Valon slowly rose to his feet. He looked vigorous and spirited, with no trace of his earlier fragility.

"As expected of the immortal essence tablet. It's truly miraculous," he said with a smile, his gaze sweeping past Grace before settling on Dustin.

He nodded slightly and added, "Dustin, thank you for your hard work."

He knew perfectly well that without Dustin's help, he would never have been able to retrieve the immortal essence tablet.

"You're welcome, Your Majesty. Seeing you safe and sound means I've fulfilled my duty," Dustin replied calmly.

He went on, "This journey to Elysium Isle was perilous. Princess Grace went to great lengths to find this medicine and nearly lost her life in the process. Now that Your Majesty has recovered, you should recognize both her devotion and her accomplishments."

As a ruler, Valon understood exactly what Dustin was implying. When he looked at Grace again, his expression had softened with unmistakable approval.

His daughter was talented in