Neveah spun around the next moment, already contemplating how she would explain her presence within the hall of history rather than out in the pavilion where she should have been waiting.

Neveah was already in enough trouble with the academy masters, though she would not take back her outburst if given the opportunity, she did not wish to make things any worse.

"I know I should not be here..." Neveah began to explain, believing it was either Elina, Janice or one of the dragon guards who had been sent to summon her.

But instead, Neveah found herself staring right into a pair of mismatched eyes of a bright gold and gleaming silver.

With his silver tresses pulled back to a pony tail, and a messy strand dangling down his forehead...it certainly was not Janice, Elina or anyone else Neveah had thought.

Neveah blinked in astonishment as she realized the person who had been behind her was none other than the dragon king.

"You should not." King Jian replied to Neveah’s earlier admission.

’How much did he hear? Why does he appear at the most inopportune times?’ Neveah panicked within her mind, fearing she had inadvertently revealed her pathetic backstory.

"I... I..." Neveah stuttered uncertainly before she quickly shook her head, recalling this was the very dragon king who had ordered for her to be held here in the academy without any prior information. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"I do not owe you any explanation, Your Grace. Clearly you are not so big on explanations, otherwise I would know exactly why you want me held prisoner here and away from Menarx... but I do not and I highly doubt I shall." Neveah replied in chilling cold tone.

Neveah expected the dragon king would hiss at her, or at least say a harsh and cold statement as he always would, but instead he only stared at Neveah in complete silence.

And then after what must have been a long moment of silence, King Jian said two words Neveah had never believed she would ever hear from him.

"I apologise." King Jian murmured in a low, exhausted tone, his gaze still fixed on Neveah.

Those two words rang repeatedly through Neveah’s mind and her mouth dropped open in shock, unable to believe she had just heard the words she had.

"You... what?" Neveah stuttered out before quickly changing her words, Neveah did not think she could contain her shock if the dragon king did repeat those words.

"Are you...well?" Neveah asked doubtfully, studying the dragon king’s countenance.

And it was only then Neveah realized there was something off about King Jian.

Neveah was not certain what it was, and at the very same time, it was many things.

First, there was that tone of voice, heavy and exhausted like the burden of the entire world was on his shoulders... and who could say it wasn’t?

And then there was a dark, gloomy aura rested heavily all around the dragon king, and if Neveah was allowed to make an assumption, she could have sworn that what she saw at this moment was... despair.

An emotion, dark and heart tugging as it was...there was actually an emotion reflected in the eyes of the ever cold dragon king and the potency of the despair he exuded had Neveah feeling there suddenly was not enough air left in the hall.

Neveah had never seen King Jian like this, not in the months she had been here.

Granted, Neveah had not received much more regard but detestation from the dragon king but even so, she just knew something was terribly wrong.

"Is...is everything okay? What happened to you?" Neveah asked uncertainly, taking a step forward before she could even realize it herself.

The dragon king squinted slightly at Neveah’s approach and Neveah paused in her step, taking that very same one step back.

"I would like a moment alone, Neveah... can you give me that?" King Jian asked, his tone still heavy with exhaustion.

"Yes...yes of course." Neveah responded immediately, heading out of the hall.

Neveah paused for a moment at the door, passing a glance back at the dragon king.

He just stood there, staring ahead as he had been and Neveah wondered just what exactly had happened in the past few hours since she last set eyes on him.

Neveah knew there were many troubles stirring around the stronghold, but was it truly enough to leave the dragon king in such great despair?

The aura of despair around the dragon king was so thick that Neveah could feel it, heavy and weary as though it was her own...it was all over King Jian and Neveah could practically see it.

For the first time since arriving dragon keep, Neveah realized it in this moment... that dragon king Jian was just a man, like everyone else.

A man with his own troubles, and whatever his troubles were, the weight of it was crushing down on him at this very moment.

"I will be right outside...if you need someone to order around or yell at..." Neveah felt the need to say something and this was all she could come up with.

Biting her lip to hold in anymore stupid words, Neveah stepped out and pushed the door closed behind her.

Neveah breathed a deep sigh, lifting a hand to rub at her chest where there was a strange tightness and a heavy feeling.

’Was despair usually infectious?’ Neveah wondered to herself, for whatever troubled the dragon king... Neveah certainly never wished to see him in such a state again.

Neveah glanced back at the door, taking some steps away so she did not end up eavesdropping against her own will just in case the dragon king had some words to say in private.

"He has no such decency...but given his state, I shall let him off for today." Neveah decided as she lowered herself to a seat on the ledge.

Neveah did not go so far away, though the words were silly, she had said she would be right outside and so she would.