I remained frozen, my gaze fixed on the headmaster. It seemed he had done all he could to shield me. Any further defiance of the Queen could lead to his downfall—even if they were family. That revelation had stunned me when I first heard it. But now that I knew they were blood-related, I chastised myself for not catching the resemblance sooner. Normally, I was the type to notice the smallest details. It came naturally, observing life from a distance as I often did.
The guard beside me motioned toward the door with a curt gesture. Reluctantly, I stepped forward. Spending another night in the dungeon was out of the question. Whatever the Queen wanted to discuss, I’d play along, agree to everything, and hopefully be done with it quickly. In my world, avoiding people like her was second nature. They were too preoccupied with their lofty ambitions to notice someone quietly slipping by beneath their notice, all while silently wishing for their fall from grace. It seemed some things didn’t change, no matter the world. The rich always got their way, leaving the rest of us to scrounge for scraps.
As I took another step, my throat tightened, and I swallowed hard. Today was supposed to be simple: finish the lesson, find the library, and get that book. Yet obstacles kept piling up.
The door clicked shut behind us, the sound echoing down the corridor. “I came here to observe the tournament training,” the Queen began, her voice sharp but calm. She turned slightly to glance over her shoulder. “Then I saw that fireball. Was it really you?”
“Yes, your highness. I apologize.” My voice came out steady, but my stomach churned.
“Hmm,” she murmured, beginning to pace slowly. “I also came to speak with you.”
“Me?” I asked, following hesitantly. The guard trailed a step behind, his eyes never leaving me.
“I want to know how you managed to retrieve my dagger,” she said without looking back. “You outwitted my guards and found it before they did.”
“It was pure luck, your highness,” I answered, choosing my words carefully. “I stumbled across her hideout by chance. That’s when I saw her.”
“Her?” she asked, her pace slowing. “Explain. In detail.”
“I…” I hesitated, crafting the lie carefully. “I was trying to return to my village, your highness, to retrieve a few personal belongings. That’s when I saw her—Suzan—and her mother.”
Her steps faltered briefly. “The village overrun by goblins,” she said softly, more to herself than to me. She resumed walking, her heels clicking against the stone floor as we descended a spiral staircase. “And then?”
“I crept close enough to grab the dagger straight from her sheath,” I continued, feeling the lie twist in my gut. “Then I ran, but she caught up to me and… well, she beat me up pretty badly.”
A hand gripped my arm, tugging me back slightly. One of the guards leaned in close, his breath hot against my ear. “You don’t walk beside the Queen, boy. Stay behind her. Where are your manners?”
“Let him be,” the Queen said dismissively, her voice light but commanding. “If the elves attack, he’ll be caught in the crossfire. That works for me.”
“Elves?” I asked, confused. “Are they… planning to attack?”
“Of course,” she replied, her tone as casual as if she were discussing the weather. “They know I’ll be watching the training today. They wouldn’t pass up an opportunity like this.”
At the bottom of the staircase, she stopped abruptly. I froze in place as well, and the guards followed suit. She turned to face me, her piercing gaze studying my expression. Her hand reached out and rested over my chest, right where my heart pounded like a drum.
I stiffened, unsure of what to do. My eyes darted anywhere but at her—toward the windows, the floor, even the guards standing rigidly by. Her touch was light, yet it weighed heavily on me. Whatever she wanted it, or wanted to say, couldn’t be good.
“You look unaffected by everything,” the Queen said, her tone sharp and probing. “Your face never changes. But your heart—it beats like a war drum. You’re afraid, aren’t you? Yet you bury it well.”
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I clenched my fists, holding her gaze for a moment before lowering my head slightly. “Anyone would feel fear standing so close to you, your highness.”
She withdrew her hand from my chest, her expression unreadable. “So, you’re saying people see me as a monster? A cruel ruler?”
“No,” I replied carefully, trying to keep my voice steady. “What I mean is… you’re an important figure in this country. It’s natural for people to feel intimidated in your presence, your highness. That’s all.”
Her attention lingered on me, but I caught a flicker of movement from the corner of my eye. Two of the four guards trailing behind us leaned toward each other, whispering while casting furtive glances our way. Their murmurs ceased abruptly when I turned my head to look at them, and they snapped back into formation as though nothing had happened.
Mirelda nodded, resuming her walk. Students scattered across the halls bowed deeply as we passed, only moving once she was out of sight. Even the teachers halted in their tracks, heads lowered respectfully until she was beyond them. The cats, however, paid her no mind. They lounged lazily under benches, curled near tree roots, or stretched indifferently under the heavy air of her presence.
“Do you like cats, Axel?” she asked suddenly.
“No, your highness,” I said flatly. “I don’t like animals.”
“But you saved a pack of dogs from being slaughtered,” she countered, glancing at me from the corner of her eye. “That’s commendable.”
“I was just running from Suzan, your highness,” I replied. “The guards saved them, not me.”
She sighed softly, muttering to herself, “Why are men so resistant to compliments?”
“Hmm…”
Her gaze lingered on me again, and this time it settled on my forehead. “That scar… it doesn’t look like one from a sword.”
“An arrow wound,” I lied smoothly, masking the truth. “Not a sword, no.”
“Who gave it to you?”
“My mother,” I said without hesitation, keeping my gaze ahead. “She shot me.”
The answer seemed to surprise her, and she tilted her head. “Your mother hated you?”
“No, your highness,” I replied evenly. “She loved me, but she loved her drugs more. One day, while high, she accidentally shot me.”
The Queen’s expression softened, her curiosity evident. “There’s no bitterness in your voice,” she remarked. “You don’t hate her for it?”
“No, your highness,” I replied calmly. “I hate my deadbeat father for abandoning us. My mother wasn’t perfect, but she did her best. She always made sure I was fed, even if it meant going without herself. She loved me in her own way.”
Mirelda seemed to contemplate my words. “That’s… noble,” she said finally. “My mother, on the other hand, tried to smother me in my sleep. She wanted Ayax to take the throne instead of me.”
“Ayax?” I asked, surprised.
“Your headmaster,” she said casually. “And guess what I did when I claimed the throne?”
“Executed her?” I guessed.
“No,” she said with a slight smirk. “I gave her a mountain of gold and banished her.”
“Hmm,” I muttered, unsure of how to respond.
“‘Hmm’? That’s all you have to say?” she teased, raising an eyebrow. “You’re not even listening to me, are you?”
“I’m trying not to say anything foolish that might warrant my execution, your highness,” I admitted bluntly.
She laughed—a surprisingly light and genuine sound. “Fair enough, Axel. Fair enough.”
The heavy front doors creaked open, and we stepped into the rain-soaked courtyard. The slight drizzle showed no sign of letting up, and the grounds were nearly empty save for a few patrolling teachers and workers transporting weapons. Despite the gloom, the district radiated an almost unnatural vibrancy, as though enchanted to defy the dreariness of the weather.
Mirelda tilted her head back, closing her eyes briefly as she breathed in the fresh, rain-scented air. She seemed impossibly youthful in that moment, her face betraying no trace of the power she wielded or the cruelty she could unleash.
“Are you going to join the tournament?” she asked, lowering her gaze to me. “You should. Your mana may be lacking, but you clearly have some skill. The destroyed forest is proof enough of that.”
“No, your highness,” I said, shaking my head. “I plan to focus on learning magic. Where I come from, practicing magic was strictly forbidden.”
“A shame,” she mused. “It would have been entertaining to watch you compete.”
“We can arrange a training session,” one of the guards suggested. “He can spar against someone in F-class if you wish to see his skills, my Queen.”
“An excellent idea,” she muttered, her lips curling into a sly smile. “Let’s do that.”
I opened my mouth to object but stopped myself. The thought of challenging her decision felt dangerous, and I didn’t want to risk the dungeon again. “Yes, your highness,” I said reluctantly, bowing slightly. “I’d be happy to train.”