Eryndor’s hand dropped from his sword hilt.
His green eyes studied her face—the confusion there, the genuine bewilderment at his accusation.
‘does she really not understand what she did?’
“Controlled force.” He stepped closer, his bare feet silent on the blood-stained floor.
“You broke Sera’s nose.
Slammed her into a wall.
Then pressed your foot on her throat until I stopped you.”
His jaw tightened.
“In my kingdom, that’s attempted murder.”
He gestured toward the door where Sera had crawled out.
“If I hadn’t intervened, you would’ve crushed her windpipe.”
‘She fights like someone who’s killed before, but claims ignorance.’
“Where you come from, is that normal?” His voice was sharp.
“Beating someone unconscious, then continuing?”
The morning light shifted through the windows, casting shadows across the weapons on the walls.
“why are you talking like I cut her neck?”
She said confused at him
“all of these are minor injuries not dangerous and can be treated easily”
Eryndor’s hand moved to his temple, fingers pressing against the skin there.
His jaw worked as he exhaled through his nose.
He felt speechless for the first time in his life
“Minor injuries.” His voice was flat.
“You think a broken nose is minor?”
‘She speaks of these things like they’re scratches.
If there was no healers in the palace that would have been dangerous’
He stepped closer “In your world, do people walk around with broken bones and crushed throats?”
His green eyes searched her face.
“Sera will need healing magic.
Days of recovery.” His hand dropped.
“That’s not minor.”
The blood on the floor had begun to dry, darkening the stone.
Weapons hung on the walls behind her, morning light glinting off their edges.
“What do you call dangerous, then?”
“Dangerous?
Something you can’t repair.”
“Major brain damage.
Severe spinal cord damage.
Complete organ failure.
Things that destroy too much of the body to be restored.”
Eryndor raised one of his eyebrows slightly
“And How would I know that ?I am not a doctor”
Eryndor’s jaw opened slightly then closed again looking at her in disbelief thinking what should he say next…
“Are you just listing ways to kill?”
“What I said are dangerous injuries, but most of them can be treated if you get to the hospital quickly.
You’ll be treated.
If you’re too late, you’ll die.”
“But if you’re scared of something minor like a broken nose, then you shouldn’t get into a fight in the first place.”
Eryndor sighed, rubbing the space between his brows with his hand, clearly having a headache.
“You….”
He stopped speaking for a moment.
“Just follow me.”
A few minutes later…
She was sitting on a chair in a new room, with a table in front of her.
She was surrounded by a lot of elves, from right to left.
One of the elves was standing closer to her.
He raised his hand near her head, and a faint blue light appeared from his palm, casting a soft glow over her face before disappearing.
He walked back and bowed his head slightly to the king while clasping his hands, which were covered by long sleeves.
Eryndor was sitting in the opposite chair across the table, leaning his head loosely against his hand.
“So?”
The elf bowed slightly.
“Her mental state is in good condition, Your Majesty.”
“Then do you claim I am the one who is insane?”
The elf immediately shut his mouth.
After him, two others came forward simultaneously.
“She can’t be a physical fighter, Your Majesty.
She has no combat muscles at all.”
“I checked, and she definitely can’t use any magic, Your Majesty.”
The girl’s voice cut through the conversation.
“So?
Can I touch your ears now?”
“No.”
“Just a small touch?”
“No.”
“I’m just going to make sure they’re real ones?”
Eryndor’s gaze moved to the first elf who had spoken about her mental stability.
“Are you sure she doesn’t need treatment?”
“Y-yes, Your Majesty…
I am sure she doesn’t have any problem,” he said, wiping some sweat from his forehead with a tissue.
She suddenly appeared in front of that elf.
“What about you?
Can I touch yours?~”
“Hmm?
Is this a no, too?”
She moved her gaze to the others in the room.
Every time her gaze landed on someone, they quickly avoided her gaze.
Her gaze went back to Eryndor.
“Why are you all shy about it?
There is nothing to be ashamed of.”
She said confidently,
“Elves have long ears, and humans have long noses…
They always keep them in other people’s business.”
Eryndor’s jaw twitched.
Someone standing slightly farther away covered his mouth, avoiding Eryndor’s gaze as he looked up at the ceiling.
Another one looked like he was about to clap his hands, but stopped midair when Eryndor looked at him, awkwardly lowering his hands.
Eryndor shifted his gaze to her.
“What is your name?”
“I am not telling you~ You didn’t tell me yours.”
She said, crossing her arms over her chest and puffing it out proudly.
The others in the room stared at her with widened eyes, their mouths hanging open.
Silence filled the room.
His gaze remained fixed on her.
She lowered her hands and went back to her chair.
“Veyra.”
“Veyra?”
“It means light that crosses the void.
It was the name of a newly discovered star.”
For the briefest moment, something shifted in Eryndor’s eyes.
A faint glimmer of approval crossed his gaze before his expression returned to its usual unreadable calm.
His gaze moved to the physicians and healers in the room, signaling for them to return to their work.
They bowed simultaneously before leaving the room one by one, never turning their backs to the king.
His fingers drummed against the table.
Before he could speak…
The door opened.
A guard stepped inside, his armor clinking.
“Your Majesty, the council is waiting.”
Eryndor’s jaw tightened.
“Tell them I’ll be there shortly.”
The guard hesitated, his eyes flicking toward her, then left.
“You’ll stay in the guest quarters.
Not the cells.”
His tone left no room for argument.
“We’ll continue this later.”