CHAPTER 200: HOLLOW

The white bird arrived at dawn.

Not the golden phoenixes native to Solmire, nor the common messenger hawks that carried correspondence between provinces.

The creature was something else entirely. Larger than a dove, smaller than an eagle, with feathers so pristinely white they seemed to glow against the morning sky.

A frost-hawk. Native to Nevareth. Bred specifically for long-distance flight through conditions that would kill lesser birds.

The guards stationed at the capital’s border recognized it immediately. Recognized, too, the silver ribbon tied around its leg and the wax seal stamped with Nevareth’s imperial crest.

They didn’t open the message. Didn’t dare. Letters bearing that particular seal were meant for the King’s eyes only.

One guard carefully removed the sealed parchment while another prepared a fast horse. Within the hour, a rider was racing toward the palace, the letter secured in a leather pouch against his chest, pushing his mount as hard as he dared without risking injury.

By midday, he’d reached the palace.

By afternoon, the letter sat on a silver tray outside King Caelen Caldrith’s private study.

Inside the palace, life continued with the kind of carefully orchestrated chaos that marked any royal household.

Caelen had been crowned two weeks ago. Long enough that the novelty had worn off, not long enough that the weight had become familiar. He spent his days buried in matters of state that Eris had once handled with terrifying efficiency. Trade agreements. Border disputes. Tax assessments. Agricultural reports.

Everything she’d made look effortless.

Everything that now consumed his waking hours.

He’d been reviewing grain shipments from the outer parts of Solmire when the knock came. His secretary, apologetic but insistent. "Your Majesty, a message from Nevareth. Imperial seal."

Caelen waved him away. "Leave it. I’ll review it shortly."

The man bowed, set the silver tray on the desk’s edge, and departed.

Caelen tried to focus on the numbers before him. Tried to care about harvest yields and storage capacity. But his eyes kept drifting to that sealed letter.

Nevareth.

Soren.

He knew what it was before opening it. Knew with the certainty of dread settling in his stomach like lead.

Finally, he set down his quill. Broke the seal. Unfolded the parchment.

His Imperial Majesty Soren Nivarre, Emperor of Nevareth, requests the honor of King Caelen Caldrith’s presence at the celebration of his marriage to Lady Eris Igniva of Solmire.

The ceremony will take place three days hence. Your presence at the subsequent celebrations would honor both bride and groom.

The words were formal. Perfectly courteous. Everything a wedding invitation should be.

Except for the timing.

Three days hence. The invitation had taken four days to arrive. By the time Caelen could possibly reach Nevareth, the wedding would be over. The vows spoken. The union sealed.

He’d arrive just in time to watch his former wife celebrate her new marriage.

Deliberate. Calculated. A massive insult wrapped in diplomatic courtesy.

Soren had sent this late on purpose. Had ensured Caelen would receive it too late to intervene, too late to object, too late to do anything except witness the aftermath.

The parchment crumpled in Caelen’s fist.

She was really going to marry him.

Eris.

His Eris.

The woman that forced him into marriage, resented for years, killed on a battlefield while she burned everything around her.

The woman he’d never stopped thinking about, even when he’d tried desperately to forget.

She was marrying his best friend.

Anger flared first. At Soren, for this transparent manipulation. At himself, for caring. At Eris, for leaving, for choosing the Ice Emperor over... over what? Over a man who’d made her life hell? Over a kingdom that had prayed for her downfall?

The anger faded quickly, leaving only the ache.

His heart hurt.

Actually, physically hurt, like someone had reached into his chest and squeezed.

The door opened.

Caelen’s hands moved automatically, smoothing the parchment, schooling his expression into something neutral. Professional.

Ophelia stepped in, her presence gentle as always. She’d changed into a different gown since morning, something in soft cream that complemented her honey-colored hair. Her hand rested on her belly, barely visible but unmistakable.

Pregnant. A month along. A child they’d both wanted, both celebrated, both already loved.

So why did looking at her make him think of Eris?

"What was the message?" Ophelia asked, moving closer with that careful grace she always carried.

"Just diplomatic correspondence." The lie came easily. Too easily. "Nothing important."

Her eyes searched his face. She didn’t believe him. He could see the doubt flickering there, the questions she wanted to ask but wouldn’t.

Instead, she simply nodded. "The noble wives are asking about the spring festival preparations. Should I tell them you’ll address it at tomorrow’s council?"

"Yes. That’s fine."

He stood, crossed to her, pressed a kiss to her forehead. Gentle. Affectionate. The gesture of a husband who cared.

And he did care. Truly. Ophelia was kind, patient, everything a king could want in a wife. She’d never burned anyone alive. Never manipulated him into marriage. Never made his life a waking nightmare.

She was perfect.

So why did perfect feel so hollow?

"How are you feeling?" He placed his hand over hers on her belly. "Any discomfort?"

"None." Her smile brightened. "The midwife says everything is progressing well."

"Good. That’s good."

They stood like that for a moment. King and Queen. Husband and wife. Parents-to-be. Everything proper and right and blessed by the gods.

Everything he’d wanted when he’d first seen Ophelia all those years ago.

So why did his chest still ache?

---

Ophelia had spent her afternoon entertaining the noble wives, as she did most afternoons. They gathered in the solar, a bright room with tall windows that caught the southern sun, making everything glow golden and warm.

Perfect for the performance she was expected to give.

"You’re blooming, Your Majesty," Lady Maren cooed, reaching across to pat Ophelia’s hand. "Absolutely radiant. The gods have blessed you."

"Pyronox himself must have answered your prayers," another added, her smile sharp with satisfaction. "After so many years of wanting a child, to finally be granted one. It’s a sign."

Ophelia smiled. Nodded. Placed her hand over her belly with the kind of reverent gesture they expected.

But inside, something twisted.

She’d wanted a child, yes. Desperately. But if she was honest with herself, truly honest, she knew when that desire had crystallized into obsession.

When Eris had given birth to Rael.

When Caelen had held his son for the first time, something in his expression softening in a way Ophelia had never seen directed at her.

She’d wanted that. Wanted to give him a child. Wanted to create that bond, that connection, that proof that she could give him something Eris had given first.

But she’d never admit that. Not to them. Not to herself.

"The former queen," Lady Vessa said, her tone dripping false sympathy, "never did appreciate what she had. A husband. A son. A kingdom. And she threw it all away for what? Pride? Cruelty?"

"Barbarism," someone else supplied. "That’s all it was. Solmire always valued power over grace."

"Thank the gods King Caelen finally saw sense," Lady Maren continued. "Cast aside that monster and chose someone worthy. Someone gentle. Someone who understands what it means to be a proper queen."

The words washed over Ophelia like warm water. Soothing. Validating. Exactly what they always said.

Poor Ophelia. Trapped in Eris’s shadow for so long. Finally given her rightful place.

She smiled. Agreed. Let them paint her as the victim who’d triumphed through patience and virtue.

Let them condemn Eris as the villain who’d gotten exactly what she deserved.

It was easier that way.

Easier than admitting that sometimes, late at night when Caelen thought she was asleep, she heard him whisper Eris’s name.