The reception hall became quiet once more after Kel returned.
The cold night winds drifting through the corridors behind him slowly faded while the enormous mansion doors closed softly in the distance. Warm golden light from silver chandeliers illuminated the grand chamber peacefully now while moonlight continued spilling gently through the towering crystal windows overlooking the estate gardens outside.
Reina stood near the center of the hall silently.
Waiting.
The moment Kel stepped fully inside—
Her silver eyes immediately softened again.
For months she had imagined this moment countless times.
His return.
The sound of his footsteps inside the mansion again.
The calm look in his eyes.
The quiet atmosphere surrounding him like before.
And now—
He truly stood before her once more.
Alive.
Safe.
Closer than ever.
Reina slowly walked toward him.
Elegant.
Controlled.
Yet inside—
Her emotions remained far less composed.
She wanted to hug him.
Very badly.
Not politely.
Not formally.
She wanted to step directly into his arms and remain there quietly after months of worry and waiting.
But Reina Asheville was still a noble matriarch.
And more importantly—
Kel himself still stood calm and composed like always.
If she suddenly embraced him now—
The embarrassment afterward might actually kill her.
So instead—
She controlled herself perfectly.
Mostly.
Though the hidden Twin Swords watching silently from distant shadows both noticed the slight tension within their matriarch's fingers immediately.
Kel calmly observed her approaching.
And naturally—
He noticed everything.
The hesitation.
The restrained longing.
The slight warmth hidden inside her silver eyes.
Yet he said nothing.
Because some emotions became heavier when spoken aloud.
Eventually—
Reina stopped before him quietly.
Close enough to feel his presence properly again.
Close enough to confirm this wasn't imagination.
Then softly—
She spoke.
"So…"
A faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
"My lord."
The title carried warmth now.
Not merely loyalty.
"How was your southern journey?"
Inside his mind—
Sairen immediately sounded amused.
"She waited months and that's the first question?"
Kel calmly replied internally.
"She's being restrained."
"Painfully restrained."
Kel ignored her.
Meanwhile—
Kel looked toward Reina calmly afterward.
Then quietly answered:
"Nothing special."
Silence.
Reina blinked once.
"…Nothing special?"
Kel calmly removed his cloak afterward while speaking casually.
"Only political negotiations."
"Trade treaties."
"Dragons."
Another pause.
"And dimensional problems."
Reina stared at him blankly.
Then slowly narrowed her eyes.
"…You define 'nothing special' strangely."
Kel slightly tilted his head.
"That sounds inaccurate."
Inside his mind—
Sairen immediately laughed softly.
"She's already learning how absurd your standards are."
Meanwhile—
A small helpless smile appeared on Reina's face.
Because honestly—
Only Kel could casually summarize diplomacy with dragons as "nothing special."
Eventually—
She quietly gestured toward the nearby seating area.
"Sit."
The two slowly moved toward the enormous black sofa positioned near the crystal windows afterward.
The atmosphere around them naturally relaxed.
Familiar.
Comfortable.
Kel sat calmly upon one side while Reina settled opposite him gracefully, though not too far away.
Never too far away anymore.
Several servants quietly entered afterward bringing warm tea and light refreshments before disappearing immediately once more.
The room became peaceful.
Only the sound of distant night winds and soft teacup movements remained.
Then—
Kel calmly shifted topics immediately.
"How are the household finances?"
Reina instantly straightened slightly.
Business mode.
The Matriarch returned.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly muttered:
"You really returned from another realm and immediately started financial inspection."
Kel internally replied calmly.
"Stability matters."
"You sound exactly like an old noble administrator."
Meanwhile—
Reina quietly reached toward several prepared documents resting nearby.
Of course they were prepared already.
Because she expected this conversation the moment he returned.
The silver-haired matriarch calmly placed the reports upon the table afterward.
"The Asheville Household's current financial condition stabilized completely during your absence."
Kel silently began reading.
Detailed.
Organized.
Efficient.
As expected from Reina.
"The western trade routes increased profits by forty-three percent."
Her voice remained calm and professional now.
"We also secured long-term mineral supply contracts with three northern merchant groups."
Kel quietly nodded once.
Good.
Very good.
Reina continued.
"The merchant guild branches you previously established expanded successfully through eastern districts as well."
Another document shifted.
"Current household debt remains completely cleared."
A faint pause.
"And treasury reserves increased beyond expected projections."
Kel calmly observed the numbers afterward.
Honestly—
The growth speed exceeded even his earlier estimates slightly.
House Asheville truly recovered now.
No longer weak.
No longer vulnerable.
Inside Citadel's western-central political structure—
Reina's position had become extremely stable.
Kel finally looked upward again.
"Any political pressure?"
Reina quietly exhaled.
"Several noble houses attempted indirect interference."
Another pause.
"But after southern diplomacy news spread…"
A faint sharpness entered her silver eyes.
"…most suddenly became very polite."
Kel almost smiled slightly.
Of course they did.
Because now House Asheville indirectly connected toward draconic trade routes through Herald's southern influence.
No noble would recklessly provoke that.
Meanwhile—
Reina continued explaining calmly.
"The western merchant council also requested future trade participation regarding southern-draconic exchange routes."
Kel quietly leaned back against the sofa afterward.
"Approve partial access."
Reina immediately nodded.
"I already did."
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly laughed.
"You trained her well."
Kel calmly replied internally.
"She was capable already."
And honestly—
That was true.
Reina always possessed talent.
She simply lacked opportunity earlier.
Now—
Given authority and stability—
She evolved rapidly.
Meanwhile—
The military reports appeared next.
Reina calmly opened another document set afterward.
"The household knights currently total four hundred seventy-two active personnel."
Kel quietly listened.
"Training quality improved significantly after restructuring."
"Discipline violations dropped."
"Internal corruption removed completely."
Another pause.
"And the Twin Swords completed elite guard selection successfully."
Kel finally showed visible interest afterward.
"Oh?"
Reina nodded calmly.
"We now maintain thirty-two elite direct retainers personally loyal to House Asheville."
Kel silently considered that.
Impressive.
For a recovering noble house—
That military growth speed was excellent.
Reina quietly continued.
"I also reorganized estate security formations based on your previous recommendations."
Her silver eyes briefly glanced toward him afterward.
"And after… earlier incidents…"
A faint awkwardness appeared briefly.
"…the anti-intrusion systems became much stricter."
Inside his mind—
Sairen sounded highly amused.
"She means after someone tried kissing her and nearly got electrocuted."
Kel calmly sipped tea.
"Understandable precaution."
Meanwhile—
Reina quietly observed him over the teacup afterward.
And slowly—
A soft warmth returned to her expression again.
Because this felt familiar.
Comfortable.
The two of them calmly discussing finances and military structures late into the night like before.
As though the months apart never happened.
Yet somehow—
Things still felt different now.
Kel changed.
Subtly.
His presence became heavier.
Calmer.
Almost ancient sometimes.
Even the way he listened now felt deeper somehow.
And honestly—
That frightened Reina slightly.
Because every time Kel returned from somewhere…
He seemed farther away from ordinary people.
Like someone slowly walking beyond the world itself.
Inside her chest—
A strange unease quietly appeared.
Then suddenly—
Kel spoke again.
"Your mana control improved."
Reina blinked once.
"…You noticed immediately?"
Kel nodded calmly.
"Your circulation stabilized."
A faint pause.
"And your sword aura feels sharper."
The silver-haired matriarch unconsciously smiled slightly afterward.
Because despite everything—
He still noticed these things instantly.
Reina quietly lowered her teacup afterward.
"I trained every day."
Another pause.
"…Because I didn't want to become a burden later."
The atmosphere became quieter afterward.
Kel calmly looked toward her.
And for several moments—
Neither spoke.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly whispered:
"She really waited for you."
Kel remained silent internally.
Because honestly—
He already knew that.
Meanwhile—
Reina quietly broke eye contact first.
Embarrassed slightly by the silence.
Then softly changed the topic again.
"There's one more thing."
Kel slightly tilted his head.
Reina calmly opened a smaller velvet-covered box resting beside the reports.
Inside—
Several beautifully glowing mana crystals rested quietly.
"These are profits from the newest western contracts."
Her silver eyes met his afterward.
"And…"
A faint hesitation appeared.
"…there's also something personally prepared for you."
Kel quietly observed her.
Meanwhile—
For the first time tonight—
The composed Matriarch Reina Asheville suddenly looked nervous.