It became a battle of wits the moment King Garick opened his mouth.
He had expected his daughter to sit quietly and accept his decision. After all, he was finally allowing her to stay. And that’s what she wanted, right?
But no. What he got instead was a full-on argument that would have put two wild beasts to shame.
Princess Kira was on her feet in an instant, her voice sharp. "Father, you can’t expect me to just sit around here while you throw yourself into danger."
"That’s not fair! You get to feel at ease because I’m safe here, but what about me? I’ll likely go crazy because you plan to march in with Orcs who might not even be loyal to you?"
Her golden eyes blazed.
King Garick’s own glare was unflinching. "You will do as you’re told. This is not a request."
Around them, the cadets’ heads kept turning back and forth like spectators at a match.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
And then Duchess Amelia finally sighed.
"King Garick. Princess Kira."
Her voice cut through the tension like a blade.
"Is this how you plan to spend your remaining free days? It would be best not to spend precious time arguing over this. As a ruler, you must return and cannot afford to show weakness. And if that is the case, then it would be wiser to spend what little time you have with your daughter instead of wasting it here in anger."
Kira blinked, startled by the calm authority in Amelia’s words.
"But Your Grace..." she started, her lips pushing into a pout.
Amelia’s sharp gaze met hers.
"Your Highness, won’t you be able to provide better aid to your father by staying here? You have access to resources. To DG. You could send aid and support him from here, in ways you cannot if you recklessly follow him back."
Kira’s brows furrowed as she thought about it.
And she hated to admit it... But the Duchess was right.
If she stayed and coordinated with DG, she could probably do more than if she just ran after her father on impulse.
But still. She clenched her fists at her sides.
She was worried. And who wouldn’t be worried about their own father?
King Garick’s voice rumbled low, almost disappointed. "I didn’t earn my place by being weak. If you worry too much, then you’re telling me you don’t believe in my strength."
Kira flinched at that, then stomped around the room in frustration. Her boots thudded against the floor as she muttered under her breath.
Finally, she stopped, crossed her arms, and huffed.
"Fine," she snapped.
But she wasn’t done. Not by a long shot.
Her eyes narrowed, and she tilted her chin up stubbornly.
"Then tell me this," she said. "If I can’t go home yet...how do you expect me to exact my revenge?"
"I’ve been wronged too, you know?"
The room fell silent at her question.
Her gaze fixed on her father, sharp and demanding.
"Father, what happened to Grakkar?" she asked.
Her voice was quiet now, but it carried enough weight to make everyone pause.
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