Chapter 5 The Commander’s Daughter

The Silverheart home sat on a quiet street not far from the palace district.It wasn’t large.It wasn’t extravagant.

Certainly not compared to the sprawling estates owned by Moonspire’s noble families.But it was warm and comfortable. A place they have called home for so many years.

As evening settled over the city, golden light spilled from the kitchen windows while the scent of roasted herbs and simmering stew drifted into the cool air. Inside, Lilly stood over the stove stirring a pot.She hummed softly under her breath as she worked.The events of the day felt distant now.

The shopping,The celebration.The coronation announcement.Even Tomas.

She had long since decided he wasn’t worth thinking about.Besides, she had something far more important occupying her thoughts.

Four weeks, only four weeks.

The thought brought an involuntary smile to her lips.The sound of the front door opening pulled her from her thoughts.Heavy familiar footsteps followed.

A moment later a deep voice called out. “Something smells incredible.” Lilly laughed.

“You’re just in time.” The footsteps immediately changed direction. A tall man appeared in the doorway.

Commander Daniel Silverheart. Head of the Royal Guard. One of the most respected warriors in the kingdom. And the most important person in Lilly ’s life.

The years had added silver to his dark hair and a few lines around his eyes, but there was still something intimidating about him.

His broad shoulders filled the doorway. The scars crossing his hands and jaw spoke of decades spent protecting the kingdom.

Many soldiers feared him and nobles respected him. Criminals tended to avoid him entirely. Yet the moment he looked at Lilly , his stern expression softened like always.

“There she is.”he smiled.

Lilly smiled. “There you are.”

Daniel crossed the room and immediately leaned down to kiss the top of her head. A habit he had never abandoned.

Not when she was ten.Not when she was twenty-two. And likely not when she was fifty. “Long day?” she asked.

“Very.” His eyes moved toward the stove. “What did you make?”

“Your favorite.”she smiled.

His eyebrows rose. “You remembered?”

“You ask for it every time.”Lilly rolled her eyes.

“And every time I’m pleasantly surprised.” She rolled her eyes again. Daniel chuckled. For a moment, he simply stood there watching her. The smile slowly faded from his face.Not from sadness.Something else.Something softer.More painful.Lilly knew that look. She had seen it her entire life. The look people got when they remembered her mother. Because she looked so much like her.

Everyone said so.The same dark hair.The same eyes.The same smile.The same stubborn streak.Her mother had died shortly after giving birth to her. A tragedy that had shattered Daniel ’s world.He had never remarried.Never taken another mate.Never even considered it.

For twenty-two years it had been just the two of them. Father and daughter. Learning how to leave without her, growing and surviving together.

Sometimes Lilly wondered if he had ever truly healed. Looking at him now, she suspected the answer was no. Daniel seemed to catch himself. The sadness vanished behind a familiar smile.

“What?”he asked.

Lilly shook her head. “Nothing.”she said.

“Hmm.”he laughed. They both knew she was lying. Neither commented on it.Instead Daniel washed his hands while Lilly finished preparing dinner.

Soon they were seated across from one another at the small wooden table. The room felt warm and comfortable. The way it always did when they shared meals together.Daniel took his first bite.Then immediately pointed his spoon toward her.“Perfect.”

Lilly laughed. “You say that every time.”

“Because every time it’s true.”he shrugged and took another bite.

“You are biased.” Lilly smiled.

“Of course I am.” He took another bite.Then another. And then another. Apparently deciding conversation could wait. Lilly watched him with amusement. For a few minutes a comfortable silence filled the room.

The kind shared by people who loved one another. Eventually Daniel set his spoon down. His gaze settled on her. “I heard what happened with Tomas.”

Lilly nearly choked.She sighed dramatically. “It was a misunderstanding.” Daniel stared at her. Lilly stared back at her father.

The silence lasted approximately three seconds.Then he raised an eyebrow.“Would you like to try that again?”

She groaned. “How do you already know?” A slow smile appeared on his face. “Lilly .”he warned.

“Right.”she rolled her eyes, He was Commander of the Royal Guard. Of course he knew.

The man probably received reports before events actually happened.Sometimes she genuinely suspected he possessed supernatural abilities.

“What exactly have you heard?” she asked cautiously.

“Enough.” He replied.

Lilly dropped her forehead onto the table. “This is humiliating.”

“You could have been hurt.”he said, She sat upright again. The humor disappeared from his voice.Now he sounded like a commander.A father.A man who had spent twenty-two years protecting his only child.

“It wasn’t that serious.” She lied.

“He dared to lay his hands on you and you didn’t tell me.” He sternly said.

Lilly picked at her food. “I’ve already forgotten about it.”

Daniel sighed.There it was.The answer he expected.The answer she always gave. His daughter was always too forgiving and kind.Too willing to excuse people who didn’t deserve it.

One of the things he loved most about her.One of the things that terrified him.“You don’t have to forgive everyone.”

“I know.”she replied

“Do you?”he questioned.

She smiled. “I know.”

Daniel didn’t look convinced.But he let the matter drop.For now.Instead he reached into his pocket.A small leather pouch landed on the table between them.Lilly blinked.“What is that?”

“Open it.”he said.

She loosened the drawstring.Coins glinted inside.Several silver pieces.Enough to buy something nice.Her eyes widened.“Dad.”

“For the coronation.”he replied.

“You don’t need to…”she began to speak before he cut her off.

“I do.”he said.

She immediately pushed the pouch back toward him. “I don’t need new clothes.”

“You absolutely do.”he said “my daughter deserves a pretty dress,” The fact that Selene had said almost the exact same thing earlier made Lilly laugh.

Daniel narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “What?”

“Selene said the same thing.” She said.

“Then Selene is a very intelligent woman.”he father replied.

Lilly groaned. “I already have dresses.”

Daniel pointed at the pouch. “Buy something.” She opened her mouth to argue. Then immediately closed it. Because she knew she wouldn’t win. Nobody won arguments against Daniel Silverheart. The kingdom had spent decades learning that lesson.

“Fine.”she sighed, finally relenting.

“Good.”he smiled in satisfaction.

“You’re impossible.” She shook her head and laughed.

“I know.”he shrugged and continued eating.

For a while they returned to eating. Outside, night settled over Moonspire. The sounds of the city drifted through the windows.Distant laughter.Music.Celebration.

The entire kingdom seemed caught up in anticipation for the coronation.Eventually Lilly noticed something.A crease between her father’s brows and the slight tension in his shoulders. A look she had seen growing more frequent recently.

She frowned. “Dad.”

“Hmm?”he replied.

“What’s wrong?”she asked.

“Nothing.”he said. Now it was her turn to raise an eyebrow. The expression was apparently inherited. “Would you like to try that again?”Daniel actually laughed. Then sighed.

His gaze drifted toward the window.Toward the distant palace.For a moment he looked older than usual.More tired.“There have been changes.”The answer immediately caught her attention.

“What kind of changes?”she asked

“At the palace.”he said.

Lilly leaned forward.“Political changes?”she askedHe nodded slowly.Daniel wasn’t just Commander of the Royal Guard.His position allowed him access to conversations most people never heard.Meetings.Council discussions.Private disputes.The machinery of power.

If something worried him, it was usually worth worrying about.“What sort of changes?” she asked again.He was silent for a moment.like he was carefully choosing his words. “People who used to work together are suddenly at odds.”

“About the coronation?”she asked

“Partly.”he replied and sighed.

Lilly frowned. “That’s normal, isn’t it?”

“Some disagreement is.”His expression darkened.“This feels different.”The words settled heavily between them.A moment later his expression softened.He reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “You don’t need to worry about politics.”

Lilly snorted.That was easy for him to say.He practically lived in politics.“The coronation is going to be wonderful.”A smile returned to his face.

“Probably.”

“Probably?”she asked. “There’s no such thing as a perfect coronation.”She laughed.“There is if you’re not the one organizing security.”

“Exactly.”Her father said.The tension eased.The conversation shifted to easier topics. Books.The library.The city celebrations.But later, as Lilly helped clear the table, she caught her father staring out the window again.