CHAPTER THIRTEEN

King Venir welcomed his son, Prince Edon, with a face laced with anger as he strode into the grand hall of the palace. The atmosphere was heavy with tension, and the courtiers watched anxiously as the king's voice resonated with authority.

"How could you venture into the Forbidden Forest, and alone at that?" King Venir's voice boomed, his disappointment evident. "You managed to return unharmed during the hunt, and yet you decided to go back in there? You are lucky you only sustained injuries. What if you had died?"

Although Edon sat quietly, his head bowed in respect, his mind was still preoccupied by the vivid memories of the mystical girl, Iana. Her radiant smile as she spoke of the wonders within the forest, the way her silver eyes seemed to hold ancient secrets—these thoughts overshadowed his father's scolding.

Princess Cirena, observing her brother's distant expression, recognized that Edon's heart was somewhere far away. She understood the yearning for adventure that burned with