In The Legend of the Seven Heroes I, a series of incidents erupted within the Imperial Capital as the story neared its climax.
First, a certain nobleman met an unexplained end. Then, a Royal Guard, seemingly seized by some nameless terror, turned his blade upon the Third Prince.
The Prince was spirited away, and the mangled remains of the knight who had supposedly abducted him were later discovered.
Prominent nobles were attacked regardless of their political standing, and the glorious Leomel Imperial Capital, once the pinnacle of prosperity, was plunged into absolute chaos in a matter of days.
Some claimed it was an invasion by a foreign power.
Others wailed that it was the wrath of the Main God.
But they were all wrong.
It was simply that no one had expected it—that all of this was the scheme of a single nobleman.
No one realized this was a declaration of war by one man, or that every act defying common sense was the work of a single individual driven by a thirst for revenge.
Even the protagonists were stunned by the revelation. To confirm the truth, they left the Imperial Capital and traveled to a certain great city to investigate the man who ruled there.
However, that dark future no longer existed.
The presence of Ren Ashton had fundamentally altered the destiny of Marquis Ignat.
A month's journey across the land from Clausel lay a scenic metropolis hailed as the City of Water.
The streets were lined with houses of white brick, and waterways wound through every corner of the town. The sight of gondoliers rowing through the canals was a favorite among tourists. Its nearly circular layout took advantage of the natural coastal terrain, and its massive port was famous throughout the land.
Due to its majestic and elegant appearance, the city had long been known as the White Crown. It was a prestigious place, one the Imperial Family of Leomel had visited many times throughout history.
The name of this great city was Eupeheim.
While it was a month away from Clausel, Eupeheim was only two weeks from the Imperial Capital. This made it a vital hub for both land and sea transport. Consequently, the noble who ruled Eupeheim had to be exceptionally capable—a man of wisdom who left no openings for neighboring countries to exploit.
That was precisely why no nobleman ever dared to pick a fight with him.
In the heart of the great city of Eupeheim lived its current ruler, Ulysses Ignat. He was a handsome man of thirty-five with glossy, obsidian-black hair.
"Ah, Edgar. Welcome back."
Ulysses greeted Edgar, who had just returned from his mission to Clausel. They met in the garden of a grand mansion so vast it was practically a small castle.
"I have returned, Master. You seem... as energetic as ever."
"Of course! Isn't the weather magnificent today? I was just thinking I might go and stir up a bit of trouble for the Hero Faction!"
Ulysses gestured toward a table and chairs set out in the garden. He took a seat and invited Edgar to do the same.
However, for a servant to sit with his master was out of the question. Despite having just completed a long journey, Edgar remained standing, his posture perfect.
"Do you dislike sharing a table with me?" Ulysses asked.
"I apologize, Master, but I am a butler."
"How cold... Fine then, shall I stand as well? That would make us equals, wouldn't it?"
Edgar sighed internally. He could not allow his master to remain standing while he stood. Ultimately, he yielded and took the seat opposite Ulysses.
"I want to hear everything about Clausel," Ulysses said.
"Very well. I shall give my report."
Edgar recounted the events in Clausel with meticulous detail. He began with the Civil Official who had been manipulated by Viscount Given, covering every moment from the first day of the trial to the final verdict. He described how the Baron was nearly taken to the capital and how Ren and Licia had returned just in time. Finally, he spoke of the heroic roles the two youths had played.
"I see... So this boy was truly as remarkable as you say?"
"Yes, without a doubt."
"Even compared to the descendants of the Seven Heroes?"
"That was the impression I received. I believe you will agree, Master, that Ren Ashton possesses a value that cannot be measured in gold."
Ulysses broke into a carefree smile. When Edgar mentioned that he had handed over the "black paper," Ulysses praised the decision.
"That is good to hear. Thanks to your report, I feel my irritation toward His Majesty has subsided a little."
"Master... if I may..."
"Don't say it, Edgar. I know. I understand that His Majesty withheld the materials for the sake of the Imperial Family's interests."
He understood, but that didn't mean he had to like it.
"The matter involved Fiona's Special Constitution. I am well aware that it was never going to be simple."
Ulysses paused, his smile fading slightly.
"But sometimes, I can't help but wonder... if Fiona had lost her life, what would I have done?"
"That is..."
"I might have started a coup. I might have assassinated the Third Prince—the man they call the next Emperor—and wished for nothing but the total destruction of Leomel. Ah, sorry, sorry. Don't look at me like that."
Edgar's face had tightened with visible tension. The words were far too dangerous to be taken lightly. To any ordinary person, such an act would be an impossible fantasy, but Edgar knew the man sitting before him had the power to make it a reality.
"Regardless, we were fortunate," Edgar said. "Without the Thief Wolfen materials, the Young Lady's constitution could not have been suppressed."
Ulysses nodded solemnly, etching the name Ren Ashton into his mind as the savior of his family.
"Because of that, I intend to maintain a very close relationship with the Clausel family."
"Oh? Not the Ashton family?"
"Well, both, technically. But you know how troublesome the nobility can be. If I were to reach out directly to the Ashton family right now, I would be no better than that foolish Viscount."
"Please forgive my oversight," Edgar replied.
"It’s fine," Ulysses said brightly.
"Shall we make a move to bring them into our fold?" Edgar asked, hinting at whether they should pull the Clausels into their faction. "Baron Clausel has no Patron Noble and is a man of high integrity even among the Neutral Faction. If you were to move, Master, perhaps..."
"No, let’s not. Such unrefined behavior is better left to the Hero Faction. The Baron is already being scrutinized for appearing too close to the Imperial Faction as it is. If I act poorly, I'll only be repaying a debt with a grievance."
Ulysses shrugged with a wry smile. Just then, a soft voice reached them.
"Father?"
A moment later, a young lady appeared, accompanied by the faint scent of flowers.
"Edgar! You've returned!"
The girl who appeared had hair of obsidian black with a hint of amethyst, flowing down to her waist. As she walked through the spring breeze, the sunlight catching her cheeks, she possessed a loveliness that could be mistaken for a fairy or an angel. Her skin was as white as snow, and her refined features made her look more mature than her years.
She was two years older than Ren and Licia, though her mystical aura made her appear even more precocious.
"Welcome back. How was your time in Clausel?"
Her amber eyes, bright and dignified, turned toward Edgar.
"It was a successful journey. However, Lady Fiona..." Edgar began, addressing the girl Ulysses had mentioned. He offered his counsel without fear of offending her. "As I have requested many times, please refrain from using such an informal tone with those of us in your service."
"Fufu, you know why I do it, Edgar. I’ve spoken this way since I was small because of Mother's influence. I couldn't change it even if I wanted to."
"But still..."
"You’ll just have to give up. It's far too late to fix it now."
Fiona smiled, but beneath her lighthearted tone lay a core of unshakable will.
"Father," she said, turning to Ulysses. "I wish to travel to Clausel myself to express my gratitude to Master Ren Ashton."
"I would like that as well, but Baron Clausel has asked us to wait. We belong to different factions, and since our house holds the rank of Marquis, he’s being quite cautious."
"Then... what if I were to send a letter?"
"It’s a good thought, but for now, we should respect the Baron's wishes."
"...I suppose you're right," Fiona said, looking down with a trace of disappointment.
As the one whose life had been saved by Ren, she had no desire to cause trouble for his lord, the Baron. But the urge to thank him in person was strong.
Fiona looked up at the sky and offered a silent prayer to the Main God Elfen, hoping that the day they finally met would come soon.