The grand hall of Armathia Kingdom shimmered beneath thousands of crystal lights. Noble families from different kingdoms sat in elegant rows while soft music drifted through the air. Yet despite the beauty of the celebration, an invisible tension lingered heavily among the guests.
Because he was present.
Every gaze occasionally drifted toward the tall masked man seated calmly not far from the royal family.
Louis Toran Volkov.
Even without revealing his face, his presence alone commanded absolute silence.
The nobles who once planned to create chaos during the ceremony now sat stiffly in their seats, not daring to even whisper too loudly.
Some had intended to publicly protest Roseline's selection. They refused even after she proved herself worthy.
Some wanted to embarrass the crown prince.
Others planned to spread rumors that the future crown princess of Armathia Kingdom did not deserve her position because they've somehow heard she is not kingston cousin but a stranded baby on the road.
But the moment news spread that Louis himself would attend the ceremony personally…
Everything changed.
Because everyone knew one terrifying fact.
The king of Lovera Highcrest rarely stepped outside his own palace walls.
He avoided gatherings.
Avoided ceremonies.
Avoided unnecessary interaction with outsiders.
Yet today…
He came personally for Roseline and kingston's union.
That alone was enough to send fear into the hearts of many.
"Why would he attend personally?" one noble whispered nervously.
Another lowered his voice. "There must be a deep relationship between him and the throne of Armathia."
"I heard he once destroyed an entire noble house for insulting someone under his protection…"
"Shh! Lower your voice!"
Several men who had previously planned to disrupt the event immediately abandoned their schemes.
None of them wanted to attract King Louis Toran's attention.
Unfortunately for them…
It was already too late.
At the far side of the hall, Lucas Vale, his P.A and only close friend leaned slightly toward Louis.
"My king," Lucas muttered quietly, handing him a folded paper. "Those are the names of the nobles planning to cause trouble earlier." I asked our people to gather Intel and secure the perimeter secretly. This is what they found.
Louis accepted the list lazily. He trusted him to do his job well.
His sharp silver eyes briefly skimmed through the names.
Then he calmly folded the paper again.
"Ruin them."
Lucas smiled.
"As expected."
"No executions," Louis added coldly. "Not during Alexander's ceremony."
"But afterward…"
A chilling silence followed.
Lucas almost pitied the fools.
Almost.
Meanwhile, at the center of the gathering, Roseline Astoria sat beside Alexander Armathia, trying her best to maintain composure. She took the last name of the Queen sister, Alexander's aunt.
But inwardly…
She was troubled.
Very troubled.
Because ever since the masked king arrived…
She could constantly feel his gaze on her.
Sharp.
Penetrating.
Intense.
It never seemed to leave her.
Roseline subtly glanced toward him again only to freeze when she realized—
He was already looking at her.
Again.
Her brows twitched slightly.
'Why does he keep staring at me…?'
Unlike before, Roseline no longer wore her signature light purple veil.
Ever since she had been chosen during the royal selection, she had stopped hiding her face from the public.
Now the entire kingdom knew of her beauty.
She was gorgeous then, but now without her veil, she looks stunning and exude a cold aura. She is extremely gorgeous.
Still…
She felt strangely exposed beneath Louis' unwavering gaze.
His face remained hidden beneath the elegant black mask that covered the upper half of his features, yet even with that concealment, his beauty was impossible to ignore.
His skin was pale.
His jaw sharp and refined.
His long silver hair flowed behind him like moonlight.
At first glance, one could mistake him for a breathtakingly beautiful woman.
But the moment one looked into those cold eagle-like eyes…
That illusion shattered instantly.
There was nothing feminine about the terrifying authority radiating from him.
Roseline leaned slightly toward kingston and whispered quietly,
"Why does he wear a mask all the time?"
Alexander merely smiled.
"You're asking the wrong person."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one you'll get."
Roseline frowned.
"And why does he keep looking at me? It's becoming creepy."
Alexander nearly laughed.
"You noticed too?"
"Everyone noticed!"
Indeed, many guests had already begun whispering among themselves.
The masked king's attention toward Roseline had become far too obvious.
Some ladies even exchanged scandalized looks.
"Does King Louis have feelings for the future crown princess?"
"Impossible…"
"But he hasn't looked away from her once."
Roseline felt her headache worsen.
'Wonderful.'
She resisted the urge to glare openly at him.
Unfortunately…
The man seemed completely unbothered.
In fact, when their eyes met again, Louis calmly lifted his wine glass toward her.
Roseline almost choked from disbelief.
'This insane man.'
Beside him, Lucas nearly burst into laughter seeing Louis intentionally provoke her.
"You're enjoying this too much," Lucas muttered.
Louis' lips curved faintly beneath the mask.
"She's expressive. What a beautiful sister I have, I feel like keeping her way from these pests, hungry eyes and that bastard kingston."
"She looks ready to throw something at you." Lucas chuckled
"That would be entertaining."
Lucas shook his head helplessly.
The terrifying king feared by nations was apparently amusing himself by irritating one woman. His sister.
What a disaster.
Not long after, the formal greetings began as royal guests approached the newly acknowledged couple one after another.
Eventually…
Louis and Lucas rose from their seats.
The hall instantly became quieter.
Even the musicians seemed nervous.
Roseline watched the two men approach with visible caution.
Lucas smiled warmly as always.
But Louis…
Still carried that suffocating pressure around him.
Alexander kingston stood first with proper royal courtesy.
"King Louis. Lord Lucas."
Louis extended his hand toward Alexander.
"Congratulations."
Alexander accepted the handshake politely—
Only for his expression to slightly stiffen.
Louis' grip tightened.
Not enough to appear disrespectful publicly.
But enough to send a clear warning.
The air between them instantly changed.
Roseline noticed immediately.
Her eyes narrowed.
'What is he doing?'
Kingston maintained composure despite the pressure crushing his hand.
Then Louis leaned closer slightly.
"Protect her properly."
The words sounded calm.
But carried frightening weight.
Before kingston could answer—
Roseline suddenly stood up.
"That's enough."
The surrounding nobles froze.
Even Lucas blinked in surprise.
Roseline stepped closer to Kingston protectively before glaring directly at Louis.
"You're hurting him."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
No one dared breathe.
A woman…
Had just openly condemned Louis Kingston.
The terrifying ruler whose mere presence frightened kingdoms.
Yet Roseline continued fearlessly.
"He greeted you respectfully, so there's no need for such intimidation."
Lucas slowly looked toward Louis.
Waiting to see his reaction.
But unexpectedly—
Louis simply stared at Roseline quietly.
His sharp eyes softened for the briefest second.
Then…
He released Kingston's hand.
"My apologies."
The entire hall nearly collapsed from shock.
Louis Toran.…
Apologized?
King Alexander, the Queen...
kingston himself looked stunned.
Roseline also froze, clearly not expecting that response.
Then Louis looked at her once more.
Long.
Deep.
Unreadable.
Before finally speaking in a low voice only she could hear.
"You stand in front of the people you care about exactly the same way she did. Just.. as bold."
Roseline's brows furrowed instantly.
"What does that mean—who"
But Louis had already stepped back.
And for the first time since arriving…
He finally looked away from her.
King Alexander and his Queen were both smiling, they didn't interfere, its kingston job to gain his brother-inlaw's favor. "We are in for a show" they both thought as they gaze at eachother happily.
@Queenzayn