Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Doctors and Slaves

Chapter 3: Doctors and Slaves

King Aldric’s voice thundered through the gilded halls of the inner castle, echoing off the marble and gold. “How dare you question the sanctity of my love!” His eyes blazed with fury, their fire ignited not by rage alone, but conviction. “You call her a mere servant—but it is her heart that holds the true nobility of this realm!”

He moved through the crowd, regal and unyielding. “You who whispered poison into my father’s ear, guiding this kingdom into decay—your time has passed. I command you to show Lady Seraphina the respect she is due. She is not a symbol of shame, but the embodiment of the change our people cry out for.”

Silence fell, thick with tension. Then his voice dropped, dangerously calm. “Speak against her again, and you will face the full weight of my wrath. I am king now. My word is law. Her fate is bound to mine—and together, we will forge a new destiny for this land.”

From the shadows emerged Dr. Elara Castellanos, her expression half-mocking, half-calculated. “Dear Aldric,” she purred, her voice coated in sugar and venom, “still the romantic.”

She paced slowly, gesturing to the Custodians gathered behind her. “Let’s not forget who truly holds the reins of power. We have ruled from the shadows for centuries. You? You're the face. A convenient puppet.”

Her smile vanished. “Defy us, and you will not survive the fire you’ve lit. You sit on that throne because we permitted it. Challenge our order, and your reign will flicker out like a candle in the wind.” Her tone turned frigid. “We pull the strings, and your thread is fraying fast.”

But Aldric stood tall. “By the Royal Law Book, Chapter 5, amended by King Nelson the Fifth, I have the right to choose my wife—regardless of her station.”

He reached for Seraphina’s hand, pride and defiance in his eyes. “Lady Seraphina is not merely my beloved. She is a survivor. A woman of strength and grace. Her soul is forged from the trials of this cruel world.”

Then he turned to the court. “As King Nelson once did, I now do. I name Lady Seraphina Castellanos my queen. Let her name be written beside mine in the royal annals. From this day forward, she is royalty.”

A hesitant voice rose from the back. A young courtier cleared his throat. “Your Majesty… It’s said King Nelson did not marry a commoner. He merely granted her butler status to avoid tainting the royal line.”

Aldric smiled slyly and pulled a folded paper from his coat. “Indeed. But two years ago, Seraphina passed the Global Butler Exam with distinction.” He read aloud: “All who pass are considered of butler status for five years.” He held it up. “As per Article 25, Subsection 7.”

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Gasps rippled through the room.

“She is not merely a servant,” he said coolly. “She is a certified butler.”

Shock silenced the Custodians. Dr. Elara’s eyes narrowed. The king had found a loophole—one that outmaneuvered her entirely.

He pressed on. “I invite you all—nobles, physicians, and citizens—to witness our union tonight.”

Applause broke out among the more progressive voices, but Aldric’s heart remained heavy. His gaze drifted toward the royal chambers, where Seraphina lay unconscious. He turned to the assembled doctors.

“Now,” he said, voice ringing with desperation and command, “I ask—no, I order—you to save her.”

The applause halted.

“We’re being asked to save a servant?” one physician whispered.

“I studied at the Royal Academy to heal nobles,” another muttered. “Not… pets.”

Murmurs of disdain spread, a mixture of elitism and disbelief.

Then a single voice broke through: Dr. Lumin, the youngest physician present. She stepped forward, her emerald eyes fierce. “Your Majesty,” she said with quiet strength, “I will do everything in my power to save Lady Seraphina. I am trained in both traditional and modern medicine. I will not let her die.”

Aldric’s eyes lit with gratitude. “Thank you, Dr. Lumin. You will have every resource at your disposal.”

Dr. Elara’s brittle laughter echoed like shattered glass. “How poetic. The slave girl is to be saved by the descendant of another slave.”

She stepped toward Lumin, her voice now venomous. “You dare offer your services here? Your grandmother was a slave—a fact we kindly omitted from the records. Perhaps you feel kinship with this... queen of yours. But never forget your place.”

King Aldric intervened. “Her skills, not her bloodline, are what make her valuable. Dr. Lumin shall have access to all she needs—and more.”

Then, his voice boomed once more. “From this day forward, the healing arts are to be open to all. No more shall medicine be reserved for the elite. A strong kingdom is one where all are cared for.”

Gasps filled the hall. Some were shocked, others inspired. Dr. Lumin gave a silent nod, her resolve sharpened.

"This isn’t just about saving a life," she whispered to herself. "It’s about changing the entire system."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, a flicker of hope bloomed.

And then—Seraphina opened her eyes.

She awoke in the royal chamber, dressed in a shimmering gown, light filtering through silk curtains. Her gaze met Aldric’s, who was already at her side.

“My love,” he whispered, a tear slipping down his cheek. “You’re awake. We shall be married tonight.”

The news spread like wildfire. The wedding of King Aldric and Lady Seraphina was not just a celebration—it was a revolution.

The courtyard bloomed with color, music, and life. Torches lit the stone walls. Flowers adorned every step. Nobles in jeweled garments whispered in awe. The kingdom held its breath.

As the choir sang, Aldric looked into Seraphina’s eyes. His voice trembled with emotion. “I, Aldric Castellanos, pledge to you, Seraphina Castellanos, my heart, my soul, and my reign. I will protect you, cherish you, and rule by your side as an equal.”

He placed the crown gently on her head. “Arise, my queen,” he whispered.

Seraphina stood tall, her voice soft but powerful. “I, Seraphina Castellanos, pledge to rule beside you. I will be your strength, your peace, and your fire. For the people, for the future, and for the love we dare to share.”

Their hands entwined, they stood before the kingdom—not just as king and queen, but as a beacon of change.

The old order trembled. A new era had begun.