The training grounds were vast and open, surrounded by tall stone walls that blocked out the rest of the palace.
The morning sun was harsh, casting long shadows over the practice dummies and racks of weapons neatly arranged along the perimeter. I stood awkwardly in the middle of the field, feeling the weight of Knox’s stare.
He leaned casually against a wooden post, arms crossed and a smirk playing on his lips. “Eavesdropping is for losers.”
I blinked, caught off guard. “What?”
Knox’s smirk widened. “Last night. You were outside the hall, weren’t you?”
My heart stuttered, but I forced myself to look unaffected. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you don’t,” he said, pushing off the post and walking toward me. His boots crunched against the dirt, each step deliberate. “Let me guess. You thought you’d hear something important? Maybe some grand secret about the king?”
I bristled, clenching my fists. “I wasn’t eavesdropping-
Knox raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “You’re a terrible liar, you know that?”
“Relax,” he cut in, waving a hand dismissively. “It’s not like you’re the first person to try. But let me give you a piece of advice: whatever you think you heard, forget it. It’s better that way.”
His casual tone only made my irritation grow. “You think you know everything, don’t you?”
“I know enough,” Knox replied, stopping a few feet away from me. “Like the fact that you’re about to make a complete fool of
yourself out here.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He gestured at the training grounds. “You’ve never done this before, have you? Fought, trained, defended yourself?”
I swallowed hard, unwilling to admit he was right.
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Knox chuckled, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “Don’t worry. I’m here to help. Let’s start with the basics–balance.”
“Balance?” 1 echoed, frowning
“Yeah, balance. As in not falling on your face every time someone pushes you.”
I glared at him, but he ignored it, pulling a wooden staff from one of the racks. He tossed it to me, and I barely managed to catch
It.
“Hold it like this,” he said, demonstrating with another staff. His movements were smooth and precise, the weapon an extension
of his arm.
I tried to mimic him, but the staff felt awkward and heavy in my hands.
Knox shook his head, biting back a laugh. “No, no, no. Like this.” He stepped behind me, adjusting my grip and stance. His hands
were firm but not rough, guiding me into position.
He was so close, that my face immediately become red.
His hands went to my waist, adjusting me to face the right path.
“There,” he said, stepping back to assess. “Now try not to fall over.”
I scowled at him. “I’m not…going to…fall.”
Gosh I was stuttering like a fool.
He chuckled.
“Prove it,” Knox said, spinning his staff effortlessly as he stepped back to my front. “Come at me.
“What?”
“Attack me,” he repeated, his smirk returning. “Show me what you’ve got.”
I hesitated, gripping the staff tightly. “I don’t think-
“Exactly,” Knox interrupted. “Stop thinking and move.”
Taking a deep breath, I lunged forward, swinging the staff toward him.
It was over in seconds.
Η
Knox sidestepped easily, hooking his staff against mine and twisting it out of my hands. Before I could react, he tapped the end of his weapon against my shoulder, forcing me off balance. I stumbled, landing hard on the ground.
“See?” he said, laughing. “Terrible balance.”
I glared up at him, my cheeks burning. “You didn’t give me a chance!”
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“Life doesn’t give you chances, princess,” Knox replied, offering me a hand. “Get up and try again.”
Grumbling, I took his hand and let him pull me to my feet.
1
“Why are you even doing this?” I asked as I picked up my staff. “Training me, I mean.”
Knox shrugged. “It’s part of the process. The king does this with all his potential Lunas.”
I froze, the staff slipping in my grip. “What?”
“You didn’t think you were special, did you?” Knox asked, his tone laced with amusement. “Alaric’s done this before. Plenty of times, actually.”
I stared at him, the words sinking in like a stone. “You’re saying… I’m not the first?”
Knox’s smirk faltered, his expression turning serious. “No. You’re the tenth.”
My stomach churned. Elise’s words from earlier echoed in my mind: You’re the tenth. Soon enough, you’ll be dead like the others.
“What happened to them?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Knox hesitated, his gaze steady. “They didn’t make it.”
“Why?”
He sighed, resting his staff against his shoulder. “This place… it’s dangerous. The palace, the politics, the king himself. If you’re not strong enough to survive it, you won’t last long.”
I swallowed hard, my hands tightening on the staff. “And you think I’m not strong enough?”
Knox tilted his head, studying me. “I think you’ve got a long way to go.”
“Great,” I muttered, frustration bubbling up.
“Hey,” Knox said, stepping closer. “Listen to me. If you want to survive here, you need to stop worrying about what everyone else thinks. Forget the past, forget the doubts. Focus on getting stronger.‘”
His words, though harsh, held a strange sort of encouragement.
“Fine,” I said, lifting the staff again. “Let’s go.”
Knox
grinned, spinning his own weapon. “That’s the spirit.”
my arms
The rest of the training was grueling. Knox didn’t hold back, forcing me to repeat the same drills over and over until my ached and my legs felt like jelly. He laughed every time I stumbled, but I could tell he was watching closely, noting every mistake and improvement.
By the time we finished, I was covered in sweat, my breaths coming in short gasps.
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“You’ve got potential,” Knox admitted as he leaned against the rack of weapons. “Rough, but potential.”
“Thanks, I guess,” I muttered, wiping my forehead.
Knox hummed, glancing toward the entrance of the training grounds. I followed his gaze and froze.
Alaric stood there, his tall frame silhouetted against the sunlight. His piercing blue eyes were fixed on me, his expression
unreadable.
“What’s he doing here?” I whispered.
Knox shrugged, a sly grin creeping onto his face. “Watching, obviously. But more importantly…” He turned to me, his gray eyes glinting. “After the training, he wants to see you.”
My heart sank, the exhaustion from the training replaced by a new kind of uncase.
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Embarrassing Moment
I didn’t want to see him. But I felt like, out of respect, I should.
I gave Knox a look, biting my lips as I glanced at Alaric, who stood there like some stone–cold statue. His gaze was unwavering,
piercing straight through me.
Knox smirked and nudged me forward. “Go on, little wolf. Don’t keep him waiting.
I shot Knox a glare, but my feet moved on their own, carrying me toward the man who ruled everything within these walls and
beyond. The closer I got, the more I felt his presence, like a suffocating weight in the air. His icy blue eyes tracked my every step,
unreadable and unnervingly focused.
When I finally stood before him, I bowed my head slightly, more out of instinct than anything else.
“Your Majesty,” I murmured.
Alaric didn’t say anything at first. He just watched me, his gaze dipping to my face, lingering like he was trying to read my
thoughts.
My skin prickled under his scrutiny, and I dared to glance up, locking eyes with him. For a split second, I swore I saw something
flicker there amusement, maybe. Or curiosity. But then it was gone.
He reached out, his hand brushing against my cheek. The touch was light, but it sent an electric jolt through me, and I froze, my
breath catching in my throat.
“My Luna,” he said softly, almost like he was testing the words. Then he chuckled, low and rich. “Can’t believe I’m saying that.
I blinked, unsure if he was joking or insulting me.
Maybe both.
He dropped his hand, his eyes still fixed on me. “How are you enjoying the place so far?”
I hesitated, unsure how honest I should be. “It’s… alright.”
“Alright?” he repeated, raising a brow.
I shrugged, crossing my arms. “It’s dark and gloomy, but I guess that fits you.”
His lips twitched, the hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Dark and gloomy fits i
“Well, you’re not exactly the cheerful type,” I said, daring to meet his gaze fully.
me, does it?”
His smirk deepened, and for a moment, I thought he might actually laugh. “Fair enough,” he said. “But you’ll find there’s more
to this place than its gloom. If you know where to look.”
I tilted my head, narrowing my eyes. “And where should I be looking?”
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“That,” he said, leaning in slightly, his voice dropping to something almost conspiratorial, “Is for you to figure out.”
I swallowed, his proximity sending a strange warmth crawling up my neck.
“You’re a stubborn one,” he added, his tone amused.
“So I’ve been told,” I replied, trying to ignore the way my cheeks were heating under his gaze. “They say it will get me killed.”
“Or get you into the right places.”
Alaric’s eyes glinted, and before I could say anything else, he winked at me.
I blinked, caught completely off guard.
What’s….going on?
The corner of his mouth quirked upward as he straightened, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “See you tonight at dinner, my lady.”
Then, without warning, he took my hand in his, lifting it to his lips. The kiss he pressed to the back of my hand was brief but it
