After an evening spent cuddling with his loves in the conversation pit and giggling over Aodhán's and Morana's nonsensical babbles, Seonghwa awoke to the day of his duties refreshed. He made sure his babies were fed and safe playing with the maids, peeled the bandages from his healed arm and dressed up how he liked to do when he wasn't crumbling at the seams. With his hair in an elegant updo that left some strands to whisper around his face like enticing promises, and clad in one of his stunning silken dresses, Seonghwa strolled down the corridor. The castle announced him, hailed him with its ethereal choirs. He turned heads left and right as his servants and other guests of the castle marvelled at the serene emperor's beauty.

Seonghwa's father awaited him in the strategy room. A platter of food filled a corner of the table, whereas the rest was laid out with maps to brood over. He had gathered all the letters back and forth with the orcs as evidence, as well as the scriptures of the report about the ambush. When Seonghwa ducked inside, cast in the shine of the stars and without such needless weight as his imperial crown, the man beamed.

"Good morning, son. It's good to see you regained your strength." His eyes skimmed the healthy glow of Seonghwa's skin, the effortless grace of his body under his garments. No ailments prevailed.

"It's all thanks to your support. Thank you for taking care of the court in my absence." Seonghwa owed his folk an explanation. How their mission could fail and why he didn't bring the captured elves with him. They had yet to learn about Morana and though they were asked to stay inside their homes and practise caution, they couldn't fathom how close to death their emperor came.

They sat down together and Seonghwa ate breakfast on the side while his father caught him up. Finally, their minds were clear to unravel the situation.

"No word about an orkish movement reached the Crystal Sphere yet. I informed the rulers of the other countries to stay on the highest alert and keep their weapons poised in case of an attack. So far, no orcs were sighted near the borders, but our people are on lockdown."

"Did any new letters arrive that prove our suspicion they seek battle?"

Seonghwa's father shook his head and reached the most recent one over, the one agreeing to the political meeting. They skimmed the lines once more, but no hidden depths carried in the orcs' message. They made their way in and taunted the emperor by seizing the elves. Then, when he came after them, they prepared an ambush.

"Since they couldn't capture you and you killed many of their people, we believe they are out for vengeance. They have no reason to stall since they have been eyeing the empire for a long time."

Kane had fallen in battle. Perhaps the loss of a chieftain meant a change of objectives, though Seonghwa doubted the new warrior stepping up harboured a different mindset. Tense, he eyed the map. The orcs had little interest in battling the golems or the dryads bordering their lands. The next kingdom nearby was the Cavern of Nightfall, but it was near impenetrable and the orcs regarded the demons as honourable opponents. Naturally, the first place they would attack was the shining core of the empire, the Crystal Sphere.

"They dug through the earth to catch us off guard. I doubt that the dryads or the golems would miss such an intrusion to the earth they are connected to, but contact their elders either way."

The scribe in the corner hastened to whip out two letters. Once the lines were written, Seonghwa signed them. Closed with the royal seal, they got sent out via message birds. Seonghwa counted on the golems to actually read the message. At least they had been cautioned about the predicament already.

"The elves they captured so recently are easy prey for blackmail. We might get stabbed in the back by our own if they fear what might happen otherwise. Even if there is no saving them now," the sun elf grumbled. He had a report about their identities in front of him, but Seonghwa could barely glance at it. His guilt weighed like a boulder in his stomach.

"How do we account for their input? They might give away that my primary residence is in the Moon Castle, which is closer to the western border."

"We should relocate you to the Sun Castle for the time being. With the seraphim and the gryphon-borns nearby, the orcs might think twice about attacking you there. Death from the air is one of their weaknesses."

Seonghwa fetched a piece of paper. He replicated the crossbows they had seen in the orkish lands, too refined to be invented by their rough hands. When he showed the drawing to his father, the elder elf caressed his beard with a contemplative noise.

"They used these to shoot down Wooyoung and San. Though reloading takes time, they can be reused and punched through their wings. If a bunch of orcs with crossbows show up there, relying on our winged allies might be our downfall."

Seonghwa hated to think of them as disposable. As troops easily wiped out. Each life was precious and reflected in his husbands. A dying gryphon looked like Mulberry to Seonghwa.

"They are not an enemy to be underestimated. We will want to have troops at the ready to arrive at the sphere within a few days in case of an emergency. Or do you think it wiser to attack them first?" Seonghwa's father pondered. With mobilised strength, they might wipe out the orcs, but it would be a gruesome battle. And not one Seonghwa wanted to sacrifice people for.

"Their lands are far but spiked with traps because of the underground tunnels. Though we'd have lots of space for a battle, I don't wish to see so many die."

"Me neither. Peace is our priority. But if a confrontation can't be avoided, we need any advantage. The orcs are high in numbers and their strength is many times that of the elves. Even with our allies, it will be a tight triumph."

Which also meant many victims to correspond to the fallen orcs. It was a needless risk. At the same time, Seonghwa couldn't hand himself and his kin over as a gift to appease their greed.

"The Demon King would argue war is best. Do we have any other potential allies out there? We didn't get to meet with the nymphs yet to invite them to join the empire, but I remember their interest."

They bent over the map together and Seonghwa's father pointed out the borders of the Singing Swamps. Like the Kingdom of Man, they connected to the southern sea, one country apart from the orcs.

"Nymphs are no fighters and while their healing abilities might strengthen our forces, the orcs would easily wipe them out with the same interest as in the elves," Seonghwa's father pondered. After all, nymphs and elves shared many roots and the delicate bodies of the water spirits matched what the orcs liked about elves.

"Not to mention that the goblin brood that infests our streets might ambush them from behind. The sole line of protection between them and the orcs are the Ruins of the Gods, land of the titans."

Seonghwa scanned the map. The orc lands were massive as they infested any free space not protected by a border. Similarly big, however, was the empire and the ruins the titans called their own. They were ageless creatures, descendants of the makers themselves. As otherworldly as the elves, they had the strength and wisdom of the golems. They were not involved in wars, rather protecting the leftovers of the old world, but they could be a turning leaf in case of a battle.

"How likely is their support? If we mobilise the titans and the nymphs, we can intimidate the orcs enough to have them reconsider an attack. They would be pushed back as our border surrounds their south and east."

To visualise, Seonghwa's father gathered a few wooden figures they used to mark movement. He aligned them from the Sky-reaching Highlands that bordered to the dwarven mountains in the north, across the Glistening Walnut Grove, and down along the border of the Ruins of the Gods. A significant chunk of the orc borders was framed like that.

"All these races are more than capable of throwing parrying an attack, and they know the shift of the earth beneath their feet. If we gain their approval, we might avoid a war," Seonghwa's father contemplated. A lot of it was based on sheer luck. The orcs had no grand strategy they needed to figure out. They just wanted to fight and take. But if Seonghwa couldn't befriend them, he would gladly keep them at a stalemate.

The two elves leaned back in their chairs. Seonghwa grabbed his wine chalice, washing down the bitter taste in his mouth. Elegant fingers traced over the ornate symbols along the cup.

"Then shall we contact the titans? Though they never sought our alliance, they are interested in keeping the world from rumbling. After all, it could destroy their heritage." If elves knew one thing, then how to preserve their surroundings. The titans knew that the empire was a much smaller threat. If picking a side would hold back destruction of such scale, they would lend their might.

"Let us contact both of their people and expect their answers. As the nymphs already conveyed their interest, I am optimistic about their help. They suffer from the orcs as we do. You might have to travel to the ruins to convince the titans, however," Seonghwa's father opened the stakes. He couldn't make such journeys anymore. If the empire wanted to confess its vulnerability and ask for support, the emperor himself had to appear.

"I will gladly visit the Nymphal Shores to greet its people. The same goes for the titans."

When Seonghwa's father rose with a nod, Seonghwa did as well. The scribe dutifully noted all their decisions so they could carry them to their strategists and military officers later.

"Then do what you must. Your charm unites the empire and it can bring many more upon its doors. I will inform our people of the circumstances and ask their patience. They trust in you. Your decisions wish the best upon them."

Seonghwa lowered his head when his father's hand squeezed his shoulder.

"I just hope no one gets hurt," he uttered. Not his children, not his husbands. But also not the elves and their many allies beyond the Crystal Sphere.

A fleeting smile dashed over his father's features.

"That's what you are here for. Don't doubt yourself. I will inform the other rulers and they will stand behind you, whether we must fight or not."

Seonghwa prayed they didn't have to. That the giants understood their reasonings and preferred a supervised peace to mindless slaughter. Though Seonghwa still needed to free his people from the torment of the orc brutes, he could stabilise the empire that way.

"There is no talking with the orcs, they proved that much. This is what we must do," Seonghwa reminded them. With a nod, he emptied his chalice.

"Let us inform everyone and ask their vigilance. Though we will hear of an attack before it reaches our borders, they shall not lower their guard. I will prepare to respond to the titans and the nymphs and if war is inevitable, I will relocate my family to the Sun Castle, where they are safer," he summarised. His father held the door for him and they stepped out together. The moon cast over Seonghwa's resolved features.

"We shall hope for the best. Are you off to see your husbands?"

Seonghwa's strain unravelled when he thought of their smiling faces.

"I wish to spend time with them, yes. Fretting at my desk won't help me and they deserve to hear the news, so they may heal swiftly."

His father smiled at him.

"The orcs may be our biggest threat, but this is no matter resolved in a single battle. Our war has been going on for centuries. Let's take it slow. The day is long and you have lots to catch up on."

"For example, feeding Morana," Seonghwa sighed when he stepped to the window. Yunho was outside with Jongho, Yeosang and Aodhán, playing together with Buddy.

"For example," his father chuckled. They parted so Seonghwa could relay his new information to his husbands. The empire needed to steel for war, but they were strong so long as no doubt ripped them apart from the inside. Though Seonghwa was far from experienced, he hoped with all the support dedicated to him, he could lead everyone to the best outcome.