As they bickered, the heavy silence of the palace grounds was replaced by the soft rustle of silk and the clanking of plate armor. A phalanx of palace guards and a small flock of maids appeared from the archways. Upon seeing the Princess and her guardian safely returned, albeit covered in frost and wood chips they immediately dropped into deep, practiced bows.

"Welcome home, Royal Highness," the head guard intoned, his voice steady despite the chaotic scene.

Both Lunara and Nova paused their bickering just long enough to nod back with a refined air of royal respect, a seamless mask they both wore by instinct. Then, the moment the guards rose, the two turned back to each other, renewing their argument as they headed toward the inner sanctum.

The palace servants watched them go, sharing weary, knowing smiles. With a collective sigh, the mages among the staff began to chant softly. Waves of shimmering magic washed over the courtyard, mending the cracked stone, dissolving the ice, and sweeping away the debris from the shockwave. It was just another day in their Godling Kingdom.

The rest of the day drifted by in a blur, eventually giving way to the quiet approach of evening. Lunara’s footsteps echoed softly through the palace’s empty halls as she paused to look out at the horizon.

The night sky here was a phenomenon that defied simple description. It felt like a silent reward, for those who endured the biting winds and harsh isolation of the Icy Expanse, the heavens offered a blessing in the form of the aurora. Ribbons of emerald and violet light danced across the stars, casting a ghostly glow over the frozen world below.

Pulling her gaze away from the window, Lunara eventually found herself standing before the heavy doors of her brother’s office. She hesitated, her hand hovering near the latch for a heartbeat, before she finally pushed it open.

Her brother was there, buried in his work, his face nearly pressed against a report he was intently reading. As she stepped into the room, Lunara’s nose twitched. A lingering scent caught her attention, sharp and familiar. Someone else had been in this room only moments before she arrived.

Bowing deeply to her brother, Lunara broke the silence. "Why did the Lady of the House leave so abruptly, brother?"

Wulv didn’t lift his head from his desk. "She believed we needed some time alone," he answered flatly. His tone made it clear he didn’t share her sentiment.

Lunara took a steadying breath, bracing herself. "I am here to inform you of how the mission with the Beast King went. There are... certain things I took notice of. Things I thought would be wise for you to know personally."

"And where is the written report?" Wulv asked. He finally looked up, his gaze fixing on her.

Lunara fidgeted, her fingers trailing over the fabric of her sleeve before she answered. "Nova lost a bet. Technically, he is the one responsible for the paperwork this time."

"You cheated again, didn’t you?" Wulv said. It had the structure of a joke, but his cold, level tone made it feel more like an accusation.

"I didn’t," Lunara blurted out instinctively. She caught herself, remembering exactly who she was addressing, and softened her stance. "I simply played smarter," she added, tilting her head to the side with a faint, defiant glimmer in her eyes.

"Hmph," was the only response she received. The scratch of a quill resumed as Wulv began to scribble across the parchment again. "You can spare me the details of the hunt and the chase. Get to the point, what did you see that requires my attention?"

Lunara felt the protest die in her throat. She had wanted to tell him about the thrill of the pursuit, the clash of steel, and the adrenaline of watching the two princes in action, but the cold efficiency in the room stifled her words.

Breathing out a heavy sigh, she raised her hand, manifesting a shimmering magical construct of a signet ring. Wulv glanced at the glowing projection for a fleeting second before looking back down at his documents. Lunara saw the dismissive gesture, but she pressed on regardless.

"These are the props issued by the Menagerie to the Beast Kings under their influence," she explained, her voice steadying. "But recent events suggest their policy for distributing these rings is dangerously inadequate. It’s no longer just a matter of status, it’s causing significant diplomatic friction with the surrounding nations."

"I am certain the same issue is manifesting on the other continents as well," she continued, her voice gaining a sharp edge of conviction. "Most importantly, if our people are truly to venture beyond the borders to establish new homes and expand our territory, this matter must be resolved. Their safety depends on it."

Feeling the heavy weight of his silence, Lunara felt a prickle of frustration. It felt as though she were speaking to a wall "I propose we establish direct contact with the Menagerie," she said, leaning forward slightly. "We should send an envoy to formally negotiate a change in their distribution policy regarding the rings."

"Mmm," came the noncommittal hum. Wulv didn’t stop his writing as he spoke. "That has already been handled. Contact was made the moment this became a systemic issue. The reality is simply that the Menagerie has its own internal crises to manage, that is why rogue Beast Kings are still permitted to exist."

He finally paused, though he didn’t look up. "The current Beast Kings causing disturbances across the world are the ones the Menagerie is currently unable to suppress. Instead, they are forced to rely on Godlings and human powerhouses to clean up their messes for them."

Raising his head to look directly at the Princess, Wulv’s eyes were calm "Was this the matter you were so intent on bringing to my attention?"

Lunara didn’t offer a verbal reply. Instead, her knuckles crackled as she clenched her fists at her sides. A familiar, bitter weight settled in her chest, once again, she had been denied the chance to prove her worth before she had even begun. It was always like this, he moved silent and efficient, resolving crises before she could even grasp the reality of the whole situation.

"My apologies for wasting your time, Brother," she said, her voice tight. She offered a stiff, formal bow and turned on her heel to leave the room.

"Since we are finished with your concerns, I have an issue of my own I would like to raise with you," Wulv stated, his voice pinning her in place.

Lunara froze, her hand halfway to the door handle. Her brother, raising an issue with her? That almost never happened. Usually, he issued commands or corrections, but rarely did he present a problem for her to consider. A flicker of genuine curiosity cut through her frustration as she wondered what could possibly be important enough for the King to ask of her.

Wulv picked up a parchment from his desk and flicked his wrist, sending it sailing through the air. Lunara caught the letter mid-flight, her eyes immediately dropping to the seal. Her heart gave a sudden, sharp thud, the insignia was unmistakable. It was the mark of the Silver Kingdom.

A wave of inexplicable nervousness washed over her, but she forced herself to break the seal and unfold the page. As she scanned the lines, a fleeting glimpse of joy sparked in her expression, only to be instantly smothered by a look of guarded concern.

Wulv had finally set aside his quill. The reports were pushed to the edge of his desk, and for the first time that evening, his undivided attention was fixed entirely on her.

"What do you think?" he asked, his voice low and expectant.

Lunara glanced up at him, then back down at the letter, her thumb tracing the edge of the parchment. "They are bold," she murmured. Her hand drifted instinctively toward the flower tucked into her hair, a subconscious gesture that Wulv’s sharp eyes didn’t miss. "Does Magnus know of this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You are in no position to ask questions, young lady," Wulv interrupted. His tone had shifted from cold indifference to a sharp edge that made the air in the room feel heavy. He was livid and seething with restrained anger.

Leaning forward, Wulv braced his arms on the desk. "Tell me, how is it that the Silver Kingdom has become aware of our classified plans for expansion? How do they know we are preparing for possible integration with the humans?"

Lunara froze, the letter trembling slightly in her hand.

"Do you realize that this strategy is known only to a select few within our inner circle?" Wulv continued, his voice dropping to a dangerous, low vibration. "Yet somehow, the Silver Kingdom has a grasp of it, which leads me to believe that the People of Björn likely do as well."