"What brings you here?" The Queen propped herself up on one elbow. "Even for a Royal Knight, sneaking into the Queen's chambers at this hour is bound to raise a few eyebrows..."

"Indeed? Then I deeply apologize, Your Majesty. I'll take my leave." He moved to withdraw, but she caught his arm. "You haven't changed at all, Rhones."

(Neither have you, Claire.) The knight silently sat back on the bed's edge. During their sword practice days, whenever Rhones Lord stormed off in anger, Claire would always catch his arm and coax him back. "Why tea?" He gently brushed the hair from her forehead.

"I can't sleep," she murmured.

"Wouldn't tea make that worse?" he countered.

"Because I'm afraid to fall asleep." Claire sat up, burying her face in her knees. "You know, Rhones, tonight feels so heavy, as if it could crush someone. So I'm afraid of being swallowed by the darkness... I want to stay awake." Her voice was soft, "I fear if I fall asleep, I might never wake up."

The Queen now appeared completely different from her usual self. She looked so small, so delicate. Rhones Lord wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

"Sometimes I really don't understand how Salt could chat and laugh so easily with the noble ministers during court sessions." She recalled the morning court session with lingering fear. "As soon as I sit on the throne, I feel the pressure. All those noble ministers' gazes fixed upon me, making me uncomfortable. In their eyes, I can read three messages. The first type doesn't trust me, their suspicious glances seem to say 'How could someone like you become king?' or 'Women aren't fit to rule, just get off that throne.' The second type simply wants to bed me, their leering gazes like knives, stripping away my clothes. And the last type sees me as their true Queen, their steady gaze symbolizing their trust. They've entrusted me with the heavy responsibility of governing the nation, believing I can save the country from the coming storm." She sniffled, "But all three types frighten me, especially the last one." She lifted her head to look into his eyes, finding his face somewhat blurry. "It's precisely because they trust me that I'm afraid of letting them down." She said, "That day, when I spoke to the Godma envoy like that, rather than saying 'This is what I think,' it was more like 'This is what Salt would do,' you understand?" He nodded, "When that envoy mentioned his name, I completely broke down inside. I couldn't let him see my wavering, so I had to deliver those words with my strongest stance. But I don't know if my choice was right, I must be accountable to the ministers who trust me, I must be responsible for all the people of the nation. But I'm just a woman! Before Salt went to war, I was just a carefree lady, rarely even attending court sessions with the king or concerning myself with state affairs. But now, you've all condensed the entire nation and placed it in my hands, isn't that... somewhat cruel?"

Rhones Lord kissed her forehead. "Claire, my Queen," he said softly, "A kingdom cannot be without a king, and a king must never show weakness, especially before their vassals. You must know, many harbor ill intentions, plotting for the throne. Some wish to surrender the kingdom to negotiate peace with Godma, while others want to deploy all our forces for a life-or-death battle with the enemy. But none of them can be king, because either way would lead to the kingdom's destruction. You are now not just a Queen, but also a mother. For the sake of the kingdom and the little princess, you have no choice but to be strong. I believe this was also King Salt's dying wish."

The Queen rested her head against his chest. "Rhones... do you think we can win?"

"The ravens from the Shadowgreen Knights just brought news that we've dealt a heavy blow to the enemy's vanguard."

"How many casualties on our side?" she asked anxiously. "None, Claire. But the enemy lost nearly a hundred knights."

"Really?" Though the Queen was skeptical, her face lit up with joy. "That's wonderful!" She hugged the knight tightly.

"Thanks to King Salt's negotiations with the Sylvan Elves, the Green Cloaks they gifted us proved extraordinarily effective in this battle."

"Is that so, it was Salt..." She continued holding him, "Come to think of it... I never had heart-to-heart talks like this with Salt."

"That's because he didn't love you enough." (At least, not nearly as much as I do.)

The words pierced the Queen's heart like a needle. She violently pushed the knight away, crying hysterically: "No! He loved me! He loved me more than anyone else!..." Rhones Lord stared at her in horror as her cries quickly turned to sobs. "You don't understand... Rhones. You don't understand at all... how much he loved me... you'll never- Ah!"

Her lips were sealed, only able to make soft murmurs. Rhones Lord kissed her fiercely, treating her rosy lips like candy in his mouth. His hands first embraced her neck, then began exploring her back. His fingers danced across her skin, each touch sending shivers through her. A ten-fingered ballet, a game for two. The dancers loosened the silk ties of her nightgown, the ribbons slithering down her skin. In a heartbeat, the gown pooled at her feet, revealing the swell of her breasts. "Mmm... heavens, Rhones... no... please... I beg you..." The man ignored her pleas, continuing his possessive assault. He began kissing behind her ear, nibbling her earlobe, teasing it with his tongue. Her body trembled more intensely, her breathing becoming increasingly rapid. The knight moved his battlefield to her slender neck, collarbone, and finally her somewhat swollen breasts. "Please, Rhones... at least not at this moment... Oh-oh-oh!"

When the knight took her already hardened nipple into his mouth, the Queen let out what she recognized as her most sensual cry. She wanted to cover her mouth, but her hands wouldn't obey, part of her subconscious continuously urging her to indulge and fall into depravity. Rhones Lord held her left breast with his right hand, his gaze like that of someone admiring a work of art. "Because you haven't nursed the little princess, they're somewhat engorged, aren't they?" He smiled wickedly, not waiting for the woman's response before taking both nipple and areola into his mouth, his right hand applying pressure as he began to suckle. A rush of milk stimulated his taste buds, filling his mouth. The knight's right hand squeezed tighter, causing the Queen some pain, but her moans grew more pleasurable. Some milk trickled from the corners of his mouth, soaking his stubble and dripping onto both their bodies.