Chapter 454 --454
Chapter 454: Chapter-454
"That is a psychological flaw in the civilian workforce, not an error in my command structure," Elara replied smoothly. She turned to Mahir and Ken. "Commanders, your shift is temporarily suspended. You are authorized to return to your quarters and re-equip your standard armor. I calculate you both feel structurally vulnerable in civilian linen."Ken looked down at his shirt, a heavy frown on his face. "This fabric offers zero kinetic resistance. A butter knife could pierce it. I will change immediately."
Mahir gave a sharp, formal bow, though his golden eyes lingered on Julian for a second longer than necessary. "We will be stationed outside your private chambers within twenty minutes, Regent."
As the two massive men marched off down the adjacent corridor, Julian turned to Elara. "Private chambers, huh? So, where are we putting the monstrosity?" He hoisted the purple bear slightly.
"We?" Elara asked, her brow furrowing by a millimeter. "You requested the mammalian effigy. It is your asset."
"I requested it ’for’ you," Julian corrected, stepping closer and gently bumping his shoulder against hers. "I am a prince. I don’t sleep with stuffed animals. Besides, I think the Regent’s quarters could use a little... color. Lead the way."
Elara calculated the effort required to argue with him, realized it would result in a prolonged, inefficient debate, and simply turned on her heel.
Elara’s private chambers were exactly as Julian expected, yet still deeply depressing to witness.
The room was massive, featuring vaulted ceilings painted with constellations and a grand, four-poster bed draped in the finest midnight-blue silk. But it was entirely devoid of life. There were no personal trinkets on the vanity, no discarded books on the sitting chairs, no half-finished cups of tea. It looked like a museum exhibit of a bedroom, perfectly ordered and completely unlived-in.
Julian walked straight past the grand seating area and unceremoniously dropped the garish, toxic-purple bear right in the dead center of Elara’s perfectly made, wrinkle-free silk bed.
The contrast was so aggressive it was almost violent.
Elara stood in the doorway, staring at the bed. "That placement is highly unoptimized. It occupies the exact center of the mattress, leaving inadequate spatial dimensions for human rest."
"Then you push it to the side when you sleep," Julian said, turning around and crossing his arms. He leaned against the heavy mahogany bedpost, a soft, tired smile on his face. "Or you throw it on the floor. Or you use it as a pillow. That’s what normal humans do with gifts."
Elara walked slowly into the room, her cheap linen skirt brushing against the plush carpet. She stopped at the edge of the bed, looking down at the bear’s asymmetrical glass eyes. She reached out with one finger and tapped its neon purple nose.