The master bedroom was wrapped in a heavy stillness, the kind that made every breath feel too loud.

Selene lay unconscious atop the luxurious bed, her dark violet hair splayed around her like a fallen halo. Her face—usually kind and elegant—was pale from shock. Darian sat beside her, hunched forward, elbows on his knees. One hand hovered protectively near Selene's arm, the other massaging his brow as though the migraine of parenthood had suddenly evolved into a full-blown catastrophe.

Across from them stood everyone else, awkwardly arranged like statues caught in a scandalous museum exhibit.

Luca stood nearest to the bed, rigid, shoulders locked tight, trying to shrink into the dimensions of a mere background decoration. His eyes flickered between his mother and the door—as if plotting escape routes.

Celestia held the baby dragon delicately in her arms, as though presenting a royal heir rather than the source of national panic. Her posture was composed, chin slightly lifted, expression smooth and unreadable—as if none of this concerned her in the slightest.

Aurelia stood with arms tightly folded, lips pressed to a razor-thin line. A muscle twitched in her jaw. She didn't even look at Luca—she glared at the floor like she was imagining it was his throat.

Kyle's cheeks were puffed out like a squirrel hoarding nuts—except it was laughter he was storing. His shoulders trembled violently, and his eyes darted anywhere but the baby dragon, because looking at her again would surely trigger explosive giggles.

Lilliane clutched the hem of her skirt with trembling hands, her face so red it looked like steam might erupt from her ears. Her wide eyes stayed glued to the floor, refusing any involvement in this… misunderstanding of universal proportions.

Selena appeared calm—perfect posture, composed expression… but her ears glowed a traitorous shade of pink. She avoided all eye contact, especially Luca's.

Vincent's arms were folded, one eyebrow raised. His stare was sharp, analyzing. Processing. Calculating exactly how many laws of nature had just been broken.

Elowen and Sylthara lingered near the back—both too shaken to speak. Elowen's fingers anxiously twisted a strand of her hair. Sylthara's pointed ears tilted back in visible discomfort, her tail flicking once behind her.

No one said a word.

But the whispers outside did.

They slipped through the polished wooden doors, amplified by the tense silence.

"I didn't expect our Young Master and Her Highness the Empress to—"

"Shhh! Have you lost your mind?!"

Another maid, clearly terrible at being discreet, hissed:

"But the little girl has horns and a tail! How could they possibly explain that?!"

Someone whispered back sharply:

"Her Majesty has some connection to dragons, right?"

"Then… does that mean… Young Master Luca and Her Majesty…?"

"Saints preserve us…"

A horrified shiver rippled down Luca's spine.

He exhaled through his teeth, jaw tightening. Slowly, he turned his head to Celestia.

Her face remained perfectly neutral.

Not one twitch of reaction.

Not one flicker of embarrassment.

Of course. If I can hear this, Luca thought miserably, everyone else can too…

He glanced around:

—Lilliane's blush darkened further.

—Aurelia's grip tightened; her knuckles whitened.

—Selena's ears turned even redder.

—Kyle's cheeks inflated until they were about to rupture.

"…that bastard," Luca muttered under his breath, shooting Kyle a glare.

Then—

"Oh my…!"

The soft gasp cut through everything.

All heads snapped toward the bed.

Selene's eyes fluttered open—crimson pupils focusing slowly… until they locked onto her son.

Confusion turned to realization in less than a heartbeat.

Her gaze slid to Celestia.

Then… the baby dragon.

Then… back to Luca.

A long, suffocating silence.

Selene pushed herself weakly upright, Darian immediately steadying her with a worried hand.

Her fingers curled into the blanket. Her voice trembled—but not from fear.

"Luca."

Her glare sharpened.

"Explain."

Luca's eyes brightened the instant Selene demanded answers.

Finally.

An opening. A lifeline. A chance to fix the colossal misunderstanding before it exploded even further.

He straightened his back and lifted a hand dramatically.

"Finallyy!" he burst out, louder than intended.

Everyone startled — every gaze laser-locked onto him. Luca cleared his throat, trying again with marginal dignity.

"Mom, Dad… do you remember when I first brought Baby Dragon home?"

His voice was slow, careful — like he was explaining to someone who might faint again if startled.

Darian and Selene both nodded, still cautious.

"And I told you I got her from the Black Dragon at Beastridge Mountain."

More nodding.

Luca glanced at the others — his friends, Celestia, the… audience to his suffering.

"You remember how I was granted a favor by Her Majesty after receiving that medal? During the ceremony, Baby Dragon reacted to her aura. So I thought… why not use that favor to get help hatching the egg?"

He gestured weakly to Celestia and the child curled cutely against her shoulder.

"So… the process was complicated but… long story short… Baby Dragon calls us 'Mom' and 'Dad' because of that. That's… it."

Silence.

Then—

Relieved sighs all around.

Darian exhaled like he had been holding his breath for an hour.

Selene clutched her chest, muttering something that sounded like a prayer of thanks.

Aurelia visibly deflated, tension draining from her shoulders.

Luca almost heard the collective thought:

That's it?!

Darian stood up swiftly and bowed deeply to Celestia.

"Your Majesty, I sincerely apologize you had to witness this chaos!"

Selene followed with a proper curtsey, voice earnest, "Please rest assured — I will make sure no one mutters a word about this!"

Celestia finally spoke, calm as ever:

"I don't really care. Even if it spreads to the entire world."

Dead silence.

Everyone turned to her with the same expression:

What does that mean you don't care?

Aurelia was the first to react — slamming her foot down.

"No! It can't be known to anyone!"

All eyes snapped to her.

Her cheeks reddened as she stumbled over her words:

"I-I mean— Luca still has an academy to attend! It would make his life difficult if this spreads!"

Celestia paused. Considered.

Then nodded once — crisp and regal.

"Makes sense."

Everyone — everyone — sighed in relief.

The storm seemed to pass.

…Until Celestia turned toward two silent figures — Elowen and Sylthara.

Her crimson eyes sharpened.

"Now," she said, voice edged with authority.

"Shall we address our guests' problem?"

A spacious private chamber within the Valentine estate had been hastily converted into a formal council room, the atmosphere thick with unease and unspoken fears. Celestia sat at the head of the polished rectangular table, her regal posture commanding the room without effort. Baby Dragon was nestled securely in her arms, tiny hands clutching the Empress's armor with stubborn determination, her little tail curled possessively around Celestia's waist as if she refused to be separated even for a second.

To Celestia's right, Luca sat stiffly, every movement careful — each breath seeming too loud in the heavy silence. To her left, Darian remained upright in a perfect, knightly posture, though his tightly pressed lips betrayed the chaos brewing inside him. The others — Aurelia, Kyle, Selena, Lilliane, Vincent, Elowen, and Sylthara — sat along the sides of the table, each bearing their own mix of wariness, confusion, and lingering embarrassment from earlier.

Celestia finally spoke, her voice steady and resonant — a tone that could bend entire nations to her will.

"The elves of elven forest are now permitted to reside and work freely in the Empire."

Across the table, Sylthara's breath hitched — her golden eyes trembling as hope flickered to life for the first time since the tragedy. Elowen bowed her head quickly, fingers curling together in a quiet attempt to maintain composure.

"For all settlement needs," Celestia continued, without pause, "proper resources — land, shelter, food, and protection — will be granted under my direct authority."

Baby Dragon responded with a happy little chirp, wriggling deeper into Celestia's arms as if proud of her mama's generosity. The Empress didn't react — but a soft rub of her thumb against the tiny horns was enough to make it clear she wasn't as emotionless as she appeared.

Her gaze slid toward Darian.

"And should further support be required, Sir Darian Valentine — lord of these lands — will personally ensure every elf is accommodated and allowed to rebuild their lives in peace."

Darian blinked once — a rare slip — before quickly lowering his head in a respectful bow, suppressing the shock tightening his jaw.

"As Your Majesty commands," he responded, though confusion lingered in his eyes.

Then Celestia leaned back just slightly in her chair, her presence expanding without needing to raise her voice.

"To facilitate stability, the taxes of the Valentine Territory will be halved for the next three years."

It was as if the air itself froze.

Darian's eyes widened — truly widened — for the first time in Luca's life. Everyone's gaze narrowed a fraction — recognizing that this decree went far beyond a simple act of charity.

And Luca — even Luca — turned toward Celestia with a bewildered look that silently asked:

why go this far?

The answer didn't come, not in words. But the way she kept Baby Dragon close, the way she allowed the little one to cling to both her and Luca… it hinted at truths the room wasn't ready to confront.

Darian, finally regaining his voice, rose and bowed once more — his tone firm but grateful.

"We are deeply honored by such trust, Your Majesty. The Valentine family will do everything within our power to meet your expectations."

Celestia's chin lifted ever so slightly, acknowledging the pledge without theatrics.

"If no one has further questions," she declared, her gaze sweeping across the room — leaving no room for argument — "this discussion is concluded."

The room remained silent, the weight of her decree and its unspoken implications sinking into every heart present. Baby Dragon, blissfully unaware of politics and scandal, nuzzled her cheek against Celestia's armor and let out the softest, most content sound — a tiny rumbling purr.

And though she did not show it, the faintest shadow of a smile threatened the corner of Celestia's lips.

The heavy doors of the conference chamber closed behind the last person, leaving silence in their wake. Only four figures remained beneath the high, vaulted ceiling — Luca, Darian, Celestia… and the tiny dragon curled stubbornly in her arms. Selene entered quietly then, wiping her hands after ensuring the maids were properly settled.

Celestia let out a small exhale — poised, but undeniably weary. "I have spent enough time here," she said, her voice soft but firm as she adjusted the dragonet in her hold. "I must return to the palace. There are matters that need my immediate attention."

Luca and Darian both bowed in acknowledgment — not surprised.

But before Celestia could even shift the little dragon away, tiny claws clung tighter to her armor— threading through the silk as if terrified she would vanish.

"No!" The baby dragon's voice cracked, raw with childish desperation. She shook her head violently, crimson eyes filling with shimmering tears. "No leave! Mama stay! Mama… Papa… stay!"

Her tail fluttered anxiously against Celestia's sides — frantic, pleading. The Empress froze for a heartbeat, distress flickering across her features — her composure threatened by the trembling bundle pressed to her chest.

Luca stepped forward, hands raised slowly, soothingly. "Hey… hey, it's okay," he murmured, trying to coax the dragonet into loosening her grip. "We're not abandoning you. Her Majesty just needs to—"

"N-NO!" The dragon wailed, tail wrapping tight around Celestia's wrist. "No go! No go!"

Even Celestia's calm mask cracked — lips parting, a quiet gasp escaping as the little claws pricked through fabric into skin. She tried to gently pry the tiny hands away, but each attempt only made the child clutch harder, a trembling whine escaping her chest like a wounded creature's plea.

"I understand," Celestia whispered, voice barely steady as she brushed a tear off the dragon's cheek with her thumb. "I promise I will come back. You are safe here… you have Papa and—"

"NO! Mama stay!" The dragon sobbed harder, pressing her forehead desperately into Celestia's collar, refusing even to look up.

Luca and Celestia exchanged helpless glances — neither immune to the pain in those small, trembling words.

Selene, who had been silently observing with conflicted eyes, finally stepped forward. She looked between the Empress and the child — and swallowed nervously before speaking.

"Your Majesty?" she ventured, her tone careful, almost timid. "Why don't you… perhaps spend a little more time with her? Just… for now?"

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