In the vast, silent throne room, a single piece of parchment felt heavier than a mountain.
G6 and Edmund's eyes met for a brief second. To anyone else, their faces were masks of neutral curiosity. But in that fleeting glance, an entire conversation of pure panic screamed between them—a shared, chilling understanding of impending disaster.
"Who are they?" the King's voice boomed, slicing through the tension.
As Leo accepted the parchment and began to break the wax seal, a calm, clear voice intervened.
"A moment, Leo."
All eyes snapped to the Queen as she gracefully rose from her throne. "Let me."
She descended the dais, her gown whispering against the marble, and extended her hand. The request was unusual, but her authority was absolute. Leo bowed and handed her the document without a word.
G6 remained perfectly still, a statue of cool composure. But her mind was a war room, running scenarios at lightning speed. Edmund. You're the worst alias maker.
Her internal monologue was a sharp, frustrated critique. I sealed away my noble life by using my codename and a ghost's last name. But him? 'Eddie Saiden'? He might as well have signed it with his fingerprint and a map to the West Villa. This is why I had a bad feeling about that ridiculously obvious alias. Amateur move.
Yet, alongside the panic, a colder, more determined thought emerged. But we're not cornered yet. We just have to be smarter. If anything goes south, we can still spin this. We have to. I'm nowhere close to satisfying my inner demons.
The Queen held the unopened parchment, her fingers tracing its edge. She didn't open it immediately. Instead, her gaze swept over the assembled heirs, a subtle, knowing smile playing on her lips as if she was already aware of the secret it contained and was savoring the moment of revelation.
As the Queen opened the parchment, she felt a sharp gaze locked onto her, sharp and strong enough to feel like a sword pointed against her neck.
She didn't turn, as she knew where the gaze originated.
With everyone waiting for the announcement, she folded the parchment back up, a gesture that sparked confusion throughout the room.
"It was stated here that they were traveler adventurers," the Queen began, her voice calm and assured. "It seems their temporary guild card wasn't renewed. Hence, as the Adventurers' Guild has strict regulations, they don't store data of travelers as they rarely come back, or it takes them a long time to register again due to their long journeys." The Queen told a truth to the others that was an obvious lie to G6 and Edmund.
First, Edmund was registered as a regular adventurer. Second, G6 had just joined days ago; it would take two months of inactivity for a temporary member's card to be deactivated.
"Didn't they just eradicate the horde yesterday?" Prince Amir asked the Crown Prince, a hint of suspicion in his tone.
"Well, it was stated here that they purposely deactivated their cards yesterday, as they will start their journey again," the Queen replied smoothly, layering another lie.
This witch. She knows. What is she plotting? G6's thoughts were a silent snarl.
"I will take care of this matter, please rest assured. I will have Leo investigate further and look for our possible allies against this coming unknown threat," she added, completely dismissing any further questions.
The King fell silent for a while. Leo looked at the Queen, likely sensing her reason for taking over.
"Are you certain, my dear wife? Isn't it too much for you? Now that Captain Kepler is still not back, the main responsibility of this recruitment lies in your hands," the King asked.
"Need not worry, My King. Mr. De Lune is here to oversee the recruitment, and the ground facilitating would fall to Prince Dio and the young Pillars," she said, smiling.
Mr. De Lune, Keith's father and the Prime Minister of Knights, stood up and offered a curt bow. "As the Queen stated, Your Majesty. My son, Captain Kepler, and the other knights sent on expeditions are already on their way back."
"I see. Please do take care of this. Your joint forces and knowledge will make this easier," the King said.
"Excuse me for interfering," Leo interjected. "The written exam of applicants may have ended at this moment, and we are already checking who will proceed to the next exam."
"I see. Then, we will conclude here. Be vigilant, and prepare, as sudden summons may happen at any time," the King said.
"We understand, Your Majesty," the chorus replied, offering a curt bow.
The King and Prince Amir descended the dais and exited through the side door, leaving only the Pillars and the Queen.
G6, without a word, walked towards the Queen. Prince Dio, descending the dais towards the Pillars, had his attention caught by her movement.
"Oy. Boss." G6 said, her voice pitched to be heard by everyone in the quiet hall.
The casual address shocked everyone, especially the heads of the Pillar families.
"Dear Reise, what is it?" the Queen asked, her smile cunning.
G6 stopped close to her, assessing her. She then stepped closer and leaned into her ear.
"Tell me. What are you plotting?" she whispered, the words a blade of sound meant for the Queen alone.
The Queen's smile remained, a mask of perfect composure.
"Reise." A voice came from the three seats. It was her father.
Her attention snapped to him, and she backed away from the Queen.
"How are you, my dear daughter?" Mr. Worthon asked, slowly walking towards her.
Though hesitant, "I am fine," G6 said.
"It is not mannered to address Her Majesty in such a way, let alone to step so close to her," Mr. Worthon chided gently.
"It is quite fine, Mr. Worthon. We are closer than it may appear," the Queen said.
Witch. Cunning witch.
"Mother," Prince Dio finally approached them. "Are you certain you will handle the investigation of the two-man party?" he asked.
"Of course, my son. I have a great many…" the Queen's gaze drifted pointedly to G6. "…questions for them regarding the pressing matters."
"Do not hesitate to ask for help if it becomes too much, Mother," Dio added.
"Aren't you sweet, my son? It is so unlike your usual… reserved demeanor toward others," the Queen observed, her smile knowing.
"It is indeed a surprise, Aunt! Dio has been rather showy these days," Keith interjected, slicing through the conversation with a grin.
G6, finally feeling the space growing crowded, was about to retreat when her father spoke again.
"My Reise. It seems you have changed a great deal as well."
"People change, Father," G6 stated, her tone cold and final.
"I have heard from your brothers of your well-being. Forgive me for not attending to you sooner; as you know, my duties are countless," Mr. Worthon said, a rare note of apology in his voice.
"Do not worry, Father. I am accustomed to handling things on my own. Needing help is not in my vocabulary," G6 replied. Her words made her father's brows furrow deeply.
His daughter had always been cold and sharp with outsiders, but she was invariably sweet to her family. The woman before him now was different—she lacked all warmth, displayed no empathy, and clearly despised this social interaction. Every answer was a dismissal.
"We should let them go now," Mr. De Lune interjected, "They must facilitate the next examination."
"Right, forgive me for keeping you all. Please, proceed," the Queen said, formally dismissing the young nobles.
"Jester, Haile, perform well at Omnia while Earl is at the Bastion," Mr. Nocturne instructed his children. They nodded in silent acknowledgment. Ray and Ron approached their father to offer a curt bow in greeting.
"Then, I will be leaving. See you around," G6 said to Mr. Worthon, and turned to walk away first.
Edmund fell into step behind her. Their rushed exit and anti-social behavior screamed volumes to the group.
"My dear Reise, I will be talking to you. Wait for my invitation, which will come through Leo," the Queen's voice echoed through the room, forcing G6 to halt momentarily.
G6 merely glanced over her shoulder, offering no verbal reply. It was a vulgar declaration of her displeasure for whatever game the Queen was playing.
Her brazen defiance sent a chilling sensation through everyone who witnessed it as she strode out through the large, ornate doors without a backward glance.
A heavy silence lingered for a moment after her departure.
"I suppose we will be going, too. Please excuse us," Earl said, and with a polite bow, he also walked out.
"See you, Father! Aunt! Uncles!" Keith seconded, offering a casual greeting to the assembled dignitaries before hurrying out after Earl—and more pressingly, after G6.
"Keith is as casual as ever," Mr. Worthon remarked.
"That is my youngest for you," Mr. De Lune said, shaking his head.
"Then, I take my leave, Mother," Prince Dio said before retreating.
"Well, it is good to see our children seem to get along," Mr. Nocturne commented.
"Indeed. It reminds me of our own youth," the Queen remarked.
With that, the others in the room also began to leave. The adult Pillars watched their children's retreating backs as the younger generation filed out, emptying the throne room.
_____
[Palace Halls]
G6 strode away from the throne room and stopped at the next corner of the hall.
"Edmund," G6 started.
"I know, Lady Reise," he replied.
"For now, we wait to see what she wants," G6 said.
She then turned to him with an irritated glare sharp enough to make him look away. He knew why.
"Why would you use a name so close to your real one? You even used your legal last name. Are you kidding me?" G6 said.
"Who would have thought I would be helping you sneak out," Edmund shot back, his voice low, almost a murmur.
"Are you saying it's my fault?" G6 took a step closer, forcing Edmund to back away—right into someone behind him.
"Oh, Edmund! What's wrong?" Keith asked casually.
The rest of the group had finally caught up to them.
"It is nothing, Sir Keith. Please forgive me for stumbling into you," Edmund apologized, quickly regaining his composure.
Their attention then turned to G6, who was clearly in a foul mood.
"Are you threatening Edmund, Reise?" Keith asked. It was meant as a joke, but the look G6 fixed on him suggested otherwise.
"Shut up," G6 said.
"Pay no attention to that idiot, Lady Reise," Brenda said, smoothly emerging from the group. "Shall we proceed to the arena grounds?"
G6 nodded. "Lead the way."
Brenda smiled.
Prince Dio could no longer restrain himself and fell into step beside G6. The look she gave him was one of utter disgust.
"It seems you and my mother are indeed in a tight relationship now," Prince Dio began, attempting to converse with his unpredictable fiancée.
Brenda's eyes narrowed like blades directed at Dio for interfering with her peaceful walk with G6.
"Don't talk to me. I hate opportunists," G6 shot back.
"I have been meaning to ask you that. You have been saying it since earlier. What exactly do you mean?" Prince Dio asked, finally losing his composure over the comment G6 kept throwing at him.
G6 halted abruptly, forcing everyone behind her to stop. She then turned to face Dio eye-to-eye, causing him to take a step back.
"W-what?" Dio stuttered.
"Dio is really the one who always triggers the bomb in Reise," Keith whispered.
"Tell me about it. He simply cannot keep his distance as he used to. Tch," Earl agreed in a low voice.
"Why does 'opportunist' tick you off? Aren't you one?" G6 asked.
"Of course I am not. I am a prince; I have dignity," Dio answered firmly.
G6 laughed, a mocking sound. As soon as it ended, her face snapped back to a flat expression. "You've got to be kidding me…" She stepped closer until they were almost inches apart.
"THAT'S TOO CLOSE!" Brenda retorted.
"I know what you did," G6 whispered to Dio, making him flush.
Does she know? Wait… does she remember me kissing her? Is that why she has been acting especially violent toward me?
"W-wh…" Dio stammered.
"WHAT?" G6 said, backing away. "Don't talk to me. Seeing your face ticks me off."
She then resumed walking. "You heard her? Hmp," Brenda commented, following G6.
"Can you not just stand idly as usual?" Earl said, walking away.
"You keep getting close to her. Aish," Keith added, following the others.
"Why are they ganging up on me? They must have lost their minds. I am a prince," Dio said to himself in disbelief.
"Forgive them, Prince Dio. You know how they have always been," Zen said, ever the rational one, smoothing things over.
"Shall we proceed, then, Prince Dio?" Eliza asked, smiling.
Prince Dio did not bother to answer. Instead, he strode after the group.
What should I do? I do not want her to keep shutting me out. His thoughts were now completely divorced from the discussion in the throne room, occupied entirely by his grumpy fiancée.
_____
The group arrived at the arena gates. The sound of murmuring filled the vast space. A great number of applicants had passed.
"It seems many applicants passed the written examination," Brenda remarked.
"Was it that easy?" G6 asked.
"Well, the written exam concerns the rules and laws of the kingdom, which all citizens know," Earl added.
"Besides, Father made changes. Instead of recruiting only those with S-Rank affinity, they decided to admit adventurers based on their guild rank," Keith said as they finally entered the arena.
"That would be from ranks A through E, correct?" Zen asked.
"Yes, and men from the age of sixteen up to ten years before retirement," Keith answered.
"Why do I see female applicants here? I thought there was prejudice against women," G6 asked.
"Only female adventurers are permitted to apply, Lady Reise," Brenda answered.
G6 simply nodded in understanding. Of course. Tch.
"Lady Reise!" a little voice called from the arched hallway beside the arena's central ground.
The arena was a vast, open space designed for large-scale training and events. Encircling it were multi-level hallways leading to open seating on the second and third floors. At ground level, the perimeter was lined with offices and private rooms.
"It seems Tina and Lilia are already here, Lady Reise," Edmund observed.
"Then I will go to them," G6 said to Brenda, starting to walk away in an attempt to shake off the group.
Yet, that was not the case. The group still followed her.
Why do they keep following me? Ugh! I can't even have personal space.
"Lady Reise! We knew you would be hungry. Alistair gave us a packed breakfast! Look!" Lilia said cheerfully as G6 reached their side.
She gestured to a table where two large baskets were laid out.
"You two carried that here?" G6 asked.
"Yes, but do not worry, we took a carriage," Tina answered.
"Who's worrying? Tch," G6 said, brushing aside the fact that she had indeed been concerned. Tina and Lilia were obviously too thin and small to have carried the large baskets on foot over the twenty-minute distance from the villa to the main palace grounds.
Lilia simply smiled and took her hand, guiding her to the table. She was the only person in the entire group who could carelessly hold G6's hand.
"What? Alistair did not spare any for us?" Keith whined.
"He did, of course, Sir Keith. This is enough for everyone. Please, have some breakfast before you begin facilitating," Tina said, inviting the whole group to eat.
The group settled around the table. Lilia eagerly began unpacking the baskets, revealing still-warm pastries, fruits, and a small pot of tea.
"See? I told you Alistair wouldn't forget us," Keith said, grabbing an apple pie before properly sitting down.
G6 took a seat, her posture rigid. She accepted a cup of tea from Lilia but ignored the food, her gaze distant as she scanned the arriving crowds in front of her.
The meal proceeded with light chatter, mostly from Keith and Brenda's bickering. G6 remained mostly silent, offering only grunts or single-word answers.
Once the baskets were nearly empty, Tina began efficiently repacking them. "We should not keep the applicants waiting much longer," she said, a subtle hint to the nobles.
"She is right," Earl said, standing and brushing crumbs from his coat. "The proctors will be starting soon. We should take our positions on the observation balcony."
Brenda nodded in agreement. "Lady Reise, shall we?"
G6 stood up and noticed something different about Edmund. "What's with that stupid getup?" G6 asked, losing her composure again.
Edmund was now wearing eyeglasses with lenses so thick his eyes were obscured. "You look like a total geek. Even more than this one," G6 said, pointing at Earl.
"Hey! Right?" Keith agreed and laughed.
"You must be comfortable now, Reise, that you do not need my help anymore in your training," Earl said, his composure fraying.
"Of course not. I will still be needing you. Only time will tell when," G6 said, smiling. It was an evil smile.
"I would rather take your usual flat expression than your creepy smile," Earl replied.
"What do you mean, 'creepy,' Earl? Have you lost your mind! Lady Reise's smile is the best!" Brenda said, defending G6.
Zen just shook his head, a sign of surrender in the face of the chaotic group.
"Enough of this nonsense. Let us proceed," Dio intervened, and led the way toward the applicants.
"Lady Reise, Lilia and I will follow after finishing here," Tina said. Lilia just smiled at her.
G6 did not answer and merely nodded before following the rest.
As they reached the stage set up for their presentation, the assigned staff began calling for the attention of the crowd below.
"Listen, everyone! Prince Dio and the esteemed Pillars are now here. They will oversee the selection of those deemed deserving to be accepted as knights of this kingdom," the speaker announced.
"Excuse me! I have a question!" a man called from below.
"Yes, what is it?" the speaker asked.
"If we are accepted, do we have to stay here full time and spend knight duty?" the man asked.
"For the adventurers, you will be given a communication magic tool to be summoned at any time. However, you are required to report to the Bastion twice a week. For those without prior training, you are required to train here every day and will lodge within the Bastion," the speaker explained.
"The Bastion? Does that mean we are going to the Royal Collegium? Is that not a place exclusively for nobles? What trick are you playing?" another man voiced.
Prince Dio raised his hand to the speaker, a sign that he would take over.
"You are right. The Royal Collegium is indeed exclusive to nobles, as only those registered in the Professional Guild may enter. However, that is also where the Bastion is located—the department of offense and defense, which will be your department. You will each be given a card, but it is not the same as ours. Your card will grant access only to the Bastion and serve as proof that you are legally registered by the Professional Guild as a knight," Prince Dio explained.
"Are there any other questions?" the speaker asked. The crowd answered only with murmurs.
"Dio, if I may," Earl said, stepping beside him. "I know you have been wondering why this sudden recruitment is happening, as the kingdom has never before required commoners to be knights. We will provide the details if you pass this stage, before you sign a contract. After that, you will have the liberty to proceed or not. For now, I would worry only about passing this stage. And the pay is twice what you earn in the guilds, or in your daily routines." Earl's last words made almost everyone's faces light up.
"Offering twice the usual pay is a smart move, Sir Earl," Eliza said, as if it were an uncommon tactic.
"It should be. They will be risking their lives, after all," G6 commented.
Back in my day, it was ten times more than any corrupt government official could earn.
"I will ask you now to proceed to the seats on the second floor to observe the battle exam," the speaker said.
"Battle exam?" G6 asked.
"Yes, Reise. There are five open-for-all rounds. The last twenty standing in each will pass the exam," Earl explained.
"You're only taking a hundred applicants?" G6 asked.
"The adventurers from C-Rank to A-Rank have already passed. Only those below C-Rank will participate in the open rounds. That is the fairest method I could devise," Prince Dio said.
Hmm… good thinking. I'll give that to you, Snow White.
G6 would never say it aloud to Dio, of course. She would never do anything to boost his confidence.
They all proceeded to the second floor, where their seats were arranged. Four seats were in the front, with three seats behind them, raised high enough to see what was happening below. There were extra seats to the side.
"Prince Dio and the heirs of the Pillars, please take the front seats. The others, please take the second row," the speaker instructed.
G6 walked toward the front seats and took the third chair. Prince Dio immediately took the last chair next to it. Earl sat on G6's other side, and Keith's face was whining as his seat was on the far end, away from his favorite toy—G6.
Brenda happily took the seat behind G6, with Zen sitting beside her and Eliza taking the seat behind Prince Dio.
Edmund silently sat not far from G6's side, and Tina and Lilia, who had just arrived, took the seats beside him.
Below them, the arena grounds swarmed with applicants, their murmurs rising like the hum of a stirred hive. The stage was set, the players were in position, and the game was moments from beginning. From her elevated throne, G6 watched it all with the cold, analytical eyes of a predator surveying a new hunting ground.
_____
[Palace|Private Quarters of the Queen's]
The Queen sat silently on the edge of her bed, staring at the open parchment laid upon the silken covers.
'Eddie Saiden'. 'G6 Arcadia'.
The Queen smiled. "You could have found your way out, if not for Edmund's poor alias," she said to the empty room.
She stood and walked to her window, looking out over the palace gardens.
Then Leo, the Queen's eyes and ears, entered the room. "I asked around. Janin and Alistair refused to answer me directly, yet I heard from a servant that Tina asked Janin for an ointment," he reported. "The other chefs said Alistair also made a tonic explicitly for sore bruises—the kind the knights usually take after missions."
The Queen's eyes narrowed. "Then let us conclude that it was indeed them—the two-man party."
"But, Leo," the Queen began, turning from the window. "You and Edmund know each other well. Do you believe he could finish a horde of goblins and kill a hobgoblin, a new-type demon, with the help of a novice noblewoman?"
The question hung in the air for a moment. "Edmund could indeed finish the horde alone, but he would have taken significant damage," Leo said.
"And he did not. As you saw, he had only scratches that were not even visible from a distance," the Queen countered.
"And Lady Reise was the one who was covered and…" Leo fell silent as the thought sank in. "That is absurd, Your Majesty. Even if she has those ridiculous skills and has reached Ex-Rank in all of them, it is impossible for a pampered noblewoman to master such prowess in such a short time." His voice was thick with denial.
"I, too, am trying to make sense of it, Leo. But I am certain of one thing," the Queen said, her gaze drifting back to the parchment on her bed. "That woman… she is not the pampered noble lady we all used to know."
The evidence was irrefutable: the hidden bruises, the specialized tonic, the absurdly powerful alias. Pieces of an impossible puzzle were clicking into place, revealing a picture far more dangerous and fascinating than she had ever imagined.
In the quiet of her chamber, a thrilling realization took root. The kingdom trembled on the brink of unseen threats, but perhaps it had unknowingly bred its most potent weapon. The game had changed, and she held the first, most delicious secret. The hunt was no longer just for monsters in the forest—it had begun for the truth of the creature wearing her future daughter-in-law's skin.
— To be continued… —