"What on earth is the meaning of this?! Do you even realize what you're trying to do?!"
A woman's voice rang out through the Chalky Royal Castle, which towered over the center of the Noble District in the Imuris Royal Capital. The source of the outcry was the First Princess, Selene.
Selene stood with her fists clenched, glaring with eyes full of righteous indignation.
Two men stood at the receiving end of her gaze: Second Prince Gaius and the High Priest of the Karia Church.
The two stopped in their tracks and shared a look before raising their palms to the sky in a mockingly casual shrug, as if to say they’d been caught by someone tiresome.
"Sister Selene. Whatever are you so angry about? I haven’t the slightest clue what you mean."
Gaius maintained a superficial smile as he brushed back his well-groomed blond hair.
"I’m talking about Count Cardinal’s Territory! A joint investigation with the Empire? What is the meaning of this?!"
Still maintaining his smirk, Gaius replied.
"Ah, that couldn't be helped. With the Kingdom's current technology, investigating the ruins discovered beneath the Territorial Capital is a difficult task. We might end up damaging precious artifacts. That is why I decided to have the Empire assist us. Unknown treasures might be sleeping in those Ancient Ruins, after all. If we attempted this alone, we would surely lose them."
The High Priest nodded along in silent agreement with Gaius’s explanation.
"I’ve known for a long time that you were secretly colluding with the Empire! What do you intend to do with this country?!"
At Selene's question, Gaius's expression shifted. His eyes sharpened as he fixed her with a glare.
"What do I intend to do? To bring it prosperity, obviously. The King has lost his fire, and our older brother lacks the caliber to lead. I am the only one who can rebuild it."
"Selling our land to the Empire is what you call prosperity?!"
Facing Selene as she raised her voice, Gaius took a quiet step forward. He swiftly closed the distance and leaned his face close to Selene's ear. With an incredibly cold expression, he whispered.
"I’ve known for a long time that you’ve been scuttling about in the shadows, trying to get in my way. I’ve tolerated it until now, but those days are over. If you value your life, you’ll learn to stay quiet. After all, Sister... you have no allies left."
"..."
Selene fell silent. Gaius twisted his lips into a satisfied smirk, then turned sharply on his heel.
His footsteps echoed down the marble corridor as he departed with the High Priest.
"It’s been a long time, Walt."
We were in the royal palace of the Asterion Sword Kingdom. The man who welcomed us into the reception room was a stalwart figure with graying hair—Former Count Bradley. He was a wanted criminal in the Imuris Kingdom now.
Perhaps due to his life as a fugitive, he looked far gaunter than when we’d last met. Yet, his eyes still burned with a powerful resolve. He didn’t look like a man who had even considered the word "surrender."
"It’s been a long time, Mr. Bradley."
Bradley's gaze immediately shifted from me to Neneva. A light shone in his eyes.
"Neneva... look how you've grown."
"Wait, do you know me, Mr. Bradley?"
"Yes. We met back when you were still in the Royal Capital. I also visited the Dusk Hollow Wetlands several times to check on you. Though you likely never noticed..."
Bradley's gaze drifted into the distance as if reminiscing. Then, he suddenly bowed his head.
"I’m so sorry... I was unable to put an end to the Royal Family's wretched traditions. I failed to stop them from sending a young child like you to the Dusk Hollow Wetlands."
"Mr. Bradley, please, lift your head. Just knowing that there was a noble who cared enough to feel that way... it makes me happy."
Bradley's bloodshot eyes turned toward Neneva. She offered him a kind smile in return.
"This is a wonderful sofa! Mind if I take a seat?"
Neneva acted playfully as she pointed to the sofa in the reception room, trying to lighten the mood.
Bradley flustered slightly and invited us both to sit. He then took a seat directly across from me.
"I’ve heard of your situation from King Olgos. Like me, the Imuris Royal Family is now targeting your lives."
"That’s right! Honestly, targeting a Saint’s life? It’s absurd. Isn’t there anyone decent in the entire Imuris Royal Family?!"
Trying to keep the atmosphere from getting too heavy, Neneva puffed out her cheeks in mock frustration.
"The ones who targeted Neneva's life are undoubtedly Second Prince Gaius’s Faction," Bradley explained. "Between the Empire’s obsession with utilizing the power of the Evil God and Gaius using their support to expand his influence within the Kingdom, we have to act. Princess Selene and I have been coordinating in secret for years to stop them."
As I thought, it really is Second Prince Gaius.
"Was it also Gaius... who took me away from my mother?" Neneva asked softly.
"Yes. It was at the strong insistence of Gaius and his mother, the Second Wife, that you were exiled to the Dusk Hollow Wetlands."
"I see..."
A quiet indignation radiated from Neneva, causing the air in the room to turn heavy.
"I’ve suddenly developed a very strong urge to seal that Fragment of the Evil God... It feels like the world is telling me to grind Gaius and the Empire’s plans into the dirt."
"I’m pretty sure that’s just your own personal grudge talking," I interjected.
Neneva snapped her head around to look at me. "Is that a problem?"
"No, not at all. In fact, it's the right way to feel."
"Right?"
The red in Neneva's eyes seemed to burn even brighter.
"Mr. Bradley. Walt and I are going to crush Gaius and the Empire."
I realized then that, somewhere along the line, this had become a goal for both of us.
"If Lady Selene could hear you now... she would be overjoyed."
Tears welled up in Bradley's eyes.
"Will you help us?"
"Of course. I have coordinated with allies scattered across the lands and gathered intelligence. Let us forge a plan to stop Gaius’s Faction and the Empire together... Saint Neneva."
The two of them stood up and exchanged a firm handshake. There was no stopping Neneva now.