Voltaire's POV
"Queen Crysta?" I blurted out, startled.
Her eyes widened the instant she saw Aurein sprawled on the bed—shirtless, flushed, completely unaware of the world around him.
She rushed forward and sat at his side, her movements sharp with panic.
"He's far too drunk," she said, her voice laced with worry as her fingers brushed the prince's cheek. "General Voltaire, I know he is of legal age and we allow him to drink—but please, do not let him look bad before the public. He is a prince. His image must remain untarnished. He must not be seen drinking carelessly... especially in the city market."
Every word hit me like a reprimand from the heavens.
"I know you are no longer his personal guard," she continued, "but you are still his trainer—the one he looks up to. At the very least, you should have the sense to protect his reputation."
"I deeply apologize, Queen Crysta," I said as I bowed my head. "It was reckless. It won't happen again. I should have been more careful."
I glanced at Aurein. As she gently combed her fingers through his hair, he smiled—soft, innocent, completely vulnerable.
Queen Crysta exhaled shakily.
"Truth be told, General Voltaire... even if his father believes he is capable of independence, I know he's not." Her voice softened, weighted with a mother's fear. "I know my son. I know the things he cannot confess to his father—especially the things that could place him in danger."
My chest tightened.
"What do you mean, Your Majesty?" I asked.
She slowly lifted her gaze to me, her eyes no longer the cold precision of a queen—but the trembling sincerity of a mother terrified of the world her son must inherit.
"I know Aurein," she said quietly. "I know how his thoughts work... how his emotions run deep. I know his nature. He isn't like his father. He's too effeminate. Too gentle. Too fragile." She hesitated, her voice breaking. "He once told me he wished to become a Moon Dancer when he was young. But I forbade it—he is the next king of Ardentia."
"You... knew about that?" I asked, stunned.
She nodded lightly. "And I suspect you do as well, since you're always with him. That is why I ask you now—if you were his parent, would you allow him to be one?"
I exhaled deeply.
"No, I wouldn't," I said. "But the prince is not as weak as you think. He has a resilient heart and a sharp mind. He stumbles, yes... but he always rises again."
A faint smile touched her lips, only to vanish instantly.
"Still... he is soft. If he becomes king, I fear he will not be able to protect this kingdom. Or himself." Her voice trembled. "If Lucen and I are gone... if you are not there... who will shield him?"
"I will not go anywhere, Queen Crysta," I said firmly. "I will stay by the prince's side—no matter what happens."
She closed her eyes, breathing deeply before speaking again.
"There is something else troubling me, General Voltaire," she said softly.
"What is it, Your Majesty?"
"And... it concerns you."
My breath hitched. She met my eyes again—this time sharper, cutting through every facade I tried to maintain.
"I've noticed lately... that you and Aurein have grown far too close. Dangerously close," she said.
My heart dropped.
"I understand what you are implying," I said carefully. "Please rest assured—nothing inappropriate is happening. I know my place as a general, and I know the laws of our kingdom. I would never dare cross that line. I know the punishment that awaits."
But in truth, fear coiled in my stomach.
I could not reveal the truth. Not to her.
Not when Aurein's life could be lost because of it.
"General," she said, her tone sharpening like a blade, "tell me honestly... do you have feelings for Aurein?"
"None," I answered instantly.
But her eyes told me she didn't believe a single word. Disappointment washed over her expression like a shadow.
She inhaled deeply.
"Let me rephrase my question," she said. "General Voltaire... are you and Aurein in a relationship? Tell me the truth. I saw it—the moment I entered. I saw you above him. I saw you kiss his forehead."
My eyes widened. Cold panic surged through my veins.
"Queen Crysta, I—I can explain!" I said, my voice trembling but still trying to be the composed general I am.
But before I could gather a defense—
"General Voltaire... don't leave me... stay here... come closer... hold me..." Aurein murmured suddenly, his voice slurred with sleep.
My soul nearly left my body.
Not Now.
Not in front of the queen.
She released a long, exhausted sigh. When she looked back at him, her expression was unreadable—somewhere between heartbreak and reluctant understanding.
"I suppose," she said quietly, "the answer already came from him."
I found myself frozen, unable to speak, unable to breathe—caught between her knowing eyes and Aurein's drunken plea.
And the world felt as though it had collapsed into a single, suffocating moment.
Her gaze drifted to Aurein, sleeping softly with his lips parted.
"I know my son is not the typical man his father tries to mold him into," she said. "His interests are nothing like the men around him."
"Queen Crysta..." I uttered, barely above a whisper.
"Even though he shows everyone that he is trying—trying to be strong, trying to prove himself worthy of becoming the king we all expect him to be... deep down, he is still just an innocent boy. My little one," she said. "And he is the only child I have. The only one I could ever bear. My body is not physically healthy. I can only carry one life. That life is Aurein. That is why the King and I are overprotective towards Aurein because he is the only one we have."
I exhaled slowly as her truth spilled out like years of unspoken fear. I could do nothing but listen.
"That is why, to me, even though he is a grown man, he remains a fragile child I want to protect from this harsh world," she said, her voice cracking. "And I would risk everything to keep him safe. I wanted him to become like his father—a strong king. That is why we chose you as his trainer, knowing your capability, General Voltaire. But now..." Her voice faltered. "Was it the right choice?"
Shame crawled up my spine. I could not look at her.
"I think Aurein has become too dependent on you, General Voltaire," she said.
"I'm sorry, Queen Crysta," I answered.
"Sorry for what?" she asked sharply. "For doing this to him?"
Her brows pulled tight. "So you admit it? That you and my son are in a relationship?"
I clenched my fist until my knuckles whitened.
If I said yes... then I needed to be ready for whatever came after.
"General Voltaire..." Aurein murmured softly.
We both turned toward him.
He was smiling. So peacefully. As if he were dreaming somewhere in a happy paradise.
"Thank you for protecting me..." he whispered. "I love you..."
I shut my eyes.
The truth I could not speak—Aurein spoke for me.
When I looked back at Queen Crysta, tears were falling from her eyes.
"Q-Queen Crysta!" I said in panic.
She wiped her cheeks quickly, trying to compose herself.
"You don't need to answer my question, General Voltaire," she said quietly. "It is already clear what is happening between you and Aurein."
"I am deeply... truly sorry, Your Majesty. If you wish to punish me, I will accept it. Just—do not take anything out on Aurein. Please."
I dropped to my knees in front of her.
Not just knelt—
I bowed so low my forehead nearly touched the floor.
"Please... don't let anything happen to Aurein. I can accept all the punishment alone. Just don't harm him."
"If I chose death as your punishment," she asked, "would you accept it?"
My gaze lifted to meet hers.
"No," I answered.
She inhaled deeply.
"If I die, my vow to protect Aurein would be broken," I said. "I vowed that I would do anything—everything—to protect him. Even if the world turned against him. Even if the kingdom itself abandoned him. I would stand at his side as his sword and his shield."
"So you would become our enemy," she asked softly, "just to protect Aurein?"
"If it comes to that," I said, "anyone who harms him will be my enemy."
"I'm cold... General, please get my blanket..." Aurein whispered weakly.
I was about to get it when the queen stopped me.
"I'll get it."
She rose, walked toward the cabinet, and retrieved a folded blanket. She draped it gently over Aurein's bare torso, her hands trembling.
Aurein smiled and whispered.
"Good night, my General Voltaire..."
The queen sighed and she turned to me.
"Would you defy everything just to protect his life?" she asked again. "Even me and the King would be against it?"
"I will, Queen Crysta," I answered.
She looked at me with an expression I could not decipher.
"Give me your sword," she said.
"Q-Queen Crysta?" I asked, stunned.
"Give it to me," she repeated.
I obeyed, placing the sword in her hands.
She lifted it—then pointed the lethal edge toward me.
"Do you wish to kill me, Your Majesty?" I asked, staring back at her without fear.
Instead of answering, she shifted the blade, lowering it just above my bowed head—so close the metal whispered against the air.
"As Queen of Ardentia, and as Aurein's mother," she said solemnly, "I want you to vow before me that you will protect Aurein, no matter what happens."
Her words stunned me.
She was not condemning me.
She was testing me.
"I'm giving you my blessing, General Voltaire," she said. "I know things will be complicated. Aurein is to be king. He is expected to be with Serena. But as his mother... who wants nothing but his safety... I will accept this."
"Is this true..." I murmured, shaken to my core.
"I will keep this secret," she said. "His father must never know. If he learns of this... who knows what disaster may follow. You might become the downfall of Ardentia. You are powerful enough to destroy this kingdom, General Voltaire. The king knows it. I know it."
She lowered the blade.
"So... to protect both Ardentia and Aurein, I will accept your relationship with him."
Relief surged through me so intensely that my lungs trembled.
"I will do everything in my power to protect Aurein," I said.
"And are you prepared to accept," she asked gently, "that you can never show your true feelings publicly? That in the eyes of the kingdom... Serena will be his future queen, and you... you will remain nothing more than his general?"
"We have spoken about that," I said. "I told him I would love him... where no one can see."
"Are you also aware that both of them will need to bear an heir for the royal bloodline." She stated.
"Yes... I am aware. And I will protect that child no matter what happens."
She finally lowered the sword fully.
"Stand, General Voltaire."
I obeyed.
She handed me back my sword.
As I took it, her eyes locked onto mine.
"You now carry a promise—not just to Aurein, but to me," she said. "Take care of him. Protect my son. And when he becomes king... stand at his side."
"I will, Your Majesty," I said.
"Good."
She walked past me, stopped at the door, and spoke without turning back.
"In the morning, I will inform the king to restore you as Aurein's personal guard. Serena will receive a different guard."
"Thank you, Queen Crysta," I said sincerely.
She left the chamber.
I released a long, shaking breath. Then I approached Aurein and knelt beside him.
I brushed his hair gently and smiled at his serene, sleeping face.
"At least," I whispered softly, "we now have your mother's approval."
I leaned forward and placed a tender kiss on his forehead.
* * *
Aurein's POV
My eyes snapped open long before dawn—my body had grown used to waking at this hour ever since I began training under General Voltaire.
The room was still dark, bathed only by the pale spill of moonlight slipping through the window. The quiet glow drew silver lines across the marble floor, like soft strokes of paint over shadow.
I pushed myself upright, my head throbbing faintly. I pressed a hand against my temple, trying to steady the dizziness.
And then I saw him.
The General was sitting on the cold marble floor, his back against the bed where I had apparently fallen asleep last night. He wasn't moving—his broad shoulders were perfectly still, as if he had been guarding the room the entire night.
W-Why is he sleeping there? He should have beside me.
What exactly happened yesterday? My memories were... frustratingly foggy.
"General?" I whispered, tapping the top of his head gently.
He flinched, surprised, and slowly turned toward me—eyes blinking open, as if roused from a light rest.
"Aurein." He uttered in weak tone.
"I didn't mean to wake you," I said quietly.
"It's fine..." he said, his voice still low with sleep as he glanced toward the window. "It's time for training anyway," he added before pushing himself to his feet and stretching his arms. After a deep breath, he looked back at me. "How are you feeling?" he asked, cupping my cheek with one warm, steady hand.
"A little dizzy—but I can manage," I answered, meeting his gaze despite the embarrassment prickling under my skin.
"You can skip training today if you want. You can rest," he said gently.
"No," I insisted instantly. "I want to continue. I want to be with you."
A faint smile softened his features as his thumb brushed across my cheek.
"What happened last night? How did we even get back to the palace?" I asked, confused.
"A lot happened. You don't have to think about it anymore," General Voltaire said.
"No, tell me! Please?" I begged, lips jutting into a small pout I didn't intend.
"Don't use your innocence against me, Aurein," he said with an amused, gentle smile.
Then he cradled my other cheek—both hands holding my face—before leaning in and pressing the softest kiss onto my lips. My eyes fluttered shut instinctively at the warmth of it.
When he finally pulled away, I slowly opened my eyes to find him staring at me... as if seeing something precious.
"Hmph," I muttered, turning my face away quickly. I couldn't let him see how flustered I actually was.
How warm my chest felt.
How much that kiss made my heart misbehave.
"Don't drink again, Aurein. You scare me when you do," he said.
"What really happened?!" I snapped, irritation rising as my brows knitted together.
He just shook his head and turned away.
"Get dressed. We're heading to the training grounds," he said.
"What if you— you took advantage of me while I was asleep?!" I burst out, clutching my chest in shock. Then I froze. Only then did I realize I wasn't wearing anything on my upper body. My eyes widened. "W-Wait—why am I half-naked?!"
"Because you removed your own clothes," he said with a playful smirk.
"No! Not in front of you!"
"Yes, you did. You took off your top... and you tried to remove your trousers too. You kept insisting we should do—that." He looked at me meaningfully. "You kept saying you wanted me to put 'it' inside of you," he said.
My breath caught.
My entire face burned.
"D-Did I really say and do that?" I asked, horrified.
"It's up to you whether you believe it or not," he said calmly. "You're reckless when you're drunk, Aurein. Too reckless. Good thing I was the one with you. If it had been someone else... they wouldn't have hesitated to touch you."
"Why?! Why can't I control myself? Why don't I remember anything? The last thing I recall is us dancing in the city market. After that... nothing," I said helplessly.
"Let it go," he said softly. "I'm not letting you drink again. Especially not around other men—or women. I'm not risking it."
I sighed deeply.
"Thank you, General Voltaire... for taking care of me last night," I said, my voice small with embarrassment.
"Of course. That's my duty," he said. "Go on—get dressed."
"All right..." I muttered, pouting despite myself.
* * *
We were already running our morning forty laps around the lake—my breath sharp, my head spinning, and my dignity... questionable at best. Dante, Ton-Ton, and Asper ran beside me with the annoying ease of people who did not humiliate themselves the previous night.
"Are none of you dizzy? We drank so much last night!" I asked, baffled.
"We're used to it, Prince Aurein. You're new to drinking, so your body isn't prepared yet," Dante explained, as if diagnosing a patient.
"If you want to get used to it, drink more," Asper said.
"I'll get scolded by General Voltaire if he finds out I drank," I muttered, my tone already sulking like a guilty child.
"We won't tell him. We'll drink in secret," Ton-Ton said with a conspiratorial grin.
"Ton-Ton! You troublemaker!" Asper scolded.
I groaned, massaging my temples. "Can you... can you tell me if I did anything last night after we danced? I don't remember anything anymore.
The three of them exchanged a look—the kind of look people exchanged before revealing something traumatic.
"Tell me! Please!" I begged.
"It's... intense, Prince Aurein. We just assumed the alcohol took over your soul," Dante said with genuine fear. "Are you sure you really want to know?"
"What do you mean? Tell me! I want to know!" I pleaded.
"Don't be shocked by what we're about to tell you, Prince Aurein..." Ton-Ton warned.
"I'll try, but I won't promise!" I said, ready for anything.
They inhaled deeply.
"After we finished dancing, you drank even more. A lot more," Ton-Ton continued. "Then... you turned toward General Voltaire."
He swallowed hard.
And then he shut his eyes, as though the memory alone was painful.
"What? Don't pause there! Just tell me!" I begged.
"You... danced for him. Right in front of him while he was sitting down," Ton-Ton said, voice trembling. "It was... an indecent dance. You were basically seducing him. You bent over in front of him and—your hips—your hips were moving like I don't even know the word how to describe it. It was too..."
He couldn't even finish.
"WHAT?!" I shouted, my eyes bulging. "Is that true? You're not making this up?!" My hands flew to my face, heat burning through my cheeks.
"That's not all, Prince Aurein," Ton-Ton said grimly.
"There's MORE?!" My voice cracked.
"Many more..." Dante said.
I grabbed my hair, wanting to rip out the shame strand by strand.
"When the female servers came to clean the table, whenever one of them talked to General Voltaire, you would stand between them," Dante explained painfully. "'You will not talk to my General Voltaire, understood? If you need anything, you go through me! He belongs to ME!' ONLY MINE! You get that?' That's what you said. And General Voltaire could only cover his face in mortification."
"Nooo!" I wailed, pressing my palms to my burning cheeks. "Please tell me you're joking! Please!"
"Unfortunately... that was only a fraction," Asper said.
"What else?" I said, voice trembling, eyes already stinging.
"Still a lot more, Prince Aurein..." Asper said, eyes widening, voice shaking.
I froze. "Is it that bad? Bad enough that I can never show my face again?"
All three of them nodded vigorously.
"What! That's why the General din't say anything?! He told me not to ask anymore!" I panicked.
Asper took a breath.
"While General Voltaire was sitting... you climbed onto his lap. Facing him."
I almost fainted.
"And then," Asper continued mercilessly, "you grabbed his face and kept trying to kiss him. He kept turning his head away, but you kept chasing his lips like—like some desperate, starving creature. It's like you wanted to eat his lips. You were a living suction cup."
I opened my mouth to scream.
Nothing came out.
I was too mortified to produce sound.
"And..." Ton-Ton added.
"WHAT?"
"While you were sitting on his lap, facing him, you were holding his face and basically interrogating him," Dante narrated. "You kept forcing him, asking, 'Do you love me, General Voltaire?' He wasn't answering, so you pressed your forehead against his, completely furious, shouting, 'Say you love me! Hurry up! I need your answer now or I will undress you because you don't love me back!' That's exactly what you were telling him."
"What the—! That's not true!" I yelled.
"Unfortunately, it is. You were forcing yourself to strip off his upper garment, as if you were desperate to see his body." Asper said horrified. "And when General Voltaire finally lost his patience, he stood up and said he was taking you home. But then you collapsed dramatically on the floor and clung to his leg. Like—full-on—he was already dragging you, and you still wouldn't let go. You kept crying and saying you weren't leaving until he said he loved you. Absolute chaos."
"But it was a fun night! Can't wait to drink again with you, Prince Aurein!" Ton-Ton beamed.
"I CAN NEVER SHOW MY FACE AGAIN!" I finally yelled, attempting to sprint straight into the lake to drown myself, but Ton-Ton immediately grabbed my arm. "This is humiliating! What did the alcohol DO TO ME?! It turned me into a... a menace! I WILL NEVER DRINK AGAIN!"
"If only you saw General Voltaire," Dante said. "He didn't know whether to restrain you or punch you to sleep. You were too wild."
"What did the other warriors say? The servers? The people who saw?! They'll talk about me! They'll laugh at me!" I cried.
Dante gulped.
"General Voltaire paid off everyone who witnessed it. And... threatened them. He said that if a single rumor leaked, he'd track them down and kill them."
"That's brutal!" I gasped.
"That's why no story about last night can spread," Asper said.
"I'm so embarrassing! Why did I do that?! You probably all think less of me now," I said miserably, covering my face again.
"Not at all, Prince Aurein. We were just shocked by how possessive you were. You clung to General Voltaire like he was oxygen, and you were suffocating," Asper said. "Good thing he let you... violate his personal space. Anyone else would've snapped into half."
"Maybe now you won't want to be my friends," I whispered.
"Why would we stop being your friends? You were fun to drink with, Prince Aurein!" Ton-Ton said brightly. "You even taught us how to dance! We didn't know you were that good. You moved like a moon dancer."
"Please... don't see me differently. And the things I did to General Voltaire... it's just—ugh! I can't even say it!" I groaned, burying my face in my hands as we continued running.
"Should we tell him now?" Asper asked Dante and Ton-Ton, whispering as if they were plotting something catastrophic.
"Tell me what?" I asked, blinking at them in confusion.
"We've noticed it for quite a while now, Prince Aurein," Asper said.
"Noticed what?" I asked, startled.
"That... something is going on between you and General Voltaire," Dante whispered, and my eyes widened so violently they almost trembled.
"U-uhmm..." was all that escaped my mouth. My soul left my body. I was ready to sprint into the lake.
"We only confirmed it last night," Ton-Ton said. "The way you move together. The way you look at each other."
"Guys! Wait! Please—don't think of it as something bad! I know it's wrong! I can explain!" I said, flustered.
"You don't have to explain or worry, Prince Aurein," Dante said with a gentle smile—one that confused me even more.
"We accept whatever it is that exists between you and General Voltaire," Asper added.
"As long as you're happy, and General Voltaire is happy, we're happy for you both," Ton-Ton said with sincerity.
"Guys..." I breathed, suddenly feeling the burn in my eyes. "Thank you."
"We truly never thought General Voltaire would fall for a guy, like you, Prince Aurein," Asper said. "At first he always pushed you around, teased you, embarrassed you—"
"Yet lately," Dante continued, "we've noticed he's changing. When you arrived in our unit to train with us, that was the first time we saw the General genuinely enjoy himself. Most of the time, he's strict and stern. But ever since you came, he actually laughs with us."
"So don't worry, Prince Aurein," Ton-Ton said. "Your secret is safe with us. We know it's forbidden for you and the General to have something between you, so we won't tell anyone." He grinned. "I'm looking forward to more happy moments together. Because when all of us are here— you, General Voltaire, and us—this army feels alive. I can feel our unity."
I smiled at them, a genuine wave of relief washing over my chest.
The truth was—I thought they'd never understand.
But I was wrong.
Not everyone will condemn what General Voltaire and I feel.
There are people who will accept you.
People who will stand by you.
People like them.
If only my parents were the same.
Because if they ever discovered this... I wasn't sure what nightmare would unfold.
* * *
After countless laps around the lake, everyone collapsed on the grass in pure exhaustion.
Everyone... except me.
I wanted to keep running—to outrun the memory of every embarrassing thing I did last night.
I wanted to sprint until my brain emptied itself of what happened.
"Prince Aurein! Aren't you tired? You're at sixty-seven laps already!" Dante shouted.
"Sixty-seven? I've run that many?" I asked, astonished.
My body still felt like it could keep going.
Was my endurance really improving this fast?
Honestly... good for me.
"Aurein, come back here and rest for our next training,"
General Voltaire called out, finally arriving—holding a long, thick rope over his shoulder.
I jogged toward them, panting.
"That's good. You can still run," he said, nodding approvingly. "Well, maybe we'll increase your laps in the next days."
"Just don't make me run the entire day," I said, refusing to look at him—because every time I remembered what I did last night, I wanted the ground to swallow me whole.
"Why are you red, Aurein?" he asked, puzzled. "Is it from the running?"
"Don't mind me!" I said too quickly. "Let's get on with the training!"
"Of course," he said with a bright grin.
And just like that—General mode activated.
"This next training will enhance your strength and teamwork," he said, raising the rope. "We will be doing a tug-of-war exercise."
We glanced at each other, confused.
"It's simple, but I want to test someone's strength today—while also helping the rest of you improve," he said. He handed the rope to Ton-Ton.
"What do I do with this, General?" Ton-Ton asked.
"This will be a tug of war: you versus fifteen warriors," General Voltaire said.
"Ton-Ton alone?" I asked, shocked.
"Yes. Ton-Ton has incredible strength, which I discovered that's why I recruited him," Voltaire said seriously. "Now, let me pick fifteen warriors to go against him."
A moment later, everyone took their positions after the general picked who Ton-Ton is going against with.
On one end of the rope stood Ton-Ton—alone, confident, yet smiling like a huggable bear.
On the other end stood fifteen warriors pulling with all their might—Asper and Dante included.
I leaned closer to General Voltaire and whispered, "Why didn't you pick me? I want to join too! Hmp!"
"I purposely didn't choose you," he whispered back. "Your hands would get blistered. I refuse to let the hands of my queen be dirtied."
"My—what?! Stop that!" I said, mortified, lightly smacking his arm.
He chuckled softly... then instantly switched back to his terrifying general face.
"What I want," he announced, "is for you, fifteen warriors, to pull Ton-Ton past the dividing line. If you make him step over it, your group wins. But if even one of you is dragged across to Ton-Ton's side—he wins."
Everyone tensed, gripping the rope with determination.
"Wait, isn't this unfair for Ton-Ton? He's alone!" I asked.
"No," Voltaire said with a smirk. "I'm testing everyone. You'll see in a moment."
Then he raised his arm.
"Ready..."
Everyone bent their knees, tightened their grip, and inhaled.
"Go!" he shouted.
The earth shook.
The rope snapped tight like a live beast.
And the real chaos began.
The field erupted into shouts as the warriors dug their heels into the dirt, ropes pulled taut between them and Ton-Ton. Dust rose in frantic spirals. Muscles strained. The morning sun hit their armor, turning every movement into a glint of silver desperation.
Ton-Ton stood at the opposing end—calm, sturdy, almost adorable in his seriousness—yet immovable as a boulder planted by the gods. I could see his calves trembling, tiny steps dragging forward inch by inch as fifteen warriors tried to drag him across the dividing line.
And still... he wouldn't budge.
I leaned forward, breath held without realizing. This was turning into an unexpected spectacle.
General Voltaire suddenly spoke, loud enough to slice through the tension.
"Ton-Ton!" he called out. "If you win this, I'll treat you to a feast after training," he said, smirking.
There was a brief heartbeat of silence—
Then—
"Uuuuwaaaa!!"
Before I could blink, Ton-Ton gave one monstrous pull.
THUD!
All fifteen warriors went down like dominoes.
My jaw dropped. "What—what just happened!" I said in a panic. "Don't tell me Ton-Ton enters some kind of berserk state when food is involved!"
"That's exactly what happens," General Voltaire said, grinning proudly.
The warriors scrambled back to their feet with embarrassed dignity, forming their positions once more.
"Again," the General commanded, "fight against Ton-Ton's force. Think of him as the monster you must capture and drag back to your base."
"Yes, General!" the fifteen warriors replied in unison.
"Ton-Ton," Voltaire asked, "ready?"
"Yes, General! For the food!" Ton-Ton said with a face so determined it was almost frightening.
"Go!"
Instantly, the fifteen warriors lurched backward—because Ton-Ton was already pulling them forward as if they weighed nothing. Their feet dug trenches in the soil as they desperately resisted, bodies bending so far back they were nearly horizontal.
"You can do it, guys! You're amazing!" I shouted. "I... actually don't know who I'm rooting for anymore. This is confusing!"
General Voltaire leaned slightly toward the field. "Ton-Ton," he said with a devilish smile, "Prince Aurein will cook food for you."
"Uuuuwaaaa!!"
Another one-pull victory.
The warriors collapsed again, panting, while Ton-Ton looked fresh as morning dew.
I stared in disbelief. "I didn't think someone that soft-hearted could be this strong!"
General Voltaire chuckled. "Never underestimate my army, Aurein. This isn't just for Ton-Ton. I'm strengthening both sides. The harder they pull, the stronger he pulls. In the end, they force each other to grow."
"But it'll end in a stalemate," I said.
"In training? Yes," he replied. "In the actual competition Their combined power will crush the enemy instantly."
My eyes widened. "That... actually makes sense."
"Positions!" he ordered.
They lined up again.
This time, Asper took charge.
"Warriors! Coordination is the key! Pull at the same time!"
They nodded fiercely.
"One, two, three—PULL!" Asper counted.
Ton-Ton staggered back one step.
"Again! One, two, three—PULL!"
Another step.
Their coordination was working. Ton-Ton's heels scraped closer to the dividing line. I could almost feel their excitement. Victory was near—
Then Voltaire spoke again, far too calmly.
"Ton-Ton... how would you like grilled beef... dripping with sauce... waiting for you after this?"
Ton-Ton's eyes widened, pupils shimmering like a man witnessing heaven itself.
"I want it!" he shouted.
And suddenly he surged backward, reversing the entire fight in a heartbeat. Fifteen warriors screamed as their bodies slid helplessly across the field.
"No! Don't lose! One, two, three—PULL!" Asper shouted desperately.
What followed was utter chaos—grunts, shouts, dust clouds, and the sound of fifteen men fighting for their pride and honor against one man fighting for... dinner.
General Voltaire clasped his hands behind his back, watching like a satisfied villain.
"Very good," he whispered. "This is exactly what I wanted."
"You're wicked," I said, laughing breathlessly. "Using food to make him stronger—this is unfair... but effective."
After several agonizing moments, Ton-Ton slammed the rope down triumphantly.
"I shall await the food promised to me, General!" he said with a bright smile, wiped his hand and sat down as if he hadn't just obliterated fifteen warriors for the third time.
"Unbelievable..." Asper panted, collapsing to the ground. "Food really transforms you."
"We definitely need to increase our strength," Dante said. "We must overpower Ton-Ton one day."
I nodded, admiration swelling in my chest. Voltaire's training was brutal... but brilliant.
"Rest!" Voltaire announced. "We will repeat this tomorrow. Now, we move to the next training."
"I want to join too, General!" I said eagerly. "I'm excited! I want to play as well!"
"This is not a child's play, Aurein. But you will be included in this training," he said.
My eyes sparkled. "Really?"
"Yes." He smiled gently—too gently—which alarmed me instantly.
"I don't like that smile, General Voltaire. What are you planning?" I asked.
"You'll see," he said, voice low. "I'll be back. You have thirty minutes to rest while I prepare for the next training."
He walked away wearing a mischievous grin. And I felt a shiver down my spine. Whatever he was planning...
It wasn't going to be peaceful.
Not at all.
* * *
Voltaire's POV
"Alright. Everyone, return to formation—I will now announce the next training," I said as I stepped back onto the field after their thirty-minute rest.
The warriors moved swiftly, assembling in clean, disciplined lines. Dust swirled around their feet as they straightened their backs and faced me. Aurein stood among them—bright-eyed, energized, and clearly excited beside Ton-Ton, Asper, and Dante.
"For our next training," I announced, letting my voice cut through the murmurs, "everyone will participate. This exercise will test your coordination and strategy as a whole army, not just your physical strength."
The shift was immediate. The field fell into sharp silence, every gaze locked onto me.
"I'm dividing you into two groups," I continued. "The left side is Group One. The right side is Group Two."
Aurein flashed a grin at his team. He had no idea what was coming.
"Now," I said, clasping my hands behind my back, "the mechanics. This is a treasure-hunt exercise. Your mission is simple: locate the treasure and return it safely to your base. Place it on the platform, and your group wins."
"A game again, huh..." Aurein muttered under his breath. "So much for serious training and not a child's play."
I ignored the sarcasm.
"I have prepared two elevated platforms," I explained, gesturing left and right. "The red platform is Group One's base. The blue platform is Group Two's. There is only one treasure. Only one winner."
Aurein raised his hand. "Do we at least get a clue? Or a map? Something that will help us find it?"
"You won't need a map," I replied. "The entire training ground—including the forest—is your search area. As for clues, here are three that will help you finding out what the treasure really is."
The tension thickened. Even the wind seemed to pause.
"This treasure shines bright... is fragile... and carries the importance of our kingdom."
"Huh? That's it? Seriously?" Aurein complained. "No color? No size? No—anything? How are we supposed to know what it even looks like? What if it is just a plain rock that shines?"
"Because treasure," I said calmly, "is never certain. In real treasure hunting, you do not know its form until you find it. That is the point of the test."
I stepped forward, letting my voice drop to a deeper tone.
"Once you find something you believe is the treasure, protect it. Do not allow the other team to steal it. Organize scouts, guards, traps, diversions—I don't care how you do it. If it takes until nightfall, so be it."
A wicked smile tugged at my lips. Aurein noticed—his brows furrowed suspiciously.
"Last question!" he called. "How will we know for sure that it's the treasure?"
"That," I said, "is where your intelligence will be tested. You have to place it on top of your base. Only then, I will judge if you've found the correct one."
"Wow. Thank you for the... lack of clues," Aurein said irritably.
"You're welcome," I replied with a grin.
I lifted my arm.
"Prepare yourselves. On my signal. Three... two... one—GO!"
The field exploded into motion.
Two armies sprinted in opposite directions, boots thundering against the ground as they stormed into the trees and scattered across the terrain. Strategies formed. Orders barked. Leaves rustled violently as bodies vanished into the forest's shadowed maze.
They thought this was a search for an object.
They thought they were hunting something hidden under dirt, tucked inside ruins, or gleaming between branches.
But the truth was far more dangerous.
The treasure was already in plain sight.
Breathing.
Moving.
Unaware of the weight placed upon 'that' treasure.
Once the clues align in their minds—shining, fragile, carrying the kingdom's importance—there was only one possible answer.
And when they realized what they were truly meant to protect?
The whole forest would erupt in chaos.
Two groups would clash—one to claim the treasure, the other to defend it with their lives. I wanted to witness it. I wanted to see who would guard the treasure. Who would fight for the treasure and steal it. Who understood this treasure's worth.
Because this competition was coming fast.
And if they could not protect something precious now,
they would not survive what awaited them later.
My gaze drifted toward the direction Aurein had taken, his laughter fading into the forest's depths.
"Good luck, my Queen," I whispered, a small smile curving my lips. "I hope you realize it soon..."
That you are the treasure.
End of Chapter 25