The morning sun filtered through gauzy curtains, casting gold across the linens as Mer shifted lazily beneath the sheets. Cecil stirred beside her, still half-asleep, his arm draped over her waist. Her fingers trailed along his collarbone as she whispered, “Let’s not go back to Ravenrow just yet.”

He blinked awake, looking at her in surprise.

“Are you suggesting we skip our noble duties?” he teased, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek.

She smiled. “No. Just... postpone them for a few hours. Let’s go on a date.”

---

They wandered hand-in-hand through Sovia’s lower market district, a stark contrast to the elegance of their noble estates. The cobblestone streets were uneven, the scent of roasted nuts and firewood thick in the air. Merchants called from stalls bursting with fabric, trinkets, and freshly baked pastries.

They stopped at a modest tavern with ivy crawling up its stone walls. Inside, it was dim but lively. Laughter mingled with the clink of mugs. A bard played a quiet tune in the corner.

When the two of them stepped inside, the room fell briefly into silence. Whispers rippled like wind across water.

“The Duke of Ravenrow…”  

“Is that his wife?”  

“She’s so young…”  

“Wearing plain clothes—gods, they look happy.”

Cecil caught the stares but said nothing. Mer simply took his hand and led him to a corner table, where they ordered warm bread, stew, and drinks.

She laughed softly at something he said. Her eyes were bright, her skin glowing in the low light.

It was the most alive he’d seen her.

But then he noticed—again.

Her ale remained untouched.

“You don’t like the ale?” he asked, tipping his own mug. “Do you prefer wine instead?”

Mer shook her head, her smile fading slightly. “I don’t actually like alcohol. It’s bitter. And it strains my mind. I hate it when I can’t think straight.”

Cecil froze for a moment, the cup hovering near his lips.

Then he asked, cautiously, “Do you remember why you fell down the stairs?”

She blinked. “I was going to ask you that. The maids didn’t answer me when I brought it up.”

He lowered his gaze. “You were… drunk.”

There was a pause. She stared at him, brows raised. Then leaned back with a sigh.

“Oh my God,” she said, lips pursed. “Adding that to my list of reasons not to drink, then.”

He reached across the table and gently took her hand, threading his fingers through hers.

The tavern melted around them. For a moment, it was just them—two people clinging to the version of life they’d been given.

Then, a soldier entered the tavern and spotted them.

He approached swiftly, kneeled beside their table with one hand over his chest.

“Your Grace. His Majesty requests your presence at the palace. Both of you—Duke and Duchess of Ravenrow.”

Cecil released Mer’s hand and stood, nodding. “We are honored.”

Mer looked up at him, her expression unreadable. She stood as well, smoothing her coat.

As they stepped out into the bright day, the carriage bearing the royal seal awaited them.

Neither spoke during the short ride. The city blurred past.

Both of them, in their own way, preparing for what might come.

---

As the carriage rolled gently through the heart of Sovia, Mer’s head tipped against the window, lulled by the rhythm of hooves on stone.

She slipped into sleep without meaning to.

---

In the dream, everything was vivid.

A royal messenger, robed in silver and violet, arrived at the eleventh floor of the Magic Tower. His voice was sharp, urgent.

“His Majesty has summoned Cecil Lance and Marianne Abel to the Iris Palace—immediately.”

The letter was sealed with the King’s golden crest.

Beside her, Cecil whispered, “The King must’ve heard about the shield.”

Mer smirked, brushing her hair behind her ear. “News does travel fast. About time, honestly.”

They followed the messenger to the Tower’s portal chamber on the first floor. Runes on the stone floor pulsed as magic was activated. In the blink of an eye, they were transported.

They arrived at the gates of Iris Palace—a place neither had seen before.

The sight stole their breath.

Soaring spires kissed the clouds. Crystal fountains gleamed under the sun. Every tile, every carving, every golden archway shimmered with enchantment. A masterpiece of architecture and magic both.

Their boots clicked softly as they were led down corridor after corridor, walls lined with ancient tapestries, glass chandeliers dripping with enchanted flame. Every echo of their steps deepened the gravity of the moment.

Finally, the great doors of the throne room creaked open.

There sat King Darius Regulus—a towering figure in royal indigo, silver-threaded mantle cascading down his shoulders. His sharp eyes studied them, unreadable.

“Welcome, Cecil Lance and Marianne Abel,” he said, voice carrying with ease. “Word of your achievement—the formation of the impenetrable shield—has reached even these halls.”

Mer and Cecil exchanged glances but did not lift their heads.

“We are honored, Your Majesty,” Cecil replied, bowing deeply.

But the King’s expression turned grave. “I have summoned you for more than praise. Our kingdom is beset—waves of monstrous attacks threaten our peace. I require a shield… not for a settlement. Not for a district. For the entire capital.”

Cecil looked up, startled. “The entire city?”

“Yes. You have created something formidable. But now you must push it further. Expand the shield. We will not survive without it.”

Mer stepped forward slightly, voice poised.

“May I speak in Your Majesty’s presence?”

“You may.”

“We might be capable of a shield that vast… but the resources required would be immense. Mana stones. Artifacts. Circles spanning the whole perimeter.”

The King did not hesitate. “Name what you need, daughter of House Abel. I shall provide it.”

Mer met his gaze. “I became a researcher in the Tower for this very purpose. This mission—this dream—it’s what I’ve prepared for.”

The King nodded. “Then go. Begin what must be done. I place the safety of Tharamid in your hands.”

---

As they exited the throne room, the gravity settled in like winter’s first snow.

A dream that began with one shield… had become a vow to protect a kingdom.