Mr.savior (^•^)
Lyraen's grip on Luna's wrist was unyielding, a silent testament to his fury. The golden rage in his eyes held her motionless, her own face contorted in a mask of shock and pain. The air was thick with the scent of ozone and the raw power of two alphas in a standoff.
Just then, a figure appeared as if from the shadows. It was Lyraen's personal butler, a man named Sterling, whose movements were as silent and precise as a ghost. His perfectly tailored suit was immaculate, and a placid smile was fixed upon his face. He stepped in, his presence a calm but firm barrier between them.
"Excuse me," Sterling said, his voice a smooth, low murmur that was almost lost in the tense silence. "But you can't hit someone who isn't from your kingdom… Princess."
His words, polite and simple as they were, landed with the force of a diplomatic decree. Luna's mouth fell open, her rage warring with a sudden, humiliating checkmate. She couldn't respond, not without admitting to an act of physical violence against a non-subject, an act that could incite a political incident between their kingdoms.
Lyraen, seeing his opening, released Luna's wrist. The skin where his fingers had been was red and bruised. He stepped back, moving to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Usagi, a silent, powerful claim.
Luna stared at Sterling, her fury displaced by a cold, calculating contempt. "This isn't over," she spat, her eyes flicking from Lyraen to Usagi, a promise of future retribution in their fiery depths. Without another word, she whirled around and stormed off down the corridor, the swish of her silk dress the only sound left in her wake.
Sterling's placid smile never wavered. He turned his attention to Usagi, giving a small, deferential bow. "My name is Sterling, miss. It is a pleasure to finally meet you. His Highness has spoken of you often."
Usagi, still reeling from the confrontation, could only nod mutely.
Lyraen placed a protective arm around her shoulders. "Sterling handled that perfectly," he said, the tension finally leaving his body. "Luna can't stand to be outmaneuvered, especially by a commoner, or in this case, my butler. Sterling just reminded her that her wolf rage won't protect her when she's outside her own territory." He looked down at Usagi, his eyes full of both concern and pride. "You were incredibly brave, Usagi."
Usagi leaned into his side, finding comfort in his presence. The hallway, once a stage for a dangerous confrontation, now felt like a safe haven. But she couldn't shake the image of Luna's enraged face. This was just the beginning. The princess of the North Star would not forget this humiliation.