The Grand Duke's Son Is A Heretic-Chapter 163:Flash Of Old Memory

The corridor felt longer than it should’ve been. Every step echoed like a hammer hitting stone. Kael and Lyria followed the Ice Elf silently, their breaths visible in the chilled air.

The Ice Elf finally stopped before a tall door carved from smooth ice and silver branches.

"This will be your guest room," he said flatly. "By the Queen’s orders. You’re not prisoners... but don’t test your luck."

He opened the door and stepped aside.

Kael stepped in first. The room was unlike anything he expected. The bed was carved from packed snow, soft and warm from hidden enchantments.

Translucent curtains hung down like frozen waterfalls, and glowing crystals lit up the room in a soft blue light. A small fireplace burned with cold blue fire—magical, silent, and oddly beautiful.

Lyria followed behind, wrapping her arms around herself. "They really went all in with the ’ice theme’..."

Kael didn’t reply. He walked over to the window and looked outside. The view showed the glowing snow city, the moonlight reflecting on the icy buildings, the tall white trees swaying with the wind. The scene looked peaceful... but his eyes narrowed.

"I don’t trust any of this."

Lyria looked at him. "You think they’ll attack?"

"No," Kael said. "I think they’re waiting. Watching. Planning."

Lyria moved to the edge of the bed and checked it, "Then maybe we should rest. You’ve been on edge since we got here, Master."

Kael smirked. "I’m always on edge. That’s how I survived."

A soft knock came at the door.

Kael turned fast, his hand brushing near his belt—even though he had no weapon. The door opened slightly, and a young Ice Elf servant entered, eyes downcast.

"I... I was sent by the Queen. She wishes you to be ready tomorrow morning. She has things to discuss."

Kael tilted his head. "Okay, I will be on it."

Then she quickly bowed and left.

Kael stared at the closed door for a long moment. His expression darkened.

Lyria broke the silence. "You think this is about the Ice Dragon?"

Kael’s grin was cold and strange. "Oh, definitely. And whatever it is... I’m not sure I’ll like it."

He turned toward the window again, staring into the city’s snowy glow.

"But I feel she needs something."

...

Midnight – Inside the Guest Room

Kael couldn’t sleep.

The room was silent, save for the soft hum of the enchanted fireplace. Lyria was curled on the snow-soft bed, breathing lightly, her face relaxed in rare peace.

But Kael stood by the window, arms crossed, eyes sharp like a predator’s.

His gaze drifted upward—toward the night sky.

At first, it was calm. Stars blinked through thin icy clouds. But then... something moved.

It wasn’t a bird. Nor a spirit. It was... something else.

A dark shape glided silently through the sky, its form twisting like smoke—then solid—then vanishing.

Kael narrowed his eyes.

"That’s not natural..."

He kept watching. Moments later, he noticed it again. Far above. Hovering, as if drawn toward something. As if beckoned by the very ice beneath this city.

Then came another strange thing—a low hum. So faint, it was almost in his head. But it grew clearer. Kael sniffed the air and caught it—the sharp, unnatural scent of gases trailing faintly in the wind.

He tensed.

"Something’s off," he whispered.

His gut, sharp as ever, twisted.

He stood by the window watching the sky and in myriad twinkling stars, he caught a faint trail of smoke.

’From where is the smoke coming from?’

He didn’t say a word to Lyria. No need to wake her.

He stepped away from the window and sat down, his hand tapping his thigh restlessly.

"This smoke...It seems Ice Elves aren’t the only inhabitants around."

....

The doors of the Ice Hall creaked open.

Kael walked in, flanked by two Ice Elf guards. His face was calm, but his eyes scanned everything.

The Queen sat atop her throne, just as majestic and cold as yesterday. Draped in layers of translucent frost-silk, her veil fluttered lightly as she crossed one leg over the other. Her silver-blue hair shimmered like falling snow, and her skin was smooth like carved marble.

But her eyes—icy blue—were piercing.

"Kael of the Veydrin," she called.

He stepped forward, giving a short, slow bow. "Good Morning Your Grace Queen Alvera."

"You slept well?" she asked, her voice emotionless.

"Not really," Kael answered honestly. "Your sky was a bit... active."

Alvera’s gaze sharpened.

"You saw something?"

Kael didn’t answer right away. He looked at her, reading her carefully. "Maybe. Depends what is going on. I guess I am needed for something related to that."

The hall fell silent.

"You are bold."

"I’m many things. Bold. Mad. Dangerous. Depends on who you ask."

Alvera leaned back. "Then let me ask you—why are you really here?"

Kael sighed. "Like I said yesterday—I stopped those Serpent Fang bastards. Ice Dragon Viseron’s remaining will pulled me and the demon girl here. Not my choice."

"Then where is the Ice Dragon Viserion?"

Kael paused for a moment and spoke," She is dead?"

Queen Alvera raised her hand and silenced the room. Her voice dropped low, but powerful.

"Dead?"

She stood slowly. Her aura pressed down like cold pressure, sucking the warmth out of the air.

"What?"Kael asked with a startled look.

"I am not lying."

"I will see for myself," she said. "If what you say is true..."

She turned her eyes to Kael. "But if you lie... I’ll rip the truth out of your skull myself."

Kael chuckled, unfazed. "You’re welcome to try, Your Majesty."

The throne room quieted once more as Queen Alvera stepped down from her icy throne. Her heels clicked on the frost-laced floor as she walked closer to Kael. The veil on her face fluttered gently, her cold beauty glowing in the pale morning light.

And then with a swift blow, the veil encasing her face blew away.

It was just a span of less than a second but Kael’s eyes widened in disbelief and shock.

"Asana!"

Kael muttered out in a dazed expression that made Alvera freeze.

"What did you say?"

Kael’s throat quivered as he asked, "Asana....Do you know her, Your Grace!"

Alvera’s brows furrowed and she looked at Kael suspiciously before answering.

"She is my mother."

The moment Kael heard this, his mind became blank as a certain memory flashed in his mind.