Chapter 56 The Falling Crown

As I stood in the icy hall, I felt the chill of the atmosphere seeping into my bones. The air was frigid and my breath hung in front of me like a cloud. I shivered, pulling my cloak tighter around me as I watched the king approach.

I looked up at his face, and immediately saw that something had changed. His normally stern expression was now twisted into a scowl, and his eyes glinted with happiness.

But even as I observed this, I felt a sense of satisfaction. I knew that manipulating him would be easy now. With his emotions so close to the surface, I could easily sway him to my point of view.

I allowed a small smile to play across my face as I stepped forward to address him. It was all too easy, really. All I had to do was speak the right words, and he would be putty in my hands. The cold atmosphere was nothing compared to the warm feeling of power that surged through me as I prepared to use it to my advantage.

The king came closer and stood in front of me, then placed his hand on my shoulder, but I couldn't help but smirk at the gesture. I wasn't one to be intimidated by royalty, and I knew that the king was just a man like any other.

"Your majesty," I said with a sly grin. "What is the reason behind this audience with you?"

The king's face grew more serious, and I could sense that he didn't appreciate my playful attitude. "Rowen," he said sternly. "This is not a matter to be taken lightly. Please, let's talk in private."

I nodded, sensing that I had pushed my luck. As we walked away from his guards, my mind raced with possibilities. What could the king want with me? Was I in trouble? Or was it something else entirely?

pαndα`noνɐ1--сoМ As we finally reached a private chamber, the king turned to me with a grave expression. "Rowen," he said. "I have received news of a potential threat to the kingdom. And I need your help to deal with it."

As the king spoke, I couldn't help but feel a sense of suspicion wash over me. Something about his tone and demeanor made me believe that he was simply testing my loyalty to him. I knew that there was no real threat to the kingdom, at least not yet.

Still, I couldn't afford to let the king doubt my allegiance. I needed to prove to him that I was willing to do whatever it takes to protect the kingdom, even if it meant playing along with his charade.

"Your majesty," I said, trying to sound sincere. "I will do whatever it takes to protect this kingdom. You can count on me."

The king looked at me for a moment, as if studying my words carefully. Finally, he nodded. "I'm glad to hear that, Rowen," he said. "I knew I could count on you."

Inside my head, I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the king's trickery. But I knew that I couldn't afford to let my guard down. I would have to stay vigilant and keep an eye on the king's actions, just in case he had something else up his sleeve. For now, I would play the game and prove my loyalty, even if it was all just a clever ploy.

As I gazed into the Blue King's eyes, I couldn't help but notice the pain that was etched across his features. It was as if he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, and he couldn't find a way to relieve the burden. But as I looked closer, I realized that the pain went much deeper than just physical strain.

In his eyes, I saw betrayal - a sense of hurt and disappointment that someone he trusted had let him down. There was also a distinct lack of respect, as if he had been treated as less than he deserved. And perhaps most strikingly, there was an absence of genuine emotion, as though everything he had experienced had left him unable to trust anyone or anything.

But I quickly pushed aside any feelings of sympathy or compassion, reminding myself that I had not come here to befriend the king. No, my mission was far more important than that - I was here to manipulate him.

I knew that the King was a powerful figure, and that his influence extended far and wide. If I could gain his favor, I could use that power to further my own goals and ambitions. And so, as I looked into his eyes, I began to craft my words carefully, choosing each one with the express purpose of winning him over.

I spoke of loyalty, of trust, of the importance of having allies in a world that could be so unforgiving. I appealed to his sense of pride, telling him that his power and influence were unmatched, and that he had the ability to shape the future of our world. And slowly but surely, I began to see a change in his expression - a flicker of interest, a hint of curiosity.

It was a delicate dance, and I knew that one wrong move could ruin everything. But as I continued to speak, I felt a sense of confidence growing within me. I knew that I had the power to sway this king, to make him see things my way. And I would stop at nothing to achieve my goals, even if it meant manipulating the very person who held the fate of our world in his hands.

"Your majesty, please, tell me…"

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