Chapter 203: Infuriating Father and Son Duo

Elara:

For several moments, he studied me without speaking. I returned his stare, wondering how long he intended to make this uncomfortable silence last.

I had never mistaken Darren Valemont for someone particularly interested in ordinary conversation, and his next words only confirmed my suspicion. "Lorien tells me you have recently unlocked your wind element."

The statement caught me slightly off guard. Of all the things he could have chosen to discuss, I hadn’t expected my magical progress to be the subject of our private meeting. It took me a moment to gather myself before answering, "Yes, Regent Valemont. I unlocked it two days ago during a training session with Headmaster Moonveil."

Darren gave a slow nod, and something resembling approval flickered across his face. "Good. I have also heard that you possess shadow element as well."

This time, I couldn’t suppress a small sigh. "That’s what Professor Stroll and Professor Elowen have told me. Personally, I haven’t felt the presence of shadow magic myself, so I can’t say I have consciously accessed it. They both confirmed traces of it in my magical signature, however."

He nodded again, apparently filing away the information. "Three elemental affinities are a considerable advantage, Princess. I assume you understand how unusual that is."

"I do," I replied carefully.

I had spent enough time studying Starfall’s magic system to understand that possessing even one rare element could make a person exceptional. Three elements, especially with two of them being rare, placed me in an entirely different category. It was an advantage, certainly, but also another reason for people to watch me more closely.

Darren seemed satisfied that I understood the significance, because his expression sharpened as he continued, "Then you should also understand that your priority must be improving your control and unlocking your full potential. You have abilities that could serve Starfall for decades, provided you learn to use them properly. That is where your attention should be focused - not on finding clever ways to remind the council of your position."

There it was. I should have known better than to expect a normal conversation from Darren Valemont. His words were measured, almost reasonable, but the accusation and disapproval beneath them were unmistakable. He hadn’t brought me to this balcony simply to discuss my magic. He had been watching the meeting, and he had seen exactly what I had done when Mrs. Greymark questioned Jasper. The innocent explanation, the carefully chosen words, the reminder that my blood knight’s position placed him beneath royalty and above everyone else at that table - all of it had registered with him.

I kept my expression neutral, resisting the urge to remind him that I hadn’t been the one who had turned a simple entrance into a discussion about rank and privilege. If the Regents hadn’t been so determined to question my every decision, perhaps I wouldn’t have needed to remind them that I was capable of making my own. But I held my tongue, knowing that an argument would only give him more ammunition.

Darren continued, seemingly interpreting my silence as an invitation to lecture me further. "You will officially be crowned Crown Princess during the coming summer break, after completing your second term at Moonveil Academy. That leaves you with only one more term to prepare yourself for the responsibilities you will eventually inherit. Four months, Eleanora Argentis. You cannot afford to waste it."

His gaze hardened as he stepped closer, and I forced myself not to retreat.

"You need to learn how to govern, how to control your magic, and how to work with the people who will be responsible for helping you rule this kingdom. You don’t have the luxury of spending your time playing little political games every time someone says something you dislike."

I wanted to laugh at the sheer hypocrisy of it. These were the same people who had spent the meeting questioning my right to manage my own property, yet somehow, I was the one wasting time playing games. Still, I said nothing, allowing him to finish.

Darren turned fully toward me, his expression leaving no room for misunderstanding. "When the time comes, I expect Starfall to be presented with a capable future monarch, not a young girl who mistakes defiance for strength and spends her days trying to prove she cannot be controlled."

His words struck harder than I wanted to admit, not because I agreed with him, but because he had deliberately chosen the one accusation most likely to irritate me. I had spent my entire life fighting to maintain control over my own choices, first in the human world and now in a kingdom where everyone seemed to believe my birthright gave them permission to decide what was best for me.

I wanted to tell him that a capable monarch didn’t need to surrender her judgment to the people who claimed to be preparing her. I wanted to ask whether he expected me to become a queen who nodded obediently while the Regents made every decision on my behalf. Instead, I kept my face composed and met his gaze without flinching.

Darren appeared to consider me for another moment before giving a curt nod, as though he had said everything he intended to say. Then he turned and walked away, leaving me alone on the balcony with the forest stretching endlessly beyond the railing.

For several seconds, I remained where I was, gripping the edge of the railing as I fought the urge to unleash every furious thought I had carefully kept behind my teeth.

I had almost forgotten how much I disliked Darren Valemont. His son was arrogant, infuriating, and entirely too accustomed to getting his way, but at least Reign occasionally had the decency to make his intentions obvious. Darren, on the other hand, could wrap an insult in a speech about responsibility and make it sound like advice. And the truly irritating part was that he had managed to make me feel as though I had something to prove. I hated that. I hated that his words had found a place in my mind at all.

Taking a slow breath, I pushed away from the railing and headed back into the hallway. I had no intention of giving him the satisfaction of seeing me rattled, and I certainly wasn’t going to stand around replaying his lecture until I convinced myself he might have a point.

Jasper was waiting for me, and I wanted to return to the palace before another Regent decided to summon me for a private lesson in how to be a proper princess.

I had made it halfway down the empty corridor when a hand suddenly closed around my arm. Before I could turn or even draw a full breath, I was yanked sideways into a wall of shadows, and the world vanished around me.