The king leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed but commanding. A lazy smile curved his lips as he spoke, his voice smooth and deliberate.
"You stay."
Yuto blinked, caught off guard. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of the words. Stay? Here? With him? She eyed the king cautiously, suspicion sharpening her gaze.
"Why should I?" she asked, her tone steady but edged with curiosity. She refused to let her fear show, even as her pulse quickened.
Kaelith's eyes narrowed slightly, a spark of amusement dancing in their depths.
"Because I said so?" he murmured, almost teasingly. "Or perhaps… because I wish it."
Yuto felt a chill run down her spine, a mixture of irritation and something far more
unsettling. He's dangerous… and he enjoys it. Yet beneath that tension, a flicker of intrigue sparked in her chest.
"Well, that's my condition," Kaelith said, his voice calm but edged with amusement. "If you don't like it, you might as well leave right away."
Yuto's chest tightened. She couldn't leave—returning home empty-handed would be a failure.
"I… agree," she said cautiously, forcing her voice steady. "But what could I possibly do here?"
The king leaned forward, his gaze sharp as he reached for the little box on the table. He slid it into his drawer with deliberate care, eyes never leaving hers.
"I don't know," he replied smoothly. "You decide."
Yuto hesitated, then asked, "My men… will they be able to stay here with me?"
Kaelith's expression hardened ever so slightly. "No. They won't. I had them blocked at the border and sent back home."
A knot formed in Yuto's stomach. She hadn't expected to be entirely alone in a foreign kingdom, under the watch of a king whose intentions were still unreadable.
Yuto's eyes flicked around the grand chamber, taking in the polished floors, the tall windows, and the heavy shadows that clung to the corners. She was alone with him—completely alone—and the realization made her pulse quicken.
Alone with a king who enjoys control… and has no intention of letting me leave.
She forced herself to straighten, keeping her hands neatly in her lap, and drew a slow, steadying breath. Stay calm. Observe. Think.
Kaelith leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled, studying her like a predator assessing a new prey. The faint curve of a smile played on his lips, as if he knew the thoughts running through her mind.
"You seem… thoughtful," he remarked casually, his voice smooth but carrying an unspoken weight. "Do you always take so long to decide your next move?"
Yuto met his gaze, careful not to flinch. "Only when the consequences matter," she replied evenly, letting a hint of steel slip through.
Kaelith's smile deepened, darker now, like a shadow stretching across the room. "Good. I like that in someone I keep close."
Her stomach tightened, but beneath the fear, a spark of defiance ignited. If I am to survive this, I will need to be clever… and watch every move he makes.
The room seemed to shrink around them, charged with unspoken power, testing wit against wit. Yuto realized one thing clearly: in this game, every word, every glance, every pause mattered—and Kaelith had already made the first move.
Kaelith's eyes glimmered with a dangerous amusement as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "Since you're here," he began, voice low and deliberate, "I think it's only fair that you earn your place."
Says someone who keeps me here without a reason. What does he wish to gain?
Yuto's brows furrowed, a mix of caution and curiosity flickering across her face. "Earn my place? How?" she asked carefully, though her pulse quickened.
He reached into the drawer, pulling out the small box she had brought, and let it slide across the desk toward her. "This," he said softly, "is more than a gift. It's a test. I want to see how you handle… delicate matters. How clever are you under pressure? How far will you go to achieve your goals?"
Yuto's eyes widened. A test? With him? She swallowed, forcing herself to appear calm. "And if I succeed?" she asked, keeping her voice steady.
Kaelith's smile deepened, his gaze dark and intense. "Then… perhaps I will consider any request of yours. Perhaps I will trust you. But fail, and… you will learn the cost of underestimating me."
Her stomach tightened. The room, the king, the box—it all felt like a carefully laid trap. Yet beneath the tension, a spark of resolve flared. I will succeed. I have to.
Kaelith reclined slightly, eyes never leaving her. "Do not disappoint me, little storm," he murmured, the nickname rolling off his tongue with a dangerous charm. "I do not forgive easily."
Yuto's jaw tightened. She might be in a perilous position, but one thing was certain: she would not let fear rule her. Not here. Not now.
Kaelith's eyes glimmered as he slid the box slightly closer, letting the soft click of the drawer echo in the silent room. "Your first task," he said slowly, "is simple in description, but not in execution."
Yuto leaned forward slightly, cautious but curious. "And what task is that?"
He picked up a small, folded letter from the desk and placed it in front of her. "Deliver this message to my most trusted agent in the city. No one must know you came from me. Just deliver this little box and the letter. He will take it from there. In addition, you are not to return to the palace until the task is complete. "
Yuto's eyes flicked from the letter to Kaelith's face. A simple courier task… or a trap? The thought sent a shiver down her spine. "I'm sorry your Majesty but are you even aware of the contents in this box. Just deliver it?" she asked carefully, hiding her apprehension.
Kaelith leaned back, steepling his fingers and letting a slow, almost lazy smile spread across his face. "Oh, it's far more than that, and yes I am," he murmured. "You must gain entry into the city unseen, navigate the streets where spies and thieves roam freely, and ensure the letter reaches him intact. Fail, and…" He let the threat hang in the air, heavy and suffocating.
Yuto's heart hammered, but a spark of determination flared. I can do this. I have to. She nodded slowly. "Understood," she said firmly, forcing confidence into her voice.
"Good," Kaelith replied, his gaze sharp and unreadable. "I like a bold mind. Now go, little storm… and prove yourself worthy of my attention. And a simple remainder, I dont want to see you anywhere near wine or alcohol."
As Yuto left the chamber, the weight of the task pressed on her, but so did a curious thrill. She realized that surviving Kaelith's world would require cunning, courage, and every ounce of wit she had.