Perhaps because it was winter and the sun was about to set, the streets of Edenfield were rather quiet. However, it was still much more developed and bustling compared to the various villages they passed on the way here.

“Wow…”

Raymond had only left the royal capital a few times in his life. His eyes darted restlessly, taking in the sights with his jaws gaping wide. Edenfield was filled with tall buildings. Many of the structures were two or three stories high, and there were buildings that looked to be about five floors tall. Its grandeur was truly befitting a large metropolis of the empire.

“Is this the largest city in the empire?”

“No. The port city of Leus and the imperial castle are also very large and beautiful cities.”

“I see. But I like our royal capital too! Um, there are a lot of people! And all of them are really good people.”

“Is that so?”

A pleased smile appeared around Raven’s lips.

A period of seven years would change mor than people. He heard stories that the village containing Conrad Castle, which had a population of less than 10,000 in the past, was several times larger than before.

Moreover, the population of the territory was coming close to 100,000 due to the large influx of outsiders into the kingdom. The Pendragon Duchy, or rather, the Pendragon Kingdom was now a proud ‘nation’ comparable to others.

“Excuse me, master. But where are you going…?”

Berna asked cautiously while stealing a glance. Raven responded with a cold look.

“Firstly, I am going to get accommodation near the place where your superior is located.”

“What? B, but…”

She wanted to ask what he planned to do after meeting Number 2, but she held herself back. After spending time with Raven, she discovered that he hated being asked useless questions.

“It may not concern me, but the child’s guardian, the Knight King of Valvas, will want nothing more than to meet your superior. So until then, we should observe their movements from nearby and assist the Knight King when we hand over the child.”

“I, I see. But Number 2 is no longer my superior. For me, master is…”

“I will decide what to do with you after meeting with the Knight King of Valvas.”

Raven cut off Berna's words in cold blood, and she simply bowed her head once more. She wanted to change his mind somehow, but it wasn’t easy. Moreover, there was no one to help her either.

Besides, the beauty riding the horse by her side was much scarier than him as well.

“What do you think, Sol? How does it feel to come to the city?”

“I am not sure. There are a lot of people.”

Raven smirked. The answer suited her.

“The food should be decent, and there will be many things to see. Let’s get a place to stay. Berna, guide us.”

“Yes!”

The group passed through the well-maintained road and maneuvered into an alley.

“We were supposed to meet in the pub located in the building, master.”

Berna emphasized the word ‘master’ when reporting.

“Hmm.”

Raven glanced over the building she was pointing to. About 30 meters from the building, there stood a sign with the word ‘Inn’.

“We will be staying there.”

Although the inn was located in the back alley, it looked rather decent. The group soon entered the building.

‘Should I catch the guy named Number 2 and beat him up? No, let’s figure out the atmosphere first. I can use this vampire.’

Raven’s cold gaze headed towards Berna. It appeared she had completely abandoned on trying to come up with any schemes. 

It certainly made sense. She had encountered a presence with a spirit that was even more overwhelming than the lords of vampire clans. She would not, and could not betray the group.

Even though she was now human, the spirit of the Dragon Queen was an unprecedented power that only a few could stand up to.

***

“…..”

A man with average height and an ordinary face was walking down the street colored red with the dying sun. He was extraordinarily ordinary that no one spared him a glance. However, as he walked, his eyes darted around from place to place while glimmering with a strange light.

‘No one’s following me, and there’s nothing out of place.’

Number 3 had changed his appearance using an irregular technique. He turned into the alley while maintaining caution, though he felt a little relieved.

He encountered no difficulty entering the city since he always carried a few identification tokens. Nothing had happened on his way here, but he could not relax.

This was because he had already experienced unexpected events twice.

‘I will have to meet with Number 2 and report the situation before anything else…’

And he would complain. Why had Number 2 accepted such a dangerous, variable commission? Moreover, why had he sent himself along with Number 7 and 8, instead of having Number 1 and 2 participate?

‘Dammit! I hope Number 7 and 8 kept their mouths shut…’

The expression of Number 3 darkened at the thought. It wasn’t that he was suspicious of the two high-ranking members of the Shadow Brotherhood. However, as long as the opponents were the Knight King of Valvas and the unidentified man, who could be even stronger than the Knight King, he needed to consider all possibilities.

‘I need to get out of here as quickly as possible after dealing with it. We may have failed the commission, but it cannot be helped.’

Their reputation had been built up over dozens of years. Although this incident could tarnish it, that was unimportant. Number 3 had an ominous feeling that the brotherhood itself could be destroyed. He hastened his steps.

***

“Then, I will be back.”

Mia clasped her hands together. Isla was wearing a gray robe over an ordinary, brown leather armor.

“Yes. And… Please bring back Raymond safely.”

“Do not worry. Our knights are working together with Edenfield’s knights to escort you, princess. No matter how gutsy they are, they will not dare enter the Government-General."

“Yes.”

“Then.”

He left after bowing to Mia.

Thud.

“Phew…”

As the door closed and Isla disappeared, a sigh escaped Mia’s tightly sealed lips. She felt regret and resentful towards herself for not being of much help. She wished there were things she could do.

“No.”

However, she quickly shook her head. She was here as the representative of the royal family of Pendragon. She needed to be proud and confident. As she pieced herself together, a loud racket came from outside.

“The princess is taking a rest. His Majesty Isla ordered to not let anyone in.”

“Ha! Listen here. I am the representative of the knights of Edenfield protecting the princess under the orders of the governor-general! I am only wanting to check on her to see how she is doing, so why are you blocking my way?”

Mia frowned. The arrogant voice could be heard through the door.

The voice belonged to Count Elven’s cousin, Gerard. She had noticed him stealing glances at her and smiling strangely toward her ever since their first meeting. She did not find him all too pleasant, and she had been inwardly pleased with how Isla handled the situation.

Apparently, Gerard was trying to create another disturbance.

“I am only going to check how she is doing, hmm? Don’t you know that your actions are causing a problem with His Excellency the Governor-General?”

“That’s…”

Mia sighed and opened her lips. She knew the situation could quickly escalate if left alone.

“Tell him to come in.”

“Ah, princess! Yes.”

Squeak.

The door opened, and Gerard could be seen brightly among the escort knights of the Pendragon Kingdom. The escorting knights appeared rather displeased.

“Sir Gerard.”

“Ah! Princess!”

Mia greeted him with a slight bow, and he broke out into a grin while approaching her. He attempted to grab onto her hands.

The surrounding knights quickly blocked his way with distorted expressions.

“What are you trying to do?”

“Ha! I was only trying to greet the princess because I was happy to see her. What’s wrong? It is only right for a knight to kiss a lady’s hand to…”

“Sir Gerard.”

“Ah, yes! Your Highness!”

Gerard’s frown disappeared at Mia’s voice, and he looked at her with a grin. Although she looked somewhat cold, her disposition combined with her peerless beauty incited a strange will inside of him to conquer her. He could not gather his thoughts properly.

‘Hehe! I will make you mine. I cannot wait to see that face filled with pleasure as she squirms under me.’

Just thinking about it made his groin stiff. His eyes scoured Mia’s entire body.

‘This man…’

His slithering gaze gave Mia goosebumps. However, she spoke as calmly as possible. She could not afford to speak rudely towards the cousin of Edenfield’s governor-general.

“Now that you know I am doing fine, please return. Our royal knights will be guarding me in close proximity.”

“B, but…”

“His Excellency made it clear that the knights of Edenfield would be responsible for the second line of defense. Did you forget?”

“Hmm…”

Gerard’s expression suddenly darkened. Even though he enjoyed everything he wanted, he could not disobey the words of his cousin – the head of the Elven County and a close aide to the emperor.

“W, well, since you are doing well, I will go back now. Ah, by the way, will you be attending tonight’s banquet?”

Recognizing the desire that filled his eyes once more, Mia nodded while holding back a sigh.

“Yes, but there is no need for you to worry, Sir Gerard. These sirs and His Majesty Isla will be escorting me.”

“Hmm!”

Gerard’s expression distorted after hearing Isla’s name, which Mia emphasized. He thought little of him, thinking that the rumors were rather exaggerated. However, the Knight King of Valvas was as strong as the rumors had it.

Even when Gerard utilized quite a bit of his spirit in his handshake, the man had remained motionless. Moreover, the Knight King suppressed him with a soft, but strong force.

It was the first time he felt such humiliation in his life. Thinking about it irked and irritated him.

“Then will you please return now?”

“Ah, yes…”

After responding while licking his lips, his eyes once again scoured Mia’s body, as if trying to contain her frame in his eyes.

Thud.

“What an unpleasant man. Do not worry about him, sirs.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

The knights of Pendragon answered vigorously. They were rather touched that she would give them such a soft smile after reacting to Gerard with a firm attitude.

“Dammit…!”

After exiting the room, Gerard quietly muttered in the hallway.

“The Knight King of Valvas? Tsk. I don’t like it.”

Perhaps others missed it, but not him. He noticed Mia’s eyes when she looked at Isla. It contained solid trust. On the other side, when she looked at himself, she appeared a little intimidated and displeased. It was completely contrasting from how she was with the Knight King.

“Fuck…”

Spitting out vulgar words unbefitting a noble, he jerked around. His heart boiled with rage. Isla treated him like a child, and Mia’s eyes were devoid of emotions when she faced him. However, he soon collected himself and broke into a smile.

“We will see... You will be my woman in a few days… Hehe…”

Gerard moved along with eyes full of vile emotions.