Varadon leisurely strode into the Elvian mansion, his steps unhurried, almost as though he were walking into his own home. This was not his first visit to the empire. In fact, he had been there so many times that the guards no longer bothered to stop him. To them, he was practically a regular—an eccentric but familiar "guest" whose presence did not raise suspicion.
After a few minutes, the Elvian Emperor himself—Elyndor Thalion—appeared, his long strides echoing through the grand hall as he approached.
"Yo, Varadon! What's up, man?" Elyndor's voice was casual, carrying a mocking edge. "What brings you here this time? Don't tell me you've come again to feast your eyes on our beautiful Elvian women?"
Elyndor smirked as he delivered his taunt, watching his old friend stroll around as if the mansion belonged to him.
Varadon shot him a look, unfazed. "Women? Hmph. I'm already married to the most beautiful woman on this planet." His lips curved into a sly grin. "Elyndor, is your body itching for a beating? Where's your wife? Does she know about your little quirk of sneaking into the beast domain? Do you want me to tell her about your hob—"
"Shhh! Enough!" Elyndor nearly leapt forward, clapping his hand over Varadon's mouth before he could finish. His eyes widened in panic as he hissed, "Are you trying to get me killed, you muscle-headed fool? What if she hear—"
A sharp, cold voice cut him off.
"Yes, Varadon. I would also like to hear what Elyndor does when he's not inside the mansion… And this hobby you were about to mention—why don't you enlighten me?"
Both men froze. Their throats went dry as they slowly turned toward the voice.
A woman stood several paces away, her presence as commanding as it was unsettling. Pale skin glistened under the soft glow of enchanted crystals, her long silver hair cascading like moonlight down her shoulders. Her slender figure, barely 5'6 in height, carried a grace that belied the lethal authority behind her smile. But it was her eyes, sharp and cold beneath that deceptively warm smile, that made both Elyndor and Varadon's throats run dry.
She was none other than the current Elvian Empress—Elana Thalion.
"H-ha… darling, it's nothing," Elyndor stammered, his confident demeanor crumbling instantly. "This idiot Varadon was just bringing up the old days—when we used to sneak out hunting beasts. Right, Varadon? Tell her, quick."
He looked at his friend with pleading eyes, a silent threat woven into them as well.
Varadon sighed, caught in Elyndor's desperate act. "Yes, Elana. That's all I meant—the good old days. Nothing more." He forced a change of subject with deliberate ease. "Oh, but how have you been? It's been a while, hasn't it? I heard you went out to examine something the last time I visited. Did you find what you were looking for? And how is your granddaughter? Is she well? Preparing for her awakening, perhaps?"
The shift in topic worked like a charm. Varadon knew exactly which strings to pull—mentioning the granddaughter always melted their defenses.
Elana's gaze lingered on Elyndor, still sharp, before she turned back to Varadon. "Hmm. I'll believe you this time. But Elyndor—" her voice dropped to a chilling whisper, "—if I find you're hiding anything from me, you know what's going to happen."
Elyndor nodded furiously, stepping closer to his wife as if to reassure her. "No, darling. Nothing at all. I swear."
Elana's suspicion softened, though her eyes remained piercing. She turned back to Varadon, her expression shifting to a warmer one.
"Hello, Varadon. Yes—it really has been a while, hasn't it? Three years, if I recall correctly." She sat gracefully, her tone smoothing into something almost melodic. "I had gone to the borders. There was… disturbance there, unusual activity that needed my attention. But with the situation worsening inside the inner regions, I had to abandon that matter and return to support Elyndor."
She sipped her tea, her earlier sternness now replaced with warmth as she continued. "As for my granddaughter, she's doing very well. Thank you for asking. She's been enjoying her time here in the mansion. Even though the inner region is unstable, we've kept her away from the troubles. She's a sweet and understanding child. She even made a few friends when she went strolling with her mother."
Elana's face lit up with genuine affection as she spoke. "She calls me every day on her cell phone, asking about my day. Just before I came here, I was playing with her. That's when I sensed your presence, Varadon. I thought I'd greet an old friend… though instead, I walked in on the two of you whispering about something else."
As she spoke fondly of her granddaughter, a maid entered quietly, serving tea and light snacks. The atmosphere briefly softened.
Varadon, listening, nodded politely, but inside, her words pierced him. He thought of his own grandson. A dull ache twisted in his chest, and he nearly choked on his tea when Elana mentioned the girl calling her every day.
Elyndor, noticing, leaned forward. "What's wrong with you, Varadon? I can clearly see something's bothering you. Does your visit here have something to do with it?"
From the moment his friend had stepped into the mansion, Elyndor had sensed something different—an unspoken heaviness in his stride, in his silence. He decided to press him gently.
Varadon's eyes sharpened. "Before I answer… I have a question. Elyndor, do you have anything to do with the increased security along the human domain borders? Is it related to… that matter?"
Elyndor's face hardened. "Yes. That was my order. Once word spread of our instability, spies began infiltrating. Many came from the human domain. We expelled some, executed others, but their numbers only grow. I've stationed more soldiers to tighten the borders. I'll purge the remaining spies soon, but for now… my hands are full."
Varadon absorbed his words, then nodded slowly. "I see. In that case, I'll tell you the truth. We have our own problem. Some of our knights tried to investigate by entering your lands, but they were stopped at the borders and sent back. So I had no choice but to come personally." His voice was steady, but heavy. "Before I began, I wanted to inform you both, so there would be no misunderstandings between us."
Both Elyndor and Elana exchanged a glance, their expressions turning grave. They knew Varadon too well. He was not a man who acted rashly. If he had come in person—despite the instability of their domain—it meant the matter was serious. Perhaps even personal.
Elana leaned forward, her tone firm but reassuring. "We have no objection to you investigating here. You are one of our dearest friends, Varadon. Even if you had entered without notice, we would not have minded. We trust you. You would never do anything to harm our people." She paused, her gaze sharp yet filled with concern. "But for you to be here yourself… is it truly that serious? Do you require our help?"
Varadon's expression darkened. He exhaled slowly, then nodded. "I might need your help. After all, as rulers of this land, you know every corner of your domain."
He fell silent for a moment, the weight of his words thickening the air.
Then, at last, he spoke the truth.
"As for why I'm here… My grandson has been missing for the past 40 days."