The faint smell of smoke still lingered over the Valeren Estate.

  The marvellous marble of valeren courtyard was fractured and blackened, veins of scorched stone ran through it like dried rivers. The outer wall had collapsed inward. The scent of burnt iron and flesh hung heavy in the air.

  Knights moved slowly across the ruins.

  Some carried the bodies of the fallen knights.

  Others leaned against cracked wall with their dented armor.

  Erik knelt in front of a wounded knight, his hand glowing with warm green light. Sweat rolling down as torn flesh closed beneath his touch.

  "Hold still," he murmured. "You'll live."

  Not far from him, Vaelor stood with his sword planted into the ground, using it as support. His armor was split at the shoulder, dried blood streaking down one side of his face.

  He surveyed what remained of his order.

  "…Gather the injured first," he ordered quietly. "Stabilize the critical ones. We rebuild later."

  His voice no longer carried fury.

  Only exhaustion.

  Inside the conference chamber, the atmosphere was heavier than the smoke outside.

  A long stone table divided the room.

  Caelum sat at one end, robes changed but face drawn. His hands were folded tightly together.

  Opposite him sat Seraphiel.

  Silent.

  Raizen leaned against the wall, arms crossed. Aldric stood near the window, gaze distant and unreadable.

  Everyone kept quiet for a short while.

  Finally, Caelum stood up from his chair.

  "This… was a misunderstanding," he said. "The spies acted without royal orders, I wasn't informed of this."

  Raizen's jaw tightened slightly.

  "You expect us to believe that?" he asked flatly.

  Caelum's expression hardened, but he held his tone. "I gain nothing from breaking the treaty. Valeren has upheld peace for years."

  Still, Seraphiel said nothing.

  He simply stared at the table.

  Not angry.

  Not calm.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  Just… distant.

  Raizen pushed off the wall.

  "If there are any more spies," he said coldly, "recall them immediately. If something like this happens again, don't expect us to respond with words."

  Silence settled once more.

  Aldric finally spoke.

  His voice was even.

  Measured.

  "Today, I intervened."

  His eyes shifted to Caelum.

  "If something like this happens again… I won't stop him."

  The weight of that sentence filled the chamber.

  Caelum understood exactly what it meant.

  Outside, a distant hammer struck stone—reconstruction already beginning.

  Inside, the fragile remains of peace sat between them.

  Caelum exhaled slowly.

  "…Then let us renew the treaty formally. Strengthen it. Add clauses. Transparency between both courts."

  Raizen said nothing.

  Aldric watched Seraphiel.

  Slowly, Seraphiel rose from his seat.

  For the first time, he spoke.

  "…Very well."

  His voice was quiet.

  Too quiet.

  "But next time… there won't be a warning."

  He turned and walked toward the door.

  The meeting was over.

  The treaty would be renewed.

  But trust—

  That had burned with the courtyard.

  Erik departed with Raizen at first light, escorting him back to the Kaishen Empire to oversee the renewed treaty.

  Aldric remained.

  He walked beside Seraphiel on the long road back to the capital.

  Neither spoke at first.

  Dried blood stained Seraphiel's sleeves. The scent of smoke still clung to him.

  "You always asked me why I put the crown on you," Aldric said at last.

  Seraphiel did not turn. His expression remained unreadable.

  Aldric continued walking, voice steady but heavy.

  "The reason Kaira chose me over you wasn't because of power."

  He stopped.

  "It was because of your rage."

  Seraphiel's steps slowed slightly.

  Aldric turned toward him, pointing sharply at his chest.

  "She saw it. The way your flames rise when you're angered. The way you stop seeing anything else."

  His jaw tightened.

  "But I insisted. I put you on the throne."

  A quiet breeze moved along the road.

  "I thought that once you were responsible for a kingdom… once you had a wife and children… you would learn restraint. But you're still the same, Seraphiel."

  Seraphiel said nothing.

  Not a defense.

  Not an excuse.

  Only silence.

  By the time they reached the castle gates, night had fallen. Torches flickered along the walls.

  Aldric stopped him at the entrance.

  "Change your clothes before meeting Elarys and the children," he said firmly. "They're drenched in blood."

  Seraphiel glanced down at himself—dark stains, torn fabric, ash embedded in the seams.

  "…Understood."

  A pause.

  "I'll see you at dinner then," Seraphiel said quietly.

  Aldric waved him off without looking back.

  "Don't be late."

  Seraphiel walked into the corridor alone.

  Later, Aldric stepped into the courtyard. Erik was already there, dismissing a pair of guards.

  "Did Raizen reach home safely?" Aldric asked.

  "Yes. I escorted him without incident," Erik replied.

  Aldric gave a small nod.

  "Keep an eye on Seraphiel for some time. I don't think he has fully calmed down. If Raizen hadn't arrived when he did… it would have turned into an all-out war with Valeren."

  Erik's jaw tightened slightly. "Understood."

  He bowed and returned to his quarters.

  Aldric stood there for a moment longer, then turned and headed inside to change for dinner.

  The dining hall was already set when they arrived.

  "Where were you both all day?" Selene asked, glancing between them.

  "We were out on a mission," Aldric answered smoothly.

  Vlad leaned forward immediately. "Did you hunt monsters?"

  Aldric smiled faintly and patted his head. "Why don't you ask your father? He was the one leading."

  Seraphiel nearly choked on his food.

  He coughed once and reached for water. "Yes… we hunted quite a lot of them."

  Vlad dragged his chair closer without hesitation.

  "What kind? Were they big?"

  "Enormous," Seraphiel replied calmly. "Scaled beasts near the border. One tried to ambush us from behind the cliffs."

  Vlad's eyes widened.

  "So I burned away the fog," Seraphiel continued, tone steady. "Your uncle sealed the ground so they couldn't escape."

  Aldric lowered his head slightly, hiding the curve of a smile.

  "And then?" Vlad pressed.

  "And then we returned before dinner," Seraphiel finished.

  Vlad beamed.

  [I will get stronger… so I can go hunting with them.]

  He sat straighter, determination settling quietly in his chest as Seraphiel finished the exaggerated tale.