5: The Silent Rose

...THE CAPTOR...

The gates of Lysoria stood open.

Not in surrender.

In desperation.

Smoke drifted from distant watchtowers, carrying the bitter scent of burnt timber. My soldiers marched through the capital in perfect formation, their black armor swallowing the bright marble streets like a shadow crossing fresh snow.

There had been fighting at the outer walls.

Not much.

King Aldric had known the battle was already lost.

I rode through the palace gates without slowing.

White stone pillars rose toward the sky, draped in blue banners embroidered with silver lilies. Even under the weight of war, the palace remained beautiful.

Fragile.

Like glass waiting to be struck.

"The throne room is secured, Your Majesty," Lucien reported.

I nodded.

"No looting."

"No unnecessary bloodshed."

He gave a knowing smile.

"As always."

The grand doors opened before me.

The throne room was silent.

King Aldric stood at the foot of his throne, his sword planted before him. Beside him stood Queen Selene, calm despite the fear lingering in the eyes of the nobles behind her.

Then...

I saw her.

She stood a few steps behind the queen, dressed in a gown the color of moonlight.

Silver-blonde hair spilled over her pale shoulders, catching the sunlight pouring through the stained-glass windows. Around her fragile neck rested a sapphire pendant that shimmered like a piece of the summer sky.

She didn't lower her gaze. Most people did.

She simply watched me.

Calmly.

Carefully.

Blue eyes met gray.

The room disappeared.

So this... is the Silent Rose.

The stories had not prepared me. Roses were admired because they were delicate.

This woman did not look delicate.

She looked... still.

" So still that made my still heart pound. I wonder what she would look like when i f*ck her every inch of her, when I b*t into her pale neck leaving behind my s*liva and h*ckeys on her. "

Like the surface of a frozen lake.

Beautiful enough to make people forget the depth hidden beneath it.

For one brief moment, I understood why an entire kingdom spoke of her as though she were something sacred. I too, wanted to worship her.

Lucien leaned closer, lowering his voice. "The princess."

"I know." She was nothing like I expected.

No tears.

No trembling.

No pleading.

Only silence.

A strange kind of courage.

King Aldric finally spoke. "If you've come to claim my throne..." His grip tightened around his sword. "...you'll have to kill me first."

Brushing the er*tic thoughts and my now throbbing gr*in, I shifted my attention from the princess to her father.

"I have conquered kingdoms before," I replied evenly. "I've learned that dead kings are rarely useful."

The nobles exchanged uneasy glances.

Queen Selene instinctively stepped closer to her daughter.

The princess noticed.

She gently touched her mother's hand, almost as if she were the one offering comfort.

Interesting.

Even now, she thought of others before herself.

A servant hurried into the hall, carrying a silver tray. His hands shook so violently that a goblet slipped from the tray.

It struck the marble floor with a sharp crash.

Several guards drew their swords.

The servant collapsed in terror.

Before anyone else could move, the princess knelt.

Ignoring the shattered glass, she helped the frightened servant to his feet.

Then she smiled.

A small, reassuring smile.

No words.

None were needed.

The old servant's trembling eased.

She had calmed him with nothing more than a glance.

I had spent years commanding armies with speeches, threats, and strategy.

She had accomplished the same with silence.

Curious.

Very curious.

As she straightened, our eyes met once more.

Neither of us looked away.

For the first time in years, I found myself wondering about someone instead of planning how to defeat them.

The Silent Rose was unlike anyone I had ever known.

And somehow...

That unsettled me more than the war ever had.

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