King Victor Manchester stood in front of his son, Maxwell Manchester, his gaze filled with irritation. His rigid posture and severe expression made it clear that he was not satisfied with Maxwell's performance during the battle of Toki.

  —Foolish boy —he snapped brusquely—. You neglected your weak spot and almost died. It seems I'll have to train you personally again so you finally learn to protect your heart.

  Without warning, the king unsheathed a sword and attacked his son.

  Maxwell barely had time to react. He raised his weapon just in time to block the blow, and the clash of steel echoed in the throne room. At that moment, he felt something strange: an overwhelming pressure emanated from his father’s sword, as if the steel was crushing him from all angles. Within seconds, he was overpowered and fell to the ground without any apparent effort from the king.

  —That’s not fair, old man! —Maxwell growled, struggling to his feet and shaking off the dust—. You used that weird magic again!

  The king lowered his sword calmly and observed him with a mix of disappointment and restrained patience.

  —It’s called Maximus Aura —he responded—. It’s a gift of our royal bloodline that defeats enemies with sheer willpower. But it only awakens through training. If you stopped flirting with women and focused on combat, perhaps you would have mastered it by now.

  Maxwell clicked his tongue in frustration.

  —Here we go again…

  —I’m not just your father, I’m your king —Victor replied firmly—. Besides, you have a fiancée who has loved you for years. You shouldn’t disrespect her with your womanizing escapades.

  Maxwell sighed and ran a hand through his disheveled hair.

  —Did you call me here just to lecture me, old man?

  The king stared at him in silence for a moment, assessing him. Then he shook his head.

  —No. The recent attack on Toki is linked to what happened fifty years ago. You did what you could, and I don’t blame you for what happened, but you need more training.

  He slowly approached his son, keeping his gaze firm.

  —Besides, your friend Axel stole the spotlight this time. I’ve always wondered why he never passed the Royal Guard exam. He has more discipline and talent than many of my soldiers.

  Maxwell frowned.

  —Then why didn’t you accept him yourself?

  The king scoffed seriously.

  —I don’t interfere in those decisions. It would be an abuse of power to impose who gets into the Royal Guard. Every warrior must prove their worth on their own.

  He paused before continuing.

  —However, I have a mission for you. Take Axel with you; he will be of great help. Your bodyguards, of course, will accompany you as well.

  Maxwell raised an eyebrow, now intrigued.

  —What kind of mission?

  The king gave a faint smile and turned toward a large window, gazing at Toki from above.

  —In Laika, the border city with the land of the elves, there’s something I need you to find and use. It’s an object I left there in my youth. It will aid you in your training.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  Maxwell crossed his arms.

  —And what exactly is it?

  —You will receive the details in a letter a few hours before boarding the train —Victor replied without turning—. Now go. I wish you a safe journey.

  With those words, the king turned and left for his office.

  Once alone, he sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, letting nostalgia wash over him.

  "Axel, son of Amadeus, my dear friend… You have more discipline and talent than my own son. I hope you continue helping him grow."

  With that thought, Victor returned to his duties, while Maxwell left the castle with a new destination in mind.

  Two days after the attack on Toki, Lucy was in her workshop with her assistants, exhausted as usual.

  —Alright, guys, looks like it’s lunchtime —Lucy announced in a light tone—. See you in an hour.

  —That’s odd —one of the mages murmured as she walked away—. Miss Lucy has been treating us well today. I think what happened in the city awakened some compassion in her.

  —Maybe now she’ll let us leave earlier and won’t make us work all night —added another, hopeful—. I don’t understand why she’s so tough. She’s young; she should want to go out and have fun with friends.

  —I can hear you, you know? —Lucy interrupted from the doorway, turning with a sarcastic smile—. Because of that, we’ll be working until dawn tonight. I hope you brought your pajamas.

  Lucy stepped out into the fresh air and had only walked a few steps when a hand grabbed her right arm and dragged her into a shadowy alley. A woman wearing a scarf and sunglasses held her tightly, placing a finger over her lips to signal for silence.

  The workshop had a room full of beds, a cozy space but also a revealing sign of Lucy’s bossy nature. It was designed so that her assistants could sleep there after long nights of work, a reflection of her relentless demands that prevented them from returning home.

  —Dear Lucy, it’s me, Estela —she whispered, lowering her sunglasses just enough to reveal her gray eyes—. I’m hiding so no one recognizes me. I want you to tell me yourself what happened with Axel and the dark elf.

  They went to a nearby café and sat at a secluded table. Lucy began recounting the events with her usual mix of enthusiasm and judgment.

  —It all started when my dear brother went on a date with that floozy he met a few days ago. And then… he defeated the dark elf all by himself. We were all left speechless.

  I see… he exceeded my expectations. Estela realized this as her cup trembled slightly in her hand.

  —Wait, what did you just say? He was with a woman?

  Her voice came out sharper than she intended, and an inexplicable heat rose to her face. She tried to remain calm, but her eyes narrowed as Lucy continued speaking.

  —Oh, yes —Lucy responded, frowning—. Some floozy he just met. They were on a date. I think she was trying to seduce him. I only saw her once, but she had the face of someone with hidden intentions toward Axel. I don’t like women like that. I’d rather it be you with him, as his girlfriend. After all, you’re my only female friend. The other girls think I’m weird and avoid me.

  Estela blinked, her heart skipping a beat.

  —Me? —she murmured, and for a moment, an image of Axel laughing with that faceless woman flashed in her mind, filling her with a deep sense of discomfort. She didn’t know why she felt that way. Then, that image was replaced by one of Axel extending his hand to her, just like he had fifteen years ago.

  —Is that what I wanted all along? —Estela whispered as Lucy continued drinking her coffee.

  Estela clenched her fists under the table.

  Why did it hurt to imagine him with someone else? He had always been her friend, her… something more. But she had never seen him that way until now. Had she?

  —Seems like Axel catches women's attention. I can’t blame them; he is quite handsome —she finally said, forcing a calmness she didn’t feel—. I’m glad everything turned out well. But that’s something between Axel and me. I suppose he thought I hated him for not approving him, and that’s why he sought the company of that woman. I would never hate him.

  She took a breath and looked at Lucy with a new sense of realization.

  —You know, dear? I’ve been thinking… maybe I was wrong to reject him. Perhaps his presence alone can make a difference. He killed that invading elf without your help, without magical tools. And right now, I need him by my side. Something terrible happened on Mount Kirk, and it hasn’t stopped haunting me.

  Her eyes clouded for a moment at the memory, but she quickly shook her head.

  —Oops… forget that, dear, it’s classified information.

  Lucy looked at her curiously, but Estela was already lost in her thoughts. The warmth in her chest grew—a mixture of guilt over Charles and something else… something that Lily’s arrival had awakened.

  —I’m going to gather the evaluators and see if they’re still willing to accept Axel —she said, standing abruptly—. And I’m going to find him before he leaves with her. I won’t let that woman…

  She stopped, surprised by her own words, but a spark of determination shone in her gray eyes.

  For the first time in her life, she didn’t understand what she was feeling in her chest. She was an adult woman and had come to believe that romantic love wasn’t for her.

  But Axel, of all people—after all these years of trying to get her attention—had reached her heart.

  And the idea of losing him now tormented her.