Chapter Thirty-Seven
A Song for the King
Clare's POV
Wilson always looked beautiful in winter.
Snow rested softly on the rooftops, and colorful decorations hung across the streets as people prepared for the coming Christmas celebrations. After months in France, everything felt both familiar and comforting.
I had barely spent one peaceful night at home when the next morning brought an unexpected visitor.
A royal messenger stood outside our door.
"The King requests your presence at the palace."
For a moment I thought I had heard him wrong.
"The palace?"
My mother looked just as surprised.
Apparently the King had heard about my singing and wished to hear a French song during the winter gathering.
Refusing a royal invitation wasn't exactly an option.
So later that morning I found myself standing inside the grand hall of Wilson's palace.
The hall was enormous. Tall windows allowed pale winter sunlight to fall across the marble floor. Nobles and officials stood around the throne while the King listened to a heated argument.
Three brothers were standing before him.
"It belongs to me!" one shouted.
"No, father said we should share it!" another argued.
The third man looked equally frustrated.
The King sighed tiredly.
"You have been arguing about this land for weeks."
The brothers continued to debate loudly.
I stood quietly near a pillar, trying not to draw attention.
Then suddenly the King's gaze shifted toward me.
"You there."
My heart skipped.
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"You seem to be listening carefully," he said thoughtfully.
"I didn't mean to intrude," I replied politely.
The King smiled slightly.
"If you were in my position, how would you settle this dispute?"
For a moment I froze.
I was only a student. Giving advice in a royal court felt improper.
But the King waited patiently.
"I might be wrong," I said carefully.
"Speak freely," he encouraged.
"If dividing the land equally causes conflict… perhaps the land should remain shared property."
The brothers frowned.
I continued softly.
"Each brother could manage a different section of the land, but the ownership would stay under the family name. That way none of them lose their inheritance, yet each has responsibility."
The hall fell silent.
The brothers looked at each other.
The idea seemed reasonable.
The King leaned back slowly.
Then a pleased smile appeared on his face.
"That is a very wise suggestion."
My cheeks warmed slightly.
But across the hall, the Queen watched quietly.
Her expression remained calm, yet something in her eyes had grown colder.
---
Later the King turned toward me again.
"Now, young lady, I believe we invited you here for music."
I nodded nervously.
The hall became silent.
When I began singing, the melody of an old French winter song echoed softly through the palace.
The King listened peacefully.
Even the servants paused to hear the music.
But the Queen watched me carefully.
And the colder her gaze became, the more uneasy I felt.
---
Daniel's POV
Traveling in disguise was far more difficult than I had imagined.
The journey to Wilson had taken most of the day.
For once, the Prince of Wilson looked like an ordinary traveler, wrapped in a simple cloak and avoiding the main roads.
But I had only one goal.
To see Clare.
When I finally reached her house, I knocked on the door.
A moment later the door opened.
A kind-looking woman stood there.
Clare's mother.
"Yes?"
I bowed slightly.
"I'm Noah," I said quickly.
"I came to visit Clare from France."
Her expression brightened immediately.
"Oh! One of Clare's friends."
I nodded.
"She's not home at the moment," she explained kindly.
"The King called her to the palace this morning."
The palace?
I hadn't expected that.
Still, her mother opened the door wider.
"You must be tired from traveling. Please come inside and wait."
I stepped into the warm house.
The room smelled faintly of baked bread and firewood.
It felt peaceful.
Very different from the royal halls I had grown up in.
Clare wasn't here yet.
So I sat quietly near the window, waiting.
Outside, snow slowly began to fall over Wilson.
And for the first time during the long journey, I wondered how she would react when she saw me here.
---