CHAPTER 14 - A Different Queen
The royal carriage left the Evermont Residence slowly. Its wooden wheels creaked softly against the stone road that cut through the northern forests of Valtherion.
Ahead of the carriage, Sir Kael rode his horse, leading the journey with the vigilance of a knight who never lowered his guard.
Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was far quieter. Keira sat near the window, watching the forest scenery glide past the glass.
Daniel sat across from her, leaning back casually as usual.
Meanwhile, Lucien sat on the other side of the carriage.
Silent.
Too silent.
He was watching Keira.
Not merely looking.
Observing.
For the past week he had deliberately kept his distance, allowing Keira time to adjust at Evermont. But now, inside the confined space of this carriage, he finally had the opportunity to truly observe her.
And the longer he looked, the clearer the difference became.
The woman before him was not the Queen Aelirra he had known for years.
Aelirra had been gentle.
Her movements were always graceful, her voice soft, her smile almost always present.
Keira…
was entirely different.
She sat casually, one leg slightly crossed, her shoulders straight with a confidence Aelirra had never possessed.
Her gaze was sharp.
Aware of herself.
And somehow, she radiated something Lucien had never seen in any noble of Valtherion.
An aura.
The aura of a star.
Lucien finally spoke.
"Interesting."
Keira glanced slightly toward him.
"What's interesting?"
Lucien leaned back against his seat.
"The difference."
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"What difference?"
Lucien looked at Keira for several seconds before answering.
"The Queen I knew never radiated an aura like that."
Keira narrowed her eyes slightly.
"What kind of aura?"
Lucien answered calmly.
"The aura of someone accustomed to standing before a sea of people… and making them all fall silent the moment her beautiful voice begins to sing."
Keira turned slightly toward him.
Her expression was neutral, but a hint of curiosity appeared in her eyes.
Daniel immediately let out a small laugh.
"Ah, so the Prime Minister finally admits it."
Lucien glanced at him briefly.
"I'm merely stating what I see."
Daniel leaned back even more comfortably.
"You haven't even seen half of it yet."
Keira sighed softly.
"Daniel."
But Daniel was already too excited.
"Her last concert wasn't even the biggest one," he continued, addressing Lucien.
He pointed proudly at Keira.
"Her world tour sold out in two hours."
Lucien lifted an eyebrow slightly.
Daniel raised one finger.
"Her last album hit number one in thirty countries."
A second finger.
"Eight international music awards."
A third finger.
"And fans who can shut down an entire city just because she walks through it."
Keira closed her eyes for a moment.
"Daniel, that's enough."
Daniel grinned widely.
"I haven't even started talking about streaming."
Lucien observed the two of them for several seconds.
Then he let out a quiet laugh.
It was rare for someone to genuinely amuse him like this.
"Interesting," he said softly.
Keira tilted her head.
"What's interesting?"
Lucien answered calmly.
"Valtherion has never had a queen like this."
Keira crossed her arms.
"Like what?"
Lucien looked at her for several seconds before replying.
"Aelirra was loved for her gentleness."
He paused briefly.
"But you…"
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"…seem accustomed to captivating the world."
A brief silence fell inside the carriage.
Keira didn't look offended.
She simply turned her gaze back toward the window.
In the distance, the white towers of Valtherion Palace began to appear through the morning mist.
Daniel watched them for a moment before speaking casually.
"Come to think of it…"
Lucien turned to him.
"Your kingdom might actually be getting a more interesting queen now."
Lucien raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting?"
Daniel grinned.
"Just imagine it."
He pointed at Keira.
"A star."
Then he pointed out the window toward the palace growing closer.
"Daniel."
Keira's voice cut him off before he could continue.
Daniel stopped.
Keira turned toward Lucien, her eyes narrowing slightly, as if she had just realized something she had overlooked before.
"Wait a second."
Lucien watched her calmly.
Keira crossed her arms.
"If you came to my world during that concert…"
She paused briefly.
"…then you were in the arena."
Daniel immediately turned toward Lucien.
Keira continued,
"Among the audience."
Lucien didn't appear surprised by the question.
He answered simply,
"Yes."
Daniel leaned forward slightly, intrigued.
"Seriously?"
Keira raised an eyebrow.
"You watched the entire concert?"
Lucien looked at her for several seconds before answering.
"We arrived before the final song."
He paused briefly, as if recalling the moment.
"The entire arena was full."
His gaze returned to Keira.
"And everyone was looking in one direction."
Daniel smirked slightly.
"The stage."
Lucien nodded.
"Toward you," he said, still watching Keira.
Daniel leaned back with satisfaction.
"Of course."
But Keira continued to study Lucien.
"There's one more thing."
Lucien waited.
Keira tilted her head slightly.
"If you were really there…"
Her gaze grew sharper.
"Why didn't it cause chaos? I'm sure security would have issued a warning if four suspicious people wearing strange clothes appeared at my concert."
Lucien smiled faintly.
"Because no one in that arena could see us."
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"Some kind of… magic?"
Lucien answered calmly.
"The gate between worlds doesn't only hide us."
He glanced briefly out the window before looking back at Keira.
"It also prevents us from becoming part of that world."
Keira was silent for a few seconds.
Then Daniel asked again,
"So you really watched the concert?"
Lucien didn't deny it.
Daniel laughed softly.
"That's insane."
Keira rolled her eyes.
Lucien looked at her again.
"To be honest, after seeing it…"
he said quietly,
"…I understand why that world calls you a star."
Outside the carriage, the white towers of Valtherion Palace were now clearly visible.
Their journey was nearly over.
And Lucien had the feeling that the kingdom might truly be welcoming something new.
Not merely the return of a queen.
But the return of Valtherion's star.