The courtyard still smelled faintly of burned shadow.
Knights dismantled broken formations. Servants cleared debris in careful silence.
Arietta stood near the steps, hands loosely behind her back, watching.
That monster hadn't existed in the original novel.
Interesting.
Klaine approached.
"You are observing."
"Yes."
"What have you concluded."
"It wasn't supposed to happen."
"In what way."
"In the story I read, the capital never had a breach this early."
He studied her.
"And that concerns you."
"It means something changed."
Her gaze brushed over the damaged stone before returning to him.
"You are calm," he said.
"Should I not be?"
"A breach within the capital walls is significant."
"I've seen worse."
There was no pride in it. Just measure.
"You did not move during the attack."
"You gave no order."
"And if I had."
"I would have acted."
"And if I never do."
"I remain where you place me."
Direct. Uncomplicated.
He watched her carefully.
"You classified the creature as mid-tier."
"Yes."
"And high-tier."
"In my world, high-tier used to require multiple forces."
"At the beginning."
"Yes."
"And later."
"When most people were gone, the ones left were all elite."
Her tone stayed even.
"After that, high-tier was manageable."
"You were among them."
"Yes."
"If such a variant appears here."
"You would need coordination."
"And you."
"If you request it, I'll handle it."
"You are not worried."
"It isn't severe."
No tension in her voice.
He shifted slightly.
"You said you like me."
Her expression brightened.
"Yes."
"Even now."
"Yes."
"Why."
She answered immediately.
"You're steady."
Her hands moved faintly as she spoke.
"You listen before deciding. You don't overreact."
Her gaze stayed on him.
"You treat your subordinates fairly."
That surprised him more than he showed.
"You correct them, but you don't humiliate them."
A small pause.
"You don't use fear to maintain control."
She tilted her head slightly.
"You carry authority like responsibility."
Silence lingered.
"And your sister," she added more calmly, "you care for her without turning it into leverage."
Not dramatic.
Just fact.
"In my world, only the useful were kept."
Her voice did not change.
"Protection was based on value. Strength. Output."
She met his eyes.
"You don't calculate people that way."
Another quiet beat.
"That's rare."
He studied her expression.
"And that is enough."
"Yes."
Immediate.
Her smile softened, but it didn't fade.
"I like people who are consistent."
Behind them, the courtyard returned to order.
"I like you"
Ash settled.
Movement resumed.
But something subtle had shifted.
She had seen leaders who ruled through utility.
Who kept only what benefited them.
And she had chosen differently.
Klaine did not look away.