Chapter 9 The Things Left Unsaid

Morning sunlight stretched across the palace windows, bathing the King's private chamber in warm gold.

King Aldros stood before the tall window overlooking the eastern courtyard. Below, servants hurried through the palace grounds, hanging crimson banners and polishing the enormous dragon statues that would greet thousands of visitors during the Hunting Festival.

Four days remained. Normally, this view filled him with pride. Today, it only reminded him how fragile the peace inside the palace truly was.

The door opened quietly. Queen Seralyne entered, carrying a silver tea tray herself. "You skipped breakfast again."

Aldros glanced over his shoulder before allowing himself a tired smile. "You always know."

"I married a man who forgets to eat whenever the kingdom gives him a headache."

She set the tray down and replaced the untouched, cold tea on his desk with a fresh cup. It was such a familiar gesture that Aldros accepted it without thinking.

"Has the council begun?"

"They're already waiting."

She poured herself a cup before sitting beside him. Not across from him. Beside him. Like she had done for decades. "And Leif?"

The smile disappeared from Aldros's face. "...He's shaken."

Seralyne lowered her gaze. "I'm relieved."

Aldros looked at her.

She offered him a gentle smile. "That he finally returned home."

A pause settled between them.

"I only hope the palace treats him more kindly than it treated his mother."

Aldros's shoulders stiffened. Regret crossed his face so quickly that most people would have missed it. Seralyne didn't. She gently rested one hand over his. "You blamed yourself for that day for fifteen years."

He looked away. "I failed them."

"You were King."

"I was her husband first."

Silence settled between them.

Seralyne slowly withdrew her hand. "The ministers won't attack Leif."

"They'll question your judgment."

Aldros nodded quietly. "I know."

"I'll support whatever decision you make."

She took a tea cup and brought it to her lip, "The only thing that worries me—"

She looked toward the festival grounds below. "—is that the Hunting Festival has always represented Crown Prince Leander."

She didn't continue. Aldros already understood. If yesterday's scandal overshadowed the festival, the Crown Prince's prestige would suffer alongside it.

Aldros understood exactly what she meant. He sighed heavily. "I won't abandon my son."

"I know." Her smile never faltered. "And neither will I."

***

Moments later, the council chamber doors opened. Every minister stood. 

Complaints arrived faster than reports. It was send by merchants, governors, sponsors, nobles and even allied kingdoms.

Chancellor Rowan placed one thick folder on the table. "One hundred and twelve formal complaints."

No one mentioned Leif's name. But all of these was about him, and everyone understood.

Aldros listened until the chamber finally fell silent. "What do you propose?"

Several ministers exchanged glances. Finally— "The Crown should consider replacing Commander Morvain during the opening ceremony."

Aldros answered immediately. "No."

The discussion ended before it could begin. Then another voice spoke.

"If I may, Your Majesty." Lady Seraphina Voss stepped forward gracefully. Her posture remained flawless beneath dozens of curious eyes. She represented President Voss here.

"I believe Commander Morvain should remain."

Several ministers looked surprised. She continued calmly.

"If the palace removes him now, the people will assume his accusation was true."

The chamber became quiet. "Our greatest weakness at the moment is uncertainty. If the Crown hesitates, the kingdom will hesitate with it."

She met the King's gaze. "I'll support whatever decision you make."

Aldros studied her for a long moment before nodding once. "A valuable observation."

Across the chamber, Queen Seralyne quietly watched Seraphina.

"The future Crown Princess truly had grown into someone worthy of standing beside Leander." Minister Frederick, the queen's cousin talked in a low voice beside her.

"But... I am not sure if she speak for Leander... or that boy." He continued.

The queen didn't answer, but her finger tightened around the arm rest. Her eyes still watching Seraphine.

***

Elsewhere inside the palace, Ravynne stood outside the Crown Prince's office carrying three stacks of documents against her chest. She knocked once.

"Come in."

Leander barely looked up before smiling. "You're early."

"You asked for the revised festival security reports."

"And you finished them overnight."

"I couldn't sleep."

Leander accepted the files. Their hands nearly brushed. Neither noticed. He flipped through the reports quickly. "You reassigned the eastern patrol."

"The crowds are expected to double after yesterday."

She pointed toward the map. "If panic breaks out, this route allows civilians to leave without crossing the royal procession."

Leander studied it for several seconds before nodding. "Excellent."

He signed the approval without changing a single line. "You always think three steps ahead."

Ravynne smiled politely. "I learned from watching you."

He lifted his eyes and smiled proudly. "I'm glad."

Then a servant knocked the door. "Your Highness. Lady Seraphina has arrived."

Leander glanced toward Ravynne apologetically. "I'm afraid we'll continue this tomorrow."

"Of course." She nodded in respect.

He stood tall. As he opened the office door, Seraphina waited outside.

"You've been busy." Her elegant smiled plastered on her beautiful face.

"I've kept you waiting."

"It wasn't long. There are still thirty minutes before lunch time."

Leander naturally offered his arm. Seraphina accepted it with effortless elegance. A picture-perfect royal couple.

Before leaving, Seraphina turned toward Ravynne. "Lady Ravynne."

She inclined her head. "Thank you for always taking care of His Highness."

Ravynne returned the bow. "It is my honor."

Leander smiled. "I believe it's my advisor who takes care of all of us."

Ravynne smiled softly. "You exaggerate, Your Highness."

Seraphina smiled as she watched them. Only after Leander turned away did the corner of her smile stiffen. It vanished before anyone noticed. Ravynne hadn't looked at her once. She had only looked at Leander.

The three walked together for several steps before the corridor divided.

Ravynne stopped first. "I'll return to my office."

Leander nodded. "Don't overwork yourself."

"I'll try."

She watched quietly as Leander and Seraphina continued down the western corridor together. She watched the way Leander slowed his steps for Seraphina. The quiet smile. The effortless patience. The same warmth he had always shown her. Somehow... seeing it directed at someone else made it feel different.

Ravynne's smile lingered for only a second longer. Then it faded.

"...You really do look perfect together." She whispered it so softly that even she barely heard herself.

Adjusting the documents against her chest, she turned toward the eastern corridor.

She never realized someone had been standing beneath the stone archway the entire time. Leif.

He hadn't intended to stop. Yet his feet refused to move. His eyes had been following Ravynne since he saw her there. He saw the exact moment her smile disappeared after they walked away. He saw her lower her eyes before straightening her shoulders again. As though nothing had happened. Then she walked away alone.

Leif remained standing beneath the archway. His fingers unconsciously tightened around the leather gloves in his hand. For the first time, he wondered if the smile she always wore had ever truly belonged to her.

'She smiled at the Crown Prince with the same lips that had begged him to kill her beneath the Red Moon.'

She smiled for everyone. But the moment she believed herself alone... it vanished. Leif looked at the empty corridor long after she had gone.

***

Moments later, far across the palace, steel struck steel. Leif's sword cut through another training dummy, again and again. The wooden target split cleanly down the middle.

He was totally alone in the middle of the training ground. No one tried to approached him. No one dared to interrupted him. When he finally lowered his blade, he became aware of voices drifting from the far side of the training yard. Others had been watching him.

"...he scared Lady Ravynne..."

"...Lady Ravynne didn't deserve that..."

"...he'll ruin the festival..."

The conversation stopped the instant someone noticed him looking. The soldiers immediately straightened. "Commander."

Leif gave no response. He turned and walked away. Behind him, the whispers resumed. Softer this time. He didn't need to hear the words. He already knew them.

Leif left the training ground after everyone had gone. The corridor was empty. Then—he heard footsteps. Queen Seralyne.

Servants immediately bowed. She smiled exactly the way everyone expected. A graceful warm smile she offered to everyone. "Commander Morvain."

Leif bowed. "Your Majesty."

She stopped in front of him. For a few seconds, neither spoke.

Then she smiled. "I'm glad His Majesty finally has his son back."

Her eyes searching for his expression, he maintained the eyes contact. Then—

"I hope you'll adjust well."

Leif answered. "I'll do my best."

She nodded. "I'm sure you will."

Another pause. Then she dismissed every servant. "Leave us."

The maids bowed. The guards retreated several meters. Now—only the two of them remained.

The smile on her beautiful face didn't disappear. It became smaller and— colder.

"I've always wondered—" She gently smoothed one invisible wrinkle from Leif's collar. An almost motherly gesture. "—whether you resemble your mother more... or your father."

Leif didn't move. His eyes followed her finger's movement.

She studied him. "So far—I'm relieved."

Leif frowned slightly. He lifted his eyes. "What do you mean?"

She smiled. "You inherited her impulsiveness. Not His Majesty's patience."

She began walking again. Passing beside him. She stopped once more.

Without turning around she said— "You embarrassed Crown Prince Leander yesterday. I won't allow that to happen twice."

She still smiling. Her voice gentle. She sounded like the perfect queen. Only Leif heard the steel beneath every word.

Leif finally spoke. "Is that a warning?"

She looked over her shoulder. A beautiful smile. "No."

She leaned closer. "It's advice."

She looked directly into his eyes while maintaining her smile, then she started walking away quietly.

Leif watched her disappear. Only after she was completely gone did one elderly maid return from around the corner.

She smiled brightly. "Her Majesty truly worries about you."

Leif didn't answer. Because he knew she wasn't worried. He looked toward the distant palace where Leander's wing stood. Then toward the Queen's disappearing figure.

For the first time, he realized dragons weren't the only creatures that knew how to wear human skin.