Fort Knightfall returned to order not with celebration, but with discipline.
After the brutal war, silence carried more weight than cheers ever could. Within Daniel's Domain, the aftermath of slaughter transformed into preparation. Zenn, the dragon, had consumed too many mana cores—too much power too quickly. His body could no longer sustain consciousness, and so he entered deep hibernation, sealed within a cocoon of crystallized mana. The surface of the cocoon shimmered faintly, breathing like a living thing, as the dragon's essence reorganized itself for evolution.
The wolves, swollen with demonic essence, followed soon after. One by one, they curled into cocoons, their bodies breaking down, reforging, rising toward a higher rank. Thraxa, the Dragon Ant Queen, also retreated, her cocoon enormous and heavy with promise. Vorruth had harvested countless mana cores—among them the core of Velthrex—and their residual energy saturated the Domain like a storm waiting to break.
Even Daniel could not escape the toll. His body, spirit, and soul all required time. Master Gravial, gravely wounded, remained in closed cultivation beside him.
The war was over.
But the cost lingered.
Forged in Training and Restraint
The Red Flag Battalion changed fundamentally after that battle.
Every soldier had seen their weakness exposed.
So they trained as if survival itself demanded it.
Maria, relentless and unyielding, refined her strikes until the air cracked beneath her fists.Prince Aaren drilled spear techniques until lightning answered him instinctively.The Mawazi brothers pushed each other past exhaustion, collapsing only to rise again.
During the day, Fort Knightfall thundered with impact and effort.At night, when their mana was depleted, Daniel opened his Domain.
Inside it, mana poured into their bodies, reinforcing bones, reshaping muscles, condensing power. Breakthroughs came violently. Bodies elongated. Frames broadened. A natural sharpness settled into their features.
At first, there had been murmurs.
Now, no one cared.
The king tripled their pay—but Daniel enforced strict rules. No drinking. No indulgence. Their money was sent home.
"A warrior's strength is meaningless if his bloodline collapses," Daniel said.
They obeyed.
The First Rejection
It was during Daniel's recovery that Miimi arrived—gentle, worried, unwavering.
Behind her stood Princess Beth.
Elegant. Reserved. Nervous.
Miimi spoke honestly, placing no pressure, only truth. Beth followed, explaining influence, alliances, political stability.
Daniel listened.
Then he spoke.
Cold. Direct.
"Come closer."
Beth obeyed.
"Remove my boots."
Shock rippled through the room.
She knelt—but her hands trembled. Shame burned her cheeks. She hesitated.
Daniel scoffed.
"If you cannot serve, you are not fit to stand beside me."
"I do not marry ambition. I marry resolve."
"Go home."
"Learn."
"There will be no third chance."
Beth left without tears.
But something inside her broke—and something else hardened.
Two Months as No One
The kingdom erupted when Princess Beth returned to the royal palace as a maid.
No jewels.
No silk.
No title.
She scrubbed floors that once reflected her crown. Served tea to nobles who whispered behind her back. Slept in a servant's quarters colder than winter stone.
Her father, the king, confronted her in private.
"Why?" he asked quietly.
She met his gaze without hesitation.
"To win the affection of a man."
The king said nothing.
He allowed it.
Beth refused all jewelry. Refused status. Refused comfort.
Friends turned away.
Some laughed.
Some pitied her.
She kept silent.
She wrote down names.
Who mocked her.
Who avoided her.
Who stood beside her.
Winter came.
She endured.
Return to Knightfall
Two months later, Beth stood before Fort Knightfall.
Daniel was not there.
She entered anyway.
Cleaned the room.
Prepared water.
Waited.
When Daniel returned from the Domain, his presence filled the chamber like pressure before a storm.
He stopped when he saw her.
She met his gaze—steady, unflinching.
She moved instantly.
Held his hand.
Helped him sit.
Knelt.
Removed his shoes.
Washed his legs gently.
Without hesitation.
Without shame.
Daniel caught her wrists.
Pulled her close.
Held her tightly.
Then kissed her.
Slow. Deep.
His voice was low, resolute.
"You are now officially my woman."
Beth broke—not in sorrow, but relief.
Tears streamed down her face.
Daniel continued, quieter now.
"I have heard of everything you endured."
"From today onward, you are under my protection."
"You will never kneel again for anyone."
Her tears fell faster.
She nodded.
The Suffocation of Regret
Word spread like wildfire.
Princess Beth—now the woman of War General Daniel, the strongest man in the realm.
Those who mocked her froze in terror.
Those who turned away suffocated in regret.
Her former friends could not breathe beneath the weight of realization.
She did not gloat.
She did not retaliate.
She simply stood—unbreakable.
Winter had forged her.
And she had chosen her path.