The news spread before noon. By evening, the entire human continent and the other continents knew.

The second prince of Gladia had been captured. The Dark Elf kingdom possessed him and his execution date had already been announced.

The reactions varied dramatically.

Humans panicked.

Dark elves celebrated.

Merchants worried.

Nobles drank.

Military officers became extremely interested in maps.

The high elves sighed collectively.

Inside the palace, however, another matter demanded attention. Guests were leaving.

Atheline arrived at one of the palace gates shortly before sunset. Several carriages already waited while elite escorts stood nearby. And at the center of everything his brother stood.

The high elf looked exhausted which Atheline understood. He was probably being hounded by the other delegates.

The moment he noticed him, he sighed.

"There you are."

"I hear you’re abandoning me."

"I’m preserving my sanity."

Atheline laughed.

"The king requests I bring back, his highness," he quietly said as though apologising for leaving earlier.

Atheline glanced behind him to find Prince Solaris and Caius staring back at him.

"That’s for the best. Thought it’s a pity."

His brother rubbed his temples.

"I’ve spent the whole night explaining to the delegates and the king that your wife isn’t planning immediate conquest."

"And now?"

His brother pointed an accusing finger toward him.

"Now she’s scheduling royal executions. Everything I said just went down the drain"

Atheline lifted his hand and patted him on the shoulder. He couldn’t really defend that one.

The high elf delegates nearby looked equally tired. Several were already loading documents into storage containers. Others appeared eager to leave before another kingdom was threatened.

Probably a wise decision.

Helther folded his arms.

"I’ll try and explain the situation as positively as I can to the king, but..."

He let the words hang in the air. Atheline tilted his head slightly a small smile on his lips.

"It’s okay, you don’t have to work too hard. You can report things as they are," he glanced briefly at Solaris and Caius, " it might get you into trouble for falsifying the reports."

Helther stared at him for a moment then sighed.

"I wasn’t going to go that far."

"Thank you, brother. I’m glad you decided to visit," he said with a calm smile, " do send my regards to father and mother. I will visit soon."

Helther nodded. "I will."

"Thank you."

The older high elf stared at him then unexpectedly smiled. A tired smile but genuine.

"Take care of yourself."

Atheline blinked. The shift in tone surprised him.

His brother continued.

"Things are moving too quickly."

They were and everyone knew it but no one knew how to stop the coming storm.

Atheline nodded.

"I know."

His brother looked toward the palace. Toward the windows of the royal residence. Toward the room where Lilith was undoubtedly working through another mountain of reports.

"Try not to start a continental war before I prepare myself."

"No promises."

"I knew you would say that."

Atheline laughed.

Several moments passed comfortably then his brother stepped forward and embraced him briefly which he returned.

When they separated, the older high elf’s expression had grown serious again.

"If things worsen..."

Atheline waited. His brother looked directly at him.

"The high elves approved this marriage."

He blinked then understood. The statement carried weight. His family would always be beside him regardless.

The older high elf continued quietly.

"We don’t abandon family."

For a moment neither spoke then Atheline smiled.

"Good."

His brother snorted.

"Don’t sound so relieved."

"I am relieved."

"That’s concerning."

He laughed again.

Soon afterward the departure began. Magical spells activated and the teleportation circle swirled before them.

The high elf delegation slowly started to enter the portal. His brother remained at the back. Just before disappearing through the portal, he glanced back one final time.

Then raised a hand. Atheline returned the gesture and just like that they were gone.

He stood alone for several moments. Watching the last traces of the portal disappear into nothing.

The sun had almost set and the capital glowed beneath evening light. Everything looked deceptively beautiful at the moment.

Atheline could feel it. The game was still unfolding and somehow he suspected the capture of the second prince was only the beginning. The fuse that would light the fire.

His brother’s words lingered in his mind at that moment.

’We don’t abandon family’

It was strangely reassuring. The continents might be heading toward disaster, but at least he knew where the high elves stood.

Eventually, he turned and began walking back toward the palace.

The palace corridors were calmer than usual since most nobles had already retreated to their estates after hearing the news about the second prince.

No doubt many were currently drinking while trying to predict whether war would begin in seven days or ten.

Atheline ignored them all. His mind was focused on one direction, where Lilith was currently.

Her study.

He pushed open the door. Lilith was exactly where he expected, seated behind an enormous desk. Surrounded by reports.

Three stacks had already been completed and a fourth was steadily shrinking beneath her hands. He felt pity for her at the moment but she also looked beautiful behind the desk. It tickled his fantasies.

Without looking up she spoke.

"The delegation left."

Atheline smiled.

"You already know"

"I could see you from the window."

She gestured with her head toward the open window. He crossed the room before stopping beside her chair.

Lilith finally glanced upward.

"You look thoughtful."

"My brother worries too much."

"He inherited that from your mother."

The future king laughed.

"Really, what about me?"

She looked thoughtful for a moment.

"From your father but also your mother. You’re a perfect blend of both."

He raised an eyebrow in amusement.

"You’re surprisingly familiar with my family."

"The reports don’t lie."

A fair but unexpected point. For a moment he simply stood beside her. Lilith returned to her paperwork and a comfortable silence settled naturally between them.

Then, without warning, she slid one of the untouched reports toward him.

Atheline stared.

"...What is this?"

"Work."

His expression immediately darkened. She looked entirely innocent.

A terrible sign.

"You invited me here to suffer."

"I didn’t invite you."

"I came to support and cheer you emotionally not work."

A faint smile appeared on her face. He sighed dramatically and accepted his fate.

The evening passed quietly. Outside, however, the continent was considerably less peaceful.