Queen Tehila tearfully smiled as she heard Eli's reply.
Looking at her baby bump, she asked for permission before touching it, "Can I?"
Eli nodded with a calm smile.
Queen Tehila reached out her hands towards the baby bump. However, she stopped in hesitation as she remembered what happened earlier.
What if there's still some harmful spell in her hands?
Seeing the hesitation, Eli felt sympathy towards the Queen.
For someone who never wanted to cause harm, it would surely be traumatic.
She stretched out her hands towards Queen Tehila's frozen hand and pulled it softly towards the excited Little Han. "Little Han wants to greet you too, Your Highness."
"Ah," Startled by the sudden action, Queen Tehila felt her hands touch Eli's warm belly.
As soon as her skin felt the warmth, Little Han gently moved, as if greeting her grandmother Queen.
Queen Tehila let out a whimper as she found herself deeply emotional when Little Han moved. Never did she imagine that she would live long enough to witness her only son have an offspring.
It was a bitter sweet sensation. She had long yearned for this moment to come.
In the past years, the Empress's place and the First Queen's place had been celebrating the birth of their own grandchildren. But for her Wisteria Place, it was barren.
She longed to be as joyful as them, holding their grandchild tenderly.
But today, she almost caused harm to her future grandchild. She remembered Empress Carolina's face, she was sure that it was her who planted the spell in her hands.
Because apart from the palace maids and Leon, it was only her, whom she had physical contact with.
"Hello my little grandchild…" She said with a shaky voice from trying to hold back her tears from falling.
Soon she just felt big and sturdy hands soothe her back, it was the Emperor, who saw the scene as well.
He tenderly looked towards Eli and asked, as he gently supported Queen Tehila, "May I greet my grandchild as well?"
"Sure your majesty." Eli replied with a clear smile. She looked towards Leon, asking if it was alright for the two to do this, only to see Leon nod peacefully.
She let the old couple greet Little Han properly. Everyone gave them space in the gazebo, and let the family of five just have a moment with each other.
The old couple cried in delight as they felt Little Han's eagerness when they touched Eli's womb.
"Little Han has been so active lately, I can feel that he couldn't wait to see everyone." Eli let out a helpless chuckle.
Queen Tehila brightened up and said, "It was the same when Leon was in my womb, he was so active in the late pregnancy, I thought that he would be a troublesome child after he came out."
"However, look at him now! He was indeed troublesome but in another way." She begrudgingly pouted and looked towards Leon, who was slightly embarrassed that his mother queen was badmouthing him in front of Eli.
"Well indeed he could be a bit handful!" Eli let out a playful reply.
"I know right! I'm sure he took that part of him from his father!" Queen Tehila didn't spare the Emperor's dignity either.
The two men awkwardly brushed their heads helplessly thinking, 'Whatever they say, just accept it! It would be chaos if we go against them..'
The mood in the gazebo became light and cheery. After some time, Queen Tehila said while sincerely holding Eli's hands,
"I have lived far too strained in the palace that I never wanted to get involved in the internal chaos within its walls…"
"I thought as long as I lay low, as long as I would stay far from the limelight, I can protect my son, and I can lessen Valentin's burden…" She said in deep regret and helplessness.
"But today, I realized that even if I do those things, they would still harm the people around me without hesitation!" Anger flashed in her eyes.
Leon and Emperor Valentin stood still, their hearts were deeply surprised. It was the first time they saw Queen Tehila truly angry.
"This time, I will retaliate! I was not able to do it with my son, but I surely won't let it happen to you and my grandchild!" Queen Tehila said in determination.
She looked towards Emperor Valentin and said with an apologetic tone, "I want to say sorry in advance for the trouble I would make in the future."
Emperor Valentin shook his head gently, smiling in sweet surrender,
"I didn't bring you to the palace in the first place to lay low and be bullied by them. If any, it was my inability to protect the two of you unconditionally, that you have been suffering in my own palace."
"No.. You've done enough, it's time for me to do it on my own." Queen Tehila lifted her head gently and said with a sharp look in her eyes,
"Today, it was the empress who had physical contact with me other than my servants and Leon. The moment I find conclusive evidence, I will retaliate without hesitation!"
The Emperor and Leon looked towards the Queen with conflicted feelings.
They were surprised that the Queen would finally use her authority in the palace but at the same time they were also nervous because the Empress and the First Queen were not to be trifled with either.
The rest of the day was spent catching up inside the cottage. The Emperor and the Queen really enjoyed the first day they spent with Eli.
The more they talk to her, the more they thank the Creator for giving them a future daughter in law like her.
They just prayed that the complicated situation between her and Leon would be finally resolved.
They also prayed that Leon would succeed in courting Eli, of course.
After spending a pleasant day in Eli's cottage, the old couple was then guided by Azayn in the Silver Dew Village.
Because they were still under the official duty to fulfill the renewal of the treaty, they had to stay in the village for diplomatic and safety purposes.
The next morning, Eli and Leon, along with the grandpas prepared to be transported to the Silver Dew Village. The Chief of Silver Dew had also invited Eli, as he wanted to check her situation.
It was her second time coming to the Silver Dew Village. The first one was during the time where Azayn took her in for safety on the assault of the Spectres.
The second time was today, in the renewal of treaty. She looked towards Grandpa Ben, Grandpa Andi and Leon. From their expressions, she could tell that it wasn't their first time either.
Soon they were welcomed by Eirllon, the chief of the Silver Dew Elves and the rest of the elders and officers of the village.
They all look so beautiful, as if they were the embodiment of nature themselves. They were full of vitality and wisdom. Although wearing a reserved expression, Eli could feel that they were gentle beings.
The way they look towards the humans present today were not that of contempt, but a look of mutual respect.
They were soon led in the chief hall, towards the biggest treehouse in the village. Upon entering the hall, Eli saw that the seats were set into two groups divided by the aisle.
There were two big seats in the front facing the arranged seats along the aisle. The elves ushered them to their own seats. While Chief Eirllon and Emperor Valentin sat in the two special seats in front.
When everyone was settled down the renewal of the treaty started.
An Elder elf stood from his designated chair unto the platform and announced the text in the scroll.
His old yet steady voice rang through the entire chief hall,
"Today, on the end of the second cycle of the pact between the Silver Dew Elves and the Citizens of the Seirende Empire, the two races come together to recommit themselves to the contents of the covenant…"
The elder started to read the contents of the treaty until he finally looked towards the two leaders and asked,
"Two great leaders in this hall, do you commit to abide in the contents of this solemn covenant?"
"I commit!" The two declared with full authority.
The elder looked towards the audience area and said,
"Distinguished guests, do you commit yourselves as a witness to the existence of the treaty between the two territories, between the two races?"
"We hereby witness!" Eli and the others replied in chorus.
The elder nodded and gestured for the representative of the Seirende Empire, Leon, to carry a tray of artefact, a knife.
Following him was a representative of the Elves, the masculine and handsome elf carrying a large staff with utmost care. It was none other than Koehthar, Azayn's husband.
Lastly the representative of the witnesses, an independent race among the two subjects of the treaty, Grandpa Andi of the dwarf race, carrying a golden goblet.
"Now the three artefacts were brought here. Let the two leaders publicly declare the existence of the treaty!"
After this announcement, Chief Eirllon and Emperor Valentin held the knife, took some blood from their thumb and printed it on the scroll of the treaty.
After that the Chief placed the scroll inside the goblet, while Emperor Valentin used a little fire magic to light up the scroll.
Everyone watched that the goblet glow with the fire. However, the scroll was not burning to ashes. Eli was amazed by what she saw.
Then the two leaders took the staff hand in hand and pointed it towards the burning goblet while saying,
"With blood, let it symbolize our race declaring total cooperation with each other!
With the goblet of fire, let it symbolize our sincerity to uphold the treaty even when facing tribulations!
Finally, with the staff let the guardians guide the two races to look after each other, as the time goes by!"
Dong!
The staff was gently striked in the golden goblet and rang through the hall, immediately the fire was consumed by a white light.
It lightened up the whole hall. Eli gently covered her eyes from the intense light waiting for it to subside.
The moment she had finally opened her eyes, she found herself not in the chief hall but in a desolate and dark forest.
"Where is this? Where's everyone?!" She tried to calm down and not panic, asessing the situation before reacting.
"Leon! Azayn! Grandpa Ben, Grandpa Andi! Where are you!!" She called out as she walked around the area.
However, she stumbled upon an ethereal looking young man, with black long hair wearing a white silk robe.
He was sitting on a rock looking solitary as he waited patiently. He was holding a familiar looking staff, it was the same staff used as an artifact during the renewal of treaty!
The ethereal looking young man suddenly looked in her direction, his dark silky long hair gently rolled in his shoulders while his silver eyes met Eli's confused gaze.
"Child! You're finally here!"
