"My Lady, I hav—"
Before Kaelen could finish his sentence, a sharp, icy voice slashed through the air like a whip.
"KAELEN BLACKTHORN!"
I jumped, pulling away from his chest.
At the end of the hallway stood Her Majesty, the Empress. She was flanked by four Royal Guards, her expression colder than a winter storm. She didn't even look at me. Her gaze was fixed entirely on Kaelen, filled with disdain.
...
~ An Hour Later ~
I was sitting on the edge of my bed, staring at the closed door.
For the first time since last night, I was completely, utterly alone.
Her Majesty had taken Kaelen away. No, "taken" is too polite. She had practically arrested him.
And the reason? Because I, the Imperial Consort, was seen "carelessly clinging" to my personal knight in a public hallway.
Damn it!
I clenched my fists in my lap.
She didn't even listen to me! She didn't care that I was dizzy, or that I nearly fell, or that he was just supporting me so I wouldn't face-plant onto the stone floor.
To her, it was just a scandal. A breach of protocol.
I bit my lip, anxiety gnawing at my stomach.
I wonder what she's going to do to him? If she punishes him... it's entirely my fault.
Knock, knock.
"Young Lady?" Grandpa Eldric's voice came through the heavy wood. "May I come in?"
I shot up from the bed. "Yes! Please!"
I rushed toward the door just as he opened it, closing it behind him with a faint, deliberate thud.
"Grandpa!" I gasped, my voice trembling, on the verge of tears. "Kael—is he—?"
"Peace, Young Lady. Calm yourself," he said, raising a soothing hand. "Sir Kaelen has not been punished physically. I explained the situation to Her Majesty myself—that it was a medical episode."
I let out a shuddering sigh of relief, my shoulders slumping. He's okay.
"Oh, thank god," I breathed. "Then where is he? Why isn't he back?"
Eldric's expression didn't lighten. He looked at me with sad, weary eyes.
"Young Lady... even though Sir Kaelen had no ill intent, and neither did you... the optics were disastrous."
He took a step closer, lowering his voice.
"You are the Imperial Consort. The moment you were seen clinging to a knight's chest in the hallway... maids saw. Guards saw. Even a few visiting nobles witnessed it."
I opened my mouth to argue, but he cut me off gently.
"Rumors do not care for facts, child. Her Majesty cannot turn a blind eye to such a scandal, not when it has happened twice now. The Court is already whispering."
"So...?" My stomach dropped. "So what, Grandpa?"
He adjusted his glasses, looking away for a moment before meeting my gaze.
"Sir Kaelen has been removed from his position as your Personal Knight, effective immediately."
I froze.
"From this moment on," Eldric bowed his head slightly, "I will be the one serving you, Young Lady."
"Huh?"
Before I could even process the shock of Eldric's words, the air in front of me shimmered.
The System screen flickered to life, the blue light glitching nervously.
[ Alert: Quest Chain "Tame the Strongest Knight Alive" — DELAY DETECTED. ]
[ NEW TIP: Do NOT visit the Royal Library without the Strongest Knight Alive. ]
What is this?
I frowned at the floating text. Why does it matter whether I go with him or not? I've been sitting in that library for two days straight. It's boring. Absolutely nothing happens there.
Why is it suddenly dangerous just because he's gone?
I swiped the screen away, ignoring the ominous red text. My priority right now wasn't a room full of books.
I looked up at Eldric, my eyes burning.
"Grandpa... what about him? Can I see him? Just for a moment?"
Eldric shook his head slowly, his face grim.
"He is forbidden from seeing you, My Lady. The order is absolute."
My heart sank like a stone.
So... it really happened, huh?
I slumped back onto the bed, staring at my hands.
I really did mess up.
Fuck. I didn't even realize what "Taming" meant with Kaelen.
I thought it was just a game mechanic to make him loyal. But after seeing that vision of him slaughtering the Centaurs... and now the System warning me not to go anywhere without him...
I think I just lost the only thing standing between me and whatever is waiting in that Library.