"I wish for the Queen to escort me to the territory of the Forest Giants."

"...What?"

The cold tone of the King's voice made the gathering hall of the Frost Giants even colder. The music, the clamoring, the whispers... even the insignificant noises instantly halted as the King's words rippled through the air.

The Kingsguard that was standing by the side of the King also looked at each other, completely bewildered by the little human's words. The caterers also could not help but stop in their tracks, almost dropping the plates they were carrying.

Did the High Human just tell the King, straight to his face... that he wanted to borrow his wife? Even if he was a High Human, Raufey was still the King of the Frost Giants as well as the other races.

And with the River gone, the fastest access of the Aesir to their realm was gone; the dwarves had also been subjugated by the Sleipnir as well as the Kingsguard. Right now, after thousands of years of being under the rule of Aesir, his title had once again gained autonomy-- right now, he was the highest authority in this realm.

King Raufey might seem docile now, but he once stood toe to toe against an Aesir when he was younger. He was the reason why the dwarves have not yet completely asserted their dominance against them, even though they had the protection and alliance of the Aesir.

Although the castle may seem relaxed, its shadows were currently boiling. The reason why Lorei was brought back to the castle in the first place was that they lacked the personnel to guard the princess; the others were being trained to go to a war that might come soon.

Van was a welcomed distraction; a distraction for them to momentarily forget the brewing calamity that was slowly crawling towards them.

But to think a different calamity might happen here and now because of that same distraction. None of them had expected this kind of outcome, as the Vanir and High Humans were a completely peaceful race by nature.

Maybe they just heard wrong?

"The Princess will do as well. I just need someone that knows where their current location is."

"Do you know what you are asking me right now?"

The King then slowly stood up from his seat. Queen Nori, who was seated beside him, could not help but awkwardly look back and forth between his husband and the little human in front of her. Just what exactly was Van saying?

If she knew something like this was going to happen, then she shouldn't have approached her last night. She doesn't know what even got to her to do something like that, it was as if there was this urge to talk with him somehow.

The Princess, who was also seated near her parents, could not help but widen her eyes. She had been curious about Van ever since he suddenly appeared in front of her in the garden yesterday. She wanted to talk to him later about why she called her Artemis, but to think something like this was going to happen.

Just… what exactly was he thinking?

It would seem everyone in the hall was thinking the same thing, as the silence within their breaths danced in unison in the growing pressure in the air.

"Yes," Van did not hesitate to answer the King's question, "You do not have to worry, King Raufey. I will not let anything happen to them; I just need to go to the Forest Giants' territory to seek answers that are dearly important to me."

"Except for my wife and daughter, everyone leave."

King Raufey then raised his hand. And as soon as he did so, the staff, the caterers, and even the Kingsguard all scurried their way out of the gathering hall. The only ones that remained were the King and his family, as well as Van, who still held the same expression he had since earlier-- as if he was just asking a simple thing.

"Even inside the castle, the number of people who know that my wife has the blood of Forest Giants are lesser and few," the King then lightly pushed his table to the side, before proceeding to slowly walk towards Van, stopping just short of stomping him with his foot.

With King Raufey's height, Van had to almost twist his neck just to look at his eyes, as his eye level was not even enough to reach the King's knee.

"Tell me, how did you come by this information?"

Queen Nori was about to say something, but before she could even open her lips, Van slowly floated into the air.

"Because I am part forest giant as well," Van said without even blinking his eyes.

"..."

"..."

"...What?"

"Pft."

The King immediately glared at her daughter, who could only cover her mouth as she tried her best not to let out a giggle. Van was almost as small as a dwarf-- how could someone like that have the blood of a giant in him?

"I suppose it doesn't matter how you came to this information," the King then let out a sigh as he glanced at his wife, "I deny your request, High Human Van."

"I need to go there to find out what truly happened to the mother of my child, King Raufey," Van then said as his eyes did not leave the King's, "From one father to another, I ask this favor. It doesn't have to be the queen or the princess; I just need someone with authority to guide me there."

"Mother… You have a child with this Artemis?" King Raufey's voice then slightly turned soft as he heard Van's words.

"Yes," Van nodded before turning his eyes towards Queen Nori, "She was pregnant when we were forcefully separated by… fate."

"That…" King Raufey placed his hand on his chin, scratching his beard as he looked to the side, "How long have you last seen her?"

"...Maybe tens of thousands of years."

"I see," King Raufey let out a long and deep sigh as he once again looked Van straight in the eyes, "I know the feeling of that loss-- a day without my wife feels like a lifetime of loneliness. As a man, I understand your pain, High Human Van. Fine…

...If my wife wills it, then I shall allow her to accompany you."

"King Raufey?"

Nori could not help but blink a couple of times as she heard her husband's words. But she can't say she wasn't surprised. Her husband was… quite the romantic. With just the mention of loss and separation, he quickly broke down his guard.

"It is up to you, my love."

"That… Then I choose not to--"

Queen Nori was going to refuse. But as soon as her eyes landed on Van, she abruptly stopped her words. She truly doesn't know what it was, but the small human in front of her had this certain aura that pulled her towards him.

It was a sort of longing; not the same longing she had for her husband. If she was going to compare it, then it was more of a longing for her parents. It was truly an odd feeling, she had only met him yesterday, but it felt as though…

...she had a certain attachment to him.

Queen Nori's thoughts once again visited their conversation last night, about how Van said that he might also be their progenitor. Maybe… just maybe--

--He was telling the truth?

"My queen?" King Raufey approached his wife, who suddenly became lost in her own world, "Is something wrong? You do not have to come if--"

"I will go with him."

Before King Raufey could finish his words, Queen Nori stood up, "I shall accompany High Human Van home."

"Are you… sure?"

"Yes."

Hearing the resolution hidden deep inside his wife's voice, King Raufey could only nod his head. "Then I shall ask Grunt to select some soldiers to accompany you--"

"There is no need for that, my King," Queen Nori gently caressed her husband's cheek while shaking her head, "You need all the soldiers you can get right now. Plus, are you forgetting who I am? I fought for your hand, remember?"

"Yes, I still remember how you--"

"Excuse me."

Van immediately cleared her throat before the two lovebirds could start flirting with one another, "I have promised to keep your wife safe, and I shall do so."

"Speaking of, I still do not know how strong you are, High Human Van," King Raufey then gently nudged his wife to the side as he turned his focus back to Van, "Would you care to spar with-- !!!"

Before King Raufey could even finish his words, he felt a slight chill crawling throughout his body as the expression in Van's eyes completely changed. A slight chill-- that was impossible for a frost giant to feel, as they were completely immune to the cold.

Even when he fought with one of the Aesir, the one that was incapable of feeling pain, he did not feel this kind of pressure. The only thing he could do was freeze as the little human in front of him started to emit streaks of golden lightning.

He was thankful that his subordinates and vassals weren't here. If not, then they would see their mighty king tremble helplessly. Even Queen Nori, who was not even the target of Van's killing intent, almost grabbed the daggers she had hidden around her waist.

But finally, after a few more seconds, King Raufey was able to shake off the pressure. But instead of fighting, he just let out a long and deep sigh.

"It would seem…

...that a spar isn't necessary."