______
Hakan
I held her gaze, feeling the same tension mirrored there, the kind that weighed on my chest like iron. "We could go to Brion Kingdom… or any other country that would welcome us. Even the Great Temple," I murmured, my voice low but steady, "since I know you'd be safe there."
She drew in a sharp breath, and for a fleeting moment, her composure shattered. "We can't… If we leave, Kayar Kingdom will…" Her voice faltered, leaving the thought suspended in the air, heavy and unspoken. I understood perfectly—without us, the kingdom could crumble, alliances could falter, and those who relied on us might be lost to chaos.
I stepped closer, letting my fingers brush along the delicate curve of her jaw, tilting her face gently so her eyes met mine again. "Lucina… there's something that matters more to me than this kingdom now… and that's you."
Relief, doubt, and love flickered across her face in an almost imperceptible dance. I knew the sacrifice I asked of her was enormous. It was not just leaving a kingdom—it was leaving a legacy, a responsibility, a world she had known all her life.
"Besides," I added, offering a reassuring smile, "this kingdom will survive without me. My mother has fully recovered, and we have loyal vassals like Turan and Gillai. I trust them, and I need you to trust me too, Lucina."
My voice dropped, the words a soft, earnest murmur meant for her alone. "You don't need to decide right now. I know I'm asking the impossible. But I'll make preparations while you think it over… give yourself the time you need."
She stared at me silently, her silver eyes reflecting a whirlpool of emotions—love, fear, hope, and doubt. "Okay," she whispered finally.
I knew that single word was a fragile truce with time itself, a plea for delay rather than agreement. I grasped her hand, feeling the warmth and fragility of her skin against my calloused fingers. "Please… give me a week to decide."
"Lucina…" I whispered again, tightening my hold gently. "I promise… I will never leave you alone again. Wherever we go, whatever we face, I'll make you happy every day. I swear it."
Leaning in, I pressed my lips to her forehead, letting the kiss linger just long enough to pour all my promise, all my sincerity, into that single touch. Wherever we might end up, I would carry her safety and happiness with me, my only true kingdom.
---
_____
Lucina
The warmth of his kiss still lingered on my hand, a quiet echo of the impossible choice he'd placed before me. I watched his figure retreat, broad shoulders disappearing through the doorway, leaving me in the silence of my room.
I moved to the window, feeling the morning sun spill over my skin, dust motes dancing in the golden light. The world outside remained unchanged, yet something inside me had shifted irreversibly. "Yesterday… that wasn't a dream, right?" I whispered to the quiet room.
I had never imagined Hakan would offer to abandon Kayar Kingdom, to step away from everything he had built. The notion was dizzying, almost too vast to grasp. Could we truly live a life unbound, free from the weight of duty and expectation? My mind spun with the enormity of the choice, each possibility sharper and more terrifying than the last.
A light knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. "Are you awake, my Lady?" a familiar voice asked, warm and gentle.
"You're up early!" I replied, managing a small smile.
"You seem brighter today," Tit noted, her tone soft, filled with care.
"Yeah… I am. How did you know?"
Tit chuckled, a light, melodic sound that lifted some of the heaviness from the room. "Isn't it obvious? Your happiness is written all over your face!"
I blushed, pressing my palms to my cheeks, trying to smooth away any betraying sign.
"Really?" I murmured.
She laughed, a bright, teasing sound. "Of course! You're far too easy to read sometimes."
Feeling a pang of guilt, I lowered my eyes. "Sorry for making you worry, Tit."
She waved it off cheerfully. "No worries! How about breakfast in bed today? I can make something nice."
A genuine smile spread across my face. "That sounds wonderful."
With that, Tit practically dashed out of the room, her voice trailing behind her. "I won't be long, my Lady!"
As the door clicked shut, the weight of responsibility returned, heavier now in the quiet. I stared down at my hands, tracing the contours of my fingers. Anxiety coiled within me, sharp and insistent. "What will happen to Tit if I leave?" I thought, a cold ripple of worry passing through me. Not just Tit… Turan and Gillai too… Could they survive without me to guide them?
I forced myself to remember Hakan's words. "This kingdom won't fall apart just because I'm not here." But even as I clung to his reassurance, the weight of Kayar Kingdom pressed down on me like an iron chain.
Seven days. A week to decide if my own chance at happiness—at freedom, at life with Hakan—was worth leaving everything else behind. Seven days to weigh my heart against duty, love against legacy.
---
_________
Lucina
The next day dawned slowly, sunlight spilling through the tall palace windows and spilling across the polished marble floors. The light felt different somehow—sharper, brighter, as though it sought to illuminate every shadow of my thoughts. I sat on the chaise, rubbing my eyes, trying to chase away the lingering haze of yesterday. What happened… wasn't a dream, right? The memory of Hakan's kiss, pressed softly to my hand, still felt startlingly real—warm, gentle, and impossibly intimate.
I let out a long, shaky sigh, running a hand through my hair. I never thought Hakan would offer to leave Kayar Kingdom first. The sheer thought of it was dizzying—an intoxicating freedom laced with equal measures of terror. Could we really live a life unshackled by duty, outside the walls of this kingdom? The question spun through my mind, refusing to settle.
A gentle knock at the door pulled me from the spiral of my thoughts.
"Are you awake, my Lady?" The familiar, soft voice of Tit broke the silence.
I forced a small smile, trying to steady my voice. "Oh, you're up early!"
"Yep," I replied, keeping the cheer forced but faintly trembling under the weight of my own worry.
Tit stepped in, her eyes instantly lighting up with relief. "You seem to be feeling better today," she said, a warmth in her voice that made my heart ache with gratitude.
"Yeah… I am. How did you know?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"Isn't it obvious?" she said with a bright smile. "It's written all over your face!"
I pressed my palms against my cheeks, feeling the sudden warmth of a blush creeping across my skin. "Huh? Really?"
Tit laughed, a light, musical sound that seemed to fill the room with ease. "Haha! Of course not! You're so gullible sometimes," she teased, the corners of her eyes crinkling with affection.
Feeling a familiar pang of guilt, I lowered my gaze. "Anyway, I'm sorry for making you worry, Tit," I said softly, the words weighted with sincerity.
She waved it off cheerfully. "That's fine! How about breakfast in bed today? I can make something nice."
The thought made my heart lift just a little. "That sounds wonderful," I said, my smile more genuine now.
Tit practically darted out of the room, her voice echoing back. "I won't be long, my Lady!"
As the door clicked shut, the brightness of her presence faded, leaving me alone once more. The cheerfulness of our brief exchange slipped away like water through my fingers, replaced by the gnawing weight of responsibility. I sank back onto the chaise, hands clasped tightly in my lap.
I couldn't help but worry. What will happen to Tit if I leave? The thought expanded, spreading to the others I cared for. Not just Tit, but Turan and Gillai as well… would they manage without Hakan guiding them? Could they survive in a kingdom suddenly missing one of its pillars?
I closed my eyes and forced myself to recall Hakan's words, replaying them as a mantra to steady my heart: "Besides, this kingdom won't fall apart just because I'm not here… My mother has fully recovered, and there are excellent vassals like Turan and Gillai as well. I trust them. So I want you to trust me, Lucina."
Hakan was right. I had to believe in his confidence, in the loyalty of those around me. Clutching my dress over my heart, I reminded myself: I had a week—a full seven days—to make this impossible choice. Seven days to summon courage, to trust Hakan, and to allow myself the hope of a future together. I couldn't waste it panicking; I had to find conviction within myself, and perhaps, a hint of bravery.
But even as I steeled myself, a darker undertone lingered in the palace, far from my quiet chamber. Somewhere deep within Tayar Palace, behind thick stone walls, a different conversation took place—a sinister one.
Footsteps echoed sharply through the dim corridors of the palace cells. A figure approached a barred cell, where a prisoner sat in subdued anticipation.
"I have good news for you, Your Highness," the prisoner said cautiously.
"Really?" the female visitor responded, her expression sharp, measuring.
"A growing number of people within our kingdom wish to see you reinstated as Queen," the prisoner informed her.
The visitor arched an eyebrow, suspicion mingling with delight. "Why is that?"
Leaning in, the prisoner lowered his voice. "My Lady… Lucina can no longer bear a child."
Shock and delight flashed across the visitor's face. A cruel, triumphant grin spread as she whispered, "Are you sure? So that foolish little girl cannot have any children?"
"Yes. That is why they wish to release you—and have you continue the Guardian Dragon's bloodline," the prisoner explained.
The visitor threw her head back, laughter ringing sharp and manic through the hall. "AHAHA! HAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The prisoner flinched, startled by the outburst. "Um… Your Highness?"
The woman took a shallow breath, her laughter fading just enough to regain composure. "Ahem… Sorry. It's just… too funny."
The path back to the throne—and away from Lucina—had just been cleared. The gears of ambition and cruelty continued to turn quietly in the shadows, even as the golden light of morning bathed Lucina's chamber.
Authors pov
The sun rose over Kayar Palace, its golden light spilling across the ornate halls, yet for Lucina, the morning felt different. Every ray seemed heavy, laden with the weight of the monumental choice that lay before her. She sat alone on the chaise, rubbing her eyes, trying to shake off the lingering disbelief.
What happened yesterday… wasn't a dream, right? The memory of Hakan's kiss on her hand—the promise that shook her very core—remained vivid. She couldn't fathom that the Dragon King would actually offer to leave Kayar Kingdom first. Could they really embrace a life of freedom, away from the burdens and responsibilities of the throne?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar, gentle knock.
"Are you awake, my Lady?"
Relief spread through her chest at the sound. She offered a genuine smile. "Oh, you're up early!"
"Yep," she confirmed, her voice carrying the faintest warmth.
Tit stepped inside, her playful expression brightening the room. "You seem to be feeling better today," she said, her voice soft but cheerful.
"Yeah… I am. How did you know?" Lucina asked, genuinely curious.
Tits' face lit up further. "Isn't it obvious? It's written all over your face!"
Lucina pressed her hands to her cheeks, feeling the heat rise. "Huh? Really?"
Tit laughed, a light, melodic sound that seemed to ease some of Lucina's tension. "Haha! Of course not! You're so gullible sometimes," she teased, her eyes sparkling.
"I'm sorry for making you worry, Tit!" Lucina said, her voice gentle, tinged with gratitude.
"That's fine! Would you like to have breakfast in bed today?" Tit offered, the cheerfulness in her voice a balm to Lucina's frayed nerves.
"That sounds great," Lucina replied, a small smile breaking through.
"I won't be long, my Lady!" Tit promised, dashing out with her usual energy.
Alone once more, Lucina's smile faded. The weight returned, pressing down on her chest. I wonder what will happen to Tit if I leave… Her anxiety widened, consuming thoughts of Turan and Gillai as well. Will they be okay once Hakan is gone?
She recalled Hakan's firm, unwavering voice: "Besides, this kingdom won't fall apart just because I'm not here… My mother has fully recovered, and there are excellent vassals like Turan and Gillai as well. I trust them." Clinging to his words, she whispered to herself, Hakan's right. I'm sure they'll be fine. I… I should worry about myself first.
Tayar Palace Cells
Far below the gilded halls, in the cold, shadowed depths of Tayar Palace, a different sort of plotting unfolded. The stone floor echoed with deliberate footsteps as a woman moved slowly down the aisle, stopping before a barred cage.
"I have good news for you, Your Highness," the imprisoned man said cautiously.
The visitor, the former Queen, watched him intently. "Really?" she asked, her voice sharp, tinged with curiosity.
"A growing number of people within our kingdom want to see you reinstated as Queen," the prisoner explained.
"Why is that?" she demanded, leaning in slightly.
He lowered his voice, careful of the walls that might overhear. "My lady… Lucina can no longer bear a child."
The former Queen's eyes widened with vicious delight. She slammed her fist down against the cage with a loud BANG. "Are you sure? So that foolish little girl can't have any children?"
"Yes. That's why they want to release you and have you continue the Guardian Dragon's bloodline—" the prisoner started.
Her laughter erupted then, a chilling, echoing sound that rang sharply through the corridor. "AHAHA! HAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The prisoner flinched. "Um… Your Highness?"
She took a slow, deliberate breath, regaining her composure. "Ahem… Sorry, it's just too funny," she sneered, eyes glinting with dark resolve. "She acted like she was so much better than me… but now she's being rejected because she can't have a child! He he he he he. It was bound to happen eventually. The only person who can be the Queen of Kayar Kingdom… is me."
A Few Days Later – The Week of Decision
The week passed swiftly, each day carrying the weight of anticipation and uncertainty. On the final evening, a KNOCK KNOCK sounded at Lucina's chamber door.
"Hakan," she whispered as the door opened.
He stepped in, his expression serious, yet softened when he saw her. "Lucina… have you thought about it?"
He took a tentative step closer, his gaze searching hers. "Were you worried?"
Lucina shook her head gently. "You look tense," she observed.
Hakan hesitated, caught in the moment. Lucina softened, offering a small smile. "Well… it's just… you look especially beautiful today."
A warmth spread across his features. "You noticed. It was worth putting in the extra effort today," he murmured, leaning in to press a brief, tender kiss to her lips.
Then he held her hand, eyes locked on hers. "What have you decided, Lucina? Are you ready to leave with me?"
Her chest tightened, the weight of choice pressing down with excruciating force. She met his gaze steadily, gathering her resolve.
"Hakan," she said, taking a measured breath. "I've spent a lot of time thinking… considering what's best for us and for the kingdom. This is the conclusion I reached."
The air between them grew heavy, gilded walls suddenly feeling cold and distant.
Hakan waited, his expression taut with dread.
Lucina did not flinch. "I'm not going with you."
The words hit him like a physical blow. His face darkened, a flash of anger crossing his features. "Are you sure? You want to leave with me—" he began, hand instinctively clenching near his sword.
Lucina raised a hand, silencing him, her voice calm but firm. "Think about it, Hakan. Not only did you forcibly take me from Brion Kingdom… but you also failed to protect my baby." Her eyes burned with unwavering resolve. "How am I supposed to trust and follow someone like that?"
She withdrew her hand, the sound of separation a sharp punctuation in the tense silence.
"I'm going to the Great Temple… where I know I'll be safe," she declared, repeating the very option he had given her.
Lifting her chin, she added, voice steady and filled with heartbreaking strength, "So… don't even think about trying to stop me."
Hakan watched, the weight of her words sinking deep into his soul. His beloved Lucina—the one he had offered to abandon everything for—was leaving him, citing his past failures as the reason.