Minutes dragged by, each second stretching longer than the last.
Luka's whistling faded, replaced by idle tapping of his fingers against his leg.
He stole another glance at the massive double doors.
"How much longer is she gonna take?" he murmured under his breath, eyes narrowing.
One of the guards shifted ever so slightly, the tal of his armor giving the faintest creak.
Luka straightened up, surprised.
"Oh, so you are alive," he smirked—
But the guard had already resud his statue-like stillness.
Luka sighed and resud his waiting, ntally tallying how many different ways he could make the guards crack.
However, the elf maid finally returned, her delicate hands gesturing him forward.
"His Majesty is ready for you," she announced with a graceful nod.
"Alright," Luka replied, stepping forward with an easy stride.
He glanced back over his shoulder, his smirk lingering.
"Maybe next ti," he murmured under his breath, amusent flickering in his eyes.
He had really wanted to make them crack, but there was always another opportunity.
As he entered the Throne Room, the grandeur of the space stretched before him.
The hall was vast, illuminated by shimring chandeliers of enchanted light that cast a soft, ethereal glow over the marble floors.
At the far end of the room sat the entire Elf Royal Family, each occupying ornately carved seats flanking a towering, jewel-encrusted throne.
Atop that throne sat the Elf King himself—a regal figure with flowing golden hair that cascaded over his shoulders like strands of sunlight.
His erald eyes glead, and a silver staff rested at his side, glimring with faint enchantnts.
He wore luxurious robes of deep green and silver, the fabric woven.
Luka approached the throne.
He did the respectful thing and knelt, lowering his head.
He had no desire for conflict.
"I greet His Majesty," Luka spoke.
"Raise your head," the Elf King commanded.
He made a subtle gesture with his hand, signaling the human to rise.
Luka lifted his gaze, eting the stares from the Elf Royal Family.
"I have heard that you were the one who rescued my daughter," the elf king began:
"And that you still endured tornt at the hands of my own n."
His eyes darkened, a flicker of displeasure shadowing his face.
"For such a thing to occur within my kingdom brings dishonor to my na. And so..."
The Elf King clapped his hands, the sound echoing sharply off the pillars.
An elven butler appeared almost instantly, gliding across the floor with practiced grace.
He carried a silver tray draped in fine silk, a polished cloche covering its contents.
"Show him," the elf king ordered, his tone resolute.
The elf butler turned toward the human, lifting the cloche with a flourish.
Beneath it rested the severed head of the Elf Captain—his expression frozen in a grimace of fear and disbelief.
Blood had been cleaned from the edges, but the finality of death was unmistakable.
'Well, that works,' Luka thought to himself, his lips twitching into a faint smile.
He had planned to take matters into his own hands eventually, but it seed the elf king had saved him the trouble.
It was almost considerate—if decapitation could be considered such.
The Elf King observed the human's reaction carefully before continuing.
"As you can see. The matter has been dealt with. I hope this brings you so asure of satisfaction. I regret the way my n have treated you; it is not the way of our people."
The elf king deeply sighed.
"For a human to save an elf is... unheard of. You have proven yourself to be quite different from the average human."
Luka placed a hand over his heart.
"It is an honor for His Majesty to speak such kind words to ," he said sincerely.
"I am truly humbled. But... if I may be so bold, I would like to make a small request."
At those words, the atmosphere in the room shifted.
The guards stiffened, their hands tightening around their spears.
The Royal Family exchanged glances, suspicion flickering in their eyes.
Even among them, one of the main heroines— visibly tensed, her expression hardening at the human's audacity.
But before any murmurs could rise—
The Elf King raised his hand, his gesture cutting through the tension like a blade.
"Go on..." he said calmly.
Internally, Luka smirked.
He knew exactly what strings he was pulling.
The Elf King loved his secret daughter more than anyone else in his family—more than his eldest daughter, more than his son, and even more than his wife.
Luka knew this because, in the ga, the elf king had fallen into despair and ended his own life not long after her tragic death.
That love was a weakness... and an opportunity.
"Well, Your Majesty. I would like to speak with the World Tree."
Suddenly, a sharp intake of breath was heard.
"A human dares to request an audience with the World Tree?" The Elf Queen's voice rang out, icy and laced with indignation.
Her eyes blazed with barely contained fury, her delicate fingers curling around the edge of her seat.
She looked ready to shout further, to rain down judgnt and wrath upon this human—but her tirade was cut short by a thunderous crack.
The Elf King had slamd his hand against the armrest of his throne, the sound reverberating through the hall like a drumbeat of authority.
"Silence, woman!"
The elf queen visibly flinched, her defiance crumbling as she lowered her head, her gaze fixed firmly on the her floor beneath her feet.
The Elf King cleared his throat, regaining his composure before turning back to the human.
"I apologize for my wife speaking out of turn. She is... unaccustod to dealings with humans. As for your request, I will allow it. However, I cannot guarantee the World Tree will respond to you."
"That is fine by , Your Majesty," Luka replied. "That is all I ask."
The Elf King leaned back in his throne, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"You ask for so little," he mused aloud.
"You do not desire gold, nor weapons, nor won—nothing more? Are you sure?"
Luka shook his head, his expression steady. "Such things would be wasted on . I only seek an audience with the World Tree."
His answer rippled through the the elf royal family like a whisper of disbelief.
mbers of the Royal Family exchanged glances once more, so in awe, others in confusion.
Luka could almost hear their thoughts:
'A human... not asking for riches or power?'
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