"This is…"
Elena's eyes flickered faintly, her heartbeat quickening against her will.
The "Holy Light" hidden behind that veil of mist nearly triggered her fear of oversized things.
She had sketched Su Xuan's body once before—but compared to that simple drawing, this was on an entirely different level.
Perhaps it was the hazy moonlight, or the intimacy of being so close, but now she could truly feel just how terrifying that "Holy Light" was.
Tentatively, she tried measuring it with her fingers…
Four fingers wide?
Gulp…
A flicker of unease passed through Elena as she quickly turned her back to him.
In a soft voice, she murmured, "Anyway… those are the two options. If you really want to help the Elf Kingdom, then find a way to fulfill them."
"Got it. I'll remember."
Akira didn't notice anything strange about her reaction. He simply committed both methods to memory.
Besides, Idis had also mentioned she had a way to save the Elf Kingdom.
Even if he didn't know the details yet, having three layers of contingency was always safer.
And if this was going to escalate into war, casualties would be inevitable.
As a knight of the Elf Queen, he naturally wanted to prevent any losses in the Elf Kingdom.
"So when will you arrange for me to meet the Elf Queen?" Akira asked.
Elena replied, "Tomorrow morning. In about four hours, the Queen will awaken and begin handling state affairs. That's when you can see her."
"That early?"
Akira was surprised.
It was only around ten at night now. That meant the Queen slept at eight… and woke at two?
So being a ruler really wasn't as easy or leisurely as it seemed.
"Then I'll get some sleep and wait."
With that, Akira closed his eyes, intending to rest in Elena's chamber until the Queen awoke.
"Suit yourself," Elena replied casually, sounding completely indifferent.
But not long after, she realized—
He was already breathing steadily.
"…?"
Elena turned over, her gaze sharpening slightly.
Watching his peaceful sleeping face, she felt an unexpected trace of envy.
I wish I could fall asleep that easily…
"Hmm?"
Her eyes suddenly drifted downward—to the faintly shimmering Holy Light.
"…Even asleep… it's still that energetic?"
Curiosity welled up inside her.
She simply couldn't understand it. Even in sleep, it remained so… vigorous?
Elena stared for a long time, and eventually, boredom crept in—along with a restless urge to do something.
Slowly, she extended a slender finger and gently poked the tip of his nose, as if testing whether he was truly asleep.
No reaction.
"He sleeps like a dead pig!"
She muttered in annoyance.
But her gaze soon drifted back again…
to that "Holy Light."
Perhaps driven by curiosity—or a rebellious impulse—an odd idea surfaced in her mind.
She wanted to tease him.
Quietly, carefully, she reached out and brushed aside the "mist" that obscured it, her movements cautious, as though afraid of waking him.
And the moment it was revealed—
A brilliant radiance burst forth, illuminating her face so brightly she almost couldn't keep her eyes open.
"How is it this blinding?!"
Panicking that the patrol outside might notice, Elena quickly covered it with her hands.
But how could mere hands conceal something like that?
If anything, her soft, delicate fingers only seemed to fuel its brilliance!
In an instant—
The radiance intensified, threatening to light up the entire chamber!
"That light—so bright!"
"What's happening?"
"It's Princess Elena's chamber! Hurry, check it out!"
"…!"
The elf guards outside immediately noticed the anomaly and rushed over.
"Damn it!"
Elena's brows knitted tightly, panic surging through her.
She hurriedly grabbed a blanket and threw it over Akira, trying to suppress the dazzling glow.
But how could something so mundane conceal the brilliance of the sun?
Though dimmed slightly, it still shone through unmistakably.
"Your Highness, is everything alright?"
The guards had already reached the door.
"It's fine, no need to worry," Elena replied, forcing calm into her voice. "I'm just experimenting with a new spell."
"As long as everything's alright."
"Then we'll resume patrol. Please rest early, Your Highness."
With that, the guards withdrew.
Elena let out a long breath of relief.
But when she looked back at the still-glowing "Holy Light," her expression tightened once more.
"This thing…"
She felt completely at a loss.
If it kept going like this… by the time Akira woke up…
Her cheeks flushed faintly as she tried to think of a solution.
Meanwhile—
In the neighboring chamber, Princess Yuluxi had also been disturbed by the earlier commotion.
"What's going on in Elena's room…?"
Murmuring to herself, she rose from her bed. Moonlight spilled across her wheat-toned skin, accentuating her beauty.
She quickly made her way over, intending to investigate.
Just as she reached the door and raised her hand to knock—
Elena's voice drifted out.
"Why is it so big…?"
"You damn man! Sleeping like the dead!"
"And that little weapon won't calm down either!"
"…?"
Yuluxi froze.
Her brows furrowed deeply, confusion flooding her mind.
A man?
Could it be…
Elena brought a man into her chamber?!
That would be a blatant violation of elven law!
She stood there, hesitant.
Part of her wanted to open the door—but if she actually caught Elena with an outsider…
She had no idea how she'd handle it.
After all, Elena wasn't just any princess.
She was born directly from the Queen's origin magic.
If she truly broke the rules, it would disgrace the Queen herself.
"Mmm~"
"What a dense aura~"
"Huh? Why is it moving…?"
Elena's voice sounded again—this time laced with something almost… teasing.
Yuluxi's body trembled slightly, a flicker of fear appearing in her eyes.
"…Don't tell me Elena has already… gone that far?"
She couldn't imagine that proud princess succumbing to desire.
Before she could process it—
Elena's voice came again.
"How is this possible…"
"Can it really go in?!"
"Maybe somewhere else would be better~"
"No problem~ I still have the Queen's…"
"…?"
???
The Queen?
Yuluxi's composure shattered instantly.
The Queen is inside too?!
No—absolutely not!
She couldn't allow such a thing!
Without hesitation, Yuluxi pushed the door open.
But the moment she stepped inside—
She froze.
Elena was kneeling gracefully on the bed, her flawless white back facing the door.
In her slender hands, she held—
a mass of dazzling golden light.
And—
a strip of black silk?
Wait.
Wasn't that… the Elf Queen's black silk stockings?
No—no!
That was Nightveil Silk—a legendary artifact once crafted by the Queen for the Dark Elf legion.
It could envelop the wearer entirely, not only enhancing beauty but also providing extraordinary effects.
After the Dark Elves fell, they developed a deep aversion to sunlight.
Nightveil Silk existed to shield them from its glare.
It could also conceal one's aura—even demigods couldn't detect what lay within it in a short time.
After the Dark Elves' betrayal, the Queen had entrusted it to Elena for safekeeping.
And yet—
Right now, Elena was using that artifact… to "pray" over Su Xuan's Holy Light?!
Wait—
Su Xuan?!
Yuluxi's expression shifted again.
Of all people… the man in Elena's room… was him?!
"Yuluxi?"
Elena was equally shocked by her sudden arrival.
She had just been trying to contain the light—and now this?!
"What are you doing, Elena?!"
Yuluxi demanded.
But her gaze couldn't tear away from the partially concealed Holy Light.
Even veiled, it remained dazzling.
And ever since she'd been countered by Akira's demonic eye before, she had developed a deep fear of it.
Seeing it directly now only deepened that impression.
How could anyone… be obsessed with something like this?
Wasn't that suicidal?!
"Don't you think barging into someone else's room at night is incredibly rude?"
Elena replied coolly, maintaining her composure.
At the same time, she continued wrapping the light with the Nightveil Silk to avoid attracting more attention.
"I'll apologize later—but you'd better explain this right now," Yuluxi said as she shut the door behind her.
She didn't want others discovering this either.
"I haven't broken any elven laws. What is there to explain?" Elena said coldly.
"But you're with a man—"
"And what have I done? Slept with him? Borne his child?"
"…!"
Yuluxi froze.
Because… it was true.
Elena hadn't done anything illegal.
There was just… a man sleeping on her bed.
"So you should leave. Now. Instead of causing trouble."
"I…"
Yuluxi faltered under her cold tone.
But she quickly steadied herself.
"Even if nothing has happened, this is still unacceptable! Don't forget who you are, Elena!"
Though both were princesses, there was a crucial difference.
If the Queen ever became unable to rule—
Only Elena could inherit the throne.
None of the others—including Yuluxi—had that right.
"And you think I need you to remind me of my status?"
Elena shot her a cold glance.
Then suddenly smiled.
"I heard you met him alone before. What—seeing him in my room makes you jealous?"
Yuluxi immediately stepped back, flustered.
"W-What nonsense are you talking about?!"
"Oh?"
Elena's smile turned teasing.
"I also heard you stopped targeting Beialela because of him."
"So now I'm curious~ what kind of deal did you two make?"
"There was no deal!" Yuluxi snapped.
She hadn't made any deal—she'd just been blackmailed!
"Really?"
Elena narrowed her eyes.
"Then come here~"
"What are you planning?"
Confused, Yuluxi stepped forward.
But the moment she reached the bed—
Her gaze was drawn once more to the Holy Light.
The Nightveil Silk didn't fully cover it—about half remained exposed.
Elena leaned close to her ear and whispered softly,
"I want to borrow your Dream-Lust Demon Eye~"
"How do you know about that?!"
Yuluxi's voice trembled.
That was her greatest secret—only the Queen knew!
Yet Elena…
Her gaze instinctively shifted to the sleeping Akira.
Did he tell her…?
"Don't worry about how I know," Elena said lightly. "Just do as I say, and I won't tell anyone."
"You—!"
Yuluxi gritted her teeth, about to respond—
when suddenly—
Click. Click. Click.
The sharp sound of high heels echoed through the corridor, cutting through the tension.
"Someone else…?"
Elena frowned.
As the sound drew closer, a familiar fragrance drifted into the room.
Both their expressions changed instantly.
"The Queen—!"
"Why is she here now…?!"
Panic gripped them both.
"Quick! Take him and leave—!"
"There's no time!"
The Queen was already at the door.
Escaping through the window would alert the guards outside.
In that critical moment, Elena poured magic into the Nightveil Silk—
Instantly wrapping both Yuluxi and Akira tightly within it, concealing them in a corner of the room.
Then she stepped out to greet the Queen.
The door slowly opened.
The Elf Queen's breathtaking face appeared before Elena.
She immediately knelt.
"Your Majesty, to what do I owe this late-night visit?"
The Queen's gaze flickered, her tone serious.
"Elena. I have an important task for you. I need you to go to the Dark Forbidden Forest and deliver a message to Palos."
"Please give your command."
"I…"
Meanwhile—
Hidden beneath the Nightveil Silk, Yuluxi and the "sleeping" Akira remained concealed.
The artifact acted like an invisible barrier, perfectly masking their presence—even from the Queen.
But—
Yuluxi's face was flushed a deep, unnatural red, like a peach blossom at sunset.
Her heart pounded wildly, embarrassment and tension intertwining, leaving her eyes hazy.
Too close!
And worse—
That scorching Holy Light…
was pressing against her!
Meanwhile, Akira lay beside her, still seemingly fast asleep.
Unaware of everything around him.
Because—
He had already woken up long ago.
He was just… pretending to sleep.