The private dining of the inner palace was a far cry from the cavernous, intimidating grandeur of the Throne Room. Here, the walls were lined with polished dark walnut wood, reflecting the warm glow of crystal chandeliers. A long table draped in pristine white linen stretched across the room, set with crystal stemware and heavy silver platters.

King Alderon sat at the head of the table, his formidable frame relaxed but his posture commanding. To his right sat Yerel, swirling a glass of deep amber wine with a practiced, rhythmic tilt of his wrist. Beside Yerel was Philia, sitting with an elegant, quiet composure, his hands resting lightly on his lap. Across from them sat the Solaric siblings, Gillian, his expression perfectly pleasant, and Iryna, whose sharp eyes missed nothing as she delicately adjusted the silk napkin on her lap.

"The hospitality of Auzelia is as formidable as its reputation, Your Majesty," Gillian remarked smoothly, breaking the initial silence as a servant poured wine into his goblet. "We are deeply grateful for the grand welcome extended to our delegation."

King Alderon let out a low rumble that passed for a chuckle, leaning back against his fur-draped chair. "Auzelian does not stand on excessive ceremony, Prince Gillian, but we know how to honor our guests. I trust the palace staff has provided everything you need to unwind after your long day?"

"They have been exceptionally attentive, Your Majesty," Iryna answered, offering a graceful smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. She picked up her fork, lightly turning a slice of seasoned venison. "Though, to be completely frank, the adrenaline from our journey took some time to fade. We are simply grateful to be sitting here whole."

Yerel paused the movement of his wine glass, his gaze shifting from the amber liquid to the Princess. "A harrowing journey? I was under the impression the royal guard had secured the primary passes weeks ago."

Gillian took a slow sip of his wine, letting the silence hang just long enough to draw the room’s full attention before setting the crystal down with a soft clink. "The primary passes were indeed clear, Prince Yerel. Your guards secured the mountains perfectly. The threat we encountered came from within the lowlands of your borders. A highly coordinated group of bandits intercepted our carriage just a few hours ride from the capital."

"Bandits?" Yerel echoed, a subtle, sharp edge cutting through his casual tone. He leaned forward slightly, resting his forearm on the edge of the table, a gesture that was perfectly polite but signaled his intense focus. "On the main highway? That is an audacious move, even for desperate men."

"They were far from desperate," Iryna murmured, her fingers tracing the rim of her goblet. "They possessed a sophisticated alchemical smoke. It completely disrupted our magic, throwing our guards into disarray. For a few moments, I truly believed I was about to become a hostage in a foreign land."

Across the table, Philia’s eyes flickered. His posture didn’t change, but his gaze narrowed slightly as he analyzed Iryna’s words. An alchemical smoke sophisticated enough to neutralize Solaric royal magic, Philia noted internally. That isn’t something common thieves brew in a forest.

King Alderon’s expression darkened, his heavy jaw tightening as his golden eyes flashed with a dangerous light.

"But fortunately, the heavens were smiling upon us. Before the situation could spiral into tragedy, a savior appeared," Gillian continued, raising a hand in a calming, diplomatic gesture

"A savior?" Yerel asked.

"Indeed," Gillian replied, a spark of genuine amusement dancing in his eyes as he recalled the scene. "I have seen the Duke’s strength firsthand on the front lines, so I knew the outcome the moment he appeared. To a man who has clashed with entire armies, a group of highway thieves is barely a distraction."

Upon hearing Zarius’s name, Yerel’s interest peaked entirely. He exchanged a brief, loaded look with Philia before turning back to Gillian. "Ah, Duke Valtrane. Well, a horde of bandits is certainly nothing for the Great Duke. He is a man built for the battlefield, after all."

"He was remarkably efficient," Iryna agreed, though her mind drifted to the memory of the silver-haired human standing beside the terrifying Duke, the one Zarius had shielded so fiercely. "He seemed entirely unfazed by the ambush."

"Naturally," Yerel chuckled casually, taking another sip of his wine. "You must understand, Your Highness, Zarius just returned from a brutal subjugation campaign in the deep trenches. When a man spends his weeks tearing apart actual, towering monsters, a few men with swords and bad intentions in a forest are barely worth a warm-up exercise." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Gillian’s smile remained steady, but a subtle tension gripped his shoulders. "This kingdom is fortunate to have such a shield," Gillian conceded smoothly. "Politics aside, I owe the Duke a personal debt. The bandits were brazen enough to try and abduct a princess of Solaric. If not for the Duke’s timely intervention, the situation would have been far more dire."

Hearing her brother’s words, Iryna let out a soft breath, her usual guarded expression melting into a quiet, almost shy smile.

King Alderon nodded approvingly, the pride in his house evident despite his usual gruff exterior. "Zarius does his duty. He is rough around the edges, but he protects what is his. Speaking of it, the palace is hosting a grand banquet to officially celebrate his successful subjugation campaign."

The King paused, turning his heavy gaze directly toward Gillian and Iryna. "It would be an honor to have the Solaric delegation present. It will serve as an excellent opportunity for you to mingle with the high nobility of the capital before we formally sit down to sign the peace treaty."

Gillian bowed his head from his seated position, his right hand touching his chest. "We would be delighted to attend, Your Majesty. It is only fitting that we celebrate the victory of the man who secured our safety."

"Excellent," King Alderon rumbled. He then turned his head slightly toward the side of the table, his sharp eyes landing on Yerel’s fiancé. "Since the capital will be crowded, I want to ensure our guests are thoroughly looked after. Philia."

Philia immediately straightened his spine. "Yes, Your Majesty?"

"You possess a sharp mind and a calm disposition," the King commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument. "During their stay, I am placing you in charge of Prince Gillian and Princess Iryna’s schedule. You will act as their official guide, advisor, and liaison within the palace. See that they lack for nothing, and ensure their introduction into society goes as smoothly as possible."

Yerel smiled warmly, placing a reassuring hand over Philia’s on the table.

Gillian’s eyes swept over Philia, taking in the man’s soft demeanor and the small smile resting on his lips. Across from him, Iryna’s lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile.

Philia stood up slowly, executing a flawless, graceful bow toward the Solaric royals.

"It is a profound honor, Your Majesty," Philia said, his voice carried a calm confidence as his eyes locked onto Gillian and Iryna. "I shall ensure that I provide the utmost hospitality to Prince Gillian and Princess Iryna during their time in our capital. You may rest assured that they will be very well taken care of."

Iryna’s eyes narrowed slightly, though the faint smile on her lips never disappeared. "We will be relying on your expertise then, Lord Philia," she murmured softly. "I do hope we don’t prove to be too much of a handful for you."