The Winter Duke

Magic here is tied to the cold. It feels sharp and dangerous. It is not a gift. It is a weapon that demands a high price from the user.

Watching everyone fall into a magical sleep is terrifying. It turns the palace into a graveyard of statues. Ekata is the only heartbeat left in a sea of frozen ghosts.

“The crown is a heavy thing, even for those who want it.”

Power in this story feels like a trap. Every choice Ekata makes to save her family just tightens the noose. Winning feels a lot like losing your soul.

“A Duke has no friends, only subjects.”

Being a leader means being a target. Ekata realizes that her father wasn't just cruel. He was constantly fighting off everyone he loved.