25: Lucas

The next morning, Irene woke up to the gentle rays of sunlight slipping quietly through her luxurious room. She put on a simple dress befitting her status as a guest princess and was immediately greeted by Queen Elizabeth, who offered to give her a tour around the vast palace. Elizabeth spoke to her gently about the history of each wing, sharing old tales held by those walls—from victorious battles to arranged royal marriages that once took place in the very same halls.

While the atmosphere seemed relaxed, a quiet tension lingered beneath the surface. By noon, an elegant tea party was held in the royal garden. Queen Elvira was present in full grace, accompanied by her daughter-in-law. Irene sat silently among them, observing every detail with a cautious gaze and a neutral smile. Words were few, and the compliments felt excessive, but Queen Elizabeth did her best to ease the stiffness between them.

At the same time, Crown Prince Rainold had departed for the main royal palace to meet with the King of Valerian, discussing the settlement of border territories between the two kingdoms. He entered the formal hall with dignity and was welcomed by King Valerian in a diplomatic meeting charged with political sensitivity.

The conversation revolved around a number of lands rich in mines, which Valerian had previously granted to the Kingdom of Eiscard in an attempt to prevent any military escalation, in exchange for a promise of lasting peace. These lands, with their natural resources, formed a winning card for Eiscard—especially with its ambitions to expand economic influence. As a gesture of goodwill, Eiscard offered a large amount of its gold reserves as a symbolic gift, in acknowledgment of the valuable concession.

The negotiations went surprisingly smoothly, and both parties exchanged congratulations amid applause and satisfied political expressions.

That evening… Lucas finally appeared.

He returned to the palace after a mysterious two-day absence. He entered his chamber quietly, informing no one. But once Queen Elizabeth learned of his return, she hurried to him. She knocked on the door forcefully, then pushed it open and cried out in a trembling voice:

"Where have you been, for heaven's sake?! Why are you doing this to us, Lucas?!"

Her eyes were brimming with tears, and her repressed fury since yesterday burst forth:

"They arrived yesterday, and everyone was looking for you! Do you understand how important this marriage is? What would we have done if they hadn't accepted your absence?! Your father was furious beyond reason! He's at the palace right now and will return shortly with the Crown Prince of Eiscard. Prepare yourself to meet them at once!"

Lucas was lying on the couch, his head tilted toward the ceiling, as if he heard nothing.

Before leaving, his mother stood still for a moment and said firmly:

"Stop this stubbornness. You're no longer a child. You know no one in the royal family marries whoever they please."

Lucas slowly lifted his head and looked at her with clouded eyes, then said bitterly:

"That rule doesn't seem to apply to the nephew of your husband… Bastien."

(Bastien is the Crown Prince of Valerian. Readers will understand what Lucas is referring to in later chapters.)

The queen's expression froze for a moment before she responded sharply:

"Lucas… that's enough. Do not bring this up again."

She then left slowly, as if dragging her heart along with her.

Lucas let out a long, weary sigh, then rose heavily and began preparing himself, reluctantly, for the awaited meeting.

At that moment, the king had already returned to the palace, accompanied by Rainold. Upon their arrival, the head servant stepped forward to welcome them, then informed the king of Lucas's return.

The king paused and said to the servant:

"Tell him to head to the reception hall at once to greet the Crown Prince."

Once the king's order reached him, Lucas made his way to the reception hall—his steps slow but steady, his face revealing neither anxiety nor excitement. He opened the door quietly and found Crown Prince Rainold seated properly on one of the royal chairs, looking at him with a polite diplomatic smile.

Lucas approached him and bowed respectfully before saying in a formal tone:

"Welcome to Valerian Palace, Your Highness. We hope your stay has been comfortable."

Rainold replied kindly, rising slightly to shake his hand:

"Thank you, Lord Lucas. So far, our visit has been going quite well."

The two men sat, and a brief silence followed before Rainold spoke, a hint of curiosity in his voice:

"By the way… may I ask what matter was so important that it prevented you from attending your fiancée's reception yesterday?"

Lucas didn't answer at first—he simply stared at him coldly, as if the question was of no concern to him.

But the king, seated on the opposite chair, broke the silence with a firm tone:

"That's always how he is. In fact, there had been some unrest near the western border, and he had to go by order of my brother, the king, fearing any escalation that could lead to civil war."

He then turned to Lucas and gave him a deadly glare, adding:

"Isn't that right… Lucas?"

Lucas didn't respond. He simply looked at his father with icy calm, then lowered his head in silence, tension thickening in the air.

Realizing the moment was on the verge of exploding, the king quickly changed the subject, regaining his formal tone. After another half-hour of discussion about negotiations and alliances, Rainold politely excused himself and left the hall.

Lucas was about to follow him out when the king suddenly said:

"Stay."

Lucas froze in place, then quietly shut the door and turned to face his father.

The king rose from his seat with slow steps, approached him without a word, and suddenly… raised his hand and struck him across the face.

The sound of the slap echoed through the hall, but Lucas didn't move. He stood still, staring at the ground.

Then the king exploded, his anger finally unleashed:

"Have you lost your mind?! All this over that girl?! You're twenty-five years old, but you're acting like a reckless teenager! This is not the time for your whims, Lucas! This contract is incredibly important, and if you ruin it with your stubbornness… we'll lose everything!"

He stepped closer, his voice rising further:

"If war breaks out again, you'll be the first one sent to the front. You are the Commander of the Army now, and this marriage protects you before it protects the kingdom!"

Lucas finally lifted his gaze and stared at him coldly, then said in a low voice:

"Are you done?"

The king growled, raised his hand again, and struck him once more—this time harder—then said:

"It ends when I say it ends!"

He paused for a moment, panting, then continued:

"You will meet your wife now. I'll summon her. And if you act foolishly in front of her again… you'll pay the price dearly."

Then he shouted at the servants:

"Summon Princess Irene immediately… she is to meet her fiancé now"