Beyond the Boundaries

Ryan, have you forgotten? You were leading soldiers to protect the kingdom!

Lily said, her eyes shining with relief, though a slight shadow of worry lingered on her face. Her voice was both sympathetic and concerned.

"Thank God you're all right. The enemy infiltrated and shot an arrow at you, but luckily you were wearing your armor. Otherwise, you would have been seriously injured. Don't worry, the soldiers have seen their king fight bravely, and their morale has soared. Now the situation is relatively stable."

"I... Ryan... King?"

Ryan asked in a confused voice, his eyes narrowing in bewilderment. The words spoken to him seemed to come from another world. He couldn't believe it.

"Yes, you are the King of Astrea!" Lily replied in surprise, a hint of wonder in her eyes, as if Ryan being a king was a given for her.

But Riz, the girl with the neatly braided black hair and eyes that shone with fierce intelligence, interrupted. She spoke in a sharp voice full of hostility:

"It's not as you say. The soldiers wouldn't have been motivated if General Kaylos hadn't ordered them to advance and pushed them to fight. I remember how scared he was when he put on his armor. How can an arrow wound to the king be a real incentive?"

Riz wasn't just speaking words; she was conveying a sense of skepticism, as if questioning the intentions of everyone around her. Her words put Ryan in a difficult position, unsure if what she said was true or just hearsay.

Ryan tried to remember what had happened at that crucial moment, but his mind was too foggy. Was it really General Kaylos who had told him to advance? Was he behind the whole mess? The image of General Kaylos loomed large in his mind, but he couldn't remember exactly how he was ordered to advance.

"Kaylos..." Ryan muttered to himself, trying to recall the sight of the General.

General Kaylos was known for his toughness and strict orders in battle. He never backed down in the face of a challenge. But at that moment, his eyes had shown signs of confusion and fear of the unknown. Ryan remembered how the General had personally asked him to lead the attack to galvanize the soldiers, saying:

"Go for it, Ryan! Only you can inspire them. Their king fighting with them will be the motivation the soldiers need to defend the kingdom."

General Kaylos seemed unusually tense, perhaps carrying the heavy burden of the war. How could that be motivation? Was the king's arrow really the incentive the soldiers needed?

"I was asleep, and when I woke up, I realized I was the king of Astrea, a kingdom I'd never heard of. And this beautiful girl beside me is my fiancée? Is this a joke? Oh my God..."

Ryan doubted himself, his questions flowing non-stop. Everything was incomprehensible to him. So many questions swirled around in his head, but the answer to any of them remained elusive. Were these wars really a part of his life? Was he really the king Lily had spoken of?

And most of all... How can I understand their language?

At that moment, another voice suddenly came through the door—more concerned, but this time with some kind of intent.

"Hey, Ryan, are you OK? I heard you got hurt!"

The voice was light but full of false reassurances, aimed straight at Ryan. The man entered, smiling broadly, but there was something strange and uncomfortable about that smile. He was a fat man, dressed in overly ornate clothes that shone like a blanket of gold. His buttons were adorned with gems, and his appearance reflected much power and authority, but there was something else in his eyes—something uncomfortable, something that spoke of inner corruption.

"Are you all right?" the man asked, his voice deceptively warm, hiding something else. He moved closer to Ryan, studying his features intently. His steps were heavy, as if he was determined to reach his destination.

Then he looked at Lily, his gaze moving quickly from Ryan to her. His eyes shone with something undeniable.

"Oh, Lily..."

"You're beautiful today, as always," he murmured as he moved closer to her, his tone very clear. "You're beautiful today, as always."

Lily felt a little uncomfortable and looked nervous as she tried to pull back slightly, but the man gave her no room. His gaze scanned her from head to toe, his eyes shining with obvious intent.

Ryan felt something strange in his heart, but he didn't know how to confront this man—someone so clear in his intentions, someone who seemed to have power and influence over everyone here. This man was the Prime Minister, notoriously corrupt and strangely inclined, and he seemed to be after something more than just power.

"Is everything all right here?" The Prime Minister continued, his smile still wide, but his eyes never left Lily's, making the atmosphere highly charged.

"Everything is fine, sir," Lily said in a calm but tense voice, trying to keep his eyes off her.

End of Chapter