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Watch the full episode of "The Overpowered Bunny: A Lion's Crown, A Wolf's Promise."
Chloe Sterling looks like a delicate white rabbit, but she has superhuman strength. Forced into the royal court as a Lady Consort, she accidentally shatters the palace floor and catches the eye of King Leon, a golden lion who hides his affection behind friendship, chess and political companionship.
Far away in the frozen North, her heart belongs to someone else. Torin, a scarred black wolf general, sees exactly who she is and calls her Sunny.
A crown on one side, a promise on the other. Watch until the end to see where Chloe's heart leads her.
Team Lion or Team Wolf? Tell us in the comments.
Subscribe for more episodes.
#FullEpisode #FantasyRomance #LoveTriangle #OverpoweredHeroine #LionKing #WolfGeneral #DramaSeries
Tags / keywords
full episode, fantasy romance, animal romance, royal court romance, love triangle, lion king, wolf general, strong heroine, superhuman strength, overpowered heroine, slow burn romance, lady consort, beast world romance, drama series
Chloe Sterling looks like a delicate white rabbit, but she has superhuman strength. Forced into the royal court as a Lady Consort, she accidentally shatters the palace floor and catches the eye of King Leon, a golden lion who hides his affection behind friendship, chess and political companionship.
Far away in the frozen North, her heart belongs to someone else. Torin, a scarred black wolf general, sees exactly who she is and calls her Sunny.
A crown on one side, a promise on the other. Watch until the end to see where Chloe's heart leads her.
Team Lion or Team Wolf? Tell us in the comments.
Subscribe for more episodes.
#FullEpisode #FantasyRomance #LoveTriangle #OverpoweredHeroine #LionKing #WolfGeneral #DramaSeries
Tags / keywords
full episode, fantasy romance, animal romance, royal court romance, love triangle, lion king, wolf general, strong heroine, superhuman strength, overpowered heroine, slow burn romance, lady consort, beast world romance, drama series
Category
🎈
FunTranscript
00:00The day of the royal bonding ceremony, I sneezed.
00:03Cracks instantly shattered the grand marble tiles.
00:06The crystal chandeliers trembled violently.
00:08King Leon, the golden lion, stared at me.
00:11His gaze looked like he'd just spotted a grizzly bear wearing a bunny suit.
00:14She stays.
00:15I almost pity the assassin stupid enough to break into her chambers.
00:18The day I was born, a greedy midwife tried to smother me and swap me with her granddaughter.
00:24My newborn fist knocked her out cold.
00:26At age three, my tutor confiscated my snack.
00:30So I angrily slapped his solid mahogany desk.
00:32The heavy wood instantly shattered into fine sawdust.
00:36At age seven, my mother forced me to learn the harp.
00:39I gently plucked a string and the entire wooden frame snapped into three pieces.
00:44As for age ten, I wandered into the training grounds.
00:47I casually fired a single arrow that pierced straight through ten heavy wooden targets in a row.
00:53After that, they permanently banned me from the training fields.
00:58My father looked at me like I was the biggest headache of his life.
01:01I possessed pure, superhuman brute force.
01:05Sure, the mirror showed a completely different story.
01:08I had a delicate face, soft white skin, and two fluffy, floppy bunny ears.
01:13My fox and swan friends starved themselves for tiny wastes.
01:16I just sat in the corner, tearing into whole roast chickens.
01:20Sonny, sweetie, you have to believe someone out there will appreciate your unique charm.
01:24Yeah, maybe a blind guy.
01:26At twelve, they sent me to live with my grandmother in the countryside.
01:30She actually liked me.
01:32Excellent appetite.
01:33You eat meat like a true predator.
01:35I like that.
01:37While other girls practiced painting, I played chess with grandma.
01:41While they swooned over romance tales, I read military strategy books.
01:45While they practiced their graceful walks, I was out racing horses.
01:48I didn't do it to prove women were just as capable as men.
01:52I simply found painting tedious, war tactics fascinating, and riding horses absolutely thrilling.
01:58Years later, the decree for the royal bonding ceremony arrived.
02:02The king officially called for a mate.
02:04Chloe, the palace is a great place.
02:07The royal family, well, they have a massive food budget.
02:09I understood instantly.
02:11He was just thrilled to pass my massive grocery bills to the royal treasury.
02:15The morning of the ceremony, I stuffed two heavy volumes of military tactics into the bottom of my trunk.
02:21Then, I casually tossed in a huge bag of giant carrot seeds.
02:26But before I left, my father actually got teary-eyed.
02:29I patted him on the shoulder.
02:33Relax, Dad.
02:34I know how to plant carrots.
02:36I won't starve.
02:37Over 30 noble daughters gathered for the royal bonding ceremony.
02:42Every single one of them had flawless pale skin, tiny waists, and delicate features.
02:48A slight breeze could probably blow them away.
02:51Then there was me.
02:52I stood in the very back row.
02:54The red fox lady in front of me wore a perfume so toxic, it assaulted my sensitive nose.
03:00I couldn't hold it back.
03:02I let out three massive sneezes.
03:05My tiny foot tapped the ground with each sneeze.
03:08The sheer kinetic force shattered the marble beneath me.
03:11The shockwave rattled the entire grand hall.
03:15King Leon sat on the throne.
03:17The young, imposing Lion King froze with his teacup halfway to his mouth.
03:22His expression was absolutely priceless.
03:25Leon instinctively glanced at the Queen Mother beside him.
03:28The old lioness's hands shook uncontrollably.
03:31She probably wondered how a walking siege weapon slipped past the royal guards.
03:37I didn't blink.
03:38Just gathered my skirts and dropped into a standard curtsy.
03:41But I went down a little too fast, and another solid crack echoed through the room.
03:46Dead silence swallowed the grand hall.
03:49Rise.
03:50Normally, this was the part where he handed out a flower for rejection, or a token for acceptance.
03:56The Queen Mother clearly wanted to reject me.
03:59Her hand already reached for the flower.
04:01But Leon suddenly opened his mouth.
04:04She stays.
04:06Make her one of my Lady Consort.
04:07The Queen Mother's hand froze in midair.
04:10Even I paused for a second.
04:13Chloe Sterling is remarkably sturdy.
04:17Excellent.
04:18Give her the title of Lady Consort.
04:21Put her in the abandoned West Wing.
04:23I curtsied and thanked him for his grace.
04:25As I rose, I saw Leon let out a long, exhausted breath.
04:29I understood his vibe perfectly.
04:32His eyes practically screamed,
04:34My court is already a nightmare.
04:36I might as well throw a terrifying monster in here to keep the assassins on their toes.
04:41The abandoned West Wing was actually a great place.
04:45Seriously.
04:46Sure, it sat in the most desolate northwest corner of the royal castle.
04:51Half the stone walls had crumbled.
04:53The weeds in the courtyard grew taller than a grown man.
04:56But it was massive.
04:58And more importantly, it was quiet.
05:00The royal household department assigned me the leftovers for servants.
05:05The head valet, Toby, had a bad limp.
05:08His left leg dragged heavily with every step.
05:10The head maid, Penny, had a terrible stutter.
05:13The moment she got nervous, she couldn't spit out a single full sentence.
05:17Any other noble lady would have thrown a massive tantrum.
05:20They would have run crying to the king to complain about the disrespect.
05:24The small group of servants shivered in front of me, waiting for my wrath.
05:28But honestly, I couldn't care less.
05:31Alright, you can all stay.
05:33I ignored their absolute shock.
05:36My delicate finger pointed at the jungle of weeds.
05:40Clear the space out.
05:41I have plans for it.
05:43Toby had a bad leg.
05:44Instead of running errands, I put him in charge of the ledger.
05:47Penny spoke slowly.
05:49I just listened with patience and never rushed her.
05:52It wasn't an act of grand mercy.
05:54Life was hard enough for everyone.
05:56I didn't see the point in making it harder.
05:58Within two weeks, the West Wing completely transformed.
06:01The giant weeds vanished.
06:03The hard soil was deeply plowed.
06:05I tossed my giant carrot seeds into the dark, rich dirt.
06:09Staring at the freshly turned earth, a deep sense of peace settled in my chest.
06:13This was my ideal life.
06:15I didn't bother attending the Queen Mother's morning tea.
06:17Looking at me only gave her a headache anyway.
06:20I didn't join the other lady consorts in the royal gardens to compete for attention either.
06:25Honestly, one clumsy step could easily crush those delicate flowers.
06:30Instead, the West Wing became my entire world, where sunrise meant work and sunset meant rest.
06:37But trouble always has a way of finding you.
06:41Lady Isabella, the Red Fox, was the frontrunner among the lady consorts, and also the biggest troublemaker of all.
06:48One afternoon, she marched into my courtyard with a massive entourage of maids.
06:54Oh my.
06:56Whatever is our dear Collie doing down there?
06:59Farming?
07:01Such elegant hobbies.
07:03I heard His Majesty hasn't invited you to his chambers yet.
07:07Makes sense.
07:09The King's lion form would absolutely crush a fragile little bunny like you.
07:14That was a venomous bite.
07:15The surrounding noblewomen giggled behind their fans.
07:19Toby stood nearby.
07:20His fists shook with silent anger.
07:23I looked at Isabella's impossibly tiny waist.
07:25Then, I looked down at the solid iron hoe in my hands.
07:29You're absolutely right, milady.
07:30I didn't argue and just gently squeezed the thick iron handle of my farming tool.
07:35The solid iron shattered into twisted metal shards and fell through my delicate white fingers like stain.
07:40You absolute freak!
07:42What a waste of the noble sterling bloodline!
07:44I didn't even bother watching her run.
07:47I just lowered my head and went back to pulling weeds.
07:50Penny rushed over to me.
07:52My lady, please don't be sad.
07:58Sad about what?
08:00Tonight, we're having a feast.
08:02Tell the kitchen to double the roasted pork.
08:04Sadness?
08:06That was the most useless emotion in the world.
08:09The afternoon King Leon arrived.
08:11I had my sleeves rolled up.
08:12I held a massive, heavy iron scythe in my hand.
08:15The heavy courtyard door pushed open.
08:17I thought Toby had returned from his errand.
08:20I didn't even turn my head.
08:21Did you bring the dragon manure?
08:23Just dump it by the corner wall.
08:25Dead silence filled the air behind me.
08:28My instinct screamed that something was wrong.
08:31King Leon stood in the doorway.
08:32The Lord Chamberlain behind him had his jaw practically on the floor.
08:37The giant scythe froze in my hands.
08:39Well, this was incredibly awkward.
08:42I just mistook the Supreme Lion King for a manure delivery boy.
08:46I casually tossed the heavy iron scythe aside.
08:49It hit the ground with a massive thud, burying itself halfway into the dirt.
08:54I greet your majesty.
08:55My curtsy was flawless.
08:58My voice rang out loud and clear.
09:01My lady, what exactly are you doing?
09:04Harvesting weeds.
09:05Leon fell silent.
09:06Stand up.
09:07This place is surprisingly peaceful.
09:10He sat down at the stone table.
09:12It was the only clean surface in the entire yard.
09:15A half-finished chess game sat on the table right next to an open copy of Ancient Warlord Tactics.
09:22You can actually read this.
09:24I can barely understand a few chapters.
09:27Your grandmother is the legendary General Vanguard, isn't she?
09:29The only bunny in history to outsmart a predator army.
09:32Your majesty knows of her.
09:34She was a legend.
09:35I heard tales of her northern conquest back when I was just a prince.
09:38He set the heavy book down.
09:40Play a round of chess with me.
09:42My hands are dirty, your majesty.
09:44I don't mind.
09:46Fine.
09:47I washed my hands and sat across from the apex predator.
09:50He moved his pieces rapidly.
09:52He clearly played often.
09:54His strategy was ruthless, aggressive, and highly calculated.
09:58I played a bit slower.
10:00But 15 minutes later, Leon's relaxed expression vanished.
10:0430 minutes later, his pieces were completely surrounded.
10:0845 minutes later...
10:09I lose.
10:11I tipped my king over in surrender.
10:14You didn't lose?
10:17I absolutely lost.
10:18Your majesty is brilliant and unparalleled in strategy.
10:20Chloe, if you keep lying to my face, that's treason.
10:24Fine.
10:24I won.
10:25A tense silence stretched between us.
10:28Leon stared at me for a long time.
10:30Suddenly, a genuine laugh escaped his chest.
10:33It wasn't a polite, guarded royal chuckle.
10:36He was genuinely amused.
10:38You are a very interesting creature.
10:40Your majesty flatters me.
10:42You come from the noble Stirling clan.
10:45Your father is a duke.
10:46Your mother's side descends from warlords.
10:48And you are so...
10:49He glanced at the courtyard, coughed lightly, and skipped the rest of the sentence.
10:54Well, at least here the court can't exactly accuse me of romance in a cabbage patch.
10:57The relaxed vibe vanished, replaced by the heavy burden of the crown.
11:02The council lords nagged me.
11:04A solid hour today.
11:06I couldn't out-argue those old fools.
11:09Your majesty should just ignore them for two days.
11:13They'll quiet down.
11:15Excuse me?
11:16I tossed the chest pieces back into their wooden box.
11:19Words are just words.
11:20The more they talk, the more they just want the listener to acknowledge their existence.
11:24Oh.
11:26That specific lord is just desperate to prove his loyalty.
11:29Let him cool off.
11:30He'll behave.
11:31Leon stared at my face for a long, quiet moment.
11:35Feeling a bit sheepish, I looked down and continued packing my things.
11:40Um, I was just speaking nonsense.
11:42Please don't take it seriously, your majesty.
11:44He seemed in a remarkably good mood when he finally stood up to leave.
11:48When those giant carrots grow out, send some to my study.
11:51As you command.
11:54That very evening, the royal chamberlain made a shocking announcement.
11:58The king had chosen the white rabbit of the west wing for the night.
12:02The entire castle absolutely lost its mind.
12:06But that night, Leon didn't lay a single finger on me.
12:11He took the massive king's bed.
12:13I took the velvet chaise lounge across the room.
12:16A distance of at least 30 feet separated us.
12:20You're not coming over?
12:22Your majesty is exhausted.
12:24You should rest early.
12:25Truthfully, that bed looked way too soft.
12:27I was genuinely afraid.
12:29I might kick him through a wall.
12:31It could happen accidentally in my sleep.
12:33Leon let out a soft, low chuckle in the dark.
12:36Then get up.
12:37Let's go to the courtyard and play another round of chess.
12:39That night, we played 10 intense rounds.
12:42We tied 5 to 5.
12:44The next day, he returned to the west wing.
12:46He returned the day after that.
12:48It quickly became a habit.
12:49The records called it royal favor.
12:51But it felt more like two bros hanging out.
12:54Sometimes we didn't even play chess.
12:56We just sat on the porch drinking tea.
12:58He would casually vent.
13:00Annoying political issues, he didn't even expect me to answer.
13:02He just stared into space and ranted.
13:04I listened quietly while I watered my crops.
13:07Sometimes I offered a practical comment.
13:09Most of the time, I just kept my mouth shut.
13:11He genuinely thrived in this atmosphere.
13:13The best part about the west wing...
13:15He mentioned it one evening.
13:17Is that I don't have to act.
13:18Does your majesty have to act?
13:19Everywhere else?
13:21He just smiled bitterly.
13:22He didn't answer.
13:24Meanwhile, wild rumors raged through the castle.
13:26The other lady concerts blamed dark witchcraft.
13:28They swear I'd used it to brainwash the king.
13:30I sat in the courtyard, listening to Toby.
13:33He vividly recounted the gossip.
13:34My lady, they say you practice dark magic.
13:38I picked up a mirror.
13:40I sighed deeply.
13:41If I had dark magic, don't you think I would have given myself a more intimidating form than a fluffy
13:47bunny?
13:48Lady Isabella lost her patience and decided to investigate personally.
13:52That day, Leon was discussing the icy northern borders with me.
13:55The nomadic beast tribes have been restless lately.
13:59He noted, I was busy washing a freshly pulled massive carrot under the pump.
14:04It looked crisp and heavy enough to bludgeon a man.
14:07I thought for a moment, deciding to give him a subtle reminder.
14:10When I entered the castle, I didn't bring any jewels.
14:13Just these seeds.
14:14What?
14:15My grandmother told me that everyone fears starvation.
14:18She ordered me to learn how to grow my own rations.
14:21I'm not very smart, so I just stuck to carrots and carrots.
14:24Leon's golden eyes slowly lit up.
14:26Like I said, I could always read his mind.
14:29Right at that moment, Isabella arrived.
14:31She strode it into the courtyard.
14:33She carried a porcelain bowl.
14:34It held expensive ginseng soup.
14:37She swayed her hips seductively.
14:39Your Majesty, I personally brewed this for...
14:42She stepped through the door.
14:43He froze.
14:44I sat with one foot propped on a stool.
14:47The stool was wooden.
14:48I aggressively scrubbed a giant carrot.
14:50A massive military map lay unrolled.
14:52It showed the northern borders.
14:54It covered the table between me and the king.
14:56Isabella's brain short-circuited.
14:58Wasn't this supposed to be romantic?
15:00Wasn't this a candlelit seduction?
15:02Why a hardcore warlord's war council?
15:05Your Majesty, are you...
15:07Discussing military tactics with Chloe?
15:11Leon frowned, visibly annoyed by the interruption.
15:14Put the stoop down.
15:15Get out.
15:16Isabella looked at me like I was a literal monster before scurrying away.
15:20The rumors shifted again.
15:22Now they claimed I was actually a male spy in a dress.
15:25Hired to act as the king's secret tactician.
15:29A few days later, Leon stormed into the West Wing.
15:32He collapsed into a wooden chair.
15:34His face looked thunderous.
15:36What happened?
15:37I debated the council lords all morning.
15:39Did you win?
15:40I lost.
15:40Chloe handing him a pair of thick gloves.
15:42Want to try pulling some giant carrots?
15:44It's great stress relief.
15:45I am the king.
15:46Consider it experiencing the struggles of the common folk.
15:49For the next hour, the Supreme Lion King looked exactly like a peasant farmer.
15:55If I hadn't stopped him, he would have uprooted my entire garden.
15:59That actually helped.
16:00He sat in the corner of the dirt wall, aggressively biting into a raw carrot.
16:04He pulled himself.
16:05He watched the sun slowly dip below the castle walls.
16:09It's pretty sweet.
16:10Of course.
16:10I grew them myself.
16:12Leon took another loud bike.
16:14His mood visibly lifted.
16:16From that day on, his visits became even more frequent.
16:19Sometimes he brought massive stacks of royal decrees, signing them while we chatted.
16:23Sometimes we played chess.
16:25When he lost, he cursed out his ministers, then marched into my garden to rip carrots out
16:30of the ground, to vent his rage.
16:32If we ran out of carrots, I made him pull the giant weeds.
16:35The texture wasn't as satisfying, but it worked.
16:38That autumn, a massive victory came from the northern borders.
16:42General Torrin, the Black Wolf commander, led his troops to crush the invading beast hordes.
16:47He reclaimed 500 miles of frozen territory and returned in absolute triumph.
16:53The king hosted a grand victory feast in the Great Hall.
16:56As a lady consort, my seat was placed relatively close to the front, but I remained an outcast.
17:02Leon knew I preferred sitting further away from the suffocating noble crowds because of my size.
17:08The other royal ladies sat in the sidewing, every single one of them dressed to the nines,
17:14secretly casting lustful glances at the general's table.
17:17From a distance, I spotted the main character of the night, General Torrin.
17:21He looked exactly like a direwolf.
17:23A raw, untamed aura of thunder and blood surrounded him, even taller than Leon.
17:29The chaotic noise of the feast seemed to bounce right off him.
17:33He accepted every toast from the annoying council lords, but barely spoke a word.
17:38I found this guy incredibly interesting.
17:40Just like me, he was a total freak in this elegant, fake court.
17:43Right then, a cat shifter lady took some bizarre, winding path just to walk past my table.
17:49She, accidentally, bumped into my heavy silver goblet.
17:53Wine spilled everywhere.
17:54The heavy cup clattered and rolled across the polished stone floor.
17:58I didn't even know her name.
17:59She covered her mouth with a lace fan.
18:01Her smile looked entirely fake.
18:03Oh my.
18:04Please forgive me, Chloe.
18:05A few soft snickers echoed around us.
18:08I bent down to pick up the cup.
18:10I glanced at my soaked dress.
18:12This velvet fabric cost a fortune.
18:14While I was distracted, the tip of my shoe accidentally kicked the goblet even further away.
18:19I leaned forward to grab it.
18:22Suddenly, a large, scarred hand beat me to it.
18:25Those fingers were thick and calloused.
18:27A massive, hardened ridge wrapped around the webbing of his thumb.
18:31Those were the hands of a lethal swordsman.
18:33I looked up.
18:34Torrin stood right in front of me.
18:36He held the silver goblet.
18:37He showed zero extra emotion.
18:39He simply handed the cup back to me and offered a brief, respectful nod.
18:44My lady, watch your step.
18:45Hardly anyone ever looked at me with that specific expression the first time we met.
18:50I froze for a rare second.
18:52I took the heavy goblet from his hand.
18:55Thank you, General.
18:56He nodded once and turned away.
18:58I stared at his broad back.
19:00A sudden thought popped into my head.
19:02This guy is really interesting.
19:04The autumn royal hunt arrived.
19:06I went along for the ride.
19:08But on our way back through the dense forest, the assassins struck.
19:12It was a meticulously planned ambush aimed directly at Leon.
19:17Total chaos erupted.
19:19The royal guards scattered.
19:21Every single carriage flipped over, except for mine.
19:24The panicked horses dragged my carriage deep into the woods.
19:28By the time I stepped out, the area was completely deserted.
19:32I bumped my head during the ride.
19:34A thin trickle of blood dripped into my eye.
19:37But I didn't pass out.
19:38I scanned the dark trees.
19:40Leon was nowhere in sight.
19:42I trusted that golden lion to keep himself alive.
19:46I pulled a concealed silver hair dagger from my updo.
19:50Two rogue hyena mercenaries finally caught up to my trail.
19:54He charged straight at me, brandishing a bloody battle axe.
19:57I didn't scream.
19:59I didn't run.
20:00I gripped the hair dagger tightly and sank into a heavy, grounded combat stance.
20:05I hadn't practiced in years, but muscle memory never dies.
20:09With a single, brutal slash, I sent the first hyena mercenary flying across the tree.
20:15But before I could turn, the second one slipped into my blind spot.
20:18He raised a heavy iron axe.
20:21In the next heartbeat, he brought it crashing down toward my skull.
20:24Right as the heavy axe descended, a dark shadow dropped from the sky.
20:28A flash of cold steel cut through the air.
20:31The hyena mercenary collapsed in a pool of blood.
20:34Torrin stood in front of me.
20:35His long sword dripped with fresh crimson.
20:38My lady, are you alright?
20:40Torrin glanced at me.
20:41A flicker of genuine shock crossed his sharp wolf eyes.
20:44He probably didn't expect a fluffy white bunny to bat a heavy mercenary away like a pesky fly.
20:50Still, he swallowed his shock and sternly instructed me to stay behind him.
20:55That's not a sword.
20:56Stay exactly where you are.
20:57He threw out the command and charged straight back into the tree line.
21:01A dozen more hyena mercenaries poured out of the bushes.
21:04A brutal bloodbath followed.
21:07Torrin fought like a savage beast unleashed from hell.
21:10Severed limbs and blood flew wherever his blade swung.
21:14Finally, the last assassin fell.
21:16A massive, bone-deep gash tore across Torrin's left bicep.
21:21The king is safe.
21:21He took a minor scratch, but the royal medics are with him.
21:24You can rest easy, my lady.
21:26He sat on a large boulder by the dirt road, updating me on Leon's status while clumsily
21:31trying to bandage himself.
21:33I knew that lucky bastard Leon would survive.
21:36I let out a long breath of relief.
21:38Torrin's one-handed bandaging attempt looked pathetic, so I walked over and crouched down
21:43beside him.
21:44Let me.
21:44He looked down at me and immediately tried to pull away.
21:47My lady's hands are too precious for-
21:50I snatched the bloody cloth right out of his grip.
21:53I wrapped it around his massive arm with brutal efficiency.
21:56Keep bleeding and you'll turn into a dried mummy.
21:58I kept my head down.
21:59I focused on the knot.
22:00His muscles felt incredibly tense.
22:03They were hard as solid rock.
22:04You aren't afraid?
22:05Of course I am.
22:06I pulled the knot tight.
22:07I accidentally used a bit of my superhuman strength.
22:10He let out a low, muffled grunt.
22:12But being afraid is useless.
22:13If another wave of mercenaries shows up, am I supposed to punch them to death myself?
22:17I need you alive first.
22:18The corner of Torrin's mouth twitched slightly.
22:20It was the first time I ever saw him make a facial expression that resembled a smile.
22:26Once the bandage was secure, I studied the web of old, jagged scars crossing his exposed
22:32chest and arms.
22:33You have a lot of history on your skin, General.
22:35Leftovers from the battlefield.
22:36He spoke about it so casually, I pointed to a pale scar on my hand's back.
22:41I have one too.
22:42I accidentally snapped a solid iron hoak in half while planting carrots, and the metal
22:48sparred cut me.
22:49Torrin completely froze.
22:50He stared at my fluffy bunny ears.
22:53Then he looked at my thin arms.
22:55Then he looked back at my face.
22:57My lady is terrifyingly mighty.
23:00Torrin returned to the icy frontier shortly after the ambush.
23:03Before he left, he sent someone to deliver a thank you gift.
23:07It wasn't gold or jewelry.
23:08It was a massive sack of wind-dried northern beast jerky.
23:12The meat was hard enough to bludgeon a man to death.
23:15But the more you chewed, the better it tasted.
23:17I sent a return gift.
23:18A giant basket of freshly uprooted red-hearted carrots.
23:22They were crisp, massive, and practically dripping with juice.
23:25I attached a short note.
23:27General, you're too polite.
23:29Carrots are cheap, but they're fresher than dried meat.
23:31If the army runs low on rations, you can slice these and dry them to survive.
23:36Two weeks later, I received his reply.
23:38His handwriting matched his personality.
23:41Sharp, aggressive, and carrying a heavy iron-like aura.
23:44Carrots received better than military rations already distributed to the vanguard troops for a take.
23:50From that day on, our secret correspondence began.
23:53This was a massive taboo in the royal court.
23:55But Leon allowed it.
23:57I never used private couriers.
23:58My letters were always slipped directly into the official military reports sent to the king, totally transparent.
24:05Every time Leon finished reading the Northern War reports, he would pull my letter out and toss it onto the
24:11table.
24:12His golden eyes always held a teasing smirk.
24:14Your radish-loving general wrote back,
24:17Take it away.
24:18It reeks of wild wolves.
24:20At first, the letters were extremely polite.
24:22He asked,
24:23Is my lady in good health?
24:24I replied,
24:25Passable.
24:25The giant carrots are growing beautifully.
24:28As for the general,
24:29The northern wind is harsh.
24:30Remember to apply beast oil to your face so your skin doesn't crack.
24:34Gradually, the tone of the letters shifted.
24:36We stopped talking about empty pleasantries.
24:39We started discussing real business.
24:41One time, I slipped a crude, hand-drawn blueprint into the envelope.
24:45It was a modified winter fortress design.
24:47I heard the northern winters are brutal and the mounts freeze to death.
24:50Try this semi-underground heated stable design.
24:53I tested it in the west wing.
24:54My two boars are snoring peacefully inside.
24:57Torrin's reply came back incredibly fast.
25:00A tiny smudge of black ink stained the corner of the parchment.
25:03It looks like he accidentally brushed it with his sleeve in a rush.
25:07Blueprint received.
25:08Construction has already begun.
25:10Also, my lady's drawing skills are highly abstract.
25:13That boar looked surprisingly similar to, well, a potato with a snout.
25:17I held the letter and laughed so hard my shoulders shook.
25:20I knew my drawing skills were garbage, but the fact that he tried so hard to compliment it was hilarious.
25:25Later on, we discussed actual war tactics.
25:28I pointed out a fatal flaw in a supply route based on an ancient book my grandfather left me.
25:34The path was too winding and easily cut off by beast hordes.
25:37Torrin replied that he investigated the route, confirmed the danger, and changed it immediately.
25:42He wrote,
25:43My lady, if you were a male, you would be a legendary warlord.
25:47I wrote back,
25:47If I were a warlord, who would tend to my giant carrots?
25:50The letters grew longer.
25:52The envelopes grew thicker.
25:53Sometimes, bizarre things fell out of the parchment.
25:56One day, a few bright red leaves drifted out of the envelopes.
26:00Sunny, I saw these while patrolling the border.
26:03The north has no flowers, but I wanted you to see these red frost maple leaves.
26:08Sunny, he actually called me Sunny.
26:10I had no idea how he found out about it.
26:12Only my mother ever used that name.
26:14I carefully pressed those red leaves and used them as bookmarks inside my ancient warlord tactics.
26:20I sent weird things back too.
26:22I gathered the dried flowers from the old locust tree in the west wing,
26:26stuffed them into a silk pouch, and mailed it to him.
26:29Locust flowers clear the blood.
26:31The general has too much fire in his temper.
26:33Brew this with hot water and drink it.
26:36It was a bizarre, magical connection.
26:38He even asked me in one letter.
26:40My lady, does that stray link still come to steal your fish?
26:44Not anymore.
26:45She's pregnant.
26:46Now she just lays directly in front of my door and refuses to move until I hand over the food.
26:52Leon accidentally caught a glimpse of my reply one afternoon.
26:55Chloe, you never talk to me with this much detail.
26:58You're seriously writing an entire paragraph to the terrifying black wolf about a stray cat taking a nap?
27:04I rolled my eyes at the king.
27:05That's just the mundane details of life.
27:08What I discuss with your majesty is state business.
27:11Over time, the letters on my desk just kept piling up.
27:14Penny stared at the massive stack of letters.
27:16She looked extremely conflicted.
27:19My lady, you and the general.
27:21What about the general and me?
27:23Are you just talking about military tactics?
27:27What else would we be doing?
27:28Penny's eyes clearly screamed.
27:30I don't believe you for a second.
27:32I ignored her and picked up my quill, pretending I didn't see her expression.
27:36The carrots grew another inch today.
27:38I assume the potatoes in your camp froze to death again.
27:41Next time, I'll send you some dried spicy radish strips for winter snacks.
27:45As I finished writing the sentence, I realized something.
27:49A small smile tugged at the corners of my lips.
27:52Something was wrong.
27:53I set the quill down and stared at the parchment for a very long time.
27:56The cold autumn wind rattled the wooden window frames.
28:00Whatever.
28:00I shouldn't overthink it.
28:02It was probably nothing anyway.
28:04Leon was an incredibly perceptive king.
28:06But lately, I felt like he was being a bit thick-skulled.
28:10He didn't seem to notice that I was completely distracted during our chess games.
28:14In the past, I fought for every single inch of the board.
28:17If I won, I made sure to mock his strategies mercilessly.
28:21But for the past few days, I kept staring at the chess pieces, completely zoning out.
28:26My brain was too busy wondering just how brutal the northern winds were,
28:30and if they were strong enough to blow a heavy direwolf away.
28:34Your turn.
28:35Oh.
28:35I snapped out of my daze.
28:37I carelessly made a move.
28:38It was a terrible, suicidal move.
28:41Normally, he'd seize that chance.
28:43He'd laugh in my face.
28:44He'd slaughter all my remaining peechers.
28:46Today, he quietly moved his knight away.
28:49He deliberately steered us towards a draw.
28:51A peaceful draw.
28:52The winds up north are getting first.
28:54He said it out of nowhere.
28:55I noticed the giant radish leaves in your garden are turning yellow.
28:58If you plan on making those sun-dried, spicy strips,
29:01you should take advantage of the sun line these next two days.
29:04I heard spicy radish limes.
29:05My ears instantly perked up.
29:08Thank you for the reminder, Your Majesty.
29:09I'll have Toby harvest them immediately.
29:11The weather is perfect for drying.
29:13Leon sipped his tea.
29:15He didn't reply.
29:16I was already counting the carrots.
29:18How many hundreds of pounds needed slicing?
29:20I completely ignored what he was doing.
29:22I have a batch of premium, airtight glass jars sitting in the royal vault.
29:27I'll have the Chamberlain send them over.
29:28Don't let your spicy strips get ruined by the dampness.
29:31Your Majesty is brilliant.
29:33I tossed him a careless compliment.
29:35My real concern was the chili flakes.
29:38Should I add extra?
29:39Another time, I was sitting by the window reading a fresh letter from Torrin.
29:44He wrote that a massive blizzard hit the northern camp.
29:47He actually built a snowman and shoved a carrot into its face.
29:51He claimed it looked exactly like me.
29:53Specifically, the terrifying, mountain-shattering version of me from the debutante ball.
29:59I couldn't stop the corners of my mouth from curling up.
30:02I chuckled softly to myself for a solid minute before I remembered Leon was sitting right next
30:07to me, reviewing his royal decrees.
30:10Laughing at another man's letter right in front of my husband felt a bit disrespectful.
30:15I quickly shoved the parchment up my sleeve and pretended to drink my tea.
30:19What's so funny?
30:20Nothing.
30:22Did Torrin, that rugged, blood-soaked brute, actually write a joke?
30:26His tone was incredibly casual.
30:28His quill didn't even pause.
30:30He said the snow was so heavy it crushed the commander's tants.
30:34Oh.
30:35Just when I thought the conversation was over and I could go back to daydreaming about the
30:39snowman, he spoke again.
30:41That sounds miserable.
30:43I believe the vault has a surplus.
30:45He flipped to the next decree of heavy die-bear pelt blankets.
30:49They're just gathering dust and moths.
30:51They're just gathering dust and moths.
30:54Later, you should have them.
30:56Ship to him.
30:58Tell him they're a reward from the crown.
31:01My eyes lit up with pure joy.
31:05Thank you, your majesty.
31:07I thank you on behalf of the entire northern vanguard.
31:10All right, stop smiling like an idiot.
31:12Your bunny teeth are showing.
31:13When he finally left that night, he stopped at the courtyard gate.
31:17He suddenly turned around and looked at me.
31:19Chloe, are the walls of the west wing too high?
31:23Huh?
31:23I was genuinely confused.
31:26I looked up at the crumbling stone walls.
31:28Not at all.
31:30They block the wind perfectly.
31:32Any lower and the boars might jump over.
31:35Leon stared at me.
31:36His golden eyes carried a strange, unreadable emotion.
31:40I'm leaving.
31:41He turned and walked into the dark.
31:43His broad shoulders looked oddly lonely and desolate.
31:47I scratched my fluffy ears.
31:49I rarely failed to read his mood.
31:51But today, he was being incredibly weird.
31:54War erupted in the north again.
31:56The savage beast hordes had returned.
31:58This time, it was an all-out invasion.
32:00A massive horde of 300,000 beastkin marched against the icy frontier.
32:06General Torrin briefly returned to the capital to finalize deployment strategies.
32:10Then, he was ordered to march.
32:12Before leaving, he entered the palace to bid farewell.
32:16He saw the king, then paid his respects to the queen mother.
32:19No one knew he secretly visited a third person.
32:23That evening, I was watering my giant cabbages in the courtyard.
32:27My lady, someone requests an audience.
32:31I looked up.
32:33Torrin stood outside the ruined archway of the West Wing.
32:36He wore his full heavy black iron armor.
32:39He stood impossibly straight, like a drawn broadsword ready to strike.
32:43The dying light of the sunset hit his broad shoulders,
32:46casting a golden halo over his harsh, scarred features.
32:50Torrin.
32:51Silence stretched between us.
32:53Torrin reached into his heavy breastplate and pulled out a hand-carved ironwood comb.
32:58It was rough.
32:59The wood wasn't particularly valuable, and the carving skills were atrocious.
33:04You could barely tell it was supposed to be a comb.
33:07I carved the base when I was 15.
33:09He swallowed hard.
33:10Back then, I thought, one day, I'd give it to...
33:14He didn't finish the sentence, but I understood.
33:17I stared at the rough ironwood comb.
33:19I didn't reach out to take it.
33:21It felt like a giant, invisible hand.
33:23It was crushing my chest.
33:25A suffocating ache filled my lungs.
33:27Torrin, I am the king's lady consort.
33:30Torrin looked down at the comb.
33:32It rested in his scarred palm.
33:35I know.
33:36He paused.
33:37Then he suddenly jerked his head up.
33:39His gaze burned with terrifying intensity.
33:42But I...
33:43I needed you to know.
33:45He took one step forward.
33:46His heavy iron plates clonked loudly.
33:49I'm not asking for anything.
33:51I'm marching into the north.
33:52I don't know if I'll survive.
33:53If I don't say this now, I might never get the chance.
33:57He placed the ironwood comb on the stone table.
34:01That soft sound struck my heart like a hammer.
34:04Wait for me.
34:06If I make it back alive, I will beg the king for a royal pardon.
34:10If I don't...
34:12He stopped.
34:13He just stared at me.
34:14His look was deep and consuming.
34:16As if branding my image into his soul.
34:19The northern nights are pitch black.
34:21It makes the stars look blindingly bright.
34:23Just like your red eyes, Sonny.
34:24With that, he turned away.
34:26He marched away.
34:28I knew he couldn't waste a single second.
34:30The army was waiting.
34:31I stood frozen in the dirt, watching him.
34:34His massive black silhouette vanished through the arch.
34:36The courtyard fell silent again.
34:38I didn't sleep that night.
34:40I sat on the porch.
34:42I stared up at the dark sky.
34:44Were the northern stars really brighter than these?
34:46The moon rose.
34:48The moon set.
34:49The sky began to turn a pale gray.
34:52Only then did I finally move.
34:54I walked over to the stone table.
34:56My trembling fingers brushed the rough ironwood comb.
34:58It felt incredibly cold, like it was already covered in the northern frost.
35:03After Torrin left, I fell sick.
35:04It wasn't a physical illness.
35:06I'd lost all my terrifying energy.
35:09My bunny ears drooped lifelessly.
35:11Leon came to visit me.
35:12He sat on the edge of my bed.
35:14He stared at my slightly thinned face.
35:16He let out a long, heavy sigh.
35:19Stop acting.
35:20I know you're not actually sick.
35:22I opened my eyes.
35:24Your majesty is brilliant.
35:26I've made a decision.
35:27About what?
35:27When Torrin returns victorious, if I simply eliminate you,
35:31the jealousy of the other lady consorts will follow you home.
35:35You would never be safe.
35:36So I will announce that your illness has worsened
35:40and send you to the royal sanctuary to recover.
35:45In a year or two, I'll officially declare you dead.
35:49Then, I'll give you a brand new identity.
35:53I completely froze.
35:54My brain short-circuited.
35:56I sat straight up in bed.
35:58I stared at the Supreme Lion King in absolute disbelief.
36:02Your majesty, why?
36:04Even putting aside what he had just said, this was a monumental scandal for a king.
36:09He was actively plotting to let his lady consort fake her death to run off with his top general.
36:15Even though Leon and I were completely platonic,
36:18the sheer tolerance and mercy required to do this was unimaginable for a monarch.
36:22Leon turned his head and looked at me.
36:24Those sharp golden eyes were rarely this serious.
36:27Because out of everyone in this massive, suffocating castle,
36:30you are the only person who doesn't want to extract power, gold, or favors from me.
36:35You treat me like a friend, a brother, and I feel the exact same way.
36:40He gave a bitter, self-marking smile.
36:43My entire life is trapped on this throne.
36:45I have no control over my own fate.
36:47But since I can't have freedom, I can at least give it to you.
36:50Tears instantly flooded my eyes.
36:52In all my years living in this royal cage, I had never cried once.
36:57But at this moment, the hot tears refused to stop falling.
37:01I didn't say a single word.
37:03Words weren't enough.
37:05Leon reached down and hoisted my heavy frame up with his raw lion strength.
37:09All right, all right.
37:10That's incredibly ugly.
37:13Stop crying.
37:13Do not wipe your snot on my royal robes.
37:16I choked out a wet laugh.
37:18If you ever forget about the massive favor I did for you.
37:23I patted my chest with force.
37:26Don't worry, your majesty.
37:27I'll never forget.
37:28I still have those giant carrot seeds.
37:31I'll send you a whole wagon of them every winter.
37:33Leon finally smiled a real smile.
37:36It's a deal.
37:37After that day, my strange illness vanished.
37:39It miraculously cured itself.
37:41I started counting the days.
37:43I counted victory reports from the north.
37:45I counted the days until he returned.