LYDIA'S POV

　　"Lydia," Oleg's voice, low and dangerous, stopped me in my tracks. "You're not going anywhere."

　　A shiver ran down my spine as I turned to face him. "Oleg? Is everything alright?" I questioned, trying to read his expression.

　　He paused for a moment before speaking again, his tone shifting. "Um... yes, everything is fine. I just heard what happened at the meeting, and I must say, you did an incredible job. Standing up against all of them takes courage, and you did that alone." He smiled, but there was something in his eyes that made me uneasy.

　　"Yes, it was necessary," I replied, trying to maintain my composure. "He can't just remove my chair from the conference room."

　　Oleg nodded, his expression serious. "You're right. They had no right, and their behavior was completely unwarranted. It was wrong for him to remove your chair when you have every right to be there."

　　His words were supportive, but there was an undertone I couldn't ignore. It was almost as if he was being too sweet, too complimentary, and it made me suspicious. I couldn't shake the feeling that his encouragement was masking something else.

　　"Thank you, Oleg," I said cautiously. "I appreciate your support."

　　"Of course," he responded, stepping closer. "You deserve respect, Lydia. You deserve to be heard."

　　I studied his face, trying to decipher his true intentions. Was he genuinely proud of me, or was there another motive behind his words? My instincts told me to be wary, even as I appreciated the validation.

　　"Is there something else you wanted to discuss?" I asked, keeping my tone neutral.

　　Oleg hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "No, I just wanted to make sure you knew how impressed I am. You handled the situation perfectly."

　　"Thank you," I said again, this time with a bit more confidence. "I just hope this teaches them to respect my place in the team."

　　"It will," Oleg assured me. "You've made your point clear. They won't forget this."

　　As he spoke, I continued to watch him closely. Maybe it was just my paranoia, but something about his tone still seemed off. Yet, for now, there was nothing concrete to act on.

　　"I must say you have great qualities of your own as a royal blood," Oleg said, his voice carrying a mix of admiration and urgency. "I would advise you to hurry and become the queen that this kingdom deserves. Who knows what's waiting around the corner for you? People around you are greedy, and you will only be able to deal with them if you become queen as soon as possible."

　　His words struck a chord, even as my doubts lingered. Oleg's perspective wasn't new to me; I had seen the avarice and ambition in the eyes of the nobles. He was right about one thing: only by claiming my rightful position would I command the respect and authority necessary to deal with them effectively.

　　"Thank you for your advice, Oleg," I replied, forcing a smile. "I'll keep that in mind."

　　"You're welcome, princess. We are all counting on you. Your third assessment is coming up, so be ready. It is the last one, and then no one will be able to stop you. All the best. I trust your abilities." He assured me, squeezing my shoulder in a gesture meant to be encouraging.

　　I nodded, appreciating the sentiment even as I analyzed his motives. "Thank you for your support, Oleg. It is because of people like you that I am still holding on. My life would be nothing without your unconditional support," I said, trying to convey trust I didn't fully feel.

　　His eyes flickered for a moment, and I couldn't tell if he detected my insincerity or not. "We believe in you, Lydia. The kingdom needs you to lead us into a new era. Don't let anyone or anything deter you."

　　I met his gaze, trying to seem earnest. "I won't, Oleg. I'll do whatever it takes to succeed."

　　"Good," he replied, his tone softening slightly. "Remember, you have allies, even if it doesn't always feel like it."

　　As I walked away with Brandon following me silently, my mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. Oleg's words echoed in my head, mingling with my own resolve. He had reminded me of the stakes and the importance of my role, even if I couldn't fully trust his intentions. His support, whether genuine or not, was a tool I could use to my advantage.