**Caius' POV**
The moment Eloise refused the king, the entire court fell into a stunned silence. Whispers spread like wildfire, eyes darting between her and the king, waiting for his reaction.
For a brief second, the king simply stared at Eloise, his expression unreadable. Then, he chuckled. A deep, slow laugh that sent a chill through the hall.
"You misunderstand, Lady Eloise," he said, leaning forward. "This is not a request."
My hand twitched toward my sword. I knew this was coming. The king never accepted rejection—not from anyone.
His golden eyes flickered to me. "Sir Caius," he drawled. "You seem rather... *protective* over her."
I didn't respond.
The king smirked. "Then let's make this more interesting." He stood from his throne, his voice ringing through the chamber. "I challenge you to a duel."
Murmurs erupted among the court.
"If you win," he continued, "Eloise will be free to leave this palace without harm." His smirk widened, like a predator toying with its prey. "But if you lose, she will become my queen."
The room felt like it was closing in on me.
I gritted my teeth, my blood boiling. *He was playing his games again.* Twisting fate in his favor, forcing me into a situation where I had everything to lose.
*Just like last time.*
Just like when he named me the fallen hero. Just like when he sent me to a war I couldn't win. Just like when I lost—
My hands clenched into fists. *No.* Not again.
Eloise gasped beside me, snapping me out of my thoughts. I turned to her. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with anger.
"Absolutely not!" she snapped.
The king raised a brow, amused. "Oh? And what will you do, my lady?"
Eloise stepped forward, standing tall, her voice firm. "I will not marry you, no matter the outcome of this duel."
The entire court held their breath.
A slow smirk stretched across the king's face. "You are a writer, are you not?" His voice was light, but the weight behind his words was suffocating. "Surely you know how stories work. Powerless characters do not dictate the ending. The world bends to those who control it."
My grip on my sword tightened.
Eloise didn't flinch. "Then let me make something clear." Her voice rang with strength, unwavering. "I am *not* a powerless character."
Gasps echoed through the chamber.
The king's smile faltered. His amusement was slipping, replaced by something colder.
Eloise took a deep breath, then turned to me, her eyes filled with determination. "Caius, don't do this."
I looked at her, at the fire burning behind her gaze. At the way she was standing up for herself—for *us*.
But this was beyond pride.
If I refused the duel, the king would make our lives a living hell. He would hunt us, send his knights after us.
And Eloise...
She could change fate, but at what cost? She had already lost too much of herself. I *would not* let her lose more.
I exhaled slowly, then met the king's gaze.
"I accept your challenge."
———
*Eloise's POV**
The air was thick with tension, the kind that made the hairs on my arms stand. The courtyard was packed with nobles, knights, and commoners alike—everyone drawn to the spectacle of the fallen hero facing off against the young king. The entire kingdom whispered about it, calling it a historical event, a battle that would be remembered for generations.
But to me, it wasn't just a duel. It was *everything*.
Caius stood at one end of the arena, his back straight, his sword gripped firmly in his hand. Even from here, I could see the weight on his shoulders—the ghosts of his past clawing at him.
On the other side, the king smirked, twirling his sword effortlessly, like this was nothing but an amusing game. His golden armor gleamed under the sun, a cruel reminder of the power he held.
*This is wrong.* This shouldn't be happening.
Yet here I was, standing behind the barrier, forced to watch as two men—one who had lost everything, and one who thought he owned everything—fought over *me.*
The announcer stepped forward, raising his voice for the crowd. "The terms of this duel have been set!"
The crowd quieted.
"If Sir Caius wins, Lady Eloise shall be free to leave the kingdom without harm."
Murmurs spread through the spectators.
"But if the king emerges victorious..." He turned toward me. "Lady Eloise will become his queen."
A shiver ran down my spine.
*I won't let that happen.*
Caius adjusted his stance, his expression unreadable. But I saw the way his fingers curled tightly around the hilt of his sword.
The king, on the other hand, looked entirely too pleased with himself.
Then—
"Begin!"
The moment the word left the announcer's lips, the king lunged.
A blur of gold and silver clashed against Caius' steel, the sound of metal ringing through the courtyard. Gasps erupted from the crowd as the duel truly began.
Caius moved fast—faster than I had ever seen. He dodged the king's first strike, sidestepped the second, then swung his blade in a counterattack.
But the king was no amateur. He blocked Caius' strike with ease, his smirk never faltering.
"You've improved," the king mused, feigning boredom as their swords locked together. "But you're still the same, aren't you? Always fighting for something you can't protect."
Caius' expression darkened. He shoved the king back, his sword slicing through the air. The king barely dodged, the edge of Caius' blade grazing his shoulder armor.
The crowd roared.
My hands curled into fists.
I wanted to do something—*anything.* I had my power. I could change this.
But at what cost?
My heart pounded as the fight intensified. The king's strikes were brutal, fast, and precise. But Caius was relentless. For every attack the king threw, Caius countered. He moved like he had something to prove—like he was *desperate* to win.
The king suddenly feinted to the left before twisting his sword at the last second, aiming straight for Caius' ribs.
I gasped.
Caius barely blocked in time, but the force sent him staggering.
The king laughed. "Tell me, Caius. Do you really think you can change fate?"
Caius' breathing was heavy, but his grip on his sword didn't waver.
He didn't answer.
Instead, he charged.
Their swords met again, sparks flying with each impact. The crowd was on edge, watching every movement, every swing, every shift in the battle.
But something felt wrong.
Caius was fast, strong—but the king was toying with him. He was drawing this out, making it last longer than necessary.
He wanted to break him.
My stomach twisted.
And then—
The king suddenly parried Caius' strike with *too much ease.* He pivoted, dodging to the side, and before I could even process it—
Steel met flesh.
A sharp gasp tore from my throat.
Caius staggered, his sword slipping slightly from his grip. Blood bloomed against his side where the king's blade had cut through his armor.
The crowd went silent.
For a moment, everything stopped.
Caius gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand straight. He glared at the king, eyes burning with unspoken fury.
The king merely smiled. "You've always been reckless."
*No.*
I stepped forward, gripping the edge of the barrier. My heart was hammering in my chest.
*Caius, stop. Please.*
But he didn't stop.
Despite the wound, despite the pain—I saw it in his eyes.
He wasn't giving up.Wonder