"Thank you… Valeyrie," Zeus said.
"Oh my… I didn't do anything. I just poured wine into your cup, Almighty," Valeyrie replied.
Zeus looked at her, voice low.
"I wasn't thanking you for the wine. I was thanking you for always keeping your composure. For never staining Olympus with your name."
He paused, tone sharpening.
"You know, Valeyrie… you're not much less miserable than some of the gods."
"Am I miserable, Almighty?"
"You are. From the moment you wrapped yourself in loyalty like it was armor. I offered you godhood—power, status, a throne. You declined it like I handed you dust."
He leaned in slightly.
"There are gods parading around with empty titles… but you—you're the only one I've seen who's truly worthy. And yet, you refuse."
"Have I ever failed you, in my service, as your humble servant?"
Zeus's voice dropped further.
"You're too loyal to be trusted. And too obedient to be doubted."
***
"You're drowning in your thoughts again," Nihaga said.
Raezel turned toward him, curiosity softening his expression. "Where have you been all day, Nihaga?"
Leaning casually against a pillar, Nihaga gave a sly smile. "With Krios. We've been flushing out the rats Velmor's hiding in plain sight."
He tilted his head, a glint in his eye. "You know how it goes—serpents are masters at catching rats."
"Did we find all of them?"
Nihaga grinned. "Every last one. Now the real question is—what do you want to do with them? Personally, I suggest sending them to Thaimera. Velrith would be thrilled to receive a few living samples from Velmor as study material."
"Nihaga—"
"What? Rats are the best study material."
But then his grin faded. His gaze sharpened. "You're not yourself."
Raezel crossed his arms, offering a faint smile. "And what makes you think something's wrong?"
"Your left eye. It's almost turned red. It always happens when you're under real stress."
Raezel sighed, rubbing the side of his face. "Yeah... there's a dull ache too."
"You're torn up about what Hades did. Burning an entire nation alive—and as Vice-President of the Seven Seats, you couldn't lift a single finger against him."
Raezel's jaw tightened. His expression faltered. His fists clenched.
Nihaga stepped closer, voice cold—sharp as ice.
"Let's not pretend. Modern law isn't made to protect the innocent anymore. It's a weapon. Forged by the powerful, wielded for their sins—wrapped in legality, and paraded as virtue."
Raezel wanted to argue, to deny it—but deep down, he couldn't.
"As much as I want to see you serve true justice, to see the guilty punished the way they deserve… the truth is, right now—you can't afford it."
He paused, then spoke softer, but heavier.
"Remember why you accepted the Vice-President seat in the first place. Your dream—your mission—was to give Salvator official nationhood. Queen Medusa, Other Members of The Union, all of us—we're counting on you."
His voice lowered, heavy with truth.
"One wrong step, Raezel… and you'll lose that seat. Everything we've fought for—every sacrifice we've made—yours included… will be reduced to ash. And the hopes of thousands will shatter with it."
Silence.
Raezel said nothing. The weight of reality crushed down on him, and for a moment—hope slipped from his eyes. Despair took its place.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The sound broke the silence like a scream at a funeral.
A voice came through the door. "Prince Raezel, Roha and the others are ready to take their leave."
Nihaga spoke without looking. "Go meet them, Prince."
Raezel walked toward the door.
"And don't let anything distract you from your goal."
***
"So… you're really leaving already?" Raezel asked.
Roha smiled softly. "Yes, Chief. It looks like you're stressed about something."
Raezel raised a brow. "What makes you say that?"
Roha tilted her head knowingly. "Your left eye—it's red again. Let me guess… dull pain too?"
He sighed with a faint smile. "Let's just say… he's not in a good mood today."
"You make it sound like your eye has a mind of its own," Roha said with a chuckle.
"She only allowed us a single day off," Lia added half-teasing.
Gia grinned. "She didn't want Roha causing trouble for you during his 'vacation.'"
"Hey! I didn't cause any trouble, right Chief?" Roha asked, mock-offended.
Raezel shook his head, barely hiding a laugh. "No, Roha. Not at all."
"Then why are you laughing, Chief!?"
They laughed together as they walked toward the great doors of King Eldor's palace.
But just before they reached the threshold—
Raezel stopped.
"Roha."
Roha paused mid-step. "Yes, Chief?"
Raezel's expression turned to steel.
"Now tell me the real reason you came here."
The air shifted instantly. Laughter died. Expressions turned grave.
Roha lowered her voice. "Rumors about Red Dawn. Our intelligence suggests there's a lead in this region… something worth looking into."
The moment she said it—Red Dawn—Raezel's world cracked open.
Mountains soaked in blood. Screams. Children crying. Villages burning.
His instincts roared to life. His gaze turned lethal. Murderous intent spilled from him like a rising storm.
Roha stepped in, gently. "Chief…"
He blinked, snapping out of it.
Roha climbed into the carriage.
"Come back soon, Chief," Lia said with a wave. "We miss you."
"Liars," Gia. "You two just miss him because when he's around, you two don't have to do paperwork. Now you're drowning in it."
She turned to Raezel with genuine warmth.
"But Chief, we do miss you. Especially Sylvia… So—when are you coming back?"
Raezel met her gaze, voice quiet.
"Soon."