The King of Iorenti stood by the window of his office, overlooking the palace.

Just yesterday, the palace had been plunged into a maeli of confusion.

Imperial troops rushing in to seize the palace.

The royal guard, fighting until the last moment to stop them.

Courtiers, terrified, fleeing in panic.

The chaos they had created was reminiscent of a scene from hell.

But now, just one day later, everything was quiet.

The palace of Iorenti was resting so peacefully that it was hard to believe the turmoil of yesterday.

Crushed flowers lay lifelessly, and burnt trees were shrouded in silence, creating a gloomy atmosphere.

The evidence of chaos engraved all around the palace made it clear that it was not a dream.

What the hell is happening?

The king looked out of the window, searching for the meaning of this silence.

Above the window showing the trampled garden, the reflection of the queen appeared.

“What are you thinking about?”

The queen approached from behind the king and wrapped her arms around his waist.

She rested her cheek on his shoulder to calm her anxious heart.

“I was recalling the events of yesterday.”

“I can’t forget them either. Why did that strange commander lock us up here?”

“I have no idea. There must be some reason.”

“I thought they would kill us like Royeni and Kirens.”

“I don’t understand his actions either. Why did he spare us?”

The king, his waist encircled by the queen’s arm, recalled the events of yesterday.

The commander who came to Iorenti palace had asked for cooperation, his gun menacingly pointed.

‘Hand over your crown.’

The king thought it was only natural for a defeated nation to relinquish its crown, so he handed it over.

After receiving the crown, the commander asked for another cooperation.

‘You both must step down from the throne.’

The king, thinking it was a necessary step for the execution, stepped down from the throne.

As soon as they stepped down from the throne, the commander asked them to briefly leave their seats.

Something felt strange from that point on, but they were swept along by the commander’s polite demeanor and followed the imperial army.

However, what they truly could not understand was the commander’s final demand.

The moment the king, leaning on his cane and dragging his uncomfortable leg, was about to step out of the grand meeting room door.

The commander spoke to the king’s back.

‘I will have to add your cane to the collection list as item number 2947. You will have to give me your cane as well.’

At that moment, the king thought.

This commander must be out of his mind.

Even as he hurriedly handed over his cane and left, the eerie feeling did not dissipate.

Even as the king was lost in thought, recalling the events of yesterday, the queen’s worry continued.

“I’m anxious because I don’t know what they might do. Why did they spare us?”

The king turned to look at the queen.

Her shoulders were trembling faintly with fear and anxiety.

The king comforted her, adjusting the shawl that was about to slip off her shoulders.

“Let’s wait for now. We will find out what they are up to eventually.”

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

“But they didn’t treat us too poorly, did they?”

The queen also thought the imperial army’s behavior was strange.

The imperial army, which threatened to kill anyone moving without permission, allowed the king and queen to move.

Although there was strict surveillance, they were allowed to move to the bedroom to rest.

They were even provided with warm food to eat.

However.

“That commander, he was polite, but his eyes were not. I still get chills when I think about his ashcolored eyes.”

A red sunset was cast over the face of the queen, who was mumbling weakly.

Tears welled up in her eyes, tinted with a bewitching light.

Just as the queen’s tears were about to overflow again, unknown fear hanging in the air.

Bang, the office door swung open with a sound.

“Mother.”

A familiar voice shook the office.

The startled queen turned towards the entrance.

The king also froze at the unexpected arrival.

Even before they realized who was shouting, the person ran and embraced the queen.

“I missed you.”

“My goodness.”

The queen, utterly taken aback by the unexpected situation, was at a loss for words.

“Del. Why are you here?”

Their daughter, whom they had sent to Boswell, had returned.

To Iorenti, occupied by the empire.

To the palace, seized by a silver wolf ready to tear apart anything.

The stunned queen hastily detached Delia from her, looking into her face.

Checking Delia’s cheeks and body here and there, the queen examined her.

“Why are you here? Why are you here, when you should be in Boswell?”

Delia responded to the queen’s question with a question of her own.

“Mother? Are you okay? The imperial soldiers didn’t do anything rash, did they?”

“Now who’s worrying about whom?”

“It’s natural for a child to worry about their parents.”

The queen’s voice rose with anxiety.

“That’s not what’s important. Why have you returned to the capital when you should be in Boswell?”