"You heard her, Queen Lysandra," Taufik said confidently, his tone steady but warm. "You don't have to worry about her. Even if the world itself were to fall apart, as long as she's with me, she'll always be safe"
"…That's..." Lysandra began, her composure faltering. "That's not what I'm worried about-"
"Mother, I want to join too," another voice interrupted.
The hall froze.
Taufik turned, blinking once.
It wasn't Thalia this time.
Now, standing beside the Queen was Elaria, her oldest daughter, calm, graceful, and almost ethereal.
Unlike Thalia, whose defiance burned bright and reckless, Elaria's presence was quiet, serene like moonlight over still water.
"I…" she hesitated, then smiled faintly. "I am… somehow interested in this man"
For a heartbeat, no one spoke.
The silence was deafening. Even the Celestial Guards, beings who had faced monsters and such, exchanged uncertain glances.
