigh, dropping her shoulders.

  “I miss Addie and Evy,” she murmured.

  [Addie is Adley’s nickname, and Evy is Evander’s nickname, pronounced eh-vee]

  “I know you do,” Amara replied softly, reaching over to take her daughter’s hand. “But you’ll see them again in a few weeks.”

  “But that’s so long,” Lilibeth said, drawing out the words as much as possible. “Who am I going to play with until then?”

  “Your cousins, of course,” Rhett chuckled, tilting his head to look at her. “You were so excited to see them before we left, remember?”

  “But that was before!”

  “Before what?” He questioned curiously.

  “Before I was stuck in a carriage for forever,” she grumbled, burying her face into his tunic with another dramatic sigh.

  “How about this…” Rhett offered after a moment. “When we head home, you and I will ride a horse together instead. Just you and me. Would you like that?”

  Lilibeth perked up instantly, lifting her head.

  “Can I ride on Papa Silas instead?”

  “Hmm… I don’t know,” Rhett murmured, stroking his beard like he was giving it serious thought. “I’m not sure you’d be able to hold on to his scales very well.”

  “But… Libby said my hands are always sticky,” she replied excitedly, holding out her palms. “So maybe I stick to Papa Silas?”

  Amara snorted softly, muffling her laugh in Rhett’s shoulder. He grinned, taking one of Lilibeth’s hands in his.

  “Sticky hands or not, we’ll see.”

  He knew there wasn’t a chance she’d be flying on a dragon—not now, not ever. But the last thing he wanted to do was to kill her happy mood. She probably wouldn’t remember this conversation when the time came to leave Vespera anyway. However, if he upset her now while they were stuck in the carriage, then it would be his and Amara’s ears who would suffer the consequences.

  Several hours later, the carriage rolled slowly through the roads of Aston. The city streets were packed with people, and it took a while to finally reach the royal palace in the center of the capital.

  Inside the carriage, Lilibeth was practically vibrating with excitement. She sat on the edge of her seat, clutching the cushion. Her shoes tapped impatiently on the floor, and her little body leaned forward, ready to jump outside.

  Amara sat beside her, calmly holding her daughter’s small hand.

  “Now,” she began softly, rubbing her thumb over the little girl’s fingers. “When we step out of the carriage, remember—not a single scream and no running about like a feral animal.”

  Lilibeth remained silent, her lips pressed together as she stared out the window. Amara leaned in, angling her head to meet her daughter’s gaze.

  “Do you remember why?”

  Lilibeth blinked, furrowing her brows as she thought to herself.

  “Because…” she started, then hesitated. “I’m sorry, Mama. I wasn’t listening.”

  Amara sighed, not out of anger, but out of weariness because she knew this conversation had been, and would be, repeated many more times.

  She and Molly Rose had been working tirelessly to teach Lilibeth how to be the perfect princess. They practiced walking gracefully, speaking gently, offering curtsies, and remembering the names of the nobles. But the truth was, Lilibeth didn’t want to be a perfect princess. She wanted to be wild and free with her friends, Adley and Evander.

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  The trio was more like a pack of wolves than playmates. They tore through the palace gardens in stained clothes, dug up worms, and fought imaginary wars against invisible enemies. Amara didn’t mind the mess, the grass-stained knees, or ripped hems—but their behavior had started getting on the nerves of their tutors. Especially when none of the children could sit still through lessons unless they involved swords or saddles. Archery? Delightful. Horse Riding? Even better. Reading, writing, or mathematics? It was utter torture.

  At one point, the tutors attempted to separate them. But that disaster ended with tears, tantrums, and damage to a few old books.

  So now, Amara relied on repetition and hope. Maybe, with Adley and Evander absent for this trip, Lilibeth might manage to behave.

  But deep down, Amara knew the truth: her daughter was the leader of the chaos. And worse yet, Lilibeth knew she could get away with more than the others. No servant would scold her. No guard dared to reprimand her. The princess would listen to only a handful of people, and she would avoid them like the plague if she didn’t want to get into trouble.

  The carriage slowed down and then stopped. A guard walked up to the door, opened it, and then bowed to the royal family inside.

  Rhett stepped out first, straightening his clothes before helping Amara. The last to come out was Lilibeth. Rhett reached into the carriage and lifted her up, placing her onto the ground between him and his wife. She gripped both of her parents’ hands, withholding the urge to rush up the front steps.

  But then, the doors to the palace opened, revealing Mathias and Kenna on the other side. The emperor looked older, with more gray hair on his beard and head. Kenna, however, was no different from how she always looked. Her posture remained straight, and her brown skin was smooth and unblemished.

  Lilibeth’s fingers twitched in Amara’s hand as her excitement threatened to take over.

  “Remember what we said,” Amara whispered, squeezing gently.

  The little princess nodded, but as soon as Mathias and Kenna stepped over the palace threshold, Lilibeth pulled free from her parents’ hands.

  “Grandma! Grandpa!” She shouted excitedly as she hurried up the palace steps.

  Kenna barely had time to brace herself before the small child crashed into her. Lilibeth threw her arms around the empress, almost causing her to lose balance.

  “My goodness!” Kenna chuckled, wrapping the girl in a tight hug. “You nearly knocked me over!”

  Lilibeth giggled, burying her face into her grandmother’s shoulder as Kenna lifted her into her arms.

  “You’ve gotten so big since I saw you, little bit.”

  The two royal families visited each other at least twice a year—sometimes more if duties allowed. Either Kenna and Mathias would travel to Sylvaris, or Rhett and his family would come to Vespera.

  “Papa says I’m almost a big girl now,” she said proudly, wrapping her arms tighter around the Empress’s neck.

  “Is that so?” Kenna raised an eyebrow. “Well, I suppose he would know.”

  “Don’t grow up too fast, though,” Mathias added with a chuckle, gently reaching over to pinch the child’s cheek. “If you get much bigger, your grandmother won’t be able to carry you.”

  Rhett scoffed as he and Amara ascended the steps behind their daughter.

  “That’ll be the day. Lilibeth will have to fight her off long before that—just like the rest of us do.”

  “Probably so,” Mathias nodded with a smile.

  He stepped forward, opening his arms. Rhett hugged him tightly, and both men clapped each other on the back. Then Mathias turned to Amara, greeting her with a gentler embrace and kissing her cheek.

  “It’s good to see you both again,” he said warmly. “How was the trip?”

  Rhett hesitated for a moment, rubbing the back of his neck. He glanced briefly at his daughter, who was happily nestled in Kenna’s arms.

  “It was… fine.”

  Mathias laughed, putting a hand on Lilibeth’s back.

  “No love for me, little one?”

  The princess peeked over Kenna’s shoulder at him, pretending to think about it. After a moment, she kissed Kenna’s cheeks and held out her arms to her grandfather. Mathias took her with a smile, pulling her easily against his chest before kissing her cheek.

  “Grandpa,” she said, reaching up to tug on his beard. “Can I see Ozai? It’s been forever since I saw a dragon.”

  “You saw Silas just two days ago,” Rhett pointed out with a raised brow.

  “Forever,” Lilibeth repeated dramatically, pouting at her grandfather. “Please?”

  Mathias chuckled again, clearly entertained.

  “How about this?” He said, settling her down on her feet. “Tomorrow, you can watch us all go flying—your papa, aunts and uncles, your grandma, and me. We’ll let the dragons stretch their wings together.”

  “Yes!” She gasped, bouncing excitedly. “Yes, yes, yes!”

  “Well then, come along,” Kenna said with a smile, extending her hand. “The grown-ups need to have a little talk. Would you like to go play with your cousins until supper?”

  “Sure!” Lilibeth smiled, immediately taking Kenna’s hand and then Mathias’s. She walked between them as they made their way inside the palace.

  They passed through several wide, sunlit corridors before arriving at a large gathering hall. There were eight velvet couches arranged in a wide circle at the center of the room. Near the wall of windows, were four boys playing quietly with toys.

  Mathias and Kenna released Lilibeth’s hands when the doors closed behind them. But as soon as she was free, the princess rushed forward without the others.

  “Lilibeth!” Amara called out.

  However, the little girl didn’t stop. She darted through the center of the room, ignoring the royals rising from their seats to greet her parents. Several of them chuckled under their breath, entertained by her unruly behavior.

  “Lilibeth,” Rhett growled with Silas’s voice.

  That got her attention. She came to a halt, glancing sheepishly over her shoulder. Her eyes met Amara’s, who now stood with her arms crossed and one brow raised.

  Lilibeth’s gaze went to those around the room—her aunts and uncles watching her with amused expressions. With a dramatic sigh, she reached for the sides of her dress, gave a stiff curtsy, and held it for several seconds.

  Soft chuckles went through those watching. Amara gave her daughter a small nod of approval. Lilibeth grinned and turned around, rushing over to join the boys.

  Amara sighed, shaking her head.

  “Well… I suppose it was better than nothing.”

  “She’s still learning,” Rhett murmured, resting a hand on her back and guiding her toward the circle.

  Jesup was the first to greet them with Aliyah by his side. Both offered warm hugs and kisses to the cheeks, welcoming the visiting royal couple.

  Next came Enki, who was no longer a prince of Vespera, but now the King of Bevia—his wife’s homeland. Talia pushed past her husband, holding open her arms to Amara.

  “Little sister!” She shouted, embracing her tightly. “It’s so good to see you again.”

  “And you too, Talia,” Amara chuckled, hugging her back.

  Enki clasped forearms with Rhett in a firm, brotherly shake before pulling him into a quick hug.

  Then came Prince Rama and his wife, Inez. They approached with warm smiles, still chuckling over Lilibeth’s actions. Rama clasped Rhett’s shoulder while Inez kissed Amara on both cheeks.

  Prince Matteo followed with his wife, Emmie. The man bowed jokingly before embracing Rhett, while Emmie and Amara shared a hug.

  Marius and Solenya approached next, with the vassal queen holding a three-month-old baby boy in her arms. The young woman’s whole demeanor had changed in the five years since they left for Drurus—she no longer looked timid and afraid of everyone or every sound. She was happy and finally comfortable being near her husband.

  “Solenya,” Amara gasped, stepping forward to look at the baby. “I’ve been wanting to visit Drurus to see you and the princes. How are you doing? Did you suffer too much during the labor?”

  “Not as much as I did with his older brother,” Solenya chuckled. “Thankfully, Callen doesn’t seem to have his father’s head size.”

  “Oh, what a blessing that must have been,” Rhett smirked, glancing at Marius.

  “Here, would you like to hold him?” Solenya inquired, offering the baby to Amara.

  “I would love to,” Amara replied as her face lit up.

  She carefully took the baby from Solenya, and though he wiggled in her arms, Callen didn’t fuss or even whimper. Amara rocked him gently, smiling down at him.

  ”He’s beautiful,” she whispered.

  “Didn’t get that from Marius, either,” Rhett chuckled, causing others to laugh, too.

  Marius elbowed him in the ribs, but Rhett caught him in a headlock and gave him a playful squeeze.

  “You know, you haven’t officially signed your new contract to extend your kingship over Drurus,” Rhett said, tightening his grip. “I’ve got time to find someone else.”

  “That's cheating!” Marius groaned, hitting Rhett’s arm before finally giving up. “Fine! You win!”

  Rhett released him with a laugh, nudging him away.

  Finally, Prince Noah and his wife, Samira, stepped forward to embrace them both.

  With everyone now reunited, they went to the couches, with each couple taking one. However, one prince was noticeably absent—Ashur.

  But neither Rhett nor Amara seemed surprised. Ashur remained in Drurus, where he had spent the last five years growing closer to Princess Anwen.

  Just over a year ago, the prince had come to Rhett, requesting permission to court her. At first, he hesitated, unsure if the feelings were mutual between Anwen and Ashur. But one visit to Drurus had changed Rhett’s mind.

  When Ashur wasn’t near her, Anwen barely left her room. Despite being given more freedom over the years, she moved through the palace like a ghost. But when Ashur was with her, she was different—not dramatically so, but enough. She smiled more, spoke openly, and even participated in daily court activities.

  It had shocked Rhett, but it was also undeniable—the two of them had a connection.

  That was also why Ashur wasn’t there today. Though Rhett would have permitted Anwen to leave Drurus to attend the gathering, he knew she wouldn’t. She rarely stepped beyond the palace walls, and that was only with Ashur’s urging. Leaving Dunstead—leaving her prison—was not something she was ready to do yet. And so, Ashur stayed behind with her.

  Amara glanced across the room, looking over to where her daughter played. Lilibeth sat on a rug, surrounded by the four boys who knelt beside her. They were playing with wooden animals, some of which had pieces of silk tied to them, almost like a cloak.

  But Amara could already see the age gaps between them—how two of the boys subtly took charge, while the other princes followed their lead without question. Meanwhile, Lilibeth bounced between them like a social butterfly, unconcerned with the rules or structures of the game. Yet none of the boys seemed to mind. They laughed with her and handed her whichever animals she pointed to. But it was clear that she was the youngest of the group.

  Amara’s gaze shifted to Mathias and Kenna, who sat on the couch next to them.

  “Are those the four princes you’ve chosen?”

  “Yes,” Mathias nodded. “One son each from my first four children—Jesup, Enki, Rama, and Matteo.”

  “And the oldest? How old is he?” Amara inquired with a frown.

  “Kase, Jesup’s second son, is ten,” Mathias answered.

  “Ten?” She repeated, wide-eyed. “That’s… quite a bit older than Lilibeth. She’s barely five.”

  Rhett chuckled before placing a hand gently on her thigh.

  “You’re six years younger than me, little dove. Remember?”

  Amara shot him a look, furrowing her brows.

  “By the time she’s twenty,” Rhett continued. “Five years won’t seem so bad.”

  “They aren’t all that much older than Lilibeth, either,” Mathias added. “Ashwin, Enki’s second son is seven. Then there’s Spence, Rama’s eldest, who is nine. And finally, Micah—Matteo’s only son—who is six.”

  “What about the other princes?” Amara inquired.

  “Either younger than Lilibeth,” Kenna answered gently. “Or already promised to other princesses. The only exceptions being Jesup and Enki’s oldest boys. They are the heirs of Vespera and Bevia. They couldn’t be kings of Sylvaris, too.”

  Rhett turned to Amara again, raising a brow.

  “What do you think, little dove? Do you think any of them could be worthy?”

  Amara looked back at the children. Lilibeth was now attempting to tie a ribbon around one of the wooden animals, while Ashwin and Micah offered her more ribbons. Kase was telling a story, moving the toys like characters, while Spence arranged the animals into lines—clearly more invested in making things orderly than playing.

  Amara watched for a while longer before answering.

  “They’re sweet,” she said. “But we don’t know what kind of men they’ll become. A lot can change in fifteen years.”

  “That’s exactly why I want to get to know them… properly,” Rhett nodded in agreement before looking at Mathias. “I’d like to request that each of the boys spend a few months each year in Sylvaris. Not just to see if one of them might be right for Lilibeth—but to let them learn about the kingdom they could one day rule.”

  Mathias raised his brows slightly, but he didn’t seem surprised. He glanced across the room at his sons and their wives. The couples spoke quietly amongst themselves before eventually nodding.

  “Very well,” Mathias replied. “We agree.”

  “But should they all come at once?” Kenna inquired. “Or take turns?”

  “All at once,” Rhett said without hesitation. “If they’re here together, I can teach them the same lessons. Watch how they interact. Compare how they lead—and how they follow. How they handle conflict, pressure, and even each other.”

  Mathias thought to himself for a moment before nodding his head.

  “I’ll have something drafted up tomorrow. We’ll sign it the day after.”

  “When were you hoping to make your decision?” Jesup questioned, leaning forward.

  Rhett looked at Amara first before answering.

  “The summer after Lilibeth turns twenty. That should be enough time to see who they really are, and the men they've become.”

  He looked toward his daughter, who was now standing behind Kase, braiding his hair.

  “Once we’ve made our choice,” Rhett continued. “The wedding will follow soon after. And within five years, I plan to step down from the throne. I don’t want to overwhelm them right away with the crown. Rather, I’ll let them be husband and wife first before they become king and queen.”

  “Then it’s settled,” Mathias smiled, standing from the couch. “I shall fetch the other children, and then we can have dinner brought in.”

  As the day wore on, the sun set in the western skies, and darkness settled over Aston. Lilibeth was now asleep on a large bed, lying between her parents. Amara was on her side, gently stroking her daughter’s head.

  “Do you think she’ll love any of them?” She whispered, glancing up at Rhett. “Or are we making a mistake by doing this?”

  Rhett didn’t answer immediately. He looked at their daughter, furrowing his brows as he thought to himself.

  “Unfortunately, she has to marry one of them, whether she loves him or not,” he sighed. “However, I do hope she will at least be happy with whomever is chosen. But you and I, we’ll make sure he’s worthy of her and can handle her wild, untamed nature. Perhaps… if we are lucky, there will already be love between the two of them by the time they wed.”

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