Defy The Alpha(s)-Chapter 806: In Three Days

Queen Seraphira knew something was up the moment the Councilors requested a private meeting. They rarely came to her like this, unannounced and together.

Now they sat around the square table in one of the palace drawing rooms, the atmosphere thick with unspoken tension.

The drawing room was one of Seraphira’s quieter chambers, reserved for more intimate discussions rather than the formal court.

Tall arched windows lined the walls, draped in luxurious-threaded curtains. At the center of the room stood a polished obsidian table, its surface reflecting the golden glow of enchanted lanterns suspended above it.

Seraphira was more at ease here, and most importantly, she could not risk her citizens suspecting that she was weakening.

Rumors moved faster than magic in a kingdom.

Two guards stood like statues at the corners of the room, vigilant and unmoving. Whatever was spoken in this chamber would die within its walls.

The queen sat at the edge of the table, composed as ever, her crown resting lightly against her purple hair. Across from her, six councilors occupied the remaining seats.

There should have been ten. Seraphira noted the absence immediately. Which meant they had already discussed the matter among themselves before coming here. That was not entirely unusual—disagreements among the council were almost a tradition—but the timing of it was interesting.

If she had to guess, this had something to do with Violet. Or more precisely, the trial.

She had seen this coming after all.

A servant moved quietly between them, finishing the last of the tea service. Porcelain cups were placed neatly before each councilor, steam curling upward in delicate spirals. Seraphira waited.

The moment the servant finished pouring, she dismissed her with a gentle gesture. The girl bowed and slipped out of the room, closing the doors behind her.

Silence settled across the chamber.

Then the queen lifted her cup. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"I must say," Seraphira started, her gaze sweeping across the councilors, "this is quite a pleasant surprise."

Councilor Enock cleared his throat, drawing the attention of the room. He had clearly come prepared to lead this conversation.

"Your Majesty," He began carefully, "we have deliberated on this matter among ourselves..." His gaze shifted briefly to the other councilors seated around the table.

"And we have decided that it cannot wait any longer."

Queen Seraphira’s expression was perfectly composed. "Pray tell," she said smoothly, "what matter is so urgent?"

The councilors knew she was pretending.

But she was the queen. The courtesy had to be observed.

"It concerns your daughter," he said. "Princess Violet."

Seraphira’s fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around her porcelain cup.

Zion continued.

"The council has reached a decision. The Trial of Ascension will be moved forward."

He paused just long enough for the weight of his words to settle.

"The competition will begin in two days."

"What?"

The word escaped before Seraphira could fully contain it. She had expected resistance from the council eventually. But two days? That was absurd.

Her composure snapped back into place quickly, though the tension in her voice remained.

"The princess is not ready."

Councilor Enock shook his head.

"On the contrary, Your Majesty, we believe she is more than ready. Princess Violet possesses a level of power none of us have witnessed before. If there was ever doubt about her strength, yesterday’s incident erased it."

Seraphira steadied her breath as anger coursed through her veins. These bastards.

"The council is meant to remain neutral," Enock continued. "But in this case, we are offering your daughter an opportunity. One might even say a free passage. We cannot wait any longer for her to take her rightful place."

Pretenders. All of them. What rightful place? They wanted to see Violet fail.

Seraphira set the cup down before she accidentally shattered it.

She said tightly. "You’re wrong, yesterday’s incident proved the opposite. Violet is not ready. I will not force my daughter into a situation where she could endanger herself, or every fae citizen in this kingdom."

Another councilor spoke then, his voice gentler but firm.

"Your Majesty, the Ascension of Death requires no display of power."

Seraphira looked at him sharply.

"It is a spiritual trial," he explained. "The princess must face the spirits of our ancestors and earn their approval. She will not need to use her powers at all."

They were right. Violet did not need to wield magic for the Ascension of Death. The trial was simply a communion between the heir and the ancestral spirits of the Free Fae. Power meant little before the judgment of the dead.

But Seraphira also knew something the council knew too. Once the competition began, it would not stop.

The trials would come one after another, relentlessly. Traditionally, there were a few days between each challenge so competitors could prepare themselves, recover, and plan.

Even that would not be enough for Violet.

Not when she was facing opponents who had lived centuries. Fae who had been born into magic and spent their entire lives mastering it.

They would all be competing against her daughter.

Another councilor said. "Your Majesty, tensions among the citizens are rising. The people want to know when the trial will begin."

He glanced briefly at the others.

"If we delay it any longer, they will begin to question the princess’s capability. Moreover, the other competitors are waiting. At this point, it appears we are showing the princess preferential treatment."

Seraphira’s jaw tightened.

They can wait for all I care! The words burned on the tip of her tongue. After all, there would be no competition without Violet. But she forced the thought down. She was a queen. She would not allow her emotions to rule her in front of the council.

Still, beneath her calm expression, Seraphira understood exactly what was happening. This had to be Baron. He was moving his pieces. And he was making sure she had no choice.

Seraphira straightened in her chair.

"Three days." She declared.

Councilor Enock immediately said, "But Your Majesty—"

"Take it or leave it," Seraphira cut him off.

Her voice carried the quiet authority of a ruler who had commanded armies.

"I am still the queen and I decide what it will be. Council or not."

Enock opened his mouth to argue further, then slowly, he closed it again. He knew not to cross the queen. Moreover, he was trying not to be suspected here.

If only he knew.

Councilor Zion exchanged a brief look with the others before nodding.

"Three days then, Your Majesty. We accept."

It was just one extra day, after all. Celeste would have to deal with that.

Seraphira did not relax.

"Now, if that is all, you may leave."