Chapter 33 – Revelations and Commitments
[KUTO – PALACE OF ZORDIS, NIGHT]
Night had fallen over Zordis.
The sky stretched in deep shades of purple and dark blue, the first stars beginning to appear through the thin clouds. A soft breeze moved through the palace corridors, gently swaying the silk curtains, carrying the perfume of the royal gardens' night-blooming flowers.
The silence was almost absolute — broken only by the distant echo of Princess Raimi's footsteps.
She stopped in front of him in the gardens, beneath the trembling light of floating magical lanterns. Her eyes still shone with remnants of hope, but there was something more now — nervousness, vulnerability, fear of the rejection she already knew was coming.
— Kuto... — she began, her voice coming out weaker than she intended. She took a deep breath, forcing firmness. — Do you accept my request?
The silence that followed was heavy as lead.
Kuto remained still, black eyes fixed on her with analytical coldness. There was no anger there. No contempt. Only the calculated emptiness of someone evaluating an equation with no emotion involved.
Finally, with the same indifference he would use to refuse a side quest in some random game, he answered:
— Unfortunately, I will have to refuse your request.
Raimi's eyes widened.
The impact was visible — as if she had been punched in the stomach without warning. Her chest rose and fell in short, uneven breaths. Tears began to form in the corners of her blue eyes, glistening beneath the lantern light before silently sliding down her pale face.
— It's okay... — she murmured, her voice breaking at the end. — I understand... and... thank you for the other day.
Before she could say more, she quickly turned — trying to hide her face, trying to preserve what little dignity she could still hold onto — and almost ran down the corridors, her footsteps echoing farther and farther away as the tears fell without stopping.
Kuto remained standing.
He watched her leave without expression, without movement. A few seconds passed in absolute silence. Then, without saying anything, he turned and calmly walked in the opposite direction, toward his room.
She's just an NPC. None of this matters.
---
The shower was long.
He let the hot water fall over his tense shoulders, washing away the accumulated sweat from the last three days of brutal tests. He closed his eyes, resting his hands against the cold marble wall, trying not to think about the expression on Raimi's face.
It doesn't matter. It isn't real.
He dressed in clean clothes — a dark shirt with the white system lines running along the seams, comfortable pants, leather boots. He ran a hand through his still-damp black hair, straightened his posture, and left the room toward the dining hall.
He was hungry. The tests had drained more energy than he had realized.
But when he turned the corridor, he stopped.
Selina, Sônia, and Romeu were standing in front of him, completely blocking the way. Their expressions were serious — something rare coming from Romeu, who was usually smiling or making some inappropriate joke.
Kuto slightly furrowed his brow.
— What are you doing standing here? — he asked, voice firm, emotionless. — Is there a problem?
— A problem? — Selina repeated, crossing her arms forcefully. Her voice carried something dangerous. — A problem, he asks.
Before Kuto could react or take a step forward, Romeu quickly advanced and pulled his ear with surprising force.
— Hah, you idiot! — he shouted, his voice echoing down the corridor.
Kuto hissed involuntarily in pain, clenching his teeth.
— Take your hand off my ear! — he replied in a low, dangerous voice, turning his face to look directly at Romeu.
The look Kuto gave him was cold enough to make Romeu instinctively step back, releasing his ear and taking two steps away with his hands raised in nervous surrender.
— You... you stone-hearted guy... — he muttered, still frightened.
Selina stepped forward, eyes fixed on Kuto without fear:
— Why did you refuse Raimi's request?
Kuto took a deep breath — not out of nervousness, but because his limited patience was reaching its end.
When he spoke, his voice came out cold, cutting, leaving no room for debate:
— This world is just a game. And she is just an NPC. — Pause. — I won't get involved with an NPC. And I've never liked all that talk about marriage or dating.
A heavy silence fell over the corridor.
Sônia opened her mouth, shocked. Selina clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Kuto took a step forward, lightly pushing them aside with his shoulder to pass.
— Now excuse me.
But before he could take two steps, other figures emerged from the opposite corridor.
Jack. Dimitri. Sensi. Gunja. Célia. And Haru.
They formed a human barrier, completely blocking the path. No one smiled. No one looked away.
Jack stepped forward, voice firm but not aggressive:
— Kuto. Try to reconsider the princess's request.
Kuto slowly turned his face, black eyes fixing on Jack with an empty expression:
— If you're so concerned, why don't you marry her yourself?
— You know that's impossible — Jack replied, keeping calm. — She likes you.
Dimitri then spoke for the first time, his voice full of frustration:
— Stop being a jerk, man!
Something snapped.
Kuto interrupted with a more intense voice, louder, filled with absolute conviction that made everyone instinctively step back half a step:
— A jerk? Have you forgotten we're in a game and all of this is virtual?!
Pause. Heavy breathing.
— Ever since we got here, you've been getting way too comfortable. Forgetting our objective: reach level 100 and get out of this world as fast as possible!
He looked directly at each of them, one by one.
— If you're not in a hurry, I am. Under normal circumstances, we shouldn't be here living a comfortable life, going on outings, laughing in shops! We should be advancing. Gaining XP. Leveling up. Getting out of here.
The corridor fell into absolute silence.
No one had an answer. No one could contest the cold, brutal logic Kuto had just laid out. They all stood there, mouths slightly open, looking at him as if seeing him for the first time — or perhaps realizing, for the first time, who he truly was.
Kuto took a deep breath, straightened his posture, and said with deadly calm:
— Now... excuse me.
He started walking.
Haru stepped forward, his voice filled with genuine concern, almost desperation:
— Brother...
Kuto stopped.
He slightly turned his face — just enough for Haru to see the cold profile, the tense jaw.
— I am not your brother.
The words came out like a sharp blade cutting through ligaments.
Haru froze completely, eyes wide, mouth slightly open. As if he had been punched straight in the heart.
Kuto continued walking without looking back, leaving the group in heavy, uncomfortable silence in the palace corridors.
---
But something unexpected happened.
When Kuto turned the next corridor toward the inner courtyard, a figure suddenly appeared in front of him — materializing out of nowhere in blue particles that instantly solidified.
Zenk.
Kuto instinctively stepped back half a step, surprised for the first time that night.
— What do you want? — he asked cautiously, eyes narrowing.
Zenk observed him for a moment too long, empty blue eyes studying every detail as he always did. Then he spoke in a calm but authoritative voice:
— Do you have a moment for us to talk?
Kuto hesitated.
He evaluated. Calculated. There was no real reason to refuse — Zenk was a figure of power in the kingdom, and refusing could bring unnecessary complications.
— Fine.
Zenk placed his hand on Kuto's shoulder.
And in an instant, the world spun.
The sensation was strange — not like being lifted, but as if space itself had been folded and remade instantly. When his vision stabilized, Kuto was standing on an open balcony at the top of the palace, with a complete view of the capital of Zordis.
The city stretched below like a carpet of lights — magical lanterns glowing on every street, carriages moving silently along illuminated avenues, blue triangular flags gently waving in the night wind.
The night breeze blew, carrying the aroma of night flowers mixed with the distant scent of the city.
Kuto looked at Zenk, waiting.
The mage walked to the edge of the balcony, resting his hands on the marble railing, staring at the starry sky in silence for a few seconds before speaking:
— Have you noticed that Raimi doesn't look much like the king and queen?
Kuto slightly frowned.
— Yes — he replied shortly.
— That's because they are not her parents.
Pause.
Kuto's eyes widened slightly — the first genuine emotional reaction he had shown in hours.
— Then who are they?
Zenk turned his face, looking directly at Kuto for the first time since they arrived:
— They are the right-hand of the true King Zordis IV and his wife. Raimi's real parents died many years ago during a trip to the rival kingdom Killvis, while trying to establish a peace agreement.
Zenk's voice remained calm, but there was weight there now — old memories, stored pain.
— The two kingdoms maintain a historical rivalry. Some legends say it all began generations ago, when the first king of Zordis took the wife of his own brother, Killvis. Since then, there have been countless attempts at war.
Kuto listened in silence, processing every word.
— After her parents' deaths, the kingdom of Zordis intended to start a full war against Killvis. But Raimi, still a child, refused to take that path. She chose peace instead of revenge.
Zenk paused, taking a deep breath.
— However, there is a universal law shared by both kingdoms. If a kingdom has only one female royal descendant, she must marry a member of royalty before the age of 18.
Heavy pause.
— Raimi is 17 years old. In seven days, she will turn 18.
Kuto felt his stomach tighten slightly.
— And if by then she has not married a man of royal blood... King Killvis V will come by right to take her hand. And he will have total dominion over both kingdoms.
Zenk's voice became colder, darker:
— If that happens, it will be the end of harmony in Zordis. Killvis V is not like Raimi. He wants power. He wants revenge. And he will use both kingdoms to fuel the war she spent her life trying to avoid.
Silence.
Kuto looked at the horizon, his mind working quickly.
— And you? — he asked, looking at Zenk. — Why don't you marry her?
Zenk smiled slightly — the first smile Kuto had seen from him. But it was a sad smile, carrying something old.
— She is my cousin. I grew up taking care of her since our parents died in that incident. — Pause. — I love her. But as a sister. And I want her to be happy.
He looked directly at Kuto:
— She liked you very much.
Kuto opened his mouth to argue, but Zenk raised a hand, interrupting:
— Before you say you are not royalty... you are mistaken.
Zenk's blue eyes glowed faintly — magic activating, scanning.
— According to my genetic recognition magic, your blood is pure Yutuko. A direct descendant of one of the first men of Velerithon.
Kuto was completely stunned.
— That... that's impossible. Who is this Yutuko?
— One of the first men of Velerithon — Zenk replied calmly, as if explaining a simple historical fact. — The oldest lineage on this continent. Royal blood by birthright, recognized by all kingdoms.
Pause.
— Marrying you will change everything. The supposed regent king is demanding that the union happen within the next seven days. Otherwise, Killvis V — who is my age, by the way — will take Raimi's hand and control both kingdoms.
Kuto took a deep breath, still processing.
Zenk continued, his voice growing softer:
— The day you saw her fleeing on horseback... she was searching for a descendant of our lineage. She was wearing a magical necklace that glows when it finds someone with Yutuko blood.
He smiled lightly:
— She didn't want royal bureaucracy interfering with my focus and love for magic. So she decided to solve it on her own. — Pause. — And she found you.
Zenk's voice took on an almost amused tone:
— The next morning, she returned with a huge smile and radiant eyes. She said she had found someone from our lineage. And that he was very handsome... but a little annoying.
Kuto couldn't help it — a slight twitch of his lips that might have been almost an involuntary smile.
But his mind was working in a completely different direction.
Yutuko blood. Ancient lineage of Velerithon.
If this is true... I have access to something no one else in the group has.
Becoming king of Zordis would give me resources, information, political power.
And this lineage... I can explore it. Discover what it truly means. If there are abilities tied to it. Advantages the system might recognize.
It was the perfect strategic opportunity.
And Raimi... well, she was just an NPC. Part of the game. A useful tool to achieve the final objective.
Marriage meant nothing in a virtual world.
Kuto looked directly at Zenk:
— Then... I suppose I have no choice.
Pause.
— I accept marrying her.
Zenk clapped his hands once, satisfied:
— Excellent! Be a gentleman!
And before Kuto could respond or protest, Zenk snapped his fingers.
The world spun again.
---
When his vision stabilized, Kuto was on another balcony — smaller, more private, decorated with climbing flowers that released a sweet perfume into the night.
And Raimi was there.
With her back to him, leaning on the railing, staring at the stars in silence. Her shoulders trembled slightly.
That cursed mage teleported me without warning, Kuto thought, irritated.
He took a deep breath. Straightened his posture. Walked a few steps forward:
— Raimi. Can we talk?
She quickly turned her face, surprised.
Her eyes were still red. Fresh tears glistened under the moonlight and stars. But her expression was confused now — she did not expect to see him there.
— What is it? — she asked, her voice hoarse. — Were you forced to accept my request?
Kuto stopped a few steps away.
He looked at her directly, without looking away:
— No.
Pause.
— I want to marry you because I discovered the truth. About your parents. About the law. About Killvis V.
He took a deep breath:
— And because I don't want to see you unhappy beside someone you don't love.
It wasn't a lie. But it wasn't the whole truth either.
Raimi's eyes widened, her mouth slightly open, processing his words. Then, without warning, she ran toward him and hugged him tightly — arms around his neck, face pressed against his shoulder, her body trembling as the tears returned.
But now they were different tears.
— You must learn to be more romantic — she murmured between sobs, her voice muffled against the fabric of his shirt.
Kuto stiffened for two seconds — he had not expected such direct, sudden physical contact.
But then, slowly, he raised his arms and hugged her back.
Not with genuine tenderness. But with calculated care. With the precision of someone playing a necessary role.
— I'll try — he replied in a low voice.
The soft night wind wrapped around the two of them.
The stars shone above the palace of Zordis, indifferent to promises made, commitments accepted, truths hidden beneath embraces that meant different things to each person involved.
And Kuto, holding Raimi in his arms, looked at the starry sky in silence.
Seven days. After that, I'll be king.
And I can finally discover what this Yutuko blood truly means.