Palace — King's Room
After the water fall incident , Aaron went to change his dress and Elda started doing her work , suddenly the door opened.
Aaron: 😁 "Elda!"
Without looking up from the documents in her hand—
Elda: 😑 "Yes?"
Aaron practically sparkled.
Aaron: 🥰 "You know I found my mate, right?"
Elda: 😐 "I heard."
Aaron clasped his hands together dramatically.
Aaron: 🤗 "Can you tell Mother instead of me?"
Elda slowly looked at him.
"..."
"...Okay."
Aaron's face lit up like a child who had just escaped homework.
Without warning—
Hug!
He wrapped both arms around her.
Aaron: "You're the best! Thank you so much!"
Before Elda could respond...
He ran out of the room.
Actually...
Skipped.
The servants outside watched their king disappear down the hallway like an overexcited puppy.
Silence filled the room.
Elda adjusted the sleeve Aaron had wrinkled.
A faint smile appeared.
Elda: 😏 "...Clueless as always."
Guest Room
Ashley lay upside down across the sofa.
She stared at the ceiling.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Five minutes.
Still nothing.
Ashley: 😑 "Where is everyone?"
Another minute passed.
Ashley: 😒 "This is so boring."
She stretched lazily.
Then...
A mischievous smile slowly appeared.
👿
Ashley: "Let's play a game."
Outside...
The palace guards suddenly felt a chill.
Guard 1 blinked.
"...Why do I suddenly feel like my shift is about to become terrible?"
It was.
Within ten minutes—
One guard's helmet mysteriously disappeared.
Another found frogs inside his boots.
Someone's spear was hanging from a tree.
No one knew how.
Ashley innocently whistled from inside the room.
Palace — Queen Mother's Chamber
Queen Mother Ether.
An Alpha.
Gentle.
Elegant.
Loving.
...Until someone threatened her son.
Years ago, after the late King's death...
She had ruled Oseose alone for three years until Aaron came of age.
A gentle knock echoed.
The door opened slightly.
A familiar face peeked inside.
Elda: "Mom?"
Ether smiled warmly.
Ether: 😊 "Come in, my child."
Elda entered quietly and sat beside her.
Ether: 😊 "Did you hear the news?"
Elda: 😌 "I did."
She smiled faintly.
Elda: 😏 "And don't worry."
"Aaron belongs to me ."
"No one is stealing him away."
Ether laughed softly.
Ether: "That isn't what worries me."
Elda nodded.
Elda: 😮💨 "I know."
"He's simply happy."
"He finally found his mate."
"I only want to protect him."
Ether tilted her head.
Ether: 😊 "Then why did you come?"
For the first time...
Elda's expression became completely serious.
Elda: 😊 "I need your help."
Ether: "Anything."
Elda looked directly into her eyes.
Elda: "Please..."
"Accept Aaron's mate."
Silence.
Ether froze.
Her gentle smile slowly faded.
Ether: 😐 "Elda..."
"Do you understand what you're asking?"
Elda nodded without hesitation.
Elda: 😌 "Don't worry."
"I'll handle everything."
Her voice remained calm.
Too calm.
Elda: "Someone is preparing to destroy our kingdom."
"And..."
Her eyes turned ice cold.
Elda: 👿 "I will never allow that."
Even Ether felt a chill.
Royal Training Grounds
Steel clashed.
Soldiers trained relentlessly.
Standing atop the platform...
The Defense Chief watched quietly.
Elda's father.
His assistant approached.
Assistant: 😊 "Sir?"
The old warrior sighed.
Defense Chief: 😮💨 "Lately..."
"Elda hasn't been smiling."
The assistant blinked.
Assistant: "Isn't that normal?"
The Defense Chief stared at him.
The assistant immediately regretted speaking.
Defense Chief: 😐 "Whenever my daughter becomes this quiet..."
He folded his arms.
"...something enormous is about to happen."
The assistant laughed nervously.
Assistant: 😊 "She's brave."
"I'm sure she'll be fine."
The Defense Chief smiled.
It wasn't comforting.
Defense Chief: 😏 "I'm not worried about Elda."
He looked toward the palace.
"I'm worried about whoever she's planning to destroy."
The assistant swallowed.
After a moment...
Assistant: 🤔 "I heard His Majesty found his mate."
The Defense Chief's eyes widened.
Defense Chief: 😲 "Really?"
Then—
He laughed.
Defense Chief: 😂 "Finally!"
"My daughter can put down this ridiculous burden!"
The assistant scratched his head.
Assistant: 😅 "There's just one small problem..."
"They say..."
"...his mate is that monster."
The Defense Chief became quiet.
Then—
A grin spread across his face.
Defense Chief: 😎 "Excellent."
"That means..."
"This is going to be interesting."
Elda's Chamber
Although Aaron and Elda were legally married...
They lived in separate rooms.
Mostly because...
Both worked too much.
Two maids entered nervously.
Maid 1: 😓 "My Lady..."
"We heard the King found his mate..."
Elda: 😐 "Mm."
The maids exchanged confused looks.
Maid 2: 😤 "And..."
"That's all?"
Elda continued reading her report.
Elda: 😑 "Finish your work."
The maids immediately bowed.
"...Yes, Lady Elda."
The room became quiet again.
The door closed.
Silence.
Then...
Slowly...
Very slowly...
A razor-thin smile appeared.
Beautiful.
Terrifying.
Elda: 👿
"Very well..."
"Let the game begin."
She closed the report.
Her eyes gleamed.
"Whoever thinks they can outplay me..."
"...and take this kingdom's King..."
"...is welcome to try."
Somewhere Else...
Deep inside a workshop...
Two figures worked quietly.
One suddenly sneezed.
Unknown 1: 🤧 "Achoo!"
She rubbed her nose.
Unknown 1: 🤔 "Who's talking about me now?"
Without looking up—
Unknown 2: 😑 "Less wondering."
"More working."
"The festival begins tonight."
Unknown 1 puffed her cheeks.
Unknown 1: ☺️ "Just one more hour!"
"I promise!"
The older figure simply nodded.
Then walked away.
She watched him leave.
Then sighed.
Unknown 1: 😮💨 "Work..."
"Work..."
"More work..."
She smiled sadly.
"...And after that?"
She looked toward the evening sky.
"...There's no one waiting for me at home."
Narrator's Note
No one truly understood Queen Elda.
To some...
She was a goddess.
To others...
A devil wearing a smile.
Even those closest to her could never read her thoughts.
Perhaps...
That was exactly how she wanted it.
Because behind every gentle smile...
Every calm answer...
Every unreadable glance...
Elda was already several moves ahead.
The game had begun.
Only she knew who the real players were.
Continue...