"Wenwu gave a token bow. 'I have seen the Princess Royal.'"

"Did you get it?" Desmona asked, her face full of anticipation.

"Mm."

"Perfect." A smile unlike any she'd ever worn spread across Desmona's face.

Hadi cleared his throat. He'd never seen her so genuinely happy. With him, she always seemed to be going through the motions. Since Wenwu arrived, her attention had stayed fixed on him, which irked Hadi deeply. Outside public settings, he called her "Mona." "Mona, what has this friend brought that makes you so happy?"

"Something I've always wanted."

Hadi hit a soft wall. "Oh? Some precious gem or rare flower?"

"Hmph, shallow," Desmona snorted, turning away. "You come with me. Hadi, wait outside." She headed toward her bedroom.

Wenwu nodded respectfully to Hadi before following her inside. He didn't notice Hadi's twisted expression. As far as Hadi knew, Desmona's bedroom was off-limits to all but royalty, servants, and her royal knight Mirantha. Not even he, her fiancé, was allowed in. Now she'd invited a stranger right before him. Though their statuses differed, the Emperor had betrothed them. This was a blatant slight. Hadi tried to follow but Mirantha blocked his path.

"Lord Hadi, Her Royal Highness wishes you to wait outside. You know her temper well." Hadi recalled her last anger—two months without seeing him, smoothed only by the Emperor's intervention. Resigned, he dragged a chair to the door, hoping to eavesdrop. Mirantha let him sit there.

"Quick, give it to me!" Desmona urged impatiently. Wenwu pulled the Divine Tree Seed from his pocket and handed it over. She stared at it for a long moment, her joy fading instantly.

"Well... I didn't get the Elven Heart, but I heard this seed works just as well," Wenwu explained quickly.

"Just as well? It's not even close."

"This—"

"If I'm not mistaken, this is the Divine Tree Seed—the Elvenfolk's greatest treasure. Far superior to an Elven Heart." Joy returned to her face. Wenwu breathed a sigh of relief.

"How did you get it?"

"I—"

"Never mind. The process isn't important."

"Your Royal Highness, shall we discuss the reward?"

"Of course. What would you have me do for you?"

"Well... hehehe... Since I brought something better than an Elven Heart, can I get extra payment?" Desmona understood. "Very well. Collect the money from Mirantha later. But for the other request, it's not convenient now. Here." She extended a slender finger, tapping Wenwu's chest. A sharp, fleeting pain shot through him. "I'm placing a Dark Magic mark on you. It'll track your location. Silently chant my name three times in your mind, and I'll sense it. If I'm free, I'll teleport over to fulfill my promise. Hey, are you listening?"

Dizziness washed over Wenwu after the pain. He lost his balance and toppled toward Desmona.

"Ah!" Desmona instinctively cried out, catching him in her arms.

"Mona, what's wrong?" Hadi burst through the door at top speed—Mirantha couldn't stop him. He saw Wenwu embracing his fiancée. "M-Mona... what are you doing..."