CHAPTER 48: THE BROKEN PLAN

Evelyn froze.Her lips parted, but no words came out. She shook her head slowly, as though trying to erase what she had just heard.

"No... that’s not..." Her voice cracked, and she clutched her chest. "That doesn’t make sense."

Caelen and the others stood just as stunned, unsure how to even react. Emma’s eyes darted nervously between Evelyn and the queen, while Lucy gripped her wrist like she needed to steady herself. Silver only frowned, quiet but unsettled.

Evelyn finally found her voice again, louder this time, sharp with disbelief."I don’t understand this! You’re his mother? You? That’s insane just saying it out loud!"

Her anger filled the chamber, but she could not deny the weight pressing against her. Everywhere she had gone since coming here, the elves had recognized her as one of their own. Even the queen, before knowing her name, had sensed the truth. She couldn’t run from it.

Caelen stayed quiet. He knew Evelyn had to face this, and that only Emma really understood the depths of her past.

"What the hell is going on?" Evelyn shouted again, her eyes burning with frustration. "I thought elves didn’t—couldn’t—procreate with humans. Explain this! Explain it now!"

The queen, Elunara, sat calmly on her throne. Her composure never cracked, her beauty radiant even in the tension. She rested her chin on one hand, and her voice remained smooth."Calm yourself, child. I did not know your grandfather had a child. That... is news even to me."

"I don’t care about the child part!" Evelyn shot back, stepping forward before Caelen gently caught her shoulder. "Were you involved in the curse on my family? Were you part of it?"

Her voice trembled with rage. Caelen squeezed her shoulder, trying to steady her. "Evelyn. Don’t. We talked about this. Don’t throw yourself off the edge."

Elunara tilted her head, her sharp blue eyes narrowing as if she were studying Evelyn more carefully than before. "I see now."

She let out a long, slow breath and leaned back, her tone softening, almost weary. "When I crossed into the human world, I did make a choice. I chose to have a child. Unlike your kind, we carry them for ten years. That time is immense for a human. I shortened it... but in doing so, I failed."

Her words echoed in the chamber.

"The child—your grandfather—his lifespan was shattered. He lost ninety percent of what should have been his life. Yet he survived over a hundred years, longer than most of his kind ever dream. That was because of me. Because of what I gave him."

Evelyn’s fists trembled. "You... did what? But my father—"

Elunara cut her off. "Your father knew. I told him plainly that his bloodline was unstable. That he should never pursue children, for their sake. His life force was fractured. If he ignored that, his children would inherit that pain. And yet, here you stand."

Caelen finally understood, the puzzle pieces clicking in his head. Lucy and Silver exchanged confused glances, both realizing they had been left out of truths Evelyn had kept hidden even from them.

"No!" Evelyn shouted. "No, don’t twist this! Don’t put this on him. Don’t you dare blame my grandfather for your mistakes!"

Her voice shook with fury, her crimson eyes glowing faintly. Caelen frowned, leaning close to Emma."Can you calm her?" he whispered.

Emma bit her lip. "I... maybe. But she needs to let it out. If I interfere too soon..."

Caelen grunted, frustrated. We’re not here for a damn family argument. We came here for an elf—now it turns out the elf is the queen herself. Impossible.

He pushed the words into Emma’s mind through his link skill. She stiffened but nodded, unwilling to break Evelyn’s moment.

Elunara studied them all carefully, her gaze lingering on Caelen for a second before returning to Evelyn. Her expression hardened, the casual mask slipping away."So. You want vengeance then? Your family lies broken because of me. Do you strike me down here? Will that heal the wound in your heart?"

The chamber grew colder. Evelyn’s lips parted, but no sound came out.

Elunara rose from her throne, her long dark veil trailing behind her as she descended the short stairs with measured steps. Every step echoed through the chamber like a hammer blow. Lucy’s instincts screamed danger, her palms slick with sweat. She knew the queen had read Evelyn completely.

"It doesn’t take a genius," Elunara said, stopping directly before Evelyn. Her presence was overwhelming, her sapphire eyes locked onto the younger elf. "You want to kill me. To claim vengeance for your family. But tell me—what would that give you? To see them again? To punish me? To slap me across the face like a child?"

Her tone cut deeper than any blade. Evelyn’s chest rose and fell sharply, her anger clashing with despair.

"I gave him life. I ruined it, yes. I will not deny that. But I also made him the man you hold so high in your heart. Without me, there would have been nothing to admire. Nothing for you to inherit."

Evelyn’s eyes flared redder, brighter than Caelen had ever seen. He turned quickly to Emma. "Now!"

Emma raised her hand, her spell ready—yet nothing happened. The magic fizzled, the aura collapsing around her like smoke in the wind. Her eyes widened in horror. "It’s not working—"

A wave of clarity suddenly hit her, almost as if something inside her had been snapped into place. She glanced at Caelen, guilt filling her eyes. He clenched his jaw but didn’t speak, his instincts screaming at him to hold.

Elunara’s voice softened, almost breaking."Do you think I enjoyed this? Do you think I liked waking every morning without my child at my side, unable to hear his laugh, unable to see him grow?"

Her words struck even Caelen, forcing him still.

Evelyn’s breath hitched. Her anger faltered for the first time.

The queen’s gaze swept down, her eyes catching Evelyn’s darkened skin as if it mirrored the past she could never erase.

"You can hate me. You can try to kill me. But answer me this: if your grandfather truly wanted salvation, why did he never return to me? Why did he never walk the same path you just walked to stand here before me?"

The question cut Evelyn deeper than anything else. She staggered back slightly, her expression shattering.

"You mean... he could have?" she whispered.

"Yes." Elunara’s eyes dimmed, the weight of years pressing through her voice. "I could have saved him. Saved you all. But he turned away. He cast me aside. And I cannot hate him for that."

Silence fell. Evelyn’s crimson glow faded, replaced by confusion and pain. Her knees weakened as her grandfather’s image blurred in her mind. Everything she thought she knew—her father’s warnings, her family’s tragedy—now twisted into something uncertain.

Did I miss it? Did I refuse to listen when he tried to tell me? The thought struck her like a blade.

Elunara turned, her veil flowing like water. She spoke again, calmer now."You are not the same as when you first entered this hall. The truth has already changed you. I will send someone to show you around the palace. When asked, you will say I required your presence personally. That is enough."

She stopped, glancing briefly at Caelen. "And you... incubus... we will speak later. There are questions only you can answer."

Without another word, the queen walked toward the far side of the chamber. Her footsteps faded into silence, leaving the group in stunned stillness.

Caelen caught her before her knees could hit the marble floor. Evelyn’s whole body trembled, and the moment his arms wrapped around her she shouted, her voice cracking through the vast throne room.

"Caelen, what is this? Why did things turn out like this? Everything was coming along so nicely.

I have riches... gained an amazing friend... even more friends. I even learned to trust again, to open my heart just a little. I even got cured. And after all that, the world still wants me to keep crying, again and again. What did I do to deserve this?"

Her words broke into sobs, her nails lightly digging into his back as if to anchor herself. Caelen hugged her tighter and pressed his hand gently against her back, rubbing slow circles.

"I’m sorry I watched you go through that," he whispered. "I couldn’t even do anything to help you."

His voice was steady, but inside he hated how powerless he had been.

Emma, Silver, and Lucy stood nearby in silence, each watching with different expressions. Emma’s face was soft with worry, her hands clasped tightly together. Silver’s usual sharpness was dulled, her lips pressed shut, eyes lowered as though giving them space. Lucy stood with her arms crossed, her brows furrowed, not in anger, but something heavier she refused to show.

No one spoke. No one dared to break that fragile moment until faint footsteps echoed across the hall.

Evelyn stirred in his arms, peeking up from his chest. A young elf approached, her bright green hair catching the faint glow of torches.

She moved with the same grace as Elunara, though far lighter, almost playful in the way her steps carried her forward. Her face carried an enchanting charm, the kind that made even her simplest smile disarming.

She gave a courteous bow. "The queen has sent me. She asked me to guide you all to the baths and provide proper clothing."

Caelen adjusted his hold on Evelyn, nodding politely. "Thank you."

They followed her out, taking the opposite path from where Elunara had gone. The wide halls stretched endlessly, lined with banners of deep blue and gold. Light poured through the high windows, catching on the polished floor so it gleamed like water under sunlight.

Evelyn remained cradled in his arms as they walked, her breathing slowly steadying, though her eyes stayed on the floor, heavy with exhaustion.

Lucy broke the silence when they neared another wide corridor. "Hey. About this place we’re going to... the baths. Is there any chance we could have baths? You know, separate areas?"

The elf guide glanced back at her, tilting her head. "Are you not all his women?"

Lucy froze, caught off guard. Her face flushed as words failed her. Before she could say anything, Silver stepped in sharply.

"No. We are not all comfortable with his presence."

The elf blinked, then gave a small nod. "I understand. In that case, there is another bath not far from here. It is also connected to a private room."

Lucy quickly latched onto that. "Good. Then those two can take it."

She gestured casually, and Emma and Silver. Both gave small nods of agreement.

Caelen couldn’t help but smile faintly at how smoothly they settled it. "Thank you," he said, meaning both the elf and his companions.

Lucy caught the look on his face and turned red, snapping at him in a fluster. "W-what are you smiling for? Aren’t you going with them?"

He shook his head, shifting Evelyn slightly in his arms. "No. I’m leaving with her."

Emma and Silver exchanged a glance but said nothing, simply following the elf as she gestured them toward the secondary bath.

Caelen, Evelyn, and their guide separated from the group, continuing deeper into the corridors until they reached another wide archway.

The elf stopped at the entrance and bowed lightly. "This is it. I’ll leave you both here."

She turned gracefully and walked back down the hall, her figure soon disappearing into the golden light.

Now alone, the sound of trickling water echoed faintly from beyond the arch. Caelen glanced down at Evelyn in his arms. She was calmer now, though her eyes were still faintly swollen from her earlier outburst.

"How are you feeling now?" he asked softly.

Evelyn gave a tired but honest smile, resting her head lightly against his chest. "Messy. But I’m getting better... I guess I’m starting to get used to this feeling."

Caelen frowned. "You shouldn’t. Don’t let yourself get used to pain like that."

He nudged her shoulder gently and tried to lighten his tone. "Come on. Let’s take a bath. Hopefully it’s something like humans use."

His words carried a small smile. Evelyn blinked up at him, then chuckled quietly despite herself. The sound was faint, but it warmed the air between them.

"Then let’s see," she said, nodding.

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