Several springs passed and several winters came after that.

“Be honest.”

Brilliant sunlight sparkled in the glass greenhouse of the former Grand Duke, now the Hunt royal family’s villa.

And beneath it, Kaisis’s expression was grim.

“About what.”

“You’re doing this to tease me, aren’t you?”

[You have to visit at least once a year to be called a friend, right?!]

According to the new covenant, Hector stayed in the Graham capital during the Blessing Period and carried out his schedule, just as he did when he was a grand duke.

In reality, he was just playing with Kaisis, like now.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Hector clicked his tongue as though it was absurd. Kaisis’s voice rose in response.

“Why does the bishop keep moving forward!”

Originally, chess was about maneuvering 16 pieces to immobilize the opponent’s king.

This wasn’t just a simple game, but a kind of simulated war to test each other’s strategies.

So when Hector talked about chess, Kaisis was indescribably happy.

Kaisis wanted to genuinely compete with Hector at least once before he died.

But his joy was short-lived, and Hector’s response was devastating.

[I don’t know how to play.]

So, the reason he had been refusing all this time wasn’t to avoid competition……

[Shouldn’t you ask if I know how to play first?]

It was because he didn’t know how to play the game itself.

“The bishop normally moves forward.”

Thud–

Hector, unconcerned, knocked over Kaisis’s piece with the bishop in his hand.

On the chessboard.

The queen rolled and stopped at Kaisis’s elbow.

Sigh–

Kaisis wiped his dry face.

“Fine, let’s say that’s true. Then why did it move diagonally earlier?”

“It was a mistake.”

“Hey!”

“Tut-tut, Emperor. Your language is harsh. There are children present.”

Hector nodded towards the direction where the children were playing with blocks at a distance.

Hoo–

Be patient, be patient.

Kaisis gritted his teeth and moved his rook while muttering under his breath.

“It’s the damn king making me use harsh words.”

Thud–!

Kaisis’s rook, aimed at Hector’s queen, landed on the chessboard irritably.

“Then can’t you just move forward too?”

“Wh-what?”

“I really don’t understand what the problem is.”

Hector shrugged as if he couldn’t comprehend. Then he moved the bishop diagonally, knocking over Kaisis’s rook.

Roll roll roll–

“……”

Finally, unable to hold back any longer, Kaisis stood up abruptly.

“Where did the righteous Hector Hunt go, and why are you making such childish fouls!”

Kaisis’s outstretched finger pointed at his chess pieces lying in a row.

“I’m supposed to be the scheming villain!”

Hector retorted grumpily.

“I never said you shouldn’t be the villain.”

“You’re doing it right now!!”

Hector smirked at the fuming Kaisis.

“Then let’s do it together.”

That villainy.

* * *

Phew–

“Here they go again.”

In one corner of the greenhouse.

Luna, who had been playing with blocks, shook her head.

The rapidly growing princess of the Hunt Kingdom, Luna, was now approaching her seventh birthday.

“Shouldn’t we stop them?”

Marsha Knight, the eldest daughter of Leon and Kieran, handed a block to Luna with a poise unbelievable for a six-year-old.

With fiery red hair like Leon’s and shining golden eyes, which look calm and discerning like Kieran.

Marsha seemed like she was born to become a knight.

“Why bother now.”

Luna answered while stacking blocks.

“Besides, children shouldn’t interrupt their parents’ fun time.”

Well, it’s not like this was the first time they’ve acted like this.

Moreover, as Luna said, the two seemed to be enjoying themselves somehow.

It was a bit too complex for the six-year-old Marsha to understand.

Marsha glanced at Hector and Kaisis before picking up another block to give to Luna.

“Marsha, that’s not it.”

Yuria, Noel’s child who was sitting on the tree watching the two, jumped down.

“You need to match this to complete the claw.”

Marsha, who received the block, looked up at Yuria.

Platinum blonde hair imbued with mystique, turquoise eyes, and a languid expression.

Not to mention, the appearance with an unclear gender boundary evoked the wind of infinite nature.

“Thank you.”

Marsha stood up abruptly and bowed her head to Yuria.

Yuria frowned, seemingly displeased with this behavior.

“I told you not to do that.”

“Ah! I’m sorr……”

Just as Marsha was about to bow her head again unconsciously.

“I’m not your master.”

Yuria grabbed Marsha’s shoulders and made her stand up. Then, sitting down next to Luna, she grumbled.

“This human instinct to submit.”

Yuria, born between the elf Sara and the human Noel, lived in the Eastern Forest.

And then, once a year like this,

She would stay in the capital during the Blessing Period when Luna came to the villa.

Perhaps because of this, Yuria’s lifestyle was closer to that of elves than humans.

“You’re half-human too, you know?”

One day, Noel introduced Yuria as his child.

Noel and an elf.

Charlie couldn’t hide her surprise at this unexpected development.

On the other hand, Hector, with his usual expressionless face, only commented,

[So the rumor that just making eye contact can lead to knotting was true]

Abel, Tiel, and the Wilkins family also welcomed Yuria as family without much fuss.

“You could just honestly say that you don’t like seeing your friend bow.”

Hmph–

Embarrassed at being hit right on the mark by Luna, Yuria snorted unnecessarily.

Luna continued speaking, looking at Marsha who was standing there bewildered.

“Anyway, the arrogance of elves.”

Marsha smiled faintly.

“How long are you going to stand there? You’re casting a shadow.”

“Don’t stand there like a subordinate, sit down and play blocks with us. Marsha, you’re a friend.”

As soon as Yuria finished speaking, Luna added her translation.

Yuria, who had been quietly watching Luna, let out a slight laugh.

“You’re really interesting.”

“Yes, and so are you. You haven’t decided on a gender yet.”

Regardless of Yuria’s reaction, Luna focused on the blocks again.

“Whether you’d prefer me to be a boy or a girl. You haven’t answered that yet.”

Unlike humans whose gender is determined from the womb, elves could choose their own gender.¹T/N: but i will be using the pronouns ‘she/her’ for Yuria for grammar purposes

“Yuria, you do what you want to do, why are you asking me to decide?”

“Because it’s fun.”

“You weren’t born just to be fun.”

“Grandfather said it’s okay for you to come and play.”

“Grandfather… You mean the Spirit King?!”

Only then did Luna turn her gaze to stare at Yuria.

Eyes wide with surprise.

Yuria liked seeing Luna make such expressions, as she resembled Charlie, her second favorite human.

“Why, is he so bored with his peaceful old age that he wants to have a war with humans?”

For a moment, Yuria’s lips, which had been softening, curved up again sardonically.

“Don’t twist my words. It’s exactly as I said, just come and play.”

“I’m being honest too. Look!”

Luna’s outstretched index finger pointed at her father Hector and Kaisis, who were still arguing.

“He’s already upset about coming here once a year and giving the Emperor a hard time. Imagine if I said I was going to play in the Eastern Forest, in the Spirit Kingdom no less. Do you think my father would just sit still with his personality? He’d probably burn down the entire forest.”

Nod nod–

Marsha nodded in agreement with Luna’s words.

“And do you think the Emperor would just watch? He’s already unhappy about you and me being close friends, wouldn’t he be thrilled to join in?”

Oh my, our princess. How can she be so smart?

Emma, who was bringing snacks, nodded along with Marsha.

“And what about my grandfather?”

“You don’t have a grandfather.”

“What do you mean I don’t? He’s right there.”

Luna nodded towards Michael.

Perhaps sensing his granddaughter’s call…

In front of the central fountain in the greenhouse.

Michael, who was having tea with Charlie, waved his hand towards Luna.

Yuria frowned at this.

“How is the Pope, who doesn’t share a drop of blood with you, your grandfather?”

“Anyway, my point is that we’d have to fight with the temple too. Right, Gabriel?”

“!”

Luna turned to look at Gabriel, who was standing behind the tree with a surprised expression.

“If you’re here, don’t just stand there, come sit with us. Yuria didn’t mean anything bad by it, so don’t misunderstand just by hearing the last part.”

Gabriel was Michael’s adopted child.

And Yuria doesn’t worship God, or more precisely, elves don’t worship the god, Areis.

Therefore, there was no reason for Yuria to address Michael, the messenger of God Areis, with the honorific title ‘Your Holiness.’

“Okay.”

Gabriel’s light green hair swayed gently as she nodded.

Yuria moved her body a span to the side to make room for Gabriel to sit, and continued the conversation.

“Why make such a big deal out of just coming to play?”

Gabriel, who was sitting down, tilted his head in confusion.

“Luna, where are you going?”

Just as Luna was thinking it would take too long to explain this from the beginning,

Marsha explained the situation to Gabriel, as though she had read Luna’s mind.

Beautiful Marsha, so quick-witted too.

‘I will definitely make Marsha the commander of the Hunt Kingdom.’

Luna inwardly made this resolution while speaking to Yuria.

“That’s how humans are.”

“I come to play too.”

“Doesn’t your grandfather hate it every time you come here?”

“Well, that……”

[Is there a need for you to go personally? If you wish, I’ll let the descendants of the moon live in the forest.]

Yuria recalled her grandfather, the Spirit King, who was always displeased.

It was then.

“It’s possible if Yuria becomes a woman.”

A beautiful voice interrupted the two.