THE KING'S MAN

e king and report on the security breach he had discovered. The news had been troubl

g table, his posture commanding, his gaze sharp. The ministers and lords were still in

ing deeply. "I have information

his gaze cold and

ast night. A few lower-ranked guards were compromised. I've taken swift

his lips pressed into a thin

een a small faction - mercenaries, perhaps seeking to gather i

the arm of his chair. "I expect nothing less from yo

doesn't happen again, Your Majesty. I'll double the patrols,

poke with a harsh, commanding tone, "You've done well, so far. But if anyth

ession stone-cold. "Und

d to his seat, his eyes never leaving Darius

n. The king's words had been firm, but there was something in the air - an edge to the king's authority that

*

rnoon sun began to set. He paced back and forth, his expression dark and his thoughts clouded. His sister, Princ

place of peace and solitude - far from the constant demands of royal life. Though she was of royal blood, she ha

a sound on the marble floor. "Thaddeus, you look like

g a hand through his dark hair in frustration. "It's this damn queen of mine." He let

mile. "Nyra?" she asked, stepping further into the room,

the courtroom, sit at the table with the ministers, and start pushing for things that undermine the king

t, Thaddeus. She is no longer the little, naive girl you married from that insignificant kingdom." She tilted her head slightly, studying her brother's furrowed bro

nderstood her place - who knew the role of a queen was to be a silent partner, a fig

h strength, and that's why we respect you. But your queen is not your enemy. She is your partner, and whether you like it or not,

harp. "I'm afraid that she'll use her voice to disrupt the balance I'v

control. But even you can't hold onto that forever. Nyra may be stepping into her role more conf

rowing, but Eloyan's words had struck a chord in him. He wasn't blind to her growth. In fact, he had always respected the q

ubbing his forehead. "I don't want her thinking I'm dismissing her ideas outr

s, you always make it sound so dramatic. It's not chaos. It's chang. And cha

ng for the first time since she entered the room. "Yo

one turned more serious, and she looked at him with a mixture of affection and concern. "You need to trust Nyra. Sh

wasn't ready to accept Nyra's growing boldness, but somewhere deep down, he knew she

rious now, "You need to find a way to make this work. She is your

us growled, his hand clenching

d softly, but her eyes held a glimmer of warning.

ted their conversation. A guard st

less gathering at the palace gates. We don't know the full details

t my gates?" His voice was cold, but the

e. The numbers are increasing, and they're

dangerous. The king's gaze flicked to Eloyan, but she said nothing. There was

o disperse them, Your Ma

s expression hardening. "No

ies. He had no idea what this crowd wanted or who they were, but there w

ted the room. "Be careful, Thaddeus," she war

clenched in determinati

rowing louder as he approached the palace gates. He didn't know what awaite