prologue
“I hereby renounce my right to the throne.”
The moment my words fell, a heavy silence descended upon the courtroom.
Those in attendance inhaled sharply, as if my declaration had turned into an invisible fist and struck them across the face.
I lifted my head and looked up at where he sat.
The throne, adorned with gold and jewels, was dazzling in its splendor.
It stood only about two hand spans higher than the other seats, yet it looked as distant and grand as if it were perched upon unreachable clouds.
And yet, the nobles, even as they gazed upon that radiant throne, recoiled from it as if simply approaching it would infect them with some terrible plague.
That’s how wretched—how cursed—that seat had become.
“Princess Estelle. Are you truly saying you wish to permanently renounce your right of succession?”
The king asked, his voice sinking low.
I calmly lifted my gaze to meet his. Even in this moment, he was still a good father, and I was still his daughter.
A child is a parent’s treasure, a parent’s hope, a parent’s dream.
But even dreams are not bound to follow the path someone else has written for them.
People line their children up and measure who is closest to the throne, but never once ask them what they truly desire.
“Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for the grace you have shown me all this time. However, I have come to understand that I am not someone fit to take on this nation.”
And so, whatever shock he may be feeling now is not my fault.
“Thus, I stand here to formally and permanently renounce my claim to the throne. I humbly request that Your Majesty designate a crown prince—one capable of producing a rightful heir—to ensure the stability of our kingdom.”
At my words, the king let out a quiet sigh. I turned my eyes from him and looked around the courtroom.
Far off in the distance, I saw the face of another man.
The only person who had wanted me to ascend the throne more than my father did.
Seated upon the throne, I was his hope, his treasure, his dream.
And now, having ruthlessly shattered that dream, I looked straight at him and smiled—triumphantly.
With an utterly clear and unburdened heart.
