CHAPTER 605: SEND EVERYTHING!

Who knew what the future held, but Killian Nox knew he had managed to deliver what Luca had sent over.

With a mood that hadn’t been this light in years, Killian strode into the Imperial Palace while unknowingly carrying something akin to a bomb.

Because when he handed the ornate boxes to the little princess, who practically skidded across the polished floors to meet him, he was met with a shriek so loud it nearly blasted out his left ear.

"Your Imperial Highness, is everything alright?" Killian blinked, puzzled.

But Princess Nina was staring at the boxes with wide, glimmering eyes, her little hands trembling as she clutched them.

"L-Lord Killian! I am grateful for this favor! Thank you so much!"

"Eh???"

Before Killian could make sense of the situation, relief washed over him. At least she wasn’t crying, or fainting, or—well, doing anything worse than shrieking. He pointed out which box belonged to whom and thought his duty done.

But there was no time for more. Because the little princess bolted.

She flew down the corridor so fast that Killian could have sworn he imagined it. Was this really the Imperial Palace, where decorum and discipline were supposed to reign? Because right now, a small princess was running like her life depended on it.

So fast, in fact, that she nearly collided headfirst into Imperial Butler Henry.

"Your Highness! Watch out! What’s wrong?!"

"Butler Henry! My parents! I need to get to my parents!"

"What’s wrong, Your Highness?" Henry demanded, now jogging alongside her because she refused to stop.

"B-Brother Chipmunk sent a response!" she stammered breathlessly.

"WHAT?!"

Now that was an emergency.

Without another word, Butler Henry swept the child into his arms and said, "Excuse me, Your Highness, but this is truly an emergency!" before activating his spiritual abilities.

The scene was unforgettable: an old but graceful butler sprinting down the palace halls at lightning speed, carrying a wide-eyed princess who was so shocked by the sudden acceleration she thought her head might come off. Courtiers and guards alike stumbled out of the way, some bowing even as their jaws dropped at the sight.

Then the double doors of the council chamber were thrown open.

Inside, a meeting was nearly concluded, the nobles still murmuring over the final points of discussion—until every head whipped toward the door at the sudden intrusion.

"Princess Nina, Butler Henry, what is the meaning of this?" one of the ministers demanded, indignant.

But the butler only bowed low, voice firm. "Pardon our intrusion, Your Imperial Majesties, but... we’ve received a response."

"WHAT?!"

The Empress herself nearly rose to her feet. The Emperor’s expression darkened with such gravity that his next words froze the room.

"This meeting is adjourned."

Gasps broke out across the chamber. Adjourned? Just like that? Usually, the Emperor lingered to press further, to banter, to wring every drop of usefulness out of his ministers. But today... Today, he dismissed them without hesitation.

Because today the air itself felt ready to shake, the apprehension of the Emperor and Empress weighing heavily over the chamber they rushed to after leaving the others stunned and confused.

All eyes turned as their daughter approached, clutching the ornate box with both hands.

"What is this? Is this the response?" asked Emperor Xavian, staring at it with furrowed brows.

"Yes, Father! Usually, I also receive things in this form," Nina explained quickly.

"So... you’ve also been sent something?"

"Yes!" Nina replied, though her eyes darted briefly to Butler Henry. She knew they would usually receive another parcel in the same container whenever she did, but she refused to drag the poor man into this. What if his resolve was weaker than hers? Then the family might discover even more secrets!

"T-Then what are we supposed to do with it?"

The princess showed them how to open the box. Gasps filled the room as the lid revealed not parchment or crystal, but a small space button nestled inside.

"This... so the response is actually inside?" the Empress murmured. "But why would there be a need for a space button just for a response?"

They soon found out.

Because the moment they activated it, the response spilled forth.

And by the time they were finished pulling out all the items from within, the Empress and the Emperor were no longer standing.

They were sitting on the polished marble floor.

Their hands were over their mouths. Their eyes were wide. Their breaths came quick and shallow.

"W-What is this?!" the Empress choked, staring in shock at the impossible abundance before them.

The great rulers of Solaris, reduced to sitting on their own palace floor, reeling as though the heavens themselves had just dumped a revelation into their laps.

"Wow!" Princess Nina suddenly exclaimed, clutching the air dramatically. "What is that smell?!"

Her little nose twitched as she looked down at the pile, only to spot several handwritten notes. Her eyes went even wider when she realized there were three of them. And while there were no designated recipients, it was rather easy to determine who they were for because they came with specific space buttons. So one for her, one for Butler Henry, and one for her parents.

Empress Gisella reached out for her note with a shaky hand, certain she might faint if she dared glance at the pile again. Better to focus. She unfolded the paper and read softly:

"Hello! Thank you very much for your kind greeting. It made me very happy."

There was no sender, no receiver. That wasn’t unusual. All their secret correspondence had always been carefully veiled, so to see someone else do the same thing... Truly, the beloved must be very close to their son to dare write something similar!

Of course, they could not know that Luca had rewritten the note over ten times, panicked about how to address them, and finally scribbled it down without titles because there was simply no time left.

Still, relief bloomed in the imperial couple’s hearts. Their gift had been liked!

They looked over to their daughter, who was happily clutching her own piece of paper.

Nina’s note praised her for being a good girl, reminded her to stay put, and gently told her to eat healthy, rest well, and study diligently. She hugged it to her chest with a bright smile. Because sure enough, her brother chipmunk wasn’t mad!

Then came Butler Henry’s turn. His fingers trembled as he unfolded his note... and unfolded... and unfolded... until the end nearly touched the polished floor.

"!!!"

Everyone stared.

Nina’s eyes grew huge. There was no way she could save him now. The length of that letter was practically a death sentence.

But surprisingly, when the Butler finished the letter, his first words were, "Quick, Your Majesties! Hurry! We have to put it all back first!" The butler barked, his voice cracking as if he were fighting for his life.

Surprisingly, it was as if everyone was jolted and did exactly as he said.

"Butler Henry!" the Empress cried. "What exactly did you receive? We can read the words, but they don’t make sense together!"

The old butler’s lips quivered as he read again and again. "Your Majesties... it is preparation instructions. And... pairings."

"Pairings?"

"Yes. It seems... you have been sent wine paired with food for... an experience."

"Come again?!"

"I have re-read it multiple times." Henry swallowed hard. "It says here you should drink the wine while eating these specific foods. For maximum enjoyment."

"!!!"

Emperor Xavian nearly dropped his crown. "Butler Henry! You are telling me... we have received spiritual relics... for regular consumption?!"

"Y-yes, Your Majesty," Henry whispered. "It even says... for a nice date."

Gasps echoed around the room.

Empress Gisella pressed both hands to her mouth. "That child! W-with all this! The money we sent... did that child spend it all just to buy these for us?! Did he empty everything just to send something so rare?"

Before the couple could further collapse from shock, Nina was already prying open her new stash. She pulled out something crinkly, shoved it in her mouth without hesitation, and froze as her eyes went wide.

"Crinkle!" she cried. "It’s called a crinkle!"

She quickly grabbed another and, with all the confidence of a prophet, popped one into her mother’s mouth.

The Empress’s lips closed around it.

A pause.

Her eyes widened. Her breath stopped. Then, with the sheer awe of someone who had glimpsed heaven, her entire face melted into wonder.

"Mother..." Nina whispered reverently. "The best chipmunk. I told you. There is no one more generous than my big brother’s chipmunk."

"!!!"

Everyone froze. Even Butler Henry looked ready to faint.

The Empress did not correct her. She could not. Not when her taste buds were still ringing with glory.

She turned slowly to her husband. "Xavian. Cancel your appointments for later. W-we must do exactly as the instructions say."

"What? Are you serious?!"

"Yes! So serious I might change your schedule myself," she declared with burning conviction.

The Emperor straightened instantly. "...Very well. I will inform them. But what now?"

"Now?" The Empress’s lips trembled as she clutched another crinkle. "Now we appreciate the heartfelt gift."

And appreciate it they did.

By the next morning, Emperor Xavian was a broken man. A grateful, enlightened, broken man. He was convinced that even sending over the entire contents of the Imperial Vault would not be enough to repay such generosity.

Because how could he ever have imagined the holy union of wine, food, and wife?

How could they have lived for so long without this?

And if the beloved had indeed spent every coin to make such a miracle possible... then there was only one answer.

Send more.

Send more!

Send everything!