"Surely not…" Wanan's voice broke the stunned silence, low but resolute.
"Even low-ranking soldiers like us in the Ash Kingdom have heard stories—stories about the Minister Jade from Hana. They say he trains his men with unmatched discipline and brilliance, but more than that… they say he treats his soldiers with compassion, as if each one matters." His words echoed through the government office like a ripple spreading through still water.
The crowd, the guards, even the Queen herself stood unmoving, absorbing his confession.
"We've already lost. There's nothing waiting for us in Ash Kingdom—only punishment or worse. I have no desire to return," Wanan said, lifting his head with quiet resolve. "If I may, I wish to live the rest of my life serving under Minister Jade. Not as an enemy, but as one of his own."
Gasps rose from the villagers. A murmur of disbelief swept through the gathered soldiers. Even the Deputy Commander furrowed his brow.
Queen Genie slowly turned her gaze to Jade. The room followed her lead. All eyes settled on the tall, silent figure standing beside her.
Jade met the Queen's eyes, calm despite the rising tension in the room.
"What do you think, Jade?" she asked softly, though her voice carried.
Jade inclined his head.
"If Your Majesty permits, I will accept these two into my ranks."
A pause fell, heavy and uncertain, until the Queen turned back to Wanan and Mobo.
"And what makes you think I can trust you?" she asked, her voice firm but not cold. "What assurance do I have that this isn't another tactic?"
For the first time, Mobo raised his eyes.
His voice, though trembling, was sincere. "Y-Your Majesty… we have no one left in the Ash Kingdom. No family. No friends. We're orphans—both of us. Raised in barracks, treated like tools of war. Never once did anyone in that country show us kindness… or even speak to us like human beings."
He swallowed, his shoulders quivering.
"But today… Even in defeat, we were treated with more dignity here than in a lifetime over there. If Your Majesty would grant us this chance, we'll devote ourselves fully to Hana. We'll serve loyally until our last breath."
The chamber fell silent again. But this time, it was not with disbelief—it was with quiet awe.
Queen Genie studied the two young men for a long moment. They knelt before her, not as conquered enemies, but as souls seeking a place to belong.
Behind her, Jade stood with unwavering composure, though in his heart, something stirred—something that reminded him of the boy he once was.
'They're still so young…'
Queen Genie studied the two kneeling soldiers, their heads bowed, their shoulders tense with uncertainty. Dust clung to their uniforms like the residue of the lives they had lived—scraping by as pawns in a greater conflict neither of them fully understood.
'They must have suffered a great deal until now,' she thought, a shadow of sorrow passing behind her composed expression.
Her gaze lingered on their youthful faces, and for a moment, she saw not enemies, but boys caught in the unforgiving tide of war—boys who might have been her allies had they been born under the banner of Hana.
Then, lifting her chin with quiet resolve, she spoke—her voice steady, regal, yet warm with tempered compassion.
"I will place you under the command of Jade," she declared. "You must understand, many eyes will be watching you. Prove your sincerity not with words, but through unwavering loyalty to Hana."
A beat passed—then, with unexpected force and clarity, the two young men raised their heads.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Wanan and Mobo's voices rang out in unison, clear and resolute, their tones bearing the first weight of true conviction.
A ripple of awe moved through the townspeople gathered beyond the district office gates. Whispered words of admiration rose among them like a quiet breeze.
"Her Majesty truly has a noble heart."
"Yet so wise… God has led her to the Queen."
Even Enna's maid leaned closer and whispered in a hushed, reverent voice, "My lady, Her Majesty… She's so young, yet she carries herself with the grace of a seasoned ruler. Don't you agree?"
Enna gave a composed nod, her voice gentle and measured. "Yes. Her Majesty is indeed virtuous."
Yet as the maid turned her gaze toward the Queen with admiration, Enna's eyes drifted elsewhere. She wasn't watching the monarch.
Her gaze was fixed—intently—on Jade.
The tall commander stood like a quiet sentinel at the Queen's side, his broad frame wrapped in the ceremonial robes of his rank, his presence both steady and unreadable.
But to Enna, there was something unspoken in his eyes—a tension that flickered and vanished too quickly. Something that revealed he wasn't merely a sword for the throne, but a man watching the Queen with something far more human.
"My lady?" the maid called gently. "What are you looking at so intently?"
Startled, Enna blinked as though waking from a trance. She turned to her maid with a mild expression.
"Yes?"
The maid tilted her head, concerns flickering in her eyes. "You seemed completely lost in thought, staring so intently… Are you feeling unwell?"
Enna offered a faint smile, the corners of her lips curving just enough to hide the stir of confusion inside her.
"No… I'm quite alright."
But her hand unconsciously drifted to her chest, where her heart still beat with an unfamiliar rhythm.
As the final hues of gold faded from the sky, the sun dipped below the horizon, leaving the village bathed in the soft indigo of evening. The earlier commotion outside the district office gradually subsided. One by one, the curious townsfolk dispersed, their whispered conversations fading into the quiet rustle of footsteps returning home. A peaceful stillness settled over the village, broken only by the distant chirping of crickets.
The local magistrate, still lingering near the Queen, stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty, night has already fallen. Might I suggest that you and your retinue rest here in our humble village tonight and resume your journey to the palace in the morning?"
Queen Genie, her expression unreadable, turned slightly toward the man beside her.
"What do you think, Jade? Are you well enough to travel now?"
Jade straightened with practiced discipline, hiding the faint tightness in his posture.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I am fit to depart immediately, should you command it."
But before the matter could be settled, the Deputy Commander stepped forward, his brow furrowed with concern.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I must object. Minister Jade is still recovering. Though he speaks bravely, his wound has not fully healed. And I believe even Your Majesty must be weary after such a long day. It may be wiser to rest here for the night and resume travel with the morning light."
Queen Genie swept her gaze across her guards. The exhaustion etched into their faces did not go unnoticed—dust-streaked cheeks, drooping shoulders, and heavy-lidded eyes all spoke of the long hours they had endured.
"Very well. We shall follow the Danjin's counsel." Turning to the magistrate, she asked, "Can your village accommodate my guards and myself for the night?"
The magistrate looked unsure. His hands fidgeted nervously as his eyes darted toward the modest cluster of buildings nearby.
"Well… that is…" he stammered. "I fear we may not have enough proper chambers for all of Your Majesty's entourage. Our village is small, and the guest quarters are limited…" His voice trailed off, eyes lowered in shame at the inadequacy of his resources.
Just then, a soft voice broke the silence.
"Your Majesty… if it wouldn't be an imposition…"
Heads turned, and all eyes fell on Enna, who had remained near the village gate with her maid. Startled by the sudden attention, she instinctively took a small step forward, clutching her hands together to steady herself.
"Would Your Majesty consider spending the night at our home? We have several unused rooms in the annex. It would be no trouble at all to host you and your retinue comfortably."
Queen Genie regarded Enna thoughtfully. She recalled passing by the residence earlier in the day—the elegant tiled-roof house tucked behind a courtyard filled with blooming peonies. It was by far the largest home in the village, its spacious grounds suggesting noble lineage and quiet affluence. It would certainly suffice.
The Queen nodded gracefully.
"That would be much appreciated. Thank you for your generosity."
Enna bowed deeply, her long sleeves fluttering slightly in the breeze.
"It is an honor, Your Majesty."
Genie turned to Jade, her eyes briefly scanning the taut lines around his shoulders, the lingering fatigue in his eyes.
"Jade," she said gently, "I believe it would be wise for you to rest as well. Even steel must cool before it can be sharpened again."
Jade lowered his head respectfully.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will rest as you advise."
Then, he turned his gaze toward Enna and gave her a faint nod—subtle, but sincere.
The gesture sent a ripple through Enna's chest. Her breath caught, and her heart gave a fluttering lurch.
It had been years—perhaps since her youth—that she had felt such a visceral, unexplainable warmth.
'Why is my heart… reacting like this?' she wondered, pressing a hand lightly to her chest. 'It's been so long since I've felt anything like this…'