The grand throne room of the palace was alive with tension, the polished marble floors reflecting the golden glow of the chandeliers above. Large stained-glass windows cast shifting patterns of color across the high walls as the morning sun streamed through.
Emeney stood before the throne, her posture poised yet commanding. Dressed in her combat attire a sleek black bodysuit adorned with silver armor plates, she exuded both elegance and authority. Across from her stood Xander and Commander Dion, their expressions serious as they finalized their strategy for the mission ahead.
"The reconnaissance team has confirmed enemy activity just beyond our borders" Commander Dion stated, his deep voice cutting through the silence. "If we move now, we can intercept before they set foot in our land"
Xander crossed his arms, his stance firm. "The plan is simple: move in, neutralize any threats, and return before sundown. Minimal casualties, no unnecessary risks"
Emeney nodded, eyes sharp with determination. "We leave nothing to chance. I want full formation at all times." She turned to Dion. "The King's Guard is ready?"
Commander Dion straightened. "Yes, Your Highness. They are assembled in the courtyard as we speak."
"Good"
"I would feel a lot better if I was going with you" Xander complained with a worried look visible on his face.
"I know. But someone has to stay behind and keep things in order. There's no other high rank individual to entrust that to. You're the future Queen's partner after all" Emeney explained, closing the distance between them and planting a full kiss on his lips which Xander wasted no time in accepting and returning. It lasted for a few seconds, putting Commander Dion in an awkward position. He cleared his throat and they broke the kiss.
Suddenly, something nagged at Emeney, an odd sense of incompleteness. She turned her gaze to the line of armored guards standing at attention near the throne room's entrance, disciplined, unwavering, prepared for battle.
She frowned.
Something was off.
"There are only nine" She murmured, her sharp eyes scanning each one carefully.
Xander glanced at her in confusion. "What?"
"The King's Guard is supposed to be ten." Her voice grew firm. "Where is Rayne?"
At the mention of the name, Dion stiffened slightly. He cast a quick glance at Xander before responding, his voice carefully neutral. "I did not include him in the lineup, Your Highness."
Emeney's expression hardened. "Why not?"
"We are yet to assess his full strength" Dion explained. "He may bear the title, but he's an unknown variable. Until I'm certain of his capabilities, I won't risk him compromising the mission."
Xander nodded in agreement. "Dion is right. We can't just throw an untested B-Class into the field with A-Class elites" His tone carried a hint of satisfaction, as if he had expected Rayne to be left behind.
Emeney's gaze remained steady, her expression unreadable. Then, with unwavering certainty, she said, "He's coming"
Dion's brows furrowed. "Your Highness—"
"I chose him for the Guard" She interrupted, her voice calm but firm. "And if he's to prove himself, this mission will serve as his test. He comes."
Xander clenched his jaw. "Emeney—"
"I've made my decision" She cut in smoothly. "And since you failed to summon him, I will do it myself."
She turned on her heel, heading toward the exit without another word.
Xander watched her go, his fingers curling into fists. He masked his irritation behind a stoic expression, but inside, a slow burn of frustration settled in his chest. Rayne was becoming a problem. And Xander hated problems.
***
The halls of the castle were quiet, save for the soft echoes of Emeney's footsteps as she made her way to the King's Guard quarters. The royal residence was vast, large enough to house not just the royal family but also high-ranking officials and elite warriors. The king's guards had their own designated wing, each with a private room, offering them both convenience and comfort.
As she strode down the corridor, her thoughts lingered on Rayne. There was something about him, something she couldn't quite place. It wasn't just his raw strength or the enigmatic aura that surrounded him, it was the way he carried himself, detached yet commanding. She had never met a man quite like him, and that intrigued her more than she cared to admit.
Stopping in front of a dark wooden door, she exhaled softly. 'This should be his room' Raising her hand, she knocked.
No response.
She knocked again, louder this time. Still nothing.
Her brows furrowed. Was he ignoring her? Or was he simply not inside? Annoyance flickered in her chest as she rapped against the door a third time. Silence. She rolled her eyes. "Fine"
Without another thought, she grabbed the handle and pushed the door open.
The room was dimly lit, curtains drawn to keep the morning sun at bay. A cool draft brushed against her skin as she stepped inside, her gaze settling on the large bed at the center of the room.
And there he was.
Rayne lay on his back, his dark hair slightly tousled, his breathing slow and even. The blankets covered him from the neck down, his sharp features relaxed in sleep. He looked…peaceful. Different from the cold, aloof man she had encountered before. Emeney found herself hesitating, her gaze lingering on him longer than necessary.
He was beautiful. Not just in the conventional way, but in a way that made her chest tighten slightly. There was an effortless elegance to him, a quiet strength even in rest. And it frustrated her, this unexplainable pull she felt toward him, this relentless need to push him into her world.
'Why am I doing this? Why am I so determined to keep him close? I know nothing about him, he's a total stranger' She thought to herself. Knowing that, still, she felt like she knew him and he wasn't a stranger.
She shook her head, irritated at herself.
Enough of this.
Lifting her hand, she slammed the door shut with a loud *BANG*
Rayne stirred instantly, his eyes snapping open as he tensed, ready for a fight. His gaze landed on Emeney, standing by the door with her arms folded, her expression sharp. His shoulders relaxed, and with a groggy sigh, he ran a hand through his hair. "The hell are you doing here?"
Emeney raised a brow. "Nice to see you too."
Rayne blinked at her, clearly still half-asleep. "Did I oversleep through something important?"
"Yes, actually" She replied flatly. "There's a mission. The King's Guard is assembling. Get up and get ready."
Rayne groaned, rubbing his face. "Pass"
Emeney frowned. "Excuse me?"
"I said pass" He repeated, settling back against his pillow. "Sounds like a hassle"
Emeney stared at him, utterly baffled. "You do realize you're a King's Guard now? You don't get to 'pass' on assignments"
"Hmm" He exhaled lazily. "I don't recall agreeing to missions. Just the whole 'I do whatever I want' part"
She gritted her teeth. "That's not how this works, Rayne"
Rayne simply closed his eyes, as if dismissing the conversation entirely. Emeney's patience snapped. "Rayne Egan, if you don't get out of that bed right now, I will personally drag you out of it"
His lips twitched slightly, as if amused. "I'd like to see you try, Princess."
Her nostrils flared. "Get. Up"
Rayne sighed, stretching lazily before finally sitting up. "Fine, fine. You're persistent, I'll give you that."
Emeney crossed her arms, satisfied, until the blankets slipped off him completely as he got out of bed and stood up.
Her breath hitched.
Rayne was utterly, completely, naked.
The air in the room grew unbearably thick. Emeney's mind went blank as her gaze instinctively flickered over the sculpted lines of his torso, the well defined abs and pecs, the defined muscles of his abdomen, the sharp V-line disappearing under…..
She whirled around so fast she nearly tripped. Her face burned. 'What the hell?!'
Behind her, Rayne chuckled. "Something wrong, Princess?"
"What the hell are you doing? You don't just go around naked at anyone's presence!" She scolded
"I'm not 'around' I'm in my private space. You're the one intruding" He replied nonchalantly.
"Fifteen minutes" Her voice was rigid, laced with embarrassment. "You have fifteen minutes to get ready. I'll be waiting outside"
Rayne smirked. "Understood"
Without another word, she stormed out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her. Leaning against the door, she inhaled deeply, pressing a hand against her heated face.
'What the hell just happened?' She thought, playing the scene in her head, the image of his body burned into her head. She couldn't help thinking and being amazed at his physique. He was sculpted like a god. Lean muscular with well defined muscles.
She had seen well built men before. Xander was well built, and he wasn't as lean as Rayne. But Rayne's body was sculpted different and was more intriguing. Then she thought about his dick. The size of it even in its limp state was shocking. Though she saw it for just a split second, it was enough to stir trouble inside her. Her cheeks were flushed by just thinking about it.
***
The throne room buzzed with a quiet intensity as the mission party made final preparations. The King's Guards, standing tall in their pristine uniforms, exuded discipline and readiness. Commander Dion exchanged a few last words with his men, ensuring everything was in order.
Emeney stood at the center, her regal presence commanding attention. She was dressed for battle, not in a heavy, impractical gown, but in sleek, fitted attire that allowed for movement and combat. Her long hair was braided back, revealing the sharp determination in her eyes. Despite the formal setting, she carried herself with a natural authority, one that reminded everyone in the room exactly who she was.
Yet, one person was still missing.
A set of measured footsteps echoed through the grand hall, drawing all eyes toward the entrance.
Rayne Egan had arrived.
He stepped into the throne room with an effortless grace, his presence striking without needing to demand attention. His attire was nothing like the traditional battle gear of the King's Guard. Instead, he wore an elegant yet practical ensemble, black tailored pants, a fitted high-collared jacket with subtle silver embroidery, and a dark shirt beneath. It was distinctly South Korean in style, reminiscent of the sleek aesthetic of a warrior who moved in the shadows rather than the front lines. His raven-black hair was slightly tousled, falling to almost his eyes in a bang, framing his sharp features. His hair was faded at both sides a little, making the center part lengthier.
He looked powerful, yet indifferent, as if the mission was just another passing inconvenience. Seeing him for the first time, you would never guess he was a B-Class with how he carried himself and how he looked. Many would definitely mistake him for an A-Class. He was a weak mage by class, but yet looked like the direct opposite.
Emeney observed him carefully, once again taken aback by how effortlessly he drew attention. He didn't need grand gestures or words. His aura alone spoke volumes.
Xander, however, was less than impressed. His sharp blue eyes followed Rayne with barely concealed disdain, arms crossed over his chest. The tension between them was palpable, one seething with silent rivalry, the other completely unbothered.
Rayne barely spared Xander a glance, walking past him as if he were just another soldier in the room. The dismissiveness in that simple act sent a wave of irritation through Xander, his fingers tightening into fists.
Commander Dion, who had been skeptical of Rayne from the start, eyed him critically. "You're late" He remarked.
Rayne met his gaze with a lazy smirk. "Didn't realize we were on a schedule"
The Commander exhaled but said nothing more.
Emeney, choosing to ignore the subtle hostility in the room, addressed the group. "Now that we're all here, let's move out. We have work to do"
With that, she turned on her heel and led the party toward the large doors of the throne room. Rayne followed, his movements smooth and deliberate, while the rest of the King's Guard fell into formation.
Xander stood rigidly beside his father, Advisor Gray, watching them depart.
The older man leaned in slightly, his voice low. "Let her go, but do not let her slip away."
Xander didn't respond, his jaw tight as he watched Emeney disappear through the doors, Rayne walking just a few steps behind her.
And with that, the mission party set off, leaving the kingdom in Xander and his father's hands until the princess returned.