Luke's body was rigid as he straightened in the carriage. Five days on the road had felt like an eternity—made worse by the silent, smiling maid seated across from him. Her brown eyes locked onto his, unblinking, making his skin crawl.
At first, he had assumed she had perished in Valand City. He had even felt a twinge of sadness at the thought, despite their strange interactions in the past. Yet now, with her very much alive and staring him down, he only felt suffocated.
Were it not for Kayson and Sebastian's presence, it might have been unbearable. But he wasn't the only one who felt the tension.
"Sebby~ we're almost there." A singsong voice called from the driver's seat, making the older man across from Luke flinch.
"Thank the gods," Kayson muttered, exhaling a deep sigh of relief. "I'm walking the rest of the way." Without another word, he swung the carriage door open and hopped out—while it was still moving.
Luke almost followed suit, but the woman's gaze remained fixed on him, a silent threat. If he so much as twitched, he had the distinct impression she would strike. A shiver ran down his spine.
"I will join young Kayson for some fresh air," Sebastian announced.
Luke's eyes widened. He shot his butler a desperate look, pleading without words. Don't leave me alone with her.
Either Sebastian didn't notice or—more likely—he ignored him entirely, stepping out of the carriage without hesitation.
[Your subordinate Sebastian is amused.]
Luke's stomach dropped. That bastard had done it on purpose, no doubt assuming Luke had some interest in Victoria. Outwardly, she was beautiful and carried herself with grace, but Luke knew better.
Unconsciously, he shrank back, never breaking eye contact with her. His discomfort wasn't just from their past encounters—it was from what he had recently discovered.
Victoria was Hayden's subordinate.
That was why he had been avoiding being alone with her.
'How long has she been working for him? Since the moment we met at the Academy?'
'What has she told Hayden?'
'Does he know I'm the son of the late Viscount Nero?'
'If he does… what will he do with that information?'
"You seem nervous."
Victoria's voice was warm, teasing. Her lips curled into a small, sweet smile. "Are you perhaps not used to being alone with a pretty girl?"
Luke froze. He knew she was baiting him—but damn it, she wasn't wrong.
"You and I both know you're more than just a pretty girl," he replied, forcing himself to sound unfazed. Luke was a man who had survived three sieges in a little over a month, he refused to be cowed by the woman.
Not him.
"This is true."
Victoria leaned back, crossing one leg over the other with effortless elegance. Her green eyes sparkled with amusement, as though she enjoyed watching him squirm.
"So? Want to tell me why you've been avoiding me this whole time?" Victoria asked, tilting her head slightly. "And here I thought we'd be good friends after I tipped you off about Lhair."
Luke shook his head. "What is your relationship with Hayden Hart?" His voice was steady, but his posture remained tense. Her answer would determine his own from this point forward.
Victoria blinked, momentarily caught off guard, before a velvety giggle escaped her lips. "Oh my, are you jealous?"
The sound of her laughter was pleasant—too pleasant—but now was hardly the time to dwell on such things.
"I'm serious." Luke's hazel eyes never left hers.
Victoria clicked her tongue and crossed her arms, the motion pushing against the fabric of her robe. "I didn't have a choice," she said with an annoyed sigh. "That sick bastard took Valand City by surprise—I had to swear allegiance to survive."
Luke's gaze wavered slightly. He detected no falsehoods in her words. If she was telling the truth, then at the very least, his identity should still be safe.
Even so, he didn't lower his guard.
"Last time we met, I asked why you were investigating my father's death," he said. "Would you care to reveal the reason now?"
Victoria let out another sigh. "You're truly persistent, Luke. Can't you just trust that I have the kingdom's best interests at heart?"
Luke frowned.
'Best interests of the kingdom? Could she be someone sent by the king himself?'
"Don't think too hard," Victoria said, watching him with amusement. "You'll hurt yourself." Another soft, velvety laugh followed.
A knock on the carriage door interrupted them.
"Luke, we've arrived," Kayson called from outside.
Luke decided to let the matter rest for now, though his suspicions about Victoria didn't wane. She appeared to be on his side for the moment, but that could simply be because their current goals aligned.
Stepping out of the carriage, he stretched, feeling the stiffness in his muscles ease as fresh air filled his lungs. Then, as he turned his head, his jaw slowly dropped.
Before him stood a city unlike any he had seen.
Towering stone walls, at least thirty feet high, enclosed its vast expanse, much like the other fortresses he had passed. But what truly set it apart was the massive mountain that loomed behind it, rising into the sky like a titan. And nestled against its rocky face, almost as if growing out of it, was an immense castle—something straight out of a fantasy novel.
A hand pressed against his chin, gently closing his mouth.
Blinking, he turned to see Victoria watching him with an amused smile. She winked before striding ahead, her hips swaying effortlessly.
Luke exhaled sharply, forcing himself to refocus.
His gaze returned to the city. This was Ralis—the Royal Capital of the Marxx Kingdom. The seat of power. The home of the king and the royal family.
Looking down the hill, he spotted a long line snaking toward the city gates. Merchant caravans and travelers waited for their turn to enter, while heavily armored guards conducted inspections. Security was tight—unsurprising in times of war.
"Let's go," Kayson said, nudging Luke as he passed. "We should be able to skip the queue."
"Right." Luke nodded, regaining his bearings. He turned just in time to see the hulking figure of Hilda practically ushering Sebastian forward, guiding him with the kind of care a wife might show her husband. His earlier annoyance faded as he watched his butler get coddled by the large woman, a sight both amusing and unexpected.
Thanks to their status, the group bypassed the long line with little trouble. Upon entering the capital, they were met with tightly packed stone roads teeming with people moving with clear purpose.
"Kayson and I will need to request an audience with the Left Minister and report what has happened," Luke said, turning to the others. "There's a good chance you three will have to wait in the reception room."
"That's fine," Sebastian replied. "We should hurry, though."
Luke nodded and set off toward the castle. There was no need to ask for directions—the massive structure was visible from almost anywhere in Ralis. Still, navigating the bustling streets took time. Between the sheer size of the capital and the heavy foot traffic, it took nearly an hour to reach their destination.
At the castle gates, two armored soldiers blocked their path, crossing their spears.
"Only those with permission may enter."
Luke met their gaze evenly. "We are messengers from Clayton City, here to deliver urgent news to the Left Minister. Viscount Diego and Master Boyd have sent us." His voice was steady, authoritative. He had learned that in this world, confidence made words more convincing.
The soldiers exchanged a brief glance before lifting their spears.
"Go inside and speak to one of the servants."
Luke dipped his head slightly in acknowledgment and stepped forward, the group following close behind.
As they ascended the long stone stairs, the full scale of the castle became apparent. While Luke had always admired the elegance of ancient Chinese architecture, there was something undeniably majestic about an enormous stone fortress towering over the city.
When they passed through the grand wooden doors, his breath hitched.
The ceiling soared at least twenty feet overhead, while the wide halls were adorned with masterfully painted murals and grand, hand-sewn rugs stretching across the polished stone floors. Candlesticks, placed at even intervals, cast a warm glow over the otherwise dim interior.
A voice snapped Luke out of his reverie.
"May I help you?"
A small, pale man stood a few feet away, hands clasped behind his back, scrutinizing them with sharp, assessing eyes. His gaze lingered on Victoria longer than the others before returning to Luke, who stood at the front.
"We are here to request an audience with the Left Minister," Luke stated. "We bring urgent news from Clayton City."
The man appeared to consider this for a moment before shaking his head. "I'm terribly sorry, but the Left Minister is currently engaged in his daily relaxation regimen. Perhaps you could relay the news to me or return tomorrow."
Luke blinked. 'Relaxation regimen?' He stared at the man, incredulous. 'We have news that threatens the entire Marxx Kingdom, and this bastard is too busy taking a nap?'
His patience wore thin. Taking a controlled breath, he cleared his throat and stepped closer, lowering his voice slightly.
"I can assure you," he said, meeting the man's gaze with unwavering intensity, "the news we bring is of great importance. Please relay this information to the Left Minister immediately."
"I'm afraid that won't be possible, sir. You'll have to return tomorrow." The servant bowed slightly, but Luke didn't miss the brief flicker of derision in his gaze.
Luke turned to Kayson, catching the barely contained fury in his expression. He couldn't blame him—they had traveled five grueling days to deliver this information, only to be turned away at the door.
"How about you try and convince our friend?" Luke leaned in and whispered.
A gleeful smile stretched across Kayson's face.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward, grabbed the small man by the collar, and lifted him into the air as if he weighed nothing. The servant let out a strangled squeal, his already pale face turning ghostly white.
"U-Unhand me at once!" he shrieked.
His panicked screams echoed off the stone walls, but in that moment, he was utterly powerless.
The sound of hurried footfalls rang out, and within seconds, ten soldiers in plated armor stormed into the hall, weapons drawn and pointed at Luke's group.
"What is the meaning of this? Put the servant down at once, or we will use force!" one of the soldiers barked.
Luke turned to the man who had spoken, his expression calm, composed. "We have traveled from Clayton City to deliver urgent intelligence to the Left Minister. Yet this servant"—he gestured to the trembling man in Kayson's grip—"refuses to let us through and tells us to return tomorrow."
Luke let his words hang in the air before continuing, his tone slow and deliberate. "Such behavior makes me question whether this man is a traitor to the kingdom. What do you say, soldier? Will you take him into custody?"
At once, hesitation flickered across the soldier's face. Even his comrades shifted uncomfortably.
An accusation of treason wasn't something to be ignored so easily.
"T-This is ridiculous!" the servant squealed, his voice high-pitched with panic. "I am innocent, I swear!"
Tears and snot streamed down his face, painting a truly pathetic scene. Even Luke found himself marveling at the sheer cowardice on display. He had expected someone so pompous to at least have some backbone.
"Put him down," Luke ordered before the soldiers could respond. He didn't want to escalate the situation more than necessary.
Kayson clicked his tongue but obeyed, tossing the man to the ground.
The moment he landed, a sharp, acrid scent filled the air.
Kayson recoiled instantly, covering his nose. "Argh, fuck—did this guy just piss himself?"
Luke frowned, trying to ignore the growing pool beneath the disgraced servant. He turned back to the soldiers, his patience wearing thin. "Can you take us to the Left Minister? Or at the very least, the reception room? I'd rather not stand around here any longer."
The lead soldier, still somewhat stunned, cleared his throat. "Y-Yes… follow me." With a brief nod, he signalled for the others to lower their weapons.
Without another word, Luke and his group were escorted through the grand halls of the castle. As they walked, Luke's gaze drifted to the masterful paintings lining the walls. Portraits of what he assumed were members of the royal family hung in gilded frames, alongside sweeping landscapes that depicted rolling hills and towering fortresses.
Eventually, they were brought to a lavish reception room and asked to wait.