The One King

After several moments of embracing, Selina's mother finally released Gaya and Azrael and took a step backward.

She was a woman in her late thirties, with long black hair cascading over her shoulders, clear blue eyes, and breathtakingly beautiful features that combined elegance with mature grace. Although she was trying to maintain her composure and dignity, the worry she had endured over the past several hours was still evident in her eyes.

The woman raised a hand and wiped the last traces of tears from her face before looking at Azrael and Gaya with a grateful smile.

"My name is Lilian Foyd. I am Selina's mother and Duke Valer Foyd's wife. Thank you both for protecting my little girl."

She then fixed her gaze on Azrael for several moments.

The instant their eyes met, something strange stirred deep within her heart.

A feeling of familiarity.

It was a mysterious and profound sensation that made no sense to her.

She had never met this man before—or at least, she could not remember ever meeting him.

And yet, there was something about his features, or perhaps his calm demeanor, that made her feel as though she had known him for a very long time.

Lilian frowned slightly as she tried to understand the source of that strange feeling.

Why do I feel so familiar with him?

But she could find no answer.

Meanwhile, the man standing beside her stepped forward.

He was in his late thirties, with neatly groomed blond hair and blue eyes. His handsome features carried an unmistakable combination of authority and dignity. He was tall and imposing, and every movement reflected his status as the ruler of one of the four great ducal families of the Kingdom of Light.

He was Duke Valer Foyd.

He looked at Azrael and Gaya before speaking sincerely.

"I am Selina's father, Valer Foyd. Thank you, young ones, for saving my beloved princess."

He then smiled faintly and continued,

"May I know your names?"

The moment Selina heard her father call her his little princess, her face immediately flushed with embarrassment.

She glared at him before reaching out and lightly poking him in the stomach.

"Father!"

Valer chuckled softly.

"What? Aren't you my little princess?"

Selina's face grew even redder.

"I'm not a child anymore!"

She said it with childish indignation, causing Lilian to smile.

The servants and soldiers nearby exchanged glances and smiled as well.

Even the tense atmosphere that had filled the palace moments ago began to ease.

The sight of a father teasing his daughter was warm enough to soften the expressions of everyone watching.

Everyone except one person.

Azrael.

Ever since he had entered the Foyd Family's palace, he had been experiencing a strange sensation within his heart.

It was unlike anything he had ever experienced before.

With his long experience, he had encountered countless emotions and sensations throughout his existence, yet he still could not identify this particular feeling.

It was as though his heart recognized something that his mind did not.

What is this feeling?

Azrael wondered inwardly.

But he could find no answer.

Meanwhile, Gaya remembered the Duke's question about their names.

She turned toward Azrael, waiting for his opinion.

Azrael nodded slightly.

The next moment, a voice reached Gaya's mind.

It was a telepathic message from Azrael.

"Don't use your real family name. We don't want to attract unnecessary trouble. Use another name."

Gaya immediately understood what he meant.

She nodded subtly.

Then she turned her attention back to the Duke.

In a calm, noble tone, she said:

"My name is Gaya Netherval."

Azrael's eyes widened slightly.

He looked at Gaya with hidden surprise.

He had never expected her to use his family name.

Netherval?

That was the last answer he had expected from her.

However, he did not object.

He remained silent for a moment, simply looking at her before stepping forward.

Azrael stood directly before the Duke.

The difference between the two was obvious.

Valer was a majestic Duke standing at the peak of the Immortal Ascension Realm, yet Azrael stood before him with complete calm, showing not the slightest trace of fear or nervousness.

Then he spoke in a deep, dignified voice:

"I am Azrael Netherval."

The instant the name left his mouth, silence descended upon the entire place.

Complete silence.

The servants.

The soldiers.

Lilian.

Valer.

Even Selina and Gaya.

Everyone stared at Azrael.

The name itself was not an ordinary one.

Azrael Netherval.

It carried a frightening meaning in an ancient language:

"Lord of the Dark Abyss."

For a moment, several people did not know how to react.

Selina blinked several times as she stared at Azrael.

What a strange name...

Valer narrowed his eyes slightly, trying to recall whether he had ever heard anything about this name.

But he found nothing.

He had never heard of the Netherval Family among the prominent noble families of the Kingdom of Light.

As for Lilian, that strange feeling of familiarity returned to her heart the moment she heard the name.

Azrael Netherval...

For some reason she could not understand, the name felt strangely familiar.

Yet she could not remember where she had heard it before.

Azrael himself silently observed their reactions.

He was not particularly interested in the meaning of his name.

To him, it was simply a name.

Valer quickly regained his composure.

As a Duke, he would not allow such trivial matters to influence his judgment of others.

He looked deeply at Azrael before a faint smile appeared on his face.

"Azrael Netherval... and Gaya Netherval."

He repeated their names as though committing them to memory.

Then he gestured toward the interior of the palace.

"In any case, you saved my daughter. The Foyd Family cannot possibly allow those who saved one of its members to remain standing at the gate."

His tone became warmer.

"Please, come inside."

He added,

"We have much to discuss, and I would like to hear exactly what happened today."

Azrael glanced at Gaya.

Then he looked toward the palace before him.

After a brief pause, he began walking inside.

Gaya followed closely behind him.

Selina walked beside her mother, still holding her hand.

And so, Azrael Netherval entered the palace of the Foyd Family.

None of them knew that this seemingly simple step would open the door to a past that even Azrael himself did not know existed.

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