Chapter 483: Back To Everything
A full year had drifted by like a calm tide since Serah had left Ilis and taken refuge in the humble home of Marcus and his father. Life there had been... peaceful—stripped of titles, stripped of duties, stripped of the suffocating weight that came with being a princess. She had learned to live simply, to laugh without constraint, to breathe without the chains of expectation. In that quiet countryside, she had rediscovered herself—no longer just Serah, the princess of Solara, but Serah, the woman who now understood what freedom truly felt like. And with it came something far deeper—a new sense of purpose, one she had never imagined she’d find outside her gilded cage.
But as all moments of stillness must, the time eventually came for her to return. When she told Marcus and his father that she would be leaving, the small home felt unusually silent. Billy, with his warm, fatherly smile, gave her his blessings and a farewell hug that nearly broke her ribs. Marcus, on the other hand, walked her to the outskirts of Caelmoor, and when they reached, they had their own farewell which was filled with love and affection.
After that, Serah turned toward her kingdom once more.
When she arrived at the grand gates of the royal palace in Ilis, Zone 15, the atmosphere shifted instantly. The guards straightened at the sight of her, their eyes widening. The royal knights who saw her walk through the halls nearly forgot their duties, some even whispering to one another in disbelief. The maids froze in place, their eyes following her every step.
It wasn’t simply that their princess had returned—it was that she looked different. Not in attire or face, but in the very way she carried herself. Her presence was commanding yet serene, her beauty now wrapped in confidence and poise. It was as if something within her had awakened—a quiet strength that seemed to glow from beneath her skin.
The whispers followed her everywhere, from the gilded halls to the towering stairways. Rumors, speculation, awe—all rippling through the palace like wildfire. But Serah paid them no mind. Her stride remained steady, purposeful. She had only one destination in mind—her father’s study.
When she reached the ornate doors, she took a brief breath before knocking softly.
"Enter," came the deep voice from within.
The door creaked open, and there he was—King Tharion of Solara—seated behind his oak desk, papers sprawled across its surface in perfect disarray. His crimson eyes lifted from the parchment, locking onto his daughter as she stepped into the room.
He watched her silently, his gaze tracing her every movement until she came to stand just a few paces from the desk. Then, with practiced grace, Serah bowed slightly.
"My king," she began firmly, her voice steady but respectful. "I have returned from my journey and am ready to resume my duties."
Tharion’s crimson gaze lingered on her, sharp yet warm. After a pause, a faint smirk touched his lips. "It’s good to see you back in one piece," he said, leaning back slightly in his chair. "You’ve been missed—by everyone... including me."
A small, genuine smile crossed Serah’s lips. "It’s good to be back, Father."
"You must be tired," Tharion continued, his tone softening slightly. "But there are matters that have been waiting for your hand to resolve. Still, I can’t throw you straight into duty after such a long journey. You’ll have the day to yourself—rest, readjust, and remind yourself of who you need to be. After that... we proceed as before. Understood?"
"Understood, my king," Serah replied firmly, bowing her head once more.
"Good." Tharion’s smirk faded into a look of quiet pride. "You may leave."
With that, Serah gave a final nod and turned toward the door. Her steps were light, almost regal again, but her father’s eyes followed her the entire way.
As the door clicked shut behind her, Tharion leaned back in his seat, his gaze distant.
"She’s... different," he muttered under his breath. "It’s like she’s burning brighter than she ever did before." His fingers drummed lightly on the armrest, a trace of curiosity darkening his expression. "I wonder what she went through this past year to return with eyes like that..."
After a pause, his lips curved faintly. "Whatever it was... I only hope she keeps it. I’ll need her at her best—no matter what comes next."
***
After leaving her father’s office, Serah wasted no time as her steps carried her swiftly to her mother’s chamber. Her heart beat faster with every stride—this was the reunion she had longed for ever since she decided to return.
When the guards opened the doors, Serah stepped in quietly. The air within the queen’s chamber carried a soft, comforting fragrance of lilies and moonlight perfume—the scent that always reminded her of safety, of home. And when Queen Seralyne lifted her gaze from the balcony and saw her daughter standing there, her entire expression lit up.
"Serah?" her voice trembled softly, full of disbelief and joy.
"Mother."
The next moment, Seralyne rushed toward her, arms wide open, and Serah met her halfway. The two women embraced tightly, the Queen holding her daughter as though afraid she might vanish again if she let go. It had been over a year since they’d last seen one another, and that long absence made the reunion all the more emotional.
"My little star," Seralyne whispered, her fingers brushing through Serah’s hair. "You’ve been gone far too long."
Serah smiled faintly, her voice soft. "I know, Mother... but I’m home now."
When they finally pulled apart, Seralyne took a longer look at her daughter, her eyes narrowing slightly—not with suspicion, but curiosity and wonder. Something about Serah had changed. She was glowing, radiant even, and not in the sense of physical beauty alone. There was a light behind her eyes now—a warmth, a peace that Seralyne recognized instantly.
She smiled knowingly as she guided her daughter to sit beside her on the royal bed. "It seems you’ve found what—or perhaps who—you were looking for during the time you were gone," she said softly, her tone both teasing and tender.
Serah blinked, but the faint blush that spread across her cheeks betrayed her. She tried to hide it with a small, composed smile, but her mother’s intuition was sharper than any blade forged in Solara.
Seralyne chuckled, resting her hand under her chin as she observed her daughter. "So I am right," she mused, her voice lilting with amusement. "Now, tell me, my darling—do you plan on letting your poor mother in on this secret? The last time we spoke about your heart, you said you couldn’t share anything because of your father’s... strong opinions."
Her voice softened, more earnest now. "But you should know, Serah, I’ve never cared for your father’s views when it comes to your happiness. I will always listen to you, and I’ll always help you chase what your heart wants."
That reassurance hit deeper than any comfort Serah had received in months. Looking into her mother’s dark gray eyes that mirrored kindness and quiet strength—she felt a sense of safety she hadn’t realized she missed. In that moment, she knew there was no one else in the entire realm she could trust with this secret more than her mother.
And so, she told her everything.
Serah spoke softly at first, then with growing emotion—of her time in Tnaji, of the days that became nights filled with laughter, of how Marcus had stood beside her, taught her, challenged her, cared for her. She told her mother of the peace she’d found away from the noise of the palace, and the love that had unexpectedly bloomed in that quiet.
Of course, she kept certain truths hidden—Marcus’s other identity as the Scourge was one of them—but even without that, her words were enough. Enough to make Seralyne’s eyes glisten with warmth and joy.
When Serah finished, Seralyne let out a long, quiet breath and smiled. "I must say, I’m not entirely surprised," she began with a light laugh. "I always knew that despite your father’s strict lessons about ’dark mages’ and ’proper suitors,’ you’d follow your heart rather than his politics. After all, I’m the one who taught you and your brother not to see the world as your father does."
Serah chuckled softly, unable to stop herself. "You did say once that the heart knows what logic refuses to."
"Exactly," Seralyne said proudly, her crimson eyes glowing with pride. "And I’m truly happy for you, my child. You look... radiant, Serah. Brimming with joy—and to think it’s all because of a man." She smiled warmly as she reached out, cupping her daughter’s cheeks gently in both hands. "It’s been so long since I’ve seen you smile like this. It fills my heart with peace."
Serah leaned into her mother’s touch, her expression soft and full of affection. "Thank you, Mother," she said earnestly. "It’s because of you that I had the courage to search for my own path—to follow what I truly felt instead of what was expected of me. And because of that, I found this happiness I have now."
Seralyne’s smile deepened, her tone turning playful again as she brushed a lock of Serah’s hair aside. "I suppose that makes me quite the extraordinary mother, doesn’t it?" she said with a soft laugh.
Serah laughed with her, her heart swelling at the moment of peace between them. "Yes," she said warmly. "The best one anyone could ever ask for."
The Queen chuckled again, pulling her daughter into another gentle embrace. "Then let’s hope your father never finds out I helped raise a rebel."
They both laughed quietly, their voices echoing softly through the chamber as they embraced.