The Gentleman's Agony

The hours after the failed coronation were a blur of activity. The Chancellor was taken to the palace dungeons to await trial. His supporters were questioned and, in some cases, arrested. The nobility gathered in emergency session to discuss what came next.

And Silas and Elara collapsed in a private room in the palace, too exhausted to do anything but breathe.

"We did it," Elara whispered. "We actually did it."

"Yes," Silas agreed. "Though I'm not entirely sure how."

"The bond. The way we distributed the cost among multiple people—that shouldn't have been possible."

"But it was. Which means our bond is even more unique than we thought." Silas closed his eyes, feeling the aches and pains of his body. "Elara, what we did today—sharing the magical cost with others—that could change everything. If we can teach other Proxies to do the same thing, if we can create bonds that distribute costs instead of concentrating them..."

"We could end the exploitation," Elara finished. "We could make magic accessible without requiring people to suffer for it."

"It's a nice dream."

"It's more than a dream. It's a possibility." She sat up, wincing at the movement. "Silas, we have a chance to actually change things. The Chancellor is gone, I'm going to be Queen, and we have proof that there's a better way to handle Proxy bonds. We can reform the entire system."

"That's going to take time. And political capital. And a lot of people who are invested in the current system are going to fight you every step of the way."

"I know. But I have to try. Because if I don't, if I just accept the system as it is, then Thomas died for nothing. Your fifteen years of suffering meant nothing. And I can't accept that."

Through the bond, Silas felt her determination, her conviction, her absolute refusal to let things continue as they were.

And he felt something in himself respond. Not the absence of emotion that had defined him for so long, but actual hope. The belief that maybe, just maybe, things could actually change.

"All right," he said. "We'll try. Together."

"Together," she agreed.

There was a knock at the door, and Duke Ravencroft entered. He looked tired but satisfied, like a man who had just won a difficult battle.

"Your Highness," he said, bowing to Elara. "The nobility has reached a decision. They want you to be crowned Queen as soon as possible, to restore stability to the kingdom."

"How soon?" Elara asked.

"Tomorrow, if you're willing. The coronation ceremony is already prepared—we just need to substitute you for the Chancellor."

"Tomorrow." Elara looked at Silas. "That's fast."

"The kingdom needs a leader," the Duke said. "And you're the rightful heir. The longer we wait, the more time the Chancellor's supporters have to regroup and cause trouble."

"What about the Chancellor himself?" Silas asked. "What's going to happen to him?"

"He'll stand trial for treason. The evidence you provided is more than sufficient to convict him. He'll likely be executed within the month."

Silas felt a complicated mix of emotions at that. Relief that the Chancellor would face justice. Discomfort at the idea of execution, even for someone who had caused so much suffering. And underneath it all, a deep weariness at the endless cycle of violence and retribution.

"Your Highness," the Duke continued, "there's another matter we need to discuss. Your bond with Silas Vane. It's unprecedented, and it's going to raise questions. Some of the nobility are already suggesting that it's inappropriate for a Queen to be bonded to a former Proxy."

"Then they can keep their suggestions to themselves," Elara said sharply. "Silas saved my life multiple times. He helped me stop a coup. And our bond is the foundation for a new way of handling magic in this kingdom. I'm not severing it to satisfy some aristocrats' sense of propriety."

"I'm not suggesting you should," the Duke said mildly. "I'm simply warning you that it's going to be a point of contention. You'll need to be prepared to defend the bond, to explain it, to make the nobility understand why it's important."

"I can do that."

"I'm sure you can. But Your Highness, you should also consider what this means for Silas. He's no longer a Proxy, but he's not quite a free citizen either. His legal status is... ambiguous."

"Then we'll clarify it," Elara said. "Silas is my partner, my advisor, and my friend. Whatever title or position that requires, we'll create it."

The Duke smiled slightly. "You're going to be an interesting Queen, Your Highness."

"I certainly hope so. The kingdom has had enough boring Queens."

The Duke left, and Silas and Elara were alone again.

"Partner, advisor, and friend," Silas said. "That's quite a promotion from Proxy."

"You deserve it. And more." Elara turned to look at him. "Silas, I meant what I said. You're not my servant, and you're not my tool. You're my equal. And when I'm crowned Queen tomorrow, I want you standing beside me. Not behind me, not in the shadows. Beside me."

"That's going to cause a scandal."

"Good. This kingdom could use a few scandals. Shake things up a bit."

Despite everything, Silas smiled. "You're serious about this, aren't you? About reforming the Proxy system, about changing how magic works in this kingdom."

"Completely serious. Because Silas, what we discovered today—the ability to distribute magical costs among multiple willing participants—that's revolutionary. If we can implement that on a large scale, we can end the exploitation of Proxies entirely."

"It won't be easy. The aristocracy has built their entire lifestyle around having Proxies to absorb the costs of their magic. They're not going to give that up without a fight."

"Then we'll fight. We've already proven we can win against impossible odds. We can do it again."

Silas looked at her—really looked at her—and saw not the frightened princess who had stumbled out of a burning ballroom, but a Queen in the making. Someone who had seen the truth about her kingdom and refused to look away. Someone who was willing to fight for change, even when it was difficult and dangerous.

"All right," he said. "We'll do it. We'll reform the system, we'll change the kingdom, and we'll make sure no one else has to suffer the way I suffered."

"Together," Elara said.

"Together," Silas agreed.

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, both of them processing everything that had happened, everything that was about to happen.

Tomorrow, Elara would be crowned Queen. And Silas would stand beside her, not as a Proxy, not as a servant, but as a partner and equal.

It was a new beginning. For both of them, and for the kingdom.

And for the first time in fifteen years, Silas allowed himself to feel hope.

Real, genuine hope that things could actually get better.

It was terrifying and exhilarating in equal measure.

But it was also, he realized, what it felt like to be alive.

*

End of Chapter 11