The King let out a quiet breath before speaking again, his gaze steady and unmoving.
"What? Are you worried there will be opposition simply because no woman Titan has ever sat on the throne before?" he asked.
His tone carried no irritation, no trace of mockery or doubt. It was firm, grounded—filled with a kind of confidence that came from someone who had already weighed the matter carefully. It wasn't a challenge. It was a statement.
"I don't believe that will be an issue," he continued. "You've already proven yourself, not through words, but through action and judgment. You've shown that you can think independently, without leaning on tradition as a crutch. One of your decisions alone saved the entire Titan race."
The weight of that statement hung in the air. It wasn't flattery. It was fact.
He met her eyes directly, his expression serious now.
"So," he said, lowering his voice slightly, "think carefully. What is your decision?"
Layla didn't answer right away.
