Chapter 27— The Man Who Refused to Stay Behind
The royal procession had barely crossed the outer gates of Armathia when another voice suddenly echoed across the courtyard.
"WAIT!"
Every soldier turned immediately.
Several knights instinctively reached for their swords before freezing in disbelief.
Because sprinting across the palace steps—
Completely ignoring royal dignity—
Was Kingston.
His coat hung half-buttoned.
His hair looked slightly disorganized.
And behind him, one exhausted servant struggled while dragging another traveling bag.
Roseline blinked from inside the carriage.
"…Kingston?"
King Alexander immediately covered his face.
"Oh no."
Queen Elizabeth looked far too unsurprised.
"I was wondering how long it would take."
Kingston finally stopped beside the carriage while breathing heavily.
"I'm coming too."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
One minister looked horrified.
"You cannot simply announce yourself into another kingdom's royal escort!"
Kingston looked genuinely confused.
"Why not?"
"Because diplomacy exists!"
Kingston shrugged lightly.
"I'm her husband."
Roseline nearly choked.
The surrounding nobles became emotional all over again.
The word still sounded unreal sometimes.
Husband.
King Alexander walked down the palace steps slowly with narrowed eyes.
"You decided this in less than five minutes, didn't you?"
"Three."
"Kingston."
"She'll be nervous without me."
Roseline's cheeks warmed immediately.
Kingston continued seriously,
"And Louis already threatened me indirectly in three separate letters. If I do not personally escort his sister safely, he may assume I failed my duties as a husband."
A few guards laughed nervously.
That honestly sounded believable.
One of the silver knights from Lovera Highcrest stepped forward cautiously.
"Lord Kingston…"
Kingston looked toward him.
The knight hesitated before speaking.
"His Majesty did, in fact, leave instructions regarding you."
Everyone immediately stared.
Kingston sighed.
"Of course he did."
The knight pulled out a folded document.
Then calmly read aloud—
"If Kingston attempts to remain behind in Armathia while Roseline travels alone, inform him that I will interpret this as emotional incompetence."
The courtyard exploded into confused noises.
"What does that even mean?!"
King Alexander laughed so hard he nearly lost balance.
The knight continued reading with perfect seriousness.
"Additionally, if he makes my sister cry during the journey, I will personally throw him into a lake."
Roseline covered her face instantly.
"That sounds exactly like him…"
Kingston looked offended.
"A lake?"
The knight folded the document neatly.
"Those were his exact words."
Kingston sighed deeply before climbing into the carriage anyway.
"Well. I value my life."
Roseline laughed softly as he sat beside her.
Then quietly—
"You really came."
Kingston looked at her like the answer should have been obvious.
"Of course I came."
His voice softened.
"You think I would let you face all this alone?"
Roseline's heart tightened warmly.
Outside, Queen Elizabeth smiled knowingly while watching them.
Alexander crossed his arms.
"I suddenly feel old."
"You are old," Elizabeth replied immediately.
"I regret marrying a woman this disrespectful."
"You adore me."
"…Unfortunately."
The royal couple laughed together softly.
Meanwhile, inside the carriage, Roseline looked out the window as the palace slowly grew farther away.
A strange ache filled her chest again.
Kingston noticed immediately.
Without speaking—
He gently reached for her hand.
And held it.
Firmly.
Warmly.
"I'm here," he said quietly.
Roseline looked at him.
Then slowly smiled.
The carriage continued forward beneath the evening sky.
Silver banners danced against the wind as the knights escorted them across the long roads leading toward Lovera Highcrest.
Hours later—
Far away inside the Silver Palace—
Louis sat alone in his study reviewing documents he had not read properly for the past hour.
The royal advisor standing nearby looked exhausted already.
"Your Majesty… you've been staring at the same page."
Louis spoke without looking up.
"I am reading."
"…The document is upside down."
Silence.
The advisor slowly looked away to preserve his survival.
Then suddenly—
A royal knight entered quickly before kneeling.
"Your Majesty."
Louis finally looked up.
"The procession has officially departed Armathia."
For the first time that entire day—
The terrifying king visibly paused.
"…And?"
The knight hesitated slightly.
"Lord Kingston joined the journey."
A long silence followed.
The advisor immediately prepared for violence.
Instead—
Louis leaned back slowly in his chair.
Then after several seconds—
He nodded once.
"Good."
The knight blinked in surprise.
Louis spoke calmly again.
"She dislikes unfamiliar places when emotionally overwhelmed."
The advisor stared.
The king noticed that?
Louis returned his gaze to the documents.
"He understands her."
Then quieter—
"And she smiles differently around him."
The advisor nearly fainted from shock.
Was this truly the same man feared across the continent?
Louis suddenly narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…However."
Ah.
There he is.
The knight stiffened immediately.
"If he behaves improperly inside my palace," Louis continued calmly, "I will still throw him into the lake."
The advisor sighed in relief.
Balance had returned to the universe.
Meanwhile, completely unaware of his future danger—
Kingston sat beside Roseline inside the moving carriage while she slowly fell asleep against his shoulder.
The moonlight filtered softly through the curtains.
Her breathing had finally become peaceful.
Kingston looked down at her quietly.
Then gently adjusted the blanket around her.
Outside—
The silver crescent banners of Lovera Highcrest continued guiding them home.