Their grandfather had died alongside my grandparents.
For a brief instant, I said nothing.
The Lawburn na was not one I had forgotten. A loyal house, not among the grandest in Helios, perhaps, but one whose service to the Crown had never once wavered. To escort my grandparents to Radhamantia had not been so minor duty. It had been a position of trust, one given only to those considered dependable enough to stand close to the royal bloodline itself.
And he had died fulfilling it.
My gaze lingered on the two siblings before . That alone told more than enough about why Arges had selected them. n like him did not choose randomly, and he certainly did not place just anyone at my side during a journey like this.
"You have my condolences," I said at last, my voice quieter than before. "Your grandfather died in service to the Crown. Helios has not forgotten that."
Neither of them replied imdiately, though I noticed Mia’s expression tighten just slightly.
Oliver was the one who answered in the end.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Simple words, but spoken with the restraint of people who had already learned to carry grief in silence.
I looked between the two of them once more.
Arges had truly been thorough.
Not only were they likely capable, but they were also the children of a house that had already paid in blood for its loyalty to the throne. Whether that made them more trustworthy or simply more burdened, I could not yet say.
Still, it was enough for now.
At the very least, I understood why their nas felt faintly familiar the mont I heard them.
And perhaps, in a way, it was reassuring.
People like that did not abandon their duty easily.
It made sense. They would never want to tarnish the na of their illustrious, heroic father, who had fought to his very last breath to protect the previous King and Queen.
"Regardless, I do hope Arges did not rely send the two of you to watch over and my precious wife out of so lingering obligation to what your father had done?" I asked, my tone light but my gaze sharp.
"O—Of course not, Your Majesty," Oliver replied, briefly flustered by the directness of the question before quickly recovering his composure.
"We will protect you with our lives, Your Majesty," Mia added seriously, placing a hand over her chest.
I wanted to see what these two were capable actually, but I would let them prove their worth when the situation truly demanded it. Until then, I will trust Arges’s judgnt.
Satisfied for the mont, I walked slowly toward the weathered wooden bench set near the fire. It was a crude piece of furniture, clearly unsuited for a reigning royal, or frankly, for any person of noble standing. Still, it was better than sitting in the damp dirt.
Taking a seat before the crackling campfire, I silently watched as Alan busied himself with the cooking alongside his quiet companion.
"And who might you be?" I asked, shifting my attention to the younger man helping with the al.
"Elric, Your Majesty," the young man replied respectfully, bowing his head.
"He is my son, Your Majesty," Alan added, a note of quiet pride in his voice.
"Oh, really?" I asked, looking between the two of them.
Elric appeared to be in his mid-twenties, and while Alan was visibly weathered by age, seeing them side by side, the familial resemblance was indeed there.
"So, how did you co to work for Gabriel? Are you of noble birth?" I asked, curious.
Alan chuckled warmly and shook his head. "No, Your Majesty. We are commoners. Lord Gabriel saved us when we were starving and entirely holess. We were wandering aimlessly down the middle of a desolate road when his grand carriage passed by. He took us in and allowed us to travel with him until the next town."
"And he simply kept you on after that?" I raised a brow.
"I had previously worked in the stables for a minor noble, Your Majesty," Alan explained, his gaze dropping to the stew as he stirred. "But after my wife passed away, things had turned complicated. I was completely unable to cope with the grief, and my work suffered until I was eventually dismissed. We had hit rock bottom by the ti Lord Gabriel found us."
He then smiled fondly, his eyes softening as a happy mory clearly surfaced.
"During a pause on that journey, Lord Gabriel’s horses broke loose and fled into the wilderness. I managed to track them down and catch them after two hours of hunting. When I finally returned with the beasts, Lord Gabriel simply looked at and declared that I was going to work for him from that day forward. He took both and my son in without another word," he explained.
"That is certainly quite a way to get recruited," I laughed softly.
It was a brilliant approach. Demonstrating raw talent and competence directly was always infinitely more valuable than hollow words on paper. If only the corporate world back on Earth had worked on such practical principles, instead of endlessly demanding twenty years of experience from fresh graduates through painfully boring job interviews.
If I had relied on such rigid, bureaucratic thods myself, with Sigor Reus, for example I would have completely missed out on acquiring a remarkably interesting and useful man.
In a ruthless world such as ours, raw talent was valued above almost everything else, with trust being the only exception.
As I mused over these thoughts, I noticed Eleanor finally stepping out of the carriage, closely trailed by Leilah. She walked gracefully toward the crackling campfire, offering a warm, appreciative smile to Alan and his son.
"As expected, it always slls wonderful when you are cooking, Alan," she praised softly.
"Thank you, My Lady," Alan chuckled, bowing his head in respect.
Elric stamred out his own thanks, a furious blush rushing to his cheeks at her gentle praise. I could hardly bla the young man; who wouldn’t be flustered with such a breathtaking existence standing so near them?
"May I take a seat, Your Majesty?" Eleanor asked, turning her gaze toward .
"Of course," I replied. "There is no need to ask permission for such things. You are my Queen."
She nodded gracefully before taking a seat on the long wood bench beside , though she was careful to maintain a polite, respectful distance.
Leilah, on the other hand, began to drift away toward the edge of the camp’s illumination.
"You shouldn’t wander too far into the dark," Oliver reminded her gently. Leilah simply gave a curt nod and stepped back slightly, though she remained on the periphery of the firelight.
We sat together in a deeply comfortable silence. The quiet atmosphere was broken only by the bubbling of the iron pot, the nocturnal work of the surrounding woods, and the sharp crackle of the fire. For a fleeting mont, it felt like a peaceful camping trip, far removed from the deadly politics and looming threats of the Capital.
A soft, trembling breath suddenly drew my attention back to Eleanor. The crisp night air was biting, and she had shrunk slightly into her cloak, cautiously reaching her delicate hands toward the flas for warmth.
"Shall I fetch you a thicker blanket from the carriage, My Lady?" Elric asked imdiately, having noticed her shivering.
"That will not be necessary," I said. I patted the empty space directly beside on the bench. "Co closer, Eleanor."
She looked at with wide eyes before hesitantly sliding down the wood to close the distance between us. The shy, tentative way she moved was honestly quite adorable. When she was finally within arm’s reach, I lifted my arm and draped it securely around her shoulders, pulling her flush against my side.
She let out a small gasp, shivering slightly at the sudden contact, but I held her, anchoring her against . Almost imdiately, her eyes widened in realization as the intense heat of my body washed over her.
Thanks to the Bloodline of the Sun coursing through my veins, I was immune to the cold. My natural body temperature was superior to that of an ordinary human. No matter how frigid the night air grew, the chill could never pierce my skin, nor could I ever fall ill from it.
To Eleanor, leaning against must have felt like being wrapped in a thick, heated quilt. As my innate warmth radiated into her freezing fra, a dusting of pink blossod across her cheeks. She quickly understood exactly why I had pulled her close.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," she muttered.
"Just lean on . It is perfectly fine," I said.
She nodded, her initial hesitation lting away as she rested her head gently against my shoulder. With her side pressed flush against mine, I could physically feel the rigid tension and nervous anxiety slowly draining from her body.
Watching us from the corner of his eye, Alan offered a fond, knowing smile before returning his full focus to the al.
Roughly ten minutes later, the stew was finished. He carefully distributed steaming wooden bowls and plates for us to eat. The rich, savory aroma was absolutely mouthwatering.
As for the taste... I speared a piece of perfectly spiced chicken, pairing it with a thick cut of savory sausage. The mont I took a bite, an explosion of rich, hearty juices coated my palate.
"This is quite delicious, Alan," I complinted him, entirely impressed.
He bowed his head, his smile widening with pride. "I am deeply honored that you find it to your liking, Your Majesty," he replied.
"If Eleanor gets to eat als like this on every one of her rcantile travels, I admit I am quite jealous," I said, glancing at her.
She let out a soft chuckle, delicately taking another bite of her own food.
A few minutes later, Leilah finally erged from the shadows of the tree line. I politely prompted her to sit and eat with us, but she respectfully declined, claiming she would take her al later. Would she ever remove that mask in front of ? I found myself wondering, though I did not push the matter.
I then turned my attention to our vigilant guards. "You two do not need to stand watch together simultaneously. Alternate your shifts and eat," I said.
Mia and Oliver exchanged a brief, professional glance before Mia stepped forward to join us first. She finished her portion too fast, quickly returning to her post so that Oliver could take his turn by the fire.
After enforcing a solid half-hour of rest for the entire camp to ensure everyone was properly fed and recovered, we packed up the supplies, extinguished the fire, and resud our journey into the night.
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