The Royal Court That Never Forgives

Chapter 3: The Royal Court That Never Forgives

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Capital of Veyra – Royal Courtyard

The stone-paved road into the Capital was lined with nobles in carriages, vendors calling from shadowed stalls, and civilians peeking past guard patrols to catch a glimpse of arriving dignitaries.

Among them, a worn black carriage pulled by two Nightmane stallions trotted calmly past the city gates. No banners. No royal escort. No house guards. Just a quiet, forgotten noble heir returning to a palace that had long cast him aside.

Inside, Aeron sat with one leg crossed over the other, cloaked in black robes etched faintly with Void runes only visible under magic sight. His expression remained unreadable as the golden towers of the Rindell Palace came into view.

....

[Void System Notification]

Location Reached: Royal Palace – Hostile Zone

Detection Chance: 68%

Warning: Emotional Interference possible.

[Auto-Passive Activated: Emotional Barrier]

...

Aeron's lips quirked upward. "Still protecting me after all this time?"

Only so you don't vaporize half the court if they breathe too loud, the Void System replied sweetly. I have some faith in you, Host.

He stepped out of the carriage.

The courtyard was grand, lined with glowing crystal lamps and flower beds tended by mages of the Earth Circle. At the top of the marble steps stood palace guards clad in crimson and gold.

They didn't bow.

Of course they didn't.

Instead, one of them stepped forward with a scroll in hand.

"Lord Aeron Blackthorn," the man announced, not even hiding the sneer in his tone. "You will follow us to the audience chamber. Any refusal or deviation will be considered treason."

Aeron gave a small nod. "You love that word, don't you? Treason."

The guard stiffened. "You'd do well to remember your place, outcast."

But Aeron's gaze never even shifted toward him. He walked forward, each step slow and calm, the hem of his robe whispering across polished floors.

The guards exchanged glances. The boy they'd mocked, whispered about—he moved like a man used to walking into royal courts with dragons at his back.

Like a man who feared nothing.

Royal Audience Chamber – Moments Later

The chamber was a massive dome of glass and gold. Mage-chandeliers floated above, glowing with moonlight captured from the night before. Pillars bore runes older than the current dynasty. And seated upon the throne of light—

Queen Aveline Rindell.

Not the king. But the queen regent, silver-haired, cold-eyed, and wrapped in sapphire robes that shimmered with enchantments. Beside her stood Princess Selene—radiant as ever, but with a face carved from frost.

Aeron's gaze met hers.

No warmth.

No recognition.

But deep within her, something flickered.

Her soul—still bound to echoes of the past.

...

[Void System Detection – Affinity Triggered]

Target: Selene Estelle Rindell

Emotional State: Repressed Recognition → Building Conflict

Potential: High

[Title Activation – "Crownless Heir"]

Public Aura Shift: +12% Nobility Notice

Noble Perception: "Composed, Unyielding, Dangerous?"

...

Silence settled like fog as Aeron approached the throne.

Protocol demanded he kneel.

That was what everyone in the chamber expected.

Selene raised an eyebrow slightly.

And the nobles leaned forward, watching. Waiting.

One moment passed.

Then two.

Aeron did not kneel.

Instead, he bowed his head ever so slightly, eyes steady.

"I respond to the royal summons," he said, voice cool. "But I bow to no throne that once cast my house into ruin without cause."

Gasps rippled through the nobles like a wave.

One man in a lavender robe stood up immediately. "This is an act of open defiance!"

Another murmured, "He dares..."

Queen Aveline raised a hand. All fell silent.

"You dare speak of cause, Aeron Blackthorn," she said. "When your line's fall was decreed by divine sanction? When your grandfather stood accused of treason and blood sorcery?"

"My grandfather," Aeron replied calmly, "was never granted a fair trial."

"And your father?"

"Died with his honor intact. Something few here can claim."

The silence turned deadly.

But Aeron didn't waver.

Selene studied him with sharp eyes. "You've grown bold," she said finally.

"Experience tends to do that," he said. "Especially after near-death experiences."

For a flicker of a moment, her eyes narrowed. He remembers.

...

[System Alert – Emotional Destabilization Triggered in Target: Selene]

[+200 Harem Points Gained]

[Affinity Progress: 18% – First Spark Achieved]

...

Queen Aveline's voice broke the moment. "Enough games. The court did not summon you for your sharp tongue. You are here for confirmation of your engagement."

Aeron blinked, pretending surprise.

"Oh? And here I thought you summoned me to execute me."

"Don't tempt me," one noble hissed under his breath.

But the Queen continued.

"Her Highness Selene shall announce the formal annulment of the engagement by end of season."

Aeron smiled gently. "How tragic. And here I was about to present a wedding gift."

Selene's lips parted, her gaze faltering for just a moment.

"I… don't recall requesting anything."

"You never had to," Aeron said quietly. "I always gave what you needed… even when you spat on it."

Selene stood abruptly, voice rising. "You presume to speak to royalty as if you're owed something?"

"No," he said, eyes gleaming. "I don't presume. I remember."

Gasps again.

Selene's magic surged faintly.

The guards stepped forward.

But Queen Aveline raised her hand again.

"Enough."

Then to Aeron: "Your boldness earns you no favors here. You are granted temporary lodging in the East Wing. One week. After that—you will leave the Capital."

Aeron bowed slightly again.

"As Her Majesty commands."

As he turned to leave, he passed by Selene, and for the briefest moment, whispered—

"You laughed once when I cried."

She froze.

"And yet... I remember you crying, too."

He didn't wait for a reply.

As he walked down the corridor, the screen shimmered again before him.

...

[Quest Completed: Attend the Royal Summons without Kneeling]

Reward: Forbidden Spell Fragment – [Chrono Shard]

+200 Harem Points

+Title Upgrade: "Thorn in the Crown"

New Trait: "Unforgiven Presence" – You leave an emotional scar when exiting key encounters.

[New Quest: Awaken Selene's Past Life Memories]

Objective: Trigger Emotional Collapse or Intimacy within 3 Interactions

Reward: Past-Life Memory Trace (Unlocked Dialogue)

Risk: Divine Intervention

...

Aeron chuckled to himself as he entered the East Wing—a long-forgotten hallway lined with dusty portraits and sealed rooms.

The perfect place for a shadow to grow.

He stepped into his room and stood by the window.

From here, he could see the Royal Garden.

Once, it had been a prison of cruelty.

Now?

It was a battlefield.

One he intended to win.

Not with swords. Not yet.

But with words.

With stares.

With memory.

And love.

He looked toward the moon and whispered—

"Soon, Selene. You'll remember what we were."

And maybe… what we could be again.

.

.