I knocked on the castle door, and honestly, I was amazed by it.

I stood there for a second longer than I probably should have.

I kept staring at the sheer size of the thing, the heavy metal.

The thick wood reinforced with layers that looked like they could stop an army on their own.

Letting out a breath and muttering, half to myself and half out loud,

"Just how much that corrupt noble took from the people to build such a massive ass door!"

The words echoed a little in the quiet space before us.

Lucy stood beside me, calm as always, her posture relaxed, her eyes moving over the structure with a different kind of focus.

She didn't seem impressed, just thoughtful.

After a moment, she shrugged, the movement small but clear.

"He probably knew that people at some point would attack him for what he did," she said casually, her tone steady, "which was the reason for such a door."

"To keep them away."

I glanced at her, then back at the door, letting her words sink in.

It made sense.

Power built on suffering always feared being taken back.

Before I could reply or let the conversation deepen, before I could even knock again, the door suddenly shot open with surprising force.

Both of us stiffened.

Standing there was a redhead beauty.

Her hair was rough and messy, clearly unbrushed, falling in uneven strands around her face.

She wore unkempt pajamas, the kind people wore when they thought no one would see them, loose and wrinkled, clearly meant for sleep, not visitors.

She blinked a few times, squinting as if the light hurt her eyes.

She rubbed one eye with the back of her hand and tried to focus on us.

Her voice came out tired and confused.

"What do you guys need?" she asked, yawning slightly.

"I thought I'm gonna take a break and sleep thanks to the festival."

For a second, none of us spoke.

The contrast between the massive door and the woman standing there half-awake was almost funny.

I cleared my throat and stepped forward, placing myself slightly in front of Lucy.

I straightened my back, letting my presence speak before my words did.

"My name is Ragnar," I said clearly, meeting her gaze, "the new king."

The effect was instant.

The moment she heard my words, her eyes shot wide open.

Any trace of sleep vanished as shock replaced it.

Without saying another word, she spun around and tried to run back inside the castle.

The way she moved made it obvious she was probably trying to grab a weapon or alert someone.

But thanks to my quick reaction, every action of hers slowed down in my perception, like the world had dipped into thick syrup.

I tensed my legs and flashed behind her in an instant.

One moment she was running, the next I was already there.

My arms wrapped around her, firm but controlled, locking her in a tight hug that stopped her movement completely.

I leaned in close, my voice calm but authoritative as I spoke beside her ear.

"Don't worry."

"We didn't come here to attack you or the people."

"Let's talk this out."

She froze in my arms, her body tense at first, then slowly relaxing as my words settled in.

I could feel her breathing, fast at first, then gradually slowing.

As I held her, I couldn't help but notice something else.

She had reacted.

Barely, but she definitely had.

I loosened my grip slightly and said, honestly impressed, "Wow."

"You were able to react to me."

"Even though it was barely, you still did it."

She turned her head just enough to look back at me, surprise flickering across her face again, but this time mixed with something else.

Curiosity, maybe.

She took a moment, then nodded once.

"Okay," she said, her voice more composed now.

"Let's go to the living room and talk."

I nodded and gently put her down, stepping back to give her space.

"Then lead the way."

She adjusted her pajamas slightly, still not bothering to fix her hair, and started walking down the corridor.

Lucy and I followed behind her.

The hallway was wide and clean, decorated but not overly flashy.

Despite the size of the castle, the walk didn't take long.

Soon, we reached the living room.

We went inside.

She didn't bother changing her clothes or offering us seats.

She simply sat down on the couch, crossing her legs comfortably, and looked back at us with a direct gaze.

"Okay," she said, leaning back slightly.

"Tell me what's gonna happen."

I reached into my coat and took out a paper, folded neatly.

I placed it on the table between us, making sure it was clearly visible.

"How about you guys work as a city under us," I began, my voice steady and measured.

"You would have full autonomy and control yourselves."

"But when things become problematic or touch the well-being of the entire nation, we intervene."

"And you can't stop it."

She stared at the paper for a long moment without touching it.

Her fingers tapped lightly against the couch as she thought.

The room was quiet, the air tense but not hostile.

Finally, she looked back at me.

"And where is the catch?" she asked calmly.

"Should we pay you a monthly protection fee?"

I shook my head immediately.

"Oh no."

"Believe me, I'm not like the previous king."

"I will not oppress people."

"You've already felt it yourself."

I paused, then added honestly, "I'm strong enough to not care about wealth."

Her expression softened.

Slowly, a smile spread across her face, one that was confident and a little playful.

She leaned forward slightly, her eyes locking onto mine.

"Alright then," she said, her voice smooth.

"Well, my king, we will follow your plan."

I smiled back at her and stood up.

She did the same, and we stepped closer to each other.

We shook hands, the agreement sealed in that simple gesture.

She looked at me again, her smile still there.

"We can't have the king come here without welcoming you properly," she said.

"How about we make a feast this night in your honor?"

I appreciated the offer, but exhaustion settled deep in my bones.

I smiled and shook my head gently.

"Thank you, but I'm tired."

"It's been a long day of running and fighting, and I want to sleep."

She raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Fighting?" she repeated, clearly curious.

Then she waved a hand lightly.

"Anyway, goodbye."

I nodded at her.

"See you later."

I turned and walked back toward Lucy.

Without any shame at all, she wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug, right there in front of the redhead woman.

I felt her warmth, her familiar presence grounding me after everything that had happened.

In a flash of light, the world shifted.

Suddenly, we were back at the castle.

But this time, we weren't in a hallway or a common room.

We were in my bedroom.

I blinked, taking in the familiar space, then looked behind me.

Lucy was slowly walking toward me, her steps unhurried, her eyes fixed on mine.

The room felt quieter, more intimate.

Emelia was nowhere to be seen.

As if realizing my unspoken question, Lucy spoke up quickly, a playful tone in her voice.

"Don't worry," she said.

"I've sent Emelia to the garden below."

"And now we can be alone."

"Just the two of us~"

I gulped, my throat suddenly dry, watching her as she continued to advance toward me.

The air between us was charged with something unspoken.

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