Esmeralda's father, Xavier Granus De Kayleigh, passed away three years ago. He had wished for Esmeralda to uphold the dignity of House Kayleigh and to triumph in every battle she faced. Now that she had won a significant battle, she felt satisfaction in having fulfilled her father's last wish.
Meanwhile, in the imperial palace...
"Jack, I never thought you knew so much about girls' stuff," the crown prince teased, a fleeting half-smile appearing on his face.
"Cough."
"Your Highness, I'm glad you liked my idea," Jack replied, feeling embarrassed by the prince's teasing. He decided it would be best to keep quiet from now on.
"Your Highness, are you going to summon Sir Fionerde?" Jack asked.
The crown prince raised an eyebrow, surprised by Jack's question. "Why would I summon him?"
"Your Highness, aren't you going to ask Sir Fionerde to make that pendant for Lady Esmeralda?"
"No... not at all."
"Jack, are you doubting my magical powers?" Gabriel said in a dull tone.
Jack was shocked by this statement. He would never dare to question the prince's abilities and realized he could not commit such a grave sin. He immediately bowed down on one knee and asked for the prince's forgiveness. "Your Highness, please forgive me."
Jack's heart raced as he braced himself for what might happen next.
"Chuckle."
The crown prince laughed at his friend's anxiety. After a brief pause, he spoke in a commanding tone. "Jack, raise your head and stand up."
Jack looked into the prince's ruby-red eyes, which many regarded as resembling a pool of blood. However, to Jack, they were beautiful like a rose. The crown prince smiled politely and explained that he was merely joking, advising Jack not to kneel so easily.
The war concluded two days prior, and the knights were resting and enjoying a leisurely meal. The atmosphere was joyful and relaxed, with some knights drinking while others danced.
Tap, tap.
Esmeralda turned to see a messenger, a knight sent by the imperial family. She raised her eyebrows and asked, "What happened?"
The messenger shivered slightly and said, "Greetings to the commander of the knights."
Esmeralda hummed and regarded him for a moment. The messenger stepped forward and handed her a letter.
Esmeralda's eyes landed on the imperial seal as she contemplated its significance. After a moment, she said, "You can go now."
The messenger bowed his head and departed. Esmeralda opened the letter and read its contents, her expression turning gloomy and cold.
After the war, it had been arranged for the army to take the northern routes, but now the imperial family ordered them to take the western route. This decision displeased her. Although the north route would take two weeks to reach Esclosten, it was the safest option. The west route would only take five days, but they would encounter monsters along the way.
Her major concern was passing through the infamous 'Land of Boruta,' known for its treacherous monsters. Clenching her fists, she pondered what the imperial family was planning, realizing she could only protest silently. It was said that if travelers crossed the Land of Boruta before dusk, they would avoid the monsters.
She raised her head slightly, staring at the moonlight, her almond-shaped eyes deep in thought. With a sigh of resignation, she headed back to her tent.
As the commander of the knights, Esmeralda's tent was larger than the others and situated in the center of the encampment. Four knights stood guard at her tent, immediately bowing when she approached. She nodded in acknowledgment and entered her tent.
The interior was simple just a bed and a pot of water. Esmeralda quietly lay down, the faint moonlight filtering through the small gaps in the tent. Gazing at the delicate beams of light, she soon drifted off to sleep.
The next day, Esmeralda awoke early. The sun had not yet risen. Stretching her arms, she got out of bed and quietly stepped outside. The morning air was chilly, but as a warrior, it didn't affect her much. She inhaled the scent of sand carried by the brisk wind and noticed that some knights were already waking up while others sharpened their weapons.
As soon as they spotted her, the knights straightened and bowed down.
Esmeralda raised her voice, saying, "My fellow knights, prepare yourselves. We are heading to the Land of Boruta."
Some knights, still bleary-eyed, were startled at the mention of 'Boruta.' One nearby knight hesitantly spoke up, "Um... Commander, are we really taking the west route?"Esmeralda's father, Xavier Granus De Kayleigh, passed away three years ago. He had wished for Esmeralda to uphold the dignity of House Kayleigh and to triumph in every battle she faced. Now that she had won a significant battle, she felt satisfaction in having fulfilled her father's last wish.
Meanwhile, in the imperial palace...
"Jack, I never thought you knew so much about girls' stuff," the crown prince teased, a fleeting half-smile appearing on his face.
"Cough."
"Your Highness, I'm glad you liked my idea," Jack replied, feeling embarrassed by the prince's teasing. He decided it would be best to keep quiet from now on.
"Your Highness, are you going to summon Sir Fionerde?" Jack asked.
The crown prince raised an eyebrow, surprised by Jack's question. "Why would I summon him?"
"Your Highness, aren't you going to ask Sir Fionerde to make that pendant for Lady Esmeralda?"
"No... not at all."
"Jack, are you doubting my magical powers?" Gabriel said in a dull tone.
Jack was shocked by this statement. He would never dare to question the prince's abilities and realized he could not commit such a grave sin. He immediately bowed down on one knee and asked for the prince's forgiveness. "Your Highness, please forgive me."
Jack's heart raced as he braced himself for what might happen next.
"Chuckle."
The crown prince laughed at his friend's anxiety. After a brief pause, he spoke in a commanding tone. "Jack, raise your head and stand up."
Jack looked into the prince's ruby-red eyes, which many regarded as resembling a pool of blood. However, to Jack, they were beautiful like a rose. The crown prince smiled politely and explained that he was merely joking, advising Jack not to kneel so easily.
The war concluded two days prior, and the knights were resting and enjoying a leisurely meal. The atmosphere was joyful and relaxed, with some knights drinking while others danced.
Tap, tap.
Esmeralda turned to see a messenger, a knight sent by the imperial family. She raised her eyebrows and asked, "What happened?"
The messenger shivered slightly and said, "Greetings to the commander of the knights."
Esmeralda hummed and regarded him for a moment. The messenger stepped forward and handed her a letter.
Esmeralda's eyes landed on the imperial seal as she contemplated its significance. After a moment, she said, "You can go now."
The messenger bowed his head and departed. Esmeralda opened the letter and read its contents, her expression turning gloomy and cold.
After the war, it had been arranged for the army to take the northern routes, but now the imperial family ordered them to take the western route. This decision displeased her. Although the north route would take two weeks to reach Esclosten, it was the safest option. The west route would only take five days, but they would encounter monsters along the way.
Her major concern was passing through the infamous 'Land of Boruta,' known for its treacherous monsters. Clenching her fists, she pondered what the imperial family was planning, realizing she could only protest silently. It was said that if travelers crossed the Land of Boruta before dusk, they would avoid the monsters.
She raised her head slightly, staring at the moonlight, her almond-shaped eyes deep in thought. With a sigh of resignation, she headed back to her tent.
As the commander of the knights, Esmeralda's tent was larger than the others and situated in the center of the encampment. Four knights stood guard at her tent, immediately bowing when she approached. She nodded in acknowledgment and entered her tent.
The interior was simple: just a bed and a pot of water. Esmeralda quietly lay down, the faint moonlight filtering through the small gaps in the tent. Gazing at the delicate beams of light, she soon drifted off to sleep.
The next day, Esmeralda awoke early. The sun had not yet risen. Stretching her arms, she got out of bed and quietly stepped outside. The morning air was chilly, but as a warrior, it didn't affect her much. She inhaled the scent of sand carried by the brisk wind and noticed that some knights were already waking up while others sharpened their weapons.
As soon as they spotted her, the knights straightened and bowed down.
Esmeralda raised her voice, saying, "My fellow knights, prepare yourselves. We are heading to the Land of Boruta."
Some knights, still bleary-eyed, were startled at the mention of 'Boruta.' One nearby knight hesitantly spoke up, "Um... Commander, are we really taking the west route?"