Amon stood in front of the grand office door. His palms were sweating so much he could probably water a plant with them.

He was a very brave man. But nobles and royals are too weird. They can punish a person for any foolish reason.

Selena placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry," she said softly. "You will be safe… I think so."

"...That 'I think so' really doesn't help…" Amon muttered with a broken smile.

Selena tried to control her expression… failed… and looked away. She knew that her mother was a ruthless person. But she wouldn't go that far to kill him. Selena still felt worried for Amon.

Amon let out a long defeated sigh.

"Well… if I don't return, tell my sword I loved it."

Selena blinked. "Tell your sword?"

"Yeah. We spent time together. It deserves emotional closure. Oh also my hatchet… wait but they are with me.. haha whatever."

Selena pressed her fingers to her forehead. "Just… go."

A royal attendant nodded stiffly and stepped aside. Amon walked forward, every step heavier than the last. His feet felt like someone tied bricks to them.

They stopped before the massive dark wooden door with golden carvings. Celestial patterns, wings, and a crown.

Amon swallowed. Loudly.

Selena whispered, "...Good luck."

"Thank you. If you hear screaming, just know I died bravely."

She gave him a flat stare. "If you scream, it will not be brave."

Amon opened his mouth… closed it… nodded in shame.

He raised his hand and knocked gently.

Tak. Tak.

"Your Majesty… m-may I come in?" he asked in a respectful, trembling voice.

A long silence.

Then a cold, calm voice from inside:

"Enter."

Amon looked back one last time.

Selena lifted a small fist and pumped it once. A tiny gesture of support.

Amon inhaled sharply.

"Okay… okay… you got this, Amon… probably."

He pushed the door slowly and stepped inside.

---

The room was dim, quiet, and elegant. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with ancient scrolls and thick magic tomes. A large desk was stacked neatly with documents and sealed letters. Crystals floated around the room, emitting faint light like soft stars.

And at the center, sitting gracefully behind the desk, was Queen Celestia.

Her expression was calm. Too calm. Scary calm.

She did not look up immediately — her quill moved smoothly across the parchment, finishing the last line.

Only when she placed the quill down did her red eyes lift to him.

Cold. Sharp. Beautiful. Dangerous.

"Amon Vale."

His knees almost buckled.

"Y-Yes, Your Majesty."

"Close the door."

He did.

"Lock it."

Amon froze.

"...P-Pardon?"

Her eyes half-lidded. "I said. Lock it."

Amon obeyed quickly, hands trembling like leaves in a storm.

Click.

Silence.

If it was another time, Amon would have thought something naughty about it… but not now. He couldn't think so.

"Come here."

Amon walked forward. Each step felt like walking to his own funeral.

He stood in front of her desk, stiff as a statue.

Celestia leaned back slightly, studying him like examining a puzzle piece.

"You truly have no sense of fear, do you?"

"N-no, I do! I have A LOT! Very healthy fear, honestly!" Amon blurted instantly.

Her lips twitched, almost a smile. Almost. But her tone remained cold.

"You entered a room that no one should enter, stepped into the portal without permission. You saw what normal people are not meant to see."

Amon swallowed.

"S-Sorry…"

"Sorry?" she repeated quietly. "That place was not something someone like you should know. Saw it. But you did."

Amon nodded rapidly. "I agree. I am a horrible decision-maker. Absolutely terrible. I regret everything. We learn from our mistakes. So please forgive me. And overlook it."

Celestia stared at him.

Then slowly stood up.

Her presence felt like a mountain pressing down.

Amon could barely breathe.

"You will not lie to me," she said softly. "Do you understand?"

Amon nodded so fast his neck might snap.

"Y-Yes, Your Majesty. I swear. No lies. Only truth. Honest truth. Full truth. Pure truth—"

"Enough."

Amon shut his mouth instantly.

She stepped closer. Her aura wrapped around him like icy chains.

"What you saw is not meant for this era. Nor for children like you."

"I-I'm not a child…" Amon whispered weakly.

She leaned slightly forward. Her eyes bore into his soul.

"You are a very, very foolish child."

Amon nodded again. "Yes. Very foolish… not too much… but yes I am fool–"

"I said enough."

He shut up again.

Celestia exhaled softly — a breath that held centuries of patience being tested.

"You talk too much. You will tell me every detail. Everything you saw. Everything that touched you. Everything that breathed near you. Even though you told me last night, it didn't feel like the whole truth."

Amon blinked.

"T-touched? No monster touched me. Except that one who grabbed my hand. Also... I just saw the temple as I said last night."

Celestia's eyes narrowed sharply.

A spark of cold fury.

Amon said "…I am suddenly afraid again."

"Good. You should be." Her voice authorative.

Amon took a deep breath.

He was doomed.

'Damn! I can't tell her that I recorded some scriptures in my pager. From that temple.'

Amon told her everything again. In the same detail. Just like yesterday.

"It doesn't sound much different than before… hah," she sighed. For the first time since Amon entered, her cold expression changed.

"Alright. I will just forgive you. It's not like I was even going to punish you in the first place." She said with a soft voice.

Amon blinked. One, two, and then his eyes widened. His jaw dropped.

Was she making fun of him for so long? Was she enjoying it?

Seeing Amon's expression, she smiled. A small one.

"What? You think am I that cruel? To punish a young boy similar age to my daughter?" she asked with the same smile.

"Hah… of course no! I always knew that you are very kind Your Majesty. Kind, gentle and warm-hearted. And it just proved." Amon's expression turned one-eighty degrees from his previous one.

He was smiling. Yes. Why should he be sad and afraid now? Since he knew it was all lie, there was no reason to be afraid.

Celestia raised her silver brow in amusement.

She smirked. "Enough buttering me… now extend your hand."

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