“Your Highness, that…”

I pinched Lucia’s face, beaming: “Ah, we need to look into it . However, Mom will be with me, so there’s no need to fret . It shouldn’t be anything dangerous . We’re just checking the local mana signals . It could be some species that’s undergone some weird change causing the problem . The white deer have been locked up, so there’s no danger there . Sorry, Lucia, you’ll have to stay home alone again . ”

Lucia hopelessly smiled and then hugged my arm: “It’s all right . I’m used to it . I feel rea.s.sured knowing that Queen Vyvyan will be with you . You don’t bring people with you when you go out, which is what worries me most . The eastern forest isn’t a dangerous place, either, so I’m not concerned . ”

I wanted to stay with Lucia for a few days before setting out, but I only planned to stay in the elven lands for two weeks . I had already spent a long time living idly with her, so I didn’t have any time left to delay the investigation . Mommy Elizabeth already sent a letter rus.h.i.+ng me to come to Hilles City to partic.i.p.ate in Daisy’s baptism . I needed to quickly resolve the mana issue and then rush over to Hilles City .

The white deer had been captured and detained in the palace . The main reason for that was there was nowhere else to lock them up . The white deer were recuperating at the rear of the palace . Although they weren’t enjoying the living conditions of the White Deer King, they weren’t living in terrible conditions . They, at least, didn’t need to worry about food, water or hygiene . Their mana was abnormal; however, there was nothing wrong with them . They were a little annoyed about being locked up, but that was the extent of it .

I saw the white deer . Indeed, they didn’t suffer any abuse, but neither could I discern if there was anything different about them . The mana signals from the eastern forest remained even after they were taken away from the area . In saying that, the signal significantly weakened thereafter . My suspicion was that there must’ve been some odd mana source over there . Since the white deer had left, it lost its catalyst .

Mommy Vyvyan had the most powerful mana sensing ability . She just needed to go to the area to locate the strange mana source and then deal with it . Mom originally planned to sort it out after I left; she didn’t expect the soldiers to encounter the White Deer King .

The incident left the White Deer King quite distressed even two days after the incident . She lost her appet.i.te and refused to come out . In the past, she would boldly run and jump around on the lawn without any qualms while her home was being cleaned at noon . The gardeners might’ve been irate about it, but n.o.body dared to complain . It was sad to see she refused to come out after the incident; she was afraid of running into those soldiers again . Mommy Vyvyan gave the soldiers a command to not hurt the white deer, most definitely not me and ensured the command couldn’t be overwritten . Hence, the White Deer King’s safety was guaranteed . Unfortunately, the mental trauma still lingered . As such, I had to ride a horse, which was something I hadn’t done in a long time, to head to the forest .

Mommy Vyvyan didn’t bring imperial guards along . Lucia had to stay in the imperial palace to take care of the girls . Honesty, I was rea.s.sured leaving Lucia behind in the palace . The elves imperial palace was different to humanity’s royal palace . People made an attempt on my life despite Mommy Elizabeth being present there . n.o.body would come after Lucia in Duargana, though . As long as the Galadriel Tribe existed, all elves would admire and respect them .

Lucia didn’t say anything after learning I wanted to deal with the mana issue . Instead, she considerately approved . The problem didn’t seem hazardous to the three of us . We all knew Mommy Vyvyan was powerful . The most dangerous thing to Mom was me almost leaving in a huff . Everything would be fine as long as she could convince me to stay .

I was unable to detect the mana fluctuations . I didn’t qualify to be an Elven King . Nevertheless, Vera seemed to be sensitive to it . Every time Mommy Vyvyan approached Vera, the latter could detect the former and would open her eyes even when she was asleep . By that alone, Vera should be able to become a great ruler for elves as Mommy Vyvyan was .

“We’ll head to the forest tomorrow . I’m not sure how long it’ll take, though . That said, I’ll do my best to be as quick as I can . ”

Lucia found my wishy washy speech irritating . She stopped me from trying to approach her again and helplessly smiled: “With Her Highness accompanying you, you’ll be fine . This sort of thing has already happened many times . Your Highness, this is just a simple trip . There’s no need to make it out to be some sort of life and death separation . This shouldn’t even be cla.s.sified a problem, since Her Highness will be able to resolve it as soon as she goes over to the forest . If she’s fast, I imagine it would only take moments to resolve . ”

“For real…?”

“Of course . It’s Her Highness we’re talking about . As long as she is with you, I can’t think of anything that could harm you . The dragons might have a chance of hurting you, but Her Highness is the supreme sovereign here in the elven lands . n.o.body will be able to hurt you . I firmly believe that . ”

Lucia set Nona, who was asleep, down into the cradle . She leaned over to give her girls a kiss: “I won’t disturb your sleep tonight, then . You have to wake up early tomorrow to leave . It’s a long trip; you must make sure to take care of yourself . You haven’t fully recovered from the incident with the dragons, after all . ”

“You don’t impact my sleep at night…”

Unwanted heat flitted across Lucia’s face . She hammer fisted my arm with her small fist: “We can’t do that too much!! It hurts… And, I pa.s.s out every time… I really can’t figure out how that woman is able to stand it… In any case… not tonight! Also, you haven’t fully recovered, so if… if… if you insist… A full-moon night is coming soon…”

I kissed Lucia’s face and smiled: “Your words . Not mine . ”

“You just went through that with the dragons . You sure are physically healthy, Your Highness . ”

“You’re my wife, so of course I have energy for you . ”

Happiness bloomed on Lucia’s face . I intended to turn in early tonight . I kissed my girls and then left the room . Mommy Vyvyan wouldn’t perform night invasions on me during my recuperation period, so I felt rea.s.sured . At least, I could get some quality sleep at night .

“It’s ready… Everything is ready… Everything is ready… Those elves sure are such fools . They’ve followed my designs perfectly… Their benevolence will be their undoing . Their benevolence will destroy their family and friends, their family and everything they currently have… None of this belonged to them to begin with! I’ll definitely scorch this land . I’ll definitely turn the glorious white city into a cemetery . I swear it! I swear it!”