(Next Day — Royal Palace of Velmoria)
Sunlight spilled softly through the tall windows when Eva finally opened her eyes. Her body felt lighter, the ache that had pinned her down the night before had vanished.
Eva blinked at the light, surprised.
"It's already this late? Why didn't anyone wake me up?" she murmured, sitting up from the bed.
She pressed a palm to her stomach, then smiled faintly.
"It doesn't hurt anymore."
Rising, she walked toward the door and pulled it open. Two knights stood guard on either side. They immediately bowed.
"Your Grace."
Eva nodded politely. "Can you call Aranel here?"
"Yes, Your Grace." One of the knights hurried off.
Eva studied the knight who remained. "Are you new here? I don't recall seeing you before."
The knight straightened. "Your Grace, I'm not new. I'm from the Special Knight Squad."
Eva frowned slightly. "Special Knight Squad?"
"Yes, Your Grace."
"If that's the case, shouldn't you be stationed with His Majesty? Why are you guarding my door?"
The knight replied with composure, "It is His Majesty's order, Your Grace."
Eva blinked. "His Majesty's order?"
"Yes. His Majesty commanded that from this day forward, we are to take orders only from you. No matter what the order may be—even if you command us to remove His Majesty from your room—we are not to hesitate."
Eva froze for a moment. Her mind drifted back to the night before—
> "Right… I forgot. You won't listen to me anyway. I'm just a commoner who became queen."
"Eva, don't say that."
"Your Majesty, I said nothing wrong. Your knights aren't listening to me. What else could it be, if not that?"
The memory faded. Eva sighed softly and smiled.
"There you go… he took my words to heart."
Then she added under her breath, "I only said that to make him leave, and now I have to handle two of you."
The knight replied, "Your Grace, it's not just two of us."
Eva looked up, curious. "Then how many?"
"There are four hundred and ninety-eight more, excluding us."
Eva's jaw nearly dropped. "Four hundred and ninety-eight more?"
"Yes, Your Grace."
"That's insane," Eva muttered. "How am I supposed to handle five hundred knights?"
The knight smiled faintly. "You don't need to worry about that, Your Grace. We can handle ourselves. You only need to give us orders."
Eva sighed, half amused, half exasperated. "Alright, fine."
Just then, the other knight returned, accompanied by Aranel.
Aranel's face brightened the moment she saw her. "Your Grace, you're awake!"
Eva crossed her arms. "Why didn't you wake me up?"
Aranel hesitated. "It was His Majesty's order—to let you rest."
Eva's expression softened
"How's your health now?" Aranel asked, walking closer. "The fever's gone, right?"
Eva nodded. "Yes, I'm fine."
"And the pain?"
Eva smiled. "Gone too."
"Thank goodness," Aranel sighed in relief. "But Your Grace, you really need to do something about your stamina."
Eva chuckled. "You're right. I do need to do something…"
She paused, then turned to the knights still standing by the door.
"Knights," she called.
Both straightened immediately. "Your Grace."
"You said you'll follow any order I give, correct?"
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Then bring His Majesty to the training ground."
The knights froze. "Forgive us, Your Grace, but His Majesty is in a meeting right now."
"So what?" Eva replied calmly. "I don't care about the meeting. It's your job to bring him there. Do it by talking… or dragging him if you must. I want him in the training ground."
The knights exchanged nervous glances. "Drag His Majesty…?"
Eva sighed dramatically. "See? I knew you all only talk. When it comes to him, you can't do anything even if I order it."
Both knights straightened sharply. "We will do it!"
Eva blinked. "You will?"
"Yes, Your Grace! We will drag His Majesty to the training ground!"
Eva smiled, clearly pleased. "Good. You may go now."
The knights bowed deeply and left at once.
Aranel looked completely baffled. "Eva, what are you trying to do? Why did you tell them to bring His Majesty to the training ground?"
Eva smiled mischievously. "You said I need to build stamina, right?"
"Yes…"
"Then I need to do some training."
Aranel's eyes widened. "But—"
Eva took her hand gently. "Aranel, can you help me dress in my training gear?"
Aranel sighed in defeat, a small smile curving her lips. "Of course."
"Then let's go to my chamber," Eva said cheerfully, tugging her along.
---
(Royal Palace — Meeting Room)
Knock. Knock.
Everyone in the room froze. The air turned still.
Hans glanced at Eyan, who didn't look up from the documents before him. With a short nod, Eyan gestured for him to open it.
Hans walked to the door and pulled it open. "What do you want?" he asked sharply.
One of the knights outside saluted. "We came to take His Majesty with us."
Hans frowned. "What?"
"It's the Queen's order," the knight replied firmly. "She wants us to bring His Majesty to the training ground."
Hans blinked, unsure if he'd heard right. "Her Grace ordered you?"
"Yes."
From behind, Eyan's calm voice cut through the tension.
"Hans, what's going on? Who's at the door?"
The knights stepped forward and bowed deeply.
Eyan's eyes flicked toward them. "Oh, it's you two. What happened? You should be guarding the Queen's chambers—why are you here?"
The knight answered, "Your Majesty, Her Grace has woken up."
Eyan's expression softened instantly. "She woke up? She's not sick, right?"
"No, Your Majesty. Her Grace is perfectly fine. She's with Lady Aranel right now."
Eyan exhaled lightly. "Good." He waved his hand dismissively. "Then go. I'm in a meeting."
But the knights didn't move.
Hans's tone hardened. "What are you two doing? Didn't you hear His Majesty's command?"
The knights glanced at each other, then one stepped forward. "We can't go, Sir. We're under the Queen's direct order."
Eyan arched a brow. "And what exactly did she order you to do?"
The knight hesitated. "Her Grace asked us to bring you to the training ground."
Eyan frowned slightly. "The training ground? Why?"
"We don't know, Your Majesty. But Her Grace will be there too."
Eyan leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple. "I see… well, tell her I'll go later. I'm busy right now."
Still, the knights didn't move an inch.
Hans snapped, his patience gone. "Didn't you hear His Majesty? Go!"
Before he could react, the two knights rushed forward and grabbed Eyan by the arms.
Hans's chair screeched back as he stepped forward in fury. "You fools! How dare you touch His Majesty!"
The knights lowered their heads. "Forgive us, Your Majesty," one of them said quickly. "But we're only following Her Grace's command."
Eyan's calm gaze locked onto them. "What exactly did the Queen tell you to do?"
The knight swallowed. "Her Grace said… if His Majesty refuses to come—"
Eyan tilted his head, curious. "If I refuse to come?"
"Then we are to drag you to her."
The room fell silent. The ministers and guards stared in disbelief.
For a long moment, Eyan said nothing—then a faint smile tugged at his lips.
"She said that?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Eyan slowly stood from his chair. The faint amusement in his eyes made the knights uneasy.
"Fine then," he said quietly. "Here."
He extended his hands toward them willingly. "Drag me to her."
The knights hesitated before bowing and taking him by the arms.
As they led him out of the room, no one dared to speak.
The air was thick with stunned silence—no one could believe what had just happened.
------
(Royal Palace — Hallway)
Luca and Leo were returning from their search when they stopped abruptly.
Up ahead, two knights were dragging Eyan down the corridor, each gripping one of his arms.
Luca's expression darkened instantly. "Take your hands off him!" he barked, his voice echoing through the marble hall.
The knights froze in place, startled.
"You dare commit treason?" Luca roared, his magic flaring violently around him.
Both knights stiffened. Even Eyan's steps halted. "Luca—calm do—"
But before he could finish, Luca thrust his hand forward. A burst of magic struck one of the knights, hurling him backward across the corridor. The man hit the ground with a heavy thud.
Eyan's eyes widened. "Luca! What have you done?"
He strode forward, fury flashing across his face. "You just killed one out of her five hundred knights! She'll be devastated when she finds out!"
"Eyan—"
"Enough!" Eyan snapped. "You fool, heal him right now!"
Luca stared, utterly bewildered. "You want me to heal him? He was committing treason!"
The remaining knight shook his head desperately. "No, Master Luca—it's not like that!"
Luca's magic flared again, but before he could release another spell, Eyan moved—fast as lightning—and stepped directly into its path. The energy struck him, but Eyan deflected it effortlessly.
"Luca, stop!" Eyan's voice thundered through the hall. "They're not committing treason."
Luca's eyes narrowed. "Then why are they dragging you like a hostage?"
Eyan met his gaze calmly. "You want to know?"
"Yes," Luca snapped.
Eyan's lips curved faintly. "Then come with me." He turned his head toward the unconscious knight. "But first—heal him."
Luca sighed heavily, lowering his hand. "Fine."
He knelt beside the knight, muttering an incantation. A soft glow spread from his palm, and the man stirred awake, groaning weakly.
Eyan extended his arm toward the knights. "Now, take me."
Luca's brow furrowed. "Eyan, what are you doing? I don't understand at all."
"You will," Eyan replied, a hint of amusement in his tone. "Come with me."
Luca hesitated. "What about Leo?"
Eyan turned to the boy, his expression softening. "Leo, you can come too."
Leo's face lit up. "Okay!"
And so, under the stunned eyes of the palace guards, Eyan allowed himself to be led away once more—this time with Luca and Leo following close behind.
---