Lucina
The moment I lifted my head, I saw her.
A woman whose presence swallowed the golden hall whole.
Skin the warm shade of polished copper.
Hair cascading in waves of midnight silk down her bare shoulders and over a lavender gown cut daringly low.
Eyes—
Red.
Piercing.
Unforgiving.
The sight of her alone chilled the very center of my chest.
I was already dizzy from what the armored man had said, his cryptic words still echoing like thunder inside my skull.
"What… responsibility?" I whispered, barely aware of how small my voice sounded against the towering opulence of the room.
Before I could breathe, a voice sliced through the air like a blade:
"IS SHE THE WIFE OF HAKAN'S LATE OLDER BROTHER WHO WAS KILLED TEN YEARS AGO?"
My heart lurched.
The armored man tightened his grip on my arm for a moment…but avoided my eyes.
Wife?
Killed?
Ten years ago?
The dark-haired woman—Giaret—stepped forward. Her presence was overwhelming, the regal weight of someone feared before she was respected.
"Please ask one of your maids to take care of her, Giaret."
Another woman's voice—calm, icy, commanding—floated from behind her.
Then, with a single turn of her chin, the queen dismissed me from her gaze entirely.
"Titi, take her to the Queen's Villa."
A smaller woman in a maid's uniform bowed so quickly her curls bounced.
"YES, YOUR HIGHNESS!"
---
"You should go and get changed, Lucina."
The armored man's tone was strangely gentle now—but his eyes held secrets I couldn't begin to understand.
I swallowed hard.
"Your Highness…?" The word tumbled out awkwardly. I didn't even know who he truly was.
Titi guided me away, her steps brisk though her shoulders trembled as if she, too, was afraid of something.
The grand hall faded behind us, swallowed by corridors dripping with silk curtains and sunlight-splashed gold.
My thoughts spiraled.
WHAT IS SHE TALKING ABOUT?
WHO AM I SUPPOSED TO BE?
WHY AM I HERE?
We entered a sunlit villa, far too breathtaking to belong to someone like me. Titi finally exhaled.
"I'm here to attend to all your needs," she said with a small, nervous jolt. "It's nice… to meet you."
"You don't need to be formal," I said softly, overwhelmed.
But she quickly bowed again.
"I am your maid."
I clutched my hands together.
"Is… is this my room?"
---
Titi hesitated. Her gaze dropped to the polished floor.
"I'm afraid… you're not allowed to enter the Queen's Palace yet."
A tiny pause.
Then the words that shattered me:
"You may only enter once you have conceived a child for His Majesty the King. Only then can you marry him and be crowned Queen."
My breath caught.
My pulse roared in my ears.
A child?
For the King?
Why me?
But Titi's expression was sympathetic, as though she knew this world was already crushing me.
---
"Would you like me to help you change clothes?" she asked.
"Yes… please," I whispered.
As she helped remove the outer layers of the clothing I'd arrived in, she gasped.
"OH MY! Your clothes are stained… with dye?"
I touched the fabric, the pale smudges.
"That's because… the dye has faded," I admitted. "The water must have washed some of it away… it also reduced the swelling in my face."
Titi blinked in surprise.
"Are you talking about the Holy Water? I will ask for it on your behalf."
She returned with a bolt of white fabric and dressed me slowly, carefully, with reverence I didn't feel worthy of.
When we finished, I stood draped in a soft, white gown that made me look like a ghost of myself.
I settled onto a chaise lounge, still numb… still lost.
Then—
A flutter of wings.
A blur of olive-green feathers.
A tiny bird landed delicately on my open hand.
Its round eyes sparkled with uncanny intelligence.
And then, in a clear, bright chirp, it said:
"GOOD JOB!"
My lips parted, breath catching—
A talking bird?
Wonder and disbelief swirled inside me, a fragile moment of magic piercing through all the fear.
---
"Okay… Is this my room?"
My voice came out small, fragile, like it might crumble under the sheer weight of the villa's beauty. Sunlight poured in through tall crystal windows, scattering on the golden trims, on the silk canopy, on the marble floor that seemed far too luxurious for someone like me.
Titi bowed quickly—too quickly—her small frame giving a nervous JOLT as she lifted her head.
"I'm here to attend to all your needs, Your Majesty," she said softly. "It's nice… to meet you. There's no need to be so formal. I am your maid."
Her kindness warmed me, but the warmth shattered instantly beneath the cold blade of her next words.
"Yes. I'm afraid you're not allowed to enter the Queen's Palace until you've conceived a child for His Majesty the King."
My breath hitched.
"You can only marry the King and be crowned Queen once you have fulfilled your duty to bear his child."
Her words echoed in my skull like a verdict.
Bear his child.
Before marriage.
Before acceptance.
Before belonging.
Suddenly, the dark-haired woman's harsh suspicion—wife of Hakan's late older brother—made painful sense.
Titi cleared her throat, pulling me from the stunned silence.
"Would you like me to help you put on some new clothes?"
"Yes… that would be nice…" I murmured, eager to escape the suffocating tightness of the formal, stained garments.
She unfastened the heavy robe and immediately gasped.
"OH MY! Your clothes are stained with dye…"
I looked down at the faint patches of white fading across the fabric.
"That's because… the dye has faded…" I explained, touching the cloth. "That water helped wash it out and reduced the swelling on my face."
"Holy Water?" Titi blinked. "Ah—I will ask on your behalf!"
She hurried out, leaving me to breathe, to adjust, to process.
Once dressed in a soft, white gown that felt impossibly gentle on my skin, I settled onto the chaise lounge. The room was quiet, serene, almost like a sanctuary.
Then—
A small flutter.
A blur of olive-green feathers.
A tiny bird flew across the room and landed lightly on my hand, chirping with startling clarity:
"GOOD JOB!"
My eyes widened.
"Is this a talking bird?" I whispered in disbelief.
Then it tilted its head at me, and I recognized that familiar sparkle in its eyes.
"PUKA?! DID YOU FOLLOW ME ALL THE WAY HERE?!"
The little creature puffed up proudly.
"I told you not to use your power," I scolded softly. "It's much safer to use Holy Water than your healing power!"
Puka babbled back, his voice bright and excited.
"Thanks for telling me. Which reminds me—you said you like nuts!"
I blinked, then smiled—an actual, unforced smile—for the first time since arriving here.
"I really like it here," I admitted, glancing around the magnificent room. "I think I'll have a much better time living here than I did in Velk. They'll serve me tasty food… and no one is going to hit me."
Puka's chirp softened with concern.
"Aren't you worried about having to bear Hakan's child?"
My entire body tensed.
"Oh…"
I held the tiny bird closer, as if he could shield me from the truth.
"I-It's a little bit scary to think about… B-but we are married, after all…"
My voice wavered, correcting myself quickly:
"Well… according to Tayar law, we aren't officially married yet—but we did have a marriage ceremony in Brion."
Then—
That memory struck me like a bolt of lightning.
Hakan leaning close.
His breath brushing my ear.
His voice low, dangerous, too warm—
"SO IT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO SPEND OUR FIRST NIGHT TOGETHER—"
"NO—NO—NO—!!"
My face went up in flames.
"N-NEVER MIND! I CAN WORRY ABOUT THAT LATER! DON'T ASK ME RIGHT NOW!!" I cried, fanning my cheeks as Puka chattered in amusement.
Just then, the door opened.
Titi stepped in, beaming cheerfully.
"Your Majesty! You've been granted permission to use the Holy Water!"
Far from the villa, in another chamber carved with ancient patterns, Hakan stood bare-backed, his muscles tense beneath tribal markings that curled along his skin like living shadows.
A warrior with dark, braided hair bowed beside him.
"THE WYVERNS HAVE RETURNED FROM VELK."
Hakan's gaze sharpened.
"DID THEY CARRY OUT MY ORDERS PROPERLY?"
"Yes. I was informed the Baroness and her son were thoroughly frightened by the display."
Another figure—taller, older, more imposing—stepped forward.
"HOWEVER," he rumbled, "ARE YOU TRULY PLANNING TO FORGIVE THE PEOPLE OF VELK SO EASILY?"
His eyes gleamed with old fury.
"TEN YEARS AGO, THEY SENT SLAYERS TO OUR KINGDOM. A MASSACRE OF OUR HATCHLINGS WAS THE RESULT."
His breath shuddered with the weight of that memory.
"WE WERE UNABLE TO SEEK RETRIBUTION AGAINST THE KING OF BRION FOR THE—"
GRIT.
Hakan clenched his jaw.
"I WON'T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH WHAT THEY'VE DONE.
But there is something I need to figure out before taking any action."
His voice dropped, low and edged with a decade of unresolved vengeance.
"Do you remember when I was struck down by a black arrow while pursuing the slayers who murdered my brother?"
Understood! Here is your clean, expanded, atmospheric version, rewritten ONLY up to the exact final line you provided:
"THIS HOLY WATER IS INCREDIBLE! MY SKIN FEELS A LOT SOFTER AND SMOOTHER THAN BEFORE…"
"I will look into it for you, Your Majesty."
Cassian's deep, unwavering voice settled over me like a weighted cloak—steadying, grounding. He was always like that: a fortress of muscle and discipline, his dark, wavy hair tied back to reveal a stern jawline carved by years of discipline. His presence alone felt like a shield.
I stood before him, feeling the stiffness in my spine, the soreness in my shoulders, the emotional grime clinging to me. Everything from earlier—the Baroness's venomous remarks, the Emperor's sudden curiosity about my past—had left me feeling unclean down to my bones.
"Thanks," I murmured, looking away. "I need a bath."
A real one. A quiet one. A place where no one could lie about me, judge me, or try to smear dirt onto my skin or my reputation.
In my mind, the conversation replayed:
"Do you think the Baroness lied to us about her?"
The Emperor's voice had been curious, thoughtful.
"Hmm…" Cassian had frowned deeply.
"I want you to find out how she was treated when she was younger. I can absolutely see that horrible woman doing something like that."
That horrible woman.
The Baroness.
Her insults still stung like thorns.
I turned away, needing space. "I'm going to the hot springs. Don't bother sending me any maids."
I felt Cassian stop mid-step behind me.
"Oh, the hot springs are currently…" he began.
I paused and looked over my shoulder, raising a brow. "?"
And then—unexpectedly—his expression softened. A bright, warm glow seemed to catch in his eyes as he smiled. Cassian almost never smiled.
"Don't worry about it. Enjoy your bath."
Something in his tone made me trust him without hesitation. I nodded and continued on, letting the corridor swallow me in gentle echoes.
When I pushed open the doors, the Emperor's hot spring revealed itself like a holy sanctuary—vast, luminous, carved from marble that glimmered under lantern light. The pool itself glowed a brilliant blue, the water steaming with gentle, welcoming warmth.
I stepped in.
The heat seeped into my skin instantly, drawing a shiver from my bones.
BUBBLE… BUBBLE… BUBBLE…
I sank beneath the surface, letting the warmth swallow the tension, the hurt, the exhaustion.
When I resurfaced—
"PHEW!"
A sigh of pure, cleansing relief left me. The water around me shifted, swirling faint streaks of color—my dyed hair bleeding out its false hue.
I scrubbed gently, watching the fake pigments dissolve.
By the time I stepped out, wrapped in a soft white towel, my real hair—long, white, flowing like silk—spilled down my back in shimmering waves.
I leaned over the sparkling surface, staring into my reflection. Clear. Unmasked. Mine.
"WOW!" I gasped. "I've managed to wash out the dye completely, and my rash has disappeared!"
Pat. Pat.
My fingers pressed to my cheeks—smooth, cool, free of irritation.
For the first time in ages, my face felt like my own.
My skin gleamed, soft as snow. My features felt refreshed, renewed.
A slow, breathless smile curved on my lips.
"THIS HOLY WATER IS INCREDIBLE! MY SKIN FEELS A LOT SOFTER AND SMOOTHER THAN BEFORE…"
I sighed in pure bliss, sinking deeper into the heated water as the soothing warmth wrapped around my aching muscles. Every drop felt divine, like the spring itself was blessing me.
"This holy water is incredible! My skin feels a lot softer and smoother than before…"
My voice echoed softly against the marble walls, and for once, the world felt quiet—gentle—safe.
I was so wrapped in the calming embrace of the spring that at first I didn't notice the faint sound beyond the gentle rippling of the water.
STEP.
My eyes blinked open.
The sound was faint, but unmistakable.
"…I can hear some footsteps…"
I stiffened. My shoulders rose instinctively, unease rippling through my spine. The footsteps grew louder—slow, steady, purposeful.
STEP… STEP…
Panic flared. I pulled the thin towel instinctively closer to my chest, the damp fabric sticking stubbornly to my skin.
I had clearly told Cassian—no maids.
No servants.
No one.
So who—
STEP.
A large, bare foot appeared at the edge of the marble platform.
My heart seized.
Then the rest of him came into view—tall, broad, powerful. The flickering lantern light brushed over his figure like a reverent caress.
SLIDE.
"It's… the Emperor—!? Hakan?!"
My breath caught painfully as heat rushed to my face.
Hakan stood there in a stark white bathrobe, the front loose and open at the neck, exposing the strong, sculpted planes of his chest. His long, dark, wavy hair was damp, clinging slightly to his temples, droplets rolling down the sharp line of his jaw.
And worst of all—
He wasn't even looking at me.
His eyes were distant, lost in heavy thought, his stride unhurried as he passed by towering marble statues as though he owned even the air between them. He wasn't here for me. He wasn't here for anyone.
He simply… came to bathe.
In his private bath.
The bath I was currently hiding in.
My entire body trembled. Every possible escape route vanished the moment I realized the truth:
If I stood, even for a second—
If I tried to climb out—
If I made a single splash too loud—
I'd be completely exposed.
Hakan walked right to the water's edge. The muscles in his forearm flexed as he ran a hand back through his dark hair, pushing it away from his forehead in a way that should have been illegal.
His expression was troubled, his brows slightly drawn.
Probably thinking about the Baroness.
About deceit.
About politics.
Completely unaware that a mortified woman was silently drowning in shame two meters away.
Then—
His hand moved to the towel at his waist.
No.
No. No. No.
NO.
My eyes widened. My mind emptied. Every nerve set on fire.
I instinctively sank lower into the shimmering water, wishing—begging—to blend into it like I was part of the spring.
"I CAN'T GET OUT!"
I squeezed my eyes shut, every muscle tensing as if I could will myself into the water, wishing it would swallow me whole…
or that I would simply melt away.