Human Continent, inside a familiar Royal Castle, Elizabeth sat in a quiet daze at the edge of the large bed where her husband lay. Her face was lost and weary, as if all strength had drained from her. She was in the very same room Skyler had last seen her in. The intricately designed room was now filled with even more empty bottles.
The Queen opened her mouth.
"Damien…"
Her voice came out rough, too strained from all the alcohol she had consumed.
Her usually cold and indifferent blue eyes were now filled with undisguised pain, and she looked as if she had aged years in the short time since Skyler left Riruru with her.
"When are you going to wake up?"
"Just when?"
It had been nearly three weeks since she shut herself inside the Castle, waiting for the sleeping man to open his eyes again.
Even her children and grandchildren were barred from visiting her, and she no longer cared about what was happening in the outside world or the continent she ruled.
She just wanted to stay by his side.
Her husband life was fading.
Elizabeth could feel it.
She just refused to accept it.
Never.
How could he leave her alone?
He wasn't allowed to.
If only she could trade her own life for his, just so he could live a bit longer. Yet despite all the treasures she had obtained, nothing had changed. Damien's life was running out of time—but she was powerless to stop it.
Elizabeth was gently wiping her husband's face with a damp towel when she suddenly sensed a presence just outside the room.
Her movements slowed.
Her eyes narrowed immediately.
The presence felt familiar—but her cloudy mind couldn't immediately place it among her children or grandchildren. Still, whoever it was, that person was undeniably strong.
She wondered: was it Alistair?
She had explicitly forbidden anyone from visiting this area of the castle. The fact that someone still dared to come here stirred a faint but sharp flicker of anger within her.
Her expression turned cold as her loud voice rang out, sharp and commanding.
"Leave before my patience runs out!"
However, the person outside showed no intention of responding to her at all. The next moment, steady footsteps echoed through the corridor—faint but hurried.
Elizabeth's brow twitched, an angry vein faintly pulsing at her temple. She quickly pushed herself up from the bed, her body unsteady. Days of heavy drinking had left her on edge. Right now, even the slightest disturbance was enough to provoke her.
Instantly, a wave of killing intent radiated from her body, chilling the air around her.
The temperature seemed to drop as she stepped out of the room. Her gaze locked onto the direction where the footsteps had vanished. Surprise flickered in her eyes as she realized they were heading toward the room she had assigned to Riruru. As far as she remembered, only one of her trusted personal servants was aware that Riruru was in the castle—no one else knew of it.
So who could be going there?
It definitely couldn't be Alistair.
Was it a coincidence? Or had she made a mistake? That presence she had thought was familiar was actually a powerful Dark Light that had infiltrated the royal castle?
Elizabeth's face sank. Without another word, she vanished in the same direction.
That little snake was in danger!
By the time she reached Riruru's room, it was empty. Only then did her mind clear slightly, and a curse slipped from her lips.
"Damn it… who dares!"
She unleashed her aura, and every guard inside and outside the royal castle heard her command. At once, they activated a hidden mechanism set around the castle.
Instantly, a barrier rose around the castle, ensuring that no one inside could escape.
Elizabeth gritted her teeth, ready to extend her senses and scan the castle, when she heard a faint sound to her left. Feeling the same presence she had sensed earlier, she spun around sharply, only to see a familiar figure stepping out of the walk-in closet in the room, carrying several sets of women's clothing—likely the ones bought for Riruru.
The snake Elizabeth had been worrying about was tightly coiled around his arm.
The Queen's eyes went still in shock.
She recognized the familiar face, yet everything about him had changed.
He had grown more taller, his frame now more defined. The last remaining trace of youthfulness in his face was completely gone, replaced by sharp, mature features.
But how was that even possible? Hadn't this kid only left barely twenty days ago?
How had he aged so much already??
So, she called out tentatively.
"Skyler?"
Hesitation was evident in her voice, as if she thought she was imagining things.
Skyler had already sensed her presence.
He stored the clothes in his hand in a storage ring and flashed her a smile.
"It's been a while, Grandma. Thank you for taking care of Riruru. I'll take her with me."
Hearing that familiar, overly affectionate 'Grandma,' the Queen finally accepted it wasn't her imagination. Only one person had ever addressed her so boldly like that.
"You…"
She couldn't find any words at all.
Skyler waited, gently stroking the head of the snake clinging tightly to him. When she said nothing more, he cleared his throat.
"Then, we will take our leave."
Elizabeth finally covered her eyes, a faint, strained chuckle slipping from her dry lips.
She had always assumed Skyler was a bit naive, since from the first day she met him he had shown affection toward anyone he could call family, as long as they appeared good to him even on the surface—but now, looking at him, she felt she had been badly mistaken. He had called her 'Grandma,' his voice clearly affectionate, but… why hadn't she noticed his indifference before? After all, if he had genuinely cared about her, he would have first asked if she was alright.
She was sure she was a mess right now. However, he arrived, just picked up Riruru, and said he was leaving—nothing more.
Elizabeth knew she had always been cold toward him—just as she was with her own children. But even if his affection had been an act from the beginning—because, as a Queen, she had much to offer—couldn't he have at least made it more convincing?
Even someone as cold-hearted as she was couldn't help but feel a sharp sting at such callousness when she was at her lowest.
Ultimately, she just waved her hand.
"Just go."
Then she looked away as silence settled.
"And don't appear before me again."