Chapter 30 -- the kingdoms that trembled.
News traveled faster than armies.
Before dawn even touched the eastern skies, whispers had already begun spreading across the continent.
The Silver King was moving.
And wherever that rumor reached—
Fear followed.
Inside the Kingdom of Veritas, King Hadrian nearly dropped his wine cup after the emergency report was delivered.
"What do you mean the borders of Lovera Highcrest have closed?!"
The kneeling messenger trembled violently.
"Y-Your Majesty… silver troops have already occupied the northern crossings."
The king's face drained of color.
"So quickly…?"
Impossible.
No kingdom mobilized this fast.
Unless—
Realization struck him instantly.
The Silver King must have already anticipated betrayal long before the ambush happened.
Meanwhile, inside another royal palace—
Queen Evelyne dismissed every servant from the room before turning sharply toward her son.
"You fool!"
The young prince stiffened.
"M-Mother—"
"I told you not to involve yourself with those men!"
The prince's face turned pale.
"It was only supposed to scare her!"
Queen Evelyne nearly laughed from disbelief.
"Scare her?" she hissed. "You attempted to attack the sister of Louis Toran Alaric!"
The prince swallowed hard.
Because now that the madness of pride had faded—
Even he realized how catastrophic this situation truly was.
Everyone knew the stories.
The Silver King did not negotiate when it came to Roseline.
He destroyed.
Completely.
Back on the mountain road, dawn slowly began replacing the moonlight.
The ambush site had already been cleaned with terrifying efficiency.
Bodies removed.
Broken carriages replaced.
Tracks erased.
Only faint bloodstains remained beneath the snow.
Roseline sat quietly near a small fire while healers checked the minor injuries some knights received.
Kingston crouched beside her holding two cups of warm tea.
"You haven't said much."
Roseline accepted the cup slowly.
Her fingers remained cold despite the warmth.
"…I knew Louis was feared."
Kingston stayed silent.
"But I didn't know people feared him this much."
Kingston exhaled softly before looking toward the silver knights stationed nearby.
Some stood guard silently.
Others cleaned blood from their weapons without expression.
"They fear him because he gives them reasons to."
Roseline lowered her eyes slightly.
Then quietly—
"Would he truly destroy kingdoms over this?"
Kingston looked at her for several seconds.
Carefully.
Like he was deciding how honest to be.
Finally—
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No softening the truth.
Roseline stared into her tea silently.
Kingston continued gently afterward.
"But not only because you were attacked."
She looked up.
"He's making an example."
Kingston's expression hardened slightly.
"If kingdoms learn they can target you without consequences, it never stops."
Roseline understood immediately.
Politics.
Power.
Fear.
Kings ruled through strength.
And Louis—
Ruled through absolute terror.
Suddenly hoofbeats echoed from the distance.
Several knights immediately reached for their weapons before relaxing moments later.
A silver banner appeared through the snowy trees.
Reinforcements.
At the center rode a tall man wearing dark silver armor lined with fur.
The moment the knights saw him—
They straightened instantly.
The newcomer dismounted smoothly before kneeling before Roseline.
"My lady."
Roseline blinked in surprise.
"Sir Cedric?"
Kingston raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? You know him?"
Roseline sighed.
"I heard one of the knights betting on Louis sending Sir Cedric after what happened."
Sir Cedric finally lifted his head.
A long scar crossed one side of his face, giving him an intimidating appearance despite his calm demeanor.
"His Majesty sent me personally."
Of course he did.
Roseline almost sighed. Another headache coming.
Sir Cedric's eyes briefly scanned her for injuries.
Only after confirming she was unharmed did the tension in his shoulders lessen slightly.
"The king requests your immediate return to Lovera Highcrest."
Kingston frowned. "She needs to rest."
Sir Cedric became quiet for a moment.
Then carefully—
"His Majesty no longer considers the roads safe."
Roseline immediately understood what that really meant.
Louis was terrified another attack would happen.
Kingston understood too.
And honestly?
After last night, he could not even blame him.
Still—
Roseline looked tired..., drained.
Sir Cedric's expression softened slightly.
A rare sight.
"The king has already dispatched another royal escorts to bring you safely to the capital instead."
Roseline froze.
"…He what?"
Kingston burst into laughter.
"I knew it."
Of course Louis would do that instead of risking Roseline traveling again.
Problem solved.
In the most overprotective way possible.
Roseline covered part of her face weakly.
"He's doing too much…"
Sir Cedric looked genuinely confused.
"With respect, my lady… this is actually less than expected."
Kingston laughed harder.
Even several nearby knights discreetly looked away.
Clearly hiding amusement.
Roseline suddenly had a terrible realization.
"…What was the expected response?"
Silence.
No one answered.
Which somehow terrified her more.
Far away—
Inside the dungeon chambers beneath the Silver Palace—
The captured assassin from the ambush had finally arrived. The brought him straight to the palace dungeon. Not allowing him to stay with Roseline.
Chains bound both his wrists tightly overhead.
His face looked pale from exhaustion and fear.
Then—
Heavy footsteps echoed through the dark corridor.
Slow.
Measured.
The guards immediately straightened before kneeling.
The assassin's breathing stopped instantly.
Because he recognized the sound already.
The Silver King entered the chamber quietly.
Silver eyes glowing beneath dim torchlight.
Cold.
Beautiful.
Monstrous.
Louis stopped several feet away from the prisoner.
No emotion appeared on his face.
The assassin trembled violently.
"T-The attack failed—"
"I know."
Louis' voice remained calm.
That calmness frightened the man more than shouting ever could.
The king stepped closer slowly.
"You touched my sister."
The assassin's entire body shook.
"It wasn't my idea!"
Louis ignored the excuse completely.
Instead, he asked softly—
"Did Roseline look frightened?"
The question sounded almost gentle.
Which made it infinitely worse.
The assassin stammered desperately.
"She—she—"
Louis' silver eyes darkened slightly.
"You made her afraid."
The torches flickered violently.
The pressure inside the dungeon suddenly became unbearable.
The guards lowered their heads further instinctively.
Because they knew what was coming next.
The assassin began sobbing.
"Please… please spare my family…"
Louis stared at him silently for several long seconds.
Then finally—
"No."
@Queenzayn