Chapter 5: Return to the Kingdom

As Lysandra retreated from the battlefield, she bore the weight of more than just the echoes of war. Returning to the castle, she found herself amidst a frosty reception. In the grand hall, she presented her report to King Aric and Queen Crysanthe, her mother

The conversation that followed was not one of commendation but a bitter exchange. King Aric's disappointment hung in the air like an impending storm. "You can't even best the enemy kingdom, Lysandra. What use is of you being a War Maiden who cannot secure victory?" His words, laced with disdain, cut through the solemn atmosphere.

Queen Crysanthe, a figure of frigid elegance, remained silent. Her gaze, cold as ice, fixated on Lysandra. The unspoken disapproval echoed louder than any words could convey.

Disappointment, Lysandra defended her decisions, her eyes flickering with a defiant fire. "The battlefield is a complex tapestry, Father. I made the strategic choice to retreat, preserving our forces for future endeavors."

But the king's skepticism persisted. "Strategic or not, a retreat is a retreat. It does nothing to secure our dominance over the Southern Sanctuary."

Queen Crysanthe, usually a source of solace, intensified the chill in the room with her silence. Lysandra, under the weight of their combined disapproval, felt a deep frustration.

As the conversation lingered in the icy hall, Lysandra's gaze shifted to her mother, whose cold eyes spoke volumes. In that moment, the unspoken message was clear — her failure was not just strategic; it was a reflection of her inadequacy.

Leaving the hall, Lysandra, despite her resilience, couldn't shake the intense disapproval that lingered in the air. The retreat from the battlefield marked not just a tactical decision but a retreat into the her mother's cold gaze.