The throne room was silent.
The report lay open before the king.
The words never changed.
> **Operation Black Dawn has failed.**
> **Royal soldiers refused to execute the target.**
> **Former Hero Jack has openly rebelled.**
> **Commander Rowan has sided with the Dragon-Blood.**
> **The Spear Saint has turned his weapon against the Royal Guard.**
---
The king slowly folded the parchment.
Not in anger.
In disappointment.
---
"So..."
He murmured.
"...even my heroes have abandoned me."
---
The ministers remained kneeling.
None dared answer.
---
Finally—
An elderly minister spoke.
"Your Majesty..."
"We can still negotiate."
---
The king looked at him.
Coldly.
---
"Negotiate?"
---
"Yes, Your Majesty. Reports from the eastern villages say the Dragon-Blood saved thousands of civilians."
---
Another minister nodded.
"The people are beginning to question the council."
---
The king stood.
His long cloak brushed across the marble floor.
---
"They question us..."
He said quietly.
"...because they witnessed one act of kindness."
---
Silence.
---
"They forget history."
---
He walked toward the enormous stained-glass window overlooking the capital.
Children played in the streets below.
Merchants laughed.
Families lived peacefully.
---
"They were born into peace."
---
His reflection stared back at him.
Older than he remembered.
---
"They never saw kingdoms disappear overnight."
---
His voice grew distant.
Like someone speaking to ghosts.
---
"I did."
---
The ministers exchanged uneasy glances.
---
Years ago...
Long before Jack...
Long before Rowan...
Long before Edward...
---
The king had been only a prince.
---
He watched an entire neighboring kingdom vanish beneath the attack of a single ancient dragon.
Cities reduced to ash.
Children buried beneath stone.
Mothers searching through ruins.
---
For three days...
The sky itself had burned.
---
He survived only because someone carried him away.
---
Fear had never left him.
---
He turned back toward the ministers.
---
"You see one girl."
---
"I see the beginning of another catastrophe."
---
The room became silent again.
---
No one doubted his sincerity.
---
That was the tragedy.
---
He wasn't evil.
---
He was terrified.
---
And terrified men often committed the greatest sins.
---
He looked toward the captain of the Royal Guard.
---
"Prepare the Holy Sword."
---
The captain hesitated.
---
"...Your Majesty..."
---
"The Holy Sword was created to slay dragons."
---
"It was."
---
"...Not children."
---
For the first time—
The king's expression softened.
Only slightly.
---
"Neither was I."
---
The captain lowered his head.
Unable to answer.
---
Meanwhile—
Miles away...
---
The battle had ended.
---
The remaining beasts fled into the mountains.
The giant beast lay motionless.
Its enormous body cooling beneath the evening sky.
---
The villagers gathered together.
Slowly.
Carefully.
---
Many looked toward Elsa.
Unsure.
---
Not because they feared her.
---
Because they didn't know what to say.
---
Finally—
The elderly woman stepped forward.
---
Her two grandchildren stood beside her.
---
Without a word—
She bowed.
Deeply.
---
"Thank you."
---
Elsa blinked.
---
Then another villager bowed.
---
Then another.
---
Soon—
Dozens of villagers stood with lowered heads.
---
Not to a queen.
Not to a dragon.
---
To the girl who saved them.
---
Elsa stepped back.
Almost panicked.
---
"...Please don't."
---
The old woman smiled gently.
---
"Then allow us to do something else."
---
She took the hand of one of her granddaughters.
A little girl with messy brown hair.
---
"Go on."
---
The child walked timidly toward Elsa.
Holding something behind her back.
---
She stopped.
Looked up.
---
Then offered Elsa a tiny flower crown.
Poorly made.
Crooked.
Missing petals.
---
"I..."
The little girl stammered.
"...made it..."
---
Elsa stared at the crown.
---
Edward used to weave flowers exactly like this.
---
Badly.
Very badly.
---
She slowly accepted it.
---
"...Thank you."
---
The little girl smiled brightly.
---
Then—
Without fear—
She hugged Elsa.
---
The entire village held its breath.
---
Elsa froze.
---
She hadn't been hugged...
Since Edward died.
---
Her hands shook.
Slowly...
Carefully...
She returned the embrace.
---
Tears rolled silently down her face.
---
Not because she was sad.
---
Because for one brief moment...
She finally understood what Edward had spent fifteen years protecting.
---
Not kingdoms.
Not races.
---
Moments like this.
---
Far away—
A lone rider watched everything from the hilltop.
---
He wore no royal armor.
No crest.
Only a plain black cloak.
---
His face remained hidden.
---
He quietly turned his horse toward the capital.
---
"The reports were true..."
He whispered.
---
"The Dragon-Blood..."
A faint smile appeared beneath the hood.
---
"...is nothing like they described."
---
Then he disappeared into the darkness.
---
Unnoticed by everyone.
---
Except one person.
---
Rowan watched the rider leave.
His smile vanished.
---
"...So."
He whispered to himself.
---
"The Holy Church has started moving."
---
For the first time in years...
Fear crossed Rowan's face.
---
Because kingdoms could be reasoned with.
Kings could change.
---
But the Holy Church...
Never forgave what they called a sin.