When the morning sun filtered into the chamber,
an unexpected visitor arrived at Hulim Heyerar’s quarters.
“Alicia……”
Hulim stared at her golden-haired, crimson-eyed friend in genuine surprise.
“So you are stationed here on the front lines?”
It was none other than Alicia Serions, the Ninth Princess of the Pasara Empire.
“Quite the surprise, isn’t it~?” Alicia smiled. “I ought to have called on you yesterday when you arrived, but I was overseeing the empire’s logistics—there was no chance to slip away. For that…… I apologize for not coming sooner.”
“Logistics? That hardly sounds like work you would enjoy.”
“I have no choice in the matter.”
Alicia replied with a helpless sigh.
“His Highness Drehack Serions, the First Prince, serves as supre commander of the imperial army. I cannot compete with him in the slightest…… so I have resigned myself to logistics.”
“Prince Drehack……”
Hulim recalled the first—and only—ti she had laid eyes on him.
Truly…… it had been beyond all expectation.
She never would have guessed that Drehack was already A-Rank back then.
Moreover, nearly half of those who followed him exuded the dangerous aura of A-Rank experts.
Hulim, fresh from battle at the ti, had weighed her chances in silence.
She had reached a firm conclusion:
back then, had she clashed with that group, her odds of victory would have been less than half—and that was assuming their coordination was diocre at best……
Against an opponent of that caliber, Alicia and the other princes and princesses never stood a fighting chance.
Because……
Even across the entire Pasara Empire, only a handful of A-Rank experts exist at any given ti.
Yet the power Drehack displayed in that single encounter already towered above the rest of the empire.
When he spoke to Alicia back then, he had not been teasing—he had genuinely viewed the strife between his siblings as no more aningful than the squabbles of young children.
“Alicia, you have co to visit …… does that an you have leave today?”
“I do. I finished all my duties ahead of ti, so I am free for the entire day. Windrock City is built amid green mountains, with scenery unlike any other. I know you have only just arrived, so I ca to invite you to explore the city.”
“I heard Miko is with you as well—summon her, too. Let it be a long-overdue reunion for the three of us, shall we?”
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“Of course. Let us go find Miko together.”
……
Windrock City lay nestled within a range of lush, green mountains.
Though not a large city, it blood with countless exotic flowers and plants, granting it a unique, picturesque charm.
It was early autumn, peak flowering season, so petals and sweet fragrance drifted through the streets at all hours.
Three young won strolled leisurely along such a street.
“Incredible! We can see the entire landscape beyond the city from up here!”
From the overlook of the city park, Miko gazed out at the vast expanse before her, awestruck.
“So high! So vast!”
The park overlook stood at the city’s edge, with a sheer, hundred-ter cliff just one step forward.
The divide between wilderness and civilization could not have been more sharply defined.
“This park was erected by the lord of Windrock City a century ago. It was originally built to test flying magical artifacts, but it later beca a scenic overlook for visitors.”
“Oh, I had no idea! You know so much, Alicia.”
“Hardly. I simply looked into the city’s history after arriving…… Oh, right! Down that stairway lies a dessert shop famous throughout the Eastern Kingdoms. Even in these chaotic tis, the owner still keeps it open.”
“A famous dessert shop?”
Hulim’s interest was piqued at once.
“If it is truly that renowned, I should like to see it for myself.”
“Hehe~.” Alicia let out a soft laugh. “So things never change about you, Hulim. Very well—I shall lead the way.”
The three left the park and descended a long, white stone stairway.
They reached a street intersection,
and the sign of the dessert shop ca into view at the far end of the road.
“There it is. Let us—”
Alicia’s voice cut off abruptly.
Her gaze fell upon a group approaching from the opposite street.
“Older brother……”
The group noticed them as well, halting in their tracks.
They then walked directly toward them.
“Your Highness Drehack——”
Alicia had barely spoken
when Drehack stepped past her without a glance, stopping squarely before Hulim.
He then executed a formal noble obeisance,
his voice calm yet impeccably polite:
“Lady Hulim. I am Drehack Serions. It is my greatest honor to make your acquaintance.”
As his words faded, the Bloodguard behind him bowed silently to Hulim in unison.
“Uh…… it is a pleasure to et you?”
Hulim replied, stiff and ill at ease.
Though she had received such greetings everywhere since arriving in Windrock City, she still had not grown accustod to them.
Especially in a situation like this: when they first t, he had been the far stronger party—but now, their standing had reversed entirely. She scarcely knew how to respond.
Drehack, however, appeared unbothered by the shift in status; he adapted to it with natural ease.
No wonder Irus and the other S-Ranks rarely showed themselves in public……
After bowing to Hulim,
Drehack slowly lifted his head and finally glanced sideways at Alicia.
He spoke flatly:
“Occasional rest is permissible, but do not lapse into carelessness. You are no longer at an age for childish gas.”
“……”
“Lady Hulim, we have business outside the city. We shall take our leave now.”
“Uh, please do.”
Drehack turned and led the Bloodguard toward the city gates.
Once they had vanished into the distance, the tense Alicia exhaled a long breath of relief.
She quickly frowned, however, indignant:
“What was that…… still treating like a child!”
“Um…… Alicia? Shall we still go to the dessert shop?”
“We shall! Most certainly! I am utterly vexed—I shall take all my frustration out on sweets!”
With that, Alicia stord toward the dessert shop with sharp, determined strides.
“Whoa~, there it is—Alicia’s petulant fit mode!”
“Do not give absurd labels! And it is called ‘taking one’s frustration out on sothing’, not…… whatever you just said.”
……
The sun sank slowly toward the horizon.
Dusk drew near.
“Ahhh~, today was truly wonderful! Especially the treats from that shop—they were divine!”
Miko rubbed her stomach, looking thoroughly satisfied.
Just then,
“Your Highness Alicia.”
Alicia’s personal maid and steward appeared before the group.
“Martina? Has it truly beco this late already……”
“Yes, Your Highness. It is ti for you to return to your duties.”
“Ugh……”
Alicia looked reluctant, but after a mont of hesitation, she turned back to Miko and Hulim.
“I apologize, Miko, Hulim. Our ti together ends here for today. We must go out again soon……”
“Very well! Let us return to that shop next ti!”
“Alicia.” Hulim gave her an encouraging look. “Do your best with your work.”
“……”
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