The First Argument

Meanwhile, in the council hall of Evernight City, Vivian was engrossed in reviewing a budget report when the office door suddenly slammed open with a loud bang!

Lucia stormed in, face flushed with anxiety and fury. Even her usual dignified bearing was forgotten.

“Vivian! Something terrible has happened!”

“Luna is missing! I’ve searched the castle and every place she usually goes at the academy—nothing!”

“What if she’s in danger?!”

Vivian looked up from her papers, momentarily startled by Lucia’s panic, then calmly replied without fully stopping her pen.

“She went to the countryside with Luna to promote the elections. Didn’t you know?”

She hadn’t gone home last night; affairs had kept her late, so she slept in the council hall.

She had assumed Luna would tell Lucia.

But at Vivian’s words—and the slightly dismissive tone—Lucia instantly bristled.

“The countryside?! To promote elections?!”

Lucia’s voice shot up, thick with disbelief and rage.

“Vivian! How could you let her go to such a dangerous place?!”

“Those border villages are crawling with old noble remnants and vicious rumors!”

“They’re right next to the Heart of Molten Stone’s territory!”

“What if Grem’s people sneak in and cause trouble?!”

“What were you thinking?!”

“Do you only care about your endless construction and reforms and not Luna’s safety at all?!”

The direct, blistering accusation stunned Vivian.

Her pen finally froze mid-air.

She looked up, pure confusion on her face.

“How am I not concerned about Luna?”

“Luna is extremely careful. She took Shadowmoon Wolves and students who know magic.”

“I placed protective spells on Luna myself.”

“Her safety is absolutely assured.”

“Besides, letting her meet the citizens and see the territory isn’t a bad thing.”

She set the pen down, a hint of bewilderment and defensiveness in her voice.

“Luna’s curiosity is boundless right now. She’s already explored every corner of Evernight City.”

“It’s time she saw the outside world.”

“We can’t keep her locked by our side forever, can we?”

“You can’t stray far from me either, remember?”

“What real danger could there be?”

“Aren’t you overreacting a little?”

“No, it’s still not okay!”

“And you didn’t even discuss it with me!”

At Vivian’s words, the wings of light usually folded behind Lucia’s back flared slightly, her tone blazing.

“Vivian, I—I’m so disappointed in you!”

“What if—just what if—”

“Have you ever truly put yourself in a mother’s shoes?!”

The more she spoke, the angrier she became.

She whirled around, storming toward the door as if she couldn’t bear another second in the room.

Vivian, pushed to the limit by days of relentless pressure and endless problems, finally snapped.

She shot to her feet.

“Lucia!”

“How can you say that to me?!”

“When have I not thought like a mother?!”

“Strict guidance and measured experience are the real way to prepare her for the future!”

“Are we supposed to raise her as a fragile greenhouse flower that wilts at the first storm?”

“Is that what’s best for her?!”

“She is my daughter too!”

“She’ll have to face these things eventually!”

“Isn’t it better she starts learning early?”

“Out there her identity is just a child I adopted.”

“Patrols have been strengthened across the territory, and my spells are on her.”

“Nothing serious will happen!”

“You’re being unreasonable!”

Lucia spun back, glaring with eyes full of disappointment and fury.

She said nothing more and slammed the door behind her.

The deafening bang echoed through the council hall.

Vivian stood rooted to the spot, staring at the still-trembling door, brows knitted, a mix of confusion and faint grievance swirling in her chest.

She genuinely believed her arrangements were thorough and made with Luna’s long-term growth in mind.

How had it become, in Lucia’s eyes, indifference to their daughter’s safety?

Though they had always been harmonious, Vivian never imagined their first real fight would erupt so suddenly.

Predictably, the fallout spread quickly.

Everyone in the academy and council hall sensed the tension between the two.

Lucia taught classes with an icy expression, doubling the intensity of practical lessons.

Vivian barely returned home anymore, working day and night in the council hall, her aura colder and more distant than usual.

Officials reporting to her felt crushing pressure.

The entire core circle of Evernight City walked on eggshells, terrified of setting either of them off.

Out in the countryside, blissfully unaware Luna’s work progressed remarkably well.

She had already convinced three villages to participate in the upcoming grassroots election pilot.

Every day she sent encrypted magical messages to Vivian reporting progress and always adding, “Miss Luna is perfectly safe and adored by the village children. Please rest assured, Your Highness.”

These past few days she and Luna had visited households, answering questions.

Luna won the children’s hearts with her magic and cuteness.

Resistance to the elections dwindled by the day.

Just as Luna felt they were nearing the finish line, intelligence arrived from As’s spies.

The old noble remnants stirring unrest were secretly passing detailed reports to the Heart of Molten Stone—exposing weaknesses in Evernight’s grassroots administration, even marking infiltration routes and susceptible targets.

They desperately hoped Grem would strike soon and coordinate from within.

Vivian’s expression darkened the moment she read the report.

The elections had to be pushed forward quickly to plug those administrative gaps.

Lucia was still furious, and part of the military deployment required her cooperation.

Vivian sighed, realizing she had to reconcile with Lucia first.

This couldn’t go on.

Besides, after reflecting these past days, she admitted she had been wrong not to discuss it beforehand.

No wonder Lucia had exploded.

From Lucia’s perspective, she was barely twenty years old—still young and inexperienced.

Vivian, with the maturity of two lifetimes, naturally thought differently.

“Sigh.”

Vivian exhaled heavily.

That very night, she returned to the residence she hadn’t entered in days.

In her hands was a plate of freshly baked cream cookies—Luna’s favorite flavor and the very treat Lucia had been practicing lately.

Lucia sat by the window, gazing at the lights of Evernight City.

Her profile looked lonely and forlorn.

“Lucia.”

Vivian placed the cookies on the table, her tone much softer.

“About Luna… I admit I made the decision alone without discussing it with you properly.”

“I overlooked your feelings and worries. That was my fault.”

Lucia’s shoulders shifted slightly, but she didn’t turn around or speak.

Vivian continued sincerely.

“I do care about Luna’s safety—precisely because I care, I want her to learn how to handle complicated situations sooner.”

“But I should have respected your feelings as her mother more.”

“I should have talked through my plans and all the security measures with you first.”

“Making you worry and anger you like this was my mistake.”

She paused, then added.

“You’ve been angry and ignoring me these past few days, but Luna is safe and happy.”

“She’s been a huge help to Luna in her own way and has won over many villagers and children.”

“Our outreach is going very smoothly.”

“The grassroots gaps will start closing soon.”

Hearing that Luna was safe and thriving, the tension finally eased from Lucia’s shoulders.

She slowly turned.

The frost on her face thawed a little, though lingering fear still shone in her eyes.

“I didn’t mean to fight with you…”

“I was just… really scared.”

Vivian sighed softly and stepped forward, gently taking her hand.

“I felt your fear. I was thoughtless.”

“I promise—from now on, any important decision about Luna, I will discuss with you first.”

“No more acting alone.”

Lucia looked into Vivian’s sincere, weary eyes.

Most of the resentment in her heart melted away.

She squeezed Vivian’s hand in return and whispered.

“…I was wrong too. I overreacted.”

“I know you want what’s best for Luna and the territory. It’s just the way you did it…”

“Don’t scare me like that again.”

“I won’t.”

Vivian let out a relieved breath and offered her a cookie.

“Try one? I followed the recipe you finally perfected. Should be no mistakes this time.”

Lucia took it, bit off a piece, and the familiar sweet cream flavor spread across her tongue.

She looked up at Vivian and nodded.

“Delicious.”

Vivian smiled softly in return.

Their first real argument, all things considered, ended peacefully without further harm.