The Beginning Adventure of the New Monarch

The banquet hall was filled with enchanting melodies, played by a group of twenty musicians perfectly harmonizing on their flutes.

Their performance captivated the guests yet my mind wandered elsewhere.

Beside me Gilbert chatted joyfully with a group of nobles while Raelia, to my surprise held onto my left arm.

She gave me a soft but enigmatic smile her eyes sparkling with an unreadable beauty.

I remained silent slightly taken aback by this unexpected gesture a phrase from my world came to mind: A woman's desire is a fearful thing, and one should beware!

The thought amused me as much as it puzzled me, and I simply responded with a smile.

As the celebration was in full swing a guard approached respectfully, kneeling before me.

— "Lord Jonady, the king requests an audience with you," he said in a calm yet firm voice.

Raelia seemed inclined to intervene, perhaps to accompany me or ask a question but the guard quickly added:

— "In private, Princess."

She remained silent, though her expression betrayed a hint of displeasure.

I followed the guard through the palace corridors, adorned with tapestries and flickering torches. We eventually arrived at a private room where the king awaited.

The guard saluted and nodded before leaving us alone.

The king approached me slowly, his expression somber.

He bowed slightly lowering his head.

— "I wanted to apologize to you Jonady Kaya. We summoned you into this world without a way to return, against your will.

No young man should have to endure such a fate—being torn from his life and forced to bear the burdens of a foreign kingdom."

His words were sincere, and his tone carried a heavy guilt.

I placed a firm yet respectful hand on his shoulder.

— "Rise, Your Majesty. I understand that the kingdom was in danger.

Betting on the legend of a hero to save your people was a desperate but necessary decision. And besides..." I paused searching for the right words. "I'm beginning to get used to this world."

The king raised his head, his gaze trying to delve into my thoughts.

— "What do you think of the kingdom's current situation and the challenges ahead?" he asked.

I took a moment to reflect before answering.

— "Even though we have defeated the enemy coalition, it would be wise to return the captured demons to the Demon Empire.

This gesture would demonstrate our strength while sending a clear signal to other nations: Ednia is a force to be reckoned with.

The Empire will hesitate before attempting another invasion of the island, and we would gain time to rebuild our army."

The king nodded, pondering my words.

He seemed to weigh every detail, reflecting on their implications. Internally, i murmured to myself an ancient maxim: Si vis pacem, para bellum (If you want peace, prepare for war).

— "And what about internal enemies?" he added after a moment of silence.

I met his gaze, feeling the weight of his words.

— "They must be identified and neutralized swiftly.

The kingdom's survival depends as much on internal unity as on military strength if betrayal lingers among the nobles, it could be just as destructive as a foreign invasion."

The king remained silent, visibly agreeing with my remarks.

Then, to my surprise, he changed the subject.

— "What do you think of Raelia?"

The question caught me off guard . My mind raced briefly, trying to understand why he was asking that ?.

Perhaps he wanted to know if she was fit to govern, or maybe he was concerned about her future as a leader. I took a deep breath, organizing my thoughts.

— "Raelia is intelligent and strong," I began slowly, weighing my words."She is charismatic and deeply cares for her people. Certainly, she has a sometimes impulsive temperament, but in time, she will gain wisdom and become a great ruler."

The king listened attentively to my response, a smile forming on his face.

He seemed satisfied, as if my words confirmed his own thoughts.

— "Thank you, Jonady," he said simply. "You may return to the celebration."

I bowed respectfully before leaving the room.

As I walked through the deserted hallways, I reflected on our conversation the king questions revealed a certain concern, but also a clear vision for the kingdom's future.

In the corridor, Raelia was waiting for me, seemingly curious about the discussion with her father. She quickly approached, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

— "What did you talk about with my father?" she asked.

I responded with a mysterious smile.

— "Nothing important."

We returned to the banquet hall.

The music had slowed, and the guests were beginning to leave.

The evening was drawing to a close, but the questions raised by the king still echoed in my mind.

The challenges ahead would be many, but I knew one thing Ednia still had a chance to triumph the future adversity to come.