Aliana stood frozen, her heart racing in her chest as Kael's words settled over her like a heavy cloak. His sharp, gray eyes bore into her, seeming to see straight through her carefully constructed facade. Does he know? The thought flickered through her mind like a silent alarm, sending chills down her spine. Does he know everything?
Her breath caught in her throat, and her gaze flickered nervously around the room, as if the walls might close in on her. Kael's presence was commanding, suffocating in a way that both terrified and intrigued her. He was the Sword of the Empire, the heir to the Kior family, and one of the five Pillars who held the empire together. And yet, in this moment, he felt like the only person who could unravel her deepest secrets.
"Why so tense, Lady Aliana?" Kael's voice was smooth, yet there was a sharp edge to his words that made her shiver involuntarily. "Did I say something to upset you?"
Aliana blinked, forcing a calm expression onto her face. Stay composed, she told herself. You're not that girl anymore. You have to be strong.
"No," she said, her voice coming out steadier than she felt. "It's just... nothing. I'm fine."
Kael didn't seem convinced. He took a step closer, his tall form towering over her as he studied her intently. "You're a terrible liar, Lady Aliana. But if you say so… I'll leave it alone for now."
For a fleeting moment, the tension between them felt almost suffocating, as if they were both standing on the edge of a cliff, too afraid to make the first move. But then Kael's lips quirked into the faintest of smiles, his eyes gleaming with something she couldn't quite place.
"You were looking for a sword fighting instructor, weren't you?" he asked, his tone casual, but there was something in his voice that made her stomach knot. "And who better to teach you than the Sword of the Empire's son?"
Aliana's heart skipped a beat. She stiffened, her mind racing. He knows. How does he know?
Her silence spoke volumes, and Kael smirked. "I've been hearing rumors, Lady Aliana. A girl of your stature, the Shield of the Empire, should be able to defend herself. But I suppose I can't fault you for not knowing where to start. I've always been good with a sword. Why not let me teach you?"
Aliana opened her mouth, but no words came out. She had never spoken to anyone about her desire to learn sword fighting. No one knew about the fire that burned within her, the desire to be strong, to protect herself and the empire. Not even Nini. And yet, here Kael was, offering what she hadn't dared to ask for.
It makes sense, she thought bitterly. He's always been observant. Too observant. He probably saw the weakness in me even before I realized it myself.
But there was something else—something that made her hesitate, something that made her distrust the offer, despite the way it stirred a quiet hope inside her. "I don't need anyone's charity," she said softly, her voice almost a whisper, but firm nonetheless.
Kael raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Charity? You think I'm offering this out of charity? No, Lady Aliana. I'm offering this because you need it. And frankly, so does the empire."
She felt her pulse quicken at the way he spoke—so matter-of-factly, so sure of himself. He wasn't wrong, of course. She had always felt inadequate, not just as a woman in a world dominated by men, but as the Shield of the Empire. Her duty was to protect, to fight, and yet she had never once held a sword with any true understanding of its weight. I have to do this, she thought, her resolve hardening. I have to be strong. For them. For everyone.
"I suppose... you're right," she said slowly, unwilling to show just how much the offer made her heart flutter. "But don't expect me to go easy on you. I may be a lady, but I'm not delicate."
A smile tugged at the corners of Kael's lips, but there was a flicker of something dangerous in his eyes. "I would never expect that from you, Lady Aliana."
The room felt smaller then, filled with the unspoken challenge between them, but just as the tension seemed to reach its peak, a knock echoed through the room.
No. The word rang in Aliana's mind, and her chest tightened. She knew that knock all too well.
Before she could even react, the door swung open, and her father stepped into the room. The air seemed to grow heavier with his presence, and every muscle in Aliana's body tensed involuntarily.
Her father. The head of the Vios family. The Shield of the Empire. His reputation was that of a man who commanded not just loyalty, but fear. His cold, calculating demeanor was enough to send even the bravest warriors trembling in his wake. And his silence? That was the most terrifying of all.
Aliana's breath caught in her throat as she met her father's piercing gaze. His tall frame was imposing, his sharp features as expressionless as ever. But it was his eyes—always so calculating, always so cold—that made her blood run cold.
"What's going on here?" her father's voice rumbled, deep and unwavering. His gaze flicked between her and Kael, and Aliana could feel the weight of his scrutiny pressing down on her, suffocating her.
Aliana's throat went dry. Father… Her heart skipped a beat, and she struggled to find her voice. The last time they had spoken like this, there had been no warmth in his words. Only duty. Only expectations. In my past life, he was always there for me at the end, but he never showed me the love I needed until it was too late. Until his last breath.
"Father, I—" she began, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to sound confident. But before she could finish, Kael's voice cut through the tension like a sword through air.
"My lord," Kael spoke, his tone firm yet respectful, "Lady Aliana and I were discussing her training. I offered to teach her sword fighting."
Her father's gaze sharpened, and for a moment, the room seemed to freeze. His eyes flicked between Kael and Aliana, and Aliana could feel the suffocating weight of his disapproval.
"You…?" Her father's tone was flat, but the underlying edge was unmistakable. "Do you think you're capable of teaching my daughter?"
Kael didn't flinch. He stood tall, his posture unwavering as he met Aliana's father's gaze head-on. "I do, my lord. With all due respect, Lady Aliana deserves to be prepared. And I believe I can provide the training she needs."
Her father's eyes narrowed, but for the briefest moment, Aliana thought she saw a flicker of something softer in them—something like approval, or perhaps, concern. But it was gone before she could be sure.
"You think you're the right one for the job?" her father asked, his voice still cool, but the challenge was clear.
Kael didn't back down. "I do, my lord. I'm not offering this as a favor. I'm offering this because Lady Aliana will need it. And because I believe it's my duty to ensure she's prepared."
Aliana's heart pounded in her chest as she watched the exchange. Why does this feel like a test? she thought.
Her father's gaze softened, but only slightly. "Very well," he said after a long pause, his voice firm as steel. "But if anything happens to her, Kael Kior, you will answer to me."
Aliana felt a knot tighten in her stomach. Her father's words, though laced with approval, were still a warning. A promise of protection. But also, a threat.
Kael nodded, his expression unreadable. "Understood, my lord."
Her father turned to leave, but before he stepped through the door, he paused and glanced back at Aliana, his gaze softening just enough for her to notice. "Stay safe, Aliana," he said quietly, almost as an afterthought, before walking out of the room.
The door closed with a soft click, and the room seemed to exhale, the tension finally breaking. Aliana's heart was still hammering in her chest, but now there was a sense of something else—something she hadn't felt in a long time. A sense of purpose. Of resolve.
Kael turned to her with a knowing look. "It's only just begun, Lady Aliana," he said softly, a hint of something unreadable in his tone.
Aliana met his gaze, a quiet fire igniting deep within her. Yes, she thought. It's just beginning. This time, I'll make sure nothing slips through my fingers. Not again.