Ace gave a small nod and stepped forward, his expression unreadable, but the corner of his mouth hinted at a smirk.
However, Lily didn't move. Instead, she took a few steps toward Queen Arlen, her maid dress fluttering with the wind.
"Can I go with you?" she asked with a tilt of her head, bright-eyed and eager.
Before the guards could object, Queen Arlen raised a hand.
"Sure," she said smoothly. "Follow me."
The guards exchanged glances, baffled but silent.
And with that, the entourage split—Ace heading off toward the southern lines, and Lily flouncing beside the queen with a hum.
The moment Ace and the royal guard began walking, the atmosphere around them shifted. Soldiers straightened.
Some whispered. Others simply stared—half in awe, half in disbelief. It wasn't every day that a foreign sect master was personally guided by one of the queen's own.
The guard walked with crisp precision, but after a few paces, he glanced sideways at Ace.
