Six Days Later...
Six days had passed since the zombie assault in the forest and the failed assassination attempt involving a devil's cursed needle.
The Clover Kingdom was still reeling—
Not just from the attack itself, but from the gravity of its implications.
A devil was operating within their borders, and worse, it had targeted both the king and the Wizard King.
In response,
The Crimson Lions and the Golden Dawn had mobilised their finest magic knights.
A full-scale investigation was underway across the kingdom, focusing on tracking down the culprit,
Probing recent disappearances and interrogating rogue mages and underground informants.
Meanwhile, Fred, the boy who had once stood in Ben's throne room with fury in his heart, was still on the special assignment handed directly by King Ben—
A form of forced introspection.
He now travelled with Royal Guards, visiting various towns and villages, particularly those devastated by his father,
Gorge Macman's actions.
Every day, he came into contact with commoners—
Some who had lost their homes, others their loved ones, and many who cursed the nobleman's name.
"____"
Each stop hit Fred like a dagger to the chest.
"He raised our taxes and took our crops while our children starved,"
One mother sobbed.
"Your father's men executed my brother for stealing a loaf of bread... You know what my brother didn't? Your father took a loaf of bread from my brother's cart and ate it. Instead of paying with money, he killed my brother."
A man growled, barely holding back tears.
"____"
Fred, once fiery and defiant, had grown quiet.
His thoughts were filled with complexity and confusion.
He no longer shouted or blamed Ben for his father's execution.
With each day, his heart was being forced to confront the truths he had been blind to.
No, he chose to subconsciously.
Royal Palace...
King's Throne Room...
Back in the royal palace, Ben stood by the window, arms crossed behind his back.
The system notification softly chimed in his mind.
[ Title: "Mend the Heart of Fred."
Description:
A boy named Fred, whose hatred for nobles and the king burns bright, is beginning to act dangerously.
His ideals, rooted in pain and injustice, threaten to blossom into rebellion.
Change his heart before it's too late.
Objective:
Gain Fred's trust.
Understand his pain.
Guide him back to the right path.
Reward:
+35 FP (Fate Points)
Fred's Loyalty
Penalty:
Fred becomes a dangerous terrorist leader.
Clover Kingdom faces chaos from within.
Magic Knight squads will be split and weakened.
Civil unrest begins.
Task Completion Rate: 89%
Time Limit: 4 Days.]
"____"
'Task is progressing well.'
Seeing this, Ben let out a smile with a happy thought.
"Almost there,"
He murmured.
As Ben stood gazing out the window, lost in thought, his memories drifted back to Nebra's birthday party,
Which had taken place just a few days ago.
Flashback...
Silva Palace...
Nebra's Birthday Celebration...
It had been held in one of the grand halls of the Silva estate,
Decorated with shimmering chandeliers, velvet curtains, floating crystal orbs, and an orchestra playing gentle waltz music in the background.
When Ben's royal carriage arrived, the festivities came to a near halt.
A wave of whispers followed his entrance, and the nobles present, dressed in their finest, quickly stepped aside to offer him a clear path.
The very air grew still —
After all, the one who walked in was not just a king,
But a man who was changing the kingdom rapidly.
Noelle Silva, now visibly more confident and radiant, rushed forward with a beaming smile.
Her silver hair shimmered under the lights.
"Sensei!"
She greeted warmly,
"It's good to see you again! I've been training hard like you said!"
Ben smiled, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"You've grown stronger, Noelle. I can see it in your mana flow—and your posture."
"____"
She giggled at the compliment and turned to her companion,
A slightly nervous girl with long reddish hair who tried to maintain a composed look but was clearly overwhelmed by his presence.
"This is my cousin, Mimosa Vermillion—not to be confused with the Mereoleona. She's a lot calmer."
Noelle teased, nudging her.
"____"
"Y-Your Majesty,"
Mimosa Vermillion stammered, giving a deep, formal bow.
"It is an honour to meet you…"
Ben chuckled softly, waving off the formality.
Chuckle~
"No need to be so stiff. Just enjoy the party."
Then came the moment that silenced the entire hall.
Nebra Silva, the lady of the evening, descended the grand staircase.
She wore a breathtaking blue-and-silver gown, shimmering like moonlight on water.
It hugged her form perfectly, with intricate magical embroidery woven into the fabric that glowed faintly.
Her silver hair was done in a cascading braid adorned with tiny glowing lilies.
The entire setting made her look like she had stepped straight out of a fairytale —
A Cinderella among nobles.
Even Ben had to admit —
She looked stunning.
Gasp~
"____"
"____"
"____"
The crowd collectively drew a breath.
Some whispered.
Some gasped.
But Nebra's violet eyes were locked only on him.
She reached the bottom of the stairs and gave him a soft, dazzling smile.
"You came… just like you promised."
Ben stepped forward, offering his hand.
"A king keeps his word—especially to a friend."
Her cheeks flushed faintly as she took his hand, and for a moment, the world around them faded into the background.
After greeting Ben, the celebration resumed in full swing.
Laughter and chatter filled the opulent ballroom, champagne flutes clinked, and magic-infused chandeliers glowed a soft, ambient hue overhead.
Then, the orchestra changed tune—
A slow, elegant waltz began to play.
As tradition dictated, the birthday lady was expected to begin the first dance.
Immediately, a swarm of eager noblemen surrounded Nebra,
"____"
Each offering his hand, puffing their chests and rehearsing rehearsed compliments.
"Lady Nebra, may I have the honour?"
"You'd grace the floor like moonlight upon water—"
Her smile was forced, her eyes flicking left and right.
She clearly didn't want to dance with any of them.
Her fingers twitched, searching for an escape.
Then she saw him—
Ben, standing calmly across the room, arms crossed, was watching the scene with faint amusement.
Nebra's violet eyes pleaded silently.
And he understood.
With a casual but undeniably kingly stride,
Ben walked toward her.
The moment nobles noticed him approaching,
They immediately stepped aside, as if the very air bowed to his presence.
He stopped before her, bowed lightly, and extended his hand.
"Lady Nebra Silva,"
He said with a half-smile,
"May I have this dance?"
She arched a brow and grinned playfully.
"____"
"What if I say I expected you to ask earlier?"
"Then I'd say I was letting the anticipation build."
Chuckling, Nebra placed her gloved hand into his, and together they stepped onto the grand floor, now cleared for them.
Chuckle~
The spotlight was theirs.
The music swelled.
Ben led first—
But misstepped immediately.
"Ow,"
Nebra muttered under her breath,
"You just stomped on my foot."
"Did I? Must've been the weight of royal responsibility."
He teased.
She shook her head, laughing softly, and gently adjusted their positioning.
"Left. Not right. Follow me if you have to."
They continued, occasionally misaligning, with Ben slightly off-beat now and then.
But every mistake brought soft laughter, playful nudges, and whispers between them.
Despite the clumsy rhythm, there was something deeper—
An unspoken bond, a comfort, and chemistry that drew the eyes of everyone present.
"You're lucky I like you."
Nebra murmured close to his ear.
"Otherwise, I would've frozen your toes off for this many mistakes."
Hearing Nebra's sudden confession, Ben asked her back little stunned.
"Really?"
Hearing it, she immediately changes the subject, noticing it Ben played along.
"You'd look terrible dancing with a statue."
"Touché."
Their dance wasn't perfect—
But it was real, and it was the most talked-about moment of the evening.
From the balcony above, Noelle, watching with Mimosa Vermilliom and a few other young nobles, leaned over and whispered,
"They look good together… don't they?"
"Scarily good,"
Someone replied.
As the final note of the waltz echoed through the hall,
Ben gave Nebra a respectful bow, and she curtsied with grace—
Though her flushed cheeks betrayed a mixture of joy and embarrassment at her slipup earlier.
Then, without thinking, Ben offered,
"If your toes survive this, I'll owe you a dance lesson."
"Then it's a date,"
She said, before quickly correcting,
"I mean—a promise."
The soft waltz faded into a distant echo as Ben stepped onto the grand balcony.
The cool night air greeted him, carrying the faint scent of lilies from the garden below.
Above, the moon hung full and luminous,
Casting a silver glow over the marble railings and the distant rooftops of the noble district.
Ben took a quiet sip of his wine, the glass catching the moonlight, his thoughts drifting—
About the kingdom, and the ever-complicated web of emotions around him.
Then—
A gentle cough.
Cough~
"____"
He turned, expecting a servant perhaps, only to see Nebra, her silhouette framed by the moonlight, stepping gracefully onto the balcony.
She had changed into a midnight-blue cloak draped over her shimmering dress.
Her silver hair fluttered lightly in the breeze.
"Beautiful view,"
She said, stepping beside him without meeting his gaze.
"____"
Ben offered a small smile.
"The moon's putting on a show tonight."
A comfortable silence lingered between them, the kind that only comes when words aren't needed—
But emotions swell unspoken.
Eventually, Ben broke it.
"Nebra... earlier. During the dance... were you serious about what you said?"
She didn't answer immediately.
Her gaze remained on the moon, as if drawing strength from it.
Then she nodded, softly.
Nod~
"I don't throw words like that around lightly, Ben."
Ben's shoulders tensed.
He looked away, exhaling.
"You know about Charlotte and me. Our bond isn't a fleeting one."
She finally turned to him, her eyes firm.
"I know. I've spoken to her."
That caught Ben off guard.
"____"
"You what?"
"She's the captain of a magic knight squad."
Nebra said with a small smile.
"And I respect her. So before saying anything to you, I spoke to her first. I didn't want to create tension... or dishonour either of us."
"And what did she say?"
"She said she trusts you. And she also said... If I truly felt this way, I had better not waste your time."
Ben stared at her in stunned silence.
"____"
"You're aware of what you're saying?"
He finally asked, his voice quiet but firm.
"This isn't some fleeting crush. Life with me isn't simple."
Nebra chuckled softly and stepped closer, her voice lower, more intimate.
Chuckle~
"I'm not a child, Ben. I've seen the worst of noble society. And I've never seen someone handle power the way you do—with both fire and restraint. It's not about the crown… It's you."
The tension was palpable now.
Then, without warning—
She lunged forward.
"____"
"____"
Smooch~
Her arms wrapped around his neck, and her lips pressed fiercely against his.
A kiss full of pent-up emotion, passion, and silent longing beneath layers of grace and pride.
Ben's eyes widened—
But only for a moment.
Then, as quickly as it came,
Nebra pulled away, a flustered blush across her cheeks.
She turned sharply, cloak fluttering behind her,
And ran back into the ballroom, leaving behind a stunned king and the sound of her heels echoing down the marble corridor.
Ben stood frozen under the moonlight, fingertips grazing his lips.
"That girl…"
He murmured, a strange mix of amusement and complication in his voice.
Behind him, the wind rustled gently.
Flashback ends...
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(Author's POV)
(A/N)Thanks for reading the chapter!
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