The back kitchen was quiet except for the soft sound of water trickling over the dishes. Peter stood by the stone basin, mindlessly scrubbing, his thoughts drifting like the golden rays filtering through the dusty window.
A gentle knock broke the calm.
He looked up, catching sight of Sera standing outside, her face glowing in the warm afternoon light, eyes shining with urgency.
"Sera?!" he whispered, stunned.
Before he could move toward her, the door behind him creaked open. He spun around.
It was Luna.
"Do you need help, Peter?" she asked shyly, cheeks flushed, fingers nervously twisting her apron.
He hesitated, glancing from her to the window.
"Ah… no, thank you. Just a few dishes left. I'm almost done."
She lingered a moment, searching for words, but his distracted expression held her back.
"Sorry… I didn't mean to bother you," she murmured, then quietly stepped away.
No sooner had she disappeared than Peter rushed to the window and opened it wide.
"Sera!"
"Peter!" she gasped.
Within moments, he slipped outside into the warm courtyard where she waited, and without hesitation, she wrapped her arms tightly around him.
"How did you get here? Weren't you locked up in the palace?"
She smiled faintly, eyes sparkling.
"Ilarious gave me permission to go wherever I want… with one condition."
"What condition?"
"That I don't meet any of my companions."
Peter's jaw dropped.
"He lets you roam free!? Meanwhile, Valerian ripped out my eye! Gerald made Lucas eat worms and sleep in the barn! And Markus—his whole body's bruised and beaten because of Darius Kain!"
Sera's eyes widened in disbelief.
"What!? Why would they do this to you!?"
Peter let out a bitter laugh.
"Oh, Sera… You're seriously spoiled."
High above, on a shadowed balcony, Valerian stood watching them with his usual cold smirk. A glass in hand, eyes calm and unreadable. Though standing in plain sight, none could see him—his power cloaking his presence in the minds of others.
He watched their reunion silently, then turned and stepped inside.
Deep within a private chamber, he approached a large crystal orb. With a flick of his hand, a faint blue glow pulsed to life.
Ilarious appeared inside—lounging luxuriously on a silken couch, lazily waving his peacock-feather fan.
"Sir Valerian~ what an unexpected call~" he sang with a sly smile.
Valerian's voice was cool and steady.
"Your attendant… is here. In my base. With Peter."
Ilarious blinked. Then, slowly and dramatically, he raised his eyebrows in feigned shock.
His lips curled into a mischievous smile as he pressed the fan to his chest.
"Sera! I can't believe it! How could you betray me like this~?"
He let out a theatrical gasp, voice dripping with exaggerated jealousy.
Then he chuckled softly to himself.
——
Sera grabbed Peter's hand—gently .
"Come on… let's go outside for a bit," she whispered, her eyes glowing with quiet urgency.
Peter took a small step back, shaking his head.
"I can't… Valerian… he's terrifying."
She froze.
Peter? Afraid?
The boy who mocked executioners, who smiled in the face of danger… was now trembling?
His voice dropped, softer this time:
"I'm not scared for myself… but you don't understand what he's capable of. He sees everything. Misses nothing."
Sera looked at him for a long moment. Then she smiled—small, warm, and a little sad.
"We won't go far. Just a few steps, somewhere out of sight. If he sees us, he might tell Ilarious… and I'll be in trouble."
He hesitated… then let out a slow sigh and nodded.
"Okay. Just a few minutes."
⸻
Their footsteps echoed lightly down the back alleys, far from the bustling halls.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Yet within that stillness… soft laughter floated through the air. A hint of what once was.
Words were whispered. Glances exchanged.
A fragile peace—born from shared ache.
"I'll find a way out," Sera said at last. "Even if I have to run from this place altogether."
But Peter looked ahead, more serious than she'd seen him in a long time.
"No… this is on me. I'm the one who broke everything. I'll be the one to fix it."
She turned to him, eyes filled with something between pride… and pain.
And then—something changed.
Sera slowed her steps, her senses sharpening.
She looked around, alert.
The air had shifted.
The guards were moving strangely—too fast, too alert.
Their eyes scanned the streets with hidden tension.
No orders. No alarms.
But the silence… was louder than anything she'd heard all day.
"I feel it…" she murmured.
Peter nodded, his jaw tightening.
"Something's off."
Sera stepped back.
"You should return to your quarters. Now."
"What about you?"
"I'll go back to Ilarious' palace. Don't worry… everything will be fine."
But even she didn't believe her own words.
⸻
The palace was too quiet.
Sera stepped through the grand corridor, her footsteps nearly silent against the polished marble floor.
No servants.
No echo of distant chatter.
Just that heavy, hanging stillness.
She moved slowly, cautiously, heart racing.
And then—she saw them.
Standing near the center of the hall: Aqua and Zan.
And a short distance behind them… Ilarious.
.
There was no silk fan in hand.
No teasing smile. No playful voice.
Just him… standing.
Still.
Expressionless.
Not looking at her, but through her.
Sera stopped cold in her tracks.
Both Aqua and Zan turned toward her at once—with expressions so cold, so unreadable… they were terrifying.
Before she could say a word—
Zan raised his hand.
In an instant, chains of hardened sand exploded from the ground, wrapping around her wrists with brutal force.
She gasped, stumbling back, knees nearly giving out.
"What… what is this?!"
Aqua stepped forward, voice sharp, final:
"Sera…
By order of the crown… you are to be detained."