The luncheon should have ended.
Instead...
It became history.
Queen Lysara carefully returned the silver rapier to its case before folding her hands atop the table.
She looked first to Llandra.
Then to Jax.
Then back again.
"I have reached my decision."
King Thalorien smiled into his drink.
"I suspected you had."
She ignored him.
"Jax."
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"Do you love my daughter?"
There wasn't even a pause.
"With everything I have."
The room fell silent.
Queen Lysara nodded once.
"I believe you."
Jax blinked.
He hadn't expected the answer to come so quickly.
She continued.
"I have spent weeks reading reports."
Her eyes shifted toward Vaelrith.
"My husband has spent weeks questioning the man he trusts more than almost anyone else."
Vaelrith inclined his head.
"I have."
King Thalorien folded his hands.
"I trust Vaelrith's judgment."
He looked toward his oldest friend.
"He has protected this family for centuries."
Then he looked directly at Jax.
"And he has watched you for weeks."
A smile crossed Vaelrith's face.
"I have."
"I have seen how you treat Llandra."
"I have seen how you treat the others."
"I have seen how you conduct business."
"I have seen how you carry power."
"And I have reached only one conclusion."
He stood.
Walked around the table.
Stopped before Jax.
Extended his forearm.
"You are a good man."
Jax clasped it without hesitation.
Vaelrith smiled.
"You have my blessing."
King Thalorien rose next.
"And mine."
Llandra's eyes immediately filled with tears.
"...Father..."
He smiled warmly.
"You sound surprised."
"I am."
"So am I."
The room laughed.
Then Queen Lysara stood.
"Wonderful."
She clapped once.
"We'll have the wedding immediately."
"...Mother."
"No."
"We haven't planned—"
"No."
"We still need to return to Solmere."
"We will."
"The dresses..."
"We'll make them."
"The invitations..."
"We'll send them."
"The food..."
Jax slowly raised a hand.
"I actually own several restaurants."
Lysara smiled.
"Excellent."
"You're catering."
Jax blinked.
"...I am?"
"You are now."
Nyxian buried her face in Zee's shoulder trying not to laugh.
King Thalorien leaned toward Jax.
"When my wife decides something..."
"...wars have ended with less determination."
Even Jax laughed.
Queen Lysara turned back toward him.
"How quickly can you return to Solmere?"
Jax thought for only a moment.
"Give me about a day."
The room looked confused.
"...A day?" Llandra asked.
Jax nodded.
"I have gates."
He smiled.
"I'll build one here."
Silence.
Several nobles looked toward one another.
King Thalorien slowly smiled.
"I suppose you will."
Jax nodded.
"It'll make future visits much easier."
The King's smile grew.
Then something shifted.
Not in the room.
In history.
King Thalorien stood straight.
His voice carried the weight of a monarch.
"Then let it be known."
Everyone became silent.
"The Kingdom of Etherevalis recognizes Jax Darquebane as the future husband of Princess Llandra Silverthorne."
He looked toward Jax.
"But more importantly..."
"...as family."
The words settled over the room.
Then the King continued.
"Family is not given."
"It is chosen."
"And today..."
"My family chooses yours."
He turned toward the assembled advisors.
"Prepare the necessary documents."
Several looked surprised.
"The trade agreements."
"The military accords."
"The gate permissions."
"The diplomatic charters."
One advisor hesitated.
"Your Majesty..."
"The Kingdom has never entered an alliance outside the Forest."
Thalorien nodded.
"I am aware."
He smiled.
"Today, we shall."
He looked toward Jax.
"The United Kingdoms has demonstrated prosperity."
"It has demonstrated fairness."
"It has demonstrated strength."
"And now..."
"It has demonstrated family."
He extended his hand once more.
"Kingdoms are built upon trust."
"I believe we have found ours."
Jax took his hand.
This time...
Not as a future son-in-law.
But as an equal ruler.
Their handshake lasted only seconds.
Its consequences would echo for centuries.
Queen Lysara clapped happily.
"There."
She smiled brightly.
"Now that politics are finished..."
She looked toward everyone in the room.
"We have a wedding to plan."
Servants immediately scattered in every direction.
Tailors.
Chefs.
Florists.
Musicians.
Decorators.
The palace exploded into motion.
King Thalorien quietly stepped beside Jax.
"You realize what just happened?"
Jax nodded slowly.
"I think so."
The King chuckled.
"No."
"You've just convinced the oldest elven kingdom on the continent to join your United Kingdoms."
He looked toward the palace windows where the forests stretched beyond the horizon.
"You didn't conquer us."
"You didn't bargain with us."
"You became one of us."
Jax smiled.
"I was hoping for the marriage."
"You got both."
The King laughed.
"And if the newspapers are as efficient as I've heard..."
He looked toward Queen Lysara, already directing dozens of servants.
"...by tomorrow morning the entire continent will believe the Kingdom of Etherevalis has officially joined the United Kingdoms."
Jax scratched the back of his head.
"...Has it?"
King Thalorien smiled.
"It has now."
Llandra slipped her hand into Jax's.
She looked around the room.
At her parents.
At Vaelrith.
At Dawn.
At her brothers and sister.
Then back at Jax.
The adventure that had begun with a runaway princess...
Had brought her home.
Not alone.
But with a man who had somehow convinced an entire kingdom...
To become family.