The fire crackled softly, scattering golden sparks that danced in the cool night air. The wind cut through the trees, making the leaves sigh like silent witnesses to what had just happened.
Kael leaned back against a rock, his body heavy with exhaustion, but his gaze still held that provocative glint—the sa one he used when he knew he was about to say sothing that would make all three of them lose their footing.
The three of them were still motionless.
Sylphie’s face was partially hidden behind a lock of hair, her pointy ears twitching in a mixture of embarrassnt and confusion.
Amélia stared at the ground, blushing to the tips of her ears, trying to pretend she was simply cleaning her staff.
And Irelia—always the coolest and most steadfast—had her hands on her hips, her face tense, but her eyes betraying the chaos within.
Kael let out a lazy yawn, stretching his arms as if nothing had happened. The warmth of the fire enveloped him, and the night seed increasingly silent.
He looked at each of them in turn, and with a faint, tired smile, murmured,
"Well... I guess everything’s settled now."
Amélia blinked, confused. "Settled?"
"Of course." Kael straightened, leaning his elbow on a log. "I am, after all, the future King of the Elves, thanks to Sylphie..." He raised his index finger and pointed at her, and her eyes widened. "Relative to the Human Emperor, thanks to Alia..." He turned, and Alia froze completely. "And nephew to the Sword King, thanks to Irelia."
The silence that followed was absolute.
Sylphie stared at him, her face a bright red. "K-Kael...!"
"Are you out of your mind?" Irelia took a step forward, trying to maintain her composure. "I never said that—"
"Oh, but you don’t need to say it." Kael crossed his arms behind his head, relaxing. "It’s all kind of... implied, isn’t it?"
Amélia let out a choked sound. "I-Implied?!"
Kael raised an eyebrow, looking at her innocently. "Huh. Am I wrong?"
"You’re completely wrong!" she exclaid, her face burning. "I never—never said anything about—"
"About getting married?" he interrupted her matter-of-factly, as if comnting on the weather. "You don’t need to say it. I’ve already accepted fate."
Sylphie brought her hand to her face, clearly unsure whether to laugh or sink into the earth.
"Kael, this isn’t sothing you ’accept,’ this is... this is absurd!"
He pretended to think for a mont, then shrugged. "Maybe. But it’s what we have."
Irelia crossed her arms tightly, trying to hide her blush. "You’re insufferable."
Kael gave a half-smile. "And yet, you’re still here."
The three of them looked at each other, and for a mont, no one knew what to say.
Sylphie was the first to try to regain her composure. "Kael, what do you an by ’future king of the elves’? That makes no sense at all!"
"Yes, you do," he replied, his voice calm, almost sleepy. "You’re the direct heir, right? The forests obey you, the spirits follow you... and, well, after everything we went through to sort out that ss in that kingdom of yours, it’s all good. I already know your mother. Besides, I’m the prince of the Witches, political engagents are a thing."
Sylphie’s eyes widened. "Political engagents?! I never—"
Amélia interrupted, indignant: "And what do you an by ’relative of the human emperor’?"
Kael turned to her, a playful glint in his eyes. "Well, isn’t your aunt the Emperor’s attendant? I heard she’s of royal blood, so I assu you are too. If anyone asks... let’s just say the Emperor would see as distant family once you decide to ’return’ to the castle. That’s all right."
Amélia paled. "That’s... political manipulation!"
"It’s just strategic vision," he corrected, yawning again.
Irelia, who had stood her ground until then, crossed her arms tighter. "And what was that about ’nephew of the Sword King’?"
Kael turned to her, his eyes half-closed, tired, but with that provocative streak that seed to be his nature. "Oh, that’s simple. You’re practically that decrepit old bastard’s adopted daughter." Trained by the Sword King himself, heir to his techniques... or did you think I didn’t realize that your Ainsworth Fencing is completely different from the one he taught ... Anyway, if I’m by his side, people will think he recognized as a relative too.
"That’s completely absurd!" Irelia snapped, her face flushed with anger—or embarrassnt, maybe both.
Kael just laughed, a low, husky sound, letting his head fall back. "Absurd? Maybe. But I like the idea."
Sylphie ran a hand through her hair, sighing. "Kael, you... you really don’t have any filter, do you?"
"Filters don’t save anyone from ambushes." He closed his eyes, his smile remaining. "And, let’s face it, you kind of trapped in this situation."
"No one trapped you in anything!" Alia protested, her voice louder than she would have liked. "You who—"
But she stopped when she realized Sylphie and Irelia were also looking at her.
She coughed, looking away, trying to hide her intense blush. "I an... you who... misinterpret things."
Kael opened one eye lazily and watched her. "Wrong? So you don’t want to?"
The three of them looked at each other imdiately.
Sylphie was completely speechless.
Irelia looked away, her lips pressed together.
Alia stamred sothing that sounded like, "I-it’s not that!"
Kael sighed, settling himself on the floor and lying on his side, his eyes now heavy with sleep.
"Look..." he began, his tone slurred, "...there’s no point in denying it. You chose this."
Silence fell like a blade.
Sylphie blinked, stunned. "What?"
"Yeah..." he continued, his gaze fixed on the flas, "...advancing your body ten years into the future, breaking magical laws, defying ancient spirits... that’s not sothing you do on impulse."
The three of them fell silent. His words, as simple as they sounded, carried undeniable weight.
Kael slowly turned over, lying on his back. "So, if you think there’s a way back... there isn’t."
Sylphie opened her mouth to respond, but nothing ca out.
Amélia and Irelia exchanged uncertain glances.
The truth was, he was right. Neither of them had taken that step without knowing what it ant. None.
But hearing it from Kael—so direct, so certain—made it all seem so much more real.
He was silent for a few monts, watching the fire, and then spoke again, in a lighter, almost playful tone:
"But I think the ceremony can wait."
"C-ceremony?!" the three of them shouted at the sa ti.
Kael chuckled softly, his eyes already half-closed with sleep. "Of course... it’s no fun doing this now. First, I need to dominate all the continents, subjugate the kingdoms, defeat ten or twenty minor gods... and only then can we think about that."
"D-dominate... the continents?!" Alia nearly stumbled over her own words. "Are you serious?!"
"He can’t be serious," Sylphie muttered, pressing her temples.
Irelia sighed, her voice coming out through gritted teeth. "This man is impossible."
Kael yawned again, turning onto his side. "Seriously." His voice was now calm, almost childish. "But... until then, just be patient, okay?"
The three of them stared at him in complete disbelief.
Sylphie was the first to attempt a coherent response. "Kael, you... you talk about conquering the world like it’s a walk in the park!"
"Ah..." he murmured, almost asleep, "...it depends on the park."
Alia snorted, crossing her arms. "I don’t know if I want to hit you or laugh."
Irelia, however, watched silently. Behind her cold facade, a small smile appeared. There was sothing strange about that idiot—insufferable, arrogant, and provocative—sothing that made them believe that maybe, just maybe, he really could do everything he said.
But before anyone could say anything else, a soft snore broke the silence.
Kael had already fallen asleep.
Lying on his side, his face partially illuminated by the fire, he looked peaceful—almost vulnerable.
The three of them stared at him, completely stunned.
"He... slept?" Alia murmured in disbelief.
Sylphie sighed. "He always sleeps after dropping bombs like that."
Irelia adjusted her cloak around her shoulders and looked away. "What an irritating man."
But despite her words, her voice sounded softer.
The fire continued to burn, casting shadows over the group. The princess, still asleep, breathed peacefully in Sylphie’s lap. The wind rustled the leaves, and the forest seed, at last, to rest as well.
The three won stood there, silent, watching the man who claid he would conquer the world—and who, in so inexplicable way, made it seem like it wasn’t complete madness.
Sylphie smiled slightly, lowering her gaze.
"Patience, he said..." she murmured. "This man really thinks ti obeys his will."
Amélia let out a short, tired laugh. "If it were up to him, the world would end before that ceremony."
Irelia finally approached the fire and sat down, her spear propped beside her.
"He’s an idiot," she said calmly.
Sylphie and Alia looked at her.
She added, in a lower tone,
"But he’s our idiot."
The three exchanged glances and, without another word, let the silence take over again.
The fire crackled. The wind blew.
While Kael feigned sleep...
"That was a pretty risky move," Ahri spoke into his incoherent voice as he feigned sleep. "You should have had more class asking three won to marry you."
"That’s five," Kael said.
"Five?" Ahri said.
"He’s clearly talking about the two of us too. Right?" Umbra spoke calmly in the headspace as she waited for Kael to respond.
"Of course. I want everything for myself," Kael replied, leaving both Ahri and Umbra speechless. "That also goes for my dear mother... and grandmother... as well as Exelia."
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