Part 2, Chapter 1
Part 2, Chapter 1
Translation: godsn
Three years later, Valdina Royal Palace.
The brilliant sunlight cast its glow upon the palace spires, creating a shimmering golden radiance.
The cool northern breeze and the verdant hills visible beyond the palace blended harmoniously as if becoming one with nature.
The peaceful, poetic scenery perfectly embodied the pristine natural beauty for which Valdina was renowned.
Yet in stark contrast, the Valdina Royal Palace bore no resemblance to its former modest appearance.
Upon entering the cream-colored palace interior, one's eyes were immediately drawn to the exquisitely carved pillars and walls adorned with dazzling mosaics.
The clear streams of water erupting from the fountain sparkled as they shattered under the sunlight.
The palace brimmed with unprecedented vitality—nobles in resplendent attire, merchants presenting their crafts, and palace attendants bustling about.
Amidst the laughter and lively conversations, one could almost hear the booming shouts of knights training somewhere.
No one could possibly imagine that this very place had once been occupied by rebel forces spewing black smoke.
Nor that the ground had been washed clean of blood spilled from the severed heads of countless rebels.
Clack. Clack.
The wheels of the carriage sliding slowly across the meticulously laid stone path came to a halt.
The first to touch upon the polished granite was a long walking stick.
"Welcome, Leader."
A woman with crimson hair stepped out next.
Neril, who had been waiting, approached to greet Kensington. Embroidered upon Neril's chest was a lily insignia denoting her affiliation with the Princess's Palace.
Her flawless demeanor gave the impression of standing before an ancient, towering tree.
"It's been a while, Knight Neril. Your skills have grown even more formidable."
Kensington narrowed her eyes.
She hadn't heard Neril's footsteps approaching. The knight's straight shadow had coincidentally merged with the pillar's shade.
Had Neril not initiated the greeting first, Kensington might not have noticed her presence at all.
"Every time I see you, I can't help but covet those skills. If we had just three like you in our Red Fox Group, I wouldn't need to traverse the continent as I do now."
Kensington curled the corner of her lips. Talents who embodied both the qualities of an assassin and knight were exceedingly rare.
"You always shower me with undeserved praise, Leader. I'm merely embarrassed. However, I have no intention of leaving Her Highness's side."
Neril offered a faint smile.
"My, are you already scouting for talent the moment you arrive? I could never fill Neril's shoes, but what about me, Leader?"
A playful voice interjected. The two turned their heads.
"Oh, Tom! Long time no see."
Tom smiled at Kensington, his freckled face beaming.
Kensington approached him warmly.
It was Tom who had brought Kensington to Valdina under Medeia's orders, so they shared a rather friendly rapport.
Tap. Drag. The sounds of a cane and a limping footstep intersected as they struck the ground.
Three years ago, the cruel violence inflicted by Kensington's former master—Emperor Perdiccas II of the Kazen Empire—had left her with lasting injuries that crippled one of her legs.
"Leader, you've arrived quite early. When we last exchanged messages, you mentioned being in the Lubria Mountains, so I assumed you wouldn't arrive until next month or so."
Tom naturally walked over to Kensington's side and supported her as he spoke.
Rubria was a region located at the southernmost tip of Kazen. It was as far from Valdina in the north as one end of the world from the other.
"To cross that distance in just a month—how much did you whip those horses and foxes? You should've just sent your subordinates instead..."
Tom rolled his eyes playfully, though his words carried genuine concern. Kensington, whose health was still far from recovered, had been traveling across the continent even more actively than before.
"No. Rubria is one of the First Prince's conquered territories, so security is tight. It wasn't a situation where I could send just anyone."
"Hmph. As if it's any worse than Persepolis (the imperial capital of Kazen)."
At Tom's remark, Kensington shook her head emphatically.
"The First Prince is the type to spot a speck of dust and attack the fortress walls. If even a tail gets stepped on wrong, not only will the entire Red Fox group be rooted out, but they'll also find out I'm still alive. I can't possibly bring trouble to Her Highness the Princess, who went through so much to save me."
Kensington lifted her gaze toward the royal palace. The flag of Valdina, hoisted at its peak, fluttered in the chilly northern wind.
"Besides, this isn't just any occasion—it's the grand proclamation of Valdina as an empire. How could I possibly be late? I set out as soon as I received the summons, and here I am already."
The imperial proclamation ceremony.
It was the most significant event Valdina currently faced.
The three of them walked along the road bustling with preparations for the ceremony.
Amid the hurried comings and goings of people, the vibrant flowers lining the gardens on either side of the path delighted the eye.
Then, at some point, Kensington paused, bent her knee, and plucked a single flower decorating the roadside.
Large red petals streaked with white patterns.
"Isn't this a flower from the tropical regions of the southeast? How did it end up here...?"
Having traveled across the entire continent, Kensington immediately recognized its native habitat.
"As expected of the Leader. Yes, you're right."
Tom, looking delighted, chimed in as if he had been waiting for this moment.
"Since the Elamuz Strait became famous for maritime trade, our royal castle has grown in scale as well. With specialties from all over the continent flooding in, isn't it only natural that we'd see tropical flowers even in chilly Valdina?"
The Elamuz Strait.
Three years ago, it was the territory Medeia had wrested from the Emperor of Kazen as compensation in exchange for sparing the lives of the traitorous Claudio and his family.
Now, it was undisputedly Valdina's territory.
"See there? Those carriages crowding outside the northern gate—they're all merchant caravans. And the castle walls over there are currently being expanded. And—"
"Enough, Tom. Take a breath."
As if telling him to quit while he was ahead, Neril gave Tom's shoulder a light smack.
"I'm fine! But Leader, that's not all. The guard corps has also expanded, with our master recently training new recruits—"
"No. You're not fine."
Only after Neril's elbow dug sharply into his side did Tom finally stop talking.
"Leader, you must be tired. You should rest and unpack first. Everyone's busy with the proclamation preparations, but there's still some time to spare. His Majesty hasn't returned yet, either."
Kensington gazed at the two with a pleased expression before pausing at Neril's words.
"His Majesty still hasn't returned? Don't tell me another Monster Wave has occurred?"
A year ago, Pelleus had set out again for the plains—won through a decade of war—leading Agema with him.
Now, the plains were officially Valdina's territory on paper. However, being newly annexed, they lay beyond the protective reach of the Philosopher's Stone.
To establish safe living grounds for Valdinans, the task of clearing out monsters emerging from the Waves was necessary.
"Yes. Last time, it was a Troll Wave, and this time, it's ghouls. They've become quite frequent lately."
Kensington rubbed her temples.
As someone from the Kazen Empire, she knew all too well the devastation of Monster Waves. Regardless of type, regions overrun by magic beasts were reduced to ruins in an instant.
The scenes of one-sided slaughter left both the dead and the survivors feeling as though they had glimpsed hell.
"Don't worry too much. The Agema won't have any trouble handling mere ghouls. Even if any are lucky enough to escape the plains, those creatures won't cross Valdina's borders."
Neril's expression was cautious, but she didn't seem overly concerned. It was closer to the confidence of someone who had never lived under the constant threat of magic beasts.
Kensington soon nodded in understanding.
"I see. I momentarily forgot this was Valdina."
After all, Valdina was the continent's sole sanctuary, untouched by monster invasions.
"Still, Her Highness the Princess must be anxious."
At Kensington's words, Neril nodded as if to reassure her.
"We've already received word. His Majesty the King finished the purge and crossed the border days ago..."
She raised her head slightly.
"He should arrive today or tomorrow."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if measuring the distant horizon beneath the clear blue sky.
Tap. Tap. Kensington's cane lightly struck the floor as she remained lost in thought.
"I must see Her Highness first."
"Yes, this way."
Understanding her intent, the two adjusted their direction. The three resumed walking.
Princess Medeia's Palace, Valdina.
Lofty ceilings and antique wall decorations.
Sunlight streamed in like a curtain, illuminating the statues placed against the cream-colored walls. These statues had originally belonged to the Queen Mother's Palace.
Two years ago, when the Queen Mother passed away, the Royal Head Maid, Madame Pinatelli, relocated them to the Princess's palace.
As Kensington walked down the corridor, the faint fragrance of blooming garden flowers drifted to her nose.
Entering the drawing room—elegant, much like its owner—Kensington immediately prostrated herself. Neither her limping leg nor her long cane hindered her display of loyalty.
"Kensington, having completed my mission, has returned to greet my liege."
Louisa Kensington, head of the Red Fox spy network spread across the continent, was a woman who operated more beneath the surface than above it.
This was even more true after she left the Kazen Empire.
Shrouded in secrecy, she obtained news from every corner of the continent faster than anyone else.
In this era of chaos, where a single piece of intelligence could illuminate a nation's future, the power and influence Louisa Kensington wielded were formidable—and dangerous.
So much so that even her former master, Emperor Perdiccas II of Kazen, had ultimately sought to kill her.
And yet, the title that now left Louisa's lips as she knelt—liege—made it clear that her loyalty belonged neither to Valdina nor to King Pelleus, but solely to the girl before her.
"Kensington."
A quiet yet familiar voice resonated through the Princess's palace, brushing against her ears.
Only then did Kensington raise her head and finally meet her master's gaze.