Laerte blinked, momentarily speechless.

“Elvit would love to see the waves, wouldn’t he?”

Egon added, his tone suddenly warm, as if the idea had been his all along.

She let out a small, incredulous laugh.

“You’re the one who said otherwise.”

“I did?”

He asked, feigning innocence. He often forgot his own words, perhaps because he had spoken too many of them in an attempt to persuade her of things he didn’t truly believe. There were times when he had become tangled up in his own lies without realizing it.

But the memory came back clearly to her. It had been during one of their most intimate moments when she had asked him to promise to take her to the sea, adding, ‘And our child too.’ At that, he had frozen completely.

“You remember now, don’t you? You said you would take me, but the moment I mentioned our child, you went completely silent.”

“Ah… right.”

Egon raised a hand to his mouth as the memory returned.

“I did, didn’t I?”

“Why did you do that? It was as if you didn’t want to bring the child.”

“It wasn’t that I didn’t want to, It was… a kind of instinctive recoil.”

“Recoil?”

He nodded.

“Because I was lying to you then. And when you mentioned the child… it felt wrong to drag that lie even further.”

At the time, he hadn’t understood what it meant to have a child; he hadn’t grasped its significance. Yet even then, he couldn’t bring himself to utter that lie.

“I see.”

Laerte murmured and nodded slowly. Her expression softened. What had once been a hurtful memory now felt different because the man standing before her was no longer the liar. He had learned, changed and chosen to confront her with the truth.

“So there isn’t any other reason Elvit shouldn’t come with us?”

Egon shook his head.

“No. As long as we don’t venture too deep into the sea, it’s fine. We just have to keep a close eye on him.”

“Then let’s all go together.”

She said eagerly, tugging lightly at his arm. When Laerte pleaded like that, with her voice bright and her eyes full of excitement, Egon couldn’t help but find her adorable.

“If that’s what you want, then we shall.”

“Really? Hooray!”

She exclaimed with joy, lighting up the room. Although she had followed him to the capital, she hadn’t enjoyed the trip very much. She had gone because she didn’t want Egon to face the place that held so many painful memories alone.

But the sea was different.

For Laerte, the prospect of seeing the sea felt like stepping into a dream. She wanted to touch it, smell it, walk along its shore and feel the sand between her fingers. Having lived her entire life within the Henant barrier, she longed to discover more of the world, to see for herself the places she had only heard about in stories.

“I’ll speak with the envoy to arrange our travel.”

The capital’s greatest crisis — the shortage of drinking water — had already been resolved by Laerte. Now that this problem had been solved, the rest of the city’s affairs could safely be entrusted to the capable Malbon. Everything would be running smoothly by the time they returned.

∘₊✧───────────────✧₊∘

They arrived in Iras a month later.

To cross the continent from its heart to its far western edge, Egon joined a major trade caravan. On a journey that long, anything could happen, so it was safest to travel with a large, well-protected group.

Fortunately, now that the capital’s water supply had stabilized, several Numebo merchants and officials had offered to accompany them, eager to see the western lands. Egon gathered them together under one banner, forming a grand new caravan to carry them all to Iras.

After assembling the caravan and preparing gifts for Iras, they set off on the ten-day journey along the long western road. Finally, they reached their destination.

“Elvit, are you tired?”

Laerte asked with concern.

“No! I’m not tired at all!”

The boy replied cheerfully. The more she worried, the wider his grin grew. Travelling by carriage for days on end was nothing new to him — he was accustomed to the lengthy journeys between the Belpharo Forest and Numebo, where Egon spent most of his time. But this time was special. His father was riding in the same carriage.

For Elvit, that alone made the journey feel like an adventure. They played word games, told stories, and laughed together until the journey flew by. For the boy, being the center of both his parents’ attention was bliss. And for Egon and Laerte, sharing those quiet, ordinary moments together filled their hearts with contentment.

“When we meet the Sultan later, you must be very polite, all right?”

Egon reminded gently.

“Okay!”

Elvit nodded, his eyes wide with determination. Egon and Laerte exchanged a look, their expressions softening. Just meeting each other’s gaze was enough to make them smile.

Being together like this — living, laughing and travelling as a family — felt almost unreal.

Laerte found herself thinking that what she had built and fought for was extraordinary indeed.

‘If only we could stay like this every day.’

Yet reality pressed softly against the edges of her happiness. Maintaining the fragile balance between Numebo and the Belpharo Forest required constant effort. Now that Egon was king, he was pulled more and more towards the capital each day.

Would the time come when she would only see him once a month?

If he chose to stay in the capital and rebuild the Ganon Kingdom, she would have no right to stop him; she could only let him go with a smile. She knew only too well that they both bore the hopes and burdens of countless lives. Worrying about what had not yet happened would change nothing.

When the time came, they would face it together, as they always had, and choose the best path they could. And if that path meant living apart for the sake of their people, then so be it. It would be a hardship they would endure together as husband and wife, king and queen, two souls bound to the future of their two worlds.

Egon’s gaze softened as he watched his son. Elvit, ever drawn to his father, followed him with shining eyes. Even during the journey, the boy seemed to have grown, his limbs lengthening like young branches after rain. A quiet pride welled up in Egon’s chest.

A deep bwoooooo echoed through the air, the sound of a conch horn rolling over the gathered crowd. Murmurs rippled through the people.

The Sultan of Iras had arrived.

Surrounded by attendants waving enormous plumes that shimmered like peacock feathers, he advanced with measured regal steps. For a moment, he seemed a peacock himself — resplendent and proud, about to reveal his full splendor.

“Presenting His Majesty, the Sultan of Iras.”

Egon announced formally.

The Sultan approached with a smile and held out his hand.

“I am Amin of Iras.”

He was dressed in dazzling white robes that were richly embroidered with golden thread; even the sunlight seemed to soften against them.

“This is Queen Laerte.”

Egon said, gesturing towards her.

Laerte inclined her head gracefully in greeting.

“And this is our son, Prince Elvit.”

Elvit, who had been waiting for his turn, puffed up his chest and spoke with confidence.

“Hello! My name’s Elvit!”

A collective gasp rippled through the attendants—an unseemly reaction during a royal introduction. Everyone froze, uncertain of what to do.

But the Sultan only smiled. Stepping forward, he reached out and gently tousled the boy’s hair.

“A fine name, Elvit. Welcome to Iras.”

The tension dissolved instantly. His gentle gesture towards the child broke the ice and dispelled the stiffness that had gripped the hall. Many feared the new Sultan’s temperament — after all, he had seized power in a civil war by overthrowing his own brother. Whispers painted him as cruel, volatile and dangerous.

Yet before them stood not a tyrant, but a man who welcomed the child with genuine warmth.

With this small, simple act of kindness, the room finally relaxed.

As the unease lifted, so did the air itself. The day’s warmth returned, the sky stretched wide and blue, and a soft breeze drifted in from the distant sea. It carried with it the faint scent of salt, washing away the weariness of all who had come so far.

“Show our guests to their quarters and treat them with the utmost care.”

Sultan Amin ordered.

“At once, Your Majesty.”

The attendants replied, bowing before leading Egon’s entourage toward their lodgings.

As they walked, Amin spoke lightly to Egon.

“I’ve wanted to meet you in person for quite some time.”

“Have you ever visited the Ganon Kingdom before, Sultan?”

“Never once.”

Amin replied, his gaze flickering between Egon and Laerte.

“But I hope this meeting will lead to an invitation. I’ll look forward to it.”

“You are welcome in the Ganon Kingdom at any time. You will always be received with honor.”

Amin’s eyes lingered on them both, taking in the silver and gold of their hair — colors that seemed almost otherworldly. Unlike most men on the continent, who had dark hair and eyes, he was drawn to this difference.

“I’ve heard much about the Belpharo Forest. I hope that one day, when fortune allows, I might visit both Numebo and the forest as well.”

“In that case, perhaps you could travel back with us when we depart. We came through the capital, but we plan to return by way of Numebo.”

“Is that so? Ah, if only I had known sooner—I would have made preparations.”

Amin said with mild regret.

“Tonight, a grand banquet will be held in honor of our guests. I do hope Your Majesties will attend.”

“Of course.”

After exchanging courtesies, Egon and Laerte took their leave, with Elvit walking between them.

Once they had left, the envoy who had traveled to Ganon as Amin’s representative stepped forward quietly. He looked composed yet intent.

“How do you find them, now that you’ve seen them for yourself?”

Amin’s eyes gleamed with a sharp, calculating light.

“Even more tempting.”

Although the tone was smooth, there was an unmistakable hunger beneath it, making the air feel heavier and suggesting that the Sultan’s interest went beyond mere diplomacy.