The Lord of the Seas - An Isekai Progression Fantasy [ Currently on Volume 2 ]

The golden light of the setting sun had long vanished, leaving only the soft hum of lamps with magical crystals illuminating the marble halls of the Elarion Royal Palace. It was quiet in this hall they had gathered in especially in contrast to the raucous cheers that had erupted all over Easthaven just hours ago. The crowd had finally dispersed after hours of crowding around the princess, all of them inspired by her speech and pledging their support for her cause.

Now, within the safety of these high stone walls, only those closest to Rosalia remained.

Lukas stood with his arms crossed beside Jesse, the both of them silent as they awaited the princess' arrival.

Maelis sat on the edge of a velvet-lined bench, his expression unreadable, while Magnus remained standing near the bench before one of the tall windows, his fingers interlaced behind his back. There was less tension between father and son now. They no longer averted each other's eyes or pretended the other did not exist at all. Perhaps this peace between father and son was only temporary but they had formed a truce for the sake of the girl that they both cared so much for.

Celina, however, made no attempt to hide her fury.

The Divine Knight paced like a storm barely contained, her boots echoing sharply across the polished floor. Her jaw was clenched, her brows drawn tightly as she glared down at nothing in particular. Whatever words Celina had for Rosalia, they simmered like boiling water left too long on the flame.

Lukas had tried speaking to her earlier—just a few words to calm her—but she had brushed him off without even looking his way. Not even the High Septon had managed to speak to her and Celina showed her respect of the highest level.

Jesse leaned in slightly. "She's not going to let it go, is she?"

Lukas gave a slow nod, eyes still trained on Celina. "No," he murmured. "I don't think she is."

Then the doors creaked open.

Rosalia stepped in quietly, dressed in a fresh tunic of deep green, the golden crest of Easthaven pinned to her shoulder. Her face was calm, but her exhaustion was evident. So much had happened and all of it seemed to have worn her down considerably.

Still, there was something different now—something in the way she held herself. Rosalia Elarion seemed to stand taller now, more sure of herself than she had ever been. And that was something that made Lukas smile.

She didn't make it three steps into the room before Celina turned on her heel.

"What on Hiraeth were you thinking, Rosalia?" The words slammed through the room like thunder, breaking the fragile silence that had been created as they waited for Rosalia to finish washing up.

The princess stopped dead in her tracks. Celina didn't.

The Divine Knight's voice rose, sharp and angry. "You surrendered, Rosalia! You had him! You had him and you gave it away! You stood there and threw everything we've worked away and for what? Because you felt like it? To make a statement?"

"Celina," Lukas warned softly, but it was no use, falling on deaf ears.

"You have no idea what you've just done! You cannot take those words back, Rosalia. News has probably spread all across this Kingdom and likely even to Khaitish and Nozar!" Celina's voice cracked slightly, the anger giving way to something far more fragile beneath.

"They will call you weak! They will say you are young and inexperienced! You think they will just happily give you the crown simply because you say you want it? You are so naive, Rosalia, I just can't even comprehend what compelled you to do such a thing!" She raged on, preventing anybody from getting a word in.

Rosalia's lips parted, but no words came. She remained frozen where she stood, stunned by the heat in Celina's voice. Hands instinctively rising, she tried to diffuse the situation. "Celina, please just let me explain—"

But Celina wasn't done. "You've been training for years! Nearly your whole gorydamn life!" she shouted, cutting across Rosalia's words. "Years, Rosalia! Every single day, every drop of blood, every ounce you've put in—it was for today! And you just…threw it all away? On a feeling?"

The room held its silence, heavy and tense.

Rosalia lowered her hands slowly, the sting of the words beginning to settle beneath her skin.

Lukas frowned.

No one had the right to tell Celina what to think about Rosalia's decision. Lukas understood where she was coming from as well as the disappointment she must have felt. But Celina also had no right to be acting this way for what she was doing to Rosalia was not simply disagreeing but condemning her for her actions.

His gaze shifted to Jesse, who was glaring at Celina now, his jaw clenched and his lips pressed tightly together as if holding his own anger back. It was painfully obvious that Jesse was one word away from stepping in to defend the princess.

But Lukas placed a steadying hand on his shoulder and shook his head.

Across the room, Magnus did the same, gently raising a hand in front of Maelis, who had just begun to move from where he sat. The Admiral did not know Celina well nor was he aware of how close the Divine Knight really was to Rosalia but what Maelis did know was that he did not like the way she was talking to his beloved niece.

But when Maelis saw Magnus' expression, calm but resolute, he stilled.

They all recognized that this was not their battle.

As much as they really wanted to, they could not fight Rosalia's battles forever. They couldn't jump in to defend her. Not anymore.

Rosalia was no longer the girl they once protected. She was standing and facing the very consequences of her own choices now, and that was what being a leader would always mean.

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"You could've at least told someone!" Celina snapped. "Me. Lukas. Your grandfather. Even your uncle. Anyone! You could have consulted us before going off and doing something so drastic! And they all would have told you the same thing."

The Divine Knight gestured vaguely toward the distant world beyond the palace walls.

"You have just told the world that you…want to be Queen. And I don't think, for a second, that you really know what it means to rule. That declaration…isn't something you can take back, Rosalia."

Silence followed.

It was thick and heavy.

Then, the princess moved forward, closing the short distance between the two of them. It was a single, sharp step that startled the Divine Knight who flinched as Rosalia stopped barely a breath away; her chin tilted up and her eyes lit with a controlled but fire that burnt just as fierce as the storm that was raging within Celina.

When Rosalia finally spoke, her voice was calm. But the steel in it was unmistakable. "I know exactly what I have done, Celina."

The difference between them was that Rosalia did not need to raise her voice because her words struck like a blade through bone. "I know what this moment meant. I know what I told the world. And I know that it is something that I can never take it back."

Rosalia's voice wavered, just a fraction—less from fear, more from emotion. "I have always looked up to you, Celina. You were somebody I looked up to just as fiercely as I looked up to my mother. You were strong and you were so...so brave. I wanted to be just like you. That's why I listened to you even when I didn't agree. And I still care about what you have to say, I really do."

Celina took in a sharp breath. This time it was her turn to let the princess speak.

"But this wasn't a mistake. And it's not because I'm some naive kid who didn't know what she was doing. This…is my choice to make. Not yours. Not Lukas'. Not even my grandfather's. I made this choice because it is mine to make."

Celina's mouth parted, but no sound came.

Rosalia looked her straight in the eyes. "I'm not a child anymore."

The words rang out, final and full. The fire in Rosaia's eyes made it clear that she would not let her respect for Celina cause her conviction to falter like it had so many times before.

The princess would stand her ground and she would fight her own battles.

Behind her, Jesse let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Lukas allowed the softest of chuckles to escape his lips, pride flickering quietly in his gaze.

That little girl that he had met so many years ago along the shores of Easthaven? That little girl that once flew upon his back as they soared through the skies above Easthaven's waters?

That little girl was gone. Standing in her place was the woman who would one day be Queen of Easthaven.

Celina shook her head, the disappointment now etched into every word she said. "You're still a child, Rosalia. Whether you like it or not. You don't know what you want. Not yet."

The words hit harder than any strike Rosalia had taken because it came from someone that Rosalia cared so deeply for.

For the first time since entering the room, her voice wasn't calm anymore. It trembled with anger now.

"That's not your decision to make," Rosalia snapped back, a hint of venom creeping into her tone. "I do know what I want, Celina. And just because it isn't what you want doesn't mean it is wrong."

"Rosalia—"

"No," the princess interrupted. "This argument is pointless. You're not even listening to me, Celina."

Rosalia took a breath, composing herself. Then, she spoke with more clarity than ever before. "This is what I want. I'm not going to back down from it. No matter what you say, I am not going to change my mind. I swear on my name that until the world I dream of becomes real…until dignity, honor, and justice are the reality that we all share, no matter where you come from, what you believe in, or what blood runs through your veins…then I will never stop. Ever."

Rosalia let the words settle between them. "And I'll do it my way. On my terms. Not the Church's. Not even yours."

Everyone in the room felt the truth in her voice.

It rang out like a vow. A declaration stronger than even the one she made in front of all seated in the arena.

Rosalia meant every single word.

But Celina…Celina wasn't ready to let go of that little girl she still saw in Rosalia.

The Divine Knight's voice, when it came, was quieter. But it still bore the sharp edge of steel. "This…this isn't what your mother would have wanted."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Rosalia didn't speak for a single second before the fury exploded out of her.

"You have no right!" The princess screamed. "You have no right to say that!"

Celina's face twisted with regret.

The moment the words had left her mouth, Celina knew that it was too late.

Words like that could never be unsaid.

"Rosalia, I didn't mean—"

"Don't!" the princess shouted. "Just stop. Just…stop."

Her hands clenched into fists. "I want you to leave."

The word struck like thunder. The ground trembled faintly.

"Rosalia—"

"Leave!" The doors to the chamber flew open, a violent gust of wind surging in behind them as golden light flared through the room.

This was no Divinity. It was Mana—raw, ancient, powerful—and it poured from Rosalia without effort, called forth not by will, but by sheer emotion. The air itself felt charged with energy, more alive than it had ever been.

Celina stood in stunned silence, the look on her face not one of fear but of pain. The Divine Knight turned her gaze to Lukas, then to Magnus, Maelis, and finally to Rosalia herself—whose eyes were filled with tears she refused to let fall just yet.

Celina gave her a deep bow. "…Your Highness." Then, the Divine Knight took her leave; the doors closing behind her.

Rosalia stood still for a moment longer. Trembling and breathing hard. Then her shoulders slumped forward and the tears finally broke free. She didn't say a word as Jesse crossed the room and pulled her into his arms. She didn't need to. She sank into his chest, letting herself be held, her body shaking with quiet sobs.

For the first time that day, Rosalia didn't feel like a warrior nor did she feel like someone worthy to rule an entire nation.

Rosalia felt like a little girl again, this time saying goodbye to the one of the only heroes she ever truly looked up to.

Lukas looked away and towards the door that Celina had just left through. His pride for Rosalia hadn't faded—but it was now tinged with a bittersweet realization.

The realization that so much had changed today. And the realization that nothing would ever be the same again.