On an early summer night, the windows of the master bedroom in Monte Castle were open. The evening breeze, carrying the fragrance of freshly bloomed summer Snowball Flowers from the courtyard, silently drifted in, dispelling the last lingering traces of the day’s heat.

Moonlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting hazy patches of light on the floor.

The hum from the secret chamber that had lasted all afternoon and the final, clear ring of a sword had long since subsided.

When Murphy returned to the bedroom, Aurora was not asleep.

She wore only a thin linen nightgown, her golden hair draped casually over her shoulders. She sat in an armchair by the window, quietly gazing out at the courtyard, its contours traced by the moonlight.

Hearing the door, she turned her head. In the moonlight, her sapphire-blue eyes were as serene as still water.

"Is it over?" Her voice was gentle, like the night breeze brushing against the curtains.

"Yes." Murphy walked to the chair opposite her and sat down, answering tersely.

He didn’t immediately speak of the Flying Sword, nor did he mention the hardship and success of refining the Thunder Steel.

After thirty-two years of life together, they shared an understanding that needed no words. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

After a brief silence, Murphy spoke slowly, his voice deeper than usual. "Margaret is gone."

Aurora’s fingers traced the arm of the chair. Her gaze returned to the dark courtyard outside as she said in a low voice, "The incident at the Iron Ridge Mountain Range... so it really was the prelude to a much larger plan."

"She mentioned ’the Source’ and ’the Shackles’," Murphy said, his own gaze turning to the boundless night sky outside, his eyes profound. "She said there’s something they need beneath the Holy City. With the Church Court preoccupied by the rift in the Deep Red Wilderness, it was her time to make a move."

Aurora let out a soft breath, nearly invisible in the cool air. "So, the announcement from Taymer Palace, and even the appearance of Marquis Alonso, could all be part of the plan... to divert attention, create chaos, and destabilize the situation."

She paused, her tone tinged with worry. "This means the Tower of Secret Silver’s scheme—no, the Wizards’ true plot is far more complex and dangerous than an open declaration of war. What they truly want is far more than just a passage to the New Realm."

Murphy nodded. "The landscape of the Continent was completely altered the moment the Iron Ridge Mountain Range exploded. Although both factions of the divided Church Court were damaged, their conflict won’t be resolved. In fact, it might even intensify under the pressure and blame."

"The Wizards won’t stop here. Once their true goal is exposed, the resulting turmoil will be far beyond anything we can imagine. The East Border Peric Clan’s stance is ambiguous, and the Royal Family and various nobles will inevitably feel insecure, forcing them to seek new allies or patrons... Chaos is now a certainty."

He calmly analyzed the situation, laying bare the turbulent undercurrents hidden behind Margaret’s departure.

Aurora was silent for a moment, digesting this information.

A late-returning night bird flitted past the window, the sound of its wings barely a whisper.

She lifted her eyes, her gaze shifting from the courtyard to Murphy’s calm profile. She suddenly asked, her voice soft, yet it landed like a stone tossed into a still lake:

"You’re going to leave."

Murphy didn’t answer immediately.

He continued to gaze out the window, his face half in shadow, half in moonlight.

He neither confirmed nor denied it. He was simply silent.

That silence was an answer in itself.

Aurora looked at his silent profile, a complex emotion flickering in the depths of her sapphire eyes—understanding, reluctance, and a touch of sorrow.

But she quickly suppressed those feelings, and a gentle expression returned to her face.

She rose gently and walked over to Murphy.

The moonlight spilled over her, making her linen nightgown shimmer with a soft glow.

She looked down at him—the most important person in her life, her brother, her husband, the pillar of the Monte Territory... no, the Duval Territory.

Then, she leaned down slightly and gently laid her hands over his as they rested on the armrests.

Her hands were warm and soft.

"Go," Aurora’s voice was calm and clear, carrying a profoundly gentle strength. "Go and bring Little Princess Eleanor here."

She paused, a genuine smile blooming in her eyes. The smile diluted the heavy atmosphere, bringing a touch of warmth.

"I love the Edelweiss Seed she gave me. The old gardener said a few in the greenhouse have already sprouted tender leaves, and they’re very healthy." Her tone softened as if she were discussing a simple household matter. "This place needs the sound of a child. The castle is too big, and sometimes the silence is unsettling. Besides..."

She looked into Murphy’s eyes and said, word by word, "She is your daughter. Regardless of where her mother has gone or what maelstrom she’s been swept into, your blood flows in her veins. With a storm gathering, she should be by her father’s side, in a safer place."

Murphy turned his hand and grasped hers. His palm was broad and strong.

He looked up, meeting Aurora’s gaze.

In those black eyes, usually so deep and unreadable, her entire reflection was now clearly visible.

After some time, Aurora pulled her hand back and straightened up, as if their conversation had never happened.

She walked to a small table nearby, picked up a silver pitcher, poured Murphy a glass of fresh water, and handed it to him.

"It gets cool at night. Have some water." Her tone returned to its usual composure. "Bringing Eleanor here shouldn’t be a grand affair. You could do it under the pretext of inspecting the trade routes in the Southern Territory, or... just go by yourself. Go and come back quickly."

She walked back to the window, gazing out at the heavy darkness of the night and the unknown sky to the south, where a storm was brewing.

"I’ll take care of things at home." Her voice wasn’t loud, yet it seemed to echo throughout the room. "The foundations of the Monte Territory, the memories of the Duval Territory, and our Kaiden... I will protect them all. You just need to do what you must, and bring our... Little Princess... back safely."