Felix's jaw clenched as he felt the hurt Ava was trying to hide. His fist tightened momentarily before he released a measured breath.
"Thank you, Your Highness," Felix said, finally looking at her, his gaze steady but distant. He then gently but firmly lowered the princess's hand. "I'm alright."
Princess Tiara hesitated, her perfectly arched brows furrowing slightly, clearly caught off guard by his lack of attention to her. She forced a polite smile, her lips curving slightly, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of indignation. "I… I was only trying to help," she said, her tone carrying a slight edge of entitlement.
Felix gave her a brief nod, his expression remaining polite but devoid of warmth. "I appreciate it, but there's no need." His voice was calm, yet resolute, as if closing a door she hadn't expected.
Without sparing another glance, he stepped past the princess, closing the distance between himself and Ava. "My lady," he said softly, his voice was warm, quite opposite to the coldness he had when he was talking to the princess.
Ava didn't look up, her gaze fixed on the ground, her hands clenching the hem of her dress. "I'm fine," she said quickly, her voice clipped, as though dismissing his concern before he could even voice it.
But Felix wasn't so easily deterred. He tilted his head, lowering himself to meet her eye level. "Ava," his hand hovered near her elbow, hesitant yet protective. "Look at me. Are you hurt?"
The concern in his voice caught Ava off guard. She glanced up briefly, her eyes betraying a swirl of emotions before she quickly looked away. "No," lowering her head, she gave a small, shaky shake. "I'm fine," she murmured, her voice soft yet trembling with an unease she couldn't quite mask.
Felix's brow knitted together, his concern visible in the tense set of his jaw and the faint crease between his eyes. "Alright," he said softly, though his eyes continued scanning her for any sign of injury.
"General Felix Hellstern," a heavy yet gloomy voice interrupted the moment like a clap of thunder.
Both Felix and Ava turned toward the source of the voice, finding King Aragorn of Carinae standing before them. The king's figure was imposing, his dark cloak billowing slightly in the evening breeze. Behind him stood five royal guards, their tall and robust frames a testament to their training. The king's sharp gaze softened with a faint smile that barely touched his lips. "It's a pleasure meeting you finally after two long years," he said, his deep voice resonating with authority.
"Your Majesty," Felix replied, bowing with a grace befitting his rank, his posture unwavering and respectful. "The honor is mine."
"Father!" Princess Tiara's voice rose with a mixture of relief and urgency. She hurried to the king's side, her skirts sweeping against the ground as she looped her arm around his. "I was about to get attacked by a crazy bull, but he saved me. Shouldn't we invite him for dinner?"
The king's brows knit together as he carefully pried her arm off his own. His lips pressed into a thin line. "First of all," he said, his tone stern, "I would prefer you to call me 'Your Majesty' in public. You are a princess. You need to maintain discipline." He straightened his posture, his piercing eyes narrowing. "Second of all, where are your guards? Why didn't they protect you?"
At that moment, three royal guards and a royal maid came running toward them, their faces flushed and chests heaving from exertion. "Your Majesty," they greeted breathlessly, bowing deeply. They turned to Felix with hurried nods. "General Felix Hellstern," they said in unison before shifting their uneasy gazes back to the king.
The king's gaze flicked between them with a growing intensity. His lips tightened as he stepped closer to the guards, the air between them charged with his displeasure. "And where were you when your princess needed you?" His voice was colder now, like the sting of winter winds.
Their eyes darted nervously between the princess and the king, a silent debate flickering in their expressions as they hesitated to speak the truth.
"I locked them in one of the empty cages behind the arena," Princess Tiara revealed with an impish grin, folding her arms across her chest. "It was quite fun," she added, her tone dripping with nonchalance.
"You—" The king began, but the words caught in his throat. He closed his eyes briefly, as though summoning patience from some unseen well. He knew there was no benefit in saying anything to his bratty daughter, so he just saved himself the trouble of wasting his energy unnecessarily and shook his head in disappointment.
Two more guards arrived, their arms filled with wild berries. They stopped abruptly, panting heavily, the berries threatening to spill from their grasp. Their brows were slick with sweat, and they looked at the ground as if it might offer them an escape from the king's glare.
"Your Majesty," they bowed, their voices trembling slightly.
"And where were you two?" the king demanded, his tone sharp enough to make the air feel heavier.
"We… we were in the jungle. The princess wished for wild berries, so…" Their voices faltered, trembling under the weight of the king's piercing gaze.
"I apologize on their behalf," one of the previous four guards interjected, his voice sharp yet tinged with regret. He took a step forward, his jaw clenched in determination, as if willing himself to stand strong in the face of impending punishment. "They are new," he continued, his words flowing with an earnestness that belied his unease. "As their senior, it was my duty to train them better." His gaze dropped to the ground as he bowed. "Please forgive me, Your Majesty," he whispered, the plea drifting on the wind like a fragile hope.
"Senior..." The two younger guards exchanged remorseful glances, their shoulders slumping as their senior took the fall for them.
"I don't want to see them in the royal palace anymore," the king commanded, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. His gaze hardened as it fell on the kneeling guard. "And Royal Guard Beregond, this is your final warning."
"I am grateful for your generosity, Your Majesty," Beregond said, bowing even lower.
The king then turned back to Felix, his expression shifting from stern to composed. "And I am grateful for your bravery, General. First the country, then your soldiers, and now my daughter. You have done much for me, and for that, I am in your debt."
"It is my honor, Your Majesty," Felix replied, his voice resolute yet humble. "I will continue to serve the country with even greater dedication."
"Ah, that is the spirit I so admire," the king remarked, his tone now warmer, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "It is indeed a shame that you are already married. Had you not been, I would have taken great pride in uniting my daughter with a man of your caliber."
"I'm sorry to correct you, but…" Felix began, his voice steady yet laced with quiet resolve. He dipped his head briefly in a respectful bow, his expression composed, a clear respect for the king despite the weight of his words. "I do not find it shameful, Your Majesty."
"Pardon?" The king asked, his brow furrowing slightly, taken aback.
Felix met the king's gaze without faltering, his words firm and deliberate, carrying the weight of his conviction. "To be married to my wife, Your Majesty," he said, his tone unwavering. "It is not shameful at all. In fact, it is an honor for me."
He then turned to Ava and extended his hand toward her with deliberate care. "My lady," he said, his tone softening, inviting her to join him.
Ava hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering with uncertainty, before she placed her hand in his. She allowed him to guide her to stand beside him, her posture tentative yet graceful. "Your Majesty," she said, bowing deeply, her voice steady despite the weight of the moment.
"This is my wife, Ava Sideris Hellstern," Felix declared, his voice imbued with unmistakable pride as his gaze softened toward her. "You may recall seeing her during our wedding ceremony. She is everything a man could ever hope for—beautiful, elegant, intelligent, and gentle. But beyond all that, she is brave and kind, qualities that truly define her."
He paused for a moment, his eyes shifting back to the king with unwavering conviction. "And I must confess, Your Majesty, I did not step in front of that wild bull to save the princess," Felix continued, his voice calm yet resolute, carrying the weight of his truth. "I did it to protect my wife. It was she who, without a second thought, rushed back to help the princess in the face of danger. Which, in fact, shows she is even braver than me. So no, Your Majesty, I do not believe it is in any way shameful to be married to such a preciously amazing person."
The boldness of Felix's words left everyone stunned. The silence that followed was so heavy that even Princess Tiara, usually quick with a quip, seemed momentarily shaken.