"Ahhhh, the heavens have blessed us so graciously!" Queen Mother responded joyfully. Her moss green eyes glistened with tears. She elegantly wiped it with her pure white handkerchief.
Her joy does not only come from knowing that they had already found her future grandchild and her future daughter in law. It was also from the fact that she had seen her son smile once again, after so many years.
"No wonder you suddenly asked me about my opinion on marrying the Asani in the middle of the night!" His father emperor responded with a serious tone, feigning a stoic attitude.
However, his crystal blue eyes that were glowing with glee, had already betrayed the rejoicing he was feeling deep inside.
"Yes, her name, now I have the heart to reveal. Her name is Elise Fayre. But I call her Eli." Leon responded with a tender gaze as he carefully led her emotional mother back to the gazebo to sit down.
"Oh, my! Our dear Leon, had actually called a woman so intimately!!!!" From her emotional state, her attitude turned cheerful, teasing Leon about how he had addressed Eli.
Leon and Father Emperor Valentin could see imaginary flowers blooming around Queen Mother, Tehila.
Leon cleared his throat and shyly corrected his Queen mother, "Mother...It's not like that.."
"Hmmm, I'm sure I had advised you to set marriage aside for the meantime, son?" Emperor Valentin inquired with a stern tone.
"Valentin…" Queen Tehila tried to calm the emperor down. She casted a pleading look with her captivating moss green eyes.
Seeing his beloved pleading to him, he couldn't resist to tone down the harshness in his voice, he cleared his throat and continued with a much calmer tone,
"Son, it's not that I don't want the Asani -uhm.. Elise to join you in marriage. But it's because our side wasn't ready yet to bear the consequences of publicly acknowledging her and my grandchild."
Emperor Valentin looked at his son with sadness and said, "I didn't work hard to be the strong and stable Emperor that I am now, only to use you and your imperial brothers in a marriage you do not want."
"So in terms of having an opinion on who you and your imperial brothers would like to marry, I would never choose for you, nor hinder you. Although I would have my personal opinion, I wouldn't let that be a reason not to support you in the marriage you wanted."
Queen Tehila knew the context of her beloved's statement, sharing the sadness in her eyes she gently placed her hands on top of Emperor Valentine's hands, comforting him.
Feeling the warmth from his beloved Queen's hands, Emperor Valentin casted a loving gaze and a bittersweet smile.
"I always hope for all of you, to be able to continue leading the empire in peace and prosperity without having to sacrifice your hearts. As I have always said with you, do not repeat the same mistakes I did in the past."
"Nonetheless the matter with Elise is something that may jeopardize the empire if we don't handle it well." He said in a worried tone.
"As much as I want to march down in Silvertown to get my future grandchild and daughter in law, I know that being selfish right now will bring them more harm than good. Our selfishness might be the trigger to their doom!"
Queen Tehila, hearing Emperor Valentin's explanation became downcasted.
But she clearly understood his statement, she didn't try to oppose her beloved. Valentin, whom she deeply knows so well, wouldn't waste time convincing someone in a lengthy explanation.
The reason why Emperor Valentin was adamant in convincing his son was because the last time Leon talked about marrying Elise through a communication stone, he saw the stubbornness in his eyes.
He was worried that Leon would still be insisting on marrying Elise at this moment, when the enemy is hidden and they will be completely letting themselves out in the open.
"Father, Mother, do not worry." Leon said in a respectful tone.
He was not offended by his father's opposition, instead his expression was now evident with full acknowledgement of his father's words.
"The both of us have decided not to force ourselves when it comes to marriage. Eli decided that we become friends and co-parents to Little Han, up until we are ready to revisit each other's views about marriage."
"Friends and co-parents. It was an unusual arrangement, yet it is not bad. For even if you insist that the both of you get engaged, it will still defeat the purpose of hiding them out of the enemy's sight." Emperor Valentin rubbed his chin while looking at his son with approval.
"The truth is, I was still insisting on marrying her. Yet she was the one who proposed this arrangement. After discussing this matter carefully, I found that this was the best arrangement for us right now." Leon explained.
"Hhmm, my dear. I understand that you set aside marriage first and be friends. Yet why didn't you bring her back to the capital so that I could meet her. The security here is much better than Silvertown." Queen Tehila worriedly inquired.
"Leaving her alone in Silvertown, isn't it worrisome?"
"Mother, do not worry, I left one of my most trusted aides, Olivier, to guard her. I have also reinforced the security in her home. She was also able to contract a Panda. Oh, by the way, the Panda was what we used to believe as a cursed bear…"
The words that were meant to explain how Leon ensured that Eli was secured enough to stay in Prasinos, turned into a long monologue of Eli's amazing exploits in Silvertown.
The two were left in wonder about two things.
One, was on the fact that their future daughter-in-law was amazing enough to achieve something that no noble lady in the Empire could ever do -
Discovering the truth about the Panda race..
Awakening from F class to the C class in only a few months...
Inventing a household water distribution and heating system run by mana..
Getting the favor of the Legendary S class Grandmasters Andvari and Reuben…
Making the Silver Dew Elves protect and attend to her as a personal doctor..
All these are amazing things that made their future daughter-in-law's exploits not lose to Leon and any of the princes. Just the fact that she was able to get the grandmasters move was a monstrous feat, that even the Emperor would find hard to achieve!
The second thing that amazed the old couple was how Leon looked so proud when telling something about Eli. They were left in wonder, did their future daughter in law manage to melt their frigid son's ice cold heart?
The two looked at each other in puzzlement.
The family of three continued to talk about the happenings in Silvertown for a long time. Leon also managed to recount to them the fight that had ensued in the boundaries of the Silver Dew Forest which triggered his immediate return.
"Son, we better talk about this in more detail on another day, ready yourself." Emperor Valentin tapped the ring on his finger and it emitted a warm yellow light.
Suddenly, a key appeared in his hands and he handed it down to Leon.
"Father this.." Leon reluctantly received the keys given by his Father Emperor.
"The key to the secret archive area of our Empire. That is where I have stored those experimentation records from four years ago. You can only find the door in this secret chamber, in the tree at the middle of the garden." Emperor Valentin said in a grave tone and continued, looking at Leon with a warning glance.
"Ready your heart, that you may not be affected nor enticed by the things you would discover in these records. No other member of the mperial family knew of this matter, not even your imperial brothers."
"The reason why I have decided not to look into these records was to abstain myself from whatever knowledge was there. However, hearing your report, I think it's time to open the archives."
"Now, I understand, it was not only my future grandchild and daughter in law that were in danger, but all the inhabitants of Seirende!"
"I entrust to you the investigation of this matter. As always, I'd like you to keep it to yourself and your corps. " Emperor Valentin said with worry in his eyes.
"I will heed your words father!" Leon replied resolutely. Clenching the key to the secret imperial archive his eyes showed a glint of determination.
"Uhn, I pray that The Creator may grant you wisdom to solve this matter. Discuss to me what you have in mind after studying those records."
"Thank you Father."
"Hmm go on, you have disturbed us for a long time." Emperor Valentin shooed Leon away as he saw that Queen Tehila was starting to get more worried about the things that she heard from the two.
"Mother, Father, I'll be on my way." Leon bowed and bid goodbye to his parents who wanted to continue their lovey dovey time.
Exiting in the secret chamber he was transported to his own bedroom.
Looking around his luxurious bedroom of blue, gold and white theme, he found it dull. He walked towards the balcony and blankly stared at the view around the palace.
He didn't feel he was finally home.
Why is it that he felt like the walls made of log and bricks were far more appealing than his bedroom made of glass and stone?
Why does it feel like he was more at peace looking at the green and mystic forest view than the majestic landscapes of the palace grounds?
Did he really miss the place? He only stayed there for one night, he didn't even sleep there.
He felt that the big palace was missing something.
Trying hard to find the answer in his heart, he mindlessly whispered to the winds gently blowing in his frigid and solitary countenance,
"Eli, I seemed to be missing you…"
