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### Chapter 45: Unexpected Developments

As Vilyric returned to the envoy group, on the other side, just when Tilysha was gradually regaining her composure and preparing to head to the fields to inform others, a group of humanoid creatures sporting white wings suddenly descended from the sky.

“Miss Vilyric? Wait, this doesn’t seem like…”

Tilysha initially thought it was the noble girl returning for some reason, but she quickly noticed that the number of these newcomers far exceeded that of Miss Vilyric’s party that had just departed.

It looked to be about a dozen or so, all young females with a pair of white wings on their backs, fully armed, and appearing serious; they seemed ready for battle at any moment.

Unlike the two powerful girls accompanying Miss Vilyric, who made Tilysha feel something was subtly off but couldn’t specify, these seemed quite normal, calming the little village girl who had experienced too much throughout the day.

Located in the southern border of the Nobos Ironblood Empire, they were very close to the territory of the Kingdom of Azure. She had seen more winged people coming and going than pure-blooded humans.

Typically, the winged people were friendly and devoid of any form of racial discrimination; they would usually lend a helping hand to those in need, embodying a peaceful and simple folk.

In stark contrast to the beastmen, who were inherently warlike and violent.

Indeed, after landing not far from Tilysha, those winged women looked around left and right, appearing quite confused.

“The compass points to this location for sure… Where did they run off to?”

“Be careful; there’s clear evidence of a battle here. Abyss Beasts have undoubtedly been here, likely nearby, so everyone stay prepared for combat.”

“Hey, look there! There’s someone; wasn’t she eaten by the Abyss Beast?”

After some noisy discussions, these winged people seemed unable to come to a definitive conclusion.

Finally, they arrived in front of Tilysha, who was also quietly observing them, and seemingly the leader, a striking girl with a pure white ponytail wielding a sharp spear, greeted her.

“Hello, we are members of the Free Wings affiliated with the Kingdom of Azure, currently carrying out a special mission in your land. May I ask what’s going on here? Have you seen a beast that looks like this?”

To show goodwill, she even holstered her spear and pulled out what seemed to be a hand-drawn illustration to show Tilysha.

What was drawn was certainly the insect-like humanoid monster the little village girl had encountered before, but what surprised her even more was the title the ponytailed girl had just mentioned.

“Eh! Free Wings?! Is it *that* Free Wings? Yes, actually, just a while ago…”

The name Free Wings was probably known to nearly everyone in the entire southern Wasteland.

This was a national-level organization directly under the current Wing Emperor, formed entirely by powerful and noble members of the White Wing clan, renowned for defending the Wing Emperor and dealing with significant problems that regular winged people couldn’t handle.

Due to the strength of both the Kingdom of Azure and the Free Wings, even the kings of those small countries in the Wasteland had to show them some respect. Not to mention, Tilysha, a mere little village girl.

Considering that Free Wings had always acted with a spirit of punishing evil and helping the weak, and that Miss Vilyric hadn’t instructed her to conceal this matter, the naive Tilysha recounted everything that had transpired.

The winged beings exchanged glances.

“A noble black-haired human woman led by two powerful White Wing women defeated and dealt with that monstrous insect? Are you sure it was only the three of them?”

“Um… To be precise, it should be two? That black-haired girl also brought along a striking blonde girl, but it was indeed only the two White Wing ladies who struck. Are they your companions?”

Tilysha smiled innocently.

However, the leader of the White Wing young women did not smile at all.

It was precisely because she had tracked them all the way from the Kingdom of Azure and had fought similar creatures multiple times that she understood just how clever and tricky the Abyss Beasts could be.

Especially now, having consumed countless lives for various reasons, even she, who ranked among the top four in strength within the Free Wings, took a long time before finally managing to catch up to this location.

How could they possibly have been so easily defeated?

Could they be two legends?

Wait a minute, the girl just mentioned two White Wings, but she was well aware that the legends from their clan wouldn’t show up in such places, so who could it be?

Could the other side be lying for some reason? What could they possibly gain from that?

After watching the foolishly grinning little village girl for a few seconds, the leader chose not to express her suspicions but instead asked another question.

“Where is the corpse of the Abyss Beast?”

Tilysha pointed to a patch nearby, mostly burnt to ash.

“Miss Vilyric said this thing was bizarre; leaving it alone could pose risks, so it was burned.”

The leader signaled her teammates to keep a close watch on this possibly untruthful little village girl before moving to poke the pile of ashes with the tip of her spear.

It burned very cleanly, nothing could be seen. Having dealt with these monsters before, she knew that even the usual fire’s temperature shouldn’t achieve this level of thoroughness.

Strange…

How did they know that the Abyss Beast would happen to pass through here and attack within that brief window of opportunity when they were almost ready to pursue?

Just pure coincidence?

And those so-called two White Wings who had reached legend status…

It was precisely because the little village girl’s description was overly detailed that the leader began to doubt the veracity of her words. The White Wing clan members were few, and legends even fewer; there certainly weren’t any of the two she spoke of wielding spears and staves.

But considering that there were many wandering members outside, perhaps they had just arrived at legend status in their travels and hadn’t yet returned home…

But no matter how one thought about it, it felt suspicious, didn’t it? This self-proclaimed Tilysha girl exuded an odd air throughout, the most direct clue being that despite the Abyss Beast’s death, the holy relic compass detecting Abyss waves still kept reacting.

Something was nearby.

Shall they capture her to take back for investigation?

But… this is the territory of the Nobos Ironblood Empire, and she’s a citizen of another nation. Furthermore, the Free Wings has a clear regulation against exerting their power at will, especially prohibiting actions based on subjective judgment without sufficient evidence.

What to do…

“That, um, if nothing’s the matter, I’ll be leaving first? I need to quickly tell everyone in the fields what’s happened here.”

Seeing the group of winged persons had no intention of continuing the conversation, the unsuspecting Tilysha turned to walk in another direction.

What filled her mind were thoughts on how to gently inform the villagers who had lost their families about this tragic incident.

Because of this, as she walked, she casually placed the green seed she had hurriedly pinched in her palm, along with the bag of coins Miss Vilyric had earlier handed her, into her pocket without any cover.

The leader girl, observing her with piercing and complicated gazes, clearly saw everything.

“Wait, what is that!?”

The White Wing girl’s expression changed drastically as she dashed over to grab Tilysha’s hand, leaving her confused teammates behind.

“Yah! What are you doing?!”

“Sorry! Excuse me!”

Completely changing her earlier gentle demeanor, the leader urgently reached into Tilysha’s pocket and pulled out the small green seed that lay alongside the bag of coins.

Ignoring the money, she carefully examined the seed for a moment before pulling out a palm-sized pure white compass from her bosom, its needle firmly pointing in the direction of the seed.

The seriousness on the White Wing girl’s face gradually morphed into intense hostility.

“This is… a seed from the Abyss that brings disasters, as prophesied! You definitely have problems! Capture this girl!”

“Eh eh eh???!!!”

—

### Interlude: A Day in Your Majesty’s Life (Part 1)

In the morning, as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the window, I awoke.

My name is Liliya Meikailande, the 22nd king of the United Kingdom of Humans, or the first reigning queen; I am the current ruler of this nation.

That said, in my view, the significance of the queen title translates to merely having a bit more power, managing more subjects, and, of course, bearing heavier workloads and responsibilities.

“Ugh, another early rise ~ boohoo, I just want to slack off!”

In the luxurious, empty palace chamber, sitting up on the soft, giant bed that could accommodate three or four adults and had its sheets replaced daily by maids, I groaned.

There was no one around to hear me; sometimes, I had to let the queen’s facade slide, after all, I’m only 17.

By the way, the term “slack off” just slipped out from my friend, the mysterious girl Vilyric, and it probably means to do nothing and live like a salted fish—eating, sleeping, playing.

Right, the meaning of “salted fish” is something she told me as well; she always blurted out these incomprehensible things, leaving me curious about where she learned all this random stuff.

Alright, enough whining, it’s time to get up for work… oh wait, I mean duty.

As queen, after all.

I rang the bell beside my bed, and soon, six young royal maids gently opened the door and entered.

The uniforms they wore were revamped after I ascended the throne; unlike the previous focus on practicality and dirt resistance, I had allowed for some aesthetic elements to be incorporated per Vilyric’s suggestions.

For example, changing the original dark gray fabric that hardly showed stains to pure white, while the especially easily dirtied sections were directly swapped for pure black; this style is known as black and white.

I heard that in some cultures of other races, the maid profession has various customs, evolving into many bizarre occupations, despite being originally meant for serving their masters.

How absurd.

Moreover, there were weird suggestions like “add patterns and pleats to the skirts” and “wear white silk gloves and knee-high socks while working,” which I initially thought was just extravagance; but since it was rare for Vilyric to request anything, I decided to give it a try.

Surprisingly, it turned out pretty well.

Royal maids are exceptional women chosen from a thousand, most coming directly from noble backgrounds, exhibiting outstanding qualities in terms of demeanor, appearance, and grace. Coupled with the new attire recommended by Vilyric, they indeed look splendid.

After all, the place where I work and live sees numerous maid comings and goings throughout the day, and watching their elegant figures not only lifts my spirits but also significantly boosts my work efficiency.

Truly impressive of Vilyric for considering even these details.

I looked up at the lined-up royal maids in fitted black and white dresses, bowing respectfully at me.

These maids were directly selected from noble families, very clever and adept at associations; they seemed to treat these new uniforms as my preferences, perhaps considering them a special honor.

This led many nobles in the City of Courage to start mimicking the royal maids’ attire, even getting their own maids to wear what were once only considered working uniforms outside, following the queen’s “call,” creating a unique trend that seems to be spreading.

Hmm… that shouldn’t be a problem, right?

“Good morning, Your Majesty, would you like to freshen up now?”

Standing at the front of the group, a lovely woman dressed in the black and white maid uniform, wearing white silk gloves that extended to her forearms, was my personal maid, Emily. She was originally the vice leader of my trusted organization, the Shadows.

During the political upheaval in the royal capital, due to some events, Emily felt extremely ashamed, believing she had lost her qualifications to serve as my protector and volunteered to resign from her position, switching to serving me in daily matters as a maid.

Honestly, I told her it wasn’t her fault, though.

However, now she has long hair, and her whole demeanor has softened significantly since she hasn’t been in battle for a long time; perhaps that’s not a bad thing.

“Emily, what time is it now?”

“It’s 6:20 AM, Your Majesty.”

Without hesitation, she answered me.

6:20, huh? Guess I overslept by 20 minutes; I’d better hurry, I remember today’s schedule is also tight.

I didn’t speak but sat on the bed, opening my arms as two waiting maids approached at once, carefully helping me out of my smooth silk nightgown and changing me into a strapless camisole and inner lining.

Speaking of which, it seems like my chest area has grown quite a bit again; I thought I had passed the development stage, it’s really strange.

Though someone once told me, “XX is a woman’s capital,” and “As a queen, one must have a broad mind,” if it gets too heavy, it would be inconvenient to move around; I genuinely hope it doesn’t grow anymore…

After that, I stood up and made my way to the floor-length mirror in the chamber, where another maid was ready with warm water for me to wash up, while Emily personally helped pat my face dry.

Then, I stood there like an emotionless dressing doll, being dressed in the magnificent royal gown representing a queen’s authority and status by five or six maids working together.

By the way, this is actually a magical garment; while putting it on and taking it off is quite complex, it offers exceptionally strong defense and protects the wearer from dirt. It was hastily crafted by many renowned artisans in the country after I ascended the throne.

After all, I’m the first female king, you know.

Finally, the maid group except for Emily began to carry away the used items, and another batch of maids who had been waiting outside for quite a while and were responsible for styling me approached to decorate my appearance, putting on accessories while I could only sit idly.

I wish I could just sleep.

In fact, many of these tasks were things I used to handle independently during my time as a princess; only for especially complex outfits did I need maid assistance. But now that I’ve become queen, everything I do must align with the demeanor of a ruler, and some things… sigh.

The work of these maids is to tend to my life as Your Majesty; if I did everything myself, it would mean denying their existence, and their entire lives would bear a stain that could never be washed away.

This is how it is for those in high positions; what may seem minor changes to me may feel like a cataclysmic transformation to others.

I truly miss the days spent fighting passionately at the western front alongside Vilyric and those soldiers; that life, although dangerous and thrilling, felt so fulfilling.

And now, everyone else is out happily traveling, leaving me here, tirelessly handling political affairs day in and day out.

Just thinking about this makes my empty stomach start to churn.

Sigh, let’s have breakfast, then get to work.

### Interlude: A Day in Your Majesty’s Life (Part 2)

Surrounded by at least a dozen maids dragging my long gown with a tail that resembled a bird’s, I moved to my exclusive dining hall, already set with steaming, sumptuous food.

“Your pardon, Your Majesty, today’s breakfast menu includes…”

Emily started reciting from her paper like announcing a large stage play, listing off dozens of fancy dish names, most of which I recognized only about a third.

That is to say, each day brings completely different dishes.

Please, with so much food, how could I possibly finish it? Just thinking that the leftovers will inevitably be discarded with the reasoning of “forbidden to dine with Your Majesty” makes me genuinely sorrowful.

However, this is an unavoidable action—all the same.

A queen must maintain the queen’s demeanor.

Not to mention I, the ruler of a vast nation with billions of subjects.

It cannot be helped; I just follow the past practices and attempt to sample each dish to avoid showing clear disdain for any particular one; otherwise, the chef responsible for that dish may have a difficult day.

In the worst-case scenario, they might lose their job.

Fortunately, these dishes indeed are quite exquisite, balancing taste and nutrition while being extremely fresh; it’s likely they started their preparation before dawn, pouring all their effort into it.

Sigh, everyone has it tough.

After breakfast comes the routine morning court.

At 8 AM, after a series of meticulous dressing steps and dining, I promptly stepped into the Bright Hall at the front of the palace.

The ministers and officials had gathered; they were generally the various nobles holding office within the country, with a few having been promoted under my rule, and based on their performance, I would likely bestow new titles upon them.

These individuals would become the backbone of the country and my future.

Standing at the forefront on my left was our senior advisor, Prime Minister Griffiths Tuls, who was also one of my key supporters during my rise to power.

Although he was nearing 90 this year, the elder still played an important role due to his formidable capabilities and excellent grooming.

However, recently, he seemed to be preparing for retirement and had recommended a successor, a promising young noble in his thirties, who was Griffiths’s apprentice and reportedly had learned about 70% of his skills.

I’d scrutinized that lad a few times, and he was indeed decent; however, to become prime minister, he still needed more experience.

In contrast to Griffiths stood the military faction’s leader, the kingdom’s guardian Angus Stephens, a reliable man of legendary status, whose son Furnal Stephens was one of the three legends of the Adventurers’ Guild in the City of Courage known as Thunderlight.

Two legends from one family—their lineage was truly representative of our kingdom’s might.

That guy also provided considerable support when I ascended the throne; though he didn’t explicitly side with me, his son Furnal’s guild openly indicated their backing.

In summary, thanks to these two literary and military figures, my position as queen is quite stable. Additionally, as I promote fresh talents to succeed the aged officials, even if they suddenly turned against me, it wouldn’t be a problem.

Thus, starting with the friction between the Northern Mountains of Ten Thousand Demons and our kingdom, as proposed by Prime Minister Griffiths, the morning court commenced.

Although morning court can be boring, the matters discussed are indeed critical to the nation, such as the aforementioned mountains of demons, which separate us from the northern countries and are one of the largest habitats for magical beasts and magical creatures, capable of being considered an independent national faction.

Currently, it was reported that a few significant magical beast cubs had suddenly gone missing, and the anxious relatives tried to breach our borders to search, only to be stopped by our military. But if it wasn’t handled well, it could escalate into a beast tide or even magical beast warfare.

Additionally, there were reports of flooding caused by the incessant rains in the Eastern Nora Province, and the recently suppressed cultists had begun to resurge within our kingdom—such matters were too serious to neglect, requiring careful deliberation and response.

A mountain of incidents was presented as various officials in charge reported in batches, providing opinions and solutions, after which I would personally make the final judgments. Before I knew it, the court had run nearly until noon.

I truly admire these guys. Despite me sitting on a cushioned throne and having my bottom going numb, they managed to stand there for over three hours without even drinking a drop of water. Could they all be hidden super experts?

After the court was dismissed, I was again surrounded by the waiting maids in the inner hall, preparing to eat lunch.

Ah, not good. My facial muscles have been tense for so long that they feel a bit stiff…

Lunch took place in the royal garden, and unlike the elaborate nutritional meals of the morning, it was much simpler, though still consisting of four dishes and two soups, along with fruits and desserts filling an extensive table.

Moreover, during my meal, a hopping Fragrant fruit suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

No maid or guard dared to stop it.

Because this is my “pet.”

The United Kingdom of Humans may exclude outsiders sharply, but slaves, pets, and mounts are exceptions, as many things simply cannot be accomplished by humans alone; even the most obstinate individuals have to admit this point.

Its name is Fragrant, a rather casual name given by my friend Vilyric. Additionally, Fragrant was directly created by Vilyric using her powers.

Creating life sounds unbelievable, right?

But I’m not surprised at all regarding that girl who calls herself a priestess.

In summary, Fragrant is quite intelligent and adorable; even though it can’t speak and is missing a portion of its body for some reason, it generally understands my intentions well enough.

I heard that Vilyric created it simply because she found a certain maze troublesome to navigate and wanted something to lead the way. Later, through some fluke, she entrusted Fragrant to me, for which she justified, “The conditions are better here.”

However, since it was her sincere request for me to help care for it, I couldn’t turn her down, so I accepted it.

Thus, Fragrant embarked on its life in the palace as “Your Majesty’s Magical Pet.”

Originally, seeing this little creature so delicate and energetic, I worried about it being accidentally stepped on by a maid and becoming Fragrant Fruit Pie.

Until one day, I accidentally witnessed Fragrant sneak into the kitchen, effortlessly carrying a portion of cheese that was three or four times its own size with its arm, and tripping over a kitchen helper trying to catch it.

That notion faded away.

—

### Interlude: A Day in Your Majesty’s Life (Part 3)

“Yah!”

Fragrant jumped up to my dining table, gesturing at a cream tart, clearly asking for food.

Let me emphasize again, Fragrant is very smart; not only clever, but it also knows how to play the game.

Despite its mischief, it maintains a good measure and never causes a major incident, much like small cats and dogs, frolicking with their owners at a wholly acceptable level.

For instance, it might occasionally sneak a bite from the kitchen, but it has never snatched food in front of me, especially not while being watched by maids or outsiders.

In the absence of Vilyric, this little creature is the only one who can still bring me genuine joy and indulgence.

Just like… my child with her.

I smiled a bit, pinching a piece of the tart to offer to Fragrant, which reached out and then comfortably nibbled on it at the table.

I must say, the regulations in the United Kingdom of Humans are truly interesting; anyone besides the so-called queens and royal members is forbidden from dining alongside me, but little Fragrant is exempt from this rule.

As my pet, it seems to be naturally viewed as a personal possession of Lady Liliya Meikailande; feeding it is akin to tossing bones to a dog at home during meals.

Moreover, this little guy also shares an affinity for various desserts, vegetables, and light foods, and even seems to have absorbed Vilyric’s carefree personality, making me often see flickers of her in Fragrant.

Perhaps, from a certain perspective, you could say Fragrant is truly Vilyric’s child.

Then does that make me the adoptive mother? Speaking of which, hehehe… Hey hey…

Ah, no good, my thoughts are heading in a strange direction.

I quickly shook my head, quelling the smile threatening to spread across my lips before it could blossom.

“Yah?”

See, even Fragrant was startled; that won’t do, I need to set a good example for my little one.

As I finished lunch, Fragrant wrapped up its large cream tart, while I, questioning where it puts everything it eats, waved goodbye after it bid me “Yah Yah Yah”.

It typically only comes to me during lunch, dinner, and nighttime, generally disappearing before dawn, suggesting that it frolics around the palace; I’m not entirely clear about whatever it does all day.

Everyone knows that this peculiar Fragrant is my pet; considering its genuinely endearing personality, many people dote on it, occasionally sneaking it food.

How delightful, just like its owner.

Like a bird with unfettered freedom, unpredictable yet possessing enough charm to capture everyone’s gaze, naturally gathering people around her.

Next, I shall have my free time, at least within the palace.

Not that I can’t go out; rather, it’d be quite a hassle unless I slipped away while following the proper process, as it would evoke a large crowd of guards and cause the entire palace to become busy.

Better not cause anyone extra trouble unless necessary.

Typically, around this time, I would read, catch up on some sleep, or tend to the plants I have nurtured since childhood, or perhaps summon those I want to see to deal with unfinished morning matters.

But today, I chose to practice swordplay.

My swordsmanship teacher is Nickles, once nicknamed Fierce Wolf, a swordsman who had been sought after by the kingdom.

Nickles once lived in the capital for a time before fleeing due to some incidents. Rumor has it, Vilyric happened to encounter him during his downturn and persuaded him into serving under me.

As someone she scouted, Nickles’s skills and competence are beyond doubt; to date, all his contributions have mitigated his past offenses—honestly, he isn’t really a bad person. He seems a bit simple-minded, only having been too stubborn not to leave himself a way out, hence forced into that situation.

Had it not been for that, even being from Vilyric, I would still hesitate to entrust him with important duties.

By the way, Nickles now serves as the Captain of the Guards at the palace, responsible for maintaining security here. Given his legendary-level prowess, it’s not favoritism.

At 2 PM, I changed into loose training clothes, tying back my royal blue hair, and stepped into the palace’s martial arts chamber.

Nickles was already waiting there.

Compared to his former shabby appearance, he looked considerably more refined now. Not only was his beard cleanly shaved, but he also had long, neatly arranged hair flowing down his back, dressed in the light red uniform representing the leader of the palace guards, with a sword at his waist; frankly, he looked rather dashing.

I heard that Nickles is currently dating a baron’s daughter working as a maid in the palace; I can only wish him well—after all, he is one of my capable subordinates.

“Your Majesty.”

Upon seeing me, he immediately bowed slightly. Based on our status difference, he technically ought to bow on one knee, but considering how troublesome that gets, I’ve permitted him to simplify it when we meet privately.

That’s right; to avoid misunderstandings, I usually don’t bring many attendants when practicing swordplay; Emily is the only one accompanying me now.

Of course, there are hidden guards lurking nearby as well, necessary for me wherever I go. Nothing for them to worry about; they are my loyal shadows, ensuring no secrets get out.

“Let’s begin.”

Without much small talk, I slowly drew the wooden sword at my waist, and Nickles did the same.

Our practice was simple: we fought, using action to grasp the intricacies of swords.

Nickles’s Gust Flow is a secret technique that cannot be shared without permission, but having gained wondrous magic from Vilyric, I find no need to delve into that. What I need to focus on is control over the sword and combat skills.

Originally, I couldn’t fight.

Though born into a royal family, I, like my sister Mona, lacked any talent for magic, and my physical condition was inherently weak, determined to be unsuitable for martial arts.

Thus, I chose to spend ample time reading, acquiring various knowledge and strategies, mastering royal etiquette, politics, and social dealings, to make wisdom my weapon.

But being talentless felt like a constant sharp thorn in my heart, one that isn’t without rumors swirling behind my back.

I know all this; they are indeed facts that I cannot refute.

Vilyric changed all of this.

She answered my prayer, granting me the invaluable magical artifact, Ascension Box, that transformed my physical condition and in ways I still fail to understand, bestowed upon me a power that seems entirely out of place in this world.

That must be an important secret for her, and yet Vilyric still chose to share it with me. Just thinking of this trust brings a wave of sweetness and warmth into my heart.

I could feel Vilyric’s expectations; she helped me, likely to confirm something through me, and I must grow stronger to respond in kind.

My power is called Wind Flow Magic, akin to Gust Flow yet entirely dissimilar.

I could feel the warm flow constantly swirling around my body, bringing a lightness I should never have grasped.

With swords clashing, I mimicked, learned, comprehended, and created in battle.

Creating a new path that belongs solely to me and her.

Just like in the court earlier, whenever I fully concentrate on something, time seemed to fly. Before I knew it, the sky had grown dark.

I sheathed my sword, drenched in sweat, and glanced over at my instructor, whose condition wasn’t any better, then chuckled with delight.

“Nickles, I can now keep up with your full-speed swordplay! Next time, you’d best put in a bit more effort, or I might just find someone new to accompany me soon.”

He exhaled, laughing helplessly.

“Ha… Your Majesty, to be honest, if we’re talking physical ability, you’ve already surpassed me; it’s merely your control over this newfound power that is still a bit unrefined. I must say, your progress in this time is astounding. Given more time, our nation will surely see another legend emerge.”

“Perhaps.”

I didn’t elaborate much; the existence of the Ascension Box is a secret known only to a select few. Its complete effects are understood only by Vilyric and me, and I will not divulge it to anyone.

After changing out of my practice clothes, I quickly took a wash, my stomach grumbling after an entire afternoon of intense practice, and together with Fragrant, who popped up from somewhere, I had dinner in the “Your Majesty Exclusive” dining hall.

Next comes the time I look forward to the most.

Medicinal Bath.

Not only does it ease my weariness of the day, but it also allows me to communicate with the envoy group sent to visit the Kingdom of Azure.

In other words, I can learn about Vilyric’s news.

Lying back in the luxurious royal bath filled with soothing warm water, I leaned against the plush cushions of the bath, pulling out the communication stone from my spatial ring.

This is a magical tool crafted from rare high-grade magic crystals, enabling direct communication between two parties separated by vast distances. However, due to the extreme rarity of its materials, and the need for a specialized mage to adjust frequencies between different communication stones and charge them, its application is not widespread.

But that’s not an issue for me.

Activating the already-loaded communication stone, I quickly heard the voice of my appointed envoy representative, Philena Trelop, amidst slight static.

She’s a formidable woman, only a few years older than me, loyal and capable; coming from a prestigious family background, her only flaw being a bit too serious, likely stemming from her upbringing.

But that’s fine; it doesn’t affect her work efficiency.

“Your Majesty, good evening. Philena Trelop hereby sends her respects.”

“Hmm, how is the situation?”

Though I longed to know Vilyric’s current status immediately, I couldn’t be overly obvious about it; I needed to make Philena feel that I was more concerned about the envoy’s affairs; otherwise, she would nag me for half the day.

“It’s running smoothly, Your Majesty. Tonight, we have arrived at a location less than five hundred kilometers from the southern border of the Nobos Ironblood Empire. In about half a month, we should be able to reach the Island of Spris in the Kingdom of Azure; however…”

Philena proceeded to explain that they encountered an Abyss Beast nearby, where Vilyric and others had a battle.

“How did such a thing happen…”

Though the depiction of the Abyss Beast made me frown inwardly, my deepers emotions were ultimately…

Vilyric certainly can never stay idle.

Just recently, she made a worldwide stir in the Kingdom of Bolt, and various “miracles” had reached this side, even alarming the higher-ups of the Holy Empire, who sent people to investigate.

And here I am, still trying to help her keep it all under wraps; it’s truly overwhelming at times.

But… I suppose this is indeed Vilyric being Vilyric. It’s the side of her that invokes envy, longing, and even jealousy.

Unrestrained…

“Well, this matter, I’m aware. It cannot be taken lightly. Our nation will probe the stance of the Kingdom of Azure at an appropriate time to seek further cooperation. For now, you need only focus on completing your mission.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

After chatting about some matters, especially indirectly inquiring about Vilyric’s condition from Philena, I finally hung up the call satisfactorily.

“Abyss Beast… the Abyss, huh…”

Lying in the warm bath, my mind wandered back to something my sister Mona mentioned the other day—“The Great Calamity.”

That little girl had rushed over to tell me she was a Seer and rambled off a bunch of head-scratching stuff, including references to the original future, the present, and “the bringers.”

Though I felt baffled at the time, thinking it over calmly, it seems like what she said really aligns with the facts. Some things I struggled to understand became clearer.

Mona’s words reminded me of those known as Divine Favorites, lucky souls appearing without any warning or trend—a completely random phenomenon that remains unexplained to this day.

Like that Furnal Stephens; could it be that my sister Mona is the same?

In other words, my chance encounter with Vilyric, which I had thought was destined, might merely be a fortuitous event propelled by external forces—how frustrating…

Nonetheless, I still feel grateful for what Mona has done; meeting Vilyric has undeniably changed my life. I’ve never been so thankful for having the chance to meet someone.

But…

If this is all true, what about the prophecy of The Great Calamity?

I had suggested that Vilyric head south; could that have been a wrong decision?

I merely intended to find an excuse to learn about her whereabouts, never anticipating that a horrific creature would truly appear from the Abyss. I wonder if Vilyric is alright…

Ah, my stomach hurts.

I’ll call those old fellows for a discussion tomorrow and perhaps take the chance to meet my sister Mona; ever since I ascended to the throne, we’ve had little opportunity to converse.

With the circumstances as they are, I find little inclination to linger in the bath, so I promptly summoned a maid waiting outside to end tonight’s medicinal bath.

Passing the fitting room, I glanced at a specific corner.

There, Vilyric had set up a peculiar magic known as the Invisibility Space Portal before leaving, which seemed to enable her to return here directly from elsewhere; however, to date, I’ve yet to witness this device operating properly.

Looks as though she won’t be making an appearance tonight; I wonder what I’m looking forward to anyway, when Vilyric clearly stated she wouldn’t use it in the short term.

Upon returning to my chamber, it was nearly 9 PM.

Dressing in my nightgown, I spent over an hour handling all the accumulated documents of the day, finishing the warm milk Emily had brought, turning to find Fragrant had returned, snoring comfortably in its little bed.

That little creature really is a mystery; it’s always so elusive…

It’s rather late now, so time to rest; tomorrow there will be many more tasks to manage.

The royal maids standing on both sides drew the curtains and exited the room, and I lay back on the soft, newly changed sheets of the large bed.

The room was empty.

I closed my eyes and quickly fell into a deep sleep.