Moments before the knight rushed to King Valerius’s chambers…

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

Luna’s playful expression vanished instantly. She became the picture of royal grace.

“Lord Gregarius,” she replied coolly.

Valen’s golden eyes flicked toward me for a moment before returning to her.

“My uncle is currently speaking with His Majesty. He asked me to pay my respects.”

“We appreciate it,” Luna said. “If that is all, we’ll be on our way.”

She turned, taking my arm.

But Valen wasn’t finished.

“Tell me, Your Highness… why does a half-colored mutt stand so close to you?”

For a moment, the world seemed to fall silent.

He was speaking about me.

My hair was unusual—half white and half black, split cleanly down the middle.

No one in the kingdom had ever seen hair like mine.

Most people merely found it strange.

Some nobles found it unsettling.

I had long since learned to ignore such remarks.

But Luna halted mid-step.

Slowly, she turned back.

A composed smile rested on her lips.

Yet for a brief moment, her blue eyes shifted into a deep violet,a strange trait she had displayed whenever her emotions fluctuated.

The change lasted only an instant before they returned to their natural color.

But in that fleeting moment, something about her felt undeniably dangerous.

Her gaze became as cold and merciless as a winter blizzard.

The air itself seemed to freeze.

Luna turned back slowly, her voice dropping to a dangerously calm whisper.

“Repeat that.”

Valen smirked, confidence growing.

“I merely speak the truth. A commoner with freakish hair walking beside the crown princess… it invites unpleasant rumors.”

Luna’s grip on my arm tightened.

“Azrael is someone precious to me,” Luna cut him off sharply. “He is not a pest. He is not a servant. He is the person I trust most in this world.”

She took a half-step forward, her small fists clenched at her sides.

“And I won’t let anyone speak badly about him.”

“It is entirely my decision who I choose to spend my time with.”

Then, to my surprise, a smug smile touched her lips.

“And regarding the remark about his appearance…”

She took a step forward.

"Only last week, Duchess Catherine and Viscount Jade joked that if Azrael were dressed in noble attire, people might mistake him for a young king."

Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

“Even several of my friends have expressed interest in him.”

Valen’s face tightened.

The arrogant confidence in his posture began to crack.

“But, Princess,” he said, struggling to keep his composure, “regardless of your personal attachments, you are the future ruler of this kingdom.”

His golden eyes sharpened.

“Surely you understand that you must one day marry a suitable noble—someone competent enough to stand beside you and help govern the realm.”

Luna stepped closer until they were standing face to face.

“That,” she said coldly, “is entirely my decision.”

Her blue eyes never left his.

“And I have no intention of marrying anyone in the near future.”

She extended a hand toward me.

“Now, apologize to my friend for insulting him.”

Valen lifted his chin.

“There is no way I will apologize to a commoner.”

His lips curled with arrogance.

“I merely spoke the truth.”

The temperature around Luna seemed to drop even further.

For the first time, I could feel genuine anger radiating from her.

“Your Highness,” I said gently, stepping forward.

“Please do not trouble yourself over his words. I am used to such remarks.”

Luna turned toward me, her expression softening immediately.

“But, Az…”

I offered her a small smile.

“I’m grateful that you stood up for me.”

I lowered my voice.

“But I do not wish to see you arguing because of me.”

For a moment, she hesitated.

Then the anger in her eyes slowly faded.

With a reluctant sigh, Luna regained her composure and turned away.

“Very well.”

She reached for my hand once more.

“Come, Az.”

Together, we prepared to leave.

Just as we turned, Valen’s voice rang out again.

"It seems the crown princess is being influenced by a mere commoner."

I stopped walking.

Beside me, Luna froze.

A smug smile spread across Valen's face.

Then he spoke the words that crossed a line he never should have crossed.

"Perhaps she is not fit to be the future ruler."

The world seemed to go quiet.

My hands slowly clenched into fists.

Before I knew what I was doing, I rushed forward and seized Valen by the collar.

My voice trembled with anger.

“Insult me all you want,” I said, voice low. “But do not speak about the princess that way.”

For a second, surprise flashed across Valen’s face. Then it twisted into rage.

He punched me hard across the jaw.

I staggered back, tasting blood.

Luna cried out and rushed to my side.

Valen threw his glove onto the ground between us, breathing heavily.

“A commoner dared to touch me. Fine. I challenge you to a duel.”

He glared at me with pure contempt.

“I’ll teach you your place.”

I slowly wiped the blood from my lip and stood up straight.

“I accept.”

“Az—!” Luna grabbed my sleeve, eyes wide with panic.

But I gently removed her hand.

“If I win,” I said, staring at Valen, “you will apologize to Her Highness.”

Valen smiled cruelly.

“And when I win, I’ll make sure you never show your face in this palace again.”

Luna immediately started talking.

“Why, why did you go that far. He is not exaggerating. He is most skilled in swordsmanship.”

grabbing the end of my sleeve.

“he holds both fire magic and light magic , essentially making him a paladin.”

I turned to her and forced a reassuring smile.

“Don’t worry, Your Highness.”

In truth, fear churned in my stomach.

I knew only the basic self-defense techniques Father had taught me.

But there was no turning back.

“I know I can be unreliable at times,” I said quietly, “but this concerns your honor.”

I met her gaze.

“No matter what happens, I will not back down.”

At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed across the courtyard.

King Valerius, Reginald, Mary, and numerous servants and guards arrived.

The king’s voice thundered across the garden.

“What happened here?”

Valen immediately bowed.

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

He adopted an expression of wounded dignity.

“It is hardly worth mentioning, but this butler insulted me and laid hands upon my collar.”

Luna stepped forward at once.

“No, Father. That is not what happened.”

She recounted everything from beginning to end.

When she finished, the king turned to me.

“Is it true?”

I lowered my head.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

I clenched my fists.

“He insulted Her Highness. I could not remain silent.”

Before anyone could speak, Reginald stepped forward.

His hand struck my cheek with a sharp crack.

Luna gasped.

“Uncle Reginald!”

“Enough,” Valerius said firmly, stopping her.

Reginald lowered his head before the king.

“I deeply apologize for my son’s discourtesy, Your Majesty.”

His voice trembled.

Then Marquis Gregor stepped forward.

“My lord, I also apologize for my nephew’s behavior.”

He paused, letting his words sink in.

“However, a commoner laying hands on a noble is a serious matter.”

He bowed slightly.

“Since both parties have accepted, let them settle this honorably through a duel.”

Reginald’s composure finally cracked.

“My lord, Azrael has no combat experience.”

He took an involuntary step forward.

“Please. Stop this duel.”

Gregor shook his head with feigned regret.

“Sir Reginald, the honor of House Gregarius is also at stake.”

Reginald fell silent.

The trap had been sprung.

Valerius’s expression darkened.

He understood that stopping the duel now would provoke political backlash and call the fairness of the crown into question.

After a long silence, he spoke.

“So be it.”

Luna’s eyes widened.

“Father!”

Valerius raised a hand.

“The duel will proceed.”

His gaze shifted to both boys.

“The terms shall be made clear before the entire court.”

He turned to Valen.

“If you win, Azrael will be removed from palace service and banished from the capital.”

Then he looked at me.

“If Azrael wins, Lord Valen Gregarius will publicly apologize to Princess Luna before the full royal council.”

The courtyard fell silent.

The challenge had become far more than a personal dispute.

It was now a matter of honor, politics, and destiny.