He was led down a dim corridor. The surrounding torchlight flickered between brightness and shadow, and the alternating light unsettled him, casting eerie reflections on the stone walls.

The court attendant opened the imposing door at the end of the corridor. A cascade of brilliant light poured through the gap, forcing him to squint as his eyes struggled to adapt to the sudden radiance.

After a moment, the scene before him came into focus: The light flooding the grand hall emanated not only from the opulent chandelier above but primarily from the golden sunlight streaming through the tall, arched windows. At the far end of the grand hall, atop a raised dais, sat the Queen. Flanking him on either side were rows of Cynthia’s high officials and ministers, their gazes unreadable.

"It is my honor to meet you, Your Majesty," he said, bowing with measured respect.

The Queen remained silent. Her chin rested lightly on her right hand as she studied the unexpected visitor with an intensity that made him shift uneasily.

He resolved to give her time and took the opportunity to observe her closely: her hair, a cascade of silver-gray, was elegantly braided behind her head; her violet eyes were as luminous and captivating as rare gemstones — serene yet commanding. Her high-bridged nose and finely chiseled features seemed the work of a master sculptor, while her tightly pressed lips conveyed both resolve and an edge of severity.

The rumors hold true. She is indeed a rare beauty, he mused silently. Yet her attire today was plain, her black gown devoid of the rumored opulence. He found this odd but understandable — her eyes were swollen, betraying evidence of recent tears.

The Queen's silence lingered, her gaze piercing through him as if dissecting his very soul.

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Unable to bear her scrutiny any longer, he broke the silence. "Your Majesty, I am an envoy sent by the Empire of Godma—"

"I know who you are and why you’ve come," the Queen interrupted, her voice steady but cold. "Tell me, you’ve been staring at me for quite some time. What have you discovered?"

Not wishing to incur her wrath, he immediately bowed and apologized. "Forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty. I was merely enthralled by your beauty, with no intention to offend."

The murmurs of the surrounding ministers rose like the rustling of dry leaves, but the Queen raised her hand, silencing them with a single gesture.

"Well then, since you've taken your fill of gazing, what is your assessment?" The Queen's lips curved into a smile, but it was not the smile of a maiden basking in flattery. It was the coiled grin of a predator, poised to strike.

The envoy chose his next words with care. "Your Majesty's beauty is truly beyond compare, a vision that defies mortal description. I can say with certainty that I have never encountered a woman as radiant as Your Majesty."

The ministers erupted into hushed discussions once again, but the Queen’s voice cut through the noise. "Indeed, as you see. The Queen of Cynthia is, just as your southern rumors say, a paragon of beauty, nobility, and wisdom. But there is one thing they do not know." She paused, her violet eyes narrowing. "Now, you may leave."

The envoy’s eyes widened, caught off guard by the abrupt dismissal. "But, Your Majesty—"

"I will not repeat myself."

He could not let his mission end without result. Summoning his courage, he continued, "Surely you have heard, Your Majesty. King Salt—"

"Silence!!" The Queen's sudden roar silenced the hall. The murmuring nobles froze as Rhones Lord, the captain of the Queen's guard, gripped the hilt of his sword, his knuckles white. "You have no right to speak his name!"

Realizing his blunder, the envoy bowed deeply and prepared to withdraw.

"One more thing," the Queen said, her voice cold as winter steel. "Convey this message to your monarch, and add it to the tales they whisper about the Queen of Cynthia in your southern lands." She gripped the armrests of her throne tightly, the carved lions seeming to bite into her delicate fingers as she rose.

"I, Claire Grace, Queen of Cynthia, do solemnly declare: I will never compromise. We will never surrender."