The Emperor and Empress rose from their thrones. The entire court bowed low, a sea of bent backs, until the heavy doors behind the dais closed, swallowing the monarchs and their retinue.
As soon as they were gone, the hall began to empty. The nobles filtered out, casting lingering glances at me, leaving only the Royal Guards on duty standing like statues along the walls.
Lucian didn't waste a second. He turned and descended the dais, his stride long and purposeful.
I quickly picked up my skirts and followed him down the steps. He walked right past Kaelen without so much as a glance.
I stopped beside Kaelen, but before I could even open my mouth to ask what the plan was, Lucian paused. He didn't turn around completely—just cast a cold look over his shoulder.
"Don't follow me," he said, his voice flat. "I have business to attend to."
And with that, he walked away, leaving me standing there like a piece of furniture he was done using for the day.
How rude!
I stared at his retreating back, fuming. He really just dropped the 'Power Couple' act the second the audience was over, didn't he?
Beside me, Kaelen quickly turned and bowed lower than usual, his expression stiff.
"My Lady—apologies—Your Imperial Highness."
Huh?
I blinked at him. "Why are you calling me that?" I frowned, waving my hand to dismiss the stuffy title. "I mean, I get it—I have the fancy necklace now—but stop suddenly addressing me so formally. It's weird."
I looked him in the eye.
"Call me 'My Lady' like you usually do."
Kaelen hesitated for a moment, then the stiffness in his shoulders relaxed. A faint look of relief crossed his face.
"Understood, My Lady."
Before I could take another breath, the blue System screen flickered to life right in front of my face, blocking my view of the empty hall.
[ Congratulations, Celine! You are shining high, huh? ]
I rolled my eyes. Oh great, now it's sarcastic.
The text rippled and changed.
[ But I guess you forgot my tip... Make friends with Elena. ]
Ugh, right! Elena!
Panic spiked in my chest. I quickly whipped my head around, scanning the area beside the dais and the throne where the Royal Family had been standing. It was empty.
Ahh! I definitely remember seeing her standing there with the others! Where did she go?
I acted on instinct, reaching out and grabbing Kaelen's wrist.
"Kael!" I asked, my voice hurried. "Do you know where Elena is?"
Kaelen blinked, surprised by my sudden grip, but he answered immediately, his gaze shifting toward a side exit.
"Princess Elena?" he said, pointing toward a heavy oak door on the far left. "She just left through that gate. It leads to the Imperial Knights' Training Arena."
"Lead the way, my slow-to-read-the-moment knight!" I exclaimed, pointing toward the door.
Kaelen pivoted instantly, his training taking over as he hurried toward the gate with long, purposeful strides.
I tried to launch myself after him, but I made it exactly two steps before the heavy silk and killer heels rebelled. I wobbled dangerously, my ankle twisting as the dress tangled around my legs.
Kaelen stopped. He looked back to see me fighting a losing battle with gravity and fashion.
He returned to my side in a heartbeat. "My Lady?"
I looked down at the heels, then up at him. There was no way I was making it to the arena in time like this.
"Carry me," I ordered.
"Understood," he said.
No hesitation. No questions. No blushing.
He swiftly adjusted his sword to sit further back on his hip, then bent down and scooped me up into a bridal carry as easily as if I weighed nothing more than a feather pillow.
"Hold tight, My Lady," he said, his grip secure and steady. "Here we go."
With me safely in his arms, he turned and marched rapidly toward the gate, moving faster than I ever could have on my own.
As Kaelen moved swiftly through the corridors, I finally got my first real look at the palace in daylight.
Since I arrived yesterday in the dark, I hadn't realized just how… loud the wealth was here. Sunlight streamed through towering glass windows, illuminating gold-leafed pillars, endless marble floors, and tapestries that probably cost more than my entire life back on earth. It really was royalty emitting richness at a blinding level.
But I didn't have much time to admire the architecture.
Kaelen ran with a steady, military pace, and every maid and guard we passed froze in their tracks. I saw jaws drop. I heard the sharp intakes of breath.
Gasps. Stares. Shock.
It occurred to me, about three hallways too late, that the sight of the Imperial Consort being carried bridal-style by her personal knight might be a bit… scandalous.
Wow. Maybe this wasn't that good of an idea.
Never mind. Too late now.
We reached the end of the corridor, and Kaelen didn't slow down. He stepped out from the cool shadows of the palace interior and into the blinding brightness of the midday sun.
The heat hit me instantly.
We were standing at the edge of a massive, open-air circular arena. The ground was packed earth and sand, scuffed from countless battles.
Kaelen stopped and gently, elegantly set me down on the stone pavement bordering the ring.
The sound of clashing steel died instantly.
Dozens of knights paused mid-spar, their swords freezing in the air as they turned to look at us. Their eyes widened as they recognized the white dress, the silver hair, and the glowing blue stone at my throat.
In a single, synchronized motion, the sparring stopped. Blades were lowered.
Every knight in the arena dropped to one knee, their armored fists hitting the ground with a heavy thud.
"Glory to Her Highness, the Imperial Consort!"
"Rise," I commanded.
The sea of armor shifted as everyone stood up, waiting for my next order. My eyes frantically scanned the crowd, looking for red hair, but all I saw were helmets and curious stares.
"My Lady," Kaelen murmured beside me.
I looked at him, and he subtly shifted his gaze toward the far end of the arena.
There she was. Standing near the wooden weapon racks, her back to us, paying absolutely zero attention to the commotion I had just caused.
I stepped down from the stone pavement, plastering a benevolent smile on my face.
"Continue your training. Good job, everybody!"
The knights hesitated for a second, then returned to their sparring, though the intensity was clearly dialed down as they watched me out of the corner of their eyes.
I walked toward the weapon racks, Kaelen shadowing my every step.
As I got closer, Elena turned.
She didn't bow. She didn't curtsy. She glared. It wasn't just a look of annoyance; it was a look of pure, unadulterated loathing.
I froze.
Wait a minute. The realization hit me like a brick. Why am I rushing over here just because the System told me to? It said "Survive the Morning Audience by making friends with Elena." But... the Audience is over. I survived. I didn't get executed.
So why am I walking into the lion's den?
Before I could finish that thought—and before I could open my mouth to say "Hello"—metal flashed in the sunlight.
Shing!
Elena drew a training sword from the rack with terrifying speed, leveling the bladed tip inches from my throat.
"Don't come any clo—"
CLANG!
Before her sentence was even finished, another blade blurred past my ear.
Kaelen had drawn his sword in a split second, the cold steel edge pressing right against Princess Elena's neck.
The entire arena went dead silent. Knights freez on there place.
My heart stopped. My eyes bulged.
Wait, wait, wait! NO! NO!
She is a freaking Princess! A blood royal!
I looked at Kaelen in horror. His face was stone cold, his eyes locked on Elena with lethal intent.
Is he insane?! Or suicidal?!
What kind of loyalty is this?! Do you fear no one in this entire world?! Put the sword down before we both get beheaded!