(Elara's POV)
I did not know what I was feeling. Part of me felt happy. I had finally seen her again—the mysterious woman from the forest—but another part of me felt nervous, because she was not just a stranger anymore. She was the future queen of Kazunaga, Queen Eri, standing at the center of the throne hall.
For a moment, I forgot to breathe. Her blonde hair was loose, falling softly behind her shoulders, and the golden light from the chandeliers reflected on it, making it look almost unreal, like moonlight. She wore a royal robe, deep blue and silver, decorated with jewels and fine embroidery, the fabric moving gently as she walked—elegant, calm, cold.
Nothing like the woman who fought me in the forest with a sword… or maybe she was exactly the same, only now she looked even more dangerous.
The High Priest stood beside her, and the entire throne hall was silent. Nobles from different kingdoms filled the grand chamber—kings, queens, ambassadors, generals—rows of shining armor and jeweled gowns reflecting the light of the palace. The marble floor gleamed like a mirror. Large banners of Kazunaga hung from the towering pillars. Everything spoke of power, of history, of a kingdom that had stood for centuries.
And at the center of it all—stood her.
The High Priest raised the crown. Ancient words were spoken, and sacred vows echoed through the hall while Eri stood still, her sharp blue eyes slowly moving across the crowd, studying every face, every kingdom, every ruler, until suddenly her gaze stopped—on me.
Our eyes met, and my heart immediately began pounding. I looked away too quickly, wondering why I was reacting like this. She probably did not even recognize me. To her, I was just another royal guest—but to me, she was the woman from the forest, the girl who held a blade against my throat.
The ceremony ended, and the greeting of royal guests began. Eri stood near the throne while nobles approached one by one—kings and queens greeting her, some bowing, some offering gifts, some speaking quietly—until it was our turn.
The royal herald spoke loudly. "This is King Ivan of Vesperia, accompanied by Queen Letisha, Queen Mother Minerva, Crown Prince Luis… and Princess Elara." My stomach twisted as Eri's eyes moved toward us, pausing briefly on me again, calm, unreadable.
We stepped forward. My father greeted her first, then my brother, and then it was my turn.
I slowly extended my hand, and Eri reached forward. Our hands touched. Her grip was firm, cool, and in that instant, a memory flashed in my mind—the waterfall, the cold night air, the sword at my throat. For a second, I wondered if she remembered too, but her face showed no emotion at all, no surprise, no recognition—only the calm expression of a queen greeting a foreign princess.
I pulled my hand back quickly.
Prince Haru eventually joined us and greeted my father politely, standing close beside me as he spoke easily with my brother Luis, as if nothing unusual was happening. Too close. I shifted slightly, pretending to adjust my dress, my heart still beating faster than it should, trying to focus on the conversation, on the voices around us, on anything that was not the woman standing across the hall.
But my eyes kept betraying me, drifting back to her again and again.
Queen Eri stood near the throne, calm and composed, listening to the ministers speak, her posture perfect, still, controlled—like nothing in the room could disturb her.
Unlike me.
Prince Haru leaned closer while speaking, handing me a glass. "A specialty drink from Kazunaga," he said with a friendly smile. I forced a small smile back. "Thank you." But I barely tasted it, because I felt it—
a gaze.
Watching.
I looked up without thinking, and there she was.
Eri.
Her sharp blue eyes were on us—on me—then briefly on Haru, her gaze moving between the two of us, slow, measuring, and for a moment I felt strangely exposed, as if she was studying something she did not quite understand. My grip tightened slightly on the glass.
Why was she looking at us like that? Why did it make my chest feel tight?
I quickly looked away again.
Calm down, Elara. She is just the queen. She probably does not even remember you.
But the thought refused to settle, because somewhere inside me I kept remembering the forest, the lake, the cold blade at my throat, and the way she looked at me that night.
Then suddenly, Eri stepped forward.
The movement was small, but the entire room quieted. Her voice was calm when she spoke, but it carried clearly across the chamber.
"King Ivan of Vesperia."
My father turned toward her, and the surrounding nobles shifted their attention.
Eri continued without hesitation.
"Next week, we may begin discussing the arrangements of the Blood Oath."
The words landed heavily in the air, and several nobles immediately looked toward me—but Eri did not look at them.
She was looking straight at me.
Her expression calm. Unreadable.
And suddenly, one thought exploded inside my head.
Wait.
I never agreed to this.