The sound of movement stirred from within, followed by her voice, calm but curious. "Come in, Xavier. The hour is late, but you are always welcome."

He stepped inside, closing the door quietly behind him, she turned toward him, reading his face carefully.

Lucas stood just a few paces from Henrietta, his voice calm but firm as he broke the silence. "The King has sealed the alliance with Rus. The terms are agreed upon and there is no turning back. That means it falls to me now to travel to Lechia. The King has charged me with carrying his will there and ensuring the second part of this alliance is forged. The task rests entirely on my shoulders."

Henrietta studied him in silence for a long moment, her eyes narrowing as though she were trying to read deeper into his heart. Finally, she sighed softly, a faint smile curving her lips despite the seriousness of his words. "So it has come to this. You, bearing the weight of not just Valerion but the future of its alliances. You always did find yourself at the center of storms, Xavier."

Lucas allowed himself a quiet chuckle, though his tone carried a trace of weariness. "I suppose I should be used to it by now. But still, it is no small task. Lechia is not Rus, and convincing them to bind themselves to us will be a trial of its own."

Henrietta's expression softened. She stepped closer, her heels clicking lightly against the polished floor, until she stood directly in front of him. "You have always managed to achieve what others thought impossible. If there is anyone who can carry Valerion's banner into Lechia and come back victorious, it is you." Her voice lowered, warmer now, carrying a rare touch of affection. "I will miss you, though."

Lucas looked at her, his lips parting as if to respond, but the words did not come at once. Finally, he said quietly, "I will miss you too, Henrietta. More than I can easily put into words. Your presence has steadied me more times than you know."

She gave a light laugh, almost a whisper, and reached up with one hand to ruffle his hair gently, her fingers brushing across his scalp in a familiar, intimate gesture. "You speak too seriously sometimes, Lucas. It makes me want to remind you that you're still young, still a boy in some ways, no matter how many burdens you carry."

Before he could answer, she drew him closer, her arm slipping around his neck as she pressed his head against her chest. The soft warmth enveloped him, and she held him there as if shielding him from the world outside. "Don't think too much, Lucas," she murmured, her voice low and soothing. "Just let yourself rest for a moment."

Lucas closed his eyes, the tension in his body easing as he breathed in the faint, intoxicating scent of her perfume mingled with her own natural fragrance. For that brief moment, the weight of alliances and politics faded, and he allowed himself to simply exist in her embrace. He loved the smell of her, the comforting closeness that seemed to remind him he was not alone in this path.

Lucas lingered in Henrietta's chamber for only a moment longer, still feeling the warmth of her kiss against his lips, before he finally pulled away. His voice was steady, but there was resolve in it. "I should be going now. There is much to prepare for tomorrow, and I need a clear mind. Thank you, Henrietta, for everything."

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze softening as if she wished to hold him back, but instead she leaned in, pressed a firm kiss to his mouth, and whispered against him, "Go, Xavier. And remember that you are never alone in this. Come back to me safe."

He nodded once, a silent promise, and slipped out into the dimly lit corridor. His footsteps carried him with purpose, though his heart raced with anticipation. There was still one person who deserved to hear the truth tonight.

Nyx.

When he reached her chamber, he raised his hand and gave a gentle knock. Almost immediately, her voice carried from inside, soft but edged with nervousness. "Who is it?"

Lucas hesitated for only a heartbeat, then answered simply, "It's me."

The sound of hurried steps filled the room, and within seconds the door flung open. Nyx stood there, her eyes wide with anxiety, her hands gripping the edge of the frame as if she had been clinging to it all night. The moment she saw him, she stepped forward, her voice sharp and urgent. "Xavier… tell me. What did Father decide?"

Lucas met her eyes, and for a brief moment, he let his face harden with tension. His jaw was set, and his lips pressed into a thin line. Nyx's heart seemed to stop, her chest tightening as though she could already feel the weight of despair settling over her. Her voice trembled when she whispered, "No… don't tell me… please don't tell me he…"

But before she could finish, Lucas's expression broke into a wide, genuine smile. His eyes lit up, and he said clearly, "He will not marry you off to the Emperor. You are free, Nyx."

Nyx gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as tears welled instantly in her eyes. Relief flooded her so quickly it almost overwhelmed her. With a sob, she threw herself into his arms, wrapping herself tightly around him as though she would never let go again. "Lucas… you did it… you saved me…" she whispered between choked breaths, her tears soaking into his shoulder.

Lucas held her firmly, his hand running comfortingly along her back as he spoke softly into her ear. "I gave my word that I would never let you be used as a pawn, Nyx. And I meant it. I will always protect you."

She buried her face deeper into his chest, her voice muffled but filled with raw emotion. "I was so afraid… I thought tonight would be the night I lost everything. I prayed and prayed you would find a way, and you did. Xavier, I don't know how to thank you."

"You don't need to thank me," he replied gently, lifting her chin so he could look into her tear-streaked face. "Your smile is enough. That's all I wanted to see tonight."

Her lips trembled as she tried to smile through her tears, the joy and relief etched into her features. For the first time in what felt like forever, Nyx's heart felt light. She clung to him tighter, whispering again, "You saved me."

And Lucas, feeling the warmth of her happiness against him, knew that in that moment he had done more than win an alliance or prove himself to kings and emperors. He had protected one of the people who mattered most to him.

Nyx's tears had hardly dried when she suddenly tightened her hold on Lucas, tugging him further into the room before shutting the door with a firm push. Her breathing was uneven, and her cheeks glistened with the faint traces of the tears that had fallen. Without giving him a chance to step back, she seized his wrist and dragged him toward the bed, her voice trembling, not from fear this time, but from a rush of emotions she could no longer hold back.

"Sit," she urged, her hands pressing against his chest until he sank down onto the mattress. Before Lucas could even form a reply, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his in a fervent kiss, her arms winding around his neck.

Lucas felt the weight of the evening melting away from her body, the tension unraveling with every kiss she gave him. She kissed him with desperation, like someone who had been drowning and was finally allowed to breathe again. He responded gently at first, cupping her cheek, letting her find her release in the warmth of his presence.

When they parted for a moment, Nyx's eyes searched his face as if she wanted to memorize him right there and then. "Xavier," she whispered, her voice soft but urgent, "I don't care where you go or what danger lies ahead. I want to follow you. When you leave for Lechia, I'll go with you."

Lucas froze slightly at her words. His hand that had been brushing along her back stilled, and he looked into her determined eyes. He could see she meant it, that it wasn't some fleeting thought spoken out of gratitude or passion. She was serious, her heart laid bare.

"Nyx," he said quietly, his tone firm but kind, "Lechia is not Valerion. It's foreign ground, a different court with its own dangers. It won't be safe, especially not for someone the King treasures so dearly. I can't allow you to risk yourself like that."

Her fingers curled into the fabric of his robe, refusing to let him push her away. "And do you think I care about safety after what almost happened to me tonight? Do you think I can stay behind and live in fear while you walk into unknown lands alone? I can't, Xavier. I won't. If you are willing to fight for me, then I must also fight to stay by your side. That's what I've decided."

Lucas's heart ached at her conviction. He brushed a strand of her dark hair from her face, his thumb tracing the line of her jaw. "You are stronger than you know, Nyx," he murmured, "but this is not a decision I can make. If you truly wish to follow me, then it must be the king's decision."

Nyx's lips trembled, but her eyes never wavered. "Then I'll ask him. Tomorrow. I will go before Father and tell him myself. He can refuse me if he wants, but I will not hide what I feel. I'll say it plainly...I want to go to Lechia with Lucas."

Lucas studied her face for a long moment, torn between admiration and worry. At last, he nodded slowly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Then do it, Nyx. Speak to him in the morning. If he allows it, I won't stand in your way."

Her relief was visible, her shoulders loosening as she leaned forward to rest her forehead against his. "Then it's settled," she whispered, her breath mingling with his. "I will speak to him. And when he agrees, you won't be rid of me, no matter how far you go."

Lucas chuckled softly, though his chest felt heavy with the weight of what was to come. He kissed her gently once more, not out of desperation this time, but with quiet promise. "Then I'll wait for his word. Until then, rest easy, Nyx. Tonight, you are free."

She closed her eyes, a faint smile curving her lips as she nestled against him, whispering one last time, "Thank you, Xavier. Truly, thank you."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.