บท 266: Resolution (3)

Resolution (3)

The warmth within Willow evaporated, replaced by a chilling dread. It struck him then, with the cruel clarity of a sunrise, a truth he had long tried to ignore: the Brutal King. The stories whispered in hushed tones, the fear that permeated the very air around him, all came crashing down. The king, with his insatiable hunger for beauty, his penchant for taking what he desired, his utter disregard for any semblance of morality or decency.

Willow's breath caught in his throat. He knew the king's reputation all too well, the whispered tales of his cruelty, his unbridled savagery. Willow, with his soft features and the curves of his body, was exactly the kind of prey that would draw the king's attention.

He nodded, his throat tight, as the weight of the Sage's words settled upon him like a leaden cloak. 'Thank you,' he managed to rasp, his voice strained.