After his meeting with Mark, Joseph and his assistant received a copy of the commercial agreements reached between both kingdoms.
And, in contrast to the way he had arrived, the emperor departed back to Eldia discreetly, no ceremonies, none of the fanfare he had shown during his arrival.
Though given what had happened during the meeting, that sudden discretion was more than understandable.
The return journey passed in relative calm.
The three vessels cut through the open sea under a clear sky, slowly moving away from the elven kingdom's shores that were now barely visible on the horizon.
Joseph was standing on the deck of the main ship, hands resting on the railing and his gaze lost on the line where the sea met the sky.
His assistant approached him with his usual folder of scrolls under his arm.
"Your Majesty," the assistant said, stopping beside him. "What do you plan to do now?"
Joseph didn't respond immediately.
