Inside the magnificent hall, the atmosphere was exceptionally solemn.
King West V sat upright on his throne, gazing calmly at the courtiers before him. Though his heart was filled with tension, he would never show any sign of weakness in front of his subjects. As the ruler of a kingdom, he must assure his people of safety at all times.
At that moment, everyone's eyes were fixed on Captain Ashe, who stood in the center of the hall clad in black armor. Head slightly bowed, he was reading aloud a battle report sent from the front lines.
"According to intelligence transmitted overnight from the Red Citadel, the Sith Empire captured Nightfall City—the second-largest city of the Orot Kingdom—last night. Given the current situation, it is only a matter of time before the Nightfall Wellspring falls into the Sith Empire's hands. The Orot Kingdom has already surrendered. According to the latest reports, they have signed a temporary armistice with the Sith Empire. In exchange for ceding two military fortresses, Orot secured a three-month truce... yet that is all it is. As of now, save for the river valley region where the royal capital is located, nearly all of Orot's territories have fallen."
"Even Nightfall City has been taken—Orot is finished this time."
As soon as Ashe's emotionless voice faded, the hall erupted into an uproar. The courtiers furrowed their brows, exchanging anxious whispers. Though King West had decided to dispatch reinforcements after receiving the neighboring kingdom's plea for help—after all, Orot shared a border with Westland and served as a natural barrier—the court had never imagined the Sith Empire's army could seize Orot's second-largest city in such a short time. Nightfall City was no ordinary settlement; it housed one of Orot's two wellsprings. With the wellspring's power, Nightfall City boasted defensive capabilities unmatched by any other city in the realm. And yet, it had still fallen?
"Do we have a detailed battle report?"
A flicker of anxiety crossed King West V's face as he leaned forward slightly and asked.
"The frontal assault was led by 'the Puppeteer' Sidwi. Intelligence indicates her 30,000-strong construct army drew all of Nightfall City's defensive fire. Seizing this opportunity, 'the Windrunner' launched a surprise attack on the city. After the city walls were breached, Nightfall City failed to mount a rapid counter-defense, allowing Karan to fully deploy his command capabilities... The city lord's mansion was subjugated within half an hour, and the city subsequently surrendered. The entire battle concluded in a mere two and a half hours."
"Are you joking? This was a siege battle!"
Upon hearing this, several young generals couldn't help but gasp. Unlike field engagements, defensive sieges gave Nightfall City an overwhelming advantage. Three hundred magical artillery cannons and city walls towering four to five meters high should have been more than enough to repel a 30,000-strong army—not to mention the Nightfall Wellspring, which continuously generated mana to reinforce the city walls and enable uninterrupted cannon fire. This kind of firepower would make any army hesitate to attack. Yet a girl of barely sixteen or seventeen, leading an army of constructs, had not only withstood that ferocious offensive but also ended the battle in the shortest possible time?
King West V, Duke Barron, and the other senior nobles frowned deeply. This signaled the complete collapse of the Orot Kingdom. Their temporary armistice was nothing more than a desperate bid to buy time. Without the Nightfall Wellspring, relying solely on the royal capital's forces in the river valley region, Orot stood no chance against the Sith Empire's army. What was more, only two of the Four Scourges of the Sith had participated in this battle—the Silver Princess was still nowhere to be seen. Rumor had it she was leading her troops to suppress the barbarian tribes in the southwest. Once she joined the fray, the scales would tip even further in the Sith Empire's favor.
"What is General Celt's opinion on this matter?"
King West V took a deep breath, forcing down his inner tension and unease, and asked. The Shield of the Realm Legion led by Celt had already departed for the Orot Kingdom to assist their ally. But Nightfall City had fallen before they even crossed the border, leaving the reinforcement army in an awkward position. By now, even a fool could see that the Orot Kingdom had lost all capacity to resist. Sending troops there now would be nothing short of throwing lives away for no gain.
"General Celt believes that under the current circumstances, dispatching reinforcements is no longer advisable. He has requested a large-scale garrison and reorganization of our existing defenses along the Red Citadel line to prepare for the imminent arrival of the Sith Empire's main army. If the river valley region falls as well, we will inevitably be forced into a direct confrontation with the Sith Empire. As for the Orot Kingdom... I believe they understand they can no longer count on our assistance. However, in my personal opinion, they will still need our help."
"I understand what you're saying."
King West V waved his hand, looking distracted.
"I need more time to consider this. If there is nothing else, this meeting is adjourned."
Upon hearing the king's words, the courtiers' faces fell. They exchanged glances, shook their heads, and sighed, preparing to take their leave. But Ashe remained standing where he was, showing no intention of departing.
"Your Majesty, I have one more extremely important matter to report."
"More?"
King West V frowned in annoyance. He had already received one piece of terrible news—could there be something even worse waiting for him?
"Speak."
Still, having said that, he couldn't very well order Ashe to be silent. With a helpless sigh, he gave his permission. To everyone's surprise, however, Ashe did not immediately report to the king. Instead, he looked up and glanced around the hall.
"Your Majesty, this matter is of the utmost importance."
The courtiers immediately understood the implication behind Ashe's words. Those of lower rank, or those not privy to the kingdom's innermost secrets, quickly took their leave. If the matter was not meant for their ears, they had no desire to linger and invite trouble upon themselves. Soon, the hall had emptied by more than half. Only the most trusted members of the king's inner circle remained. Once the last palace guard left the hall and closed the heavy doors behind him, King West V spoke up again.
"Speak. What is so important that it requires such secrecy?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Now that only allies surrounded him, Ashe had no more qualms. He raised his head, his expression grave and solemn, and began to speak.
"Before returning to the royal capital, I also looked into another matter—there is currently a state of unrest in the territories of House Zach."
"Oh?"
King West V raised an eyebrow, but showed little reaction. As a king, he paid little attention to the internal affairs of his vassal nobles, so long as they did not go too far.
"What kind of unrest?"
"The old patriarch of House Zach has passed away, and his only heir has gone missing. Under these circumstances, tensions have been running high within House Zach."
"General Ashe, this hardly seems like a matter of great urgency."
Another elderly nobleman asked, looking displeased. The other courtiers who had remained were equally unimpressed. When they had stayed behind, they had expected to hear something momentous—but this? A mere internal power struggle within a noble house? This was something the high nobility saw all the time. There was no need to treat it with such gravity.
"It is indeed not a major issue in itself. Although House Zach's territories lie behind the Red Citadel, this short-term unrest will not affect the transportation of military supplies."
Ashe nodded, agreeing with their assessment. But this was clearly not the point of his report.
"However, there is one person involved in this matter whom I believe all of you will find very familiar."
With that said, Ashe pulled a magic crystal from his breastplate.
"This is a scene captured by my mages using their familiars."
As Ashe spoke, the magic crystal began to glow. Gradually, a beautiful figure materialized in the air above it—a stunningly lovely young girl, sitting at a desk with her head bowed, engrossed in reading a book. Her long violet hair shimmered brightly in the sunlight, exuding an enchanting, captivating radiance.
When they saw the girl, the indifferent expression on King West V's face suddenly changed. His eyes widened, and his breath quickened as he stared at her. Everyone present held their breath, their eyes fixed on the image in disbelief. Several people even gasped out loud in shock.
"Princess Ophelia!!"
It was no wonder they were so astounded. Though all those present were core members of the royal court—high-ranking officials holding great power, men of profound experience and guile—thirty years ago, they had still been young men, full of passion and idealism. Back then, Ophelia had been the idol of their generation. She was beautiful, intelligent, and talented beyond measure, her reputation and abilities unmatched by any other. When news of the princess's tragic accidental death had spread, the entire Kingdom of Westland had been plunged into grief—as if it were not just a princess who had perished, but the king himself.
What was more, Ophelia's voluntary decision to distance herself from the military had earned her great favor within the royal family at the time. Even the most hardline royalists had acknowledged that the princess knew how to conduct herself with grace and wisdom. In fact, almost everyone had believed that once the crown prince ascended the throne, Princess Ophelia would be his first choice as advisor and confidante. With her by his side, the Kingdom of Westland would surely have flourished and grown even more prosperous and powerful.
But fate had willed otherwise. Ophelia had met an untimely end thirty years ago. King West V, who had inherited the throne in her stead, had worked diligently, but he lacked her natural talent. From the moment he ascended the throne until now, he had done no more than maintain the standards set by his father, King West IV. Whether in terms of diplomatic boldness or domestic reform, the king lacked the brilliant intellect and vision that had defined Princess Ophelia. In private, many people often expressed their regret—if Princess Ophelia had lived, the Kingdom of Westland would undoubtedly have been on a path toward a brighter future.
And now, seeing that long-buried figure reappear before their eyes after thirty years—how could they not be overcome with shock?
"Silence! Silence!"
Seeing the hall descend into chaos, King West slammed his fist on the armrest of his throne and shouted loudly.
"This cannot be my sister! Do not forget—my sister died thirty years ago! Even if she were still alive, how could she possibly retain the appearance of a young girl?!"
This...
The courtiers' minds, muddled by excitement, finally cleared at the king's angry shout. He was right. Princess Ophelia had died thirty years ago. Even if she were still alive, she would be in her fifties by now. But the girl in the image was clearly only sixteen or seventeen years old—she could not possibly be the princess they had known all those years ago.
But... she looked *exactly* like her! In fact, many of the elderly nobles in the royal court had known the princess personally. Every detail of the girl in the image—her posture as she sat, the way she turned the pages of her book, even her expression—was identical to the late princess! No, no. If all these could be dismissed as mere coincidences, there was one piece of evidence that could not be denied—that violet hair of hers. It was the unmistakable mark of royal blood. No matter what connection this girl might have to Princess Ophelia, there was no doubting her royal lineage.
"Your Majesty, could it be that she is..."
Someone quickly ventured an opinion, but trailed off mid-sentence under the weight of the other courtiers' stares. The old hands among them instantly knew what he was about to say—could this girl be the princess's illegitimate daughter? But come to think of it, the Princess Ophelia of thirty years ago had been such an intelligent, beautiful, and virtuous young woman. To suggest she had borne an illegitimate child would be nothing short of blasphemy. Back then, the princess had been the center of everyone's attention. If she had had a lover, it would have been impossible to keep it a secret. Even if, for the sake of argument, the princess had indeed had an illegitimate child, that child would now be around thirty years old. After all, the princess had been dead for thirty years—a corpse could not give birth to a child fourteen years after its passing.
But wait... could it be that the princess had never actually died?
Staring at the image before them, doubts began to creep into the minds of many. After all, when news of Princess Ophelia's sudden death from illness had first broken, they had all been greatly astonished. The princess had never been the delicate, sheltered type who would grow breathless after walking a few steps. She had spent years traveling the realm and had always taken great care of her health. What kind of illness could have struck her down so suddenly and inexplicably? Suspicions had been raised at the time, but without any evidence, the matter had eventually been dropped. But now, the appearance of this girl had rekindled those old doubts. Could it be that the princess had not died all those years ago, but had instead been hidden away by the royal family? Or was there some other hidden truth behind her supposed death?
"Have you verified her identity?"
King West V demanded in a low voice, his face grave and solemn, his eyes filled with indecision. At that moment, the king gripped the armrests of his throne so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Though his expression was not as overtly emotional as those of the other courtiers, a clear sense of urgency lurked beneath the surface.
"I have had my men investigate the young lady's background, Your Majesty, but we have been unable to uncover her origins. All we know is that she currently serves as the steward of House Felix, managing the affairs of the Lord of Twilight Forest."
"House Felix?"
King West V frowned, clearly drawing a blank. He did not recall any noble house by that name.
"They are a declining noble family. According to my research, they were never particularly prominent. Originally, they managed an estate in the plains region. Later, that land was coveted by House Byrd, who exchanged it for a baronial fief in Twilight Forest. That is how they came to be the Lords of Twilight Forest. The current lord is very young—barely twenty years old. His parents died of illness before they could even reach their new fief, and he appears to have no other living relatives in the family. To this day, we have been unable to determine how he came to be associated with this young lady. However, according to reliable sources, he possesses the strength of a High Swordsman."
"I see..."
Though this was certainly a sensational piece of news, coming on the heels of the revelation about the girl who looked like Princess Ophelia, the courtiers were still too stunned to fully process it. It was then that an elderly man with snow-white hair and beard, dressed in a black robe, standing to the left of the throne, suddenly spoke up.
"What is his name?"
"Hmm?"
Caught off guard by the old man's sudden question, Ashe glanced at him in surprise before quickly answering.
"His name is Blake Felix, Master Laribaud."
"Blake...?"
Upon hearing the name, a flash of recognition sparked in the old man's eyes, and he immediately pressed further.
"And what of his family's banner?!"
"Their banner..."
This question stumped Ashe. His investigation had focused primarily on the young lady who bore such a striking resemblance to the late princess; he had only looked into her lord in passing, but he did retain some vague memories of it.
"Well... let me think. Yes, it has a purple background..."
"A purple background... emblazoned with the Crest of Glory."
"With a golden border... a longsword and..."
"A white rose, twining around its blade."
Before Ashe could finish speaking, the old man cut him off, completing the description himself. He clenched his hands tightly, his body trembling slightly with emotion.
"A triangular banner, purple background, golden border, with a design of a longsword and a blooming white rose wrapped around it. Is that correct?"
"Yes, that is precisely it..."
Ashe stared at the old man in stunned silence. Could it be that Master Laribaud had some connection to this obscure noble family? Even King West V cast a puzzled glance in the old mage's direction, wondering why he would be so familiar with the banner of such a minor, declining noble house. But the old man did not respond to their unspoken questions. Instead, he turned his solemn gaze toward the other elderly courtiers and royal relatives in the hall—all of whom now wore ashen, grim expressions. In fact, the moment they had heard the old mage's description of the banner, their faces had instantly turned deathly pale.
"I think we all know who this man is."
After exchanging meaningful glances with the other senior courtiers, the old man suddenly turned around and fixed a serious stare on King West V.
"Your Majesty, let this matter rest. Do not pursue the investigation any further."
"Master Laribaud?"
The old mage's grave tone sent a jolt of unease through King West V.
"Is there some problem I should be aware of?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. A very serious problem. I implore you—let this matter drop. Do not interfere, do not speak of it again, and above all, do not attempt to investigate this family any further."
"Indeed, Your Majesty. I wholeheartedly concur with Master Laribaud's advice."
"Your Majesty, please reconsider! While the matter of this young lady is certainly important, I believe we should not involve ourselves in it. Our priority now must be preparing for the impending conflict with the Sith Empire!"
Ashe and the other younger nobles and ministers watched the scene unfold in stunned silence. For it was the oldest and most senior members of the royal court—those holding the highest positions of power and authority—who were all speaking up to dissuade the king. The younger courtiers were completely baffled, unable to understand this sudden shift in attitude. Originally, they had all agreed that a thorough investigation was necessary; after all, this girl who looked exactly like the late princess was undoubtedly a crucial clue. But now, all these senior figures were opposing it? And what was more, they all shared one common trait—they were all extremely old!
Could it be that they knew some secret the others were not privy to?
"Master Laribaud, are you not being overly cautious? Is this really necessary? I believe we should conduct a thorough investigation into this young woman. If she is an impostor pretending to be of royal blood to defraud others, it could bring us a great deal of trouble."
"I assure you, Your Majesty—it is absolutely necessary."
The old mage let out a long, heavy sigh.
"As for the reasons why, I will explain them to you in private later. For now, I only ask that you make the right decision."
"..."
King West V locked eyes with the old mage, who met his gaze calmly and steadily. After a long, tense moment, the king finally looked away.
"This matter is hereby tabled for the time being... but Master Laribaud, I expect a reasonable explanation that I can accept. And soon!"