As the narrative of Legend of the Seven Heroes I progressed within the Imperial Capital, several major incidents broke out.
A noble would meet an unexplained death, or an Imperial Guard, lost to madness, would bare his fangs at the Third Prince. The prince was abducted, and the mangled remains of his captor—the very knight who had taken him—would be discovered shortly after. Regardless of faction, the victims of these attacks were endless, and the once-prosperous Leomel Imperial Capital was plunged into chaos in a matter of moments.
Some claimed it was an invasion by a foreign power.
Others roared that it was the wrath of the Chief Deity.
But neither was true.
No one could have predicted that this was a declaration of war by a single noble. The entirety of this inconceivable chaos was the handiwork of a man driven by a thirst for vengeance.
Yet, that future would likely never come to pass. The existence of Ren Ashton had fundamentally altered the destiny of the mastermind behind the chaos—the head of the Imperial Faction, Marquis Ignat.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Eupeheim was the grandest of the coastal cities within the Leomel Empire.
Its majestic and elegant architecture had long earned it the name "White Crown," and it was widely celebrated as the "City of Water." Built along a nearly circular coastline, the city was particularly famous for its massive port.
In this scenic town, beloved by generations of the Imperial Family, rows of houses constructed from white brick lined the streets. The sight of gondoliers rowing through the network of canals spanning the city was a popular attraction for tourists.
The city was located approximately one month’s journey by horse from Clausel and about two weeks from the Imperial Capital. Because it played a vital role in the maritime commerce of the Leomel Empire, the noble who ruled Eupeheim had to be exceptionally competent—a strategist who allowed no openings for surrounding nations to exploit.
That was precisely why so many nobles feared him.
The Lord of Eupeheim—Ulysses Ignat.
A handsome man of thirty-five, the young noble possessed jet-black hair that shimmered with a bluish luster.
"Hello, Edgar."
He called out to his butler, who had only recently returned from Clausel. They were in the garden of a grand mansion situated in the heart of Eupeheim, a residence large enough to be considered a small castle.
"I have returned, Master."
Edgar, responding to his master's voice, had finally stepped back into Eupeheim after an absence of roughly two months. This spring, he had traveled to the Clausel territory on his master's orders. His mission was to assist Baron Clausel—to whom Marquis Ignat owed a great debt—in dealing with the reckless provocations of Viscount Given.
In the end, the turmoil had been resolved through the extraordinary efforts of Ren and Lithia. Only a few days had passed since the resolution before Edgar finally made his way back to his master’s side.
"I am relieved to see you are well, Master."
"Of course! Besides, look at this weather. Isn’t it wonderful? I was just thinking that since the sun is out, perhaps I should go meddle with the Hero Faction!"
Ulysses spoke cheerfully as he looked toward a set of chairs placed in the garden. He sat down and gestured for Edgar to join him.
However, for a servant to sit at the same table as his master was fundamentally improper.
"I apologize, but I am a butler. I must remain standing."
"How cold... Fine then, shall I stand as well? Then we’ll be equals, and you won’t have to worry about protocol, right?"
Faced with the prospect of his master standing, Edgar had little choice. He eventually relented and took a seat at the table.
"Tell me everything that happened in Clausel."
Edgar recounted the events in meticulous detail. He spoke of the civil official who had been manipulated by Viscount Given, and described the proceedings from the first day of judgment to the final ruling. He moved on to how Baron Clausel was nearly forcibly moved to the Imperial Capital, and finally, how Ren and Lithia had arrived just in time.
He concluded by describing exactly how the two youths had distinguished themselves.
"Heh... so, was he truly such an impressive boy?"
"There is no doubt, Master."
"Even when compared to the children of the Heroic Ducal Houses?"
"Yes. I believe even you, Master, would find that Ren Ashton possesses a value that far outweighs gold."
Hearing this, Ulysses flashed a carefree smile.
"That is good to hear. Thanks to that, I feel the frustration I held toward His Majesty has subsided a little."
"...Master, if I may be so bold..."
"Don't say it. I know. I understand that the reason His Majesty refused to provide the materials was for the sake of the Imperial Family."
He understood the logic, but whether he could accept it was a different matter entirely.
"The situation involved Fiona’s special constitution. I am well aware it wasn't a simple request."
However, he added:
"Sometimes I find myself wondering. What would I have done if Fiona had lost her life?"
"That is..."
"I might have staged a coup. Perhaps I would have assassinated the Third Prince—the man hailed as the next Emperor—and prayed for Leomel’s total destruction. — My apologies, Edgar. Don’t look at me like that."
Edgar’s expression had tightened with tension. Every word Ulysses spoke was incredibly dangerous, and by any standard of common sense, such feats would be impossible.
However, that was only true for common men. Edgar knew that the man sitting across from him was one of the few beings capable of overturning reality itself.
"Fortunately, it did not come to that. Lady Fiona’s condition could only be stabilized with materials from a Thief Wolfen."
"Exactly. That is why I wish to maintain a strong relationship with House Clausel."
"Oh? Is it not House Ashton you wish to court?"
"Technically both, but you know how troublesome the nobility can be. If I were to reach out directly to House Ashton now, I would be no better than that foolish viscount."
"Please forgive my lack of insight."
Ulysses waved him off with a bright, "It's fine."
"Shall we take any formal action?" Edgar asked, his question probing whether they should officially pull House Clausel into their faction.
"Baron Clausel is a man of high integrity even among the Neutral Faction who lack a patron. If you were to make a move—"
"Stop right there. Such unrefined behavior is what the Hero Faction would do. The Baron is already starting to be viewed as leaning toward the Imperial Faction; if I handle this poorly, I would be repaying a favor with a grievance."
Ulysses gave a wry smile and shrugged.
Just then, a voice called out, "Father?"
A moment later, a young lady appeared, bringing the faint scent of flowers with her. With the assistance of a maid, she approached the table with small, unsteady steps. Around her neck, a silver chain bearing a jet-black gemstone swayed gently.
"Edgar! You're back!"
The girl had hair as black as obsidian that reached down to her waist. As her hair fluttered in the spring breeze and sunlight bathed her cheeks, she exuded a porcelain loveliness that could be mistaken for a fairy or an angel. Her skin was so fair it put fresh snow to shame, and her refined features lent her an air of maturity beyond her years.
In reality, she was two years older than Ren and Lithia.
"L-Lady Fiona! Please, allow me to help you!"
To Edgar’s flustered offer, Fiona gave a poignant smile. "Don't worry. I have to work hard myself," she said, making her way to the garden seats.
Supported by the maid, she sat in a chair and took a moment to steady her breathing before looking up.
"Welcome home, Edgar."
She turned her proud, lavender eyes toward the butler. This young lady was Fiona Ignat, the only daughter of Ulysses Ignat—the man destined to be the final boss of Legend of the Seven Heroes I.
In the original game timeline, her death would have caused Marquis Ignat to harbor a deep-seated hatred for Leomel, eventually leading him to side with the Demon King Cult. However, in this reality, Fiona was alive. Because Ren had hunted the Thief Wolfen, the fate that should have ended in her death had been averted.
Fiona had not yet recovered enough to walk unaided, but every day, everyone watched as she threw herself into her rehabilitation with unwavering resolve.
"How was the journey to Clausel?"
"It was a productive journey. However, Lady Fiona," Edgar said, offering his advice despite the potential for offense, "as I have mentioned many times, please refrain from using such a polite tone with those of us in your service."
"Hehe, you know why, Edgar. I’ve spoken this way for as long as I can remember because of Mother’s influence."
"Even so..."
"No. You must give up on that point."
Despite her light, smiling tone, a strong, unbreakable will was visible in the depths of Fiona’s eyes.
"Father. I wish to travel to Clausel myself to personally thank Master Ren Ashton."
"I would like that as well, but Baron Clausel has asked us to wait. We belong to different factions, and given that we are a Marquis house, he is concerned about the political optics."
"T-Then, perhaps a letter...?"
"It’s a good thought, but for now, we should respect the Baron's wishes. Please, endure it a little longer."
"...I suppose you’re right."
Fiona looked down, her disappointment clear. Having had her life saved by Ren, she desperately wanted to avoid causing any trouble for his lord’s family, House Clausel. Yet, her desire to express her gratitude was just as strong.
Fiona looked up at the sky and offered a silent prayer to Lord Elfen, asking for the day to come quickly.
One day, I will definitely meet him and thank him, she promised herself.