Chapter 26 — The Beginning of Home
The question lingered softly in the royal hall.
"When do we leave for Lovera Highcrest?"
For a moment, nobody answered.
Not because they did not know.
But because hearing Roseline say it aloud made everything suddenly real.
Queen Elizabeth gently cupped Roseline's face again, her eyes emotional yet warm.
"You truly wish to go?"
Roseline looked down at the letter in her hands.
At the careful handwriting.
At the awkward attempt at humor.
At the lonely words hidden beneath the composure of a feared king.
Then she nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Very quietly—
"But I don't want him waiting anymore."
Silence filled the hall once more.
This time softer.
Kingston looked away briefly, hiding the small smile threatening to appear on his face.
Alexander leaned back against his throne with a long sigh.
"Well," he muttered, "Louis is going to become unbearable after hearing that."
Several ministers looked confused.
One elderly noble blinked carefully.
"Your Majesty… are you perhaps acquainted with the Silver King beyond politics?"
Alexander immediately answered,
"Unfortunately and fortunately yes."
That earned a laugh from Elizabeth.
Even Roseline smiled faintly.
Kingston finally stepped forward.
"The envoys requested an answer before sunset. His Majesty prepared the royal escort already."
Of course he did.
Nobody was surprised.
Louis probably organized everything before sending the letter.
Roseline looked slightly nervous now.
"So soon?"
Kingston nodded.
"He's trying to act calm about this."
Then after a pause—
"He is failing terribly."
A few people laughed softly.
Meanwhile, far away in Lovera Highcrest—
Failure was indeed occurring.
Severely.
Inside the enormous silver palace, servants rushed across hallways in complete panic.
"His Majesty changed the eastern wing again!"
"No, he changed it back!"
"The royal florists were dismissed twice!"
"The musicians too!"
"And why are there twenty physicians standing outside?!"
The entire palace had descended into elegant chaos.
At the center of it all—
King Louis Toran Alaric stood near the grand staircase with his usual unreadable expression.
Cold.
Perfectly composed.
Terrifying.
"…Move the white roses."
The servants immediately obeyed in fear.
A royal advisor hesitated before speaking carefully.
"Your Majesty… the white roses were your order from this morning."
Louis stared ahead silently.
"Yes."
"…Then why remove them?"
"They look mournful."
The advisor nearly cried.
Nothing had changed.
They were still white roses.
Nearby, the royal knights watched everything with exhausted expressions.
One leaned toward another.
"Our king has not slept."
"None of us have slept."
"Why is he behaving like this?"
The older knight answered immediately.
"Because his sister is coming home."
That shut everyone up.
Louis suddenly spoke again.
"The carpets."
The servants froze instantly.
The head servant looked terrified.
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"They are too dark."
The man looked like his soul was leaving his body.
"They are silver, Your Majesty."
"…Exactly."
Nobody understood what that meant.
Not even Louis himself.
Truthfully—
The feared king had not known peace since leaving Armathia.
Because for the first time in years—
Hope had entered his life.
And hope was frightening.
Especially for someone who had already lost almost everything once before.
Back in Armathia, preparations for departure had already begun.
Roseline stood inside her chambers while maids carefully folded dresses into traveling chests.
Yet her mind remained elsewhere.
Lovera Highcrest.
Her brother's home.
No—
Her home too.
The thought still felt unreal.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
"Come in."
The door opened slowly.
Queen Elizabeth entered quietly.
The maids immediately bowed before excusing themselves.
Once alone, the queen walked toward Roseline slowly.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Elizabeth sighed softly.
"You've grown so quickly."
Roseline smiled faintly.
"You say that as though I'm leaving forever."
The queen's eyes became emotional instantly.
"You are."
Roseline froze.
Elizabeth reached for her hands gently.
"You were never truly ours to keep, sweetheart."
"Mother…"
"But that does not mean we loved you any less."
Roseline's eyes immediately watered again.
The queen pulled her into a tight embrace.
"You will always be my daughter."
Roseline held onto her tightly.
And for the first time since learning the truth—
She allowed herself to fully feel everything.
The grief.
The love.
The confusion.
The joy.
Two families.
Two homes.
One life split apart by fate long ago.
"I'm scared," she admitted quietly.
Elizabeth stroked her hair gently.
"I know."
"What if things feel awkward?"
"They will."
Roseline blinked.
The queen laughed softly.
"Your brother is emotionally damaged, frightening, overprotective, and socially terrible."
Roseline accidentally laughed through her tears.
Elizabeth smiled warmly.
"But he already loves you more than anything."
Far across the continent—
Louis suddenly paused mid-step inside the palace corridor.
The knights looked confused.
"…Your Majesty?"
Louis narrowed his eyes slightly.
Then quietly—
"She laughed."
The knights exchanged horrified looks.
How did he know that?
One whispered carefully,
"Should we be concerned?"
"Always," the older knight answered immediately.
Back in Armathia, evening finally arrived.
The royal carriages stood prepared before the palace gates.
Silver-armored knights from Lovera Highcrest lined both sides like unmoving statues.
Their presence alone intimidated nearly everyone nearby.
Yet unlike before—
Roseline no longer felt fear when seeing the crescent moon insignia.
Instead…
Warmth.
King Alexander hugged her tightly before she entered the carriage.
"If Louis terrifies you, send a letter immediately."
Kingston muttered under his breath,
"That won't narrow down specific incidents."
Alexander ignored him completely.
Elizabeth kissed Roseline's forehead lovingly.
"You must visit often."
"I will."
"And eat properly."
"Yes, Mother."
"And sleep enough."
Roseline laughed softly.
"I promise."
Then finally—
She turned toward Kingston.
He looked unusually quiet.
Roseline smiled gently.
"Thank you."
Kingston blinked.
"For what?"
"For protecting him when I couldn't."
For a moment, Kingston said nothing.
Then quietly—
"He protected me too."
Their eyes softened with understanding.
The palace gates slowly opened.
The journey toward Lovera Highcrest had begun.
And somewhere far ahead—
A silver king waited anxiously for the family he thought he had lost forever.