CHAPTER 179: APPROACH [1]

"You have a guest, Your Majesty."

The voice of the guard made them stop.

Inara exhaled sharply, pulling herself off Akamir’s lap with a muttered curse under her breath.

She straightened her robe with a flick of her wrist and waved toward the door without turning around.

"Let them in," she called, her tone switching back to queenly grace in an instant.

’What worse timing could they have?’

Akamir adjusted his coat as he stood up and stopped just behind her.

He let out a sigh as he looked at the door.

The large doors opened slowly, and one by one, several figures entered the throne room.

Among them were the current dukes and duchesses loyal to the crown.

At the front was Lyselle, the Duchess of Polama, followed closely by Duke Dain of Marson, and a few others who took their places around the chair set beneath the throne’s raised platform.

Inara remained seated on her throne as she looked at them.

Her posture straight and expression composed.

Akamir remained standing behind her, arms crossed.

Inara spoke first. "What important matter do you guys have?" she asked, looking at them.

Everyone present in the room could tell she was in a foul mood.

Yet no one dared to point it out.

One of the elderly stood up as he bowed towards the queen.

"I would like to inform something to you, my queen."

Inara gave him a faint nod. "Speak."

"The previous king Aldric is in his last breath now," he replied softly. "We don’t think he will survive the night."

"..."

There was a stunned silence within the room as all looked at Inara.

The queen didn’t show much emotion, but she remained quiet for a while.

’Aldric is still not dead yet, huh?’

Akamir thought as he rubbed the back of his neck.

He had been out of the kingdom for a while and already expected King Aldric to die before he returned.

’Looks like Inara is taking care of the old man.’

Akamir thought, glancing at the queen who sat quietly.

"I will visit him today," she said, gesturing him to sit down. "Anything else?"

Lyselle stood up and bowed towards her.

Her gaze, though only for a second, shifted towards Akamir who stood behind her.

Akamir smiled at the girl who had come a long way.

’She is still green though,’ he thought. ’Inara helped her take the dukedom, it’s up to her to rule it.’

"Your Majesty," she said with a polite bow, her long blue cloak brushing the floor. "I wanted to inform you... The Aure Kingdom contacted me."

That made the room stir.

She continued before anyone could interrupt. "They offered me status, land, and a title under their crown if I agreed to betray you. They asked for Polama to be cut from the east and rejoined under their banner."

Inara didn’t react visibly, only nodded once.

"I assume you said no," Akamir said quietly from behind.

Lyselle turned to him and nodded. "Of course. I owe everything I have to the queen. I would never betray her."

Duke Dain, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a deep scar running across his cheek, leaned forward slightly.

His voice was steady but cautious.

"And how do we know that’s true?" he asked. "Words are easy. The Aure Kingdom has deep pockets. What if you’re already playing both sides?"

Tension spiked in the room.

But before anyone else could speak, Inara raised her hand.

"She isn’t," she said calmly.

Dain’s eyes narrowed. "And how can you be so sure?"

"Because I know her," Inara replied, her gaze not wavering. "Lyselle has proven herself more than once. She has no reason to betray me now."

Lyselle lowered her head, visibly grateful. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will not disappoint you."

Dain leaned back with a grunt, not fully satisfied but not willing to push further either.

Inara looked around the room. "The Aure Kingdom is trying to sow division. This won’t be the last attempt. They will offer all of you something eventually."

"Then what should we do?" another noble asked.

"Stay united," Inara replied. "And make it clear that betraying this crown will have only one result."

Akamir tilted his head slightly as he glanced at Dain.

The Marson Duke didn’t flinch but gave a faint nod.

Inara continued, "We’ll need to strengthen our borders in the east. Lyselle, lead them. I will provide you with the funding for it."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"In the meantime," she said, leaning back on her throne, "I’ll deal with the source of their confidence."

She stood up slowly, the flowing fabric of her robes cascading down the steps like shadows in motion.

She looked down at the gathered nobles—her voice calm, yet undeniable.

"I want reports," she ordered. "Every suspicious messenger, every trade shift along the eastern line, every whisper from traveling merchants. From this day on, we act before they move."

Lyselle nodded firmly. "I’ll start collecting the information tonight."

"Good," Inara said. "The rest of you... send your banners east. Don’t make noise, but let the towns know protection is near."

Dain gave a reluctant nod. "It will be done."

Inara waved a hand. "That’s all for now. Wait for me in the main hall for the budget discussion."

The nobles began to leave one by one, murmuring softly to one another as they exited.

When the throne room was finally empty, Inara let out a breath and sat back down, her fingers massaging her temple.

Akamir stepped up beside her. "You handled that well."

She gave him a tired look. "It’s not over yet," she mumbled. "They are really trying to trigger a war."

"Well, I can see that happening," Akamir replied, nodding his head seriously. "You have yet to prove yourself."

"If Aure gains more ground, even by words, the nobility will start to waver," Inara mumbled, rubbing her temples.

"And then they’ll start selling pieces of this kingdom to whoever promises more."

Inara didn’t reply. She just stared at the grand doors in silence.

Akamir studied her. "How long has Aldric been this bad?"

"Since you were gone," she said. "His mind’s been gone for longer, but his body finally started giving up."

"...When he dies, you’ll be the only one holding the old bloodline together," Akamir said quietly.

"I already am," she replied. "But yes. Once he’s gone, the only legitimacy this crown has is what I make of it."

"What do you mean?" Akamir asked, tilting his head.

"Can’t you understand?" she asked back, smiling a little. "I need kids for people to see the future of the kingdom."

Akamir looked at her weirdly before he let out a sigh.

"Inara."

"I know, you aren’t ready for a child yet," she cut in his words. "Don’t worry, I am not forcing you."

"You think they’ll start doubting you if you don’t have an heir?" he asked, more curious than judging.

"They already do," Inara replied, her voice calm. "They don’t say it aloud, but I hear it in how they speak. ’The queen is strong,’ they say. ’But who follows after?’"

Akamir leaned back, one arm draped over his knee. "And I suppose adopting a noble’s child isn’t an option?"

She let out a humorless laugh. "I would wait for you to give me your child instead of adopting one," she replied. "I can wait, don’t worry too much."

Akamir ran a hand through his hair. "Politics is so messy."

Inara nodded slowly. "And necessary."

They sat there in silence for a moment longer.

Then Akamir asked, "Would you really want that? A child, I mean. Not just for power... but for you?"

Inara paused.

"I don’t know," she admitted quietly. "Sometimes I imagine it. A little girl with your eyes and my temper. Or a boy who walks into rooms like he owns them."

A small, genuine smile touched her lips, the first in a while.

"But then I think of what kind of world they’d grow up in, and I wonder if it’s cruel to even try."

Akamir didn’t answer right away.

He just looked at her, his expression softer than usual.

"You’re not cruel," he said after a moment. "You’re just carrying too much."

She blinked at that.

Before she could reply, a soft knock came at the side door.

It creaked open slightly and a young servant peeked in.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty. The old king is... asking for you."

Inara stood up immediately, her shoulders straightening like armor sliding into place. "I’ll come."

Akamir rose with her, stepping to her side.

She glanced at him. "You don’t have to come."

Akamir looked at her. "But—"

"It’s fine," she replied. "I will see you soon then."

Akamir gave her a short nod as she walked away from him.

Left alone, he was looking at the throne before he sat down on it.

Nayomi appeared suddenly in front of his eyes.

"She is doing her best, isn’t she?" she said, smiling.

Akamir let out a sigh. "Yeah."

"So, when are you having babies?" she asked, a teasing smile on her face.

"Leave that aside," Akamir said, looking at her. "There is something I want to ask."

Nayomi blinked. "What?"

"What comes after White core?"