The palace of Armathia had barely settled into peace after Louis' departure when the royal messengers arrived.
It happened shortly after noon.
The guards stationed outside the grand gates suddenly straightened in alarm as black horses approached the palace road at terrifying speed.
Not ordinary horses.
Royal war stallions.
And upon the silver banners attached to their armor—
The crescent moon insignia of Lovera Highcrest shimmered beneath the sunlight.
Immediately, the atmosphere changed.
The soldiers of Armathia exchanged uneasy looks.
Because everyone on the continent knew what those banners meant.
The Silver King.
King Louis Toran Alaric.
Within minutes, the news spread across the palace like wildfire.
"A royal envoy from Lovera Highcrest has arrived!"
"The Silver King sent messengers!"
"Did something happen?"
Inside the royal hall, King Alexander and Queen Elizabeth sat upright upon their thrones while nobles whispered nervously among themselves.
Even the ministers looked tense.
Very tense.
Because no ruler casually received correspondence from Louis.
Not after the stories surrounding him.
Not after the wars.
Not after the bloodshed tied to his name.
The massive doors opened heavily.
Three royal envoys entered dressed entirely in black and silver ceremonial armor.
Cold.
Elegant.
Intimidating.
The lead envoy stepped forward before bowing respectfully.
"His Majesty, King Louis Toran Alaric of Lovera Highcrest, sends greetings to the royal family of Armathia."
His voice echoed clearly across the hall.
King Alexander nodded calmly despite the tension.
"You are welcomed in Armathia."
The envoy rose before presenting a sealed silver scroll.
The entire court went silent the moment they saw the royal seal pressed into the wax.
A silver crescent moon surrounded by thorns.
Louis' personal seal.
Queen Elizabeth exchanged a quick glance with her husband.
Something about this already felt personal.
The scroll was carefully handed to the king.
And the moment Alexander opened it—
His brows slowly lifted.
Then lifted even further.
Beside him, Elizabeth looked confused.
"What is it?"
Alexander looked genuinely stunned for once in his life.
Then slowly…
A helpless laugh escaped him.
The court became even more confused.
Because kings did not laugh during royal negotiations.
Especially involving Louis.
Alexander handed the letter to his wife.
The queen began reading.
And within seconds—
Her eyes widened dramatically.
"Oh my goodness."
Now the nobles were practically dying from curiosity.
Meanwhile, standing quietly near one of the palace pillars, Kingston already knew exactly what the letter contained.
Especially after the messenger discreetly glanced toward him earlier.
Roseline sat beside him quietly.
Still emotionally overwhelmed from everything Kingston had revealed that morning.
Her thoughts had not rested once since then.
Brother.
The word still felt unreal.
Beautiful.
Terrifying.
Painful.
Precious.
And now—
Seeing the royal seal before her made her chest tighten strangely again.
Queen Elizabeth finally looked toward her slowly.
Very slowly.
With an expression filled with shock… and deep emotion.
"Roseline…"
Roseline blinked nervously.
"Yes, Mother?"
The queen stood abruptly from her throne before walking down the steps herself.
Something she rarely did during court sessions.
The nobles watched in confusion.
Elizabeth stopped directly before Roseline.
Then gently touched her face.
Her eyes were already becoming emotional.
"My child…"
Roseline's heartbeat quickened.
The queen smiled shakily.
"Your brother has officially requested your return home."
Silence exploded across the hall.
Several nobles nearly choked.
"What?!"
"Brother?!"
"Her brother is the Silver King?!"
Kingston closed his eyes briefly.
There it is.
Chaos.
Pure chaos.
Roseline herself looked frozen.
The queen handed her the letter carefully.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she accepted it.
Then slowly—
She began reading.
—
To my sister.
I realize writing this suddenly may frighten you.
I also understand that I have likely already failed terribly at appearing normal in your eyes.
I was informed that smiling more would help. Unfortunately, I do not know how to do that properly yet.
For that, I blame Kingston.
At that part—
Roseline unexpectedly laughed softly through her tears.
The court stared in complete disbelief.
The Silver King wrote jokes?
Kingston looked offended immediately.
"I refuse responsibility."
Even Alexander coughed to hide his laughter.
Roseline continued reading shakily.
—
I heard you cried after I left.
I disliked hearing that.
You should not cry because of me.
I spent many years searching for you.
And although I once prepared myself to only watch you from afar…
I find that I no longer wish to do that.
If you are willing…
Come home.
Not as a political guest.
Not as a queen.
Not as an obligation.
Come home as my sister.
The palace has waited for you for many years.
And so have I.
—
By the time Roseline reached the end—
She could no longer stop crying.
The tears fell silently down her cheeks as she clutched the letter tightly against her chest.
The hall had become completely quiet.
Even the nobles looked emotional now.
Because suddenly—
The terrifying image of Louis they all carried seemed to crack apart.
And underneath it…
Was simply a lonely older brother.
One who had spent years searching for the last remaining piece of his family.
Queen Elizabeth gently embraced Roseline immediately.
"Oh, sweetheart…"
Roseline cried against her shoulder quietly.
Kingston watched her with softened eyes.
Then finally spoke.
"There's more."
Roseline looked up weakly.
Kingston rubbed the back of his neck.
"He sent another message separately."
Alexander burst into laughter immediately.
"You mean the threatening one?"
The ministers looked horrified.
"There was a threatening one?!"
Kingston sighed.
"He specifically requested that if Roseline refuses to visit willingly, we should not encourage her because he wishes to 'maintain a good first impression as a brother.'"
A few nobles nearly laughed aloud.
That sounded absurdly specific.
Kingston continued calmly.
"Then immediately after writing that… he added that if anyone stresses her unnecessarily, he may return personally."
The hall froze again.
Ah.
There he is.
The terrifying king everyone recognized.
Alexander laughed harder.
Even Elizabeth looked amused now.
Roseline wiped her tears slowly before whispering softly—
"He really cares…"
Kingston looked at her gently.
"More than you know."
Roseline lowered her gaze to the letter again.
Her fingers traced Louis' handwriting carefully.
Almost like she was trying to memorize it.
Then quietly—
Very quietly—
She smiled.
A real smile this time.
Warm.
Emotional.
Hopeful.
"When do we leave for Lovera Highcrest?" @Queenzayn