CHAPTER 50: THE QUEENS’S BARGAIN

"What?" Caelen frowned, confusion clear on his face as he looked at Elunara. The elf queen was smiling at him like she had already won something.

"You heard me," she said simply.

Caelen glanced at the glowing window screen in front of him, then back at her. His doubts grew heavier. "What exactly do you want?"

"I want that thing," Elunara said, tilting her chin toward the floating screen. "The thing sustaining it."

Her tone was calm, casual, but it made Caelen tense. Now he was sure. She really was after the system—or at least whatever connected to it. But that wasn’t something he could hand over, even if he wanted to. It wasn’t just his lifeline; it was his. And besides, could she even remove it from him? Maybe.

She was powerful, no doubt. But it had come from that mysterious, shadow-like woman, and Caelen doubted she would just allow it.

"You know," Caelen said firmly, eyes narrowing, "even though Evelyn didn’t grow up alongside you, she really is your granddaughter. And even if the is a relationship between you, I have to say, no thanks."

Elunara didn’t flinch at his refusal. She just smiled slightly and said, "Oh well. Then maybe after you’re done with it, you can give it to me?"

"After I’m done with it?" Caelen repeated, his tone sharp.

The queen’s expression didn’t change. "Well... you’ll see when it happens."

Caelen didn’t like the sound of that. He was unfamiliar with the limits of the system, and even his [primordial birth] skill still felt like an unfinished puzzle. Energy control—especially demon skills and lust powers was what it focused on most. With Lucy’s help in training, he’d begun to piece things together, but it wasn’t enough. This wasn’t something he could gamble away.

"Your Highness," Caelen said, his voice steady but edged with urgency, "I really need that information. It could help me, and your granddaughter. Don’t you care about her?"

Her face remained unreadable. For a moment, Caelen thought she might actually soften, but instead she said, "I don’t see myself benefiting in this. If I give something, I want something back."

Caelen bit down a curse. "Can’t you ask for something else? Something reasonable"

"Reasonable things," Elunara said, voice smooth as glass, "will not be useful to me."

He exhaled, trying to control his frustration. "Then how about this? Wait a few years or something. By then, I’ll have something of worth. I’m sure of it."

The queen tilted her head, her cold blue eyes narrowing. "You’re sure? You sound so full of yourself. I’ve read about your kind, you know. The charm, the seduction... Incubus who could twist entire courts around their faces and fingers. But you?"

Her lips curled into the faintest smile. "You’re so weak, I don’t even need a barrier to shield myself from your presence. You don’t compare to the stories."

Her words cut, sharper than he expected.

"You know," she continued, "our race almost fell because of your kind."

Caelen’s eyes widened. "What?"

She didn’t blink. "Your type. Incubi. They nearly brought us down."

Shock flickered in him, followed by anger. He shot back quickly, "I wasn’t there. Don’t put that on me. And I swear I won’t let that happen. Not again."

Elunara studied him for a long, quiet moment before saying, "If you say so."

Caelen clenched his jaw. This was going nowhere. Every time he pushed, she shifted, turning it around without giving him ground. He thought back to her earlier words about demons attacking elves, and his mind clicked.

"What about the other elves?" he asked suddenly. "Do they have information about demons?"

"Maybe," Elunara said. Her voice was neutral, her face unreadable. "And even if they do... why should they give it to you?"

He grimaced. She was right. Why would they? To them, he was still an outsider—and worse, a demon. He lowered his gaze briefly, thinking, then lifted it again.

"The dark elves," Caelen said slowly. "They’re demon elves. They’d have the information. They’re literally demons themselves, with demon energy. They’d know."

For the first time, Elunara’s expression shifted slightly, though only by a fraction. "You are right," she said softly.

No smile. No change in her eyes. Just flat agreement.

Caelen leaned forward slightly. "Then where can I find them?"

Her reply was as smooth as before. "They have a leader, you know. He’s not the friendly type and will kill before you ask for anything. Trust me, I know."

Caelen narrowed his eyes, studying her carefully now. Her expression hadn’t changed once, her tone hadn’t cracked. She was leading him along, keeping him guessing.

Why was she doing this? Was she just playing with him? Testing him? Maybe... maybe the mother wasn’t as bad as she looked. Maybe, in her own twisted way, she was hinting that she might help cause this is not going anywhere.

Caelen’s chest tightened. He wasn’t sure yet. But he needed to know.

Unexpectedly, Caelen felt a change run through his body, a weight pressing down as his energy scattered. His silver hair dulled, strands fading back into black, and the crimson glow in his eyes dimmed to their ordinary dark hue.

The power that had filled the air around him, which made him feel a bit more confident, intoxicating, and undeniable, slipped away like smoke vanishing into the wind.

He exhaled quietly, flexing his fingers, realizing his demon form had reached its end.

Elunara’s gaze followed every shift, sharp and curious, her head tilting slightly. She had seen that form moments ago, and now it was gone, as if it had never existed.

"You changed... back into a human," she said, her voice calm but carrying a sting of judgment. "And not by your own will. It seems you have a time limit."

Her blue eyes narrowed. "Tell me, are you truly a demon?"

Caelen looked at her, unbothered by the edge in her tone. "Yeah," he admitted. "But not fully."

Her lips curved downward in disappointment, and for a moment, her regal posture hardened. "Wow," she said flatly. "So you need a time limit just to become what you claim to be? Is your sole purpose to disappoint me?"

Caelen’s face didn’t change. He had heard worse. He didn’t answer her provocation, simply letting the insult hang in the air before cutting forward. "Would your mother help me get what I want?"

The sudden shift in his words made her blink, confusion flickering across her expression. "My mother? You... want her help?"

"Yeah," Caelen replied casually, as if the matter was obvious. "She might give me something useful instead of running me in circles or trying to toy with me."

Elunara folded her arms, lips twitching as if the comment annoyed her. "She might help you."

"Great," Caelen said, his tone still level. "Am I guaranteed she won’t kill me?"

That earned a small smile from her, sly and knowing. "Yeah... she won’t kill you."

His eyes narrowed slightly. He could read the weight behind her words, what she didn’t say. She’ll hurt me or something. That’s what she’s hinting at.

He considered it. Pain wasn’t the same as death. Death was game over, but hurt? Hurt could be recovered from.

"Fine," Caelen said simply. "I’ll speak with her, then."

Elunara tilted her head back, looking upward toward the unseen space above them. Her lips parted. "Okay," she said quietly, then louder, "Mother, your turn, I guess."

The air shifted instantly. The pressure in the atmosphere thickened, a ripple of darkness sliding across the ground like a wave. Shadows bled from nowhere, twisting and pulling into a single point. The surface of the floor itself seemed to dip and warp, and out of it emerged a figure.

She rose slowly, composed, regal, her presence undeniable. A woman with features mirroring Elunara’s, but sharper, older, and more dangerous. The faint smile she wore was not the smile of a queen, but of a predator amused with the prey she had cornered.

"My turn, she says," the woman spoke, her voice deeper, more commanding, yet carrying an almost playful edge. Her eyes lingered briefly on her daughter before shifting toward Caelen.

Caelen stood straighter unconsciously. Her presence pressed into him harder than Elunara’s had. Still, he didn’t flinch.

The woman stepped close, each movement precise, until she was directly in front of him. Her gaze swept him slowly, as if weighing his worth. "What is your name?" she asked.

"Caelen," he replied evenly.

"Caelen," she repeated, tasting the syllables. Then, with a faint smile, she said, "My name is Seralyth Sylraen."

From behind, Elunara’s voice cut in, sharp and dismissive. "Her name doesn’t match her. Don’t be fooled."

Seralyth’s eyes didn’t leave Caelen’s. "Don’t listen to her," she said smoothly. "I heard you want demon information."

"Yeah," Caelen confirmed without hesitation.

"Good," Seralyth said, her smile sharpening. "Because I have more than enough to give. And I’ll need your help... to see the final product of my work."

Caelen’s brows drew slightly together. "What are you talking about?"

"Don’t worry," she said, brushing aside his suspicion with casual confidence. "Trust me. It might even help you charm my daughter, if you’re interested."

Elunara’s voice rang out sharply, irritated. "No, it will not!"

Her expression burned with indignation, and she stepped forward, her pride stung. "I am the queen. I will stand here and tolerate being disrespected like this." She spun away, her heels echoing against the ground, and left the space without another word, her frustration clear.

The silence that followed carried its own weight.

Seralyth’s gaze returned to Caelen, her eyes glimmering with both seriousness and faint amusement. "So?" she asked smoothly. "Are you interested?"

Caelen studied her, noting the aura that surrounded her. Unlike Elunara’s fiery pride, Seralyth’s presence was heavier, more dangerous, but also layered with... something else. She felt less like a queen and more like a ruler who had already played too many games, one who hid secrets behind her smirk.

Even if this turns bad, I can pull out. I still have choices.

"Yeah," Caelen said at last. "I’m interested."

The faintest flicker of satisfaction crossed her face.

"Alright then," Seralyth said softly, her voice carrying weight. "You were perfect before, but now... you are even more useful than I thought. I can’t wait to see what you’ll show me."

Her smile deepened, and for a brief moment, the fierceness in her eyes disappeared, replaced by something else—something dangerous, but almost affectionate.

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