Lyana wanted to run away, but she tried not to show her nervousness. The young man next to her
swallowed hard and then headed for the door. But the princess stopped him shortly before with one hand. "It's okay, I'll go in alone." She hoped she sounded more confident than she actually felt. But the guard seemed so relieved not to have to go into the room that he wouldn't have noticed.
He bowed to her again and then stepped back.
Meanwhile Lyana gathered all her courage and opened the door into the unknown. And that's where
he stood. Right by the window, with his back turned to her. Just his silhouette with the broad shoulders and the proud posture was very formidable.
Lyana closed the door and walked a little towards him. "You wanted to speak to me?"
The king bowed his head. "As a matter of fact. Tomorrow it will finally be ready, little sun princess.
I will finally get my revenge." He turned around and in his gaze Lyana saw something so dark and
bloodthirsty that it ran down her spine. "Do you really think it will bring you the salvation that you
want so much?"
King Ulric stepped up to her. "What are you talking about?"
"If you've taken revenge for your sister, do you really think the pain will go away?" Lyana repeated
courageously.
The tall figure of the king was terrifying, but now she was not allowed to back down. Whatever he
had planned, she didn't have much time left.
Again he came closer so that she could now feel his breath on her face. "What does a little naive girl like you know about pain? You were raised well protected in your castle, protected from all evil and isolated from bad things. You don't know what real pain even means."
"That may be true, but I know what love is! I know that I fell in love with you and that I don't want to see my family or you suffer!" Her eyes filled with tears again when she said this, but she didn't look away. She wasn't ashamed of her feelings and he should know that too.
For a moment it seemed as if her confession had actually thrown the king off track. His features
softened and his eyes even showed something that reminded her of affection. But then he had
himself under control again and the moment was over as quickly as it had come. "I don't need love.
Love is fleeting and makes you weak. Love alone does not keep you alive and the love of your
family is worth even less than the promise made among thieves. If you want to dissuade me from
my vengeance in this way, you have failed miserably. Baridi will now bring you to your room. After
all, you should look good tomorrow."
Lyana wanted to say something again, but Baridi already entered the room. She still didn't know
how he did it, but it was a very bad time for her. Still, she was glad to see that the valet was fine. He
looked very exhausted and had dark circles under his eyes, but that was probably only because the king gave him a lot to work.
When he saw the princess, he smiled weakly. Just so as not to cause more trouble for Baridi, she
decided to keep quiet and go with him.
The guard was no longer at the door, so she really didn't have to go back into the dungeon. "How are you?" She asked Baridi as they strolled through the corridors together.
"I didn't get a lot of sleep, but otherwise I'm fine. Thanks for asking, Your Royal Highness. I am
more worried about you at the moment. The king is in a terrible mood. I haven't seen him as calm as he was in his study before in days."
That was supposed to be him being calm? Lyana understood something else by this, but then the
destroyed vases came back to her mind and she began to understand.
King Ulric must have been pretty raged. But why was he so calm now? Because he would finally get his revenge? She didn't know what he was up to, but she dreaded it.
"Do you know what he's planning?" She asked carefully. But as expected, Baridi shook his head. "I
only know that he is in contact with the count. You certainly remember him and his children.
Unfortunately, he also owns some of the best soldiers in the kingdom. So I have a very bad feeling
about this."
Lyana could understand that well. This news also made her uncomfortable. "But would he stand by
his side if he really wanted to wage war against the Sun Kingdom?"
Baridi also seemed unsure. "The two have known each other for a long time and King Ulric has
always supported him. The count is a peace-loving person. Yet it is still his king who demands a
favor from him. At the latest when he orders him to do so, the Count's hands are tied. But I am
honest with you. He neither had enough time for a war, nor did he have enough men for it. It looks
like he's preparing for a fight and not a war."