The enormous doors to the royal throne room remained open while the conversation about strange summons, biomechanical creatures, and potential interdimensional threats still hung heavily in the air.

Moonlight was still massaging her temples as if that would somehow help her process any of it.

It wasn’t working.

"I still don’t understand anything," she muttered.

"Welcome to the club," Max replied.

Chloe nodded with a solemn expression.

"Same."

The king was about to say something else when, suddenly, a new voice echoed from the entrance.

"My apologies for the interruption."

Everyone automatically turned their heads.

A woman had just entered the throne room with calm, confident steps.

She was tall. Elegant.

Her skin was greyish, typical of a drow. Her sharp features gave her a severe, almost intimidating appearance, and her long violet hair fell neatly over her shoulders.

She wore a perfectly tailored black suit, a white shirt slightly open at the collar, and rectangular glasses that somehow made her look even more professional.

Or at least that was the part Max tried to focus on.

The woman adjusted her glasses slightly.

"Could someone tell me where the princess’s classroom is located?" she asked in a calm tone.

The king was the first to react.

His eyes lit up slightly.

"Ah."

He stood up once again.

"Miss Thara."

He smiled politely.

"It’s a pleasure to finally meet you."

So yes.

Max felt immediate confirmation.

’New politics teacher.’

Dorian, of course, reacted exactly the way any reasonable person would expect Dorian to react.

Which is to say: not reasonably at all.

The elf moved toward her almost instantly.

Wearing an absurdly charming smile.

And with his eyes very clearly focused on the least diplomatic place possible.

He gently took the drow’s hand.

"A beauty like yourself shouldn’t be wandering lost through such a large castle," he said with complete ease.

He smiled at her as if he were starring in a cheap romance novel.

"Allow me to personally guide you."

Max closed his eyes for a second.

’Dorian, please don’t.’

Thara looked at him for exactly two seconds.

Then withdrew her hand with absolute firmness.

Not violently.

But with so much authority that it was somehow even more humiliating.

"Compose yourself," she said dryly.

Dorian froze in place.

Thara turned toward the king without even sparing him another glance.

"Your Majesty, I would greatly appreciate it if your subjects maintained an appropriate professional distance from me."

The king cleared his throat, clearly trying not to laugh.

"Yes, of course."

Dorian raised both hands.

"My apologies," he said, stepping back.

His tone sounded genuinely embarrassed.

"I did not intend to make you uncomfortable."

Moonlight leaned slightly toward Max, speaking quietly.

"I don’t get good vibes from her," she muttered.

Max looked at the drow for a few seconds.

There was something strange about her.

Not exactly threatening.

But still... difficult to define.

As though her mere presence made the atmosphere feel slightly colder.

"She must be Elanor’s new politics teacher," he replied just as quietly.

"That does not improve my opinion," Moon immediately said.

Max nearly laughed.

Then Thara spoke without turning toward them.

"I can hear perfectly well."

Moon froze stiff.

The drow adjusted her glasses again.

"And yes," she said calmly.

"I am here to introduce myself to the princess and begin my duties."

Max slowly raised an eyebrow.

Chloe, who had been silently observing everything, looked at Max.

"Everything okay?" she asked quietly.

Max gave a slight shrug.

"Yeah," he replied.

Though he didn’t sound especially convinced.

"The situation seems normal."

He paused briefly.

"But yes... she has a somewhat strange presence."

Chloe shifted her gaze toward the woman.

She observed her for a few more seconds.

Her brow furrowed slightly.

As though she had noticed something.

Something small.

Something that didn’t quite fit.

But she said nothing.

The king cleared his throat.

"In any case..."

He looked at Max.

"Could you escort Miss Thara to the classroom?"

Max blinked.

"Me?"

The king smiled.

"I’m certain the princess is already waiting for her."

Max hesitated for only a second.

Then nodded.

"Of course."

He stepped forward toward the drow and adopted a slightly more formal posture.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you."

He placed a hand over his chest.

"My name is Max."

Thara looked directly at him for the first time.

Her eyes were a rather intense dark violet.

Too analytical.

As if she were evaluating him.

Measuring him.

"I know," she replied simply.

Max blinked.

"Well, that saves time on introductions."

Dorian let out a small laugh from behind him.

"Strong start."

Max completely ignored that comment.

He gestured toward the exit.

"This way, then."

Thara nodded once.

Before following him, Moonlight jumped down from Max’s arms.

"I’m going to find Neros," she announced.

She crossed her arms with total determination.

"I have training waiting."

Max smiled.

"Good luck surviving that."

Moon gave a thumbs up.

"I’m going to defeat him."

"I don’t think that’s supposed to be the dynamic of a lesson," Max commented.

But Moon was already walking away with absolute enthusiasm.

Dorian sighed theatrically.

"And I believe I shall return to my laboratory."

He adjusted his hair slightly.

"I’ve already been rejected enough for one day."

"That was quick," Max commented.

Dorian pointed at him.

"Some wounds run deep."

Thara did not react.

The king let out a small laugh before turning to Chloe.

"In the meantime..."

He smiled kindly.

"Would you like to eat something with me?"

Chloe immediately seemed to brighten.

"Food?"

The king nodded.

She smiled widely.

"Yes."

Then proudly added:

"I accept nourishment."

The king laughed again.

"Excellent."

Max shook his head slightly, amused.

At least Chloe seemed to be adapting surprisingly well.

Without saying anything else, Max began walking toward the exit accompanied by Thara.

The throne room doors slowly closed behind them.

Now they were alone in the corridor.

Well. Relatively alone.

There were always guards, servants, or people wandering around the castle.

But the atmosphere felt much quieter.

Max walked a few steps ahead.

Thara moved beside him with flawless posture, hands behind her back and gaze fixed forward.

Too calm.

Max tried to ignore the strange discomfort he was feeling.

But it remained there.

Persistent.

Eventually, he spoke.

"I hope Dorian didn’t bother you too much."

Thara answered without looking at him.

"I have dealt with worse men."

Max let out a small nasal laugh.

"That sounds strangely threatening."

"It wasn’t," she replied.

"Probably."

Max glanced at her sideways.

That did not help at all.

They continued walking through the corridor.

And while he guided the princess’s new politics teacher toward the classroom where Elanor was probably waiting for him...

Max couldn’t shake off that uncomfortable feeling.

He didn’t know exactly what it was.

But something about Thara’s presence felt... out of place.