The Dragon's Shield

An oppressive silence hung in the air as Queen Tyra halted her intent to end Lynaria's life. Her cold gaze shifted from Lynaria's uncertain face to Kaelron, who stood by her side.

"Why are you stopping me? Is she really that important to you?" Queen Tyra asked, her voice laced with confusion and anger. "She's just an ordinary soldier, isn't she?" 

Kaelron looked at her with a cold intensity, his voice sharp and commanding. "She is mine. You have no right to take her life without my permission, Queen." 

Lynaria felt her heart pounding in her chest, her body warming from Kaelron's words, but she remained silent, unable to respond. Kaelron's hand touched her back gently, and instantly, a light radiated from her, restoring her strength.

"Next time, do not act without my orders," Kaelron reminded her, his voice firm but not unkind. 

Lynaria nodded quietly, stepping back behind Kaelron, trying to hide her vulnerability. Meanwhile, Prince Sun stood frozen, his eyes wide in disbelief at the scene before him.

"So, you're the one who killed my father? Is it really you? But... how do you have that much power?" Prince Sun asked, his voice trembling with confusion and anger. 

Lynaria wanted to answer, but Kaelron spoke first. 

"I gave her that power," he said flatly. 

Prince Sun could barely contain his shock. "That... that's impossible. Is she really the one the legends spoke of?" 

Before Lynaria could respond, Queen Tyra interrupted their conversation, her words only adding to the tension. 

"It seems there's more to it than that. The Dragon King also gave her his dragon jewel," she said, her voice cool and matter-of-fact. 

Prince Sun was stunned, and Kaelron only stared at Queen Tyra with a warning gaze. Lynaria stood still, trying to process everything as she observed the situation unfolding.

"Is that true, Kaelron?" Prince Sun demanded, his voice thick with disbelief. 

Kaelron remained silent, his expression unreadable. Prince Sun, seeing his lack of response, drew his own conclusions. 

"So you really did that," he muttered, almost to himself. 

In the tense silence that followed, Queen Tyra leaned in with a smirk. "You're only seeing the surface. There's something far bigger at play here," she said, enjoying the discomfort she had caused. 

Prince Sun, still unable to accept the truth, could only feel a mix of confusion and doubt. "How could I have been so blinded by my feelings?" he thought, his gaze shifting to Lynaria, who remained silent. 

Queen Tyra, sensing the unease, scoffed. "Prince Sun, how could you not feel the power within her? You were so close to her, yet you failed to sense the danger around you. Or perhaps... has your love for her made you blind to the threat?" 

Her words stung Prince Sun deeply, but he couldn't respond. He just stood there, lost in the chaos of his emotions. 

"Enough. Let's go. It seems you no longer have any desire to avenge your father's death," Queen Tyra said with an edge of annoyance. She quickly pulled Prince Sun away, leaving Kaelron and Lynaria behind.

The journey back was eerily quiet. Lynaria and Kaelron walked together, but there was an unspoken distance between them. Ares trailed behind them, noticing how Lynaria seemed lost in her own thoughts, her demeanor heavy. 

"Are you okay? You seem so down," Ares asked, his voice tinged with concern. But Lynaria only nodded quietly, trying to keep her emotions in check. 

"Don't try to pretend everything's fine," Ares said, lightly patting her shoulder. "You'll feel better if you cry. Don't bottle everything up." 

Lynaria remained silent. The tension in the air was palpable, and Kaelron, who had been watching them from a distance, felt a flicker of frustration. When Ares tried to put his arm around Lynaria, Kaelron, without a word, shoved him away and pulled Lynaria into his embrace.

Lynaria was taken aback, her body frozen in shock. Ares, feeling insulted, muttered something under his breath and walked off. 

"Why do I always lose out when it comes to women?" Ares muttered to himself, but before leaving, he threw a warning over his shoulder. "Be careful with your king, Lynaria. He's not the good man he seems to be." 

Kaelron glared at Ares as he disappeared into the distance. He didn't release his hold on Lynaria, not even for a moment.

Lynaria, struggling to breathe from the tight embrace, finally spoke, her voice soft. "My lord, could you let go? I'm starting to have trouble breathing." 

Kaelron was momentarily surprised but released her immediately. There was an awkward pause between them after the moment had passed, and Kaelron, attempting to break the tension, asked another question. 

"So, you and Prince Sun have known each other for a long time?" he asked, his voice calm, but the underlying tension was evident. 

"Yes, my lord," Lynaria replied, her heart racing. 

"Did you love each other?" Kaelron pressed, his tone more intense, almost probing. 

Lynaria fell silent, the question too personal, too difficult to answer. Kaelron, sensing her hesitation, pushed further. 

"Answer my question. This is an order," he said, his voice colder now. 

"I... I did love him," Lynaria finally admitted. "But after I truly fell for him, he just left me." 

"Do you still love him now?" Kaelron's question was sharp, demanding an answer. 

Lynaria fell silent again, unable to speak, the words stuck in her throat. 

Kaelron, sensing her turmoil, looked at her with a cold resolve. "From now on, don't think of any man but me. Your heart is mine, and no one else's." 

Lynaria was stunned. "How could he say that to me?" she thought, her mind reeling.

When they returned to the palace, Lynaria walked slowly to her room, her mind heavy with unspoken thoughts and feelings. Inside her room, she held the dragon sword tightly, seeking comfort from its presence. 

"Oero, Glosbe is gone. I regret not being able to protect him. I was too weak to be his master. If only I were stronger, even without the dragon sword... he wouldn't have died," Lynaria whispered through her tears, holding the sword close.

Outside her room, Kaelron leaned against the door, listening to her sorrowful words, though he had no intention of interrupting. 

Meanwhile, Prince Sun was still shaken by the truth he had witnessed. He never imagined that the difficult parting would only become even harder after their reunion.