Chapter 457: Short Notice ’Should I...?’ Stella thought as she lifted the slice of cake she had cut for the man one was romantically interested in. The tradition was old... older than half the nobles in the hall and she had always dismissed it as childish. But tonight, for the first time in years, the custom felt strangely... intimate. She stared at the slice balanced between her fingers, then at the plate the maid hastily brought to her. She placed the slice down, staring at it with an unreadable expression. She hadn’t expected to participate in this part of the ceremony at all. She hadn’t planned on choosing anyone. Yes, she had enjoyed the dance. Yes, she had dragged him with her for the lantern ceremony. And yes, she did feel comfortable around him in a way she hadn’t felt with a man in decades but none of that meant she should be giving her cake to a man nearly half her age. ’Meh... in the end, I shouldn’t give my cake to a youngster.’ Stella concluded with a quiet sigh. Her eyes subtly drifted downward... just in time to see Mynes already descending the stage with her own slice of cake on a plate, her cheeks burning pink as she approached Azel. The entire hall followed her with their eyes, watching the young enchantress bite her lip nervously and sat beside him. Stella’s heart twitched... just a little. ’Whatever. This doesn’t mean I like him or anything.’ Stella told herself, though she looked absolutely lovestruck from where Mynes sat. The Grand Mage exhaled once more... and stepped off the platform. The crowd tensed and nobles leaned even more forward on their chairs. The stern head of the Astra Clan shifted slightly, as if preparing for an interesting spectacle. ’They really showed up, huh?’ Stella thought. The Astras and Duvraines had been in disagreement for generations; hosting them tonight was her first step in softening that old, pointless tension. It was progress regardless. She walked past several single noblemen...Men straightened themselves as she approached, some even adjusting their clothes to appear more appealing. Stella ignored them all effortlessly. Then Mira, seated at Azel’s table, glanced up, saw Stella’s approach and immediately vacated her seat with soldier-like efficiency. Stella appreciated that level of awareness more than words could express. She took the now-empty seat beside Azel. Gasps echoed. Azel looked at her in confusion, still chewing the cake Mynes had fed him earlier. A smear of cream sat on the corner of his lips, making him look strangely boyish and harmless and Stella felt her chest tighten for an instant before she deliberately smothered that feeling. "Make no mistake..." Stella began, attempting and failing to maintain her authoritative tone. Her voice wavered just slightly. "I am not feeding you this cake because I’m interested in you, but rather because I’m trying to outdo my daughter." Mynes glared. Stella lifted her chin with pride. A maid immediately handed her a knife and fork. She sliced her cake with elegant precision and lifted a small portion to Azel’s mouth. He opened obediently, chewed, and swallowed. Stella’s eyes then dropped to the small bit of icing on his lip. Her hand lifted involuntarily then froze halfway. Because Mynes grabbed Azel’s chin and turned his head toward her. Her fork already held another piece of cake. She shoved it in his mouth triumphantly. Sylvia, watching from a nearby table, stared slack-jawed. "At this point... I think he’s using some kind of magic to make these women fall for him," she muttered. Esme, Sybil, and Flare all nodded with grim seriousness... as if they had discovered a grand conspiracy. The cake ceremony soon came to an end, the once-tall confection now butchered down to a few remaining tiers as nobles received slices to accompany their wine. ’And just like that... the ceremony is almost over.’ He thought as he raised his cup. He had been completely filled by the cake they offered him. The party had been surprisingly short, but meaningful. He hadn’t regretted attending for even a second. And now, only one event remained... the closing speech from the Grand Mage herself. ’I hope nothing else comes up... I need to take care of Meda some more.’ He sighed internally. At the very least, Mynes had invited him to stay the night... something he planned to accept. His luck, however, assured that something insane would probably happen the moment he tried to sleep. Stella rose again and all eyes turned to her as she took center stage. Azel leaned forward to listen to her. ’I could learn from this for my own speeches.’ He thought. Stella adjusted the hairpin he had gifted her... her fingers brushing it delicately then began. "Before we conclude tonight’s celebration, I wish to speak from a place I rarely allow others to see." She stopped and then continued. "For many years, birthdays were little more than markers of time for me... days I acknowledged out of formality, not sentiment. When one holds power long enough, when one stands at the peak long enough, it becomes easy to believe that very little can still surprise you... or move you. And yet, tonight proved how mistaken I was." Her eyes glided across the crowd, they were warm for once. "I witnessed friendships growing stronger, new bonds forming, rivals embracing in mutual respect, and even my daughter... attempting to behave herself. At least a little. Days like this remind me that despite our titles, our achievements, and the expectations placed upon our shoulders... we are all, at our core, simply people trying to find joy where we can. Trying to share it with those important to us." Mynes covered her face, completely mortified. Stella continued seamlessly. "So I thank all of you... not for your presence alone, but for the sincerity you offered tonight. For your laughter, your patience, your kindness... and for reminding me that celebration is not about grandeur. It is about connection." Her gaze stayed on Azel for a moment. "As we close this evening, my wish for every one of you is simple: May you leave here with lighter hearts than you arrived with. May the coming year bless you with new opportunities to grow, to love, to challenge yourselves... and to surprise yourselves and may the Duvraine household continue to be a place where strength is matched only by warmth. Thank you all, from the depths of my heart, for making this night truly unforgettable." The hall exploded into applause. Musicians began to play a soft melody. Nobles rose one after another to greet Stella and Mynes before departing. Stella shook hands with surprising warmth while Mynes bowed repeatedly, flushed but smiling. Then the Astras approached. Stella met the clan head with a steady gaze. "It seems like we’ll just agree to disagree," she said. "Happy birthday," Haji replied, and he and Layla took their leave, though Layla had been waving nonstop at the Grand Mage. Sybil paused only long enough to nudge Azel with her shoulder. "Don’t forget to write to me..." she huffed before leaving. One by one, nobles filtered out. Mira was nowhere to be seen. Azel remained seated, watching the flow of people. A few men gave him hateful looks and he ignored them. "Azel..." a soft trembling voice called. He turned. It was Sylvia. Her face was pale and her hands were trembling. He immediately stood to help her sit beside him. "What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick or something?" he asked, genuine concern filling his tone. She clutched his sleeve. "Darling... I humbly request your assistance with a matter of great importance... if you would be willing to hear me." There was a pause and then he spoke. "What kind of assistance?" he asked. Sylvia’s eyes trembled as she lowered her gaze, carefully constructing the perfect illusion of vulnerability. Every shift of her fingers, every flicker of her lashes was deliberate... she needed him to fully believe her. "I... forgot something of great importance," Sylvia said softly. "And though I hesitate to trouble you with it, it concerns a matter I cannot overlook." "Sylvia..." Azel reached out, taking her hand gently. Her cheeks flushed on cue, a deliberate bloom of color to sell the act even further. "How am I supposed to know what’s bothering you when you aren’t telling me? We talked about communication, remember?" "Y-yes... we did speak of communicating," she whispered, pressing her knees together then she bit her lower lip. "Very well... it is regarding the Elf King Trials." Immediately, his expression shifted. He remembered it... the only main questline in the Elven region of the game. A significant event requiring the elven princess or in this case, the future successor to arrive with her chosen lover. Elven tradition forbade elven men from bringing their partners to the trials, but women in power had to. It was unfair, yes. But this world rarely cared about fairness. "If it’s the Trials... then don’t worry," he said. "I’ve got you covered. It takes about ten days to finish, right?" Under normal circumstances, yes. And if she was telling him now, then surely that meant that he had some time to prepare. "No." Sylvia raised the sealed letter, her hand trembling. The official sigil of the Elven royal house was unmistakable. "I received the summons just now. The date is in two days." Azel froze. The distance between the Human Empire and the Land of the Elves was enormous... days of travel by beast, multiple days by carriage, and even teleportation arrays had limitations. To get there, attend, complete the trial, and return to check on Medusa one last time... It was not going to be easy. "If we wish to arrive on time," Sylvia continued quietly, "we must depart immediately. There is... no leeway." Before he could respond, Mynes approached the table. The hall had nearly emptied, and she was now dressed in regular clothes that looked comfortable, stylish, and very her. "Come on," Mynes said with a grin, hands on her hips. "Let me show you your room." Azel stood up gently and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I have somewhere very important to go, so I’ll have to decline," he said. "I’m sorry, Mynes, but it’s urgent." It was his obligation as Sylvia’s "lover" to stand for her during the Trials... a major political event. But beyond that, he also needed to send a message home to secure everything with Medusa before leaving the region. Just as he stepped away, Mynes grabbed his hand and tugged him back. "If you’re not going to use the preparations you already accepted," she huffed, "then you’ll have to pay me in another way." She puckered her lips. "Kiss me. Right here, right now." Sylvia’s eyes narrowed a fraction. Then she exhaled through her nose and looked away. ’Why does this woman insist on being so... unrestrained?’ she thought irritably. Azel glanced at Sylvia... seeking permission or at least her reaction. Sylvia turned her face aside with a slight cough, giving him nothing. He swallowed. Then leaned in and kissed Mynes on the lips. The Rune Mage froze, her brain shut down and her legs turned to jelly. And when he pulled away, her face was so red she looked feverish. "Later," he said simply, before walking out with Sylvia. The moment the door closed behind him... "I just got my first kiss!" Mynes screamed, falling backward and rolling on the floor. "Fuck yeah!" A couple of maids exchanged looks, then burst into laughter. Yes. This was the Mynes everyone knew and loved. ... [Ten minutes Later] Azel stood outside the estate, watching his messenger bird fly into the distance. Only once it disappeared into the clouds did he exhale in relief. "That’s one thing done..." he muttered before turning back to Sylvia. "How are we going to get there? In such limited time?" Sylvia folded her hands neatly before her, posture elegant even in the cool night air. "Can you not fly, darling?" she asked. "It will be faster than any mount or teleportation circle available at this hour. If you ascend above the Empire and travel northward, I shall guide you." He nodded, inhaled deeply, then closed his eyes. When he opened them again... his irises glowed gold. Wings of holy magic burst from his back, radiating with divine light. Sylvia shielded her eyes, the glow reflecting beautifully across her blond hair. He approached her, one arm sliding under her knees, the other behind her back as he lifted her into a princess carry. Sylvia’s face reddened, but she maintained her composure. "A-as expected of you..." she murmured. Azel spread his wings. And with a single powerful beat... FWOOOM. He shot into the sky, breaking through the clouds in seconds. Wind rushed past them. Stars stretched above like scattered jewels. The world below shrank into a tapestry of forests, mountains, and rivers. ’...I’m really excited to see the Land of the Elves with my own eyes.’