The line at the city gate moved slowly.
Guards stood on both sides, checking everything—docunts, cargo, even questioning travelers one by one. No one was allowed through without proper inspection. The security was tighter than usual, and every movent carried tension.
Ahead in the line—
Zayne and Valeriana Azurecrest’s carriage approached the checkpoint.
Behind them, a short distance away, Zane and his students waited in their disguised rchant carriage.
As Valeriana’s carriage rolled forward, a few people nearby noticed the emblem on its side. The crest of Valdoria.
It wasn’t sothing ordinary.
Only a handful of individuals had the right to bear that symbol.
One of the guards stepped forward, not yet noticing it clearly.
"Driver," he said, "docunts and reason for entry—"
The driver cut him off sharply.
"Are you blind? Can’t you see the crest of Valdoria Kingdom?"
The guard froze.
His eyes snapped to the emblem.
His expression changed instantly.
Before he could react further—
The carriage door opened.
Valeriana stepped out.
For a mont, the atmosphere shifted.
People nearby turned their heads. So even stared. Dressed in her white one-piece attire with a sword resting at her waist, she carried herself with quiet authority.
She stepped forward calmly.
"I am Valeriana Azurecrest, representative of Valdoria Kingdom," she said. "I have co to attend the wedding of Prince Dex and Princess Maya."
The guard stiffened.
Then imdiately bowed.
"My apologies, esteed lady. I caused you inconvenience."
He kept his head lowered.
"I failed to recognize you. It is unusual for a guest of such status to travel without an escort, so I proceeded with standard checks."
He hesitated for a mont, then added quickly,
"I will arrange guards to accompany you."
Valeriana shook her head slightly.
"No need. My knights will arrive soon."
Then she paused.
"And I have one request."
The guard straightened slightly, still respectful.
"A request, milady? We will do our utmost—as long as it does not violate orders."
Valeriana gestured lightly toward the road behind her.
"It concerns the carriage coming after us."
The guard frowned slightly. "Are they causing you trouble?"
"No," she replied calmly. "They are a rchant group familiar to . They’ve co here for business opportunities."
A brief pause.
"So I ask that you be... lenient with them."
The guard thought for a mont.
"That is sowhat difficult," he admitted. "We cannot ignore protocol without proper knowledge of them."
Then he added,
"However, if you vouch for them, we will conduct a normal check. Not an intensive one."
Valeriana nodded.
"That will be enough."
She returned to the carriage.
Inside, Zayne leaned slightly toward her with a smirk.
"You’ve gotten pretty good at talking like that."
Valeriana gave him a side glance.
"...Whose influence do you think that is?"
Valeriana’s carriage moved ahead and passed through the gates without further delay.
Now—
It was Zane’s turn.
The guard stepped forward as their carriage ca to a halt.
"Welco to the royal city of Thesris," he said. "Since you are acquainted with the earlier guest, we will conduct only a normal check."
The carriage door opened.
A man stepped out.
Long hair, black mustache, rchant attire, gold rings on his fingers—his presence completely different from before.
Zane.
In disguise.
From the other side, Selene stepped out as well, dressed neatly as a rchant’s daughter.
Zane gave a polite nod.
"Greetings. I am Urn Silva."
He gestured toward Selene.
"This is my daughter, Ursula Silva."
Then toward the carriage.
"We are the Silver Shine rchants. Along with our escort warrior Reina and driver Dug, we have co for trade."
Maera stood beside the carriage in her disguise, calm and composed, while Drevin remained at the front like a proper driver.
The guard narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Even if the previous guest knows you, I have never heard of your group... or any ’Silver Shine rchants.’"
He extended his hand.
"Show your rchant docunts."
Zane smiled faintly and handed them over.
"We ca from the far east," he said casually. "That’s why you may not have heard of us."
Then he stepped aside and opened part of the carriage.
"We deal in spices, aromatics, and other rare goods from the eastern regions."
The guard leaned slightly and looked inside.
The mont he did—
A mix of rich, unfamiliar fragrances reached him.
He blinked.
Then looked back at the docunts.
Then again at the goods.
After a few seconds, he nodded.
"...Everything seems in order."
"You may pass."
Zane stepped closer to him, lowering his voice slightly.
He took out a small pouch and handed it over.
"A small token," he said with a polite smile. "For goodwill and friendship from the Silver Shine rchants."
The guard hesitated. "...This is...?"
He opened it slightly—
Then froze.
A deep, rich aroma rose from inside.
His eyes widened.
"...Cinnamon..."
He muttered under his breath.
"This... this is high-grade cinnamon... nobles pay one gold for a single gram..."
He looked back into the pouch.
"...This must be at least fifty grams..."
He slowly raised his gaze toward Zane.
Zane simply smiled.
The guard’s expression softened imdiately.
"...Thank you."
He stepped aside.
"You may pass, sir."
Behind him, the three students watched silently.
There was a hint of awe in their eyes.
Zane and Selene returned to the carriage.
Drevin took hold of the illusion reins, guiding the horses forward, while Maera walked beside them like a proper escort.
The carriage rolled into the city.
---
Inside—
Selene glanced at Zane.
He noticed.
"What?"
She hesitated for a mont.
"...Professor... aside from being ridiculously strong, you’re also... very good at acting like a real rchant."
Zane smirked slightly.
"You should learn that too."
He leaned back slightly.
"It’s a good thing I replaced the fake goods."
Selene blinked.
"If we had kept local items," he continued, "he wouldn’t have believed us as every rchant group is known to them so I had to put item from east to pretend that we ca from east."
Selene paused.
Then slowly nodded.
Realizing her mistake.
Zane closed his eyes briefly.
"Anyway..."
"Let’s move."
As the carriage moved deeper into the royal city, the streets grew wider, cleaner, and far more crowded. rchants called out, nobles passed by in decorated escorts, and the atmosphere carried the excitent of the upcoming wedding.
From the outside—
Everything looked normal.
But inside—
Zane’s expression shifted slightly.
A voice echoed in his mind.
Boss... are you sensing this?
Zane didn’t move.
I know.
Zayne’s voice continued, more serious now.
There’s corrupted mana here... very faint, but it’s everywhere.
A pause.
Soone has done a really thorough job cleaning it. Even Valeriana can’t sense it.
Then, almost defensively—
And before you say anything, I trained her myself. She’s around seven-star level now. That’s strong by this world’s standards.
Zane’s gaze moved slightly across the passing streets.
...I can tell.
Another pause.
Then calmly—
Co et us at an inn.
We’ll talk there.
A slight smirk ford.
And co with valriana she is your... girlfriend after all.
Oops....
Or was it fiancée?
Silence.
Then—
...Boss.
Zayne’s voice carried quiet suffering.
---
A while later—
Both carriages stopped in front of a high-class inn.
The kind only nobles and top-tier rchants could afford.
The building stood tall, its exterior polished, guards stationed at the entrance, and servants moving in and out with practiced efficiency.
Zane stepped down first.
He turned toward his students.
"We’ll regroup here."
"We need to plan our next move."
Maera, Selene, and Drevin nodded.
Their expressions were serious now.
This wasn’t training anymore.
Then—
Another carriage arrived.
Zayne stepped out, followed by Valeriana.
He had already explained the situation to her.
The faint traces of corrupted mana.
Valeriana’s expression had lost its earlier lightness.
Now—
It was sharp and serious like she shifted back to her knight captain mode...
Zane glanced at them as they approached.
Then turned toward the entrance.
"Let’s go."
The group moved together toward the inn.
Whatever was hidden in this city—
They were about to uncover it.
--
High above the land—
In the floating royal city of Glimreach—
The palace stood in unmatched grandeur.
Golden-white pillars, crystal chandeliers, and walls adorned with ancient carvings reflected the wealth and power of the kingdom. Everything carried an air of elegance... and control.
Inside one of the private chambers—
A luxurious sofa rested near a wide window that overlooked the skies.
Seated there were two figures.
A man and a woman.
The man wore a finely crafted blue-white princely outfit, tailored perfectly to his broad fra. His amber-red eyes held a sharp intensity, deeper and colder than Ron’s. His hair, slightly longer and smoother, brushed near his ears, giving him a composed yet imposing presence.
Dex Volkov.
The First Prince of Glimreach.
Beside him—
Leaning close—
Sat a woman of striking beauty long princess dress.
Her long dull-blonde hair flowed down to her waist, the ends tinted faint pink. Her eyes mirrored Lia’s, yet leaned more toward a purple-pink hue—calm, yet filled with pride and calculation.
Her figure was graceful, but the aura around her told a different story.
Strength emanting from her opposed to her gracefulness.
Maya Isolde.
The First Princess of Thesris.
They sat close, their bodies leaning into each other, their gazes locked.
There was affection.
But beneath it—
Sothing darker.
Obsession.
Dex lifted his hand slightly, brushing her hair back as they leaned closer and shared a brief kiss.
When they parted, Maya spoke softly,
"You couldn’t wait a little longer?"
A faint smile curved her lips.
"In just a little while... I’ll be with you for life."
Dex chuckled under his breath.
"When you’re in front of ... I just couldn’t control myself ."
His eyes softened for a mont.
"I’m so happy today."
A pause.
"It feels like everything I ever wanted is finally coming true."
Maya nodded slightly.
"...I feel the sa."
Her gaze deepened.
"Marrying the most precious person who truly understands you..."
Then—
Her expression shifted.
Cold and sinister.
"And most importantly..."
A faint smile ford.
"The day we’ve both been waiting for..."
"...to witness the death of our hateful siblings."
Dex’s lips curled into a smirk.
"I’m glad I found you, Maya."
Maya returned the sa expression.
"And I’m glad I found you."
Their eyes t again.
Not just with love—
But with shared ambition.
And cruelty.
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