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Elisha stepped forward to greet King Enzo, approaching him with a warm smile."Thank you for coming so soon, King Enzo," she said, her voice steady. Enzo placed a hand on the hilt of his sword, which he had left behind before departing. "We are the first to unite," he replied. "That's right," Elisha confirmed, gesturing to a young girl who had been standing apart. "This is Rania, responsible for organizing the soldiers." "As ordered, Princess," Rania replied, bowing slightly. Elisha turned back to Enzo. "I'll give you a report on the situation. Follow me." Enzo followed Elisha to her tent, where several maps were spread across a table."Vaizel's mountains cover a vast area, but they aren't steep, which might prevent anyone from sneaking between them," Elisha explained. "Let's hope the same holds true for the monsters, allowing us to eliminate the easiest path when they decide to leave the mountains. This should give us an advantage when the time for battle arrives." Enzo stepped closer, concern etched on his face. "I'm glad to see you, though I worry about you being on the front lines." "I've told you before, my beautiful appearance hides what I truly am-a fierce warrior capable of ending any enemy.My father knows this, which is why he sent me to the front lines." "Your father is the king; it should be he who is here," Enzo countered, his voice firm. "My priest is protecting the kingdom at the city gates, ensuring that if we can't stop the monsters, we have a defense in place," Elisha replied, her tone resolute. "I came here and left my kingdom unprotected." "Your kingdom is larger than mine. Let's talk about memories first-this is where the doors to Hades will open, turning this place into a battlefield." "You're right; I wasn't being objective.I'm just worried about you," Enzo admitted, his gaze softening. "I appreciate your concern, but don't worry. I'm not a princess who needs protection." "We all need someone to guide and protect us at some point in our lives, no matter how strong we are. I learned that recently." "I suppose you have a point," Enzo conceded, though he felt uncertain about how to approach Elisha. She was so strong and brave, so confident in herself that he wondered if she ever thought of him, or if he was merely a fleeting thought in her mind. Elisha caught him staring. "What's going on?" "Nothing!" he stammered."Don't stop looking at me like you want to ask me something," she pressed. "If you want to say something, just tell me. You know I dislike beating around the bush," she added, her tone playful yet serious. "Just tell me what there is between us," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Elisha stepped closer, her expression thoughtful. "What kind of relationship do you want us to have?" That was a question he hadn't even considered. Enzo fell silent for a moment, and Elisha smiled gently. "I ask you to prepare a tent for yourself.You should go and rest as long as you can; you have a long journey ahead of you." As she turned to leave, Enzo reached out, grasping her arm gently. "Do you want us to be together?" "I've already expressed the kind of relationship I want with you; it was you who didn't want to continue," she replied, her voice steady. "I-" Elisha caressed his hand, which still held her arm, moving her fingers up to his shoulder. "I suppose you expect me to give you an answer, but I won't. If you want something with me, be brave and tell me." Elisha pulled away from him, freeing herself from his grasp."Otherwise, control yourself and don't confuse me." With that, she stepped out of the tent, leaving Enzo behind. He hesitated, unsure if he should follow her. He had longed for this moment with Elisha, but he never imagined it would unfold like this. He was drawn to her beauty and strength, but their paths had diverged long ago, severed when their childhood engagement was broken. They were not destined to walk together. While he pondered this, Hans entered the tent. "Your Majesty, your tent is on the other side.noveldramaYou should rest for a while; we don't know when we will be attacked." "Yes, let's go," Enzo replied. Once inside his tent, he removed the heavy armor he wore, wiping the sweat from his brow with a damp cloth. He lay back on the bed, staring at the floor, lost in thought about his conversation with Elisha. Meanwhile, Cira was making her way toward the desert, where the keys to Hades awaited her. Though her final destination was Vaizel's mountains, she could feel something dark and powerful calling to her, even from a distance.As she crossed the desert, Cira spotted a large camp at the foot of Vaizel's mountains, marked by the flags of both the kingdom of Xurt and the kingdom of Laios. A chill ran through her; her brother should have been in that camp. Cira's body trembled as if something within her urged her to descend. But she couldn't, her body moving as if controlled by unseen strings. The keys of Hades commanded her, ensuring they would not lose sight of her presence until it was too late. When the doors of Hades opened, a new kingdom of shadows and darkness would rise to govern the world.