When Lynaria awoke, her mind raced to cover her earlier mistake. She hadn't realized her slip of the tongue until it was too late, and now Rivan's sharp gaze pinned her in place. Although she maintained her composure, she felt her words tremble beneath the surface. Rivan, ever the interrogator, tilted his head slightly, his golden eyes glinting with amusement as if he enjoyed her unease.
"There's nothing, Lord Rivan," she said, her voice as steady as she could muster.
"Nothing?" he repeated, his tone mocking. "Don't play coy with me, Lynaria. Do you harbor feelings for my brother, the Dragon King?"
"No, my lord," she replied firmly, forcing the lie past her lips. "Not at all."
For a moment, Rivan's face remained unreadable, then he smirked, his expression both amused and dismissive. "Good. That's a relief because, truthfully, I don't like him either."
Though his words seemed lighthearted, Lynaria could tell Rivan didn't believe her. His sharp instincts left no room for pretense. Yet, instead of pressing further, he chose to pivot. "So, how is my dear brother? May I visit him?"
Lynaria hesitated, recalling the fragile balance between Rivan and Kaelron. Allowing Rivan near Kaelron in his current state could only spell trouble. With measured calm, she lied, "The King is resting, my lord. It would be better to visit another time."
"Resting, you say? Fine, then," Rivan replied, his tone nonchalant as he turned to leave. "Goodbye, General."
As Lynaria made her way back to her quarters, she encountered Ares loitering near the corridor, his ever-present smirk greeting her like an old companion. "Where are you headed, beautiful?" he teased.
"To my post," she replied tersely, unwilling to engage in his usual banter. Then, after a pause, she added, "Actually, Advisor, I need a favor."
His smirk deepened. "A favor? From me? This should be interesting."
"Take over my duty tonight and watch over the King," she requested, her tone more earnest than he'd ever heard.
Ares raised an eyebrow. "Why me? Isn't that your responsibility?"
"I have urgent matters to attend to. I wouldn't ask if it weren't important," she replied, her voice firm.
After a moment of silence, Ares relented with a sigh. "Fine, but only for tonight."
"Thank you, Advisor," Lynaria said, relief softening her features. "I owe you."
As he prepared to leave, she stopped him with an unexpected question. "Ares, who exactly is Casilla?"
The sudden inquiry wiped the smirk off his face. He hesitated, his expression briefly clouded with unease before he replied, "Casilla is Kaelron's beloved. She's from the Angel Kingdom. They were separated when her royal duties called her back to her homeland."
Lynaria nodded slowly, her thoughts swirling as she processed the revelation. Without another word, she continued on her way, leaving Ares to wonder what had prompted the question.
Later, as Ares entered Kaelron's chambers, the King glared at him. "Why are you here?" Kaelron snapped, his tone laced with irritation.
"Lynaria asked me to watch over you tonight," Ares replied casually. "Should I leave now?"
Kaelron paused before grumbling, "Do as you like."
Settling into a chair, Ares smirked. "You know, Lynaria seems awfully protective of you. Some might call her your weakness."
Kaelron's piercing gaze met his. "If you value your life, Advisor, you'll keep such thoughts to yourself."
The morning brought fresh tensions. Lynaria, ever diligent, arrived early to tend to Kaelron. But instead of the usual routine, he startled her with a curt command. "It's been days since I've bathed properly. Help me."
Caught off guard, she quickly recovered. "Your Majesty, your wounds are still healing. A proper bath isn't advisable. Allow me to clean you as I have before."
Though clearly displeased, Kaelron relented, muttering under his breath. Once she finished, Lynaria suggested a walk in the garden to lift his spirits. The fresh morning air seemed to ease his temper, and for a brief moment, peace settled between them.
But the calm was short-lived. A soft, melodic voice interrupted their tranquility. "Kaelron, it's been too long."
Both turned to see Casilla, her beauty radiating under the sunlight. Kaelron's hardened expression softened instantly. "Casilla," he murmured, a rare smile tugging at his lips.
As they spoke, Lynaria lingered in the background, her chest tightening with a mixture of confusion and something unspoken. Finally, she excused herself, unwilling to witness more.
"Who was that, Kaelron?" Casilla asked, her gaze following Lynaria's retreating figure.
"No one important," he replied curtly, turning his full attention back to Casilla.
Yet, as Lynaria walked away, her mind was anything but calm.