Chapter 393: The Barrier of Deception

**Dorothy’s POV** The Elven Palace was a place I had visited many times, yet I was only familiar with a handful of areas within its grand walls. My ventures were usually confined to spaces such as the Town Hall or the conference room. Each visit was accompanied by meticulous inspections, even for areas open to the public. It was no surprise, then, that gaining access to the sacred chamber where the Elf King’s body was preserved required a far greater level of scrutiny. My father and I underwent three layers of rigorous checks, leaving me feeling as though we were on the verge of being asked to account for our entire ancestral lineage. Although such precautions were reasonable given the circumstances, the treatment felt undeniably cold, even insulting. I chose to hold back my complaints, knowing that maintaining a cordial relationship with the elves was in everyone’s best interest. Just as everything seemed to be proceeding smoothly, a leak of information threatened to upend ou