Meanwhile, within the secluded pocket dimension that had hosted their previous sparring matches, a different kind of tension was brewing. In the center of an open, idyllic field, two figures stood facing one another—Princess Eltreth and Khione.
A heavy silence fell, broken only by the whisper of a non-existent wind. Two pairs of eyes locked in a silent duel: molten orange gold meeting glacial crystal blue. An invisible current sparked between them, a palpable force that made the very air hum. It was Khione who finally broke the standstill, her voice as crisp as midwinter frost.
"You summoned me here. State your business."
Eltreth released a soft sigh, the sound carrying a weight of resignation. She had hoped for more subtlety, but the ice queen's demeanor forbade it. She needed to know the lay of the land before she could make her move.
"Very well, I shall be direct," Eltreth began, her gaze unwavering. "What is the nature of your relationship with Nero?"
