“May the three goddesses be with you, chosen hero by fate. I, Clove II, hereby request you to set out to the demon’s lair of Upper Lofacinxia. Everything you need – mounts, weapons, personnel, all resources imaginable – I will provide, hoping you can quickly eliminate the evil Demon King and let the goddesses’ light shine once more upon the North.”
“I am willing to serve with my life for you, for the continent, for the goddesses,” Melissa bowed deeply, her right hand pressed to her heart.
Nelly was growing impatient with the all-too-familiar script. She couldn’t immerse herself in the storyline as she had in previous playthroughs. She vaguely felt that every moment before reaching the demon’s lair was torment.
She had indeed changed.
Surprised by her own impatience, her gaze unconsciously swept past the row of nobles behind the throne, past the upper-class observers in the side corridors, and settled on the seating area for ladies on the right.
A girl veiled in a headscarf stood out most. Her exposed eyes were like pure, flawless turquoise, with a strand of brown hair peeking out from the meticulously arranged headscarf.
She wore the most beautiful and expensive clothing, with layers of white skirt adorned with rose patterns embedded with pearls and gems, shimmering between the folds. Such dazzling attire looked perfectly complementary on her.
She was the Rose of the Red Castle, the Pearl of Melo, the Muse of continental bards, and King Clove II’s youngest daughter, Rosalia.
The morning light from the hanging window at the end of the Red Castle’s audience hall was warm and bright.
Nelly standing in this warm light felt somewhat cold. She couldn’t help but recall wearing the dress called “Moonlight Rose” with the chill of shackled hands.
Nelly forced herself to look away, glancing at the left-side corridor. Unexpectedly, she met Sien’s eyes. He smiled politely, and Nelly stiffly returned a smile.
Clove continued conversing with Melissa about the continent’s current situation. Piping occasionally interjected, while the other court officials remained silent observers.
Nelly felt something was odd but quickly dismissed the thought. Her gaze wandered unconsciously, and she noticed Sien staring across the corridor, his emerald eyes catching the sunlight, with fragmented light and shadow swirling, yet unable to distract his focused gaze.
Who was this knight looking at?
Following his gaze to the right, it was clearly the ladies’ seating area. Looking back at Sien, he had already withdrawn his gaze, leaving her wondering which lucky lady had been the object of the knight’s intense gaze.
Just as King Clove II was rising to help Melissa, who had again knelt on one knee, urgent hoof beats suddenly sounded outside the hall. The observing crowd began to murmur.
The doors burst open, and a knight strode in, his armor clanking.
Piping’s expression changed, and he rushed forward to pull the knight aside. But the knight had already spoken, his voice hoarse yet clear:
“The Burgundy border has fallen! The demon army has crossed the Moz River!
Nelly involuntarily clenched her fist and took a deep breath.
Pepin was the first to react, turning around and kneeling on one knee, bowing his head respectfully. His voice was concise and his words succinct, with each syllable full of power: “Your Majesty, I request that you immediately write to the Normandy Duke, asking him to send troops to support the Burgundy front, and at the same time, please mobilize troops from the south to provide support!”
Clovis II’s originally proper face now looked like a stone carving, rigid and devoid of all human expression. He was silent for a moment, closing his eyes: “Lord Pepin, members of the court, please come with me.”
The atmosphere clearly indicated they were moving to hold an emergency meeting.
Pepin lowered his gaze, silently rising and walking to Clovis’s side: “Please proceed, Your Majesty and the other lords. I will follow shortly.”
The king, with a hard expression, nodded and dragged his long cloak towards the stone archway behind the throne.
Pepin turned to face the chaotic crowd, displaying his usual confident and friendly smile: “Please do not panic. I believe Duke Theodore has already contained the situation. Even if the demon army has crossed the Mose River, Burgundy’s iron cavalry will not allow further invasion of the North.”
The crowd stirred again.
Burgundy’s military prowess was indeed renowned across the continent, and with Pepin’s words, the situation seemed less dire. After all, when the Demon King first appeared, the Burgundy Duke had led his army in relentless battle, reclaiming nearly half of the territory that had been almost swallowed up.
“Moreover,” Pepin surveyed the surroundings, his tone slightly softer than before, “other kingdoms will not stand idle. At this moment, what everyone should do is ensure that the lords of each territory are well-prepared and ready to join the reinforcements at any time.” He paused, smiling at Melissa: “And pray for the Hero, wishing her success in killing the evil Demon King and restoring peace to Veldya.”
Someone began to cheer: “Long live Veldya!”
“Long live Veldya!”
The three of them walked out with the crowd. In a moment, the Red Fortress’s courtyard had transformed, with more guards patrolling the walls, and the noise from the blacksmith’s stable overwhelming the crowd’s varied conversations. The fortress had clearly entered a state of war preparation, with young men practicing fencing on the open ground.
Pepin had arranged their lodgings in the West Tower. After settling in, Nelly and Melissa looked at each other, momentarily unsure what to say.
Nelly broke the silence first, speaking directly about their mission: “We’ll likely set out soon.
Although we can take a direct route through Saxony, we must first retrieve the protective treasures from the Misty Coast.”
Melissa’s gaze hardened, softly saying: “Like this…” She then shook her head forcefully: “Let’s not discuss other matters now. At least we’ll enjoy a good dinner at the Red Fortress tonight!”
She dramatically flopped backward, mumbling: “Ah, the audience was so exhausting, I’ll just sleep…” and turned to face the wall.
Nelly, sensing Melissa needed solitude, responded: “I’ll look around and wake you before dinner.”
Nelly closed the door, wandering out of the West Tower to the platform connecting the main tower. Facing Mez, bustling unknowingly in the sunlight, she gathered her wind-tousled hair and sighed softly. If the demon army truly approached the royal capital, the situation might not be more optimistic than Melissa’s experienced famine.
She walked along the platform’s stone railing to another side, where a relatively enclosed small terrace lay behind the western arrow tower, the wind suddenly much gentler.
Nelly hadn’t paid attention initially but realized a slender young woman was standing at the terrace’s edge – Princess Rosalia herself.
Hearing footsteps, Rosalia lifted her gaze from the scenery below, offering Nelly a friendly smile: “You’re the divine messenger with the Hero, right? Pleased to meet you.”
May the goddess bless this land.”
“Your Highness,” Nelly felt inexplicably awkward.
“Call me Rosa,” Rosalia’s eyes curved, emerald-like eyes rippling with light and shadow. Her gaze was deep and captivating, capable of momentarily mesmerizing even someone of the same sex.
To hide her discomfort, Nelly turned to look outside the terrace.
The Red Fortress’s west-central courtyard came into view. It was lively due to the recent events. The crisp sounds of weapons clashing and the dull resonance of shields mixed with young men’s loud calls and laughter, clearly reaching the terrace’s observers.
