The sky above Aurevale shimmered with color.
Gold. Crimson. Sapphire. Emerald.
Fireworks bloomed endlessly, illuminating the smiling faces of the townspeople. Children pointed upward in awe. Merchants laughed loudly with knights. Music echoed through the streets of the City of Light.
On the balcony of the mansion, Kael stood between Seraphina and Elowen.
Seraphina held his left hand.
Elowen leaned against his right shoulder.
Both princesses were smiling.
Kael looked… happy.
Genuinely happy.
Below them, Queen Amaris and Queen Titania were speaking with Elara. Lilith was calmly supervising servants. Liana stared at the fireworks with sparkling eyes.
For a brief moment—
Everything felt perfect.
But someone else was watching.
A small floating hat drifted near the edge of the balcony.
Hat.
He observed the laughter.
The warmth.
The peace.
And hesitated.
"Should I tell him now…?" he muttered quietly.
His voice trembled.
If something truly was wrong…
If danger was approaching…
Then this happiness might never return like this again.
Hat clenched himself.
"…Master."
Kael blinked.
"Master. Master."
Kael frowned slightly and looked around.
"Elowen, are you calling me?"
Elowen tilted her head.
"I'm right here."
Seraphina narrowed her eyes.
"…Hat?"
The floating hat slowly moved closer.
"Master. There is something you should know."
Kael's smile faded slightly.
"Where were you? You disappeared."
"This is not the place to speak," Hat said quietly. "Please… come with me."
Kael glanced at the fireworks again.
At Seraphina.
At Elowen.
Then he nodded.
"I'll be back in a moment."
Seraphina studied his expression.
"…Don't take long."
Elowen squeezed his hand.
"We'll wait."
Kael followed Hat inside.
The Room of Shadows
They entered Kael's private chamber.
The door closed.
The noise of celebration became distant.
Kael turned serious instantly.
"What happened?"
Hat hovered in front of him.
"As you know, I have been gathering information about the new Hero… and about the Dark Lord."
Kael nodded.
"I sent my spirits into the Shadowven Kingdom," Hat continued. "At first, nothing was suspicious. The kingdom appeared stable."
He paused.
"But three days ago… my connection with them was severed."
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"So you went yourself."
"Yes. I was there for two days."
"And?"
Hat's voice lowered.
"The people are safe. The capital stands untouched. However… before the Hero appeared, monsters were rampaging across the borders. Entire regions were under siege."
Kael folded his arms.
"And when the Hero appeared?"
"The monsters vanished almost overnight."
Silence.
"And the Hero?" Kael asked.
"…The Second Prince of Shadowven."
Kael blinked.
"The prince himself?"
"Yes."
"That's not unusual."
Hat shook slightly.
"The First Prince and the Second Prince are extremely close. Yet before the Hero's selection… rumors spread that the First Prince was secretly behind the monster outbreaks."
Kael's gaze darkened.
"Creating chaos… then presenting a savior."
Hat nodded.
"And there is more."
Kael remained silent.
"The Second Prince… and the First Princess of Shadowven are scheduled to visit Astralis in a few days."
Kael's heartbeat slowed.
"If there is a scheme… if their motive is not diplomacy…"
Hat finished quietly:
"Then Seraphina and Elowen may be in danger."
The room grew cold.
"Are you certain?" Kael asked.
"Yes, Master."
Kael closed his eyes for a moment.
Then he opened them.
"Come with me. Human form."
A flash of light.
Hat transformed into a young man dressed in dark formal attire.
Kael sent two mana messages.
"Nathan. Arin. Come to the mansion immediately."
The Calm Before Movement
They returned to the balcony.
Kael paused at the doorway.
He watched everyone laughing.
Seraphina teasing Elowen.
Queens smiling.
His mother relaxed.
He memorized the scene.
Then Nathan and Arin arrived.
They stepped onto the balcony and bowed.
"Master, if you had informed us of honored guests, we would have prepared accordingly."
Kael cleared his throat.
"Let me properly introduce everyone."
He gestured first toward Elara and Lyria.
"This is my mother, Elara. And my sister, Lyria."
Then he hesitated slightly.
Seraphina raised an eyebrow.
Elowen smirked.
"These," Kael continued bravely, "are my fiancées—Princess Seraphina and Princess Elowen."
Both princesses flushed.
"And the First and Second Queens of Astralis, Queen Amaris and Queen Titania."
Nathan and Arin froze.
"…Your fiancées?" Arin whispered.
Nathan immediately elbowed him.
Both knelt.
"Forgive us for our delay in greeting Her Majesties!"
Kael sighed.
"This is Lilith, head maid of this estate starting today. She will conduct maid examinations."
Lilith bowed elegantly.
Nathan and Arin's minds were collapsing quietly.
Kael then said calmly:
"I will be going to the capital immediately."
The laughter softened.
Queen Amaris studied him.
Queen Titania noticed the seriousness beside him—Hat's human form.
They understood.
"Is something wrong?" Elowen asked.
"Nothing," Kael replied gently.
Seraphina stepped closer.
"Don't lie to us."
Kael paused.
Queen Amaris intervened smoothly.
"He is worried about us. That is all."
Queen Titania placed her hands on both princesses' shoulders.
"He is the Lord of this land. Let him handle his duties."
Kael looked at Seraphina and Elowen.
"Please. Don't leave the mansion or wander into town until I return."
Elowen narrowed her eyes.
"That sounds suspicious."
Seraphina stepped closer, lowering her voice.
"…Come back quickly."
Kael smiled softly.
"I will."
Golden light enveloped him.
Hat beside him.
They vanished.
Chaos in the Capital
They reappeared inside the royal palace of Astralis.
Guards were rushing.
Servants whispering.
Panic spreading.
Kael walked quickly toward the throne chamber.
"Father, what happened?"
The King turned sharply.
"Kael! Amaris and Titania are missing! Seraphina and Elowen as well!"
Kael took a step back, then steadied himself.
"Father… please calm down."
"How can I calm down?!"
"They are safe."
Silence fell.
"What do you mean?"
Kael knelt.
"This morning, I teleported to the palace after hearing about Mother's condition. I healed both queens. They wished to visit a hot spring. I brought them to Aurevale."
The King blinked.
"…You what?"
"Seraphina and Elowen followed."
The King collapsed onto a couch.
"They are safe?"
"Yes."
The King exhaled deeply.
Then he stood and walked toward Kael.
"This time… I will forgive you. But next time, inform me."
"Yes, Father."
"As punishment," the King added, "you will handle the diplomatic reception of Shadowven's royal delegation."
Kael froze.
"…That is punishment?"
"You caused panic. You fix the political headache."
Kael sighed.
"Understood."
"But," Kael said quietly, "there is something you must know."
The King's expression hardened.
"What is it?"
Kael looked up.
"Shadowven's Hero… may not be what he appears to be."
The King narrowed his eyes.
"Explain."
Kael began to tell him everything Hat had discovered.
Outside the palace windows—
The distant sky of Aurevale still shimmered faintly with fireworks.
But in the capital…
Storm clouds were beginning to gather.
End of Chapter 23
How will the King react after hearing the full truth?
What scheme lies behind the Hero of Shadowven?
And what punishment truly awaits Kael?
To be continued…