THE PALACE AND THE KING

After a long journey, we finally arrived at the palace. Several assassins had ambushed us along the way, but they were hardly a challenge. Ignis and I dealt with them swiftly, ensuring our path remained unobstructed.

As our carriage pulled up to the grand palace gates, a knight in gleaming armor stepped forward, his stance firm yet respectful. He raised a hand to stop us.

"Sir, no one is allowed to enter the palace without permission at the moment," he declared.

I met his gaze with unwavering confidence. "Go inside and inform them that the heir of the Gallant Family—the one they have been searching for—is here."

The knight's expression flickered with surprise before he quickly bowed and hurried inside. Moments later, he returned and gestured for the gates to be opened.

As I stepped out of the carriage with Ignis by my side, I felt the weight of countless gazes upon us. High-ranking officials lined the palace halls, their eyes filled with curiosity and skepticism. Whispers spread through the crowd like wildfire.

We continued forward until we reached the large doors of the conference room. With a steady hand, I pushed them open and stepped inside.

"I greet Your Majesty," I said, bowing respectfully.

The room was grand, adorned with chandeliers that cast a golden glow over the long, ornate table where the kingdom's most powerful figures were seated.

One of the noble family heads scoffed and stood abruptly, his face twisted with anger. "Hey, kid! How dare you enter the palace without permission? Do you think you can simply barge into this room without consequence?"

His condescending tone grated on my nerves, but I remained composed. With a calm yet authoritative voice, I replied, "Pardon my intrusion, but I believe you are speaking more than you should."

Before anyone could react, I lifted my hand slightly, and a gust of wind surged through the room. The nobleman let out a startled gasp as his feet left the ground—he was floating, weightless, in midair. Then, with a flick of my wrist, I sent him crashing down onto the marble floor before everyone's astonished eyes.

Gasps filled the room.

I stepped forward, my voice unwavering. "I am the heir of the Gallant Family and the fiancé of Princess Lucia. I expect to be spoken to with the respect my status demands. If such disrespect happens again, I will personally ensure that your family no longer has a place in this kingdom."

Silence hung heavy in the air. The noble clutched his chest, his face pale as he scrambled to his feet. He clenched his jaw before bowing his head. "I-I apologize. I did not realize… It will not happen again."

The king, who had been watching the entire exchange with an unreadable expression, finally spoke. "It seems you have grown, Rave." He leaned forward slightly. "For years, the kingdom has almost considered you dead, as you rarely left the Gallant Estate."

I lowered my head slightly. "Your Majesty, in the past, I did not consider myself worthy of Princess Lucia. That is why I spent the last five years training—to become someone deserving of her."

The king studied me for a moment before nodding. "It is good that you trained. It will serve you well, as there is now an engagement proposal between Lucia and the prince of the neighboring kingdom."

A tense silence filled the room.

"If you still believe you are worthy of her," the king continued, "you will have the chance to prove it. A duel has been arranged between you and the prince. We were just discussing it with your parents before you arrived. However, now that you are here, there is no need for further discussion. The duel will take place in a week. I suggest you prepare yourself. I hear he is quite strong."

I met the king's gaze, determination burning in my eyes. "Yes, Your Majesty. I will not disappoint you."

With the meeting concluded, the high-ranking officials slowly dispersed. My parents, who had remained silent until now, walked toward me. They acted as though nothing unusual had happened, as if we met every day. But the moment we stepped into the privacy of the carriage, my mother could no longer hold back.

"Rave!" she cried, pulling me into a tight embrace. Tears streamed down her face as she clung to me. "You're finally back… You have no idea how much I missed you! We couldn't even celebrate your birthdays…"

I gently patted her back, offering a small smile. "It's okay, Mother. I'm here now. I won't go anywhere anymore. You don't have to worry."

She pulled back slightly, her eyes filled with overwhelming relief and love.

I turned to my father, who gave me a firm nod of approval.

"And about that duel…" I continued, my voice filled with conviction. "I will not let our family name be tarnished. I will win."

A fire burned in my chest. No matter who this prince was, no matter how strong he might be—this was my battle. And I had no intention of losing.