Clop, clop!

A group of horses carrying the flag of the Seyrod County crossed the territorial boundary.

“Hmm…”

Count Seyrod’s eyes grew bigger as he looked down from the ridge. The forest in front of him was located in the territory of Baron Portville, a distant relative of Count Louvre. It was filled with tents as far as the eyes could see. Even at first sight, it was evident that the group was powerful.

After Count Seyrod’s mounted group passed the temporary wooden barriers, they soon arrived in front of the largest and most fancy tent of the encampment.

“He is waiting for you.”

Count Seyrod and his knight entered the tent under the polite guidance of a knight.

“Welcome, Lord Seyrod. It has been a long time.”

Count Louvre stood up and greeted the group after standing up from his seat, which was decorated with leopard hides. There had been rumors that Count Louvre had become feeble and lifeless after the death of his successor. But when Count Seyrod actually came to face the man, his eyes were glowing sharp and he looked no different from the previous years.

Count Seyrod responded after composing himself.

“It has been three years.”

The two high lords shook hands before sitting down. They were around the same age.

“Would you like a drink? It was a long way, so I only brought along the best ones.”

Count Louvre asked while picking up a bottle of wine in front of him.

Count Seyrod silently grabbed a glass and received the wine from Count Louvre. Then he gulped down the alcohol before staring straight at Count Louvre.

“I will cut to the chase and ask you. What you wrote to me in the letter. Is it true?”

“…..”

Count Louvre returned Count Seyrod’s gaze without answering, then gestured with his eyes. The knights of the Great Territory of Alice bowed before stepping out of the tent one by one. Recognizing that the conversation was meant for only the two of them, Count Seyrod also gestured towards his knights. At the lord of their high lord, the remaining knights left the tent. Soon, only two people were left in the pavilion.

“Now tell me. Is what you said true? Is it really true… that my daughter is alive?”

He personally brought his lifeless daughter from Leus to the estate and laid her at the cemetery. Before she was buried, he cried over and over again after going to see her daughter’s motionless face.

But now, Count Louvre was claiming that she was alive. He held back his desire to head straight to his daughter’s grave to dig her up, and came to this place instead.

“It may be true, but it may also not be.”

“…..!”

Count Seyrod’s eyes quivered greatly at the unexpected answer. However, he soon became angered and raised his voice, thinking that he had been made fool of.

“Are you trying to play a joke with me, sir? If you are telling me that you dragged me out of my castle with such a cruel lie…”

“A joke? Do I look like I’m joking? The troops you saw on the way here. Does that look like a joke to you?”

“…..”

Count Louvre cut off his words, then continued in a cold voice.

“I did not lie. Your daughter, Luna Seyrod, is still alive. However…”

“H, however…?”

Count Louvre paused, then took a sip of his wine. Count Seyrod asked in a hurried voice. After taking a few gulps, Count Louvre slowly continued.

“She is in someone else’s body.”

“What do you…!”

Count Seyrod’s mouth opened agape in shock.

“It means that her soul has been brought back, but it has been placed in another’s body. The child named Serin Reiner, who was recently brought to the Pendragon Duchy. Your daughter’s soul is in that child’s body.”

“Heuk…!”

Count Seyrod trembled involuntarily. He also knew about Serin Reiner. She was a lady chosen to be Elkin Isla’s wife, and she was currently in Conrad Castle. Although he was a knight of a neighboring territory, Isla was the knight king who was already renowned through the empire. Count Seyrod had also planned to send a gift for his wedding.

But her body contained Luna’s soul?

“Are you… trying to mislead me with your words? If you… you’re trying to win us over to your side…”

“Huhu! Do you think your soldiers and knights will be of any significant help to me? Besides, even a wandering dog knows that the Seyrod County and the Pendragon Duchy have shared a familial bond for generations.”

“Hmm…!”

Count Louvre was openly disregarding him and the Seyrod County, but Count Seyrod could not find words to refute it.

It was just as he said.

The Pendragon Duchy was protected by the ultimate being known as Soldrake, and they were a blood ally of the Seyrod County. As a result, the Seyrod County had no need to maintain many troops.

Although Gordon Pendragon’s death caused a decline of the Pendragon Duchy, which in turn, caused the Seyrod County to increase the number of their knights and troops for self-reliance, the Seyrod County’s entire force always numbered less than 1,000. Most importantly, the Seyrod County’s army had been greatly reduced since Joseph Breeden had been killed alongside the many members of the knight order and the crossbowmen.

In the end, it was just as Count Louvre said. Even if he stood on their side, it would not be a big addition to their forces.

“…Let’s say what you are saying is true. What are you trying to gain by telling me that? Also… even if Luna’s soul is truly in the body of that lady named Serin Reiner, what could I do about it?”

Count Seyrod gazed at his opponent with an expression of resignation and confusion.

‘I got him…’

Count Louvre’s eyes glistened for a brief moment. Count Seyrod would not have responded in such a manner regarding anything else. Although he was quiet and had little ambition regarding politics, Seyrod was not a fool. However, it was different once his daughter became involved – if Count SErydo found out that his daughter, who was killed at a young age in a ridiculous incident, was revived.

He himself was in a similar situation. The grief of a parent who lost their child was enough to have them claw at even the most hopeless and vain expectations.

“It all depends on the awakening that will come soon. It will determine whether she will be reborn as Serin Reiner or Luna Seyrod. If you do not believe me, you can join me and…”

The whispering voice of Count Louvre began digging deeper into the ears of the desperate father. He could not shake his dead daughter from his heart.

***

“His Highness Ian and His Excellency Pendragon…”

“You don’t need to go through the formalities.”

Ian cut short Sir Graham, the captain of the first gate, from announcing the arrival of the two hegemons.

“My apologies, Your Highness. It has been so long since I have been honored with your presence…”

Graham recalled Ian’s dislike of cumbersome formalities and bowed while responding.

“Thank you for your continued hard work, Sir Graham.”

“Not at all. I am only fulfilling my duties, Your Excellency Pendragon.”

Graham responded bravely, encouraged by Raven’s words. Duke Pendragon was already considered a hero among the imperial knights for ending the southern rebellion. Of course, the death of Duke Arangis caused an undesirable situation, but it was truer for the nobles involved in politics.

All the knights admired Duke Pendragon and Knight King Elkin Isla.

“Well, take care of yourself.”

“Yes!”

The guards raised their halberds and saw off the duke and the prince’s group.

“Well, I guess things are not as bad as I expected.”

Ian spoke while passing through the streets of the capital, where lanterns were being lit up one by one. If there had been anything worth noting, Graham would have mentioned it in advance. But seeing that he did not disclose anything, the situation seemed rather stable.

“Hmm…”

Raven nodded in silence. Even though he sent Isla back to the duchy, he could not shake off an uneasy feeling. He would have long gone back to the duchy without hesitation, but he had a mission. There was something he had to do personally in the Royal Batallium, in front of the Emperor and the influential nobles.

‘The Nameless Necromancer…’

Raven thought of his greatest enemy.

The Nameless Necromancer was behind all the conspiracy that surrounded him and the Pendragon Duchy. Those who attempted to assassinate Crown Prince Shio and used the Valt family as scapegoats, those who started a rebellion – all of them were mere puppets of the Nameless Necromancer.

No one knew what he would do in the future in order to achieve his goal of creating a ‘New World’.

‘Only one thing is for certain. Either the imperial castle or the Pendragon Duchy, one will become the final stage where it all unfolds…’

Or perhaps both places would become embroiled. That was why he sent one of his most trustworthy knights, Isla, back to the duchy.

Clop, clop!

“Whoo…”

Raven took a deep breath as if to hold himself together while riding his horse towards the imperial castle in the far distance.

The entrance to the imperial castle was much calmer compared to Raven’s first visit. Raven and Ian’s presence was expected, and Count Jean Granite, captain of the Royal Knights, had given strict orders to not make a fuss.

But the news of the two men’s arrival spread throughout the imperial castle faster than the wind.

“Brother!”

“Ah! Have you been well?”

“Of course.”

Ingrid smiled brightly, then slowly turned her head towards Raven.

“…..”

But she was forced to bite her lips with frustration when Raven remained silent, only lightly nodding his head to acknowledge her presence.

As soon as she heard about the arrival of her brother and Duke Pendragon, she hurried to meet them as soon as possible, but after carefully dolling herself up. Even she was forced to admit her own beauty when she saw her reflection in the mirror. The maids could not spare their praise, endlessly chattering about her beauty.

However, the indifferent man in front of her seemed unimpressed, even though it had been a year since their last meeting.

She might have addressed his attitude in the past, but she smiled instead.

“It is a pleasure to see you again, Your Excellency the Duke. Your Excellency’s prestige continues to soar, shaking the entire empire.”

“You flatter me. As a Pendragon, I only did what I had to do as His Majesty’s sword. By the way, my sister is…”

She felt even more upset that he was focused more on his sister than herself, but Ingrid responded without a change in her expression.

“She is with Her Majesty. She will be here soon.”

“I see.”

Raven nodded curtly, then sat down next to Ian.

He felt rather awkward as he looked around. He felt the same way before, but the imperial castle was strangely uncomfortable. He felt rather uneasy at its grandeur and splendor, as well as the fact that one had to be always surrounded by numerous royal guards and maids.

“Her Majesty the Empress!”

The voice of the chief servant rang out loudly, and the empress walked in. Raven stood up from his seat and bowed deeply towards the empress, who was looking at him with a gracious smile.

“Alan of Pendragon greets Your Majesty the Empress.”

As a duke of the empire, he was not required to show as much respect, but the empress was like a sister to Elena. As such, he showed the utmost respect. Recognizing Raven’s intentions and the meaning contained in his greetings, the empress approached Raven and held his hands even before greeting her own son.

“Welcome, Your Excellency the Duke. I am glad to see you are still well.”

“I am joyed to see you healthy as well.”

As Raven greeted the empress, a figure approached him.

“You are finally here, brother.”

They were in the empress’s presence, so Irene greeted her brother with a gentle smile, instead of jumping into an embrace like before.

“Yes. How have…”

“How have you been, my lady? You look a little emaciated.”

Ian barged in and interrupted the reunification of the two siblings.