Jongho got to read the entirety of the dwarven tales from the pictures on the walls. Hongjoong was also interested, whispering with Aodhán about the history of the blacksmiths and miners who found gold and jewels and rose to the most popular trading partners in their part of the continent. 

Wooyoung, on the other hand, was disinterested. He hopped along Seonghwa's side, relaxed now that they were allowed in and not immediately captured upon entering Veg Boldhir.

"I like the dwarves. Bet they drink well," he chirped, and Seonghwa's tension melted off him when he had to smile at his excited husband. Behind him, Mingi was nervously holding on to his tail, walking in small steps since he was worried about damaging anything. Yunho's hand on his back guided him.

"Let's battle them!" Morana also cheered, always eager to drink even when her social abilities diminished so quickly and she retreated from crowds to be alone or with Mingi. Seonghwa wished she hadn't picked up that habit from the gryphon-borns and rather trusted Lillwen's flair to become a graceful princess, but it was charming in a way. She connected to these people how Seonghwa couldn't, with his elven and royal upbringing.

Hongjoong struck their troublemakers with a glare. They left Pebble to roam free, and she was standing further back at the artworks now, trying to make sense of them. Yeosang had to run to fetch her before they reached the next door.

"Not before we don't know we are safe here. Behave," Hongjoong warned them as the guide pulled the next door open.

They definitely reached the palace now.

Hidden deep inside the stone, the residence of their king was a marvel of brilliant shine. Its dazzle was blinding for a moment, unexpected even when Seonghwa heard of the riches dwarves liked to surround themselves with. 

The walls, the floors, even the ceilings carved with sharp angles into the rough rock to assume perfection, were crafted of pure gold. It was decorated with patterns like the rest of the area, deep grooves filled with liquid silver or bedazzled with gleaming white jewels. Ornate patterns swirled around colourful gems, some big as Buddy. They were showcased to the visitor, not locked up in a vault, since no one would dare steal from here and the dwarves possessed many more.

All the furniture, fire basins, lanterns on the wall were also golden. A thick blue carpet paved the way up polished golden stairs, looping in mirrored curves to meet into another corridor on top.

Everything was angular. Perfectly measured, perfectly symmetrical down to the decoration. Sturdy weapons and armour lined the wall and sentries stood in exhibition, towering hunks of metal with blades for arms. It was a show of grandeur, almost gaudy in its splendour. The display of riches was meant to intimidate the beholder, remind everyone of their place. 

Seonghwa peered at the weapons while Hongjoong sneered, finding it tasteless. Similarly unimpressed, Morana was making faces at herself through the reflective pillar by her side. 

"Hmph. Gold is boring. It's cold. It has no stories. Just shine," Jongho commented, and Yunho hastily grinned at their guide when he led them up the stairs, past the intimidating sentries that were almost taller than Mingi.

"He means well," Yunho assured the dwarf, but their guide didn't bother. He merely thrust open the last door and stepped back to allow them to cross the remainder of the blue carpet themselves. Silence fell when the door slammed shut behind their group. Seonghwa brushed off his hood and his hair spilled over his chest.

The corridor was long, leaving the visitors time to marvel at the gold and the jewels. The floor seemed translucent, granting a view of an infinity of bright diamonds as if looking into the night sky. Either an illusion or glass above the mine that reached into the earth.

Far, far ahead, golden steps rose in a pyramid to a matching throne. It dominated a spacious hall, empty aside from the spectacular seat. 

As Seonghwa led his group over, he naturally fell into pace at their tip. Taking the time intended to marvel at the dwarven ruler before they were in earshot.

"They just love to feel important, don't they?" Morana had to snicker when the corridor seemed to go on forever and the pyramid only grew before them. Wooyoung struggled with the carpet.

"Small legs, gotta make up for it with their egos," Yeosang whispered back to her, and Mingi chuckled under his breath. Yunho tried to describe the brilliant shine around them with his best words.

After more gold and more gems than any mortal could need just for decorating a building, they finally reached the front of the pyramid. Seonghwa bowed his head deeply for the dwarf seated atop his golden throne. His entourage copied him. 

"Emperor Seonghwa," the king greeted him and his voice boomed through his hall, strong and sturdy like he himself.

Nozurri Greyback was a young king. He took the throne from his father a mere five decades ago, still boasting with the energy of a warrior. His gaze was sharp, his choice of retainers selective. He was the one who struck a deal with Yongguk and the orcs, but he was also the one to welcome the elven emperor now.

The political situation with the dwarves was always cut-throat. Few of their kings had been kind people historically, caring more about profit and trade than morals and resolving their own poverty crisis. It was a difference in culture and most dwarves were happy as long as trade flowed, but Nozurri would have a thick hide and be as difficult to deal with as all kings before him. 

He got his name from the coarse grey hair that ran in his family. The Greybacks usurped the throne two generations ago and even now, other nobles regarded the position from the shadows, scheming their assassinations. Nozurri proudly fashioned his hair long and open, the crown on top of it heavy with pure gold. Thick fingers tapped on the armrest of his chair as he took in their peculiar assortment of people.

"Thank you for your benevolent invitation. I was deeply honoured receiving it," Seonghwa spoke as he lifted his head. Nozurri was fascinated with him. His head tilted, eyes tracking the part of Seonghwa he could see. His shine, his fluid grace. It was natural to elves, but his celestial heritage made him the prettiest gem to any dragon or greedy dwarf.

Tense, Seonghwa's husbands let it happen. They barely caught the king's attention as his eyes took in every impeccable part of the elf.

"I was surprised to be contacted by you. Everyone in the empire whispered that the emperor had fallen. But here you are, dazzling like a diamond."

Seonghwa met Nozurri once. At a celebration hosted by his father when he was still king and the Crystal Sphere was peaceful. The dwarven nobles rarely emerged to the surface, but Nozurri arrived for the special occasion of celebrating trade. He wore a garment spun from the thinnest gold back then. 

"I needed time to recover and here I am. Seeking your aid."

Nozurri leaned back in his chair, pleased to have the elf lower his head for him. Finally, his eyes swiped over the family, recognising them as the loyal husbands and diplomats. He looked impressed to see every single race there. If their love were any less faithful, some could have left long ago. 

"Your children are beautiful," Nozurri commented, and Aodhán shuffled shyly in his spot. Morana stared at Nozurri dead on, scrutinising his every motion just as sharply.

"Thank you," Seonghwa replied. "I left my two youngest in the safety of their home. Though I promise you an advantage for your trade, my concern is creating a safe place for my family and my folk."

"I can imagine," Nozurri hummed, wary about the golems with Seonghwa, but he didn't address them. Instead, he leaned to the armrest on his throne, invested in the deal. "In millennia of elven rule, the dwarves didn't submit to taking any side. Why would we do that now?"

Hongjoong looked as if he wanted to tell Nozurri the dwarves could be pursued for their crime against the empire instead, but Seonghwa placed a hand on his shoulder, reminding him with the lightest touch that they relied on Nozurri's help. And they didn't want to look desperate.

Dealing with dwarves was fickle. One had to offer them a deal no one else could make, ideally one no one else could outbid. Yongguk was gone, and the orcs had little grace for trade, but Seonghwa needed to count on Nozurri's loyalty until his quest was fulfilled. 

"You profit from the war, we know that. But you don't profit from the fall of the empire. With some kingdoms extinguished and the others locked away, you lose many customers. The dwarves were rarely so threatened in their export." 

Silent like rocks, his husbands attended the conversation. There was no other distraction in the room, nothing for the kids to busy themselves with. They left the political warfare to Seonghwa, trusting in the plans he made in the Ruins of Gods.

Pleased by his knowledge about the situation for the dwarves, Nozurri nodded.

"In that case, make me an offer. Your brother paid me well, but he wasn't successful against you. It seems you are my better bet."

Hongjoong's jaw flexed. Seonghwa's smile remained impeccable, singing his siren song as the dwarf was bedazzled by his shine.

"Dwarven trade shall be boosted throughout the empire. We may supply wood and other goods to you at discounted prices. If you would like to establish mines in our lands, we will be open to discussion, though such agreements are at the discretion of the ruler of whatever kingdom you wish to mine in. In turn, I want your allegiance. No more aid to my enemies and providing weapons to us instead."

Nozurri caressed the short braids of his beard, contemplating the offer. When he braced his elbow on his knee, the glint in his eyes was the chase of a merchant. Well aware of his price.

"I also have a condition. Your trading routes will be open to us, and we will take ten per cent of all sales tax. And we will send a diplomat to marry into the imperial family in the future, so we have confirmation of your continuous dedication. We must make sure the orcs don't come for our heads."

A surprising demand. It meant the dwarves would permanently become allies of the empire, potentially even part of it. So far, they always stubbornly claimed sovereignty. Was Nozurri planning something? Or did he just want to spite his rivals?

Seonghwa knew what this meant. If he returned to the throne and Morana followed in his footsteps, she would have a dwarven diplomat on top of her duties so far.

Not that she had a choice. If she took the throne, she had to bear the weight of the crown.

"I don't know if my family will continue its rule, so I cannot swear marriage to us. But I will try my best to see your demands met," Seonghwa replied truthfully, and Yunho sucked in a breath. Wooyoung hadn't been listening, so he stood at attention in case something went wrong, but Seonghwa smiled back at them. 

None of them knew what the future might bring. He may be hailed as the hero of restoration and healing, but that didn't mean people would want him as their ruler again. Seonghwa was ready to accept his mistakes as his downfall. But he wouldn't sit back until he repaired what he owed.

"It's fine, my loves. He makes a reasonable bargain," he assured them before he turned back to Nozurri. The dwarf didn't mind their brief disruption. If Seonghwa didn't come to rule, he could either arrange with the new ruler or take back his aid.

"We heard you can call the dragon. Dwarves are excellent dragon-killers and their scales make rare armour. We could profit off your voice for those materials," he pondered, but this time, Seonghwa had to refuse.

"No one harms the dragons. They are allies of the elves." He said it firmly, not breaking eye-contact. Nox Eltanin tried to lock him up, but such was their bargain. The dragon never acted out of line. Seonghwa wouldn't betray it or the other two dragons in the Crystal Sphere.

Nozurri contemplated him and his words.

"I will think on your offer and discuss it with my advisors. You are welcome to stay in Veg Boldhir until then. I will have rooms arranged," he ultimately complied. Seonghwa gladly took it.

"We would be most grateful. If you have a place where my mage could use his powers in a safe surrounding, I could introduce you to my other two sons."

Nozurri nodded, his fingers tugging on a string attached to his throne, reaching somewhere outside the room to ring for a servant.

"I am curious about your dazzling kind. Mingle with my people. You are my guest until you have my answer."

When a door opened and a servant dashed in to take care of their needs, Seonghwa bowed once more before the king of the dwarves. Only time would tell what his answer might be, but Seonghwa could relax, as Nozurri didn't seem interested in threatening their lives while they were inside his mountain.