Growing threats.

With one last tender look at Nila, Cyrus gently kissed her forehead and stepped back. "I'll see you later, my queen. Hold that happiness close," he whispered, his voice soft and full of promise.

Nila squeezed his hand one last time before letting him go, watching as he turned and strode purposefully back towards the palace. The lightness in her chest remained a warmth that anchored her as she returned to her day.

The court chamber was bustling with the hum of voices and the shuffling of parchment. Advisors and warriors stood in clusters, their expressions a mix of concern and urgency. Cyrus's presence immediately commanded silence, the weight of his authority pressing on the room like an unseen force.

"Your Majesty," an older advisor named Westley stepped forward, clutching a scroll in his weathered hands. "We've received reports from the northern borderlands. The frequency of rogue creature attacks has increased sharply over the past week."