What if Esteban WASN'T a traitor and truly had joined Shuriki to protect the family?
When Esteban realized what was happening, he obeyed the last orders of his aunt and uncle and went into hiding, hoping that he would be told soon enough that the family was safe and he could return home, but that wouldn't be the case. Instead for ten years he would secretly fight Shuriki before being captured during a supply run and brought before Shuriki
"A thousand lashes for him, ten lashes for each year he's managed to evade me, and then he's to spend time in the dungeon, the length of time will be determined later"
Ultimately Esteban would spend five years in the dungeon, being further tortured into following Shuriki, but he would not break, and then one day he was given an ultimatum that Shuriki thought would bring Esteban to her side not knowing it would do the complete opposite
"I grow tired of your stubbornness Esteban, if you do not follow me then I shall burn the painting that holds what's left of your family"
"I...accept your leadership and will obey all of your commands Shuriki"
And so Esteban was finally let out of the dungeon, during this time the people he had fought alongside had thought Esteban was dead, but when an announcement was made about a new chancellor and they all saw that it was Esteban they thought that Esteban had turned traitor and simply hadn't wanted to see them these past five years for fear of retaliation. But there were members of the royal palace staff that were allowed into town and they discreetly revealed the threat to the royal family that made Esteban give into Shuriki. Those loyal to the royal family made sure to guard the truth well, including Mateo's mother who had joined the resistance right before Esteban was captured. When Elena was freed from the amulet Rafa told Elena about Esteban and she secretly made a decision, which was announced when she announced who her council members would be
"Chancellor Esteban, I have heard much about your sacrifice for the kingdom, and more importantly our family, as such you are being given mandatory time off and someone to talk to besides family to help you deal with these past 41 years. I'm also giving you a choice once your time off is finished, you can either remain as chancellor and also be on the council, or you can retire and become a civilian, but still live in the palace since you are family"
"I want to be your chancellor Princess Elena but I need at least two months to adjust to this new life and begin dealing with these past 41 years"
"You have three months chancellor, and I know someone who can temporarily be on the council until you are ready to return, Daniel Turner do you accept?"
"I do your highness"
"Thanks, are you okay with it being temporary?"
"Yes, I think it's best anyways"
And so three and a half months later (Esteban himself had asked for an extra two weeks) Esteban returned to being Chancellor and becoming part of the council that would help Elena rule Avalor until she came of age. Esteban would remain Chancellor for another fifteen years after Elena was crowned, having both good days and bad days physically, having never fully recovered from his long years of torture, before seeing his chosen successor, Naomi, who he had served with on the council become Chancellor per his decision. The next day Esteban would die with his family by his side, for the reason he had stepped down from being Chancellor in the first place was that he had contracted a fatal illness that he had hidden from his family until a month before his death, when he chose Naomi to succeed him after being told that the medicine was no longer working and he had a month at most before he died, the doctor suspecting his years enduring torture had weakened his body to the point where over time he simply couldn't fight off illnesses easily anymore, and his age didn't help matters either. He would leave journals for Naomi in case he couldn't finish her training and in time she in turn would do the same for her successor, though watching Esteban for as long as she had meant that Naomi had a relatively easy transition into becoming Chancellor. As for the rest of the group Elena would never marry, but Isabel would find someone who loved her for her and would become Queen after Elena abdicated after a long and successful rule, and Isabel's children became heir to the throne after her, Mateo, Gabe and Naomi would also marry and while Mateo and Gabe's children followed their respective parents into their jobs Naomi's two children would follow their maternal grandparents and become Captains at sea, one a Captain in the Royal Navy and the other the Captain of a merchant ship