As the new year's celebration ended, the festive atmosphere gradually faded.
When news spread that His Majesty Bruno would soon confer titles upon the defectors, everyone turned their attention to the next day's ceremony.
Bestowing the titles of Imperial Nobles was a clear sign that the two nations were on the brink of all-out war.
The night of January fifth should have been peaceful, but it was destined to be an extraordinary one.
Dressed in his usual finery, Garrett strolled through the Golden Feather Palace.
To the Guards, the Crown Prince seemed to be in excellent spirits, perhaps pleased at having gained several powerful followers.
But beneath Garrett's calm exterior, his heart had already descended into madness.
Ronin had become his nightmare. As Ronin grew stronger, Garrett felt increasingly helpless.
He knew that if he was going to deal with Ronin, he had to do it soon.
If he dragged things out like Bruno, Garrett couldn't fathom how powerful Ronin might become.
