Waiting in Silence

I waited resting until they finally arrived.

Among them… was Ivy.

“King Valtor!” she cried the moment she saw me lying on the ground. She rushed to my side without hesitation, dropping to her knees.

“You’re bleeding badly,” she said in panic, her hands already moving. “You’re seriously injured.”

“It’s nothing,” I replied calmly. “I’m merely resting after battling several black-magic sorcerers… alone.”

“Single-handedly?” she echoed, stunned. Then her expression darkened.

“Please, Your Majesty… don’t tell me Rho is dead.”

She searched my eyes anxiously. For the first time in a long while, I relaxed them enough to let her look comfortably.

She followed my gaze and...