The great hall doors opened with a deep, ceremonial sound.

  Max entered first. At his side, Gawain. One step behind, Moon.

  The murmuring lowered slightly when they were seen.

  The grand hall was arranged like a diplomatic banquet. Round tables spaced apart, each occupied by a suitor and his companions. Some nobles. Several finely dressed elves. Dwarves adorned with gold jewelry. A few less common races watching in silence.

  Goblets. Silverware. White tablecloths.

  And stares.

  At the far end, elevated above the polished marble, stood the king’s throne. Imposing.

  To his right, slightly lower but equally elegant, was the princess’s seat.

  Enor was already there.

  Her hands rested on her dress. But her fingers were intertwined too tightly. Nervous.

  Their eyes met. No words were exchanged.

  But the slight movement of her head was enough.

  Max walked to the table assigned to Gawain and took a seat beside him.

  Moon remained standing behind them, observing everything as if it were a fascinating show.

  The king gently struck the floor with his ceremonial staff.

  The hall fell silent.

  “Before we begin the official closing of the event,” he said in a firm voice, “we must announce something unexpected.”

  Several eyebrows rose.

  “A new suitor has presented himself.”

  The murmuring returned.

  The king turned his head slightly.

  “Max. Step forward.”

  All eyes locked onto him.

  Max stood with measured calm.

  And then the first voices rang out.

  “Is this a joke?”

  “The royal pet?”

  “Is this some kind of final spectacle?”

  “Your Majesty, with all due respect…”

  Laughter began spreading through the hall.

  “Since when is a pet allowed to compete for the princess’s hand?”

  The king let out a short ugh.

  Dry.

  The ughter slowly faded as his expression changed.

  “Pet?”

  His voice lost all humor.

  The hall tensed.

  “The human Max has done more for my daughter in the short time he has been in this kingdom than many of you have done in years.”

  Absolute silence.

  “Some present here,” he continued, “should not have presented themselves at all. Others have spent years traveling to this castle hoping for a convenient alliance.”

  His eyes swept across the hall.

  “This boy arrived from another world… and has already created real change in my beloved Enor.”

  No one responded.

  No one dared.

  A soft ugh broke the silence.

  Taniel.

  The elf rested his chin on his hand.

  “Don’t be so offended,” he said casually. “The princess still has to make her decision.”

  Several gazes shifted toward Enor.

  “Enjoy the meal,” Taniel added. “After all… it’s your st day staying in the castle.”

  The message needed no expnation.

  Gawain crossed his arms.

  “For the first and only time, I agree with the elf.”

  A few awkward ughs slipped out.

  Max smiled as well.

  Then he stepped forward.

  “My name is Max Stones.”

  The ughter returned, softer this time.

  He continued.

  “I am a simple human who was summoned to be the royal pet.”

  A brief pause.

  “And although that title may sound like a joke… I’m proud of it.”

  That did cause surprise.

  “Because of that title, I came to know a wonderful world.”

  His eyes shifted toward the side throne.

  “And I met an extraordinary person.”

  Enor held her breath.

  “I am here to be Enor’s companion. To walk at her side. Presenting myself as her suitor is not a political challenge or a strategy. It is simply another step in strengthening the bond we already share.”

  Laughter returned.

  More openly this time.

  One noble shook his head.

  “How naive…”

  Another muttered,

  “A child wanting to py at being noble.”

  Max slowly turned his head toward them, and his expression shifted slightly. He did not lose his composure, but his eyes hardened.

  “None of you are worthy of her.”

  The murmuring died instantly.

  “For some of you, this is a political opportunity. For others…” he gnced at a couple of visibly older suitors, “it’s the whim of a lecherous old man who wants to show off an elven princess.”

  Several faces flushed red.

  “You don’t even truly know her.”

  His voice remained steady.

  “That’s why you’ve been coming to this castle for years in vain.”

  An uncomfortable silence settled.

  “She would never choose you.”

  Max stepped back.

  “So keep your silence… and let the one who truly matters speak.”

  He turned toward the side throne.

  “Enor.”

  The entire hall looked at the princess.

  Expectant.

  The king rose to his feet.

  “The moment you have all been waiting for has arrived.”

  His voice resonated with natural authority.

  “My daughter will choose today one of the suitors as her future husband.”

  A murmur rippled through the hall.

  Enor closed her eyes for a second. Then she stood. The fabric of her dress fell gracefully to the floor.

  When she spoke, her voice was firm.

  “This is a very special day for me.”

  Her hands no longer trembled.

  “I sincerely thank all of you for traveling here to participate in this event.”

  She looked around.

  Even at those who had ughed.

  “I hope your stay at the castle has been pleasant. That you were well attended. That you felt respected.”

  Some nodded reflexively.

  Others were only waiting for the name.

  Enor took a breath.

  “It may be obvious to some…”

  Her eyes searched for Max.

  “But I choose Max Stones as my future husband.”

  The silence was absolute.

  No ughter. No whispers. Only shock.

  Max didn’t move.

  Moon smiled.

  Gawain didn’t blink.

  The king observed the hall calmly. Enor took a small step forward.

  “Max… I—”

  “I challenge him.”

  Taniel’s voice cut through the air.

  The elf was already on his feet.

  There was no surprise on his face. Only an elegant half-smile.

  “I challenge Max… ‘the Pet’… to a duel for the princess’s hand.”

  The hall exploded in murmurs. Some stood. Others looked to the king. Shock on every face. On all… except five.

  Max.

  Gawain.

  Moon.

  The king.

  And Enor.

  The king rested his staff gently against the floor.

  “Perfect.”

  The word fell with unsettling naturalness.

  “Then so be it.”

  He settled back into his throne.

  “Choose the two combatants who will accompany you. Though I imagine Lord Taniel already has his prepared.”

  Taniel snapped his fingers lightly.

  Two figures rose behind his table.

  Both cloaked in bck capes.

  Clearly warriors.

  “The combat courtyard is avaible,” the king continued. “Let the duel be carried out immediately.”

  And then something unexpected happened.

  The crowd cheered.

  Appuse.

  Shouts.

  Excited ughter.

  “A duel!”

  “It’s been decades since we’ve seen one!”

  “This will be historic!”

  The tension transformed into spectacle.

  Moon raised her arms.

  “Yes!”

  Gawain smiled to the side.

  “Finally.”

  Max let out a low ugh.

  It trembled slightly.

  Nerves.

  Adrenaline.

  There was no turning back now.

  A tall man in a green suit approached calmly.

  Dorian.

  He stopped in front of Max.

  “Just in case,” he said in a rexed tone. “I don’t have any appointments today. If you lose a limb, I can sew it back on.”

  Max blinked.

  “Thanks…”

  Dorian raised a finger.

  “But don’t count on me for the duel. I retired from combat years ago. My joints don’t allow it anymore.”

  Gawain pced a firm hand on Max’s shoulder.

  “Don’t worry, healer.”

  His voice was steady.

  “We already have a full team.”

  Max felt the weight of that hand.

  And then, before his eyes, the system activated.

  A translucent window appeared in his vision.

  [ Party:

  Moonlight Gawain ] Max held his breath.

  There it was.

  Confirmed.

  He wasn’t alone.

  He mentally closed the interface.

  He looked toward the outer courtyard, where the doors were already beginning to open.

  He smiled.

  This time without trembling.

  “Let’s go.”

  The show had just begun.