Within the sprawling verdance of the Crimvane gardens, a second sanctuary of white stone stood as a testament to quiet elegance. Inside this gazebo, Evander Elvaris sat with the stillness of a winter mountain.
He possessed a face carved from sharp, decisive lines—the kind of visage that suggested he was in his early thirties, though the weight in his gaze felt much older. His short, copper-brown hair was styled with a calculated messiness, as if he had just stepped off a windy precipice. His eyes were a piercing, stormy grey that mirrored the restless skies of a northern gale, shimmering with a quiet, lethal intelligence. He wore a high-collared coat of dark charcoal wool, fastened with silver buttons that caught the dappled sunlight, and a simple silk cravat at his throat that spoke of understated power.
"This tea is actually good," he remarked, his voice a low, resonant baritone
"I agree. And," Selene Elvaris paused, her sapphire eyes sweeping across the revitalized kingdom with a mixture of awe and suspicion. "It still feels like a dream that this fallen kingdom just rose to its prime again in the blink of an eye."
Selene appeared to be in her late twenties, a vision of ethereal grace. Her hair was the color of a sunset-stained sky—a long, wavy cascade of soft pink that reached the small of her back like a silken banner. Her eyes were a vibrant, crystalline blue, framed by dark, sweeping lashes that made her direct gaze feel like the point of a rapier.
She wore a gown of deep emerald silk, the fabric shimmering like a forest floor after rain, with a modest square neckline and tapered sleeves. Forgoing the heavy, gaudy jewelry of lesser queens, she wore only a single delicate silver chain around her neck, standing with an upright, natural grace that commanded the air around her.
Behind them stood an elven sentinel, his pointy ears twitching at every rustle of the leaves. He had slim, predatory red eyes and shock-white hair, eschewing traditional plate armor for high-fabricated dark garments that allowed for silent, fluid movement. A few paces back, his fellow knights stood like statues of iron, their hands never far from their hilts.
"Hmm… someone is coming," Evander noted, his grey eyes narrowing as they fixed on the winding garden path.
"Are they servants?" Selene asked, her brow arching. "Their clothes are unusual… though their faces… they are almost hauntingly beautiful."
They looked human, yet there was an aura of 'otherness' clinging to them. The man's eyes were striking and strange, and both possessed the effortless gravity of high royalty, yet they wore nothing of the sort. They arrived without a retinue—no guards, no maids, no fanfare—just the two of them, walking in a carefree way.
Step—step.
Noa and Vionette stepped into the gazebo's shade. Vionette's arm was draped comfortably around Noa's, her fingers resting lightly on his sleeve, while Noa kept his other hand tucked casually into his pocket.
Selene and Evander observed in a heavy, pregnant silence as the couple took their seats across from them.
"May we know what you've come to see us for?" Vionette said, her voice a cool melody. She crossed her legs with a regal fluidity, resting both hands on her knee.
"Yea, it was rather unannounced, wasn't it?" Noa added, his tone breezy and informal. He leaned back, resting his right ankle on his left knee.
'White hair, crimson eyes… that's definitely her,' Evander whispered to Selene, his voice barely a ghost of a sound. 'No doubt about it, even if they don't dress the part.'
'Then the man should be the one named Noa,' Selene replied with a subtle tilt of her head.
After a silent moment of clarification, the Lythorians nodded to each other, acknowledging that they were indeed speaking to the true power behind the throne. They turned back toward the couple, their expressions hardening into masks of serious diplomacy.
"We came here to discuss establishing a connection between Crimvane and Lythoria," Evander said, his grey eyes sharpening like whetted steel.
"A connection with Crimvane?" Noa asked, tilting his head with a faint curiosity.
"Of course, we wouldn't expect such a thing for nothing." Selene extended a hand, her gesture open and practiced. "Our kingdom is home to many rare herbs and a wealth of skilled alchemists. We would be happy to share those resources with you."
"I assume you're referring to the herbs from the Freezing Forest?" Vionette asked, a slight, knowing smile dancing on her lips.
"You're right. They are indeed from the Freezing Forest," Evander confirmed.
"And what do you expect from us in return?" Noa asked, his voice casual but his eyes searching.
Evander stared at them for several heartbeats, the silence stretching like a taut bowstring. Finally, he spoke.
"We seek open access to your trade routes, a fair standing within your markets, and a mutual understanding of stability between our realms."
He spoke calmly, his face a neutral mask, but beneath the table, his grip on his own knee tightened until his knuckles turned white.
Now is the gamble. It's a fifty-fifty shot, he thought.
He looked at Noa, but the young man wasn't even looking at him. Instead, Noa's gaze was fixed on the white-haired elf standing behind the Lythorian king. A faint, almost imperceptible smile played on Noa's lips. Then, with a decisive clack, Vionette placed her tea cup down and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
"Okay then, let's do this, Evander Elvaris." Her crimson eyes suddenly gleamed like polished rubies in the firelight. "How about our two kingdoms make a full alliance instead of just a connection? We won't attack each other, we'll defend each other, and we'll exchange resources freely."
"!!?"
What?
Both Selene and Evander were struck by a momentary paralysis. The proposal was far more generous—and far more binding—than they had dared to hope.
The silence that followed was occupied only by the shimmering song of the garden birds and the distant, rhythmic pulse of the waterfalls. For a few seconds, the three monarchs simply stared at one another, their faces serene masks covering the whirlpools of thought beneath.
"We would love to do that," Evander said, standing up and extending his hand across the quartz table. "Lythoria and Crimvane shall be allies."
Vionette stood with a graceful, feline movement and shook his hand, her smile confident and unwavering. Selene followed suit, her sapphire eyes warm with relief, and finally, they both shook hands with Noa.
"Your warming resources will help us a lot in the upcoming winter," Noa said, his smile genuine and warm.
As everyone settled back into their chairs, the atmosphere shifted from cold diplomacy to something more hospitable. Selene made a subtle hand sign, and one of her knights stepped forward, placing a ceramic plate on the table.
A warm slice of cake sat upon it, its golden surface glistening with a slow-dripping glaze of honey. The edges were perfectly caramelized, the interior looking tender and light, with faint red-gold flecks scattered through the sponge like embers in a hearth. A thin wisp of steam rose from it, carrying an aroma that promised the warmth of a summer afternoon.
"This is the Emberleaf Honey Cake, a gift from us," Selene said, her voice tinged with pride. "It is made with crushed Emberleaf folded into a honeyed batter and served warm."
"Emberleaf?" Noa asked, leaning in closer.
"It's a deep red leaf that releases a gentle, lasting warmth when infused. It can only be found in the deep parts of the Freezing Forest," Selene explained, closing her eyes as she inhaled the scent.
[Reserve]
Suddenly, Noa's hand moved. He tore a small rift in the space beside him, and a silver fork slid out. He snatched it from the air with the hungry, focused eyes of a predator who had just spotted its favorite prey.
"When the hell did you put that in there?" Vionette asked, her eyes half-lidded in a look of weary amusement.
"Kekekek—it's for emergencies just like this," Noa replied proudly, admiring the shine of his 'emergency' silverware.
"Give it to me," Vionette commanded, her hand darting out like a viper to snatch the fork from his grip. "I'll feed you."
Noa didn't complain. Vionette carefully carved a small, perfect piece of the golden cake and lifted it to his lips. She watched him enjoy the treat, her chin resting on one hand as a soft, genuinely warm smile transformed her face. In that moment, the terrifying ruler of Crimvane looked like nothing more than a woman in love.
'Did we miss something?' Selene whispered, leaning toward her husband. 'They didn't act like this five minutes ago.'
'Who knows?' Evander replied, simply closing his eyes and choosing to enjoy the silence.
After feeding Noa, Vionette took another piece for herself. She didn't just eat it; she lingered, the fork meeting her lips at the exact spot where Noa's had been just moments before, her eyes fixed on his.
THUD!
Just as Vionette reached for the next piece of cake, something came screaming from the horizon. It tore through the manicured bushes, shattered several decorative trees, and finally slammed into the gazebo like a meteor. The impact destroyed the quartz table, sent tea cups flying, and left a massive, spider-webbing crack in the concrete floor.
The elf and the Lythorian knights were moving before the dust even settled, weapons drawn and eyes darting for the source of the attack.
"Ouch… that actually hurt a lot," a voice grumbled from the center of the ruins.
Evander, frozen in a state of sheer shock, slowly moved his flinching head toward the source of the voice. His lips were parted, his grey eyes wide with terror. Selene followed suit, her heart hammering against her ribs.
A… a dragon?
Elina stood amidst the rubble, shaking herself off like a dusty dog. One hand supported her weight while the other gingerly tapped her head. Despite the crash, her eyes were sparkling with a manic, joyous energy.
"Nom-nom—this is actually really good~" she said, munching on a piece of the honey cake that had accidentally flown into her mouth during the destruction. "Wait, no—forget that! I need to get back in there!"
"Hahahah~! Little lizard, what's wrong? You can't get up?" A mocking voice echoed from across the garden.
It was Jain—or rather, Viselle in Jain's form—smirking as she landed gracefully on a nearby hedge. Then, with a sudden blur of motion, a sword lunged at her from behind. It was Lina. Viselle instantly shifted back into her true form, blocking the blade with a single black playing card marked with a diamond symbol. The air crackled with the force of their collision as the fight resumed in a whirlwind of steel and magic.
"I'm not done yet! Wait for me!" Elina shouted, finishing the cake in one gulp before launching herself back into the fray like a comet. "Thanks for the cake by the way, whoever you are!" she called out to the terrified Evander with a bright smile.
"What…?" Evander watched her go, his mind reeling from the sheer, casual insanity of the event.
"Please be careful, my ladyyyyy!"
Behind the fighting trio, the 'butlers' they had recently recruited scrambled through the ruins, clutching first-aid kits and looking like they were one step away from a nervous breakdown.
"How long have they been at it?" Noa asked, his voice dark; not because of the destruction, but because he had lost his cake—and more importantly, the feedings from Vionette.
"About fourteen hours," Rose answered, appearing out of thin air beside him.
"These little…" Noa gritted his teeth, his aura beginning to flare with a dangerous, purple light.
…
"…I'm sowry."
"Me too~!"
"Mmm…"
Lina, Viselle, and Elina were lined up in a row, kneeling on the scorched grass in front of the ruined gazebo. Their bodies were battered and bruised, but the injuries didn't come from their fight. Instead, faint trails of purple energy crackled around them—a lingering reminder of Noa's displeasure.
"Don't look down as if you feel bad. I know the game you two are playing," Vionette said, standing before them with her arms crossed.
She directed her glare specifically at Elina and Lina, who were at least pretending to be ashamed. Viselle, however, held her head up, her face bright and smiling as if she were proud of the chaos she had caused.
"Rose, take these three to the baths or something. We still have a conversation to finish," Noa said, gesturing toward Evander and Selene, who were still sitting in the chairs, looking utterly bewildered.
"Yes, my lord. Please excuse me," Rose bowed deeply to Noa and Vionette before turning toward the trio on the ground. "Let's go, you three. We have much to scrub away."
She grabbed Elina by one of her horns and Lina by her swin-tailed hair, dragging them off toward the castle. Viselle simply skipped along beside Rose, humming a tune.
"Ahem! Noa, Vionette… we will also be taking our leave now," Evander said, finally finding his voice. "I will send a messenger on my behalf to discuss the details of the alliance."
"Ah, you're leaving already?" Noa asked, standing up. "You're welcome to stay in the castle, or we can set you up in the Eryndor or Aurelyth castles as well."
"It's okay, we still have a lot of work to do back home," Evander replied quickly.
"Okay then. Cya later, I guess?"
…
The Lythorian group—Evander, Selene, the elf, and their knights—walked through the opulent, echoing halls of Crimvane Castle, heading toward the royal teleportation chamber.
"Your majesty, we chose the best possible option by siding with them," the elf whispered, pulling closer to Evander.
"Did you notice something?" Evander asked. "And why was Noa looking at you earlier?"
"He was… gauging me," the elf admitted, lowering his head. "He was measuring my strength against his own. And once he realized I was no threat, he lost interest entirely."
"I don't even want to talk about his strength," Evander muttered. "Beating up those two and a dragon simultaneously was enough for me to see the gap."
"Hey Evander," Selene asked, looking at her husband. "Why do you think Vionette decided to make an alliance so suddenly?"
"Who knows? Even I was surprised," Evander let out a soft, firm laugh that held no mirth. "Maybe we came to touch a kingdom we shouldn't have. But whatever the reason, this is the only way we survive what's coming. It's do or die now."