"Selina." Vivienne White stepped forward, her smile brightening her already gentle features. Her expression was openly full of joy and relief at seeing her daughter.

But Selina ignored her. She gave only a brief, polite half smile before turning her attention back to Marielle and Niva, focusing on them and quietly waiting for their answer.

"It was a good and tiring experience, as you can see." Marielle laughed, gesturing toward the bags in the attendants' arms, lined up behind them like a small moving wall of shopping.

It was the first time she had gone shopping for anything other than basic household needs, and the way the shop staff kept pushing their products at them, looking like they might cry if she refused, made it even more exhausting.

Niva, on the other hand, still looked full of energy. She threw her arms around Selina and hugged her like a close friend, pressing in with ease and asking cheerfully, "Did you come to join us?"

For the last month, Adyr hadn't been spending much time with his family. Selina, in contrast, had been very attentive to Marielle and Niva, quietly filling the gaps he left behind. She was spending almost all her spare time with them, gradually becoming like a big sister to Niva and another daughter to Marielle.

She returned the hug, patting Niva's back lightly. "Sure," she said. "I know a wonderful Velari cafe with unexpectedly delicious cakes. What do you think, should we go and try some?"

As she was speaking, her gaze slid toward Vesha, a playful glint in her eyes. She added with a small laugh, "Of course, if Vesha didn't show you and let you try the cakes already."

Vesha gave her a slightly embarrassed look, her lips curling into a guilty smile that spoke volumes on its own. "Sorry, the place is just too good to be kept as a secret."

It wasn't their first meeting. During Vesha's visits to the Human City, Selina had already had several chances to speak with her, slowly growing familiar and eventually becoming friends.

The Velari cafe had also been introduced to her by Vesha, so it was only natural that she had also brought Marielle and Niva there as well.

Niva, seeing they knew each other and sensing the relaxed mood between them, grew even more animated, almost bouncing on her feet.

"No worries, we can have the second serve." She turned to Marielle, her eyes shining with excitement. "Right, mom?"

For a teenage girl like her, the idea of sitting in a cafe with new friends, gossiping about aliens over warm drinks, and eating cake that melted on the tongue was a temptation she wasn't going to turn down.

Meanwhile, while the group were chatting casually—too casually, from a certain perspective—Thalira stayed at the edge of the small circle and watched in silence.

Her brows drew together slightly as she followed each speaker, tracking a conversation she wasn't being invited into. Being ignored to this degree, treated like scenery, was something she was experiencing for the first time in her life. The weight of it in her chest was far from pleasant.

Even so, she kept her composure. She tried to stay polite by keeping her shoulders straight and her chin up. "Can I ask who you are?"

She directed the question at Selina, hoping to pull her attention back.

Unfortunately, though, once again, the one who stepped in and answered was Victor.

He moved in front of her, blocking part of her view, and bowed his head slightly with theatrical formality. "I'm Victor Bates. Best friend of the Emperor Adyr Hellcraft and his wisest advisor. You can, for short, call me Master Bates if you like."

The accent Victor had while speaking ancient Chinese twisted some of his words and made them sound off, which only made him seem more like an unserious pushover.

Thalira let the irritating parts and the odd introduction slide. She fixed on a single name instead and, after regaining her cold calm, asked, "Do you know Adyr? Do you know who my father is then?"

"Oh, are you looking for your father?" Victor asked, his expression brightening as if something had finally clicked. "That's easy, wait a minute while I make an announcement. We will find your father right away, don't worry."

He took out a small walkie-talkie from his side pocket, the metal surface catching a bit of light. Bringing it to his mouth, he spoke to the receiver with a serious expression that didn't match his earlier tone.

"Team, Victor is speaking. We have a lost little girl here with silver hair and silver eyes who is looking for her father, over."

He said it in Human language. Then he lowered the walkie-talkie, looked directly at Thalira, and switched to her language, still keeping his serious tone. "Oh, what does your father look like?"

Thalira first looked at the small device in his hand, watching his fingers rest around it, then lifted her gaze back to his face. She had no idea what kind of tool he was using, but she still started to speak, in case he could really help.

"He…"

Before she could finish the first word, Selina stepped in, cutting across the moment. Her tone was slightly stern, carrying a clear warning. "Victor…"

Victor was clearly enjoying himself, openly treating the Lunari princess like a lost child even though he knew exactly who her father was.

Selina had no intention of letting it continue. She stepped forward, placing herself more firmly in front of Thalira, and finally gave her full attention to her.

"Lord Silverlight Zephan is currently in the training area," she said, maintaining her calm tone. "It's a private area, so I'm sorry, but you can't meet with him until he leaves."

Henry had already made the proper announcement a while ago regarding Zephan and his Elders to all PTF and STF personnel, sending a clear notification through all official channels.

As the Player Commander, Selina had received even more detailed information about what was happening behind the scenes, including the Lunari now being recognized and recorded as their core allies for the future.

"I see…" Thalira still looked like she didn't like Selina, her lips pressed into a thin line. But she couldn't find any reason for her to lie. After a short pause, she accepted her words as truth.

Realizing she couldn't meet her father yet, and with Adyr nowhere to be found in this area, she turned her back on the group and started to leave.

"Wait." Selina stopped her with a softer voice this time. "We are going to a cafe to eat something. You can join us while waiting if you like."

Hearing the offer, Thalira looked at Selina's face again and saw it now smiling and very kind, the complete opposite of before, when she had ignored her presence entirely.

It was a sharp change in attitude and treatment, which Thalira found strange and a little suspicious, but she still accepted it with a short nod.

"Sure."

There was nothing else to do anyway, aside from wandering around this unfamiliar city. And while she was considering her options, she had to admit she wanted to know this woman better, since Selina had the potential to become a good rival in the future.

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