Stolen

Brooke couldn't help but inwardly curse at her cowardly entourage, but could only bite her lips down in silent anger at them.

Luken remained stone faced at the Olinthus parade's sudden retreat at his implied orders and simply raised an eyebrow.

"So, what do you people want?"

The female envoy bowed her head, she could not stare straight at the King of Nelumbo. His piercing sunset eyes seemed to casually view all the thoughts in her head, as if she were being read like a book.

"Y-your majesty," Brooke cleared her throat to gather up any remaining composure within her, "this lowly one and her country are requesting that you return what you have stolen."

Rowan inwardly scoffed at her words, or rather, the script that wss given to her.

Brooke's words were a little too formulaic to be naturally produced from her, but sincere enough to seem like the truth to others.

Unfortunately for her, she was not dealing with "others."

"Oh? Then, please. Describe what has been stolen."

"I-it's a mirror..."

"And?" Luken raised his eyebrow higher to prove his slight interest in this supposed "stolen mirror." Though not far from the truth, he preferred rescued than stolen.

"It's, well, it's wooden..." Brooke began to trail off as she realized that that was all to her script. She just had to claim a wooden, magic mirror was stolen and expect an argument to start and let Olinthus have an excuse to start a war.

Her country wanted to seem righteous for fighting back, but now, no one was following this "genius" script!

"Please continue."

What else could she say?!

"Uh, a wooden, magic mirror! Please, return it, your majesty."

Luken did not respond to her stuttering and mumbling, he simply tapped the wooden armrest with his fingers, causing an eerie sound that echoed in the room.

Brooke felt cold sweat soak her back as she simply hoped that the King of Nelumbo would let her go.

"A wooden, magic mirror, you say. How interesting. What were the functions of the mirror?" Luken leaked out a bit of false interest, which the girl quickly hung on to.

"Your majesty, from what this lowly one has heard-" she does remember a little rumor while talking with some nobles a few months ago "-the mirror was used to ask questions and it would give a definite answer!"

Rowan frowned at her statement. Although she was probably unaware of the true origin of "the mirror," he was uncomfortable at the fact of still being treated as a tool.

It brought back some bad feelings. A sticky tar that you couldn't really wash out of.

Before he could sink, he saw a warm palm cover the glass of the mirror, effectively covering the view of Brooke. As if to shield him from the disgusting words that she unknowingly spoke.

He's okay. He's fine right here. Olinthus was not worth the energy to think about. Rowan was comforted by the hand, an illusionary warmth seeped through and enveloped him.

He felt happy from the man's actions and slowly grew used to always feeling comfortable around Luken. Being comfortable with him is nice.

While enjoying the protection, Luken furiously glared at Brooke, causing her to cower even more.

How dare she treat Rowan like that?! Everyone has to treat him with respect that he deserves.

Gale, who was standing on the side of the throne and saw the extremely scary expression on Luken, silently lit a small candle for the girl's small future. She unknowingly shot herself while she was already down.

But, Luken restrained his anger and simply gritted out, "You may leave and inform your country that we have no such thing. I'll be sure to inform the other countries of this lost magical mirror."

Brooke immediately sighed with relief and repeatedly thanked the King for letting her escape with her small life.

As if she gained a life saving straw, she quickly dashed out of the room with her sad excuse of a parade.

When the room was empty, Luken released the spell that made Rowan invisible, causing a bunch of light particles to glow momentarily and disappear, revealing the wooden mirror.

Gale looked worriedly at the closed doors, "Was it okay to just let them go?"

"Of course it was okay." Rowan answered in a matter of fact tone.