Word of the emperor's return circulated through the lands and spread new hope. Most were glad to hear of the empire's return and about the demons allying with them once more. Some opposed, but they were quickly shut down by their respective rulers who stood to their decision.

With the addition of three new kingdoms and the marches freed to be used for expansion, plenty of changes kept everyone occupied. Scholars visited their lands, learned about the ancient titans and gained knowledge about healing by the nymphs. The merchants found new routes to offer their wares wherever people lived and Seonghwa's family found themselves constantly travelling back and forth around the empire to tend to its development.

There was much to do. Initiations for their new allies and reparations to pay by the demons. Seonghwa ruled from the titan caves for a while, but it became impossible for news and couriers to reach him timely, so they focused their efforts on healing the Crystal Sphere and creating new living spaces for the elves there.

The demons offered their physical strength to help them rebuild. Many from the lower level of their caverns came to find their luck out in the world and Seonghwa made sure they were adequately paid and fed. The seraphim insisted on keeping watch over their work, but no one dared make trouble. Together with the dwarves, they used special sleds to bring the leftover wood from the orc forts through the Glistening Walnut Grove and into the Crystal Sphere to construct housings there. Jongho managed to mobilise some golems to help, forming humble rock huts from the ground to grant the workers their own roofs.

Seonghwa and his elves got busy with the dryads and nymphs in the meantime. They poured all their magic into the soil, coaxing forth new trees and guiding the rivers back into their original flow before the war shook the land at its core. As fresh greens finally broke through the ashes, they convinced the animals and the fairies to return to help them restore nature to its former glory.

Aodhán and a few mages specialising in nature magic also helped and step by step, day by day, they broadened the radius around their first elven settlement and brought back more trees. Below the ashes and the blood, the landscape still trembled from fear, but it was glad to strive again once it realised the sorrow was over.

The titans gifted them some of their lushest trees. Brought them personally from the Ruins of Gods to plant them where the new castles would rise. They towered as landmarks across the barren fields, laden with fruit and nutrients that fell to the soil to speed up its healing. In only a few weeks, they covered the entire ground with fresh plants and they grew at supernatural speed thanks to everyone's combined efforts.

Seonghwa's other husbands also stayed involved. Either in taking care of the diplomatic side of things or helping by hand.

San was declared as the leader of Seonghwa's personal guard. He trained a new elite of volunteers in sword-fighting and archery. Though he would always be the first to rush to Seonghwa's aid in any emergency, he enjoyed educating some backup soldiers in case something like the dryads or Yongguk ever happened again. It gave him purpose, and the new recruits looked at him and his little second and third in command full of awe.

Yunho became an officer for the general army, consisting of elves and seraphim and humans who would heed the call for any war in the future. Other allies would join for an emergency, but they had no options to train in the Crystal Sphere for months. So Yunho commanded only that fraction and inspired them to adopt war dogs as their loyal companions. He even persuaded King Richard to send soldiers to help the elves, and the grumpy man ultimately gave in.

Mingi and Morana had plenty to do with the demons, but they stayed consistent despite the occasional sharp remark. The demons had a hard time adjusting to their new queen, but Morana didn't permit any disobedience while they were on the surface. Her words snapped like a whip whenever someone made a nasty comment about the elves and Yeosang had to tug her off a demon once when she started a fight over a comment that the elves should go back to getting bred instead of trying to build houses. That demon didn't show up again afterwards, so it was safe to assume Morana turned her into a public warning towards everyone else.

Wooyoung and his gryphon-borns were their caterers. They brought fish and birds they hunted to make sure everyone was well fed and they fetched bags full of treasure from Seonghwa's buried hoard to finance their new community. Though the dwarves generously offered to build a quick supply line into the treasure hoard, Hlin had rejected the idea with a perfect grin. They provided all the gold needed from the treasury and funded tools and aid from the dwarves.

On every evening after a long day of work, everyone gathered to celebrate another success with good food and drink. They made unlikely friendships with folks they had never known before and the demons eased up around them once they realised they weren't considered weak up on the surface, but were thanked for their kindness instead.

Seonghwa's plan to provide schooling for the goblin children also came along. A few elves offered their expertise to sit with the kids before the noon and teach them about elven customs. They taught them their connection to nature, traditional dishes and named them in the elven tongue. Though some of them were rowdy, their instincts weren't inherently evil since they were so young. Thistle proudly hung out with them and told them about the happiness she found among her people.

On some days, it was difficult to balance being an emperor with aiding the folk all day long. Plenty of people needed Seonghwa to confirm official writs and take care of diplomatic envoys, but he was busy tending to flowers with Yeosang. Their days were long as he did every task after the other and he often found himself falling asleep the second he lay down after dinner, curled up against whichever husband was closest to him.

But all their hard labour bore fruit.

Soon, the elves could move into their first settlement. It wasn't enough space for everyone, but those who had to flee from this village in the past got to go back home. The sprouting trees shrouded their clearing of soft grass, and they had unearthed some hidden belongings on their way out of the soil. Many pots and cups could be salvaged, and the elves wove carpets and blankets while the demons built for them.

It was the first village of many, but Seonghwa couldn't be prouder of their combined effort. As the elves went to work producing clothes and food for their kin, the demons moved on to the next village, then the next.

Aodhán was gifted a lute by a musician once he had a home again, and Jongho received a new xylophone. On late nights, they played music together to ease the hearts of those who struggled during the day. Yeosang got to bask among the tall trees and the fairies played in his branches as he listened to the stories of the soil.

Aside from Thistle and Morana dancing under the moonlight whenever Morana stole away to regret being a queen at her young age, another grand moment breached their camp one day. The demons were carrying logs, which the dwarves hammered into beautiful and safe shelters for the elves. Seonghwa was handing out food as they took turns with working and resting, and Aodhán was with him to boost morale with his adorable glow.

A rare visitor came by with Yunho. He rode in on horseback, Buddy dashing by his side and a few other of his kind following through the young forest. When Yunho hopped off his horse, he unveiled the girl who had been sitting behind him. He helped her slip down, and she brushed out her skirts and clutched a basket in her hands. When she came right in their direction, Seonghwa looked up curiously, barely in the getup of an emperor right now with his hair messily tied back and his sleeves rolled up. (Wooyoung almost passed out seeing him like this, but San had protested that he should do anything that might cause Seonghwa strain.)

Only when Aodhán lifted his head, however, Seonghwa realised who it was.

"Lioba!" Aodhán gasped and his blush was rosy on his cheeks when he hastily towelled off his hands and dusted off the flour from his clothes.

The girl was human, and her brown hair tucked under the headscarf. Her smile was shy and her blush matched Aodhán's when she handed the basket his way.

"I met your father on the road and asked him where he was going. He told me what you were doing here, so I wanted to bring you some bread to support. My mother said I could help if you needed extra hands."

Aodhán tried to glare at Yunho and smile at Lioba at the same time, ending in a grimace. Curious, Seonghwa took his break, and another assumed his spot as he towelled off his hands and joined their little round.

"We are grateful for any support; thank you. If you wish, you may help us here," he addressed her with his singing voice and she just nodded in awe at his peculiar appearance.

Aodhán broke out of his icy film when he realised they had never met.

"Oh! Athair, this is Lioba, my... friend from the bakery near father's hometown. Lioba, this is my other father."

Seonghwa chuckled into his hand because he was well aware of who she was. He rarely saw his charming young son so flustered, but he had been plucking his fingers raw on his lute to learn how to play for her.

Lioba's face slipped once she realised.

"Your Majesty!" She gasped, immediately curtseying deeply. "My apologies; I didn't expect you out here!"

Seonghwa smiled at her manners despite her humble origin.

"Right now, we all work together as equals. So please, be at ease with me. I would appreciate your talents here." He nudged a subtle elbow into Aodhán and the boy hastily nodded.

"Yes! You can help us feed people. Don't be afraid of the demons around, it's a safe place. And thank you for your gifts..." He peered into the basket, where a soft cloth covered her creations. She placed a few flowers she plucked on the way on top, and Aodhán battled with a fond grin.

"Then I'll gladly serve. Please, show me what I can do," Lioba smiled and Aodhán rushed off, babbling too many words at once, but he held a polite distance to her as he showed her around. Seonghwa snickered at their backs when Yunho stepped to his side. He greeted his husband with a kiss to his cheek as he peered at the blossoming couple as well.

"I couldn't not tell her how heroic he is, helping everyone here. Not to worry, I kept his lute and poetry as a surprise," Yunho confided, and Seonghwa sighed at the display of their affection. Though he didn't quite have the same opportunity to find love, he was glad Aodhán could have it. Not to say love couldn't be anywhere.

"Take a break with me?" Seonghwa suggested, taken with Yunho's new medal that assigned him as commander and which he wore every day. He had pinned it elegantly to his pale silver cloak and when he followed the elf, he carried himself with pride.

They sat down together for a meal and Wooyoung joined them sometime later to catch them up about their progress in restoring a nearby lake for the elves to gather water from. Lillwen was there in person to bend the water to their will, making it flow upstream to gather in the big basin, but it took time, even with a bunch of nymphs.

After their break, everyone went back to work and thus, they spent the rest of summer to bring back their home before the temperatures would drop.