Chapter 24

“Sir Gareth, these will assist you in hauling the materials—and in the construction itself.”

That single statement caught everyone’s attention. A ripple of surprise spread through the gathered nobles, their gazes shifting between me and the imposing figures of my army. For the first time, I could see genuine respect in their eyes. Even Cassie, who rarely let herself be impressed, looked awed by the sheer display of strength and efficiency.

Just as I was about to revel in my small victory, a sudden wave of magical energy swept through the air, carried by the wind like a whisper of ancient power. The force of it was strong enough to make the hair on my arms stand on end. Instinctively, I turned toward the forest.

Now that the piles of raw materials had been cleared, my line of sight was unobstructed, and I could see it clearly—a tree unlike any other.

At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary ancient oak, its towering form blending with the surrounding forest. But my ever-active Echo Sense allowed me to perceive far more than what the naked eye could see. This tree was radiating an energy so pure, so potent, that it could only mean one thing.

I burst into laughter, the realization hitting me so hard that my sides began aching almost instantly. My amusement only grew as I bent over, clutching my ribs, unable to contain myself.

Aldric Valefang, clearly irritated by my outburst, crossed his arms. “What is it this time?” he snapped.

I tried to answer, but my laughter only intensified. I could barely breathe. Instead of speaking, I simply raised my hand and pointed toward the glowing tree, its radiance unmistakable even from this distance.

“That has never happened before,” murmured Mr. Edric Valemont, the Royal Appraiser, his voice tinged with awe.

Cassie, having long since lost patience, reached over and grabbed me by the collar of my shirt, lifting me slightly off the ground. “Can you please explain?” she asked, her voice unusually sweet—too sweet.

Recognizing the dangerous shift in her tone, I forced myself to regain control. Taking deep breaths, I composed myself just enough to respond. “Another treasure has fallen into my hands,” I declared smugly. Then, with a wicked grin, I added, “And I’m not sharing a single piece of it.”

That, of course, sent me into another fit of laughter.

“Treasure?” came the sharp voice of Mr. Elenor Valcrest, the Royal Treasurer. “What treasure?”

Now that I could finally speak properly, I straightened my posture and answered with confidence. “That tree is a Child of Eterna—just like the Eonwood Tree.” A collective gasp echoed among the nobles. “It was sleeping, waiting for someone worthy to awaken it. And now, it’s reacting to the herbs I have in my storage.”

Murmurs of disbelief and astonishment spread through the crowd. Some exchanged glances, while others simply stared at the glowing tree in awe.

Aldric Valefang clenched his fists at his sides, his jaw tight with frustration. He couldn’t curse me out in public, not with so many high-ranking officials present. But his jealousy was practically radiating off him.

I smirked and turned my attention to Seraphina Eldenwarth, the Royal Herbalist. “I may need some additional herbs from your collection,” I said smoothly.

Her eyes lit up with scholarly intrigue. “On one condition,” she countered. “I get to conduct research on it.”

I nodded without hesitation. “Deal.”

Then, turning back to Aldric, I let my grin widen. “How about we pay a visit to your menagerie? I believe I still have a bet to collect.”

His eyes darkened, but he said nothing. Instead, he spun on his heel and started walking.

Without another word, I followed, barely suppressing my amusement. Behind us, the meeting dissolved into a flurry of whispers and speculation.

Today was turning out to be far more entertaining than I had anticipated.

As we walked toward his menagerie, I decided to break the silence.

“Listen, Aldric,” I said, my tone unusually calm. “I have a promise to fulfill—a promise I made to my father. Once I see that through, I will freely share any knowledge I have with you. There’s no need for all this hostility. Why are you so jealous?”