Chapter 373: Dramatic Irony!

Jax's words hung over the Royal Court. For several seconds, nobody moved or even breathed too heavily.

The vast chamber, which only moments earlier had been filled with whispers and political discussion, had become completely silent.

Queen Althaea stared at Jax, her sapphire eyes widened. The King's expression had changed as well, though in an entirely different way. The imposing ruler who had approached Jax with the authority of a King now stood completely still.

His fingers slowly curled.

"Say that again."

His voice was quiet.

Jax looked between the two rulers.

"Princess Seraphina is alive."

The silence shattered.

"Alive?!"

"What did he say?!"

"The Princess is alive?!"

All of the various ministers and commanders in the room finally got out of their shock and began to talk loudly, expressing their shock at what Jax said.

"Silence!"

King Thalorien's voice exploded throughout the chamber, his mana surged outward. The Royal Court immediately fell quiet again, but this time, nobody could hide the shock on their faces.

Jax could see everyone staring at him, but Jax's attention remained on the Royal Family.

Queen Althaea had risen from her throne. She took one step forward and then another. Her movements were slow and hesitant, as though she was afraid that moving too quickly might somehow cause the words she had just heard to disappear.

"Where is she?" The Queen's voice trembled as she inquired.

Jax's expression softened, "She's in the Demon Kingdom."

The Queen stopped, "In..." Her lips parted, "The Demon Kingdom?"

"Yes."

The King immediately looked toward Jax.

"Explain."

There was no hostility in his voice now. There was something far more intense, just intense desperation to learn about his daughter.

"Alright." Jax said,"It's a long story."

Thalorien's expression didn't change, "Then tell it."

Jax nodded and he began to tell the story about how he had saved the Princess, and when he mentioned the Church, a dangerous pressure slowly spread through the chamber.

The King said nothing, but Jax could feel his anger. Thalorien's mana was rising like an ocean before a storm.

Jax continued his explanation, "They had been captured during an attack."

Queen Althaea covered her mouth.

Jax's eyes moved toward her.

"I don't know the exact circumstances surrounding every individual capture. Some of the Merfolk had been taken at different times."

He paused.

"But Seraphina was among them."

The Queen's knees nearly gave out.

"Althaea!"

King Thalorien moved instantly. He caught her and the Queen grasped his arm.

Her entire body trembled.

"She..." Her voice broke, "She was captured?"

Jax nodded, "Yes."

Tears immediately filled her eyes.

For months upon months, she had not known the fate of her own daughter. Every possibility imaginable must have crossed the Queen's mind.

But apparently, the truth had been worse than any of those possibilities. Her daughter had been alive and suffering all that time.

Jax continued quietly.

"The Church had attempted to enslaved her." The words struck the chamber like a weapon.

Queen Althaea's eyes closed and another tear escaped her eyes.

"No..."

The King looked toward Jax, his expression was terrifying.

Thalorien's mana exploded from rage.

~BOOOOOOOOOOOM!~

The entire Royal Court shook. Several ministers stumbled backward. The water throughout the chamber surged violently.

Jax remained exactly where he was.

The King was furious at what he was hearing, dark blue mana flowed around his body as his eyes became increasingly dangerous.

"The Church."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

Jax nodded.

"The Church."

Queen Althaea's breathing became uneven.

She looked toward Jax.

"Was she hurt?"

Jax answered immediately.

"When I found her, she was alive."

The Queen's eyes remained fixed on him.

Jax continued.

"She was frightened."

Althaea broke. Her tears began falling freely. King Thalorien immediately wrapped his other arm around his wife.

She leaned into him. The powerful Queen of the Merfolk Kingdom no longer looked like the ruler depicted in the murals Jax had seen throughout the palace.

She looked like a mother, a mother who had spent months wondering whether she would ever see her daughter again.

"She kept asking about home," Jax said quietly.

The Queen's fingers tightened around the King's clothing.

Jax's expression softened further.

"But she's safe now."

Althaea looked at him.

"She's..."

Jax smiled.

"She's been staying in Aeternum Noctis."

The Queen blinked.

"With you?"

"Not in my bedroom, if that's what you're wondering."

The Court went silent.

Jax raised an eyebrow.

"...That was a joke."

A few people stared at him.

Jax sighed.

"Tough crowd."

For perhaps the first time since the conversation had begun, King Thalorien's expression shifted slightly.

Jax continued.

"She's been living in the Royal Guest District." The Queen slowly lifted her head, "The Royal Guest District?"

Jax nodded.

"She has her own residence."

Several ministers exchanged looks. Jax continued explaining, "I had accommodations specifically designed for Merfolk constructed for her."

"She's been cared for properly."

He glanced toward the Elder Merfolk standing in different parts of the Royal Court, "I also made sure she had other Merfolk around her. People who understood her culture and could make her feel less isolated."

One of the elderly Merfolk ministers slowly spoke.

"You rescued others as well?"

Jax nodded.

"Yes."

The old Merfolk stared.

"How many?"

Jax thought about it.

"Enough."

The answer caused several expressions to change.

King Thalorien slowly looked toward him.

"Where are they?"

"All still in the Demon Kingdom until further notice," Jax explained and the King nodded.

"We're going to see Seraphina." The King finally spoke after a moment of silence.

The Queen immediately nodded, "Yes."

Several ministers suddenly began speaking.

"Your Majesties!"

"The Kingdom requires..."

"Your safety.."

"You cannot simply..."

King Thalorien raised one hand and everyone immediately stopped. His expression became terrifyingly calm.

"My daughter has been alive for months."

Nobody spoke as the King continued, "And she was almost enslaved."

The darkness in his eyes deepened, "While I sat upon this throne believing she had simply disappeared."

Thalorien looked toward the ministers.

"Do you understand what that means?"

Nobody answered.

Jax watched quietly. The King looked back toward Jax, "If she is truly safe..."

His voice became quieter, "I will see her."

Queen Althaea stood beside him with a nod.

The King sat in thought for a moment before speaking, "Captain."

Vaelor immediately bowed, "Your Majesty."

"Prepare an escort."

The captain nodded.

"Immediately."

Several guards began moving.

Jax watched them.

Then held up a hand.

"Actually."

Everyone stopped.

Jax smiled.

"You don't need an escort."

The King frowned.

"Why?"

Jax's golden mana began gathering around his feet.

The Queen's eyes widened.

Jax looked toward the Royal Family.

"Because I can take you there."

Silence.

King Thalorien stared.

"You can?"

Jax nodded.

"Of course."

Vaelor frowned.

"Across the ocean?"

"Yes."

The King looked toward him.

"The distance between the Merfolk Kingdom and the Demon Kingdom is,"

"Very large."

Jax interrupted.

Thalorien stared.

Jax smiled.

"Which is why I'm not swimming."

The Queen covered her mouth.

A faint laugh escaped her.

Jax looked pleased.

"That joke was better."

King Thalorien slowly shook his head.

"You truly are ridiculous."

Jax grinned.

"Thank you."

The King looked toward Queen Althaea.

Then back toward Jax.

For several moments...

Nobody spoke.

Finally, Thalorien smiled.

"Very well, Demon King."

Jax nodded.

"Jax is fine."

The King raised an eyebrow.

"Jax."

Jax smiled.

"Thalorien."

Queen Althaea looked between them.

Then laughed softly again.

For the first time since Jax had entered the Royal Court, there was genuine warmth within the chamber.

But beneath that warmth something else remained.

The Church.

The people responsible for Seraphina's capture.

The unanswered question surrounding how the young Princess had been taken.

And whatever consequences would eventually come from the revelation that the supposedly righteous organization had tried to enslave the daughter of the Merfolk King and Queen.

Jax's smile slowly faded. There would be time to deal with that, but first, a daughter had waited months to see her family, and a mother and father had waited just as long to discover whether their child was alive.

Jax looked toward the enormous palace windows.

Beyond them...

The vast ocean stretched endlessly into the darkness.

Far away...

Across unimaginable distances...

Seraphina was waiting.

Jax looked back toward the King and Queen.

"Let's go see your daughter."