Atheline listened thoughtfully.
"The dark elves aren’t even a little bit corrupted or is it because of the Lunar Aether?"
"No. That’s just a fallacy your race used to separate from us, we have a small immunity against corrupted Aether. Also, we simply stand closer to one half of the world’s cycle."
She continued.
"The High Elves, spirits, and many sacred beasts stand closer to life and creation. The difference exists but neither side is inherently superior."
Atheline nodded.
"That’s exactly what the system implied. It treated twenty percent as completely normal."
She smiled.
"Then the World Tree is healthy."
His shoulders visibly relaxed.
"I was worried."
"I know." She reached over and gently squeezed his hand. "You’ve been carrying that concern since you left."
He smiled sheepishly.
"Perhaps." Atheline leaned back. "If that explanation is correct..."
He looked toward the window overlooking the snow-covered city.
"Then perhaps we’ve feared the wrong thing."
Lilith nodded.
"True corruption isn’t balance, it is imbalance. When one side begins consuming the other."
Those words lingered in his mind, there was nothing to argue about, because he understood what she meant.
The corrupted emerging from the Blood Sea, they were not part of the natural cycle. They were something else entirely, something that tipped the scales. The weight he wasn’t sure but he hoped it would be that bad.
Atheline sighed heavily.
"Actually, that’s what I wanted to tell you," he quietly said," it’s been disturbing me."
She nodded." I visited the King before coming to pick you up. He also mentioned your concern."
Atheline chuckled despite himself." I thought I would be the first person."
She instantly understood what he meant.
"Come now, last time I came and went without so much as a wave. It would be disrespectful if I did the exact same thing," she quietly said and touched his thigh lightly," I didn’t want you to leave the kingdom with a bad taste."
Atheline nodded and pulled her into his arms." You’re so considerate."
She lightly patted her back." Of course, you’re my husband."
Atheline pulled away from the embrace and stood up." We should go back, Snow will probably throw a tantrum since we left her with them."
She nodded, "Okay."
The hurriedly straightened up and went downstairs. The other family members were still in the sitting room drinking tea and chatting. Atheline met Helther’s gaze, who winked at him. He rolled his eyes and took his seat.
Eventually, the mood lightened again. His mother poured another cup of tea and his brother began teasing him about returning before the training ground repairs were complete.
The fox had somehow fallen asleep in the Queen’s lap. For a brief time, it felt less like the meeting of rulers and more like family saying goodbye before a long journey home.
The conversation gradually wound down after tea, replaced instead by the comfortable silence that only family could share.
No one seemed eager to acknowledge that it was finally time to part ways. Atheline gently stroked the sleeping fox resting in Lilith’s lap.
The little creature had somehow decided that the warmth of her cloak was the most comfortable place in the room and had refused to move since falling asleep.
Lilith glanced down before smiling faintly.
"I believe we’ve lost the argument."
He looked at the fox.
"I don’t remember starting one."
"It clearly prefers me."
He sighed dramatically.
"I raised you."
The fox twitched one ear but otherwise remained asleep. Helther laughed.
"It has excellent instincts."
"I am surrounded by traitors."
His mother covered a small laugh behind her teacup.
"I think it’s simply discovered who spoils it the most."
Lilith looked completely innocent.
"I’ve done nothing."
Helther raised an eyebrow.
"Nothing except feed it."
"..."
"...Perhaps once."
His father smiled into his tea.
"I counted at least five times."
She looked toward her husband.
"Your family observes too much."
"They’ve had years of practice."
The room filled with soft laughter. For just a little longer, no one mentioned kingdoms, politics, or departure. It was simply another quiet morning shared together.
Eventually, however, Lord Helmer placed his teacup onto the table.
"I suppose we shouldn’t keep your kingdom waiting."
The words settled gently over the room. Atheline gave a small nod.
"There is still plenty waiting for us."
Lilith stood gracefully, careful not to wake the fox. Dark shadows gathered around her feet before quietly dispersing again.
"We should leave before the afternoon."
His mother rose first.
"Then allow me to walk you out."
Everyone stood together. Servants respectfully opened the large doors leading toward the front courtyard.
The journey through the estate was slow, since no one hurried.
The familiar hallways, decorated with generations of family portraits, seemed somehow warmer than when he had first arrived three days earlier.
His eyes lingered briefly on one of the older paintings.
It depicted him as a child and his brother, both holding wooden swords clearly in a training stance. He looked so small compared to the fully grown Helther.
Helther noticed his gaze.
"I still remember that day."
"You beat me."
"You cried like a baby."
"I was six and you were what..."
"You still cried."
"I maintain it was justified."
Their mother smiled.
"You were both at fault there but Helther, you were a full-grown man arguing with a child."
The brothers stopped walking.
"...Father."
Lord Helmer looked entirely unashamed.
"You both came running to your mother."
Lilith glanced sideways at her husband.
"I would have liked to see that."
He cleared his throat.
"I was young or so I’ve heard. I’ve matured considerably."
His brother immediately answered.
"Debatable."
The hallway echoed with laughter once more. By the time they reached the main entrance, several attendants had already gathered outside.
The winter air greeted them immediately. The estate’s front courtyard sparkled beneath the fresh snow.
Rows of High Elven knights stood respectfully along both sides of the path.
It wasn’t a military display, but simply a gesture of respect toward a departing king.
Atheline looked around quietly.
"I didn’t expect this."