Day 27 of the Fourth Month, Year 1016

Capital City of Naveland, Nave Province

Dev observed the Capital City from afar.

The last time he had been here, they were in a hurry to get inside, so he had no chance to admire it from the outside. Indeed, it was such a big city. From his position, he could barely see the edge of the walls.

This time, they entered from the west gate on horseback, with disguises. The sky was tainted with the orange of the setting sun. In the city, the activity had mellowed down, with people going back to their homes. It wasn’t long until they arrived by the side gate of the palace.

“Then, I’ll be off,” he said to the Princess.

Victoria paused and watched him, which made him feel a bit awkward. She realized it quickly, though, and smiled. “Be careful on your way.”

Dev nodded, then brought his horse Windrunner away from the palace.

Alize escorted him to the south gate, as she also had to go to the Capital Guards base on the southern district. “Major,” she began.

“Sergeant.”

Alize was quiet for a few moments. “You are pretty close to Victa.”

Dev expected her to question him, but the Sergeant spouted a statement instead. One he couldn’t really disagree with. “Her Highness is very agreeable.”

Alize glanced at him, then laughed. “She is pleasant enough, but she could be really stubborn,” she said. “Agreeable is not exactly right.”

“True.” Dev smiled. “I cannot believe she dived straight into trouble.”

“Thank you for saving her,” Alize said while sighing. “She tends to do that, I’m afraid. Sometimes she can think clearly, but when it is a matter regarding things she cares about, she is quick to follow her impulses. Honestly, she said to her mother that she was going to let the Kingdom win the war, just so they would postpone her engagement.”

She is to be engaged?

Dev was startled by the disappointed realization within him, but he was a major for a good reason, and he didn’t show it. “I guess if it’s her, she will be able to win the war.”

“Well, yes.” Alize laughed. “That’s the reason she went to Dustor with Ethan and Luz. Even though she didn’t need to do that, she said she wanted to see the war directly in front of her eyes.”

“A risky move,” Dev responded.

Alize smiled. “We couldn’t convince her of that, at all. But she is fine, many of times are thanks to you.”

“She is very resourceful. I’m sure she can find a way out by herself.”

Alize snorted, but didn’t disagree with that statement. They arrived in front of the southern gate’s tower. “Here we go. Be careful.”

Dev nodded, and with that, he left the Capital City of Naveland.

The Royal Palace, Capital City of Naveland

Victoria immediately went back to her room with Nile and her maid’s help. While Nile, acting as her personal guard, couldn’t come in, she said to her maid, “Lisa, help me call Beth here.”

Elisa was stunned for a second. “Mrs. Jaret?”

“Yes. She is currently staying in the guest house,” Victoria replied. Last time she needed the woman’s help, so she pulled her to stay.

“Ah, of course, Your Highness.” Elisa nodded obediently and left her room.

Beth Jaret was a middle-aged woman with a pleasant demeanor. Even seeing her on the street, people would think her just a simple housewife and not a powerful witch. She entered Victoria’s room after hearing her permission and was stunned silly when she saw her condition. “Your Highness! What is this?”

Victoria winced. “Bother you to help me with these, Beth,” she said.

“You…! If you don’t want to feel pain, don’t get hurt!” Beth was exasperated, but she walked fast to her side. Elisa closed the door behind her.

With her glowing golden magic, Victoria felt better already. At least she didn’t have to wince every few small motions. The dull ache was still all over her body, but it didn’t feel as searing.

She grinned at the witch. “Thank you, Beth. You’re a dear.”

Beth sighed heavily. “This… This is worse than your usual scrape! Someone used their magic on you to keep you alive.” Beth shook her head. “Thank Goddess for that, because otherwise you are a goner! You could’ve died, Your Highness, you hear me?”

Victoria was stunned. She knew she was near death’s door, but she didn’t quite realize it as something so close. The way Beth put it… Beth was the best magic user she knew, and also the only one, so the fact that someone else knew to use magic must be investigated. “Ah, well…” She heaved a sigh, suddenly relieved to be alive.

Beth laid back, crossing her arms. “I used my magic to make it heal even faster, but your previous doctor did really good.” She leaned forward. “Who is it?”

Despite thinking over her near demise, Victoria laughed. Beth was never that curious. For all that was worth, she almost knew all the knowledge in the world, and if she said someone was good, then they were good. “I don’t know, but I’ll ask,” she replied. “The old man left before I could thank him.”

Beth nodded. “Make sure you tell me. I couldn’t recognize the magic signature. I would like to know this unknown magic user in this Kingdom.”

Victoria was suddenly curious about how many magic users Beth knew, but she knew the woman wouldn’t answer. She was the only one that the royal family was acquainted with, because according to her, the others were tied with old ancient oath… And then Victoria would reply, ‘why aren’t you tied to the ancient oath?’ But Beth would never answer, and she could never figure it out.

She wouldn’t dream to figure out now. She still had her mother to face.

Right after she walked into her mother’s study, Victoria was welcomed dearly—too dearly, in fact, making her completely overwhelmed.

“You made me worry so!” Her mother exclaimed, not daring to touch her for fear of worsening her wounds. “Where does all of these came from? Did you fight on the battlefield?” The Queen Regent asked suspiciously.

Victoria smiled. Thank Goddess that the General of the Army obeyed her on the matter of not telling her mother. “I’m alright, Mother.”

“Is this called alright?” The Queen frowned as she looked her up and down. “This, this is called alright? I heard you called Beth to come and heal your wounds? That is to say, your wound is worse than it looks?”

Victoria smiled calmly, not letting anything slip. “I ask Beth to come to help me replenishing magic on the pendant,” She tapped the thing around her neck.

The Queen seemed to believe her, but she looked like she was about to go off on another tangent.

Fearing her mother would ask her any further, Victoria changed the subject. “I have an important matter to discuss with you. Do you know, what army can enter our province easily?” She asked slowly. “I fear one of the Kingdom’s private armies are rebelling.”

Her mother straightened up her back suddenly. “Do you know what you are saying, daughter?” She asked in a terse tone.

“Yes,” Victoria nodded. “We could be attacked from inside too, Mother. Lirsk has gotten to one of the noble families.” Reminded of her classmate, she sighed. “Perhaps more than one.”

The Queen looked at her and held her head. “Who is it? Do you have any clues?”

Victoria frowned. “They seemed pretty elite. I had someone watching their troops, but with no news until now, I’m afraid my scout is captured.” Which worried her the whole journey back to the Capital. Dev assured her he really did set one of the Corps’ soldiers hiding, but why hadn’t they heard anything up until now?

“Where are they?” The Queen asked.

“Last time, just outside the capital, to the north.” Victoria sighed. “Don’t you worry, Mother. I’m notifying you, but I’ll take care of it.”

The Queen looked at her for a few moments.

“What?” Victoria felt self-conscious.

“You’ve grown up,” her mother said with a smile. “Alright, I leave that to you.”

When she went back to her study, she was still in daze. She told Nile, who was following her as her personal guard, to wait outside. Then she entered and sat down before her desk. She winced because she did it too fast, and the dull ache intensified, but the magic didn’t let her down. It settled down after she took a deep breath.

Victoria pulled out a small parchment and wrote something on them. If one saw it, they wouldn’t understand it, as there were no such alphabets in the Terra Continent.

She needed to contact Brad Lastain again. Would Arachnids be watching, after last time? According to Dev and Alize, they did suffer a big loss under Blades last night, so they might not dare do anything.

But Victoria didn’t want them to get any information. Being cautious never hurt—only a bit expensive…

Sighing, she went to the window. There was a cage on the corner of the room, near the opening. Two silvery-feathered birds were inside of it. Victoria opened the cage and took one of the birds out.

Caressing it, she tied the rolled-up parchment on to it, and whispered ‘Brad Lastain’ to the little bird. Its eyes were bright, eyeing her, and nodded before flying away through the open window.

The bird was magical—it could enter through the smallest opening, so it was suitable as a messenger to Blades’ underground base. Which was why it was quite expensive. Victoria wasn’t actually willing to use it unless it was necessary. It was too beautiful, and more importantly, would waste too much of her mother’s treasury.

But it was worth the price.

Victoria sighed. Now it was time to wait. []