Nevare and her entourage arrived just as the sun emerged, casting light on the high walls of Heles City. They reached the East Gate, the only gate connecting Heles to the Bog Forest.

This was the same gate where Nevare, once known as Anna, had waited for her friends to hunt red bear cubs in the Bog Forest.

Nevare could still spot the bayan tree where she had stood, waiting with a frustrated expression. She remembered that moment vividly, as if she could see it with her own eyes.

But the young girl with short white hair was gone, replaced by an adult woman with long silver hair.

The tomboy who had dreamed of becoming a powerful mage known throughout the ages had vanished. In her place stood a grand queen whose purpose was to ensure the glory of her species.

Her once simple attire—a rough, loose light blue cloth covering her belly and a plain, square-edged leather breastplate—had been replaced by a magnificent gown and a crown made from mutated animal bones, enhancing her beauty, elegance, and majesty.

What was once a beautiful but thorny girl had transformed into a magnificent queen.

As Nevare and her party approached Heles City, she became increasingly aware that Anna was no more; only the Progenitor Queen remained.

Nevare straightened her posture, feeling the weight of her people’s hopes and dreams on her shoulders.

She raised her hand, and the powerful monsters surrounding her instantly halted and bowed their heads.

She descended from her chariot, moving with a grace and majesty that inspired both awe and reverence in all who saw her.

Dozens of mages who came to greet her sensed the noble aura she exuded. They no longer felt any carnal desire for her beauty, only admiration for her authority.

"Welcome to Heles City, Nevare the Prince Consort. Or perhaps more accurately, welcome back," greeted the lead mage, standing at the forefront of the others.

Nevare nodded and responded in a soft, measured tone, "Just call me Nevare. That name alone carries great honor among the arions, and I would be pleased if you used it. You are right, it is good to be back! May I know your name, honorable mage?"

Before the mage could respond, Artur suddenly appeared, grabbing Nevare’s arm. "Nevare, hurry! Mother and Father are waiting for you. They came to welcome you too!" Artur exclaimed excitedly.

The mage who had welcomed Nevare frowned at Artur with displeasure.

As a Level 4 Constellation Mage, his power was equal to Artur’s, which should have afforded him equal respect.

However, he could say nothing about Artur’s rudeness, given that Artur was backed by Robert, the only son of Stent Gaht.

However, Nevare did not fear Robert as the mage did.

She roughly pulled her arm free from Artur’s grasp and spoke with a voice full of anger, "Can’t you see I’m talking to someone? Don’t you know it’s rude to interrupt a conversation? Didn’t your parents teach you any manners?"

She vented all her frustration accumulated during the journey. Sharing a carriage with Artur had truly tested her patience.

Luckily, Nash had been nearby to divert Artur’s attention. Without Nash, only two people, not three, would have emerged from the carriage.

Artur was shocked by Nevare’s harsh tone but lowered his head and stepped back.

Even so, Nevare could still see the displeasure on his face. He seemed completely oblivious to the reason for her anger and unconcerned about the mage he had interrupted.

"Can you continue what you were saying, honorable mage?" Nevare asked, trying to contain her frustration with Artur.

For now, she had to be patient until the time came to open Pandava’s portal. She promised herself that she would torture Artur before beheading him with her sword.

"Ah... thank you, Nevare. My name is Antony. I am the leader of the mage squad tasked with guarding Heles City during the war with the demons," Antony said with a grateful smile, appreciating Nevare’s rebuke of Artur.

"I also thank you, Antony, for welcoming me to your city. Although I was once a resident, given my current position, I am now merely a guest here. If you permit, I would like to meet my parents first before we begin my welcoming ceremony," Nevare replied.

"Of course, Nevare. I understand you must miss your parents. I’ve heard about your disappearance in the Bog Forest many years ago."

"Thank you, Antony. I appreciate your understanding," Nevare said.

"Certainly," Antony said, stepping aside to let Nevare pass.

Without further ado, Nevare and her entourage entered Heles City, and once again, she was hit by a wave of nostalgia. As she walked further, familiar voices reached her ears.

"ANNA!"

"MY DAUGHTER!!"

Nevare turned and saw her parents running out of the crowd toward her. She opened her arms wide and embraced the warm hug of Gilbert and Cila.

Tears streamed down her parents’ cheeks, and from their attire, Nevare could tell they had been waiting a long time for her arrival.

Nevare released the embrace just before Artur could join them. Now, she was as tall as she had been in her human form when she was still Anna, so she had to look up slightly to see Gilbert, though not with Cila.

"Father, Mother, can we continue our conversation at home? My arion friends are quite tired from their journey, and I have to attend the welcome banquet soon," she said.

"Of course, I have many questions for you! I’ve heard your story from Artur, but I want to hear it directly from you," Cila said, wiping her tears.

Nevare smiled before turning to Antony. "Antony, could you take my group to their accommodations? I only need three of my sons to accompany me to their grandparents’ house. Gupita, while I’m with my parents, I hope you can lead the others."

"Of course, Nevare," said Gupita and Antony in unison.

They then parted ways, with Nash, Kuja, and Acel following Nevare to the Morris residence. Along the way, Nevare proudly introduced her three sons to Cila.

"Anna, why are they so grown up already? Didn’t you marry only twelve years ago?" Cila asked, confused.

"Ah, Mother, arions grow much faster than humans. Similar to werebeasts, arion children reach adolescence in just eight years and adulthood in fifteen," Nevare explained.

"Does that mean they also have a short lifespan?" Gilbert asked.

"Not quite. They stop growing at twenty and enter old age at eighty."

This is not the actual lifespan of an asura but rather of an orc. Luna had researched the ancient orc genes still present in those who hadn’t evolved. Her research showed that an orc would remain in their prime for sixty years, then age rapidly, with their bodies expiring within five years.

"Oh, I see," Cila nodded.

They continued to chat leisurely as they walked. Gilbert and Cila asked many questions about Nevare’s life in the Wilwatikta Kingdom.

Nevare had prepared her alibi well, ensuring her parents wouldn’t be suspicious. Although Gilbert and Cila were ordinary humans and not mages, Artur’s current status effectively made them a noble family.

Although they were not involved in the politics of the Human Alliance, this was not the case with the Valya House.

The moment Artur was recognized as a descendant of Valya, Cila automatically resumed her status as a Valya princess, and Gilbert became a son-in-law of the Valya House.

Nevare didn’t want to make any mistakes that might arouse human suspicion and hinder their plans.

Gilbert and Cila also asked many questions about Nash, Kuja, and Acel, which they answered as pre-arranged.

However, none of Gilbert and Cila’s questions touched on Moku. This made Nevare suspicious, but she had a feeling her parents would ask about her husband once they reached their home.

At first, Nevare thought her parents were merely hesitant to discuss a royal figure in public.

However, when they reached the house, her suspicions grew significantly. This feeling intensified when Gilbert separated Nevare from her three sons and took her to a closed room with Cila and Artur.

Though she couldn’t detect anything with her Mana, Nevare’s experience allowed her to sense the presence of others surrounding the room.

A high-level spell masked the Mana activity, making it undetectable. Despite this, Nevare’s danger instincts alerted her that she was not safe.

She maintained her composure, acting as if she hadn’t noticed anything suspicious about the room.

Nevare quickly deduced that the people she sensed were mages, likely from the Valya House. Artur’s unusually forced calmness indicated to Nevare that this was his plan.

He had probably informed all the Valya House mages, including Cila, that Nevare might have been brainwashed by the arions. More precisely, that Moku had changed Nevare’s way of thinking, making her no longer the Anna they knew.

Despite this, Nevare remained calm, having anticipated this situation. Given Artur’s jealousy and selfishness, he would not let Nevare be without reclaiming the Anna he loved.

"Anna, can you tell me about your husband, Moku?" Cila asked calmly.

At that moment, Nevare deeply regretted not having incinerated Artur with her lightning during their earlier journey.