In the capital city of the Purefield Duchy, Whitefen City, a regular court session was underway inside the ducal palace.
Felix sat upon the throne, his mother Greta seated beside him… but his right side was empty—his right-hand man, Grey, was no longer there.
As he discussed matters of governance with his ministers, a guard suddenly entered, dropped to one knee, and spoke urgently,
"Your Grace, a royal emissary has arrived and requests an immediate audience."
Greta spoke before Felix could respond,
"A royal emissary is not to be kept waiting. Invite them inside."
The guard bowed and quickly left the court.
Still seated on the throne, Felix turned slightly toward Greta,
"Mother… what could be so urgent that the kingdom sends an emissary at a time like this?"
Greta replied calmly,
"The kingdom does nothing without reason. If they've sent someone, then it concerns something important."
Moments later, the guard returned—this time accompanied by the emissary.
Upon entering, the woman bowed gracefully,
"May prosperity be upon you, esteemed Duke and Duchess."
Felix gave a slight nod. Greta's lips curved faintly as she recognized her,
"Kelly… it has been quite some time. What brings you to Purefield today?"
"You should visit more often. Living confined within palace walls grows tiresome, does it not?"
Kelly smiled faintly,
"If you or the young Duke summon me, I will gladly come again, Duchess. But today… I am not here for pleasantries."
Her expression turned serious.
"Duke Felix, forgive my bluntness… but I did not come to speak with you or the Duchess."
"I am here to meet your protector—Sir Crimson. This matter concerns the security of your duchy."
Felix's gaze sharpened slightly,
"Lady Kelly… you may speak to me as well."
"Great-Grandfather may be the protector of this duchy… but I am its Duke. Its safety concerns me above all."
"And perhaps… I alone may be enough to deal with whatever threat is coming."
At his words, Greta looked at him with quiet pride.
Her son was growing… becoming someone worthy of standing at the head of a duchy.
And as both his mother and his wife, that sight stirred a deep satisfaction within her.
Kelly studied him for a moment before nodding,
"Very well, Your Grace. I will inform you first… but the final decision will still rest with Master Crimson."
Felix leaned slightly forward,
"That is only natural. Now tell me… what is this matter?"
Kelly spoke, her voice steady,
"I come under the orders of the Matriarch and the Queen… carrying their message."
She paused briefly before delivering the words,
"Starting tomorrow… Westirifer will begin a crusade against the Purefield Duchy."
"In other words… their army will march upon you."
The courtroom fell silent.
Shock spread across every face—Felix, Greta, and the ministers alike.
They had already seen what Westirifer was capable of.
Only days ago, their envoy had arrived… and before the Duke himself, one of their guards had beheaded Sir Grey.
Felix had been unable to stop it.
And now… that same force was coming with an army.
The weight of the situation was suffocating.
Greta broke the silence,
"To be honest, Kelly… this war was inevitable."
"Westirifer wants us to surrender… and hand over the heads of our ancestors—Christopher and Sarah."
Her voice hardened,
"That will never happen."
"Just days ago, Jasper came here as their envoy… and murdered Grey before our eyes."
"He had four SS+ rank hunters with him. That was the only reason I held back."
"Otherwise… I would never have let him leave alive."
Kelly frowned slightly,
"I still cannot understand… how that small duchy near the Nightbloom Forest managed to gather so many SS-rank hunters."
Greta replied coldly,
"Money, Kelly."
"That 'small' duchy sits atop endless wealth—coal, iron, precious stones… thousands of mines across the Gigori ranges."
"And if we speak honestly—no offense to you…"
"Westirifer is at least twenty times richer than the kingdom itself."
"The Ashers left behind a treasury beyond imagination."
Kelly's expression darkened slightly,
"Duchess… you are mistaken."
"The Ashers did not leave anything behind."
Her voice turned quiet… but sharp,
"Lucifer did not inherit their wealth…"
"He took it."
"He erased their entire bloodline—every elder, every child… not a single one survived."
"And compared to that…"
"The duchy itself is insignificant."