King Julian

"Gasp! Baby daughter of mine!" the old man exclaims, his voice raspy as his body visibly ages in an instant. "You're but a baby compared to your sisters, and you've already found a husband?!"

He waves a hand, and every servant silently begins to vanish. Shadows stir: some maids dissolve into smoke, others slink from the ceiling, behind pillars, even beneath the tiles. Myles watches in astonishment. In seconds, the room is emptied—almost. One figure remains.

"You may stay," the old man says without turning, and only then does Myles notice the green-haired knight silently standing beside him.

The knight glides to the old man's left, moving without a single sound—armor and all. Myles can't help but admire their poise.

"Is that a ring I see?" the old man gasps again. Now kneeling dramatically, he gestures toward Myles. Suddenly, a woman appears at his right. She looks no older than Myles himself—young, radiant, and composed.

"Darling, stop being dramatic," she chides in a voice mature and knowing. She smacks him gently on the head. "She's seventeen, and how many times must I tell you—no one falls for the 'poor old man' act."

"Ow! Ow!" he groans, rubbing his head. "Darling, you forget how strong you are. You could snap magnum steel with your pinky!"

In a flash, his appearance shifts—his silky hair deepens to black, wrinkles smooth out, muscles swell then tone. The old, creaky voice becomes youthful and commanding, full of authority.

When he looks at Myles, the weight of his gaze is crushing. Myles feels it deep in his bones.

"Tell me, boy—are you worthy of my daughter?"

Still shaken, Myles blurts the first thing that comes to mind. "How are you... not dead?"

In a blink, the green-haired knight stands before him, blade drawn—its edge resting at his neck. Myles doesn't dare move.

The King laughs. "A fair question. But the answer isn't mine to give—not yet. You'll learn in time… about the man they call King Julian."

Lia, tense when the knight moved, now relaxes and smiles toward her father. The other girls do the same. The woman beside Julian simply rolls her eyes with an amused chuckle.

"Daughters… Knight… leave us," Julian says calmly.

Myles now really sees the woman beside him. She's stunning. Tall—possibly taller than Lia—with smooth, dark skin, blue silk-like hair, and eyes like sharpened emeralds. Unlike Lia's sculpted frame, she's more curvaceous, though just as graceful. She wears flowing blue and white silk robes held by rope and green jewels—elegant, refined, powerful.

She bows to her husband and is bathed in soft, white light. The others follow suit. One by one, they vanish.

"Oh, my dear wife didn't even get to introduce herself to the young man who stole our daughter's heart," Julian says, smug.

A glowing hand appears behind him and smacks him on the head.

"Darling," her voice echoes softly from every corner of the room, "as long as you speak of me, I will hear it."

Her presence sends chills down Myles' spine.

"Dear boy—future son-in-law, I hope~ I am Allyser Luminé II."

Her voice fades gently, but not before Myles flushes red. She giggles as she vanishes completely.

"Ow... ow... I love her so much," Julian groans, rubbing his head. Then he straightens up, eyes fixed on Myles.

"I am King Julian Devi Luminé."

Myles gulps. Something primal tells him this man could crush him without effort. He takes an unconscious step back. Julian lets out a thunderous laugh.

"You amuse me, boy. Even with such power in you... you fear me?" He leans forward, his gaze pinning Myles in place. "Let's talk about Criole—more specifically… yours."

Julian's eyes darken, searching. Myles is frozen—unable to speak, unable to breathe.

"I would also like to know," Julian says, voice cool, "what my daughter… daughters see in you."

Myles blinks. Daughters? As far as he knew, Terrene hadn't shown her hand in front of the King. Still, Julian had seen something—and that realization terrifies him even more.

Julian suddenly breaks the tension with a grand laugh. "There's one!"

He sits back on the throne, face now serious.

"Back to business. I suggest you answer my questions honestly."

The tone shift is instant. Myles' blood runs cold.

"What are you?" Julian asks darkly.

His once-warm aura fades into something terrifying—almost visible. The temperature drops. Myles gulps again.

"I… I am human," he says quietly.

The King's aura presses down on him like gravity itself. Myles falls to his knees, breath shallow, his entire body trembling. He feels an overwhelming need to submit.

"Human?" Julian's voice narrows to a whisper. "You expect me to believe that?"

Myles clutches at consciousness. "I… I'm not lying… I swear…"

Julian's grin turns eerie. "You truly believe that, don't you?"

The crushing weight suddenly lifts. Myles gasps for air.

"Young lad," the King says, now rising from his throne, "you're strong."

He grabs Myles by the hair and lifts him to his feet. Myles is too drained to even grunt.

"I still don't believe you," Julian says, letting go, "but I'm willing to trust you. Why?"

He turns toward the door, his tone shifting to thoughtful.

"Because my daughters… brought you here knowing exactly what you are."

The door opens—a mechanical masterpiece, metal slabs sliding away in sequence, disappearing into the walls.

"I place my faith in them," he says over his shoulder.

And with that, King Julian disappears beyond the threshold. The door seals behind him.

Myles remains in the silence, staring at his palm.

"I don't care what anyone says…"

He clenches it into a fist.

"I am human."