Kael finally crossed the borders of the Varta Empire after a long journey. His mount, exhausted, let out a loud breath, as if cursing its rider for making it travel so far. Behind him, his escort marched in silence, while Calvin, the young boy he had taken in, was already fast asleep in the cart.
Kael lifted his gaze to the towering walls of the capital.
"Ahhh, finally a bit of luxury. I'll be able to relax and drink wine like a noble..." He closed his eyes, savoring the moment.
Unfortunately for him, fate had other plans.
As soon as they passed through the grand gates, a servant in an imperial robe rushed toward him, panting.
"Sir Kael! The Sixth Princess awaits you in her chambers... immediately."
Kael blinked. "Why immediately?"
The servant swallowed hard. "She received... a letter from Saint Alvina."
A chill ran down Kael's spine.
"...Oh no."
He turned to Calvin, who had just woken up, his eyes still heavy with sleep.
"Kid, if I'm not back in an hour, consider me dead and find yourself a new guardian."
Without waiting for a response, he followed the servant toward the imperial palace.
The moment he set foot in Lysandra's chamber, a flying pillow struck him square in the face.
"TRAITOR!" the princess screamed, hurling a second pillow.
Kael, acting on pure reflex, dodged and raised his hands in a gesture of peace.
"Wait, wait! Why the violence right after my return?!"
Lysandra brandished a parchment and threw it at him.
"Read."
Kael caught the paper and began to read Alvina's letter.
> My dear Kael,
> I hope your journey is going well. I'm writing this letter to tell you how eager I am to see you again. Our moments together have been unforgettable… Our moonlit conversations, our walks in the sacred garden, and of course… our sweet nights…
> Take care of yourself, my dear fiancé.
> With all my affection,
Alvina Fitzroy
Kael blinked several times. Then he looked at Lysandra, who was glaring at him with pure fury.
"...This is a misunderstanding."
Lysandra crossed her arms. "A misunderstanding, huh? So you didn't sleep with her?"
Kael averted his eyes. "I said it was a misunderstanding, not that it was untrue."
Lysandra grabbed a vase and hurled it in his direction. Kael ducked just in time.
"KAEL DRAVEN! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"
Kael sighed. "Just my luck..."
Kael stared at Lysandra, who was still furious, her cheeks flushed with anger. She clenched her fists, ready to throw another object at him if necessary.
"Lysandra, breathe. It's not what you think."
"Oh, it's not what I think? Really? Alvina wrote to me in detail. In detail, Kael!"
The princess furiously waved the letter under his nose.
"Red roses, romantic dinners, moonlit evenings, and… cuddles. And that's just a summary!"
Kael grimaced. Alvina had clearly not held back in her account. He attempted an innocent smile.
"Well, technically, it was just… diplomacy."
Lysandra raised an eyebrow. "Diplomacy?!"
"Of course! You know how important relations between kingdoms are. She was stressed after the fall of the Pope, so I… offered my support."
Lysandra glared at him, her eyes blazing. "Your support? That's what you're calling it now?!"
Kael raised his hands in feigned innocence.
"It was in the interest of peace. No one wants a conflict between the Varta Empire and the Holy Kingdom. I simply… strengthened diplomatic ties."
"Strengthened ties?" Lysandra repeated sarcastically.
"Exactly! Look on the bright side. Thanks to me, we now have a saint who is extremely satisfied with our collaboration."
Lysandra grabbed an apple from the table and hurled it with frightening accuracy. Kael barely dodged it, the fruit splattering against the wall.
"You're a real bastard, Kael."
"A diplomatic bastard. Let's be precise."
After a few more minutes of yelling and threats (and several failed object-throwing attempts), Lysandra finally seemed to calm down. But the mischievous glint in her eyes suggested she wasn't done with him.
"Alright, Kael. You may have returned in one piece, but don't think you'll get away so easily."
Kael narrowed his eyes. "What are you planning?"
Lysandra flashed a devilish smile.
"Since you had such delightful moments with the saint, you won't mind attending a… little welcome banquet. After all, you're a hero now."
"A banquet? Well, that doesn't sound so bad."
"Oh, but it will be a very special event. All the nobles will be there. The dukes, the duchesses… and of course, Saint Alvina has confirmed her attendance."
Kael paled slightly.
"Wait… Alvina will be there?"
Lysandra nodded, her triumphant smile widening.
"And you know what? I'll make sure she has a place of honor… right across from me. It's going to be an unforgettable evening."
Kael swallowed hard. He wasn't sure if this was a punishment or a declaration of all-out war.
Kael stood in the imperial hall, hands on his hips, watching as the grand banquet for Lysandra was taking shape. Servants were busy setting tables adorned with silk tablecloths, while musicians tuned their instruments at the back. The silver chandeliers already gleamed under the flickering lights.
"I'm not going to make it out alive..." Kael muttered to himself.
He hadn't been able to cancel the event so far. Every attempt to talk to Lysandra had been interrupted by mischievous laughter and promises of "not ruining the party." After all, he was a hero now, and Lysandra seemed determined to make him endure this "celebration."
He sighed and turned to one of the servants who was preparing the seats.
"Tell me, is it possible to cancel a party at the last minute?" Kael asked, feigning nonchalance.
The servant gave him a curious look but didn't dare to answer, thinking the question was only about the formality and logistics of the banquet. Kael, however, wasn't about to give up. He had to find a way to destroy this evening before it even began. He cast a quick glance at the stage, where a small podium was set up for Lysandra and Alvina.
"A toast... a toast is all I need," Kael thought. "A poisoned toast... no, too risky..."
He searched for another idea. Suddenly, he spotted a servant carrying a tray of food—appetizing fruits and exquisite dishes that were about to be served to the guests.
"If I could... slightly alter one of these dishes..." he murmured.
He approached the servant and discreetly grabbed a small dish covered with sugar-coated grapes, adding a harmless substance he had acquired from a potion shop a few days ago. It wasn't harmful, but it was enough to cause temporary stomach upset. Not enough to cause serious trouble, but just enough to prevent the guests from enjoying the banquet.
Once the dish was modified, he discreetly returned to the kitchen to place the plate back on the tray. If he could make the guests sick, the banquet might be interrupted, even canceled.
"I'm going to make this evening as unforgettable as a bad dream," Kael thought, satisfied with his plan. He waited for a few minutes, watching the servants complete their final preparations.
Just before the guests were set to arrive, Kael slipped into a discreet corner of the hall, trying to remain calm while casting furtive glances at the door.
The decisive moment arrived. The first wave of guests entered, followed closely by… Alvina. Kael felt a shiver run down his spine as he saw her enter. She had her usual radiant smile, but he noticed a certain tension in her eyes.
Then came Lysandra, draped in her finest gown, her smile as provocative as ever. She approached Kael, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Ah, Kael. Welcome to your party," she said with a playful smile. "Everything is ready. Let the banquet begin."
Before he could respond, a scream rang out across the hall. One of the guests had collapsed to the floor, shaken by violent vomiting.
Kael straightened up, feigning concern. "What's going on here?" he shouted.
The servants began to panic as another guest collapsed. Within seconds, several people were already ill, and the commotion in the hall intensified. Kael watched with satisfaction.
"Mission accomplished."
But just as he thought he had won the battle, Lysandra turned to him with a dangerous smile.
"Do you really think you could cancel this banquet so easily, Kael?" she said in a calm yet piercing voice.
Kael felt his stomach tighten. He hadn't seen the real trick coming.
"This banquet is for you, and for all of us," Lysandra continued. "You thought you could cancel it with a little magic trick, but you don't know who you're dealing with."
Before he could respond, Alvina, her eyes sparkling with an unexpected malice, approached Kael, a smile almost too calm on her face.
"Kael, my dear fiancé, don't be too disappointed. This banquet... was just a little test."
Kael then realized that he was caught in a much bigger game than he had imagined.
As Kael mentally prepared himself for what promised to be a tension-filled banquet, a sudden dizziness overcame him. His mind clouded, the walls around him began to spin, and before he could say a word, he collapsed heavily to the floor.
Lysandra, arms crossed, stared at him for a moment, then sighed.
"Really, Kael… always so dramatic."
With a small smirk, she turned away, leaving the unconscious hero on the floor, right where he had fallen.