The following days passed in heavy silence. The nobles returned to their territories without raising further questions. It was neither worth the risk nor the right time. Everyone understood that much.
Yet amidst all the chaos, someone else finally woke without understanding what had happened.
Kaelen.
The moment his eyes opened; a sharp slap landed across his face.
"Are you stupid?!" Selene shouted, her voice trembling with fury and fear. "Do you know how I felt when I almost lost both my husband and my child at the same time?"
The strike fully pulled Kaelen back from the haze between life and death. He blinked slowly, trying to understand where he was and what had happened.
When he performed the ritual, all he wanted was to bring back the love of his life rather than stand there helplessly doing nothing.
"I'm sorry…" Kaelen whispered, lowering his gaze. "But… I didn't know what else to do at that moment."
Selene stared at him for a long second, still trying to hold together the composure she had maintained these past few days. But in the end, the anger broke first. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
"I was scared," she admitted quietly, her voice cracking. "I didn't know what else to do either…"
Kaelen slowly held her back, finally noticing how much she had been trembling this entire time.
Then his expression darkened.
"What happened to Aria?" he asked, his voice suddenly stern.
Selene fell silent for a moment before answering.
"She awakened…"
Her fingers tightened slightly around his clothes.
"I don't understand why it's always her," Selene whispered bitterly. "All my life, I kept my distance from her because I thought it would keep her safe. Every time her tiny fingers reached for me, I stepped away…"
Her eyes trembled. "And now it feels like all of it was useless."
"Didn't I tell you it wasn't the right way…" Kaelen let out a deep breath.
He had always told Selene the same thing—that pushing her own child away would never protect either of them. Instead, it only left them both hurting in silence.
Maybe that was another reason he had always stayed close to Aria whenever she needed someone. Leaving behind the glory and luxuries of being a war hero, he remained for the sake of both mother and daughter.
"It's still not too late," Kaelen said softly while holding Selene's hand. "Try harder. Maybe even harder than Aria used to."
A faint smile touched his face as old memories surfaced.
"She used to wander around you constantly… peeking at your studies, waiting by the window whenever you left for the borders."
Selene lowered her eyes.
"She hates me."
Kaelen smiled slightly. "You kind of deserve that."
Selene immediately glared at him, her expression turning grumpier than angry.
Somehow, that small reaction eased the heaviness in the room just a little.
Kaelen's expression then turned serious once more.
"Now," he said quietly, "fill me in on everything."
Meanwhile, outside the cities, rumours began to spread.
The never-ending sun had risen from the princess.
Was it a blessing… or a disaster?
Power without explanation was always frightening. But fear of death was greater still, and so the whispers moved quietly through the kingdom without growing into open chaos.
Even the nobles who had hoped to use the situation for their own gain kept their mouths shut during the royal meeting.
"Shouldn't we ask the Holy Priest for help?" Count Everen asked carefully, avoiding Selene's face. The moment he glanced toward Theo, who sat expressionless beside the royal family, Everen immediately regretted speaking.
What kind of foolish question is that?
"We decided long ago that we would never seek help from the Holy Land," Liam said coldly. As the Crown Prince and eldest son, his words carried enough authority to silence the room.
"And regarding Aria's awakening," Liam continued, "His Majesty was already aware of the familiar she possessed. There is no need for unnecessary concern at this moment."
That revelation alone caused unease to spread among the nobles.
Today's meeting, however, was not truly about Aria.
Caisson leaned forward slightly, his voice calm and steady despite the tension filling the hall.
"Today's meeting is to discuss the incident in the forest. Specifically, Lady Lilly, the soul-binding dagger, and where she obtained both the weapon and the information."
At once, every gaze turned toward Count Milieus.
The Count controlled the sea trade routes with neighbouring nations and was one of the wealthiest nobles in the empire. A man known for valuing loyalty, reputation, and tradition above all else.
And now, because of his youngest daughter, everything he had built stood on the verge of collapse.
Or perhaps—
as Lilly herself claimed—
it had all been for love.
"Your Majesty…" Count Milieus paused, struggling to steady his voice. "I am willing to take responsibility for what Lilly did."
He slowly lowered himself onto one knee.
"But I ask only one thing… Please do not punish the rest of my family or my people for her sins."
Several nobles exchanged glances.
"Yes, he should take responsibility," one of them muttered.
For some, this was the perfect opportunity to destroy Count Milieus and seize his influence.
Caisson's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Milieus," he said quietly, "be careful about what you say next."
Then the Emperor raised his hand.
A massive shadow spread beneath the throne before a gigantic figure slowly emerged from it.
"Barakhael."
The familiar towered over the hall, its presence alone enough to suffocate the atmosphere. Some nobles immediately lowered their heads, unable to withstand the pressure.
Barakhael's glowing eyes settled upon Count Milieus.
"Do you swear in the name of the gods," the familiar asked, its voice echoing through the chamber like thunder, "that you had no connection to the incident that occurred during the tournament?"
Count Milieus trembled.
"I swear in the name of the gods," he said hoarsely, "that I had no involvement in the incident… nor any knowledge of what my daughter was planning."
The hall fell silent.
"What is it you are hiding?" Barakhael asked suddenly, sensing something unstable within Milieus's aura.
The Count visibly stiffened. Sweat rolled down the side of his face as the pressure from the familiar intensified.
"I…" his voice faltered. "Yesterday… I went through Lilly's room and found records of trades and letters exchanged with people from a neighboring country."
The moment those words fell, murmurs erupted across the hall.
One of the servants hurried forward, carrying several sealed files and letters before placing them carefully before the Emperor.
Count Milieus lowered his head further, shame completely crushing whatever pride he once carried.
"I knew Lilly was in love with the Tower Master," he admitted weakly. "I thought it was simply because of her age… that she would eventually understand her place and move on with time."
His hands trembled violently.
"But I was foolish."
His voice cracked.
"I failed to watch over my own daughter."
Silence swallowed the hall once more.
Caisson opened one of the letters slowly, his expression darkening almost immediately.
Liam's eyes narrowed.
Theo remained motionless, though the atmosphere around him turned colder.
The neighbouring country. ASHKALON
That alone was enough to turn a personal tragedy into something far more dangerous.
Another letter slid from the pile.
This one contained detailed information about the hunting tournament route… and more disturbingly—
Information regarding the soul-binding dagger.
Even Liam's composure shifted slightly.
This meant only one thing.
Lilly had leaked kingdoms secrets.