"I did it for the people," I replied firmly, my voice steady and unyielding. I reached out and took hold of her chin, lifting it deliberately so she would be forced to look directly into my eyes, unable to look away or avoid my gaze.
"Yes—when you and your father do it, it's called betrayal and cowardice," I continued, my tone matter-of-fact. "And when I do it, it's called sacrifice and duty. But what can you possibly do about that? That's just how power works in this world."
I leaned in closer, invading her personal space, and I saw her breath hitch audibly in her throat, her chest rising and falling rapidly. She must have seen my eyes shift and transform in that moment; the snake-like vertical slits replacing my normal pupils and the iridescent dragon scales forming in patterns around my eyes did absolutely nothing to ease her racing heart. I could practically hear it pounding from where I stood.
I released her chin abruptly and walked away from her, turning my attention toward Lord Yoyenne and his wife, who were still on their knees.
"Since you have deliberately betrayed me and broken sacred oaths," I said, my voice purposefully slow and deliberate so every word would sink in, "you will need a proper lesson in what loyalty truly means. I will take your daughter—Katherine—as my personal maid and bring her with me to Selon. There, she will learn from the best examples what it actually means to be loyal to those you serve."
Their faces drained completely of color, going from pale to nearly gray. She was their only child, their sole heir, already undergoing intensive training to become the next lord of Ferne and inherit all their lands and titles. My punishment was harsh and far-reaching. Harsher than they had ever expected or imagined possible. And so, predictably, they immediately began to protest loudly and desperately.
"My Queen, please have mercy on us! Please reconsider!" The lord's voice cracked as he screamed, his composure completely shattered. "She is our only child—our only heir! The future of our house! Please don't take her away from us!" Both the lord and his wife were now screaming and begging shamelessly, tears streaming down their faces, all dignity abandoned.
I looked down at them coldly and smiled—not a kind smile, but one that held no warmth whatsoever.
"She will follow me to the South, and that is final," I declared with absolute authority. "You have betrayed me once already—how can I possibly trust that you won't do it again the moment I'm absent and far away? It is only right and proper that I take a hostage to ensure your continued good behavior. If you behave yourselves, and if she serves me well and proves her loyalty, I might consider returning her to you eventually. And do not dare provoke me further by continuing to protest or beg. My decision is made."
My eyes glimmered with a dangerous warning, the dragon within me rising close to the surface.
I turned away from the groveling parents and walked back toward the very stiff, rigid Katherine. Her small fists were clenched so tightly against the fabric of her green dress that her knuckles had turned white, as if she were holding on to dear life itself. Her bottom lip trembled visibly despite her attempts to control it, and silent tears slipped steadily down her pale cheeks, leaving wet tracks on her skin.
"Get yourself ready to leave with me the day after tomorrow," I instructed her, my tone softer now but still firm. I reached out and patted her shoulder gently—not unkindly—before turning and walking confidently inside the castle, leaving the family to process their new reality.
Maids appeared seemingly from nowhere and rushed in immediately—efficiently removing my heavy fur coat from my shoulders, carefully guiding me deeper inside the castle's warm interior with practiced hands. Arvid followed a few steps behind me, and I noticed the butler quickly intercepted him to escort him to his own separate quarters on a different floor.
At last, after three long days of uncomfortable travel, my persistent longing came wonderfully true: I was granted access to a proper warm bath and an actual comfortable bed with clean sheets. I had missed the simple feeling of being truly clean and fresh for what felt like an eternity. Yoyenne Castle, I quickly discovered, had significantly more maids than even my royal castle back in the capital—far, far more. I had only ever had three personal maids serving me; here they immediately appointed me seven dedicated servants just for my personal needs. And I learned that the lord's wife and daughter each had four maids of their own as well. I scoffed quietly at their excessive, luxurious lifestyle and wasteful use of resources. The castle itself was meticulously well-tended and maintained, constantly bustling with dozens of servants hurrying about and carrying out countless errands and tasks at all hours.
When dinner time finally arrived, announced by the ringing of bells throughout the castle, I was formally escorted to the grand main dining hall by the stern-faced head maid. The Yoyenne family, Arvid, and several higher-ranking military officers from the imperial army were already seated and waiting when I arrived. The castle was so remarkably vast and sprawling that it could comfortably house nearly five hundred Imperial soldiers within its walls. The remaining thousands camped outside in their tents as usual, but they were generously granted access to the castle's bathhouses and were provided hot meals through the lord's hospitality—or perhaps his fear.
I was seated ceremoniously at the head of the long table, in the position of highest honor. Arvid sat immediately on my right side. Lord Yoyenne sat stiffly on my left, followed in order by his equally uncomfortable wife and their red-eyed daughter Katherine. I was served an impressive spread: perfectly baked potatoes with herbs, fresh bread still warm from the ovens, and several varieties of fish prepared in different styles—all absolutely delicious. Even the red wine they poured was a hearty, full-bodied treat that warmed my throat going down.
But the Yoyenne family remained completely silent throughout the meal, creating an awkward atmosphere. They barely touched their food despite the quality. They barely moved or spoke. It was as if the twin goddesses themselves had reached down and stolen their appetites entirely. They only pushed the expensive food around listlessly on their plates with their utensils, with absolutely no intention of actually eating any of it. I, on the other hand, enjoyed the warm, well-prepared meal thoroughly and without guilt, savoring each bite. Arvid did too—he cleared his entire plate efficiently and even went back for generous seconds, complimenting the cooks.
I did not feel even slightly sorry for our miserable hosts. They had brought this situation entirely upon themselves through their choices.
After the dinner dishes were finally cleared away by efficient servants, a small but talented musical performance began in the adjacent hall. Musicians played lively tunes on various instruments. Soon, men and women who had drunk perhaps too much wine began flooding the polished floors with energetic dancing, spinning and laughing. I decided to join them, letting the wine I'd consumed carry away my worries and the weight of my responsibilities, if only for a few hours. After completing a full round of dancing with various partners, I somehow ended up in Arvid's strong hands. He spun me gracefully across the floor, his movements smooth and practiced. His white Southern clothes contrasted beautifully and dramatically with my black Northern dress—light and dark moving together. We were perfectly in sync, never missing a single beat or step. It was almost magical, almost mystical how naturally compatible we were as dance partners, as if we'd been dancing together for years.
After what felt like hours of senseless, joyful dancing that left me breathless and flushed, Arvid finally escorted me back to my quarters, supporting much of my weight. I was a giggling mess—quite unlike my usual composed, controlled self. Half buried in his broad chest, pressing my face against the fabric of his clothes, I inhaled deeply, taking in his distinctive scent and warmth. It felt incredibly pleasant. Comforting in a way I couldn't quite explain. Rewarding somehow. He held me with practiced ease, his grip steady and secure even though I had personally witnessed him drink down an entire large jug of strong wine straight from the ceramic jar without using a cup.
"Why… why aren't ye drunk?" I slurred badly, the words coming out wrong, and then I giggled helplessly at my own slurred speech, finding it hilarious.
He looked down at me with an unreadable expression. My sleepy, unfocused eyes stared up at him, trying and failing to bring his face into clear focus. He inhaled sharply and gulped visibly, the movement traveling down his throat. His expression wavered and shifted—something strange and intense flickered there in his eyes, an emotion I couldn't quite identify in my current state.
"Were you like this every single time you got drunk in the past?" he asked, his voice noticeably low and deeper than usual, almost rough. He reached up and cupped my face gently in both of his large hands, his palms warm against my cheeks, and he began to softly caress my skin with his thumbs in slow circles. The sensation tickled—but pleasantly, sending little shivers through me.
"I've… not been… dr-drunk before!" I protested with a pout, struggling to form the words correctly. Growing up in the castle, I had never been allowed to drink alcohol freely. As the future queen, I had been expected to maintain my dignity and composure at all times, and drinking was considered unbecoming. The few times I had managed to drink in secret out of pure curiosity, sneaking wine from the cellars, it hadn't been pleasant experiences at all—just made me feel sick and dizzy. So I had actively avoided alcohol after those experiments. Yet nights like this one… sometimes I just desperately wanted to let go completely and forget my responsibilities.
What happened next was honestly a blur in my wine-soaked memory. Maybe I was completely out of my rational mind. Or maybe he was. But Arvid slowly leaned down toward me—and gently kissed me on the forehead, his lips warm and soft against my skin, lingering there for a long moment that seemed to stretch into eternity.