Claimed By The Tyrant King

Rowan made sure he did not waste any chance he had to spend time with Rosalind whenever his duties allowed it.

Whenever he was not occupied with council matters or royal obligations, he would find her, and they would take slow walks around the training grounds or along the gardens, talking and laughing in a way that slowly made the palace feel less like a place of formality and more like something softer between them.

As the first week slipped by in that steady pattern of court duties and shared moments, they somehow kept finding their way back to each other, and even when the day demanded attention from others, the night often returned them to the same space of understanding.

Sometimes they would leave the palace entirely, moving through bustling markets or small fairs that Rosalind found interesting, and Rowan would simply watch her as she looked around with that curiosity that made everything feel more alive through her eyes.

Eventually, it was during one of those late evenings that Rowan led her away from the familiar parts of the castle, up a different set of stone stairs that did not lead toward the tower, but instead toward a higher structure where wide stone pillars rose around them and a large dome of glass stretched above like a second sky.

The moment they stepped inside, Rosalind slowed, her gaze moving across the space as her lips parted slightly in surprise, because the room felt both ancient and carefully maintained, like a place meant for watching things far beyond the world below.

"This is the observatory," Rowan said as he guided her further in.

Rosalind looked around again, taking in the curved walls lined with faint star charts, markings, and notes that seemed to map the sky itself, while the glass dome above revealed the night sky, stars scattered like soft points of light across the darkness.

At the center of the room stood a large telescope, its structure adjusted toward the open heavens, and Rowan walked to it, removing its protective cover and adjusting its position with practiced ease.

"Come and see," he said gently.

Rosalind stepped closer, and when he moved aside so she could take his place, she leaned forward and lowered her gaze into the telescope. Almost immediately, she gasped softly in surprise.

"I can see it very clearly," she said, her voice carrying amazement as she looked again through the lens, realizing just how close the sky suddenly felt through it.

Rowan smiled faintly as he adjusted the angle slightly for her. "That’s Jupiter," he said.

Rosalind blinked. "Jupiter?"

"Yes," he replied, his tone thoughtful as he remained beside her. "It’s one of the largest planets. Even from here, you can sometimes see its faint bands, and if you look closely enough on a clear night, you can notice its moons too. They move around it instead of staying still, almost like they’re bound to it."

Rosalind looked through the telescope again, her expression softening as she followed what he meant, and a smile formed on her lips. "It’s really beautiful up there," she said simply.

When she turned her head slightly toward him, she realized just how close he was standing, closer than she had noticed before, and for a brief moment, neither of them moved. Rowan’s gaze lingered on her face before drifting lower for an instant, and Rosalind felt her breath catch without fully understanding why, until a faint sound somewhere in the room broke the silence and pulled them both back into awareness.

Rosalind quickly cleared her throat and straightened, turning her attention back toward the telescope as if it had suddenly become the most interesting thing in the room, while Rowan also stepped back slightly and composed himself.

After a moment, Rowan spoke again, his voice quieter now. "If the treaty ends, are you planning to go back home?"

The question lingered in the air, and Rosalind slowly straightened her spine as she considered it, because beneath the ease of the past days, reality still existed outside this place.

When she finally turned to him, she answered, "Of course."

Rowan nodded, though something in his expression tightened slightly, as if the answer was expected but still not something he wanted to hear.

Somewhere inside him, he had been hoping that time alone would make the distance between them feel less certain. "Will you come back?" he asked after a pause.

Rosalind looked at him for a moment longer this time, and for once, the answer did not come easily, not because she lacked one, but because she did not expect herself to hesitate at all. "I..." her voice trailed off quietly.

Rowan studied her carefully, and instead of pressing further, he softened his tone.

"You don’t have to answer right away, Rosalind," he said gently. "Let’s just enjoy the moment, alright?"

Rosalind nodded slowly, and just like that, they let the weight of the question settle without forcing it into words, returning instead to the observatory as they moved around it together and spoke lightly again.

However, when they returned from the observatory and Rosalind had retired for the night, her mind still lingered on the question Rowan had asked her, because yes, she was going to go back home, but would she ever come back again?

She had come to Eryndor because of the treaty, but now that the treaty would soon be concluded, what other reason would bring her back?

The truth was that he had been present in her life every single day lately, and he had not hidden the way he felt, openly, persistently, as though waiting for her to acknowledge it, and Rosalind already knew deep down what Rowan wanted from her, but then what about her? she asked herself, what did she truly want? Did she want to return to Merovia and live the rest of her life with her parents, never seeing Eryndor or Rowan again?

Could she even bear the thought of not seeing him for the rest of her life? She bit her lip as the thought tightened in her chest, because she did want him too, far more than she had ever allowed herself to admit, and it felt like that truth alone was enough to undo her, yet at the same time she was afraid.

But she also knew that fear would not lead her anywhere, and that at some point she would have to face what was troubling her honestly.

If Rowan could give her a reason strong enough, perhaps she could let go of everything she had been holding onto and see what it would feel like to choose him completely and without looking back.

****

The council chamber was calmer than it had been during the previous days and even the ministers seemed relieved that they had finally reached this point.

The stacks of documents that had once been covered in corrections now lay neatly arranged across the table while the final draft of the treaty rested at the center.

Rosalind glanced around the room before returning her attention to the parchment. It had taken an entire two weeks to get here and although there had been arguments, disagreements and endless discussions, they had somehow managed to find common ground.

Rowan was the first to speak. "Let us review the final terms one last time before we proceed."

"The eastern and western trade routes will remain open to both kingdoms," Marek started. "Merovian merchants will be allowed access into Eryndor and Eryndorian merchants will be granted the same access into Merovia. Neither side will place restrictions upon lawful trade."

Nathan picked up from there. "The border tariffs have also been revised. Merchants crossing into either kingdom will only pay the agreed tax at the border and will not be subjected to additional charges once they reach their destination markets."

Several ministers nodded in approval. "Which should encourage more commerce between both kingdoms," one council member added.

"Exactly," Nathan replied.

Rosalind then lifted her gaze. "The responsibility of protecting trade caravans will also remain with the kingdom in whose territory the merchants are travelling. Merovia will secure its own roads and Eryndor will secure theirs. Neither kingdom will be financially responsible for patrols beyond its borders."

One of the older ministers smiled faintly. "I believe that was one of the first issues we argued about."

A few quiet laughs spread through the room.

"It was," Rosalind admitted.

The atmosphere eased considerably after that.

Marek tapped one section of the document. "There is also the matter of disputes. If disagreements arise concerning trade or taxation, both kingdoms will resolve them through diplomatic council rather than military action."

"Which is non-negotiable," Rowan finally said. His voice was calm but carried enough authority that everyone immediately paid attention. "No disagreement over trade will ever become justification for conflict."

Rosalind then found herself studying the expressions around the table and for the first time since she had arrived in Eryndor, she didn’t see suspicion staring back at her.

Some of them looked tired while others looked satisfied, but none of them appeared opposed anymore.

Rowan rested one hand on the treaty. "Then the final agreement is as follows," he said. "Trade routes will remain open between both kingdoms. Border taxation will follow the revised structure we have approved. Merchant protection will remain the responsibility of the kingdom whose territory they occupy. Disputes will be resolved through diplomatic channels and neither kingdom will interfere with the internal governance of the other."

Rowan looked around the chamber, his gaze moving from one minister to another. "Then does anyone still object?"

Silence followed.

One by one, the ministers shook their heads. "No objections, Your Majesty."

"None from me."

"The agreement is fair."

The responses followed one after another until every minister in attendance had given their approval.

Rowan looked toward Marek.

Marek nodded.

Then Nathan nodded as well.

Finally Rowan’s gaze settled on Rosalind.

She smiled slightly. "I agree."

For a moment nobody spoke.

"Then let it be recorded that Eryndor and Merovia have reached an agreement." Rowan stated with authority.

At his words, attendants stepped forward carrying the final copies of the treaty.

The documents were placed upon the table and checked one final time before the signing began.

Marek signed first on behalf of Merovia, followed by Nathan as witness to the agreed terms. Nathan added his own signature and then handed the parchment to Rosalind.

She took the quill. For a brief moment she stared at the document.

Two weeks ago this had seemed much further away. Now it was finished. Without hesitation, she signed her name and then passed the treaty forward.

Finally, Rowan signed last, his signature sealing the agreement as King of Eryndor and final authority over its approval. The royal seal was pressed into wax immediately after, marking the treaty as legally binding between both kingdoms.