Mateo perspective

Lunette's reign as the ruler was strategic and precise. She stayed in power for a year, meticulously dismantling the corrupt system of nobles, exposing the lies, and removing those who had once held dominion over the kingdom with an iron grip. She cut through the heart of the kingdom's dark past, erasing the injustices and cruelty, one law, one decision at a time. The people began to feel the effects of her rule—more fairness, more hope, more balance—but Lunette's heart remained cold, driven by her mission.

She knew what was coming after this year, but she could never let go of the weight that had built in her chest. It was as Kieran had explained to her, on that day when everything had started to shift—he and her mother were not of this land. They belonged to another continent, a place where her true origins lay. And so, after fulfilling her duty to right the wrongs of her people, she planned to leave. Her heart was torn, but she knew it was the right thing to do, the best choice for the kingdom. Her departure had always been part of the plan—something she could never escape.

Despite her resolve, the months had taken their toll. She was still haunted by the faces of her friends, those who had been the casualties of her path to justice. It tore her apart, but she pushed on. One more year. One more year, and then you can move forward.

And so, with the year drawing to a close, she held a grand competition—a way to select the new dukes. She would elevate them, those who had the strength and character to rule with honor, to uphold the values she had set. She was ready to pass the mantle.

When the day of the competition arrived, the crowd buzzed with excitement. Among those who stood ready to prove their worth were the boys. It was as though the world had gone silent when Lunette saw them. Mateo, Ziven, Amaias, and Arven—all of them were ready to claim the titles they had fought for, though their expressions were wary, careful, as if unsure of her intentions.

Lunette's heart tightened, but she couldn't afford to show it. She knew this moment meant something to them, but it couldn't mean anything to her. The ceremony was business. And business was all that mattered.

Her voice, steady and commanding, rang out over the arena. "By the power vested in me as your ruler, I declare these titles to be justly earned by the men before me. The future of this kingdom rests in their hands."

As the winners stepped forward, she handed each of them the Shield of Honor—an emblem of their power and responsibility—and the Sword of the Duke—a weapon that symbolized their authority. Her hands were steady as she placed them into their grasps, but inside, her heart ached. For a moment, the old feeling of happiness fluttered in her chest, but she crushed it. There was no place for weakness now.

The ceremony continued, the cheers of the crowd blending together. But Lunette couldn't focus on their praises. Her eyes lingered on the boys as they took their new titles, understanding the distance between them, a distance she herself had created. She felt nothing. No relief, no joy. Only emptiness.

"May you serve your people well," Lunette said to them, her voice unwavering, though her mind was lost in the quiet storm of emotions brewing inside her. She didn't speak of their friendship or the bond they once shared. She wouldn't. Not now.

As the ceremony concluded, Lunette stepped back into the shadows of her throne room, preparing herself for what was next. This was only the beginning. There was still much to do in the year ahead. And then, after it all, she would leave.

She didn't know if her friends would ever forgive her, or if they would understand the choices she had made. But none of that mattered anymore. The only thing that mattered was completing the task at hand—ending the reign of corruption and paving the way for a new world. And once that was done, she would walk away.

For now, she had no place in their world, and they had no place in hers.

From Mateo perspective

From the moment Mateo heard that his father had been kidnapped, a storm of emotions engulfed him. Confusion, guilt, fear—all intertwined. The weight of the news hit him like a crushing wave, and despite the growing uncertainty around him, he couldn't help but feel a pull toward what had been happening in the shadows for so long. His mind raced back to the whispers of the past, the secrets he'd long suspected but never dared confront.

Mateo's relationship with his father was complicated. He admired him, even respected him for the authority he carried. But the truth about what his father had been involved in—the experiments, the cruel manipulation of innocent lives—was a heavy burden to bear. How could he reconcile the man he had grown up to call "father" with the man who had inflicted such pain on so many?

The boys had all gone through a lot together. The bond they shared was undeniable. But the weight of Cior's betrayal, no matter how justified it was, lingered like a shadow in Mateo's heart. She had exposed everything, and now, the world knew who they were, what their families had done. It felt like a betrayal on both sides—Cior was hurt, but he, too, was torn between the love for his friends and the loyalty to his father.

When the public declaration came, Mateo stood there in the crowd, his mind reeling as Cior stood before the masses, revealing the truth about her bloodline and the twisted actions of their parents. His gaze locked on her, his heart aching as she spoke, her voice steady and cold, but the sadness in her eyes unmistakable. He couldn't deny the truth anymore; she had suffered, and they were all implicated in her pain.

The day Cior announced her rule, Mateo knew the stakes had changed. He couldn't let things end this way. He couldn't stand idly by while the kingdom he had once called home plunged into chaos. He had to act. And yet, despite everything, he still felt drawn to Cior, still longed to make things right—even if it meant putting himself at odds with everything he had ever known.

The competition, the one that would determine the next dukes and rulers of the land, became his way in. It wasn't just about the title—it was about standing by Cior, showing her that he wasn't backing down. He had been silent for too long, caught between loyalty to his family and guilt for the wrongs they had committed. But now, he wanted to fight alongside her. He had to prove himself worthy, not just to her, but to the people of the kingdom.

As he entered the competition, Mateo's resolve solidified. He would win. He would prove that he wasn't just his father's son, that he could be someone who stood for justice, for the truth. If he had to fight for the throne, for the people's trust, for Cior's respect, then so be it.

The tournament was fierce, but Mateo's heart was steadfast. His friends—his brothers, in a way—had won their places as dukes, and when the dust settled, Mateo finally stood by Cior's side, a title at his back, and an unspoken promise in his heart. But even as they stood together, words were few between them. The weight of everything that had happened hung between them like a silent barrier.

Mateo wasn't sure where things would go from here. Would he and Cior ever be able to mend what had been broken? Would he find a way to redeem his family's sins in her eyes? Only time would tell.

But one thing was certain: he was no longer just Mateo, the Duke's son. He was a man determined to make things right, and he would stand by Cior through the challenges ahead, no matter the cost.

After winning the competition and receiving the sword and shield from Cior, Mateo felt a rush of excitement like never before. His heart raced as he finally stood close to her after all this time. He could hardly believe he was facing her again—his best friend, the girl who had been both a part of his past and his future, now standing before him as the ruler of the kingdom.

"Cior…" he breathed out, his voice filled with a mixture of relief, longing, and disbelief. "It's been so long. You… you look so different. I never imagined we'd meet again like this."

Cior met his gaze, but her expression remained as cold and distant as it had been since her ascension to the throne. Her eyes, however, seemed to flicker with something—perhaps a reminder of the girl he once knew. But she said nothing, simply handing him the sword with a practiced, emotionless gesture.