As they sat across from each other, the tension in the air was palpable. Lila held her composure, her ruby eyes focused on Axel, who remained casual, his gaze unwavering. She had prepared herself for this meeting, knowing that she needed Axel's military strength to secure her kingdom. But the Axel sitting before her was not the man she remembered. His indifference, the way he carried himself—it was all too calculated.
"I was supposed to send a letter," Lila began, her voice steady, though her insides were coiled with frustration. "Asking for an alliance."
Axel leaned back in his seat, watching her closely. "An alliance?" His voice dripped with amusement, as though the request was beneath him. But before Lila could continue, the doors to the throne room opened, and Emperor Kairos strode in, his presence commanding the room.
The two emperors exchanged formal greetings, Kairos with a brief nod and Axel with a smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes. Kairos took his seat near Lila, but the tension in the room only deepened. Kairos was aware of the purpose of this meeting, and though Lila had not expected Axel to behave this arrogantly, she remained poised.
Lila turned her attention back to Axel, her tone clipped. "Let's get back to our conversation. What do you want, Your Majesty?"
Axel's smirk widened, and his eyes gleamed with mischief. "You, Empress Lila," he said, his voice low but confident.
Lila's expression faltered for a moment before she quickly regained her composure. She was about to respond when Axel leaned forward, his tone cocky, pushing the boundaries of decorum.
"If you want me to make an alliance with you," Axel said, amusement dancing in his eyes, "divorce your husband and marry me."
Lila's heart skipped a beat, but her face remained stoic. Kairos's hand tensed on the armrest beside her, but he said nothing, his eyes narrowing as he studied Axel. The arrogance in Axel's tone, the confidence that oozed from him—it was all calculated, a challenge meant to throw her off balance.
Lila's ruby eyes met Axel's cold gaze. For a moment, the room seemed to hold its breath. She knew Axel was testing her, provoking her on purpose. Her mind raced as she searched for the right response, her anger simmering beneath the surface.
"Is that your price?" she finally asked, her voice calm but laced with an edge of defiance. "For an alliance?"
Axel shrugged, his smirk not wavering. "You could say that." He leaned back, watching her intently, waiting to see how she would respond.
But Lila wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of rattling her. Not here, not now.
"Bold of you, Emperor Axel," Lila replied, her voice as sharp as a blade. "But I don't make alliances based on ridiculous demands. If you think that's the only way to secure your help, then I fear we have nothing more to discuss."
Axel's smirk only grew, but he didn't reply. He was watching her, as if waiting to see what she would do next. Kairos, ever silent, remained at Lila's side, his eyes on Axel, but his face unreadable.
The battle of wills had just begun.
Thunder rumbled in the distance, shaking the walls of the grand palace as the first drops of heavy rain began to fall. The storm outside intensified, casting an ominous shadow over the throne room. Axel remained seated, unfazed by the sudden turn of weather, his eyes still locked on Lila as if she were his prey. Emperor Kairos glanced toward the windows, where the rain now lashed against the glass, and then back to Axel.
"It's dangerous to travel back in such weather," Kairos remarked, his voice calm but firm. "I insist you stay the night, Emperor Axel. We cannot risk your safety in a storm like this."
Lila stiffened at the suggestion, her heart pounding. She was about to protest, to tell Kairos that there was no need, but she bit her tongue, knowing it would only reveal too much. Her mind raced. The last thing she wanted was Axel staying in the palace overnight. The tension between them was palpable, and she didn't trust what games he might continue to play.
Axel smiled, glancing between Kairos and Lila, his expression unreadable. "If the Emperor insists, how can I refuse such hospitality?" His gaze then shifted back to Lila, lingering for a moment, making her feel as though he was still in control of the conversation.
Lila straightened her posture, her face a mask of cool composure. "Please," she said, addressing Axel, "think of something else I can afford to offer in exchange for the alliance. I will pay any reasonable price—just not the one you've proposed."
Axel's smirk softened into something almost thoughtful, though the predatory gleam in his eyes never left. He studied her for a long moment, the storm outside mirroring the tension inside.
"Something else?" he echoed, as if considering her words. "We'll see what you can afford, Your Majesty."
Without waiting for a response, Lila turned on her heel and walked away, her head held high. Her heart raced, but she refused to let it show. The storm outside matched the storm within her, and as she left the throne room, she knew she needed to find another way to secure the military power she needed without falling into Axel's trap.
Behind her, Axel watched her go, his smirk deepening as the rain pounded harder against the palace. Kairos, still seated, cast a glance at Axel, his brow furrowed slightly, but he said nothing. He, too, knew the game had just begun.
As Lila exited the throne room, her heart raced with a mixture of anxiety and frustration. The storm outside was relentless, its fury echoing the turmoil within her. The heavy rain poured down in sheets, and the occasional flash of lightning illuminated her path as she made her way down the corridor.
'He's still as arrogant as the first day I met him', Lila thought bitterly.
Her steps echoed in the quiet halls, each sound amplifying her thoughts.
She reached her chambers and paused at the door, resting her forehead against the cool wood for a moment. The weight of the situation bore down on her—her kingdom's precarious position, the need for military strength, and the complex web of personal relationships that seemed to entangle her further. Lila had hoped for a straightforward negotiation, but Axel's arrogance and the threat of him staying the night complicated matters.
Inside, her aide Aaron awaited her, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "Your Majesty, is everything alright?" he asked, his voice soft and respectful.
Lila straightened, masking her inner turmoil with a composed façade. "We have a new challenge," she said, her tone steady. "Emperor Axel is not only here to discuss the alliance but also to test my resolve. He made a proposal that I cannot accept, and he will be staying the night."