It was already deep into the night when Commander Lilia and I found ourselves alone in the sa room.
The place was quiet in that heavy and it was almost suffocating way only late hours could bring. The faint glow of mana lamps painted soft gold along the walls, casting long shadows that stretched and twisted across the floor. Outside, whatever life the castle had during the festivity had finally dulled to a distant murmur.
Lilia was already seated when I entered. She sat upright on a polished wooden chair, legs crossed neatly, arms folded across her chest in a way that felt more defensive than relaxed. Even in a private room, even at night, she carried herself like she was still standing before an army.
"This might be the first ti we’ve ever actually been in the sa place together like this, Mr. Leon," she said.
Her tone wasn’t hostile. But it wasn’t casual either. It was the kind of voice soone used when they were carefully asuring every word.
It wasn’t exactly untrue. We had t before, I an crossed paths, exchanged looks, and maybe a few lines. But those encounters had been brief. We hadn’t truly spoken. We hadn’t sat across from each other like this, breathing the sa quiet air.
So yes, technically speaking, this was the first ti we were alone in the sa room.
And for so reason, the atmosphere felt... strange.
Not tense enough to be dangerous.
Not relaxed enough to be comfortable.
Just awkward in that subtle way where you beco hyper-aware of the way you’re standing.
"It’s impossible," she continued after a mont, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "For soone like you—so young and probably only in his early twenties—to possess this level of strength."
She leaned back just slightly, though her arms remained crossed.
"I could dismiss it as raw talent. Rare, perhaps once-in-a-generation potential. But even then... there’s no logical explanation for one body to contain that much power."
Her gaze didn’t waver from mine.
It wasn’t accusation.
It wasn’t fear.
It was calculation.
The fact that I had displayed my abilities so openly clearly bothered her. It was not in a jealous way, but in a way that challenged her understanding of the world. The more she thought about it, the less it made sense.
And she was probably not soone who liked things that didn’t make sense.
Of course she would doubt . She could tell I was young. I hadn’t even reached what most people would call their peak. Plenty of talented individuals plateaued before their thirties, hitting bottlenecks that crushed their potential. But even so, youth usually ant room to grow as well as room to change.
I had room to grow. More room, in fact.
Not that I really had limits to begin with.
But from her perspective, it must have looked absurd.
"You wielded a cursed sword," she said, her voice steady but firm, "without your mana being drained dry. You created spells that have never been docunted before. You defeated Veronica. You erected a barrier that was nearly indestructible. And you manipulated ti."
She paused there, as if even saying it out loud made it sound ridiculous.
"No matter how I try to rationalize it, it’s unheard of. And yet... I have no doubt your power is genuine."
It was not denial.
Not disbelief.
But acceptance.
Her expression shifted ever so slightly, a faint crease forming between her brows. It was almost funny, this was a woman who commanded troops without hesitation, who faced life-or-death situations without blinking. And yet the thing troubling her most was simply existing.
Before I could respond, the door opened.
Myrcella stepped inside like she owned the air itself.
"Oh?" she said lightly, glancing between us. "It seems the two of you are rather close tonight. Did I interrupt sothing?"
There was a teasing lilt to her voice that imdiately changed the mood in the room.
"What do you an, Princess?" Lilia replied calmly. "You haven’t interrupted anything. Does two people speaking alone automatically imply closeness?"
"Well..." Myrcella shrugged, lips curling upward. "It could. I wouldn’t rule it out entirely."
For so reason, Myrcella had a smug look on her face.
Not exaggerated and not dramatic. Just subtle enough to make you question what she was thinking. It was the kind of expression soone wore when they believed they were three steps ahead of everyone else in the room.
"You seem to have enjoyed the festivity quite thoroughly," Lilia observed.
"Oh? Whatever do you an?" Myrcella replied with mock innocence. "I did enjoy it. But that’s only natural, isn’t it? Sothing enjoyable should be enjoyed."
"I enjoyed it as well," Lilia said dryly. "But your face is practically glowing with smugness. It hardly befits a princess."
"Well," Myrcella placed a hand lightly against her cheek, "I suppose I should apologize for looking pleased with myself."
She didn’t look apologetic.
If anything, she looked more amused.
I couldn’t help but think she was satisfied with sothing, like so plan, so calculation, and so outco that only she had fully predicted. She didn’t look like soone reacting. She looked like soone who had set the board pieces exactly where she wanted them.
"Now then," Lilia said, refocusing. "Would you explain why I was summoned here, Princess?"
"You still don’t understand?" Myrcella tilted her head slightly. "Even after I told you my plan back then? I’m asking for your cooperation, Commander. And Leon has already demonstrated what he’s capable of."
Her eyes flicked toward for a mont.
"Don’t you agree?"
"You’re suggesting," Lilia said slowly, "that I consider him... as a man?"
The way she phrased it made it sound almost like a military proposal.
She looked at briefly—more analyzing than admiring—then returned her gaze to Myrcella.
"Does my cooperation matter that much to you, Princess? Enough that you would offer your lover?"
"I wouldn’t say offer," Myrcella replied smoothly. "But I suppose I could share him."
There was no hesitation in her voice. She had no embarrassnt as well.
It was just calm confidence.
She was watching Lilia carefully now, almost like a strategist observing an opponent’s reaction.
Lilia blinked once.
Then again.
For a mont, the ever-composed Commander actually looked lost.
"Huh?"
It was the most human sound she had made all night.
Myrcella turned slowly and deliberately, glancing toward the bed positioned behind her.
"We can start now," she said casually, "if you’d like."
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