A glint of challenge flickered in Roderick's eyes. "Looks like one of them has a taste for a duel," he muttered, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips.
Bernard, ever the strategist, followed his king's gaze. "Perhaps a final display of our power, Your Majesty? To truly crush their spirits?"
Roderick chuckled, a sound that resonated with the confidence of a warrior king. "Indeed, Bernard. Let's show them why they should fear the lion of Cymeria."
King Roderick strode through the grand halls of the Cymerian castle, his boots echoing on the polished marble floor. Relief washed over him as he shed the heavy mantle of leadership, the weight of the battle temporarily lifted. He entered the living quarters, his heart swelling at the sight of his wife, a woman whose beauty defied her years.
"Is everything alright, darling?" she inquired, her voice laced with concern, her eyes searching his face for any sign of injury.
