Amelia sat back, legs folded under her, her eyes reflecting the dim light from the glowing stone as she watched Spark for a moment, her expression thoughtful.
"Even the Barbarian King respects you," she said softly, her tone curious. "Do you come from a powerful background?"
Spark was silent for a beat, his gaze distant, as if he was carefully considering his answer.
"I guess you could say that," he finally replied. "But aren't you the same? Everyone here respects you too."
Amelia shook her head slowly, a faint, almost bitter smile touching her lips.
"It's not the same," she murmured, her voice a little quieter. "They don't respect me, they fear the background I come from."
Spark turned to face her, tilting his head in curiosity.
"What's the difference?" he asked.
Her gaze drifted to the floor.
"Respect born out of fear feels empty," she said quietly. "They don't see me, only the power I'm tied to, the family I come from, the influence I represent. It's not real respect."
