"LILUTH!" Queen Riniya, who had been waiting anxiously in the palace courtyard, exclaimed as she saw her daughter disembark the shuttle before she ran up and hugged her tightly.
As she pulled away and started closely examining her eldest daughter for any injuries, she fired out questions rapidly: "Are you okay? Are you hurt? What happened?"
"I'm fine, Mum, I'm fine," Liluth replied.
"What happened?" King Taegen Solar asked in a serious tone as he arrived behind his wife and looked down at his daughter.
"A kidnapping attempt, right inside Capital University grounds," Keerla replied in anger before she explained everything Adam had told her about what happened.
"Where is the Caninian now?" Taegan asked with anger.
"He is being transported on another shuttle; I didn't want to risk bringing him back on the same one as Liluth," Keerla replied.
"A sensible precaution," Taegen nodded in agreement before ordering, "I want him interrogated as soon as he arrives."
"Of course, my king," Keerla replied.
"Good," Taegan replied before smiling at Liluth and saying, "Follow me to the medical wing. I want our doctors to give you a full check-up and make sure you're fine."
"I'm fine, Dad," Liluth complained while rolling her eyes.
"I'm sure you are, sweetie, but I want to make sure for peace of mind, now let's go," Taegen said before leading Liluth away.
"What about the two that saved Liluth? Why did they not return with you? Didn't you invite them, Keerla?" Riniya asked curiously as she watched her daughter being led away by her mate.
"Naturally, I did; however, they didn't want to be distracted from their honeymoon."
"Visiting Capital University for a honeymoon? Rather a strange choice," Riniya said in surprise.
"They claimed to be honeymooning here on Solarian Prime and just wanted to visit the university to find something. I ordered Shalendra to escort them and assist them in finding what they were looking for."
"A wise decision since Shalendra studied at the university," Riniya replied approvingly before saying with a knowing smile, "Now why don't you tell me what you hid from Taegan."
"You mean the parts that Liluth asked me to keep hidden from the king, such as how she let Adam stroke her hair and Rowena gave her advice on how to make friends?" Keerla replied with a knowing smirk.
"Oh! Tell me more," Riniya said with great interest before listening to Keerla's recount of everything that happened after she arrived.
"How interesting, Liluth actually let a man she had just met pat her head, and he's even from outside the known universe," Riniya mused thoughtfully before asking, "How did his relationship with this Rowena seem to be?"
"They're definitely romantically involved, and they're not faking it. She got jealous over Adam stroking Liluth's hair in front of her and insisted he do the same to her before she left arm-in-arm with him."
"And she claims to be from a long-lived race while this Adam is from a finite race?"
"Correct, though she didn't say which one; it could be one of the ones we know or one from outside the known universe, like Adam claims to be."
"Adam is a very Terran name, but you claimed he looked too plain for a Terran?"
"I have never seen a Terran as plain as him, though I have also never met one as charismatic and modest."
"My, my. It seems my daughter is not the only one taken with him. Remember, you already have a mate," Riniya said as she teased her friend.
"I have a mate currently," Keerla replied with a playful wink before adding, "I'm just kidding, though it's hard not to be impressed with someone who refuses a reward from us Solarians. You know better than anyone how every race wishes to form close ties with us."
"True," Riniya said in agreement before asking, "Rowena, though, is a very Brood-sounding name, and it's rather suspicious that she has that name and claims to be from a long-lived race."
Riniya went quiet for a few moments as she fell into thought before saying, "Contact our embassy on Terrana Five and request all information they have on an Adam Spencer who has recently married a woman named Rowena. I doubt they will find anything if he is indeed from outside the known universe, but it doesn't hurt to ask.
Also, contact the Darah Five embassy and ask them for all recent information about Rowena Nosferatu. It's too coincidental that she has the same name and is from a long-lived race.
Finally, contact each of the orbital elevators and request information on any strange individuals, especially Terran couples travelling planetside."
"I already sent the request to the orbital elevators on the way here, but I will contact the embassies immediately, though I doubt it will turn up anything since the Rowena I just met has black hair and blue eyes," Keerla replied before taking out her communicator.
"Why are you looking for something made by Theodmer Sarmaer? He's not exactly well respected in this community," Elidyr asked with great interest.
"I don't believe my telling you that was part of the deal," Adam replied.
"Very true, but you can't blame me for trying," Elidyr replied before saying, "Tell me what happened with the kidnapping attempt of the first princess and I will see if I can't help you find this device made by Theodmer Sarmaer that your looking for, I naturally can't give it to you however and can only let you examine it."
"That's fine, I only wanted to examine it in the first place and had no interest in taking ownership of it," Adam replied before explaining to Elidyr what happened outside.
"Why would the Caninians want to kidnap the first princess? Our two races are on good terms?" Elidyr asked curiously.
"I doubt the Caninian government hired them or were part of their military. From what Adam told us, the woman he let go said, they were most likely mercenaries or bounty hunters who were hired by a third party," Shalendra stated before looking at Adam with a frown and asking, "Why did you let any of them go in the first place?"
"My priority was protecting my wife and Liluth, who at the time I believed was just a young girl. I had no idea who she was at the time," Adam replied simply.
"How's it possible you didn't recognise her? I mean, she's even more famous than her parents in some circles," Shalendra asked in disbelief.
"I'm not a resident of your KNOWN UNIVERSE, remember," Adam replied while emphasising the known universe.
"You mean you're from outside the known universe?" Elidyr asked in surprise before looking back and forth between Adam and Rowena and asking, "Both of you?"
"Perhaps," Rowena replied mysteriously as she took the opportunity to hook her arm through Adam's again and lean in close to him.
[OfficialLorelie (Felinia 7): There she goes again.]
[OrangeeyedStace (Felinia 7): 😮💨]
[OfficialAphrodite (Felinia 7): This woman is definitely doing this to make me jealous, the bitch. What did I ever do to her?]
[LadyErkath (Deverinian Prime): Try to sleep with her every time the two of you meet, from what I hear.]
[OfficialAphrodite (Felinia 7): What's wrong with that? Have you seen that ass?]
[Puntanghunter69Ver2 (International Space Station): I have. This stream is the streamer's best yet. We have Diva Rowena with a great ass and this elf lady with a great pair of tits.]
[LadyErkath (Deverinian Prime): She does indeed have good tits.]
[OracleRomy (Elysium): Has this chat always been so perverted? 🫣]
[Gunlovergirl (Earth): Only since Diva Aphrodite and Puntanghunter69Ver2 returned.]
"Rowena is a Brood name; however, you don't have the Broods' distinctive red hair and eyes," Elidyr remarked curiously.
"So, Theodmer Sarmaer's creations?" Adam started to change the subject.
"Oh, of course, my apologies." Elidyr replied before moving towards his office door while saying, "Please follow me."
The group of three followed Elidyr as he left the office and continued further down the hallway to another doorway, which he opened and entered.
Inside, they found a large storage room filled with racks of shelves and walls lined with large cupboards.
"This is one of the Historic Research Department buildings' storage rooms," Elidyr said before pointing towards the back and stating, "Theodmer Sarmaer's creations that the university holds are all stored near the back of the room."
"They're all stored in the same storage room? Wouldn't inventions from renowned scientists normally be shared across the entire university?" Rowena asked curiously.
"Renowned scientist? Theodmer Sarmaer?" Shalendra scoffed before asking, "Did you not listen to what I said earlier?"
"I did, but Theodmer Sarmaer must be at least fairly renowned if the best university in the Galamedees Galaxy collects inventions of his," Rowena replied.
"Fair point," Shalendra conceded.
"What does the item you're looking for look like? I should be able to help you …," Elidyr began to ask, only to be interrupted as a voice suddenly came over the university's internal intercom.
"Professor Jozeiros, you have a call waiting for you. I repeat, Professor Jozeiros, you have a call waiting for you."
"Really? Now? Talk about bad timing?" Elidyr said with a sigh before turning to Shalendra and asking, "Can I leave you to assist them?
"Of course, professor," Shalendra replied.
"Good," Elidyr replied before turning to Adam and Rowena and saying apologetically, "Sorry about this. I will try to return as soon as possible." After which, he turned and left the room.