CHAPTER - 179

  Narrator: Dav got into the car with the King, the Queen, Selene, and Stefan.

  An armored, silent, elegant vehicle worthy of royal rank.

  But the atmosphere inside.. was anything but light.

  A heavy silence fell immediately, like a thick, impenetrable fog.

  No one spoke. Only the sound of the wheels on the asphalt broke that tense stillness.

  Selene sat next to Dav, her hands clasped in her lap.

  Her eyes slowly drifted toward him, as if searching for a signal, a connection.

  It was he, in the end, who started that silent game.

  He gently brushed her fingers, as if studying the shape of her hands.

  He caressed the back of her hand with his index finger, then lightly intertwined a couple of fingers with hers.

  Selene blushed all at once, her eyes widening for a moment before lowering shyly.

  Her heart was pounding.

  That rough, direct man was now playing with her hands as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

  Selene’s Flashback

  Narrator: A few days earlier, in her academy room, Selene picked up the phone.

  “Ele, can you hear me? I have news for you..”

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  On the other end, Eleanor replied immediately, curious and smiling, while helping Edmund sign a few documents.

  Seated behind a desk full of papers, she dropped everything the moment she heard Selene’s tone.

  “My love, how are you? Did you settle that thing from last time with Dav?”

  Selene lowered her voice a bit, as if feeling guilty.

  “Speaking of that..”

  Eleanor let out a sudden scream, standing up and sending the papers flying. Edmund jolted in his chair, nearly dizzy.

  “YOU SLEPT TOGETHER?!

  Did he also forge a sword for you with his blood and mana?!

  DID YOU KISS HIM?!”

  Selene clung to the edge of the bed, her face redder than ever.

  “So you like him?!”

  Eleanor shouted through the phone.

  “Si-sister! What kind of questions are those?!”

  Eleanor laughed, a hand in front of her mouth, secretly hoping for a “yes,” but happy all the same.

  “Did your rank increase? Good! Then we have to bring you in for a new evaluation.

  This is crucial for our kingdom.

  My baby is getting strong…”

  Then, in a lower voice and with a mischievous grin, she added:

  “Did you two already do it?”

  Selene fell backward on the bed, her legs trembling and her arms over her cheeks, shaking like a flower in the wind.

  “ELEA-NOR!!!”

  The queen laughed again.

  “All right, all right! But as soon as we can, we’re coming to see you.

  So don’t be surprised if we show up.”

  Selene smiled sweetly.

  “I’ll be waiting.”

  The call ended.

  Present

  Narrator: In the present, in that silent car, Eleanor, regal and radiant in a sober yet refined dress, watched Dav with a curious eye.

  “Is Selene truly stronger now?

  How are things with her?

  Are you two dating?”

  Selene said nothing. She stayed red-faced, looking out the window, but listening to every word.

  Dav scratched his chin with a slightly goofy expression, as if searching for the right words or maybe just stalling.

  “She’s strong.

  She helps me a lot at the academy as my assistant, and she often lends a hand in the kitchen with Iris.

  As for going out.. mh?

  Yes, we went out together the other time.

  And I also took care of her for a few days after the hellish training..

  when we tested the sword.”

  Eleanor widened her eyes, then clapped her hands, delighted.

  “I see, I see!”

  Edmund, with a calm and almost amused expression, closed his eyes and nodded slowly.

  The mood in the car suddenly warmed.

  A moment earlier, silence reigned and then a new energy emerged.

  Selene, her cheeks still red, took a deep breath and glanced at Dav.

  He, impassive, watched her out of the corner of his eye with a half-smile on his lips.

  Words were no longer needed.

  The journey continued, with them chatting and curious about the sword forged for Selene, while Stefan listened silently.

  END OF CHAPTER - 179