Chapter 139: Thin Patience
Watching Queen resting her chin on Kael's shoulder and touching his cheeks that way, even brushing her fingers against his lips as if she had every right to do so, Seraphina felt the last bit of her patience thinning to nothing. Until now she had remained silent, standing in front of them and observing without being able to hear a single word they exchanged, which already strained her tolerance since staying still while someone close to her whispered things she could not hear always created an irritating pressure inside her chest.
She watched Kael's expressions closely and, even without hearing anything, she could easily guess what the woman was attempting. It seemed clear to her that Queen was trying to push her influence into Kael's mind, but he kept resisting with all his focus. He even kept his eyes shut, which meant he was trying to hold his ground in the only way he could.
Knowing Kael, she expected him to resist for a while at least, so she forced herself to wait and maintain her calm, though she had already prepared herself to move the moment she sensed anything crossing the line.
But the instant Seraphina saw that woman lowering her head toward Kael's neck, pressing her lips close as if she wanted to taste him, even licking her lips in that disgusting manner just to provoke someone, she lost the ability to remain still.
The thought of letting that scene continue any longer pushed a sharp irritation through her entire being. Without allowing herself a moment of hesitation, she vanished from her position and reappeared just behind Queen.
She cast a brief glance over her shoulder. Blue flames shimmered within her eyes, restless and cold, when she hissed a single word, "Disgusting."
Her wrist shifted in a smooth twist, the blade turning backward as she moved her arm in a clean diagonal arc that carried enough precision to land on Queen's neck without wasting the smallest motion.
But the knife never touched her. The woman disappeared a heartbeat before the strike could land, leaving Seraphina no choice but to halt the blade mid-air. If she had not stopped herself at the last moment, the knife might have reached Kael's neck, and although a part of her would have enjoyed that thought in another situation, she could never actually harm him that way.
So, she pulled the knife back, steadying her breath, then turned her head forward again only to see that vile woman's face right in front of her.
Seraphina stiffened for a moment because the sudden closeness startled her, although she regained her composure quickly.
Looking down at Queen with an expression of cold irritation, she spoke in a voice that carried the weight of controlled anger, "What do you think you're trying to do with him, huh? Do you even understand the meaning of shame? You call yourself a Queen while attempting to kiss a man in front of your own people, which is a sight far beneath the title you claim. I recall you saying you wished to speak with me, but instead of doing that, here you are amusing yourself with a man. Truly pitiful."
Queen lifted her chin slightly, her lips coming together in a graceful, composed gesture before she answered in a soft, elegant tone, "Why are you so enraged?"
Seraphina did not respond immediately. She simply twisted her wrist and thrust the knife toward Queen's stomach while speaking in that same cold voice, "Why would I not be enraged? You are harassing someone who stands as my companion, and you are doing it directly in front of me. You expect me to stand aside and watch that scene without reacting, which would never happen under my watch. I carry a reputation that you clearly lack."
The moment the tip of the knife was about to tear through Queen's stomach, her hand moved in a steady swift motion and caught Seraphina's wrist, stopping the blade in the air between them, and her voice came out quiet and almost too calm, "That seems reasonable."
Seraphina pressed harder without a second thought, her muscles tightening as she attempted to push Queen back and make the knife move toward its target, but Queen mirrored that pressure with the same level of force, creating an instant where neither blade nor hand moved, as if their strength and resilience were matching each other so perfectly that they dissolved the momentum entirely.
At least, that was what Seraphina thought.
Because in the very last moment Queen loosened her pressure completely, and due to the force Seraphina had already applied to compete with her, she lost control for a breath and thrust the knife forward on her own.
However, even then, before the blade could come close enough to touch the edge of Queen's gown, she turned her body and stepped to the side in one smooth motion, the movement so precise that the tip of the knife missed her by a hair's breadth.
Seraphina stared down at her own hands for a few seconds, unable to ignore the slight tremble running through her fingers, then she lifted her gaze at Queen again, her thoughts echoing in quiet disbelief, 'She moves quickly... but not as quickly as when she first appeared. Is she toying with me?'
Instead of withdrawing the knife, Seraphina twisted her wrist once more and this time thrust it sideways with a sudden unexpected angle, her aim curving in a way that made the strike far more unpredictable than before, and she believed not even Queen would be able to adjust to such an odd attack in time.
But what happened next left her stunned and slightly off guard.
The tip that should have been on its way toward Queen's chest now aimed right at Seraphina's own chest.
She barely managed to catch the pommel with her free hand. If she had not, the blade might have grazed or even pierced her skin already.
The exchange had happened so fast that it was almost a blur, but Seraphina could still piece the sequence together in her mind.
When the blade had been about to cut the woman, Queen had caught her wrist and twisted her hand with a smooth unbroken motion, guiding her force against herself with such perfect precision that it almost felt unreal. It was indeed an impressive reversal, turning the entire situation in her favor with a single controlled movement.
...Queen pressed the knife forward steadily as she leaned closer, her face calm and her voice even, "I want Kael."
Those words struck Seraphina so abruptly that she shuddered slightly, her brows tightening as she lost balance for a brief moment, and the confused whisper slipped out of her lips before she could stop it, "W-what?"
Her brief loss of balance allowed Queen to lean in even closer which brought the knife dangerously close as well.
Seraphina had not only lost the momentum which she needed to resist but the angle had shifted in a way that made one of her hands ache and forced the other to work even harder to stop the blade from touching her.
The vile witch kept applying steady pressure without the slightest tremor which made every second heavier than the last.
Queen remained silent for a few heartbeats then answered in an even tone, tilting her head slightly, "You heard me correctly. That is why I am doing something so shameful to him. Without such an approach I would never be able to make him mine. Maybe I should have asked for your permission before I approached him."
Seraphina blinked several times while her mind tried to catch up with the absurdity unfolding in front of her, "Alright... wait a second..."
What was this twisted woman saying? Had she lost her mind entirely? Why would someone like her desire someone like Kael? Was she claiming she had a crush on him? Could something this absurd even be possible? If a girl truly had such affection toward him then she must have been the greatest fool alive who clearly lacked any sense of taste when it came to men.
'If anyone ever developed such feelings, I would pity her... truly.'
Drawing a slow breath, she pushed back against the knife which forced Queen to lean away slightly, "But... why are you telling me something like that? And why are you asking for permission from me? Who am I to decide anything about his life?"
Queen leaned back a little more, a slight smile surfaced on her dark lips as she pushed the blade forward with a sudden and overwhelming force that burst through her arm. "Because you need to know, Captain. You are the only one who can give me that permission, and once I have it, no one will ever dare to interrupt me again."
The strength behind that push was so immense that Seraphina couldn't deflect it through raw force alone, so she was forced to step back several times, her body tilting backward as she tried to maintain her balance.
Queen didn't waste that brief opening. She stepped in at once, closing the distance with an unnerving speed as she plunged the knife straight toward Seraphina's neck.
Seraphina, who was still recovering her footing, lacked both the leverage and the angle to push the blade away in time, even though both her hands had already wrapped around the knife's hilt to stop it from darting forward any farther.
The blade came dangerously close to piercing her throat, so she tilted her head to the side, but that single movement wouldn't have saved her because the blade would still slice her regardless of the angle. That realization forced her to draw out every ounce of strength in her muscles to twist the knife's direction just enough to disrupt Queen's aim. It drained her more than she liked to admit, but she managed to redirect it at the final moment.
A thin cut formed near her neck as the knife halted just above her shoulder. Queen continued to press forward with measured force while Seraphina leaned back farther with gritted teeth, refusing to let the blade slide any deeper.
Seraphina narrowed her eyes, breathing heavily, but her tone remained as cold as ever. "What are you even saying? I don't understand a single thing you're implying. If you like him, then go and tell him that directly instead of trying to do something reckless like this. And let me remind you that I have absolutely nothing to do with him."
Queen didn't respond at once. Her lips parted slightly then closed again as if she pondered something. She tilted her head in an oddly delicate manner. "Wait... Captain? I believe you may have misunderstood my words."
Seraphina blinked several times, her voice rising in confusion. "Misunderstood? What?"
"Yes," Queen answered without delay.
Seraphina hesitated, then asked, "So... does that mean you don't have any feelings for him?"
Queen remained still for a long moment. Her reaction looked almost like she had been struck speechless, although it was difficult to tell considering her face was hidden. Eventually she spoke with calm certainty. "I assure you... I do not. By the gods, what gave you such an idea? Why would I develop affection toward someone like him?"
Seraphina stared at her in disbelief as heat crept up her cheeks in a faint shade of pink. Her thoughts spiraled in embarrassment. 'How could I jump to a conclusion like that? A woman like her would never consider someone like him that way. What is wrong with the way I think these days?'
She wanted to rub her temple in frustration, but her hands remained locked around the blade.
Instead, behind them, Kael touched his own temple and sighed. 'Seriously? That's what she is worrying about right now. And why do I feel like Queen is about to say something that will tear apart my pride completely? Maybe I should just shut my ears so I won't have to listen to the disgrace coming my way. What a mess.'
Arwyn, meanwhile, covered her face with one hand while turning her gaze toward the silhouettes in the distance. 'Of all times, she had to embarrass herself now. And someone needs to point out that her crush isn't some legendary handsome prince but just an ordinary guy without any remarkable features, so no one is going to snatch him away from her... at least not yet.'
She looked back at Seraphina's neck, where thin trails of blood had begun dripping downward.
Seraphina gathered herself, thought for a few moments, and asked in an urgent but steady tone, "Then... what you want is for Kael to join your people?"
Queen shifted her gaze toward Kael, watched him for a moment, then glanced back at her silent followers before returning her attention to Seraphina. "That is somewhat correct."
Seraphina's expression shifted as clarity settled in her mind. The way Queen originally spoke made misunderstanding almost inevitable, yet once she confirmed that she held no affection toward him, the true meaning became clear enough, and Seraphina didn't like it at all.
After thinking again she asked, "Is that why you wanted to speak with me?"
Queen answered without pause, "In a way, yes. Although I have more to say than just this."
Before she could voice a single word more, a green tendril surged out of the ground and whipped toward her hand in an attempt to seize it.
Instead of dodging it, Queen tilted her head slightly in a strangely calm manner and reached out with a precise pressure that seemed almost effortless but unavoidable, closing her fingers around the knife that Seraphina had been holding.
She twisted it out of her grasp with a sharp and deliberate motion before sending it flying forward with a swift flicker of her wrist that carried both annoyance and authority.
In the blink of an eye, the knife cut through the air in a straight fierce line while producing a sharp whistle that sliced through the quiet night, and the metal glimmered faintly under the soft moonlight in a way that gave it the appearance of an arrow rather than a weapon meant for close combat.
...Arwyn's eyes widened, her breath catching slightly, as the knife passed by her neck with almost no space left to spare, so close that she felt the faint breeze it created when she instinctively tilted her head aside.
The speed was so unnatural she didn't even have the chance to register its movement until the sound of steel sinking deep into wood echoed through the area with a dull metallic ring that lingered in her ears longer than she expected.
Arwyn turned toward the willow trees in search of the impact point, but instead of finding the knife embedded there her vision filled with Queen's face standing directly in front of her.
The sudden shift in position made Arwyn's heart jolt because she hadn't sensed even the slightest hint of movement, as if Queen's presence had simply materialized out of the silence.
'How can she be here? I swear she was right in front of me a second ago. I didn't sense anything at all.'
Queen raised a finger with elegant precision and touched her own lips lightly before she spoke in a voice that held an unmistakable threat beneath each calm syllable. "Do not interrupt us."
Arwyn took several involuntary steps back, not due to fear in its normal sense because she understood fear too intimately to confuse it with anything else, and she certainly wasn't the type to retreat from someone simply because of harsh words. Her body felt different though, weaker in a strange unbalanced way, especially around her stomach where a dull twist of discomfort spread through her.
Even her eyes felt slightly unfocused for a moment as if something inside her was resisting her own physical strength.
'Why is this happening to me so suddenly? Is this fear? No... this isn't fear, I know what fear really feels like. It is something opposite to it. Anger.'
The thought passed through her mind as she met Queen's face directly.
'It must be the pressure of her mana crushing down on me. She's angry. She is showing me that anger without hiding any part of it. Did I do something foolish again without realizing it?'
At the same time, Queen released a slow breath that seemed almost bored despite the tension in the air. "You have turned yourself into an obstacle in this conversation."
Arwyn blinked as her body tensed. "W-what?"
Queen's finger drifted away from her lips and moved toward Arwyn's torso. She poked it lightly, making Arwyn blink several times as she looked down.
'What the hell is she doing?'
Then, Queen's hand disappeared for an instant then reappeared again in a blur, tapping her torso once more before the motion changed into a fist pressing against her lightly at first, though she could not understand what that unusual sequence meant.
At the same time, a cold small chuckle slipped from Queen's lips. "Consequently, you are to remain uninvolved."
In the next moment Arwyn's entire chest tightened as if her ribs were about to snap apart under the invisible pressure that followed the strike.
'Dam..'
Then the force erupted outward and she was hurled into the air so suddenly that the wind roared past her ears while her vision blurred at the edges, turning everything into streaks of dark silhouettes and moonlit shapes.
'...mit.'
Soon, she crashed into something soft but solid, and the impact pushed that person backward along with her. Before she could orient herself something strange filled her body with a warmth that did not belong to her own as she recognised the person instantly.
'Kael? Poor guy must've been caught in the way. I hope he doesn't start imagining things. But I need to move… and fast.' Arwyn thought with a long sigh.
At the same time, Kael cursed under his breath as he was forced backward without even a moment of preparation. Even worse, his breath hitched as an involuntary warmth rose along his face from the heat, softness, and the sensation of Arwyn's back pressing firmly against his chest.
And he hated that feeling even more because the Queen had essentially forced him into it.
'Curse it. Curse it. Curse everything. Of all people she had to crash into me? Could she not have fallen onto Seraphina or anyone else? I am starting to despise the feeling of a woman's touch more than anything right now.'
Before either of them could regain their senses fully, Kael hit something behind him in mid-air. But strangely enough he didn't feel any pain and did not drop straight to the ground either.
Arwyn's fall was rougher as she rolled slightly off him, but he remained suspended in the air as if caught by something gentle but firm.
Opening his eyes, he turned over his shoulder and looked back as he saw countless tendrils woven together like a net holding him securely in place, preventing a direct fall.
'And look at that... she didn't let me fall straight on top of her either. I guess someone decided to show a little decency at the very end.'
When the tendrils released him, Kael regained his posture and immediately turned his head.
Arwyn was beside him, coughing lightly as blood gathered at the corner of her lips. Before he could even reach for her, a violent shockwave tore across the space in front of them.
It seemed that while he and Arwyn were still tumbling through the air, Seraphina had already launched herself at Queen with nothing but her fists, and the impact of their clash shook the area in a deep thunderous ripple.
Kneeling quickly in front of Arwyn, Kael placed his palm gently against her torso where her clothes had torn enough to reveal injured skin. Soft light pulsed under his hand as he focused on her wounds, but his gaze drifted toward the two figures clashing ahead.
'So the real conversation starts now. This might actually be entertaining to watch.'
---
(Chapter Ended)