The girls led Lucas and the empress to where the king was.
He was seated on a raised platform just outside a tent, his posture rigid despite the weariness in his eyes, the tension of the battlefield still etched into every line of his face. Captain Varran and Commander Alexander stood at his sides, vigilant, their expressions a mixture of relief and concern as they watched the empress and Lucas approach. The moment they arrived, the empress gave a respectful nod to the king, her aura calm but imposing, the weight of her presence instantly filling the space around them. Lucas stayed slightly behind her, giving her the lead, yet his eyes flickered over the king with quiet determination, the unspoken understanding between them deep and unbroken.
