Kael arrived at the Welfer manor with the casual ease of a man visiting an old friend… except that this friend was Diana Welfer, newly promoted head of the family after the sudden and spectacular decapitation of her brother.
The servants, still shaken by recent events, watched him pass as if he were a ghost come to claim a debt. Some bowed with a mix of respect and fear, while others discreetly disappeared into the hallways to avoid attracting his attention.
Kael, however, simply smiled as he walked through the manor's luxurious hall. "Hmmm… Not bad. But a little too serious for my taste. It could use some more colorful tapestries. Maybe a chocolate fountain in the entrance." He mentally noted the suggestion before being led to the great hall where Diana awaited him.
When he entered, he found the young woman sitting behind a desk covered with parchments and administrative documents. Her face showed clear exhaustion, but her eyes still burned with fierce determination.
Diana looked up at him, sighed, and crossed her arms. "Why are you here, Kael? Are you here to toy with my emotions again, or do you actually intend to help me?"
Kael placed a hand over his heart with a mock-hurt expression. "Diana, what a cruel accusation! I come as a friend… and maybe a little more if you're willing to admit it."
Diana rolled her eyes, but there was a faint blush on her cheeks. Kael, satisfied, pulled out a chair and sat down in front of her with a charming smile.
"Alright, alright. Let's start with the first essential thing for a good leader: knowing how to delegate."
Diana raised an eyebrow. "You mean I should give you work?"
Kael shook his head. "No, I mean you should give me a cup of tea. Because leading a clan is thirsty work."
Diana shot him a dark look but eventually called for a servant. Kael knew this visit would be the perfect mix of provocation, seduction, and maybe—just maybe—a bit of actual help… in his own way.
Diana watched Kael with growing suspicion as he sipped his tea with exaggerated elegance. Sitting comfortably in a velvet armchair, he seemed more at ease than the actual master of the house… which was ironic, considering he was technically responsible for the current situation.
"So, Diana, let's talk business. Now that you're at the head of the Welfer family, you absolutely need to revamp your image."
Diana raised an eyebrow. "My image?"
Kael nodded seriously. "Of course! Right now, you're seen as 'the former sister of an idiot decapitated by a devilishly charming genius.'" He placed a hand on his chest. "That would be me, by the way."
Diana glared at him, but he continued, unfazed.
"If you want to earn the respect of your vassals and your people, you need to project an image of strength and charisma. Fortunately, I have a foolproof plan for that."
Diana sighed. "Let me guess… this involves another one of your exasperating manipulations?"
Kael smiled. "Absolutely not! This time, it's a tried and true strategy: the powerful couple."
Diana frowned. "The... what?"
Kael leaned on the desk with a mischievous look. "Nothing reinforces a leader's authority more than being seen with an influential and charismatic partner." He pointed to his own face. "And who better for that role than me?"
Diana blinked, trying to figure out if he was joking… then realized he was completely serious.
"Wait... are you telling me that to solidify my power, I should pretend to be..." She stopped, shook her head, then stared at him in disbelief. "With you?!"
Kael pretended to think. "Hmm, 'pretend' is such a cold word. Let's say... experiment with a mutually beneficial collaboration with a touch of romance."
Diana was inches away from throwing her ink bottle at Kael's face. "You're unbearable."
"And incredibly effective," he added with a smile. "So, what do you say? The most formidable duo in the Solstice Empire?"
Diana crossed her arms and turned her gaze away, trying to hide the flush on her cheeks. Kael, however, already knew he had planted the seed of doubt.
The "Seduction and Domination" operation had officially begun.
The next morning, Kael and Diana stood in the grand hall of the Welfer manor, a room adorned with tapestries depicting tales of past glory, but at that moment, the atmosphere was rather tense.
Diana, visibly reluctant, stared at the agenda that had been prepared for her. "You really want me to do this? Stroll through the streets as... a ruling couple?"
Kael smiled while adjusting his coat. "Not just any couple, Diana. A powerful couple. We need to give the illusion that we're ruling together." He placed a hand on his chest, overly dramatic. "And what better than a little romance to strengthen our image?"
Diana rolled her eyes. "You're truly incorrigible."
"That's what everyone says. But the truth is, I'm an inspiration for the masses." Kael replied in a deliberately theatrical tone, a sly smile on his face. "And you, my dear, are the chosen one. Beauty, intelligence, and authority incarnate."
Diana looked up to the heavens, but deep down, a small smile formed on her lips. "You actually seem to believe that, don't you? That's the worst part."
"Believe it. When you stand by my side, even the gods bow down." Kael strode toward the door with great poise, then turned around to cast a final mysterious glance at Diana. "And it all begins now."
He threw open the door grandly and, with a theatrical gesture, invited Diana to follow him. "Follow me, beautiful leader! Together, we shall conquer the hearts of the people!"
Diana followed him, completely unmotivated but intrigued by the absurdity of the situation. The two stepped out into the street, under the watchful eyes of the Welfer manor's inhabitants, who, of course, hadn't yet fully processed Dorn's death. Kael approached the main entrance, where a group of nobles was observing their arrival.
Kael smiled, raising an eyebrow. "Of course, a beautiful day to assert one's power."
Diana, slightly embarrassed by all the attention, lowered her gaze. But Kael, insistent, stepped forward resolutely and gently took her hand, his smile growing even wider. "Don't worry, Diana. Let me handle this part."
He turned toward the nobles, his gaze locking on each face with unsettling intensity. "We have power and love. Together, we will restore harmony and glory to this empire."
The nobles were unsettled, some murmuring among themselves. But Kael, unyielding, added with a wink that made the younger ones in the crowd blush: "Who can stop us? After all, we are the couple who will redefine the future."
Diana, still a bit embarrassed, turned to Kael and whispered, "Don't you think you're going a little overboard here?"
Kael, still with his conquering expression, replied without even looking at her: "It's for a good cause."
He released his grip on her hand, turning to continue down the street while giving a small bow to the crowd. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, allow us to show you how power can be as pleasant as a beautiful romance."
Diana felt torn between the urge to hide underground and the temptation to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. But deep down, a small spark of amusement was making its way through her serious demeanor. After all, who else but her could be in such a situation, with a Kael so... inevitably charming?
The streets were alive with energy that morning, and the scene unfolding in front of the Welfer manor didn't escape anyone's attention. The locals passing by naturally stopped to observe the duo making a remarkable entrance into the neighborhood. At first, there were whispers, curious glances, and a sense of incredulity. But as Kael and Diana continued walking, the reactions became... more interesting.
Kael, with his regal posture and a smile that could almost make any noble jealous, seemed perfectly comfortable under the attention. He gave slight bows to those he passed, greeting the crowd as if he had just conquered an entire empire (which, to be fair, wasn't entirely false).
Diana, on the other hand, was in one of the most uncomfortable situations she had ever been in. Her face was marked by obvious discomfort, but Kael seemed impervious to her unease. She wrapped her arms a little tighter around her body, as if hoping to suddenly disappear into the shadow of Kael's armor.
But what they didn't know was that the people were reacting in a... surprising way.
The first voices that rose were admiring whispers, often accompanied by nervous little laughs.
"Look at them! They're the ones who took control of the Welfer manor, right?" said an old woman to her neighbor, her eyes wide with astonishment.
"Well, they sure look like a royal couple, don't they? She's beautiful, and him... look at that charisma." replied a young man, an admiring smile on his face.
More and more people stopped, drawn to the scene of Kael and Diana, putting on a performance that, oddly enough, seemed to fascinate them. The whispers turned into enthusiastic murmurs.
"I heard Kael's the one who killed Dorn Welfer with a single sword strike, incredibly fast!" said a merchant, his voice growing more respectful. "If this guy is as effective as he seems, then he must have some serious power behind him."
A group of young girls, apparently having found a topic of conversation they could talk about for hours, turned to Diana, scrutinizing her intensely. "She's so beautiful, I bet they make a perfect couple."
"And she's strong, too!" added another. "Look how she walks next to him, with such dignity... They're perfect."
The faces were now animated by clear interest. There were plenty of smiles, and curious, admiring glances were cast upon Kael and Diana. The people seemed to forget the dark events that had shaken the Welfer family. After all, a couple as alluring and charismatic as this, formed by a young man with immense power and an heir full of nobility, was a subject everyone wanted to talk about.
Diana, although uncomfortable, began to feel a certain warmth in the air, a kind of approval she hadn't anticipated. The positive murmurs seemed to be building around her.
"I agree with you, but I must say, I haven't seen Diana smile this much since she became the leader..." said another resident, watching Diana who, though a little flushed from embarrassment, forced a smile while walking next to Kael.
"She's ready to rule, you can tell!" said a former royal guard, nodding in approval. "You can feel they're going to bring prestige back to this family."
But there were also more reserved voices, whispers in which the shadow of doubt crept in.
"It's strange, isn't it? This all seems a bit too easy..." said another merchant, furrowing his brows. "I don't know... Someone who kills an heir from a great family and gets away with it like this... it leaves a bad taste in my mouth."
"He has power, that's for sure." replied another, nervously. "But can he really be trusted?"
Yet, despite these few murmurs, the majority of people seemed quite impressed, even dazzled. Not all of them understood what was happening behind the scenes, but Kael and Diana had gained something far more valuable than titles: the people's allegiance.
Kael, of course, couldn't resist savoring this attention. With natural ease, he turned to Diana, a mischievous smile on his face. "See? Nothing like a little spectacle to win over hearts."
Diana, still a little embarrassed, replied with a shy smile. "You're unbearable."
And yet, amidst the laughter, murmurs, and admiring glances, it seemed that Kael and Diana had already become the couple the people had been waiting for. A duo as powerful as it was elusive, whose future was now tied to this strange alchemy of power, charm, and... romance.