He had heard the rumors long before coming to the academy, whispers carried by rchants and soldiers alike—but standing here now, Count Roverick realized none of them even ca close.
The presence radiating from this young man far exceeded every exaggeration he had dismissed.
"Since we’re going to have quite a fruitful conversation," Snow said calmly, "why don’t we move sowhere more private?"
Her words snapped Roverick out of his spiraling thoughts—both curiosity and a faint, instinctive fear directed toward Riley.
"Y-Yes, of course..." he replied without hesitation.
A short while later, the group found themselves on the second-floor balcony overlooking the grand hall below.
Despite being outside the mansion’s main interior, the air here felt sealed off from the rest of the world.
This was a gathering of elites from both comrce and nobility, and the security reflected that.
Magical arrays were etched into the railings, embedded within the walls, and woven beneath the flooring itself.
Even Klaus, a seasoned knight with little affinity for magic, could sense it.
No sound escaped this space. No presence could intrude.
It was clear—no prying ears would reach them here.
Roverick reached the sa conclusion.
Noticing the brief flicker of bewildernt in their expressions, Snow smiled faintly.
"Fufu... quite the wonder of magic, isn’t it? Please, be at ease. This level of protection extends throughout the entire mansion, in case you’re still doubtful."
Understanding the subtle reassurance in her words, Roverick nodded.
"Forgive our ignorance, Your Highness," he said respectfully. "Magic of this caliber is... rare in the North."
"It’s fine," Snow replied lightly. "Sotis ignorance truly is bliss. Believe —the amount of hidden sha, lies, and discreet dealings buried within this mansion at this very mont likely exceeds the atrocities happening beyond its walls."
She let out a soft chuckle.
Roverick nodded in agreent.
Effective as it was, the magic served as a quiet testant to the morality of the central continent—where power and secrecy walked hand in hand.
"As much as I would like to speak with you about dealings in the central regions," Snow said softly, "I believe that isn’t a topic you’d want to discuss this evening."
She stepped forward, stopping near the edge of the balcony.
Moonlight washed over her figure, giving her a quiet, almost unreal glow.
Then she turned back toward him.
"Count Roverick," she continued, "before we begin... could you tell what is truly happening in the North right now?"
The mont she turned, a heavy presence settled into the air.
It wasn’t raw power, nor overwhelming pressure—just the weight of the person standing before him.
As Snow’s clear, crystal-blue eyes t Roverick’s, paired with a gentle smile, the old count swallowed without realizing it.
He had t the princess before, years ago during one of his rare visits to the capital.
But the child he rembered was gone.
In her place stood soone far more composed... and far more dangerous in her own way.
Roverick quietly gathered himself and glanced to the side, his eyes moving between Klaus and Riley.
Setting Riley aside, a question lingered in his mind—was it improper to allow his aide to listen in on such a conversation?
Klaus already knew most of the situation, but he worried the princess might find it disrespectful for a re servant of a noble of his stature to remain present.
"Klaus, wait outsi—"
"If you’re worried about your aide, he may stay."
Snow interrupted, gently smiling again, as if reading his thoughts.
"He’s likely already aware of the whole situation. Having him step away now would only make this already suspicious private eting seem even more so."
Roverick paused, then nodded.
"Understood. Forgive for my lack of awareness."
Snow offered no rebuke—only a calm, reassuring smile as the conversation finally turned toward the North.
Seeing the cue, Roverick took a slow breath and gathered his thoughts, deciding where best to begin.
Once he opened his mouth, the words didn’t stop.
He spoke of the first signs—small villages going silent, patrols failing to return.
Then ca the waves. At first, they were manageable.
Then stronger monsters began appearing, not alone, but mixed in with the hordes.
Reports turned into pleas, and pleas into silence.
By the ti he finished, nearly fifteen minutes had passed.
"I see..."
Snow rested her chin on her hand, her index finger lightly touching her cheek as she processed everything she had heard. After a mont, she gave a small nod.
"So, the situation is far graver than what was reported..."
"The reports we sent were accurate," Roverick replied quietly. "But words written on paper can never fully convey what is happening on the ground."
Snow’s gaze sharpened slightly.
"So you’re still holding the line against the waves?"
"Yes. We’ve repelled every wave so far." He clenched his fist. "But if more S-rank monsters—or worse—begin appearing in clusters, my knight order and personal army won’t be enough to keep the North stable, Your Highness."
He hesitated, then bowed his head slightly.
"Forgive my impertinence... but we need the Grand Duke to act. His presence alone is no longer sufficient."
Snow studied the old count in silence.
There was no exaggeration in his voice—only exhaustion and restraint.
From his account, the situation in the North was far worse than any official report suggested.
Entire villages along the borders had been erased.
Refugees poured south in waves of their own, and the number of dead continued to rise by the day.
The people of the North were strong—hardened by cold, battle, and hardship.
But even they had limits.
No matter how skilled their blades or how disciplined their formations were, a monster wave was still a monster wave—thousands of creatures flooding forward without fear, without exhaustion, without rcy.
And sooner or later... even the strongest walls would crack.
"I understand your concerns," Snow said calmly, her voice steady and composed, "but the Grand Duke’s movents are beyond even my authority. He responds only to my father—His Majesty’s direct orders. By now, it should be clear to you that he has been dispatched on a mission separate from the assistance you were expecting."
"I–I see... so that truly was the case..." Roverick murmured, a trace of bitterness slipping into his tone before he quickly suppressed it.
Snow continued before despair could take root.
"But fear not. I have been inford that part of his orders includes stabilizing the North as well. Although the Grand Duke does not command a personal army, I believe his knight order will soon be deployed to the region. They will protect a much wider range of territory than he can manage alone."
Roverick’s eyes widened.
"Is... is that true, Your Highness?"
"Yes."
That single word was enough.
Hope surged through the old count, bright and undeniable.
For the first ti since arriving at Lun, he felt his visit had not been in vain.
One of the greatest weaknesses they faced was not lack of strength—but lack of coverage.
The North was vast, its borders long and exposed.
Even with the Grand Duke present, monsters could simply bypass him and strike elsewhere.
But the Grand Duke’s knight order—
Knights trained under the strongest swordsman on the continent.
Their presence alone would deter countless threats.
Spread across the frontier, they could reinforce weak points, protect evacuation routes, and give battered settlents room to breathe.
Roverick straightened, preparing to bow and offer his deepest gratitude.
Then the thought struck him.
What about the source?
What about the dungeon break itself—the very wound from which these monster waves poured endlessly into the world?
And what of the other noble houses? Those with wealth, armies, and influence, capable of lending aid?
As Snow’s explanation settled in his mind, an unsettling realization ford.
Even the Grand Duke’s knights... were being positioned defensively.
If not the duke... then who was supposed to end the waves?
The question burned in Roverick’s mind.
Sha or not, he was ready to speak up again—ready to press the issue, even if it ant overstepping—
Snow’s voice cut in before he could open his mouth.
"I’m sure you’re curious about the other noble houses capable of assisting you," she said calmly. "You can put those thoughts to rest. I’ve personally declined and cut off all offers of help from them."
The words landed like a hamr.
Silence followed.
"I... beg your pardon?" Roverick said at last.
Cut them off?
When?
Why?
Wouldn’t ending this as quickly as possible be the most logical choice?
The longer the dungeon remained, the more lives would be lost. He couldn’t understand her reasoning at all.
"Yes," Snow continued, unbothered by his reaction. "I know you’re filled with concern. But you can rest assured, Count. The problem in the North will be handled... personally."
"..."
"Excuse ?" he finally managed.
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
"Fufu. Along with Riley here, I will personally deal with the dungeon break—the source of everything."
Her words were gentle.
"So please be at ease when we do visit the north soon~"
Their aning was not.
Before Roverick could respond, Snow stepped forward, already turning away as if the matter had been settled.
She didn’t wait for approval.
She didn’t wait for understanding.
By the ti the count realized it, Riley—who had been standing silently beside her the entire ti—was already gone as well.
"My lord..." Klaus’s worried voice reached him, distant and faint.
"......"
"......."
"Uhm Lord....?"
"......"
Roverick didn’t respond.
One thought echoed again and again in his mind, refusing to settle.
The princess... is personally going to deal with the dungeon?
Wasn’t this... an entirely new batch of problems in and out of itself?
Although it seed like he got what he wanted in the short conversation, it felt like it got heavier entirely.
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