Chapter 32
The kingdom was rebuilding itself too quickly, as if afraid to remember what it had become in Danny’s absence.
Snow still covered the rooftops, but the air felt lighter now.
Wariness replaced with cautious relief.
Because the King was no longer broken.
And Danny was still here.
That alone was enough for the entire palace to pretend everything was normal again.
But nothing about Lucas King had ever been normal.
And nothing about Danny Reed ever stayed simple for long.
–
Danny found out about the ceremony while eating pancakes.
Which, in his opinion, was an unacceptable time to receive life-changing information.
Lucas placed a sealed golden envelope beside his plate.
Danny stared at it.
“…If this is another ‘important royal document,’ I’m going to pretend I can’t read.”
Lucas sat across from him, calm as always.
“It is not a document.”
Danny narrowed his eyes.
“That makes it worse.”
Lucas ignored him.
“It is your marking ceremony invitation.”
Silence.
Danny slowly lowered his fork.
“…My what?”
Lucas studied him carefully.
“The formal recognition of a bonded mate. You will be accepted as Queen of the Northern Dominion.”
Danny blinked once.
Then twice.
“…Queen?”
Lucas nodded.
Danny pointed at himself.
“I don’t do paperwork.”
Lucas replied immediately.
“You won’t have to.”
Danny squinted.
“That sounds suspiciously like what I already do.”
Lucas almost smiled.
“That is because you already behave like one.”
Danny groaned and leaned back dramatically.
“This is too much responsibility for someone who sleeps 16 hours a day.”
Lucas’s gaze softened slightly.
“You are not required to change.”
Danny paused.
“…Wait really?”
“Yes.”
Danny narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“What’s the catch?”
Lucas leaned forward slightly.
“You are already mine. This just makes it official.”
Danny stared at him.
“…That sounded illegal.”
Lucas calmly added:
“In royal terms.”
Danny sighed.
“Everything you say sounds slightly illegal in royal terms.”
–
Later that day, Danny learned something else.
Something far less funny.
He was no longer human.
Not entirely.
It happened in the library.
An old healer bowed low before him, hands trembling slightly.
“My Queen… your body has already adapted.”
Danny blinked.
“…To what?”
The healer hesitated.
“The mate bond with an Alpha King does not remain partial. Your lifespan has been altered.”
Silence.
Danny turned slowly toward Lucas.
“…Explain.”
Lucas didn’t look surprised.
Just careful.
“You will not age like humans anymore.”
Danny blinked again.
“…What does that mean exactly?”
Lucas answered softly.
“You are immortal.”
The room went still.
Danny stared at him.
“…That’s a lot to drop after breakfast.”
Lucas stepped closer.
“You are safe.”
Danny scoffed.
“I was already safe. I was eating pancakes.”
Lucas’s expression softened.
“I mean from time.”
That made Danny pause slightly.
He looked down at his hands.
“…So I just… don’t die now?”
Lucas nodded.
Danny processed that.
Then shrugged.
“Okay.”
Lucas blinked.
“…That is all?”
Danny nodded.
“I mean, I already died emotionally three times this week, while watching my favorite kdrama”
Lucas actually exhaled a small laugh.
Relief.
–
But the day was not finished yet.
Because after breakfast came another revelation.
Danny was walking through the palace corridors when he noticed something strange.
The lower guards avoided eye contact.
Whispered.
Moved carefully.
Finally, he grabbed one by the sleeve.
“Where is Serene?”
The guard froze.
“…In the dungeon, my Queen.”
Danny blinked.
“…Still?”
The guard nodded quickly.
Danny frowned.
“That feels dramatic.”
The guard said nothing.
Danny sighed.
“Fine. Show me.”
–
The dungeon was colder than the rest of the palace.
Not just physically.
Emotionally.
Danny didn’t like it immediately.
Lucas followed him silently, not stopping him.
At the lowest cell, Serene sat alone.
No crown.
No pride.
Just silence.
When she looked up and saw Danny, her expression didn’t change much.
Only tired acceptance.
Danny stood outside the bars.
“…So you’re in jail now.”
Serene didn’t respond immediately.
Then softly-
“I failed.”
Danny blinked.
“…Yeah, kinda.”
Lucas stood behind Danny, silent.
Serene looked at him.
“My king… I did it for you.”
Lucas’s voice was cold.
“You did it for yourself.”
Silence.
Danny shifted slightly.
“This is kind of awkward.”
Serene looked at Danny again.
Then said quietly-
“You don’t belong here.”
Danny raised an eyebrow.
“I literally live here now.”
Serene’s expression tightened.
But there was no hatred anymore.
Just defeat.
Danny studied her for a moment.
Then sighed.
“…You’re gonna be bored in here.”
Serene didn’t answer.
Danny turned slightly to Lucas.
“Can we do like… house arrest or something? Dungeon vibe is depressing.”
Lucas looked at him.
“…You want mercy for her?”
Danny shrugged.
“I just don’t like boring endings.”
Lucas stared at him for a long moment.
Then turned to the guards.
“Move her to restricted custody.”
Serene looked surprised.
Danny blinked.
“…That easy?”
Lucas glanced at him.
“It is not for her.”
Pause.
Then quietly-
“It is because you asked.”
Danny went silent for a second.
Then muttered:
“…You’re getting soft.”
Lucas’s lips curved faintly.
“No.”
He looked at Danny.
“I am getting yours.”
And somehow-
that felt more dangerous than anything Serene had ever planned.
