The arena still thundered with cheers when Balthor descended the stone steps, his massive frame impossible to miss. The new King of Tharvaldur wore no pompous ceremonial armor—just his usual normal clothes. At his side, as always, walked Noriel, the dwarf with a braided beard and stern face, carrying a heavy scroll in both hands.
In the center of the arena, Noel still stood tall, Revenant Fang hanging at his hip, the crowd chanting his name over and over. The echo of thousands of voices inside the mountain was deafening.
And cutting through that roar came a single, shameless voice.
"He's my boyfriend!"
Charlotte, standing high in the stands, waved her arms with not a hint of embarrassment. Gasps and laughter rippled through the crowd, people turning to spot the red-haired girl shouting loud enough for the whole of Tharvaldur to hear. She froze for a split second, eyes flicking toward Elena and Elyra beside her, then raised her voice even higher.
"He's our boyfriend!"
