When I stepped into the portal, my vision blurred. A wave of dizziness hit me, making me feel disoriented until I finally landed on different ground. The sensation around me was completely different from Zestella's royal castle.
I could hear people running around, shouting, with some wearing pale expressions, and others looking conflicted. They were of various races, all from Sancta Vedelia. They appeared to be high nobles from every country, assembled here for some reason.
But I had no interest in them.
I scanned the area, desperately searching for my mother. My amber eyes wandered over every corner, behind people, and on the ground, wondering if she might be lying injured somewhere.
No matter how thoroughly I looked, I couldn't see her nor feel her presence anywhere.
Then, I heard a familiar voice, filled with sobs. It was my sister, Christina. She was speaking with a white-haired girl with horns.
My attention quickly shifted to Christina, who was crying. My expression twisted slightly at the sight of her tears.
The last time I saw her cry like that was when we reunited after years of separation, and I had hoped that would be the last time she would shed such tears.
"Christina," I called out to her.
"...!" Christina, who had been hugging the white-haired girl, shivered and turned around.
Upon seeing me, more tears escaped Christina's eyes, and she rushed toward me, pulling me into a tight embrace.
"A-Amael!" she cried, her sobs echoing in my chest.
"What happened?" I asked, gently patting her back.
She began to speak, but her words were a jumbled mix of tears and confusion, filled with anger, confusion, and despair. Despite the disjointed words, I could understand everything she was saying.
My mother had been kidnapped by him.
These were the two main pieces of information.
"It's okay, sister," I said, hugging her back and patting her soothingly.
"W-WHY? I-I can't... it's always us..." she cried, her voice filled with deep anger toward the endless misfortunes befalling our family.
"Look at me, sister," I said, meeting her amber eyes, which were the same shade as mine. "She isn't dead, right? Mother isn't dead, okay?"
"Y-Yes..." she nodded.
I smiled and wiped her tears away. "I will bring Mom back. I promise you, sister, so don't cry. You need to be very strong from now on, okay?"
Christina clenched my shirt and nodded. "I-I will take care of the kingdom. They need to know..."
"Good, go ahead. I will join you later," I said, giving her head a reassuring pat.
My gaze followed her as she borrowed another portal, taking her straight to the Olphean Kingdom.
As soon as she disappeared, all the emotions behind my smile vanished as well.
"In any case, let's proceed with the vote. Who votes to postpone Alea's matter to prioritize the upcoming war?"
Three hands raised first.
Then the remaining two.
"Then we don't need to consider Namys' and Melfina's votes. We have the majority in any case of their decisions," the old man said.
I stepped forward before they could leave.
"May I vote as well?" I asked, raising my hand with a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes.
"C-Connor Olphean?" sputtered the man with reddish-brown hair, his eyes wide with shock as he looked at me.
The others around him wore various expressions of surprise and disbelief, except for a few. I particularly noticed Tanya Teraquin and Alector, the Guardian of the Tree, who looked equally stunned. Lazarus Raven's crimson eyes were narrowed as he studied me.
"No, Karl. He is Amael Idea Olphean. Alea's youngest son," Alector finally said, recovering from his shock and looking directly at me.
"What? I thought he died when he was a kid or something?" Karl replied, still bewildered.
"I also thought that..." Tanya added, her eyes glaring at me. "And this face, it's different, but he is the one Alea brought from Celesta, claiming he was Thomen's son."
"It looks like she lied to us, and he is indeed her son then," Jefer said.
"You take it rather easily, as if you knew it already, Jefer," Tanya retorted, but Jefer remained silent.
"Ahaha. Interesting, interesting, truly interesting," a laugh cut through their discussion.
It was Lazarus, his twisted smile reminding me of Cyril's, but even more sinister.
"Kleines' youngest son?"
"Connor's younger brother too?" He asked, his piercing eyes seeming to want to devour me.
I met his gaze. "Yeah."
Lazarus stared at me for a moment before retreating. "Your mother has been abducted by your father. She is a lost cause. Focus on your new role, one your brother was incapable of fulfilling."
"Lazarus," Claudia frowned.
"I'm saying it for his sake, don't look at me like that," Lazarus laughed.
"As much as I hatefully don't appreciate your suggestion, I will try to be nice. I would like to inquire about the peculiar inconsistencies surrounding this sudden attack on one of the most protected places on this Earth," I cut in, stepping forward.
"Watch your tongue, boy," Lazarus muttered, his earlier smile completely gone.
"My tongue is as pink as yours, Head of the Raven House," I replied. "The only difference is that I—"
"Edward Falkrona," Claudia interrupted, her warning glare halting my words.
I smiled at her and continued, my gaze fixed on Lazarus Raven. "The only difference is that I don't use it to spew bullshit on a daily basis."
A powerful shockwave filled with intense killing intent surged towards me but was diverted to either side of my face. A curtain of white hair flowed in front of me, revealing the young woman who had been with Christina. She stood protectively before me, her sword raised to counter a pale hand with sharp nails—Lazarus' hand.
I could see her arm trembling as she held the sword, but she stood her ground against Lazarus Raven, a Demigod.
Lazarus' lips twisted into a smirk. "There, there. The daughter of that mad Emperor of Redhorah. He really did a number on you, didn't he?" He muttered, his eyes drifting to Myrcella's protruding horns.
It was Myrcella, as expected.
I didn't need to see her face to understand the immense hatred she was holding back, but she didn't respond to his provocation.
Lazarus seemed to enjoy this even more.
"Kleines raised you, yet you let him die. Then Connor, and now your guardian in Sancta Vedelia was kidnapped right in front of you. What use are you anymore, Myrcella Redhorah? Even with all the gifts they gave you, you are still... so weak."
Myrcella didn't react, but I could see her shivering back, struggling to contain the anger that could destroy this entire place.