At the end of the hall, double doors opened into a vast chamber. The moment she stepped inside, Yuto froze. That's him, the man from the inn… he's the king. Damn. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest, and a nervous shiver ran down her spine. She could feel her palms grow clammy, and her breath caught in her throat.
King Kaelith sat behind a massive oak desk, sunlight streaming through the tall windows behind him, casting a halo-like glow around his broad shoulders. His posture was flawless—controlled, commanding. Every inch of him radiated authority, yet beneath it lay something darker, a taut edge in the set of his jaw and the sharp, calculating gleam in his eyes.
Yuto's eyes widened, taking in the sheer presence of him. How is one man so… intimidating and captivating at the same time? She instinctively straightened her back, trying to appear composed, though her mind was racing with questions. Should she speak first? Should she bow? Every instinct screamed caution, yet curiosity nudged her forward.
Her lips parted slightly, but no words came. Instead, she felt her pulse quicken and a strange warmth rise to her cheeks. Stay calm. Think, Yuto. This is the king… don't make a fool of yourself.
"Yuto," he said, his voice low and smooth, carrying both curiosity and quiet command. "I trust you are feeling… better?"
She swallowed hard, forcing her voice steady. "Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you."
He studied her for a long moment, his eyes flicking over her from head to toe as if weighing her very presence. There was no warmth in his expression, only measured observation, and it made Yuto's stomach tighten.
"You were careless yesterday," he continued, leaning slightly forward. "Do you always let chance lead you into… unusual situations?"
Yuto flushed, unsure how to answer. She could feel the weight of his attention like a physical pressure, pulling at her nerves.
"I… I didn't mean to, Your Majesty," she said softly.
Kaelith leaned back, his sharp gaze never leaving her. Then, almost imperceptibly, the corner of his mouth curled into a small, dark smile. "Interesting," he murmured. "Very interesting indeed."
Yuto's pulse quickened. She couldn't tell if she had earned his intrigue, or if she had only piqued his darker curiosity.
"Oh, please make yourself comfortable. Take a seat," Kaelith said, gesturing lazily toward the chair opposite him.
Yuto offered a cautious smile as she took the seat across from him, her movements careful and restrained.
"I hear you have a message for me from your father," the king said coolly.
"Yes," Yuto replied. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small box, setting it gently on the desk between them. "This is what we offer, if you are willing to extend a hand in our fight against the Northerners."
For a moment, the king did not touch the box.
Instead, his gaze drifted elsewhere, his attention oddly distant. Then he spoke, ignoring the offer entirely.
"From whom did you inherit such white hair?" he asked calmly. "I must admit, it is quite exotic. And your name—Yuto. Even now, I find myself wondering how you came to bear such a name."
Yuto stiffened.
This was not where she had expected the conversation to go. Confusion flashed across her face as her brows knitted together, her grip tightening slightly in her lap.
Yuto hesitated for only a heartbeat before lifting her chin slightly. "My hair is simply an inheritance, Your Majesty," she said evenly. "As for my name, it was a gift from my parents. I never questioned it."
Her eyes flicked briefly to the unopened box on the desk. "But I did not come here to speak of my appearance," she added, her voice calm but firm. "I came to speak of alliances, war… and survival."
For the first time, Kaelith's gaze sharpened, not with boredom, but with interest. The corner of his lips curved faintly, as though he were amused by her refusal to be derailed.
"So you do have teeth beneath that quiet exterior," he murmured.
Yuto met his eyes without flinching, though her pulse thundered in her ears.
"I am sorry to disappoint you, but…" Kaelith's gaze sharpened, his smile widening to reveal glinting white canines. "…I do not wish to send my soldiers to war at all."
He lifted a glass of wine and sipped slowly, his eyes never leaving Yuto's, measuring her, testing her.
This is what I feared… now what am I going to do if he refuses to help? Yuto's chest tightened as a dull ache began to form behind her eyes. She closed them for a moment, trying to still her racing thoughts and calm the headache that threatened to split her temples.
When she opened them again, Kaelith's gaze was fixed on her, sharp and unyielding, as though he could read every doubt and fear she tried to hide.
"Your Majesty," she began, her voice calm but measured, "I do not ask for blind obedience or for you to throw your forces into needless bloodshed. I only seek counsel, strategy… guidance. Even a small contingent under your command could tip the balance, and the Northerners are no friend to any who value peace in this land."
She leaned forward slightly, careful not to show desperation. "I came with an offering, yes," she added, gesturing toward the small box on the desk. "But more than gifts, I offer the chance for your wisdom to shape the outcome. Your army need not march if you choose it, but your counsel—your plan—could save countless lives."
Kaelith's smile deepened, faint but dangerous, his eyes flicking to the box.
"Clever," he murmured, tracing a finger along the rim of his wine glass. "So, you appeal to my mind… rather than my sense of duty. Bold of you, little storm."
Little storm? Yuto thought.
The king laughed, a low, amused sound that sent a ripple of unease through Yuto, though she couldn't deny there was something almost magnetic about it.
"I did say I'm not sending my army," he continued, his voice smooth and deliberate, "but I can stop the incoming war. The Northerners are no threat at all. One single letter from me is all it would take for Budas to keep a leash on his soldiers."
Relief washed over Yuto, lightening the knot in her chest, though she kept her guard up. She allowed herself a small, cautious exhale, thinking the crisis might be over—until his next words froze her completely.
"But I do have a condition."
Her stomach tightened. Every instinct in her screamed caution, and her mind raced with possibilities, some strategic, some terrifying. She forced herself to remain composed, even as her pulse thundered in her ears. Condition? What could he possibly want…?
Yuto's hands tightened in her lap, nails digging into her palms as she waited, heart hammering, for him to continue.