The Guardian gods Chapter 848

For an extended period, Ripple remained speechless, observing the flickering candlelight reflect in his eyes. "Despite your strong opposition to her actions," she softly inquired, "I've observed that you haven't actually rejected the marriage proposal."

Wulv responded with a dismissive headshake, a sharp breath escaping his nose. "That's because I never considered it a viable option from the outset. I intend to send their envoy back without a deal in a few days. There's nothing to discuss."

Ripple offered only a knowing smile in return. She reclined, her eyes sparkling with a gentle, playful light. "You won't do that," she murmured. "Because no matter how much you try to deny it, you cherish your little sister. You saw the pure joy in her eyes and the way her face lit up when she read that proposal, didn't you?"

She tilted her head, her voice softening with affection. "I understand you well, Wulv. Ultimately, you will do what brings her happiness."

"I may have to disappoint you there," Wulv countered, his voice regaining its regal sternness. He slowly shook his head. "This is a matter of statecraft, not a matter of the heart. For once, her desires must be set aside. The stakes are far too significant for mere sentimentality."

A profound silence followed his pronouncement. Ripple observed him for a considerable moment before giving a slow, elegant nod.

"It appears someone else wishes to speak with you," she declared, rising from the sofa. "See you later, darling." Just as she had appeared, her form began to dissolve into a soft blue mist before vanishing into thin air, leaving him in the quiet solitude of the office.

The moment Ripple disappeared, the heavy office doors creaked open once more. A woman entered, her presence exuding such authority and her features bearing such a resemblance to the Princess that she appeared as a more mature, formidable version of Lunara herself.

"Stepmother," Wulv acknowledged, immediately standing to greet her.

Amethyst did not reply immediately. Much like her daughter had previously, she subtly inhaled the air with a sharp intake. She drew in the faint, sweet, and potent elemental scent that Ripple had left behind, her gaze following the subtle blue shimmer that was still fading at the room's edges. She then turned her cool eyes toward Wulv.

"Lady Ripple is now a member of this family," Amethyst stated with conviction. She moved across the room and occupied the exact sofa Ripple had just vacated. "She has no need to withdraw when discussions regarding the well-being of this entire household are brought to the forefront."

Wulv returned to his seat, inclining his head in a gesture of respect. "I shall convey your sentiments to her. I know it would bring her immense pleasure to hear such an endorsement from you."

Amethyst rolled her eyes, a gesture of casual dismissal. "This isn't the first time I've voiced these words, nor is it the first time I've received that exact, rehearsed response from you."

"My apologies, then, my lady. I will ensure she is genuinely informed this time," Wulv replied, his expression remaining a stoic, unreadable mask.

Amethyst sighed. "This demeanor of yours... it is precisely why your sister has become who she is."

Wulv's brow twitched, the sole indication that her words had struck a sensitive chord. "I disagree. My approach is the very reason she has reached the Fifth Tier today. Without my guidance, she would likely still be wandering aimlessly, having never found her true path."

The room fell silent as Amethyst absorbed his statement. Finally, she broke the quiet. "You are indeed correct about that," she admitted, her voice carrying a subtle undertone of bitterness. "However, both you and your father bear responsibility for her conduct. I distinctly recall being labeled the antagonist whenever I suggested she was being overly indulged."

A flicker of memory crossed Wulv's eyes, causing his expression to darken into a deep frown. Amethyst noticed the subtle shift instantly, the sharp edge of her criticism softening as she recognized the old wound she had inadvertently touched.

"I apologize," Amethyst said, her tone hushed and genuinely regretful. "I never intended to stir up such memories."

Wulv remained still for a prolonged moment. At length, he waved a hand in a dismissive gesture, as if dispelling shadows. "There is no need for apologies. You were right. Father and I allowed the past to dictate our actions for far too long. In those days, we were helpless; we couldn't protect anyone, nor could we provide the solace our family deserved."

He gazed down at his desk, his voice trailing off. "Lunara represented an opportunity, a chance to rectify those past failings. We yearned to grant her the life we could not have. It worked for a time, until we realized our protection was inadvertently becoming her confinement. Father lacked the resolve to address it before his ascension, but I am not him. I possess the fortitude to do what is necessary."

The air in the chamber grew thick with silence before Amethyst shattered it. "What is this I am hearing about a marriage proposal? And does it involve the human who has been loitering in our home?"

Wulv acknowledged her question with a nod, proceeding to narrate the entire situation. It was hardly surprising that she remained unaware of the kingdom's intricate political maneuvers; as a Dragon, she was bound by ancient covenants to maintain impartiality and detachment from the machinations of the world's dominant powers, even after marrying into the very core of one.

Once Wulv had elucidated the Silver Kingdom's scheme and Lunara's complicity, Amethyst released a lengthy, weary exhalation. "Ah, my imprudent daughter."

Her gaze fixed upon Wulv, her eyes alight with a mother's deep-seated worry. "Does she not comprehend the untenable situation she has thrust you into? More alarmingly, does she grasp the repercussions for herself? Did you impress upon her that by aligning with one prince, she irrevocably brands herself an adversary of the other? In the human realm, such an affront is seldom overlooked."

Wulv sighed, the burden of the evening finally pressing down upon his shoulders. "No, I did not. My anger consumed me, and I dismissed her. I could not bear to entertain her absurd notions and delusions for another moment."

"However, I suspect she erroneously believes her mere friendship suffices as protection," he went on, a grim humor tingeing his tone. "She likely presumes that whichever prince she favors, the other will passively accept it due to affection. Or perhaps..." He paused, and despite his simmering rage, a faint, incredulous smile played upon his lips. "Perhaps she imagines she can simply have them both." As the words escaped him, Wulv couldn't help but scoff at their sheer absurdity.

Amethyst shook her head in utter exasperation, her digits rhythmically tapping against the armrest of the sofa. "And how do you intend to address the Silver Kingdom's overture?"

Wulv lapsed into silence, his gaze inadvertently drawn to the parchment still resting where Lunara had left it. "To be candid? I am awaiting correspondence from the People of Björn. They are expected to arrive shortly with a proposal of their own. My intention was to allow this situation to resolve organically through their arrival; once the envoys from both realms inevitably cross paths within my domain, the palpable reality of their discord will serve as my explanation."

"This would have provided ample justification for me to dismiss them both, but such a convenient outcome is now unlikely," Wulv stated, his voice grim. With an elegant flick of his wrist, a luminous glass panel shimmered into existence, functioning as a localized scrying mirror.

He swept his hand across its surface, and the image coalesced to reveal a magnificent estate situated within the neutral territories. Two distinct standards fluttered defiantly in the breeze: the gleaming chrome emblem of the Silver Kingdom and the robust, fur-trimmed sigil of the People of Björn. Beneath these banners, diplomats and guards representing both nations were observed entering the same edifice with a measured, palpable tension.

"The Silver Kingdom executed this maneuver with flawless precision," he remarked, indicating the spectral tableau. "Our informants within both courts have just furnished the pertinent details. The Silver Kingdom abruptly initiated a high-level summit concerning matters of national boundaries, while simultaneously lodging a formal complaint demanding the restitution of an artifact they allege was purloined by the Björn."

He expelled a sharp, exasperated breath. "By ensnaring the Björn in a diplomatic entanglement on their own sovereign ground, the Silver Kingdom has effectively ambushed them. They have ensnared the Björn in protracted negotiations while their own envoy expedited their journey here to establish initial contact. Given their preemptive arrival and the caliber of their envoy, they have deprived me of any pretext. I am now compelled to render a direct response to an offer that has yet to be met with a counter-proposal."

Wulv commenced rubbing his temples once more, the returning headache clearly asserting its dominance. "They have transmuted a marriage proposal into a strategic pincer movement."

Amethyst observed the fluctuating images within the mirror for a spell, her eyes mirroring the cold, calculated strategic brilliance of the unfolding scene. "As this predicament stems from Lunara's interference," she declared, her voice resolute and devoid of sentiment, "I believe the responsibility for its resolution rests squarely upon her shoulders."