"I won't let you go alone to your father's," Thomas said suddenly. "Let me take you. Sorry for keeping you so long."
"Don't worry. We'll meet again soon." Elon smiled. "And Martha, if this grump bothers you, don't hesitate to tell me."
She winked at Martha, who waved back with watery eyes. "He's really sweet, but I'll keep your words in mind. Stay safe, darling!"
"She's still as sensitive as ever," Elon whispered as she walked beside Thomas, who'd been quiet the whole time.
"Elon… thank you," he said. She stopped and looked at him.
"No need. Making your girl happy was my duty. Martha went through so much in her childhood and teens. She had to do all that just to afford treatment for her little siblings. Thomas, I…"
Before she could finish, Derek suddenly swept her off her feet.
"Don't worry," he said, holding her close. "She's my fated mate now. I'd rather die than hurt her."
"Are you sure it's okay for me to leave you here?"
Thomas asked after Elon had asked him to drop her off. She nodded.
"Yes, I can manage from this bend. Also, about the King of Crystal Kingdom who's been insisting on a meeting—tell him he'll have the honor of meeting me personally."
A faint smile of disbelief curled on Thomas's lips.'It's rare for Elon to meet clients herself... Looks like we're in for some unexpected developments.'
He bowed respectfully before leaving, and Elon walked toward her home in the slums of the Crystal Kingdom.
It was late. She took a deep breath and forced a wide smile before opening the door and stepping inside.
"Elon, darling—you're back!"
Elon's eyes widened.
"Mother… What are you doing here?"
she asked, stepping aside to avoid her mother's embrace.
"Oh, how cruel of you. That hurts. I came to see you, my dear,"
her mother said, staring at her with a look of sorrow.
"You abandoned Father when he needed you most. Go back to his palace. We don't need you,"
Elon replied firmly.
A mocking smile crept onto her mother's lips.
"Oh, I had planned to come off as emotional... but fine, let's drop the act. You weren't exactly by his side either when everything happened. And it was his fault, wasn't it? He couldn't rule the kingdom properly."
Yes... this was indeed her mother. Elon raised a brow, her fist tightening around her dress.
It was true—she hadn't been there either.
"Anyway, I came to talk to your father. I offered him a place at the Ruby Kingdom's palace. And of course, you're welcome to come too—if you wish. But he refused. I have no idea what foolish thoughts filled my children's heads that they won't even listen to me anymore."
Her mother spoke casually, inspecting her nails.
She was, after all, from a noble family in the Ruby Kingdom—and Elon's grandfather would never allow his granddaughter to live in poverty.
"Hah. We don't need your pity or your help, Mother. I'm doing just fine on my own,"
Elon said.
No sooner had she finished her sentence than a ceiling tile fell and crashed down.
"This place? This shabby home, in this filthy neighborhood? Think carefully, Elon. Your father would listen to you more. Convince him to come back with me. I'll even forgive him for the harsh words he said earlier. As for you—I'll find you a husband from the Ruby Kingdom. You're beautiful, and time isn't on your side. You should use your looks wisely,"
her mother whispered in her ear.
Elon stepped back quickly, opened the door, and held it wide.
Her mother raised an eyebrow and adjusted her dress before slipping on her gloves.
"I'll take that as a no. You won't get another chance."
She walked out, and Elon shut the door behind her. She looked around at the state of her home, then slammed her fist into the floor in frustration.
"As always, Mother only cares about her social status among the noble families. Don't worry, sister—we're not going to leave you or abandon Father. We believe in you."
A girl slightly shorter than Elon, yet looking much like her, spoke gently.
Elon pulled her into a warm hug and kissed her forehead.
"Thank you, Marvy. How's Father doing?"
she asked, wiping away a stray tear.
Marvy shook her head.
"Mother was yelling at him before you came. He didn't respond to her, and even William stormed out in anger."
She glanced toward their father's room.
Elon rubbed her temples and said softly,
"It's okay."
She stood and walked toward her father's room. Finding him fast asleep, she quietly closed the door.
'Just a few more days… and they'll all see where they belong,'
she thought as she entered her room.
On her wall were dozens of papers, tangled with threads all leading to one sheet labeled:
"The Ruler of the Dark Continent."
"Information on him is scarce. He's a deadly monster. They say no one meets him and lives to tell the tale,"
Elon muttered as she drew an X over a photo pinned near the notes.
"He executes attacks with terrifying precision. It's as if he has a thousand backup plans for every move. He led his continent's battles personally and even conquered my father's kingdom. He agreed to a temporary truce—but offered no guarantees. His weapons are advanced—far beyond ours."
Elon tore down all the papers from the wall.
It was the first time in her life she had failed to gather intelligence or create a plan around someone.
"He's responsible for my father's ruin. He will regret it. Now, he'll face Elonora—Leader of the Gelatin Skulls Gang,"
she declared, sitting on the cold floor and staring at the ceiling.
'I need to go to the kingdom's market to meet with my men… before I meet the King,'
she thought, closing her eyes.
"Ruler of the Dark Continent… I hope I get to meet you in person. I want to know who you really are. You're surrounded by an impenetrable fortress… but nothing is impossible for me,"
Elon said, bursting into a fit of manic laughter.
...