The hall trembled with an unspoken shock.
Kuro, Daiki, and Haru stood frozen—stunned beyond words—as Arden Daizen, the newly appointed Fourth General, declared a marriage proposal in front of the entire assembly. Arden, known for his calculating nature, his keen wisdom, and the unique authority granted to the Fourth, never acted without purpose. Every move was deliberate. Every gesture, a step in some unseen strategy.
Yet this… this public proposal was something even they had not predicted.
"He must have a plan," Daiki muttered under his breath.
Kuro exhaled sharply. "Whatever he has in mind… it's still her choice."
But while the hall whispered and gossiped, unaware of the storm that had already taken place, another world existed above them—
A balcony, quiet and isolated.
No guards, no generals, no servants.
Just Ren and Yume.
Just their breath in the cold wind.
Just the truth between them.
Ren's face was expressionless, yet beneath that stillness simmered a heaviness—cold, sharp, and suffocating.
Yume stepped forward. Her voice carried the clarity of conviction.
"Yes, Ren. What is my answer?" she repeated softly. "At first, I was surprised too. Shocked, even. But I don't belong to Arden. My heart…" She placed a hand against her chest. "My heart belongs to you."
It was a straightforward truth—yet it struck Ren deeper than any blade.
He lifted his head slightly, and the pain in his eyes was something Yume had not prepared for.
"Yume," he whispered, "I love you… but when he placed that proposal before everyone… something inside me cracked."
His hands trembled, his fists tightening until his knuckles paled.
"When I think about it… all I ever bring you is pain. Despair. I have nothing else to give. I am… nothing but weak."
The words spilled out like a confession he had held for too long.
"I'm a king with responsibility. That's all I am. And in return… I offer nothing. So maybe you should—"
Crack!
The slap echoed across the balcony like lightning striking stone.
Yume's hand had left such force that the imprint of her fingertips burned red against Ren's pale cheek.
Ren stood still—speechless, breath frozen.
Her voice quivered, fury and heartbreak intertwined.
"Don't you dare say something like that ever again," she warned, tears forming in her eyes. "This is your last warning. If you ever talk like that again… I will kill you. And then kill myself right after."
Never once had she spoken so sharply.
Never once had Ren seen her eyes burn with such desperation.
"I am yours," Yume whispered, her voice trembling. "And you are mine. Don't forget that, Ren."
Ren's composure shattered.
Tears slipped down his face.
"I—I'm sorry… but Yume… if something happens to me, it will bring you nothing but trouble. My life isn't guaranteed. I don't know if I'll live or die in the next battle—"
She grabbed him by his collar and pulled him closer, forcing him to meet her eyes.
"At the last party, I didn't dance with anyone. Not even Arden."
Her voice shook. "When you asked me to dance… I was so happy I could barely breathe. And just because someone else proposes—just because someone else wants me—doesn't mean our bond should break."
She leaned closer, her forehead touching his.
"I won't let it."
Ren's hand lifted slowly, almost fearfully, before he wrapped his arms around her. He drew her close, burying his face into her shoulder, trembling like a child lost in a storm.
"I… I'm sorry for being so weak in front of you," he whispered. "I was afraid that if you accepted him… what would become of me?"
Yume's arms tightened around him.
Her voice softened to a vow.
"My dear Ren… I will never leave you alone."
They held each other until both their tears had dried.
Yume then pulled away, wiped her face, and suddenly seized Ren's hand.
"Come," she said.
"Wh—Where are you taking me?" Ren asked.
"Just follow me."
Without releasing him, she marched back toward the hall—toward Arden—toward the storm itself.
The moment the pair entered the hallway still holding hands, the spectators buzzed like disturbed insects.
"Isn't that Miss Yume?"
"She's holding the Ninth King's hand…"
"Are they together?"
"What does this mean for the proposal?"
Arden, calm and unreadable, waited for her answer.
Then Yume's voice rang out, clear and unwavering.
"Arden Daizen, my cousin… I was honored and surprised by your proposal. But I must decline."
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Even Arden blinked—his composure faltering for the first time.
"B—But why?" he asked, his voice strained. "Yume, I've known you since childhood. We grew up together."
"Yes," Yume replied. "We did. But Ren and I also grew up together. And I loved him even back then."
Inside Ren, something long fractured began to mend—slow, gentle, indescribably warm. Watching Yume stand before hundreds and choose him without hesitation… it lit a flame he had once believed dead.
But for Arden…
It shattered everything.
His pride.
His certainty.
His belief that he was always the victor.
A lifetime of never being denied collapsed in an instant.
Meanwhile, Kuro, Daiki, Haru, and Althric watched from afar.
"…She pulled it off," Daiki muttered.
"No," Althric whispered, lowering his head. "My king is still broken inside. I couldn't help him. As his servant… I failed."
Kuro smirked faintly.
"Althric, that boy has suffered since he was a child. Of course he's still broken. But Yume… she's the light dragging him out of that darkness he lived in."
Arden stepped forward, ignoring Ren completely, as if the Ninth King were no more than a shadow in the corner.
"Yume," he said, voice trembling with need, "just give me a chance. Let me show you I'm worthy of you."
Yume felt a chill run down her spine as Arden came closer. She instinctively clutched Ren's sleeve—tight, protective, afraid.
But before Arden's hand could reach her—
A voice thundered behind them.
"Not so fast, Arden Daizen."
Althric, second strongest general of the Shadow Army, stepped forward—his hand locking around Arden's wrist.
"You may be the new successor of the Fourth General," Althric said coldly, "but you are crossing a line between my king and my queen."
Arden's eyes sharpened.
His pride flared.
"And who do you think you are, Nobody?" he spat. "If I wished, I could kill both of you—and no one would blame me."
"Then try."
Arden attempted to pull his arm free, but Althric tightened his grip. The force made Arden wince.
Gasps filled the hall.
The strongest hunter of the generation—
The newly crowned Fourth—
Held down by the second general as if he were a mere trainee.
"You speak of pride," Althric said. "But all I see is arrogance. A child who was mistakenly chosen."
The insult triggered Arden's fury.
His shadow power erupted—windows shattered, the ground trembled. His assassins formed a hidden formation, ready to strike at any moment.
Arden tore his hand free. Dark energy swirled around him as he prepared to attack—
And then—
"STOP!"
Ren's voice crashed down like a divine command.
Shadows burst from him, circling the hall, swallowing the light, pressing the air into silence.
Arden's body was pinned to the ground, unable to move.
Not by force—
By sheer authority.
Althric straightened, stepping before Ren, kneeling in silent loyalty.
Arden trembled.
( This power… it's giving me chills. )
( The Ninth King… they said he wasn't this strong. )
Ren released Yume's hand gently and stepped forward. Half of his body was now draped in swirling darkness—alive, sentient, waiting for command.
He stared down at Arden.
"Arden Daizen," Ren said quietly, "your proposal to Yume Akegami was given with grace. I respected that."
Then his tone hardened.
"But when she declined… you lost the right to force her. Is this how your clan taught you to react when faced with refusal?"
Arden smirked despite being pinned.
"I know we both love the same person, Ninth King," he said. "But you know nothing about her."
Ren didn't dodge the truth.
"Yes," he said. "You're right. I don't know everything about her."
The hall froze.
"I made her cry many times. I've failed to understand her more times than I can count."
Ren's voice shook but never wavered. "But she is the girl I love. And for her… I can do anything."
Arden laughed.
"So you can do anything for her? Good. Because so can I, Ninth King."
His eyes burned with challenge.
"Let's have a rematch…
And whoever wins—Yume Akegami belongs to him."
To Be Continued...