The throne room fell into a heavy silence as Ragnar stepped forward, the echo of his footsteps swallowed by the vastness of the chamber. Rows of courtiers lined either side, their gazes sharp, curious, and in some cases, openly hostile. It was something he had long ago grown used to.

At the far end, the king and queen sat upon their thrones on the raised dais, watching his approach just as keenly as the gathered courtiers.

Stopping at the foot of the dais, Ragnar bowed before the king and queen, his head lowered in deference.

"Rise," the king commanded, gaze sharp even while he lounged on his throne.

Ragnar obeyed, straightening to his full height. He could feel the weight of every eye in the room settle on him, judging him and measuring his worth. He would not be surprised if they still found him lacking. They all had an image of what a truly acceptable prince was and Ragnar being illegitimate and a half-blood meant he would never fit that mold.

"We have heard," the king began, his voice carrying easily across the hall, "that you have returned with those who were taken." A short pause followed. "Tell us how you accomplished such a feat."

Ragnar did not rush to answer. He drew in a steady breath, bracing his nerves before he spoke, his tone even and controlled. He knew exactly what he needed to say, he had rehearsed it before coming here. He would tell the truth as much as he could, but he would deliberately leave out the part where Circe had been with him in the cave during the rescue, and avoid any mention of her magic. Speaking of it would only draw more attention to her, attention that could turn dangerous. He already had enemies within the court, the last thing he intended was to place a larger target on Circe’s back.

"I led a group east, Your Majesty. Trained men, armed and prepared for resistance." His gaze lifted just enough to meet the king’s. "We tracked signs of movement for days before we found where they were being held."

"They were held in a cave hidden deep within the hills. We found them trapped in tight confinements like caged animals." Ragnar continued and he didn’t miss how the queen narrowed her eyes on him in suspicion. "Your majesty, you were correct about the disappearances being the work of evil fae magic. My group and I were able to overpower the fae responsible and killed him to free our people from his wicked hold, even though some of the captives were already dead by the time we arrived."

He did not speak of magic that hummed in the cave or the way the air itself had seemed to twist around them. A careful omission. "We were victorious. We freed those we could and escorted them back to their homes."

He stopped there. No mention of Circe. No mention of the power that had turned the tide when weapons alone would not have been enough. That truth stayed buried where it belonged.

Silence lingered for a moment after he finished, the kind that stretched just long enough to sharpen anticipation.

Then the king chuckled, a deep and pleased sound.

"Well done," he declared, leaning forward slightly on his throne. "You did very well." His eyes gleamed with approval, though Ragnar knew well enough where that approval stemmed from. "You have brought honor to this house, Ragnar. You have brought honor to me."

There it was.

"You show initiative, courage and strength," the king went on, his voice rising just enough for all to hear. "Qualities not easily found. Qualities that mark a man as more than just a soldier but as a leader."

Ragnar inclined his head, accepting the praise without letting it get to him. He had expected this. The king’s pride was never truly about his children, it was about how well their actions reflected on him.

Ragnar’s gaze shifted, just briefly.

Hairan stood among the gathered nobles, posture as rigid as stone. His jaw was clenched so tightly it seemed a wonder it had not cracked, his eyes fixed on Ragnar with poorly concealed resentment.

Ragnar looked away just as quickly.

"And let it be known," the king continued, "that prince Ragnar has proven himself a valuable asset to this crown. A son worthy of his name."

A ripple moved through the court at that.

Beside the king, the queen’s blank expression finally cracked. Her smile was soft when she turned her gaze on Ragnar, but there was no warmth in it. Only calculation.

"How admirable," she said, her voice smooth as silk. "To venture so far, with so little certainty, and actually return with something to show for it."

The words settled lightly, but the edge beneath them did not go unnoticed.

Ragnar did not respond. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Though, one might wonder how much of this success was just you being fortunate rather than as a result of your skill and competence. " Another smile. Sharper this time. "It is reassuring, at least, to know that even you are capable of delivering results when pressed. That alone is commendable and how fortunate for those people that you were there to rescue them. That being said, I don’t believe that a man like you deserves to be congratulated any more than you already are. You are a soldier, bound by oath to fight for and protect this kingdom. Does a fish need to be praised for swimming? You were simply doing what was expected of you when you rescued those people."

Ragnar held her gaze, unmoved by the condescending way she was trying to downplay his achievement.

"You are right, your majesty and your concern is appreciated," he replied calmly.

The queen’s smile did not falter, though something darker flickered behind her eyes.

Around them, the court remained silent, caught between the king’s open praise and the queen’s backhanded remarks. And at the center of it, Ragnar stood unshaken by it all as he was used to it, already counting down to the moment when he could return back to his wife.