Byanka hugged Varenka tightly, relief and disbelief mingling in her eyes.
"Where have you been all this time? Where were you for the past year?"
Varenka avoided her mother's gaze. She hesitated for a moment before giving a quiet answer.
"I managed to escape the person who kidnapped me."
Byanka immediately knew her daughter was lying. Still, she respected Varenka's decision not to reveal the truth. Instead of pressing her for answers, she allowed Varenka to personally interrogate the captured spy.
The interrogation took place within the Throne Room. Byanka remained beside her subordinates, silently observing as Varenka stood before the prisoner.
"Remove her cloak and mask," Varenka ordered.
The Ice Guards obeyed. They pulled away the prisoner's cloak and removed her mask.
The entire room fell silent.
Byanka and her subordinates stared in disbelief.
The woman before them bore the insignia of the Ancient Empire.
The Ancient Empire had once been the homeland of both the Firelanders and the Icelanders. It had been ruled by a mysterious emperor whose identity had remained shrouded in secrecy throughout history. Eventually, both nations sought freedom from the emperor's rule, and a rebellion erupted into war.
They won.
That victory became the final moment of cooperation between the two neighboring nations.
Neither side realized that their shared victory would eventually become the beginning of another conflict.
After establishing their own territories, the Icelanders settled in the Northern Icelands, while the Firelanders claimed the Southern Firelands. Tensions between them gradually intensified until the former allies became enemies. War broke out between the two nations, and the history of the Ancient Empire slowly became buried beneath generations of bloodshed.
Varenka glanced around the Throne Room.
Why is everyone so quiet?
The prisoner slowly lifted her head.
"My name is Bernadette of Lillith," she said. "Duchess Bernadette of Lillith, descendant of the Ancient Royal Bloodline."
Varenka froze.
She had studied the history of the Ancient Empire countless times. She knew about the rebellion, the fall of the emperor, and the supposed destruction of the Ancient Royal Bloodline.
But now, one of its descendants stood directly before her.
Varenka's expression hardened.
She had always believed that her ancestors had defeated the first ruler of the Ancient Empire.
Now she wondered if that belief had been nothing more than a carefully preserved lie.
Suddenly, a strange heat surged through her body.
Varenka gasped.
The temperature around her rose rapidly as an immense force erupted from within her. She tried to suppress it, but the energy continued to build until it became impossible to contain.
"Varenka!"
She screamed.
A tremendous wave of power burst from her body.
Byanka immediately rose from her seat and began casting a spell to restrain her daughter. However, the moment the spell took hold, Byanka's expression changed.
She could feel it.
Varenka's power had grown tremendously.
She was already approaching the Dragon Emperor Stage, Rank 8, the third-highest known rank beneath the Elemental Century Stage, Rank 9.
Byanka stared at her daughter in disbelief.
She had been so occupied with the affairs of the kingdom that she had barely found time to cultivate herself. She had not yet managed to break through to the Elemental Century Stage.
Yet Varenka was already approaching the realm of the Dragon Emperor.
Byanka strengthened the restraining spell, but her body began to tremble from the strain.
She could not hold it for much longer.
"Your Majesty!"
A soldier suddenly rushed into the Throne Room.
"The Fire Army is sieging the kingdom!"
Byanka's concentration broke for a moment.
Varenka heard those words.
Fire Army.
Her eyes widened.
A memory flashed through her mind.
"Father..."
The thought alone was enough to destabilize her.
The spell shattered.
Byanka staggered backward as the backlash struck her. She covered her mouth, but a small amount of blood escaped between her fingers.
Varenka was losing control.
Far beyond the borders of Iceland, Aamon stood before the advancing Fire Army.
He clenched his fists.
I am sorry, Byanka. I will conquer your majestic Iceland.
The thought remained buried within his mind, but even Aamon could feel that something was terribly wrong.
The Supreme Flaming Sword trembled in his grasp.
He could not control it.
Its flames surged violently, responding to a power far greater than his own.
Above them, the sapphire sky began to darken.
Black clouds spread across the heavens, swallowing the brilliant blue as though the sky itself were being consumed.
Then came an explosion.
A tremendous shockwave tore through the battlefield.
Aamon stared into the distance, his expression turning pale.
He had just witnessed the impossible.
The Mysterious Emperor of the Ancient Empire had appeared.
And now, that ancient existence was preparing to lay siege to Iceland.
The Fire Army's wrath quickly turned into fear.
Even the soldiers who had marched forward with confidence began to hesitate. Their weapons trembled in their hands as they realized that they were facing something far beyond an ordinary war.
Aamon looked upon his stubborn and arrogant army.
For the first time, they understood why the Firelands should never have broken the ancient truce.
Back inside the Throne Room, Varenka seized Bernadette by the throat.
She lifted the Duchess from the ground, her eyes burning with fury.
"Why did your bloodline ruthlessly kill my grandfathers?" Varenka demanded. "Why did you leave my parents to suffer in sorrow and suspicion? Why did you turn them against each other?"
Bernadette struggled for breath.
Yet somehow, she laughed.
Even as Varenka's grip tightened around her throat, the Duchess forced herself to speak.
"Right... you... are... the princess... of the traitorous... lands."
Varenka's eyes widened with rage.
Her fingers tightened.
She was about to crush Bernadette's throat when Byanka stepped forward.
"Varenka!"
Her voice echoed throughout the Throne Room.
"Stop."
Varenka looked toward her mother.
"Your anger is justified," Byanka continued, "but you are still the princess of Iceland. You have a responsibility to protect this kingdom. Do not allow your hatred to control you."
Varenka remained silent.
Her fist trembled.
After several tense moments, she finally released Bernadette.
The Duchess collapsed onto the floor, coughing violently as she struggled to breathe.
Varenka turned away.
She walked toward the Palace Doors and placed her hand against the magical seal that protected the kingdom. A surge of energy traveled through her body as she used her power to scan the surrounding borders.
Then she saw them.
The Fire Army.
Thousands of soldiers had gathered beyond Iceland's borders.
But something else caught her attention.
An unknown figure stood among them, surrounded by an immense and unfamiliar presence.
Varenka narrowed her eyes.
Then she saw who was leading the Fire Army.
Her father.
The Fire King of the Firelands.
Yet unlike the soldiers beneath his command, he did not look eager for battle.
He hesitated.
His expression was conflicted, almost sorrowful.
He was reluctant to begin the war.
Varenka stared at him from the Palace Doors.
For the first time since the siege began, her anger faltered.
"Father..."