Gon's Harem System
Chapter 189: The King shows true colors

Chapter 189: The King shows true colors

The king sat upon his throne with an air of effortless authority, his presence filling the grand chamber despite his modest height.

His greying hair, though thinning at the top, was neatly combed back, giving him a distinguished look rather than one of age.

His beard, scruffy but well-kept, framed his strong jawline, though it curiously lacked a mustache, a choice that somehow made his grin all the more roguish.

His sharp eyes gleamed with amusement and mischief, as if he found the world endlessly entertaining, and the deep laugh lines around them suggested a man who enjoyed life rather than merely endured it.

Dressed in rich, deep-colored robes embroidered with golden threads, he carried himself with the ease of a ruler who had long mastered the art of kingship, not just in power, but in charm.

Though he sat upon a grand throne, his posture was relaxed, as if the weight of the crown had never once burdened him.

Thane lowered himself into a deep, practiced bow, the movement fluid and precise.

His heavy cloak billowed slightly before settling, the rich fabric grazing the polished marble floor in a show of deference.

His posture remained composed, not stiff, but deliberate, an acknowledgment of the throne’s authority without a hint of submission.

"Your Majesty," he said, his voice even and respectful, carrying just enough weight to convey loyalty, yet not so much as to sound servile.

The king let out a chuckle, the sound dry and rasping, like old parchment crinkling in a quiet room.

His amusement was genuine, though laced with a familiar exasperation.

He waved a hand lazily, reclining slightly against the grand throne, his golden rings catching the light.

"Thane, you’re always too formal," he said, his tone carrying the warmth of an old friend rather than a ruler addressing a subject. "Stand up already."

The king gave a dismissive wave, his fingers adorned with heavy rings that glinted in the dim torchlight. The gesture was effortless, but the command behind it was clear.

Thane obeyed, rising smoothly to his full height.

A small, knowing smile tugged at the corner of his lips, not quite amusement, not quite deference, but something in between

They slipped into an easy conversation, the kind that came naturally between old acquaintances.

The king, in his usual laid-back manner, began with a casual observation about the crispness of the morning air. "Weather’s been a bit colder than usual for this time of year, don’t you think?" he said, tapping the side of his throne with a finger.

Thane nodded, agreeing in a way that suggested he’d already considered the change in the seasons.

The talk shifted to the tournament, with the king mentioning how the preparations seemed smoother this year, as if the entire kingdom was rallying behind the event.

"It’s almost like the entire kingdom hasbeen buzzing with excitement," the king remarked, a gleam in his eyes, as if the thought of the upcoming competition brought him some thrill.

Finally, the conversation turned to the crops. "I hear the wheat’s doing well in the south, though I wouldn’t bet on the north this year," the king said, a slight frown on his face.

Thane, ever the attentive listener, offered his thoughts on the matter, suggesting a few ideas for improvements, though the king seemed satisfied with his own observations.

Their words danced back and forth, mundane yet familiar, as they both settled into the comfort of small talk, the kind of idle chatter that carried a certain unspoken understanding between them.

The king leaned back in his throne, the heavy wood creaking under his weight as he settled into the plush cushions, his posture loose and unbothered.

He rested one hand on the armrest, the other casually stroking his beard as he gazed at Thane with a certain lazy amusement.

The wrinkles around his eyes deepened as he smiled, a hint of satisfaction in his demeanor.

He appeared completely at ease, his thoughts far from the politics of the court for a moment.

The soft crackle of a nearby torch punctuated the stillness, adding to the warm, comfortable atmosphere.

But for Thane, the moment was fleeting.

His gaze flickered to the shadows that loomed beyond the walls of the throne room, thoughts already slipping into the darker corners of his mind.

Beneath the casual exterior, Thane’s thoughts had already shifted toward the looming question

After a brief pause, the easy flow of conversation drifting into silence, Thane’s tone shifted subtly.

His voice dropped just a touch, the casualness he’d maintained now laced with something more deliberate.

It was a small change, but one that couldn’t be missed, a shift that signaled his focus had turned elsewhere.

"Is he around?" Thane asked, keeping his words light, almost offhand, but there was an underlying edge to the question

The king’s smile dropped like a stone, as if the very mention of it had drained the warmth from his face.

His eyes, once gleaming with an easy, confident charm, narrowed slightly, their light dimming into something darker, more calculating.

The playful, almost jovial atmosphere that had surrounded him vanished in an instant, replaced by a quiet tension that filled the space between them.

The air in the room seemed to grow heavier, as though even the flickering candlelight had become a little dimmer, hesitant

His eyes narrowed, the warm gleam that usually danced in them now replaced by a cold, calculating focus.

A flicker of irritation passed over his face, but it was gone before Thane could fully catch it.

The king tilted his head slightly to the side, a subtle but telling movement

"You mean your duke?" he asked, the words coming out sharp, clipped, as though he had bitten them off mid-sentence.

The smile he had worn just moments before had vanished entirely, replaced by a grim tightness around his mouth.

The sharp bite in the king’s tone, thick with distaste, didn’t go unnoticed.

It was almost amusing, how easily the mere mention of the duke soured his mood.

Thane’s lips curled into a half-smile, hovering on the edge of a smirk

"By the way you said that," he said smoothly, his voice carrying a lazy confidence, "I’d guess the Duke of Hanan’s here already."