The silence in the Rolls-Royce was a world away from the chaos we'd just left behind in the village square. The memory of Nari holding that shotgun, her face a mask of cold, regal fury, was still burned into my mind. After the long, tense hours of travel, no one spoke. Allison sat huddled in the corner, a fragile ghost of a girl, her earlier terror now a dull, hollow sadness. Bella stared out the window, her expression a complex, unreadable mixture of conflict and resignation. And Nari… Nari was her usual self, a picture of serene, analytical calm, as if she hadn't just held an entire village hostage at gunpoint.
When we finally reached the presidential suite—a sprawling, opulent space that was more of a private villa than a hotel room—the tension was a palpable thing. I looked at our two new assets, their faces pale and drawn in the soft, luxurious lighting.
"Miss Alejandra and Miss Gia," I said, my voice a calm, steady anchor in the storm of their emotions. "You may take any of the spare rooms. This whole suite is ours for the time being. Two rooms are occupied, but there are at least eight empty ones. Choose whichever you like."
Bella looked at me then, the first direct gaze she had given me since leaving her village. The resentment was still there, a hard, glittering thing in her dark eyes, but it was now mixed with a grudging, undeniable respect. "What do you need from us?" she asked, her voice a low, husky sound that held no trace of her earlier fear.
"We will talk about that tomorrow," Nari replied, her tone firm but not unkind.
"She's right," I added. "By the way, we'll be leaving for another place tomorrow. Both of you should get some rest. If you need anything, just summon a butler. Good night."
Allison gave a small, timid nod and disappeared down a hallway without another word. Bella watched her go, a flicker of a protective instinct in her eyes, before she turned and followed, her own movements a study in weary, dignified grace.
Now, it was just the two of us. Nari and I were left alone in the enormously huge living room, the silence a heavy, waiting thing. I walked over to the sleek, modern bar counter, the polished wood cool under my fingertips. I found a bottle of expensive-looking red wine and two crystal glasses.
"Do you want some?" I asked, holding up the bottle.
She just nodded.
We ended up on the massive balcony that overlooked the sea. The night was a canvas of deep, velvety black, the only light the shimmering reflection of the moon on the dark, restless water. It was a beautiful, lonely view.
"Quite beautiful, isn't it?" I said, breaking the silence as I took a slow sip of my wine.
"Yes," she replied, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "It is. But being with you enhances the beauty of the view." She turned to look at me then, a small, genuine smile on her lips.
"It's my pleasure," I said, a wave of easy generosity washing over me. The tension of the day was finally beginning to bleed away. "But I have to appreciate you. The way you scared them… it was amazing. I know you're powerful and ruthless, but today… today you were a true demon queen. I love this side of you."
She laughed, a soft, musical sound that was a stark contrast to the roar of her shotgun. "You are not any less strategic and powerful," she said, her grey eyes sparkling in the moonlight. "The way you made the whole village bend in front of you. The way you handled the Sterlings… it was awe-striking."
"Thank you for the praise, Nari," I said.
She looked at me then, her expression turning all business again. "So, where are we going tomorrow? Who is our next target?"
"We're going to Sunken Vale," I said, the name itself conjuring images of a quiet, forgotten world. "It's a secluded nation, known for its vast customs and peaceful, harmonious society. Very low crime rate, almost no defense budget. It's mostly known for its beautiful lakes."
Nari's eyes lit up with understanding. "So, we're going to meet the Roux sisters."
"Yeah," I confirmed. "The Roux sisters are in the central eastern province. After we meet with them, we'll go after Sabrina Renner."
"That's a good idea," she said, her analytical mind already processing the logistics.
"Okay then," I said. "Let's make our plan."
We spent the next few hours huddled over her tablet, the intel Anna had gathered a complex, glowing web of information. We dissected the Roux sisters' histories, their personalities, their potential weaknesses. We planned our approach, our angle, our offer. The wine, the view, the quiet intimacy of the night—it all faded into the background as our two minds, so different yet so perfectly matched, worked in a seamless, strategic harmony. The last thing I remember was the soft glow of the tablet screen and Nari's quiet, focused breathing beside me. I didn't even know when I drifted off.
(Nari's Perspective)
The first rays of dawn were a gentle, insistent pressure against my eyelids. I woke up not with a jolt, but with a slow, groggy awareness. The world was a little blurry, the edges soft and indistinct. I was on the couch in the living room, surrounded by the debris of our late-night strategy session—laptops, tablets, open folders, and half-empty wine glasses. And then I noticed him.
Adam was asleep, his head resting on my shoulder.
He looked so peaceful. The sharp, intimidating intensity was gone, replaced by the innocent, unguarded vulnerability of sleep. The ruthless king who had stared down a mob and bent a village to his will was, in this moment, just a boy. A very handsome, very tired boy.
I remembered then. The wine, the endless stream of data, the quiet hum of our two minds working in perfect sync. We had just… dozed off. I don't know why I did it. It wasn't a calculated move. It wasn't part of any strategy. It was just an instinct, a quiet, unfamiliar impulse. I gently shifted, letting his head slide from my shoulder to rest in my lap. And there it stayed. Sometimes in life, you do something without a reason, just because it feels right.
I looked down at him, at the way a stray lock of his dark hair fell across his forehead. I investigated him. Before I ever agreed to this alliance. I know about the bullying. The betrayal. The boy who was a ghost just a few weeks ago. And now… now he's building an empire. He's recruiting the world's best women, not with threats, but with promises. With hope. When he first came to me and said he would help me become the chairperson, I was amused. It was a beautiful, impossible dream. But now… now I think it's not a dream. It's going to happen.
The way he handles things… it's breathtaking. I came on this trip to test him, to see if he could handle himself outside the familiar battleground of Northwood High. Yesterday… that was a bluff. The shotgun wasn't even loaded with lethal rounds. It was a performance, a test to see his capabilities. But the way he handled it… he didn't just react; he controlled the situation. He let me play the demon queen, and then he stepped in and became the benevolent king. He is so, so capable.
As I was lost in these thoughts, a soft footstep pulled me back to the present. It was Allison, her icy blonde hair a stark, beautiful contrast to the warm, golden light of the morning. She was holding a cup of coffee.
"Good morning, Miss Han," she said, her voice a soft, respectful whisper. "Here is your morning coffee. If you don't like coffee, I can make something else."
I was amazed. I was the one who had put a gun to her brother's head, and here she was, bringing me coffee, treating me with a gentle, fearful kindness. Then her eyes drifted down to Adam, who was still asleep in my lap, and a small, knowing smile touched her lips.
"Both of you look like a perfect couple," she said.
"We're not in a relationship," I said, a strange, unfamiliar heat rising in my cheeks. "Yet."
"Oh, sorry for the misunderstanding," she said, quickly looking away.
"It's fine," I said. I looked at her, at the genuine, unguarded sincerity in her eyes. "I want to ask you something. Tell me honestly. I won't do anything to you. Adam was the one who picked you, and I respect his decisions. But… are you not scared of me? You're giving me coffee, like nothing happened."
She looked nervous, her hands twisting in front of her. "If I said I am not scared of you and Mr. Wilson, then it would be a lie," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "In truth, I am scared. But… I still think both of you are better than some people."
"I don't understand what you mean," I said.
Her story came out then, a quiet, heartbreaking tale of loss and a deep, ingrained fear of outsiders. "When we were small kids," she began, her gaze distant, "my parents were killed by a few city people because they wouldn't work for them. From that day on, I was scared. I only had my little brother. He's so wary of city people. Thus, what he did yesterday… it was a childish act. When I saw you point the gun at his head, that trauma returned to me. But when Mr. Wilson was trying to stop you, I had a glimmer of hope. And… it's true it was our fault. You didn't do anything wrong. You tried to solve it peacefully, but our villagers are conservative. But when you let my brother go… I thought not everyone is the same."
Nari's internal thought: Her trauma makes her an ideal asset. Fearful, but desperate for a protector. Her loyalty, once secured, will be absolute. A simple apology is the most efficient tool to secure that loyalty and neutralize any lingering resentment. It's a low-cost, high-reward strategic move.
"Allison," I said, my voice softening into a precise, calculated tone of reason. "I want to be clear. My actions yesterday were a necessary response to a direct threat. Your brother's foolishness endangered a multi-million Funo operation and put my partner at risk. Such actions must be met with an absolute and decisive response to ensure operational security." I paused, letting the weight of my words settle. "However, my quarrel was with his action, not with you. You were an innocent bystander in a conflict you did not create. For the distress my necessary actions caused you, personally, I offer my regrets."
I held out my hand, not as a friend, but as a superior offering a truce. It was a test. A calculated gesture of peace.
Allison just stared at my outstretched hand, her eyes wide with a mixture of her old fear and a new, dawning disbelief. Then, her composure finally shattered. A single tear traced a path down her cheek, then another. She didn't make a sound at first, just stood there, her shoulders shaking with silent, wracking sobs.
"I… I don't understand," she finally whispered, her voice thick with emotion as she tentatively took my hand, her own small and trembling in mine. "No one… no one has ever apologized to me for anything. The people who killed my parents… they just laughed. Everyone always… they just take things. They never say they're sorry." A fresh wave of tears washed over her, but this time, they weren't tears of sadness. They were tears of profound, overwhelming relief.
"Thank you," she choked out, a watery, grateful smile on her face. "Thank you, Miss Han."
(End of Nari's Perspective)
My eyes fluttered open to the soft, golden light of morning and the subtle, enchanting scent of cherry blossoms. For a moment, I was disoriented, the plush leather of the couch a world away from my own bed. Then I felt the gentle, rhythmic rise and fall of breathing beneath my head, and it all came rushing back.
I had fallen asleep in Nari's lap.
A younger version of me would have been a flustered, stammering mess. But the king I was becoming didn't panic. He assessed. I slowly sat up, my movements quiet so as not to startle her. She was watching me, her striking grey eyes full of a quiet, unreadable amusement.
"Good morning," I said, my voice a little rough. I ran a hand through my messy hair, a small, genuine smile on my face. "Sorry about that. And… thank you. I must have been more tired than I thought."
She just gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. "Even a king needs his rest," she replied, her voice a smooth, musical sound that held no trace of awkwardness. It wasn't a moment of intimacy; it was a moment of quiet, shared understanding between two partners.
Just then, Allison's soft voice cut through the quiet. "The breakfast is ready, Mr. Wilson, Miss Han."
We moved to the large dining table on the balcony, the fresh sea breeze a welcome, cleansing sensation. Bella was already there, a silent, watchful presence. The table was laden with a simple but delicious-looking meal: fresh fruit, warm bread, and a fragrant, steaming stew that smelled incredible.
"You made all this?" I asked Allison, genuinely impressed.
She blushed, a delicate pink dusting her cheeks. "It's… it's not much. Just something I learned back home."
"It's amazing, Allison," Nari said after taking a delicate bite, her voice full of a rare, genuine warmth. "You have a real talent."
"Thank you," Allison whispered, a look of pure, unadulterated joy on her face at the simple praise.
Bella, who had been eating in a stoic silence, finally spoke, her dark eyes fixed on me. "Where are we going?" she asked, her voice a low, husky sound that was a direct, unapologetic challenge. "And what is our purpose?"
"We're going to Sunken Vale," I replied, my own voice calm and even. I took a slow sip of my coffee, meeting her gaze over the rim of the cup. "To meet two of the most brilliant minds in the world of beauty and cosmetology, the Roux sisters."
"And why are we coming with you?" Bella pressed, her gaze unwavering.
It was Nari who answered, her voice a cool, elegant counterpoint to Bella's raw intensity. "Because for the next few days, both of you are in an observation period," she explained, her tone that of a professor addressing two promising but untested students. "You have spent your entire lives in the isolated, cooperative world of your village. You are… unaccustomed to the games we play out here. Adam and I need to assess your capabilities, your intuition, your ability to adapt. We need to see how you observe, how you deduce, how you react under pressure. We need to know if you are simply loyal followers, or if you have the potential to become true assets to our cause. This trip… it is your exam."
Bella's jaw tightened, but she didn't argue. She just gave a single, sharp nod, a look of fierce, determined understanding in her eyes. Allison just looked from me to Nari, her expression a mixture of fear and a dawning, eager anticipation.
After breakfast, we gathered our things. A sleek, black helicopter was waiting for us on the hotel's private helipad, its blades already beginning to whir. As we walked across the tarmac, the wind whipping at our clothes, I looked at the three women beside me. Nari, my ruthless empress. Bella, my proud, untamed queen. And Allison, my quiet, loyal heart.
This wasn't just a recruitment trip anymore. It was a royal procession. And we were on our way to claim the next piece of our new kingdom.