The moment the soldiers drew their weapons—
The entire room trembled.
An invisible pressure flooded the air like a rising tide. The lantern hanging from the ceiling began to sway violently. The wooden table cracked with a sharp creak.
Every soldier in the doorway suddenly froze. Their breathing became heavy. One of them staggered forward, trying to raise his sword. But his arms trembled.
"What… what is this pressure…?" one guard muttered.
Cassian Valmere's confident expression had long since vanished. His face had turned pale. Cold sweat ran down his neck.
Lyra stood quietly beside the table, still holding Evan in her arms. She had not taken a single step. Yet the air around her felt like a mountain pressing down on everyone present.
Her voice remained calm.
"I warned you."
The soldiers struggled to stay standing. One guard dropped to one knee with a loud thud. His sword clattered across the floor.
"I… I can't move…"
Another guard tried to take a step forward. The moment he did—
His legs gave out. He collapsed onto the ground with a strangled gasp.
Cassian's eyes widened. This time, the fear was real.
"What… what are you doing?!" he shouted.
Lyra tilted her head slightly.
"I am still warning you."
The pressure increased. Not violently. But steadily. Like the slow descent of an enormous weight.
The soldiers began to panic. "My lord… we should retreat…" "Yes… this woman is not normal…"
Cassian clenched his fists. "You cowards!" he barked.
But his own legs were shaking now. He tried to take a step backward. His body refused to obey.
Then— Something embarrassing happened.
One of the guards suddenly made a choking sound. His face turned bright red. And a moment later— A dark stain began spreading across his trousers.
The smell arrived shortly after.
Another guard immediately shouted in horror. "YOU IDIOT!"
But the moment he opened his mouth— His own body betrayed him. He froze. Then his expression turned into pure despair.
"Oh no…"
The same thing happened again.
Evan blinked slowly. Did they just…
Lyra sighed quietly.
"I told you to leave earlier."
Cassian's face twisted with humiliation. But the worst part was— His own body was losing control too.
The pressure continued pressing down on him. His knees buckled. And then— His face turned deathly pale.
A moment later— The unmistakable smell spread through the room.
Silence fell. Even the soldiers outside the hallway stopped moving.
Evan stared. Then he looked up at Lyra. She simply stood there calmly. Like nothing unusual had happened.
Cassian's voice trembled violently. "You… you monster…"
Lyra's expression remained gentle.
"If you continue speaking rudely…"
The pressure increased again. Cassian immediately shut his mouth.
The soldiers on the floor looked completely broken. None of them dared to move anymore.
Lyra finally relaxed slightly. The crushing pressure vanished. Instantly.
The soldiers gasped for air. Several of them collapsed fully onto the floor.
Cassian stumbled backward until he hit the wall. His legs were still shaking.
Lyra looked at him quietly.
"You may leave now."
Cassian didn't argue. Not this time.
He staggered toward the door as fast as his trembling legs allowed. The guards followed behind him, equally desperate to escape.
The moment they reached the hallway— They ran. Not walked. Ran.
Within seconds, the corridor was completely empty. Only silence remained.
Evan stared at the doorway. Then slowly turned toward Lyra.
She calmly sat back down at the table. Like nothing had happened.
A moment later, the terrified waiter carefully peeked inside the room. His face was pale.
"My… my lady…"
Lyra smiled politely.
"Yes?"
The waiter swallowed.
"My lord Cassian has… instructed that your meal be… fully paid for."
Lyra blinked. "Oh?"
The waiter nodded quickly. "Yes! Paid in full! Please enjoy your meal!"
Then he quickly closed the door again.
Lyra looked down at the table. Then she smiled brightly.
"Well, that was fortunate."
Evan stared at her. She picked up her utensils again.
"We received free food today."
Evan continued staring. Lyra happily took another bite of roasted meat.
"This place has excellent cooking."
Evan's eye twitched. Seriously?
Lyra looked down at him.
"What is wrong, my prince?"
Inside his mind, Evan sighed deeply.
'Seriously, woman?'
You nearly collapsed a building. And you're celebrating free food?
Lyra hummed happily while eating. Evan slowly accepted his fate.
His bottle of milk had already been emptied. Meanwhile— The feast on the table continued.
And none of it was for him. Life was cruel.
Meanwhile — Valmere Estate
Night had fallen over Lunaris.
Inside a large study room, a man sat behind an enormous wooden desk. Lord Edric Valmere, head of the Valmere family.
A middle-aged man with sharp eyes and a commanding presence. Across from him stood one of the city guards. The guard looked extremely nervous.
"Say that again,"
Edric said slowly.
The guard swallowed.
"My lord… earlier today… young master Cassian encountered… an incident."
Edric raised an eyebrow.
"What kind of incident?"
The guard hesitated.
"…A woman attacked him inside one of the restaurants."
Edric's eyes narrowed slightly. "A woman?"
The guard nodded.
"Yes, my lord."
"And where is she now?"
The guard lowered his head.
"We… were unable to find her."
Silence filled the room. Edric leaned back in his chair.
"You lost her."
The guard quickly shook his head.
"No, my lord! We searched the entire district!"
He continued nervously.
"We checked the restaurant registry as well."
Edric's gaze sharpened.
"And?"
The guard's voice dropped.
"There was no record of her name."
Edric frowned slightly.
"No name?"
"Yes, my lord."
The guard hesitated again.
"None of the staff remember her registering for the private room either."
Edric tapped his fingers on the desk. Slowly. Thoughtfully.
A mysterious woman. Powerful enough to defeat trained soldiers. Yet she left no name. No record. Nothing.
Edric's eyes darkened slightly.
"Interesting."
He stood up slowly.
"Continue investigating."
The guard bowed immediately.
"Yes, my lord."
Edric walked toward the window, staring out over the city of Lunaris. Somewhere in this city… A powerful stranger had appeared.
And his son had managed to provoke her.
Edric sighed quietly.
"Cassian truly has a talent…"
"…for finding trouble."
Far away— Inside a small restaurant room—
Lyra happily continued eating her free meal. Completely unaware that the entire Valmere family had begun searching for her.
And Evan silently prayed that his next meal… Would not be milk.