Chapter 18.

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"My-my Lord..?" Bhar'ther stuttered nervously, staring at Reinhold in confusion.

"Ah... yes, sorry for my distraction." Reinhold answered confusedly, as if his mind had drifted somewhere far away. 'Oddly enough, I'm not that old or on the verge of death yet, but I've found myself dwelling on the past since my departure from Threhbor.' He paused, lost in his memories for a brief moment before regaining his composure and continuing.

"I was just lost for a moment. Anyway... where were we?" Reinhold said it nonchalantly.

He cleared his throat and continued, his tone now serious and focused.

"You say there are spies in our midst? Who is it this time?" He demanded, his piercing gaze fixed on Bhar'ther.

"According to what I discovered, he is a spy for one of the nobles from the north, My Lord." He replied, lowering his gaze respectfully.

"Oh? Which one?" Reinhold asked curiously.

"We don't know yet, My Lord. I think that this spy has a connection to you, but I do not dare to say more." He answered cautiously, not wishing to anger the king.

"Hmmm..." Reinhold pondered thoughtfully before turning to face the moon once again, gazing up at its luminous form with a distant expression, lost in thought. After a few moments, Reinhold sighed softly and closed his eyes, allowing himself to relax completely as a cold breeze brushed against his face and ruffled through his hair.

'It appears that death has not yet spared me.' Reinhold thought to himself, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

He glanced back toward Bhar'ther, who was still kneeling before him. "You've been informed about the upcoming academy's graduation ceremony, correct?" he asked. "Nobles from all over the continent will be in attendance, including many important figures. Can you use this event to our advantage?"

Bhar'ther bowed low, his green hair falling in front of his face. He spoke with reverence, but there was a hint of hesitation in his voice. "Your Majesty," he began. "I will try my best. But I must ask about Larume..."

Reinhold's expression softened as he replied, "Forgive me for not discussing this with you first. I know how much you care for her."

Bhar'ther's left eye darted nervously towards Reinhold before he continued, "I dare not have an opinion, Your Majesty. But is it wise to send her off on her own so soon?"

Reinhold smiled reassuringly and replied, "She may seem fragile, but she is stronger than she appears. And this capital is no place for a dark elf."

Bhar'ther fell silent, contemplating Reinhold's words. After a moment, he nodded in understanding.

"I see your point, My King. However, I must remind you that she is still young." His tone was serious as he added, "And if you'll allow me to speak freely..."

"Please do," Reinhold urged him.

"...Larume is an exceptional individual and a rare talent. Her innate connection to the ancient powers makes her a valuable asset to our kingdom. If anything were to happen to her, it would be a great loss."

Bhar'ther's voice wavered as he finished his statement, and he lowered his head, overcome with shame. Reinhold placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, causing him to look up. Bhar'ther could see the worry etched into Reinhold's face.

"I know, Bhar'ther. I worry about her more than you know. She is my daughter after all." Reinhold said, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. "But I have faith in her, more than any worry." His words were comforting, but there was an underlying tension in his tone.

The two of them stood in silence for a moment before Reinhold removed his hand from Bhar'ther's shoulder, his eyes never leaving the horizon. A gentle wind blew across their faces, and the moon shone brightly overhead, illuminating the night sky as if it were a painting created specifically for the occasion.

Reinhold broke the silence with a calm question, barely audible in the cool night air, and maintained a composed demeanor. "Is your arm still bothering you?"

Bhar'ther shifted his right arm, wincing slightly before shaking his head. "No, my Lord. The dwarf's prosthetic arm has been a blessing." He smiled, grateful for the technology that had allowed him to function normally again.

"Once again, I apologize for my impulsiveness in the past." He added quickly, his face flushing slightly with embarrassment.

"I should be the one apologizing, Bhar'ther." Reinheld chuckled, his voice tinged with sadness. "I was too harsh on you when we first met." His eyes darkened as his expression turned somber. After a moment, he added, "I hope you still remember our promise. That I will stand with you and break your old man's head."

Bhar'ther nodded vigorously and grinned widely, revealing his sharp fangs and pointed canines. "Of course! I wouldn't miss it for the world, Your Majesty!"

Reinhold smiled fondly at him before turning his attention back to the moon once again. "I suppose there's no point in delaying any longer. You'd better head off now, Bhar'ther."

Bhar'ther saluted Reinhold with a confident nod before making his way towards the door. However, right before stepping out, he hesitated and looked back over his shoulder. "If anything happens during the ceremony, I will make sure that no noble leaves this city unscathed," he called out boldly.

Reinhold laughed softly, shaking his head. "You're always so eager to start, aren't you?" He paused, glancing over his shoulder at Bhar's retreating back. "Just remember what I told you earlier: Don't disturb the forest. Now is not the time for a civil war."

"Yes, my Lord. I shall keep this in mind."

With a final nod, Bhar'ther left the room, and Reinhold was alone with his thoughts. He let out a heavy sigh and gazed up at the stars, lost in contemplation about their future.

"I wonder... will we ever be content with what we have, or will our greed consume us endlessly?" He whispered quietly.

He sighed once again, closing his eyes briefly before opening them again to look at the night sky.

'Even I, with all my worldly possessions, am still not satisfied...'

He thought silently before lying down on the couch, staring blankly at his ceiling, his mind drifting off to sleep.

'But perhaps one day...one day—I'll be content with my life. Perhaps I'll finally find peace and true happiness, free from the weight of my mistakes.'

His eyelids touched each other heavily, and he gradually fell asleep.

*

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Reinhold blinked, squinting against the bright beams of sunlight slicing through his eyelids, jolting him awake. He sat up slowly, feeling stiff from sleeping on the couch, and rubbed his eyes, adjusting to the brightness that flooded his room.

With a loud yawn, he pushed himself up from the couch and sauntered out to the balcony. As he leaned against the railing, his gaze was drawn to the endless expanse of deep blue sea merging with the horizon. The gentle patter of raindrops on the pavement below created a peaceful soundtrack as he took in the view. The wet leaves and flowers glistened in the sunlight, emitting a fresh scent carried by the salty sea breeze that filled Reinhold's lungs.

"The weather is too beautiful for a king like me," he declared to no one in particular.

Breakfast was waiting for him when he made his way downstairs to the dining room. His servants had prepared a grand feast of bacon, fried eggs, juicy sausages, warm bread rolls, refreshing fruit juice, and creamy milk. Reinhold greeted them all with enthusiasm.

"Good morning, everyone! I hope you're all doing well today."

They bowed respectfully before responding with a chorus of "Good day, Your Majesty." and "How are you doing, Sir?".

Reinhold quickly sat comfortably at the table while the others stood behind him. His nose seemed to expand as much as the fragrant scents of food entered his nostrils.

He enjoys indulging his sight and smell before satisfying his taste buds. As he glanced around the dining table, the sight of the fried eggs evoked a sense of warmth within him. The egg looked perfect, as he always wanted; the white had to be fried until it was crispy, a little scorched, but the yolk still had to be liquid, not overcooked even a little bit.

Unable to resist the delicious aroma wafting through the table, he swiftly tore off a chunk of crusty bread and dipped it into the runny yolk of his sunny-side-up eggs. The perfectly cooked egg burst open, pouring a bright yellow river onto the hot bread. As he brought the bite to his mouth, the rich and satisfying flavors of the creamy yolk and soft bread enveloped his senses.

His eyes closed in pure bliss as he savored every bite. But then they opened again, landing on another favorite dish: sausage. On the table lay two types of sausages: one made with succulent pork, known for its sweet taste and tenderness, and the other made with juicy beef.

Without hesitation, Reinhold picked up his fork and eagerly speared a piece of the pork sausage. Juices oozed out from within, making his mouth water uncontrollably. The tender meat melted in his mouth as he savored each bite.

However, just as he was enjoying this peaceful and happy moment, the loud echoes of footsteps shattered the tranquility as Queen Ethelda entered.

"Oh, Your Majesty, are you also having breakfast? I didn't know you were here," she said firmly.

Her sudden arrival made Reinhold jump in alarm. He swallowed hard, his throat tightening. "Good morning, my dear. What a pleasant surprise to see you up early today," he said politely, but his voice was quite empty.

Ethelda frowned slightly at her husband's tone of voice. "Is something wrong, my dear? You also didn't sleep in our chamber last night." she inquired.

"Nothing is going on with me. How about you, dear? Have you had enough rest? You don't usually rise this early." He tried to divert the subject, but his eyes were completely absent-minded and pale.

Ethelda sighed deeply before answering, "Well, yes, I guess that I am feeling tired lately. Maybe the stress has finally taken its toll on my body."

Reinhold raised his brows and asked, "Is there anything that bothers you?"

Ethelda shook her head lightly. "There is no particular matter that concerns me. But I feel uneasy somehow..."

Reinhold stared blankly at his queen, unable to comprehend why he suddenly felt uncomfortable with the conversation. He couldn't care less, as he quickly glanced down at the plate of beef sausages before him and noticed that he hadn't eaten any of them yet. Without saying another word, he stabbed his fork into one of the pieces of meat and lifted them one by one to his mouth in a rush.

Immediately after cramming all the sausages into his mouth, he gulped down more fruit juice as if to swallow it down as quickly as possible. He no longer had the happy expression he did a few minutes ago; instead, he now had a hurried and tense expression.

As soon as Reinhold finished his breakfast hastily, Ethelda immediately ordered the maids to clear the dishes and bring in the tea and desserts. The atmosphere became tense and awkward.

After a moment of silence, Ethelda went into the kitchen and called the maids closer as she cleared her throat and spoke softly, "So... what do you guys think happened to him just now?"

The maids exchanged glances nervously.

One of them timidly replied, "Maybe he ate his food too fast? I think he must have been really hungry, or maybe he was nervous about something."

Another chimed in, "Yeah, that's probably it. Or perhaps he simply doesn't feel very well right now."

Ethelda furrowed her eyebrows and asked suspiciously, "What makes you say that?"

The first maid replied again, "He looks pale, My Lady."

Ethelda nodded slowly, pondering the possibility that Reinhold might not be in good condition. She decided to ask further questions about her husband's behavior to gain more insight.

"Did he say anything strange recently?"

"No, he didn't."

"Was he acting different lately?"

Everyone shook their heads and replied in unison, "No, My Lady."

"Hmm..."

The second maid hesitantly asked, worried that her question might offend her mistress. "Um... if I may, what exactly is going on between you and King Reinhold? I noticed you seem to have some kind of tension or conflict with him recently."

Ethelda's expression changed drastically; her face flushed red, veins bulged out from her temples, and her fists clenched tight. Her breathing quickened as she tried to contain herself from exploding at them right there and then, but she managed to calm down enough after taking a deep breath.

Ethelda took a long pause before speaking in a low, furious voice, "It's none of your business."

Immediately, Ethelda turned, walked out of the kitchen, and approached Reinhold. "Do you want to eat anything special tonight? I can prepare it for you, and then we can have dinner together. It's been a long time since we did that." She suggested.

Reinhold looked up and answered flatly, "I'm fine, thanks. I'll practice for a while, and then I'll go hunting a bit for fun with my knights. Maybe we won't come back tonight."

"Alright then..." She trailed off awkwardly.

Reinhold's heart pounded in his chest as he scrambled to his feet and bolted out of the room. He could practically feel the icy daggers of Ethelda's gaze drilling into his back, chilling him to the bone. She stood there in the background, every muscle in her body tense, her eyes burning with a fury that threatened to explode. She clenched her teeth so hard they might shatter at any moment, and her grip on the chair was so tight that it turned white.

'I married him at the age of fifteen. I'm thirty-five now, but he's never touched me. Not once.'

She thought angrily before turning to face the maids. "Clean this mess up." she barked, stomping away furiously.

'All I ever need from that bastard is a single boy. How pathetic!'

Ethelda slammed the door shut behind her. Her rage was evident in her steps. The sound echoed through the entire castle, making the servants flinch as she stormed off.