Chapter 535: Chapter 535: A Mysterious Gaze

"About that..." Luna smiled shyly as she swallowed the food in her mouth, then explained, "Actually, Mom and Grandma, I was kidnapped by humans."

Iris’s and Seria’s expressions changed at once. Seria, in particular, released a powerful aura.

The dining room shook violently, as if a massive earthquake were about to strike.

However, Nolan quickly patted her shoulder, and the pressure vanished instantly.

Seria stiffened and turned to Nolan with an annoyed look.

"You—"

Before she could finish, Nolan cut her off calmly.

"There’s no need to get emotional. That won’t solve anything."

His words left Seria speechless. With a pout, she could only suppress her irritation.

The scene left Iris stunned. She understood better than anyone how hard it was to calm her mother when she was angry.

Who would have thought that the Singularity of Chaos could do it with nothing more than a casual pat on the shoulder?

Iris’s impression of the Singularity of Chaos shifted, filling her with genuine admiration.

Luna let out a quiet sigh of relief when she saw that her grandmother hadn’t exploded.

She glanced at Nolan gratefully, then continued, "It sounds absurd, but it’s the truth, Mom and Grandma. I don’t know how they managed to enter elf territory and kidnap me when I was just picking flowers outside the village. This is entirely my fault. I’m sorry."

She lowered her head, her expression full of guilt.

Iris wanted to scold her for causing so much worry. But when she saw her daughter’s dejected face, she held back and let out a soft sigh.

"Alright, I understand." Iris gently patted her head. "But don’t be careless next time, okay?"

Luna lifted her head and looked at her mother eagerly, then nodded slowly.

"I understand, Mom! Thank you!"

Iris smiled and asked, "So, what have you been doing all this time? Were you still being kept as a slave?"

Her voice was filled with concern. Seria, sitting across from her, looked just as anxious.

Her granddaughter was the princess of the elf race. Just imagining her being treated as a slave was enough to make her blood boil.

"Oh, no, I wasn’t a slave!" Luna puffed out her small chest. "Before I could be sold, I managed to escape, but they chased after me. Because of that, the power my grandmother planted in me suddenly activated, and without realizing it... I killed them all."

Seria was stunned, then immediately realized why she hadn’t been able to locate her granddaughter.

The power she had placed in Luna wasn’t just for protection—it also tracked her location.

No matter how far Luna went, Seria should have been able to find her. Yet it had one limitation: once activated, it vanished.

"After that, I was rescued by some people from a trading house called Blue Moon!" Luna continued enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling. "And that’s when my life began to change. I worked with them and—"

She recounted everything in detail while Iris and Seria listened intently, eating the food in front of them.

Only after Luna finished her story did Iris and Seria fully grasp her journey.

They exchanged glances, clear relief in their eyes.

"Thank goodness you’re safe, my dear. Your life must have been very difficult, right?" Iris said, guilt heavy in her voice.

"Difficult? Of course not, Mom." Luna shook her head with a serious expression. "I really enjoyed it there. Life in the human world is so much fun!"

Iris was taken aback. A sense of unease crept into her heart as she asked hesitantly, "Don’t tell me you intend to go back there."

Luna hadn’t expected her mother to see through her so easily. She was about to nod when Iris suddenly shook her head.

"No! You can’t go back! You have to stay here! This is where you were born and where you belong. Do you understand?"

Her voice rose, firm and commanding.

Luna froze. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stood from the dining chair and ran out of the room.

"Luna!" Iris called out and moved to follow her, but Seria stopped her.

"Don’t chase her. Let her rest in her room first. She may be too tired."

Those words made Iris exhale and sink back into her seat.

She turned to the Singularity of Chaos and said apologetically, "I’m sorry, Singularity of Chaos. You had to witness such an embarrassing scene. I hope you’re not offended."

Nolan took a bite of rabbit, chewed, then swallowed.

"It’s fine." He waved his right hand lightly. "I understand your situation. After all, you lost your only daughter. It’s only natural that you wouldn’t want to be separated from her."

Elves, demons, and humans were all the same—they shared feelings and common sense.

The only difference was their way of life and their habitats.

So, he understood Iris’s feelings when she heard about Luna’s plan to leave again.

Iris felt a sense of relief. For some reason, she found the Singularity of Chaos to be a unique—and also... strange—figure.

"Strange" wasn’t meant as an insult or mockery but rather something Iris couldn’t put into words.

The man seemed mysterious, cold, and unapproachable. Yet in reality, he was understanding and perceptive.

That contrast made him feel strange and made it difficult for her to read.

The three of them continued eating in silence. The warm atmosphere from earlier had disappeared, replaced by Luna’s sulking.

Once they finished, Iris intended to ask a servant to escort the Singularity of Chaos to his room.

But Seria spoke up, saying she would take care of it herself.

Iris didn’t object or suspect anything.

Nolan was then led to the room prepared by the servants.

"This is your room," Seria said as she opened the door.

Nolan stepped inside and took in the room. He had to admit—it was beautiful.

The bed frame was crafted from natural tree roots, carefully carved with intricate detail.

Not just the bed, but the wardrobe, table, and everything else were made of natural wood, pleasing to the eye.

The room was also spacious, giving Nolan the sense that he could feel at home here.

"Thank you," he said softly.

Seria glanced at him for a few seconds before snorting coldly.

"You’re welcome."

She turned and walked away, leaving Nolan chuckling to himself.

"What a funny woman," he whispered.

***

Nighttime...

Nolan was lying down, relaxing, when he suddenly realized someone was watching him from a distance.

He opened one eye and smiled slightly.

"What an annoying tsundere. Would she rather peek than just come to my room?"

He let out a small sigh and shook his head.

Two days passed quickly, with Nolan mostly staying in his room.

He had wanted to go out and explore the elf lands properly, but he didn’t have anyone to show him the way.

Iris was busy with her work, and Luna had been holed up for two days.

As for Seria... well, he was too embarrassed to ask her directly. Yet during those two days, that gaze never left him.

Every night, it returned, making him uneasy at the thought of encountering Seria.

"That gaze again..." Nolan gritted his teeth in irritation.

This was the fourth time. He decided it was time to warn Seria not to peek anymore.

If she wanted to meet him, she should just come directly.

Putting on his mask and cloak, Nolan slipped quietly from his room.