Chapter 50: Don’t Disappear Again

Daemon could not accept the sight in front of him.

Queen Morwenna — the ruler of the Elorian Kingdom, a woman who had lived for six hundred years — was crying in his arms. The tears sliding quietly down her face made something deep in his chest twist with a pain he could not explain.

He had acted without thinking. The moment he saw her break, his body moved on its own, as if it already knew what to do.

For a second, the entire hall froze.

The palace guards and several elder elves stared with burning eyes. A human had dared to embrace their Queen inside the sacred halls of the Silverheart Palace.

Killing intent spread through the air like a cold wave, sharp and heavy, all of it directed straight at Daemon.

Sana noticed immediately. Her body tensed as she prepared to pull him away before the situation could explode beyond control.

Two spear-wielding guards stepped forward, their weapons lowering into a ready stance.

Before they could take another step, Zephyra’s voice cut cleanly through the tension.

"Do not interfere."

The guards stopped at once. Even so, the hostility in the hall did not fully disappear.

Yet neither Daemon nor Morwenna seemed aware of the danger surrounding them. In that moment, the rest of the world had faded into the background.

There was only the quiet sound of her uneven breathing and the way her fingers still clutched the fabric of his clothes, as if she were afraid he might vanish if she let go.

Morwenna’s lips trembled.

"You... remember me?"

Her eyes held too many emotions at once — fragile hope, old pain, deep longing, quiet fear, and something that looked painfully like love.

Daemon slowly stepped back and lowered his head in a respectful bow.

"I am sorry, Your Majesty. I did not think about what I was doing."

The light in Morwenna’s eyes dimmed the moment she realized he did not understand her question.

Whatever fragile hope had risen in her chest sank again, leaving only a carefully controlled stillness. She drew in a quiet breath and set the matter aside, at least for now.

Roxanna stepped closer, her expression filled with genuine concern.

"Master... what happened? Why did you suddenly become so emotional? I was worried."

Morwenna reached out and gently placed her hand on Roxanna’s head. The gesture was soft and maternal, filled with the same warmth she usually reserved for only a few people.

"It is nothing, dear." Her voice cracked slightly before she steadied it. "I simply remembered something from my past."

She straightened her posture and looked at the small group gathered around her.

"Leave that aside for now. Come, everyone. Before Daemon leaves, he should eat something. He has been unconscious for six months. His body needs proper food."

Daemon no longer insisted on leaving immediately. Something about his earlier words had clearly touched a buried wound in the Queen’s heart.

Walking away right after seeing that expression on her face would have felt cruel. He quietly agreed and followed the others toward the banquet hall.

As they walked through the long corridor, Sana nudged his shoulder and whispered sharply,

"Why did you act like you know Queen Morwenna so well? Don’t do anything weird."

Daemon gave a small, helpless chuckle.

"I won’t."

"You better not."

The royal banquet hall was spacious and filled with soft green-gold light. Living vines curled along the carved silver pillars, and faint glowing flowers bloomed near the high windows.

The long table was already covered with dishes that shimmered faintly with natural energy. Morwenna took the central seat.

Zephyra sat to her left, Roxanna to her right. Daemon was guided to the seat beside Roxanna.

One by one, the dishes of the Elorian Kingdom were presented with quiet elegance.

There was Silverleaf Soup, clear and fragrant, made from rare herbs that only grew on the highest branches of the great silver tree.

Moonpetal Rice steamed gently in crystal bowls, each grain carrying a faint natural sweetness. Roasted Skydeer glazed with amber honey sat beside plates of crystal-fruit slices that released a cool, refreshing aroma with every cut.

Soft breads infused with sap from the silver tree were placed near the center, and a glowing emerald wine sparkled in tall glasses like captured starlight.

Daemon tried nearly everything.

The flavors were unlike anything he had tasted on Earth — clean, rich, and strangely comforting, as if the food itself carried a quiet warmth. As he ate, a small thought formed in his mind.

I want to learn how these are made... so I can cook them for Victoria and the others someday.

Across the table, Morwenna watched him in silence.

The way he enjoyed the food, the small satisfied expression he made without realizing it — it was painfully familiar.

In another time, in another life that only she seemed to remember, he had sat at her table and eaten the same way.

A fragile hope stirred quietly in her chest once more.

Zephyra turned toward Sana with a faint smirk.

"I never imagined you would get married so suddenly."

Sana sighed and rubbed her temple.

"Even I didn’t know until a few minutes ago. We only completed the bond earlier today."

Zephyra let out a short, genuine laugh.

"I still can’t believe you people."

After the meal, Daemon spoke privately with Sana and Roxanna near one of the tall windows. He gave them the necessary instructions, quiet reassurances, and a few practical reminders about staying in contact.

When he finished, he pulled both of them into a firm hug. Neither of them spoke much.

They simply held on for a few extra seconds, as if trying to memorize the feeling before letting go.

Finally, Daemon stepped into the center of the hall.

Everyone watched him closely, curious to see how someone from another world would leave their land.

He closed his eyes and spoke inwardly.

System. Open the Solitary Gate.

A deep blue light bloomed in the air. Wind surged through the banquet hall as a swirling gate of storm and light formed before him.

The pressure made the nearby curtains flutter violently, and several of the lighter dishes rattled against the table.

Daemon walked toward the entrance.

Just as he was about to step through, a soft, melodic voice reached his ears.

It was quiet, almost fragile, yet it pierced straight through him.

"Daemon..."

He stopped.

"Daemon... you have to return to me. I have waited for you for so long. I no longer remember how many years it has been. Please... do not disappear again, my love."

Daemon turned around, his expression filled with unanswered questions.

The banquet hall remained still. Some of the elves looked at him with open awe.

Others watched with faint unease. Sana and Roxanna stood side by side, both waving at him with gentle smiles.

Zephyra remained calm and composed, her arms lightly crossed as she observed everything in silence.

At last, Daemon’s eyes settled on Queen Morwenna.

She was smiling.

It was a soft, luminous smile that made her entire face brighten, as if the tears from earlier had never existed.

Something about that expression made Daemon’s chest tighten once more with the same strange, unexplainable longing.

He returned her smile and gave a small nod.

Then he stepped into the gate.

The blue light swallowed him whole. A few seconds later, the storm faded, and the gate closed with a quiet pulse of energy, leaving only still air behind.

Silence returned to the banquet hall.

Morwenna did not move.

Her gaze remained fixed on the empty space where the gate had vanished, as if she could still see the man who had just left her world once again, the same man she had already lost once before.