The laughter slowly faded after Kaelara and Aurelian pulled away from each other's embrace. Kaelara stood in the center of the training yard, her spear resting loosely against her shoulder, while Isolde continued to beam at her from the side. Darius and Lucian were still exchanging amused glances, clearly entertained by the entire situation, while Aurelian stood a few steps away with the same unreadable expression he wore almost every day. But then Kaelara turned. Her eyes settled on the warriors who had mocked her. And something changed. The playful woman who had just teased the king disappeared so completely that several people instinctively straightened. Her smile vanished, and the warmth left her eyes. Even her shoulders changed. She lowered the spear from her shoulder and planted its end firmly against the ground. Her back straightened, her chin lifted, and her feet shifted into a position so natural yet so commanding that the warriors around her stared in confusion
Last Updated : 2026-08-20 Read more