The Delacroix estate, still bearing the scars of the recent battle, was filled with a strange quiet the following morning. While the halls buzzed with soldiers tending to wounds and servants repairing the damage, there was a shared sense of accomplishment—but not peace. Natalia knew better than to let her guard down.
Standing by the window of her room, she watched the sunrise stretch across the horizon. The golden light bathed the land, but it did little to warm the cold knot in her stomach. Victory against the Ashbournes had been crucial, but the real war wasn’t over yet.
Maximilian’s words echoed in her mind: “This is only the beginning.”
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Come in," Natalia said, smoothing her dress and stepping away from the window.
The door creaked open, revealing Damon with his usual mischievous grin. "You better not be sulking, Natalia."
Natalia rolled her eyes. "I’m not sulking."
"Then you’re plotting. Which is worse." Damon crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe. "So, what’s the plan? Or do I have to pry it out of you?"
Natalia smirked. "Since when did you become so nosy?"
“Since you started turning our enemies into ashes,” Damon teased, though there was a flicker of admiration in his eyes. "Seriously, though. You were incredible out there."
"Thanks," she replied softly.
Damon gave her a playful nudge. "The council’s gathering soon. You should probably head down before Alaric gets all grumpy about punctuality."
Natalia sighed. “Right. Just what I needed—a room full of old men discussing strategy.”
---
Down in the main hall, the council had already begun their meeting. Alaric sat at the head of the table, his posture rigid, with Lucian seated lazily beside him, twirling a dagger between his fingers.
“Finally,” Alaric said dryly as Natalia and Damon entered. "Now we can begin properly."
Magnus Delacroix, their father, sat silently at the end of the table, his stern gaze resting on Natalia for a moment before he shifted back to the council members.
Maximilian stood near the fireplace, arms crossed over his chest. His presence was an anchor in the storm of discussions, and Natalia felt a strange sense of comfort knowing he was there.
The council began reporting on the aftermath of the battle, troop losses, and potential retaliation from the Ashbournes. Natalia listened quietly, absorbing every detail.
"The Ashbourne family won’t rest," Magnus said gravely. "We’ve only delayed the inevitable. They’ll return—and next time, it will be worse."
Alaric nodded. "We need to fortify the estate and strengthen our alliances."
Lucian chimed in, leaning back in his chair. “What about the Sinclairs? Their forces helped, but it’s hard to trust them fully.”
Damon scoffed. “It’s hard to trust anyone nowadays. Except for Natalia, of course.”
Natalia gave him a small smile, but her mind was elsewhere. She could feel the weight of expectation settling on her shoulders.
Magnus shifted his attention to Natalia. "What do you think, child? You’ve proven yourself capable. How would you proceed?"
Natalia blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Her father had rarely sought her opinion before—this was new territory.
She straightened, meeting Magnus’s gaze with steady resolve. "We need to do more than just defend ourselves. If we stay on the defensive, we’ll always be one step behind."
Alaric raised an eyebrow. "Are you suggesting we take the fight to the Ashbournes?"
"Not yet," Natalia said carefully. "But we can’t let them regroup either. We need to cut off their allies. Isolate them before they can launch another attack."
The council murmured in agreement, and Magnus gave a slow nod. "You speak wisely."
Maximilian stepped forward, his deep voice cutting through the chatter. "The Ashbournes are vulnerable right now. If we act swiftly, we can weaken their influence."
Magnus’s gaze flicked between Natalia and Maximilian. "You two seem to work well together. It will be your task to handle the negotiations with the other dukedoms."
Natalia exchanged a glance with Maximilian, a spark of understanding passing between them.
---
Later that evening, Natalia found herself back in the courtyard, practicing with her magic. The violet flames danced at her fingertips, flickering in the cool night breeze. She was still learning to control it, still figuring out how much power she could release without burning herself out.
Maximilian approached from the shadows, his crimson eyes glowing softly in the dim light. “You’re pushing yourself again.”
Natalia didn’t stop, her focus locked on the flames. “I need to get stronger. If I don’t...”
“If you don’t, you think you’ll fail,” Maximilian finished for her, stepping closer. “But you don’t need to carry this burden alone.”
She lowered her hands, the flames extinguishing in an instant. “It doesn’t feel like I have a choice.”
Maximilian’s expression softened. “You always have a choice, Natalia. And I’ll be here, no matter what you decide.”
For a moment, she allowed herself to rest in the comfort of his presence. It was a rare feeling—to know that someone was truly on her side, not out of obligation, but because they chose to be.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Maximilian reached out, brushing a strand of her white hair behind her ear. "Get some rest. Tomorrow will be another long day."
Natalia nodded, but as Maximilian turned to leave, she stopped him with a question. “Why are you doing this?”
He glanced back at her, a ghost of a smile on his lips. “Because I care about you, Natalia. And I’ll burn this empire to the ground if it means keeping you safe.”
---
As the night deepened, Natalia returned to her room, her mind swirling with thoughts of the future. She knew the path ahead wouldn’t be easy, but with allies like Maximilian by her side, she felt ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.
The storm was coming, but Natalia Delacroix would meet it head-on—no longer the weak, forgotten daughter, but a force to be reckoned with.
And this time, she wouldn’t be fighting just to survive—she would be fighting to win.