Chapter 16: King Knox's Reflection

King Knox sat at his desk, the flickering candlelight casting long shadows across the grand study. The weight of the crown was always with him, a constant reminder of the responsibility he bore, not just for himself but for the entire kingdom of Eldoria. As he looked out over the vast expanse of the royal gardens, a calmness settled over him, but it was not the usual cold indifference. It was different now, the silence around him filled with thoughts he had not allowed himself to have before.

He was still getting used to the presence of Queen Amaria by his side. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate her—he did, more than he could admit aloud. She was everything Alexander needed, and in the quiet moments when he looked at her, Knox could feel a stirring inside of him that he had long since buried.

But the truth was, he wasn't used to vulnerability. He had spent so long building walls around his emotions, keeping them guarded behind the walls of Eldoria's castle, behind his duties, and behind the icy persona he had crafted as the king. It had worked for him—until Amaria came into his life. She was the one thing he couldn't control, the one person who made him question everything he thought he knew about leadership, about family, and even about himself.

Her presence had unsettled him in ways he hadn't expected. When she was near, the castle seemed less cold, and though he remained distant, he couldn't ignore the way Alexander clung to her, seeking comfort and solace in her gentle ways. It was a sight that tugged at something deep inside of him—a longing he hadn't acknowledged in years. The relationship between them had been forged in a way that felt natural, as though the connection between mother and child was always meant to be.

King Knox wasn't one to acknowledge his weaknesses, yet he couldn't help but feel the weight of his past mistakes—the loss of Alexander's mother, the loneliness he had allowed to fester in his heart, and now, the delicate bond he was forming with Amaria. It was almost too much to bear, but at the same time, he knew it was necessary. For Alexander, and for himself.

He turned his attention back to the papers in front of him, though they blurred as his thoughts drifted. Why does it feel like I'm standing on the edge of something, yet I don't know whether to leap or retreat?

He thought of the many nights he had spent alone in his chambers, his thoughts racing with the duties of his position. He had spent years prioritizing the kingdom, his people, over his own desires. And now, there was Amaria, offering him something he had never sought—companionship, love, a family.

The way she had taken to Alexander, the way she spoke with him, soothed him, made him smile—it was something Knox had yearned for his entire life but had never allowed himself to acknowledge. Alexander had never had a mother who stayed. His birth mother, the one he had once dreamed would be the figure of stability and warmth, had abandoned them both. Since then, Knox had done his best, but it wasn't enough. It was never enough.

When Amaria had entered their lives, she filled a void he hadn't realized was there. And as much as he tried to keep his distance, as much as he tried to maintain his stoic mask, he knew he couldn't continue this way. For Alexander's sake... and perhaps for mine too.

His thoughts turned to Amaria once again. She was strong—stronger than he had ever given her credit for. She had stepped into her role as queen with grace, even when he had been cold, distant, and demanding. And in her, he saw a chance for the family he had lost, the warmth he had once known but had buried under the weight of his responsibilities.

King Knox sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. The truth was, he didn't know how to let go of the walls he had built around himself. He didn't know how to be the husband she deserved, or the father Alexander needed. But he wanted to try.

His mind lingered on the moments he had shared with Amaria—those brief, quiet exchanges when they were alone, when her warmth reached him in a way he hadn't allowed for years. He didn't know what the future held, but for the first time in a long while, he felt the stirrings of something—something he couldn't quite name, but something that made him want to lean in rather than retreat.

He pushed the papers aside and stood up, walking to the window to look out over the city below. The kingdom was his responsibility, but in this moment, he realized that perhaps it wasn't just the kingdom that needed saving. It was himself. He had built his empire with the cold hands of duty, but now, he found himself wondering if he could build something else—a home. A family.

And for the first time in a long while, he wasn't sure whether he could do it alone.

With a deep breath, he turned away from the window. There was still time to figure things out, time to navigate this new life, with Amaria by his side. He didn't have all the answers, but maybe that was okay. Maybe, just maybe, it was enough to take the next step—one step at a time.

"One step at a time," he murmured to himself, the weight of the crown feeling just a little bit lighter.