We flew away from the floating Nest on the Whitewing beasts, passing through the cold winds that now also had the addition of heavy snow as dark clouds hung overhead. My sight was locked onto this Skypeak Nest that I would most definitely visit for myself in the future
I was lost in my thoughts as we passed through the falling snow and beca entranced with the scene playing out. The land floating in the sky receded from view as we approached the outline of the Frozen Kingdom. The minutes passed by in the skies as I introduced myself to the rcenaries I worked with today
We passed over the huge fortress wall and landed in the back of the [rcenary’s Hideout] in a few minutes, where 5000 gold was given to every participating rcenary as a surprised receptionist ca out and saw us returning much earlier than expected
I was looking forward to learning the rank A skill books now sitting in one of my storage rings as I followed Captain Ryner’s group. It was him and four other S rank hunters. After the extermination task was confird and the rewards handed out, we went further into the kingdom past the entrance town
The buildings beca larger and grander the further in we went, and the beginning of one of the grandiose bridges that sn.a.k.e.d towards the sky to one of the floating lands above us appeared.
The bridge was wide and long, with rank two S guards decked in an exquisite white tal armor standing guard. Anyone that wanted to pass the checkpoint had to have proper authorization, or they would face the cold blades of the two guards if they tried anything funny
The boisterous attitude of Captain Ryner ca to a stop as we neared the bridge and saw an escort taking place. An exquisite carriage waited besides the bridge a veiled woman that beca surrounded by peak rank S guards got off and was walked towards the bridge
Captain Ryner’s entire deanor changed as his voice lowered before he respectfully called out to the figures in front of us in a tone I was hearing for the first ti today
"Princess, it’s my extre pleasure being graced with your sight today"
His voice was low but clear, ringing out clearly in the ears of the figures up front. The guards standing besides the veiled woman showed annoyed expression as they turned to look at Ryner, seemingly this not being the first ti they’ve co across sothing like this
The veiled woman turned to this direction and nodded towards Ryner, which made him breakout the largest smile as if he had won the lottery. I looked at this scene in fascination as it seed this captain was completely stricken with the woman up front, but could only look from afar
The figures turned and began climbing towards the bridge, but not before I felt a gaze linger on for a few seconds. I turned to the escort of people that were leaving and wondered if I had just thought wrong
Ryner moved with much more vigor after this as we entered into a much more expensive looking tavern than the ones I’ve seen on the way here. The tavern was much more high class, with private rooms that gave it an air of calmness
There were no boisterous noises from rcenaries as it seed a noise canceling function was activated the mont the doors to the private rooms closed. We soon grabbed a private room of our own and sat on a thick soft furred carpet around a circular table
Ryner was animatedly moving around as the best dishes were ordered and the rcenaries began talking
"Hey hey hey, Captain Ryner seems to be completely taken in by the terrifying Ice Princess eh?"
"Bah, what do you know? I heard her highness’s main guard would be retiring soon, and I just signed up for the possibility of being chosen when the selection happens"
Ryner had began biting down on the huge chunks of at as he talked back to the jeering rcenary
"Oh, you actually think you stand a chance from all those geniuses that are fighting for the position?"
The burly captain gave a hard look to the voice that spoke as he snorted and replied
"My power is peak rank S, if I don’t stand a chance, nobody does!"
The rcenaries continued their back and forth as I listened in and enjoyed the food. The Ice Princess was apparently one of the royalties residing and controlling the Snowy Peak that was floating not too far from us.
The subject of the people currently in power who controlled the forces of the Frozen Kingdom made think about my own plans to increase my influence in the future. The easiest path was to rise to Epic rank or higher, obtaining a level of strength that would allow to carry out many plans. But how do I go about it without causing bloodshed and strife on these people that were not the enemies I ca here for?
Rising through the ranks in tis of war would be the best possible outco, but the Frozen Kingdom was surrounded by mountains and had tight defenses. The forces of demons that were spreading out might target this kingdom soon, but I didn’t know when. For now, I would prepare as much as I could before events explode
---
There were many titles under my na.
The Ice Princess by the commoners. The Doted Princess by the nobles. The Frigid Bitch by my enemies. But none of that mattered to . Because I was living on borrowed ti. I had no energy to spare to those that fawned over or those that criticized
I held the Unique Skill, {GOLDEN RULE}, that was passed down since my beloved mother t her death. On the bed when she lay with her life force slowly leaking out she scread to the little girl who was in shock.
Be smart, she scread. Be strong, she said. Use the power that I am passing down to the fullest, as a terrible calamity is coming towards us all. She said all of this to a frightened girl that was losing her mother, and then passed away
I imprinted those last words into my brain from that day forward, using the skill handed down to to get through many of the political sses in one piece.
The skill showed a dark light whenever my older brother, the Crown Prince, looked at . So I avoided him and anything to do with him like a plague. It showed a green light whenever my naive younger brother played with , so I kept him close and made him rely on
It showed a light blue light with my father, so I acted as the most perfect daughter and gained his affection, making cruise through to my unshakable position that I have currently. Those that crossed often t with misfortune or death, making those cowards utter the na of Frigid Bitch whenever they gossiped among themselves
I used my ans to establish an extensive information agency that saw all the happenings of the kingdom and its surroundings, with more than half of its departnts focused on my older brother who shone in a dangerous black light
But all of this wasn’t enough. My own fate was still murky. My unique skill showed that undoubtedly, all that I had done had changed nothing, and that death was still approaching. A calamity was still coming. No amount of information I collected was enough. This fostered sothing that was my only weakness to this day, the fear of the approaching death.
Even the strongest powerhouses of this kingdom did not deter the skill from sending the sa ssage. I worried about the demons that were constantly increasing their influence across the lands as I thought about the impending calamity
I exhausted all my resources. I surrounded myself with the best of guards from the kingdom that my escorts were no less powerful that those protecting the Crown Prince, the bastard that would most likely take control of the kingdom once my father passed
I could feel the malice he had towards even though my position did not co close to threatening him right now. I could recently feel his malice towards our father, which made even more cautious to the point that I began putting plans into place that would put my own life on the line
I didn’t bring myself to act yet, as I continued calculating all the possible scenarios. Would it be regicide, corruption, or betrayal that I had to stop? No answers presented themselves over the years, as my fate continued to beco darker and darker
That is, until today.
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