The afternoon had only started melting into the dusk when Ocean’s communication brooch started glowing.

He was in his office finishing off his work so that he could be in time for his appointment.

Ocean brushed his thumb over the blue mana stone and a heavy, husky voice seeped through.

"Lord Dra- Master?"

Ocean’s eyebrows raised as he heard the familiar voice.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Ocean responded.

Erisgrirlum had contacted him, which meant that there was some sort of movement in Edrisyl.

"There’s something I need to bring to your attention," Erisgrirlum said, his voice low, carrying a weight that did not belong to casual matters.

Ocean leaned back slightly in his chair, his gaze sharpening just a fraction. The faint glow of the brooch reflected against his fingers, steady and unwavering.

"I’m listening."

There was a brief pause on the other end, as though the Dwarf King was choosing his words carefully.

"I have received a letter," Erisgrirlum continued. "From one of the Elven elders. Vaelorian Thryss."

Ocean’s expression did not change, but his fingers stilled against the edge of the desk.

"And?"

"He claims the situation in Elvenland has escalated beyond internal conflict," Erisgrirlum said. "According to him, the Dark Elves may have aligned themselves with... darker forces."

The faintest shift passed through Ocean’s gaze.

"Demons," he said quietly.

Erisgrirlum let out a slow breath. "So you expected this."

"I expected movement," Ocean replied. "Not necessarily clarity."

He straightened slightly, his tone calm but attentive. "What exactly did he report?"

"Multiple patrols found dead," Erisgrirlum said. "Signs of dead mana corruption. Coordinated attacks. He believes this is no longer random retaliation."

Ocean’s eyes lowered briefly, as though aligning the information with something already known.

"That part is not incorrect," he said.

Erisgrirlum frowned on the other end. "Then the rest of it?"

Ocean was silent for a moment before answering.

"Vaelorian is drawing a conclusion," he said. "Not reporting a certainty."

"And is that conclusion wrong?" Erisgrirlum pressed.

Ocean’s thumb traced lightly over the edge of the brooch, his voice measured.

"Not entirely," he admitted. "But not in the way he believes."

A quiet exhale came from the other end.

"That’s not particularly reassuring," Erisgrirlum muttered.

Ocean almost smiled.

"He has also requested support," Erisgrirlum continued. "Border reinforcement. Prepared intervention. He’s implying that if this continues, Yggdrasil itself may become a target."

That made Ocean’s gaze sharpen properly.

"Did he mention acting on his own?" Ocean asked.

There was a pause.

"Not directly," Erisgrirlum said. "But it reads like a man who has already made his decision."

Ocean leaned back, exhaling slowly as he looked toward the window, where the light of the setting sun had begun to dim.

"That is... unfortunate."

"You believe he’ll act?" Erisgrirlum asked.

"I believe," Ocean said, his tone steady, "that he already has."

Silence followed that.

Erisgrirlum’s voice returned, quieter now. "If that’s the case, then we don’t have the luxury of waiting either."

"No," Ocean agreed. "We don’t."

The faint glow of the brooch pulsed once between them.

"For now," Ocean continued, "hold your position. Do not advance unless absolutely necessary."

"And if the Elves initiate conflict?" Erisgrirlum asked.

Ocean’s eyes darkened slightly, not with anger, but with calculation.

"They won’t." Ocean spoke.

"How are you so sure?"

Ocean didn’t say anything for a moment, then he said, "I just know that even though there is a spark, the war won’t break out until the decided time."

"And what if it does?" Erisgrirlum asked.

"I’ll come." Ocean simply said.

Another brief silence passed before the Dwarf King spoke again.

"There’s one more thing," he added. "If the Dark Elves are not acting alone... then is there any truth in what Thryss says?" 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Ocean’s gaze lowered slightly, his voice quieter now, but far more certain.

"Manipulation is possible. Or something similar to what happened to Fiona."

Erisgrirlum went silent for a moment and Ocean could see him pursing his lips into a grim line.

"Are your instructions the same as before?" Erisgrirlum asked.

"Yes." Ocean replied.

"I understand."

The glow of the communication brooch faded, and Ocean leaned back, glancing at Roan and the others.

"I’m going out for dinner. See you all tomorrow."

"At Marquis Fairisles’s?" Roan asked.

Ocean hummed.

"Family dinner, huh." Roan smiled. "Have fun."

Ocean narrowed his eyes before a smirk tugged at his lips, making Roan’s brows twitch.

"What? What’s that look?"

Ocean only shrugged and walked out.

He returned to his room, where Remi and Enora were already waiting. The moment he stepped in, both bowed.

Ocean gave a brief nod and removed his coat handing it to Remi before he reached out and removed the blue earstud that was maintaining his Ocean’s form.

A soft glow enveloped his body, shifting and settling until it faded- Reina stood in his place.

"The dinner begins in an hour," she said.

"I have already prepared everything," Enora replied, stepping forward.

Reina changed swiftly under their assistance, the process smooth and efficient.

By the time they stepped back, she was fully dressed.

The gown fit her perfectly- a white inner dress with long sleeves and a high collar, layered beneath a deep red outer gown that cinched neatly at her waist. The bodice was structured and embroidered with silver patterns, while the skirt fell in clean, flowing layers, parting slightly at the front to reveal the white beneath. Silver detailing lined the hem, adding weight and refinement without excess.

A simple necklace rested against her collarbone, a clear crystal pendant holding a single purple rose petal.

Her long silver hair flowed freely down her back, only lightly arranged to keep it neat, and her blue eyes- ringed in varying shades with slit-like pupils- held their usual calm sharpness.

Enora made a final adjustment to the collar while Remi checked the fall of the skirt before both stepped back.

Reina glanced at her reflection.

"There actually wasn’t any need for an extravagant dress," Reina mumbled.

"It’s not that extravagant, Master." Enora said and Remi nodded.

Reina chuckled, "I guess I’ve been a man for too long that I keep forgetting about the ladies’ side "

"You look... breathtaking as always, Master." Remi smiled with the hint of pink dusting his cheeks.

Reina smiled, turning to him before she walked over to the coat which he had hung at the stand earlier.

Reina pulled out and envelope from the inner vest of his coat before holding it out to Remi. Remi took it and then gave Ocean a quizzical look.

"What is it, Master?" He asked.

Ocean smiled, "You’ll know."

Remi tilted his head before staring at the envelope in his hand and Reina brushed her palm over the communication brooch whose color had now changed to icy blue.

"See you tomorrow." Reina said and the two bowed before the bright blue enveloped Reina’s body and she disappeared from the room.

"What could this be?" Remi muttered as he opened the envelope and found a letter inside along with something else.

In the Fairisles mansion, the preparations for the family dinner were complete. Marquis Fairisles wasn’t expecting for this sudden arrangement but just two days ago, Rune came over to him with a request.

"Celestia has been asking questions about Reina constantly, I think it’s better to have them meet." Rune had said.

"You know she’s busy," Marquis had simply said.

Rune ran a hand through his head, appearing aggravated, "I know but, we haven’t told Celestia anything and she is smart enough to start speculating. If we have Reina around for a while, we could think of whether we should tell her or not."

Marquis wasn’t against the idea of letting Celestia knowing about Reina’s secret but it wasn’t his decision to make, it was solely Reina’s.

"I’ll talk to Reina."

And he had, Reina hadn’t mentioned about whether she would tell Celestia about the secret or not but she had suggested that a family dinner would do good. She had asked him to invite everyone of the family, and it included Kai.

The clock struck seven and the head butler of Fairisles mansion led the guests from Aurelius to the parlor where Marquis and Kai waited for his guests.

They all exchanged greetings and Marquis watched his soon-to-be grand daughter-in-law, the daughter of the Duchess Konstantinos of Denril, Celestia Konstantinos.

She dipped into a perfect curtsy before him and gave him a smile, he nodded back.

"Have a seat," he said gesturing towards the sofas.

Everyone took their seats and the maids started pouring the tea, Celestia looked at Kai who sat beside Marquis, clearly wondering why he was here when it was a family dinner.

"Reina isn’t here yet?" Duke Aurelius asked as he sat down.

"She had some work to finish." Marquis answered picking up his tea cup.

"Is she going to be late?" Rune asked.

"Maybe." Marquis said and noticed Celestia looking at Kai.

Kai also had noticed her gaze and smiled at her, Celestia blinked before smiling back. She wanted to ask why he was there but asking it bluntly would be extremely rude so, she decided to change her question a little.

"Is Marquis Ocean also going to be here for the dinner?" She asked.

"Ocean is out for business," Marquis answered, "I invited Kai for dinner since it’s already quite late."

Celestia nodded with a smile and Kai said, "I hope I’m not making you uncomfortable, My Lady."

Rune spoke up before Celestia could, "What nonsense! You’re already a family, Kai."

Celestia felt the embarrassment come over and she quickly said, "Yes! I asked just because I was curious and I’m really happy to see you here."

But after she had spoken did she realise what Rune had said. Family? Kai?

"I’m glad," Kai beamed.

Celestia felt her heart warm up as she saw his gentle smile which somehow reminded her of Ocean. But unlike the Marquis, this young boy still seemed to have innocence in him. She could already see him charming the girls by his smile.

Suddenly his eyes went wide and his head whipped to the side as the smile on his face grew wider, Celestia didn’t understand what had made him so happy but in the next instant she heard the sound of fabric rustling as a presence appeared in the parlor out of thin air.

Celestia’s jaw dropped as she saw Reina standing there.