Athens, Aetherian Kingdom;
The soft morning light filtered through the high windows of the palace, casting a serene glow over the hall as Selene walked towards her mother's chambers.
She had spent a restless night, her mind tangled with thoughts of everything that had transpired the night before. She talked back to her parents in a way that she feel bad all night.
*Tap* tap* Tap*
"Mother, it is me."
Selene knocked gently on the door, and after a brief moment, the door creaked open.
She stepped inside, hesitantly, and was met with her mother sitting at her vanity, her posture poised as always.
But Selene couldn't help but notice the redness in her eyes. It was clear that something had disturbed her.
"I'm sorry, Mother," Selene began, her voice full of regret. "For last night... I shouldn't have been so brash."
Queen Daphneia looked up, her expression softening. She offered a small smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes. "It's alright, my dear. Don't worry about it. It was I who tried to pressure you, not taking your feelings seriously."
But Selene wasn't convinced. She stepped closer, her concern deepening. "Mother, are you alright? Have you been crying?"
Queen Daphneia's gaze flickered away for a moment, but she quickly recovered, her voice calm. "It's not what you think, Selene. I just didn't sleep well, that's all. Nothing to worry about."
Selene, still unsure, studied her mother's face for a long moment.
Something didn't sit right with her, but she chose not to press further.
Daphneia's voice then broke through her thoughts. "Anyway, you should hurry, dear. Today is an important day. Your father will formally introduce you and Zephyr to our citizens. You'll begin your roles as the official voices in court affairs."
Selene nodded, a sense of anticipation bubbling within her. She learned under the god for years, and it is time for her education to be put into practice, "I know, Mother. I can't wait to meet the people, to hear their concerns firsthand."
After receiving her mother's blessing to leave, Selene turned to go. However, just as she walked past the couch, something caught her eye.
A baby idol, made of pure gold, sat on the small table beside it.
She was about to reach for it, but before she could, Queen Daphneia's voice rang out with surprising urgency. "I'm going to bathe now, Selene. Please, don't disturb me for the next hour. I'll join you and your father at the public assembly."
There was something in her voice—a tone that hinted at discomfort—that made Selene hesitate. But before she could question it further, her mother quickly redirected her attention. "Go on now. You don't want to be late."
Though Selene noticed the shift in her mother's demeanor, she said nothing.
Instead, she gave a small nod and left the room, a knot of confusion settling in her chest.
Queen Daphaneia sighed and walked to the couch and grabbed the baby idol. "I don't know how long I can hold the truth. O' Lady Athena, give the strength to face this ordeal."
As Selene reached the throne room, a private chamber where the King only entertains his royal guests or discusses state affairs with ministers privately, she saw her brother, Zephyr, standing beside their father, the King.
"Oh, Selene, you are already up. I was just about to send the guard to check on you," King Pyranthos' face filled with delight before standing up from the throne and walking toward her. Selene greeted them with a smile.
Together, they were joined by the Prime Minister and other royal ministers as they made their way to the royal grounds for the assembly.
The grounds were bustling with people, a sea of vibrant colors and varying shades of wealth.
As they walked among the gathered crowds, Selene couldn't help but observe how clearly the social hierarchy was displayed in the clothes people wore.
Merchants and craftsmen donned practical, simple garments, while the upper class sported elegant and intricately designed robes.
The lower class and slaves were easy to spot, their clothes rough and worn, a stark contrast to the others.
Today was a public assembly, a rare occasion when the royal family met directly with the people, bypassing the typical court channels.
The King would listen to the grievances and issues of the kingdom firsthand, and Selene was eager to hear them all. However, before it even happened, Selene saw how those classes were separated into sections, the lower class stood so far away that their voice wouldn't even reach the King.
As the guard announced the King's arrival, the crowd hushed.
The upper-class citizens were the first to step forward, their concerns about trade, taxes, and court matters being voiced with an air of authority.
Then, the middle class followed, their concerns more grounded in the day-to-day struggles of ordinary life.
But as Selene scanned the crowd, she noticed an even more troubling pattern. The lower class, the slaves, were silent. Forget about standing so far away, they merely stood in the back, only allowed to watch, their voices never given the chance to be heard.
Selene's heart sank. She had imagined this assembly would be a chance for every citizen to voice their needs, but it seemed as though only those with power were given that opportunity. And her eyes instantly filled with disappointment.
Later, during lunch, Selene pushed her food around her plate, her thoughts still lingering on the assembly.
The excitement she had felt earlier had faded, replaced by a quiet disillusionment. She had witnessed the disparity, the silence of those who needed to be heard most, and it had unsettled her deeply.
Queen Calista, the Second Queen, observed her with a knowing look. "Selene, my dear, what troubles you? Not even a crumb was touched," she asked, her voice gentle yet laced with concern.
Selene didn't immediately answer. She simply stared down at her untouched meal.
The King, too, had noticed the change in her demeanor. "You seem a bit down, my daughter," he remarked, his brow furrowing with concern. "Ever since the assembly ended, you've seemed... less enthusiastic. Did any words from anyone in the assembly bother you?"
Selene hesitated, then met her father's gaze, taking a deep breath.
"Father," she asked, her voice growing quieter with each word, "have you ever gone into the people's neighborhoods? Into their homes, to see their conditions? Have you visited the fields they work in? The healing centers that they are forced to rely on when they fall ill? Have you asked them directly about their struggles?"
She paused, her words becoming sharper, more desperate. "I'm not talking about the upper class or the Mekets (the middle class)—I'm talking about those who make up eighty percent of our population, the ones who live behind the lines, who don't even get the chance to speak in the assembly. Have you ever personally looked at their lives, Father?"
The King's face faltered for just a moment, his brows furrowing. Queen Calista, who had been quietly observing, shifted in her seat, her eyes widening with the same surprise as her husband's.
The question struck them both with unexpected force. It was one thing for Selene to question the royal duties or question her father's methods, but for her to so directly challenge the fairness of the system itself—this was new territory.
Pyranthos stood up abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor as he walked towards Selene. His regal composure faltered for a moment as he placed his hands gently on her shoulders, speaking softly. "No, Selene. A king does not enter the homes of the commoners."
Selene's brow furrowed deeper, her confusion and frustration bubbling to the surface. "Why?"
King Pyranthos took a slow breath and began walking away, pacing before answering. "Because, daughter," he said, turning back to face her, his voice heavier this time, "it is the tradition set by the gods and our ancestors. There must be a distance between the King and the common people. This distance preserves the King's divinity in their minds, keeps his prestige and his authority intact. If the King becomes too close to the commoners, they will no longer see him as the ruler they must respect. They will see him as one of them. And then, when decisions are made, they will begin to question his every action."
He paused, gathering his thoughts before continuing, his gaze distant, "Every time a King makes a decision, some benefit, while others are harmed. It is inevitable. But who should the King side with? To maintain impartiality, to preserve the weight of his decisions, the King must remain at a height—physically and figuratively so that the common people can only look up to him."
Selene stood there in silence, her eyes fixed on her father as his words settled in the air like a thick fog. She wanted to argue, but remembering the strain she caught the night before, the last thing she wanted was to disappoint her father or be seen as ungrateful.
Hence, she could only nod with a forced smile. "I understand."
Later, Selene found herself standing on the balcony of the royal palace, her hands resting on the cold stone wall.
Her eyes gazed out over the sprawling city below—its streets bustling with activity, its people struggling, striving, and yet so far removed from her own world.
The sight made her feel more disconnected than ever before. Staying far away from the citizens, how could she relate to their problems? If she can't relate to their concerns, how can she make their life better? Questions filled her head, yet no answers to be found.
As she stood lost in her thoughts, she felt a gentle hand rest on her shoulder. Looking up, she saw her stepmother, Queen Calista, standing beside her.
"What's troubling you, my dear?" Calista asked, her voice warm, though there was a trace of concern in her tone.
Selene didn't answer right away, her heart still heavy.
"I just don't understand," Selene said quietly. "Why can't we get closer to the people? Why must we remain so distant? I see the suffering, but my father... He thinks it's necessary to stay above them. Is that truly the right way to rule?"
Calista sighed, her hand gently patting Selene's shoulder in comfort. "Sometimes, the weight of tradition is a heavy thing to carry. But you're still young, Selene. You will learn eventually."
Selene turned to face her, her eyes filled with doubt. "I don't know if I can ever accept that, but I don't want to disappoint Father by questioning his authority."
Calista smiled softly. "Perhaps it's best for you to go out into the city to clear your mind. Take Zephyr with you, but make sure to return by sunset."