After the guild leaders left the council chamber and headed toward the banquet hall, the room grew noticeably quieter.
Vergil noticed Emperor Shiroi leaning back in his chair, letting out a long, tired sigh.
Mina tilted her head slightly.
"Uncle Shiroi… are you alright?"
Shiroi rubbed his forehead.
"This whole matter about marriage…" he muttered. "My father and even Grandfather Ragnar have already discussed it with me."
Vergil and Freya exchanged curious glances.
Cloe stepped forward slightly.
"The Fate Writer already determined it," she said casually. "You're destined to have three wives. One of them is the Spirit Queen."
Shiroi slowly nodded, releasing another long sigh.
"That's exactly the problem."
Vergil leaned forward with interest.
"And the other two?"
Before anyone else could answer, a familiar voice spoke from the shadows.
"Allow me."
Shadow suddenly appeared in the room as if he had always been there.
"The second one is the daughter of a duke from a nearby kingdom," he explained calmly. "The third… is a Demon Queen."
The Emperor Custodes guarding Shiroi reacted instantly. Their armor clinked as they dropped to one knee in respect the moment they recognized him.
Shiroi raised a hand.
"At ease. You may stand."
The Custodes obeyed immediately.
Vergil narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Not like you to casually reveal secrets of heaven, Shadow."
Shadow gave a faint smile.
"Technically," he replied, "you and your wife am also the God of Magnacarta VII. Which means your five adopted daughters—and your two biological children with Freya—can be considered angels of Magnacarta VII."
The five girls glanced at one another but said nothing.
Shadow continued calmly.
"I also asked the Fate Writer to… slightly adjust the destiny of the duke's daughter."
Vergil frowned.
"Adjust how?"
Shadow shrugged lightly.
"She's currently experiencing the seventh loop of her life. Seven complete resets of her timeline but still remember what she experience and learn."
Freya blinked.
"…Seven loops?"
Shadow nodded.
"And if fate proceeds as intended, Shiroi will depart for the Alfana Kingdom tomorrow."
Vergil studied him carefully.
"You're unusually calm with that news," he said. "Why aren't you angry for that instance news?"
Shadow smiled again.
It was a small smile—subtle, almost harmless.
But Vergil, Freya, and the five adopted daughters immediately understood something behind it.
None of them felt comfortable about that smile.
Not at all.
Shiroi cleared his throat and turned toward one of the aides standing quietly in the room.
"Prepare the travel arrangements for tomorrow."
The aide stepped forward and bowed.
"As Prince Shadow mentioned, Your Majesty, the information is correct. You've been invited to a banquet hosted by the crown prince of the Alfana Kingdom."
He continued,
"After the banquet, there will also be discussions regarding diplomatic cooperation and trade agreements."
Shiroi nodded.
"Ashcroft."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"On the return trip… can we make a stop at the Forbidden Forest? I need to request permission and make sure the security around that place remains tight. I don't want outsiders wandering in."
Lord Ashcroft thought for a moment before answering.
"That can be arranged. There are no other scheduled commitments after the Alfana visit."
He added calmly,
"We can also have several Custodes Guards deployed from the Battleship Glamorous, which is currently stationed in orbit."
Shiroi smiled slightly.
"Good."
He then turned toward Vergil and Freya.
"Uncle Vergil, Aunt Freya—why don't you and your seven children come along as well?"
Freya shook her head lightly.
"Fenrir and Camilla are already stationed near the outskirts of the Alfana capital," she said. "They're currently on assignment there."
Shiroi's face immediately brightened.
"Perfect."
He leaned forward with a grin.
"That means they're close. Tell them to meet us."
His tone softened slightly.
"I've missed my twin cousins."
Freya quickly sent a message through a specialized communication device before beginning to pack. Vergil also instructed his five adopted daughters to prepare for the journey.
The next morning, Emperor Shiroi was fully ready to depart for the Alfana Kingdom. A procession of royal horse-drawn carriages waited in the palace courtyard.
Freya and the five girls boarded the second carriage, while Vergil departed ahead of the convoy to personally ensure the route was secure.
Inside the carriage, the usual chaos unfolded.
Sylphy and Aria were arguing loudly about something trivial, as they often did.
Meanwhile, Chloe sat quietly in the corner, deeply absorbed in a thick magic tome.
Across from her, Mina and Lira were studying a recently published medical text.
"Technically," Mina said thoughtfully, "nanotechnology could be used to eliminate enemies from the inside."
Lira nodded as she flipped a page.
"A nano-virus introduced through food would be almost impossible to detect."
Freya burst out laughing.
"You two sound exactly like your father and aunt."
Mina and Lira immediately went silent, their faces turning slightly red with embarrassment.
Not long after, the royal convoy left the palace grounds and proceeded toward the main road of Dark Village.
As they passed through the central district of the capital, crowds of citizens gathered along the streets.
Many people cheered when they saw Emperor Shiroi's carriage.
Members of different races waved enthusiastically, shouting words of encouragement.
"Your Majesty! Do your best!"
"We believe in you!"
Even the city guards looked proud as they watched the convoy pass.
Under Emperor Shiroi's rule, the empire had changed dramatically. Corrupt nobles and officials had been exposed, executed, or stripped of their power. Their confiscated wealth had been redirected into public programs, creating countless new jobs and opportunities for ordinary citizens.
Inside the lead carriage, Shiroi glanced toward Ashcroft and another man seated nearby.
The man had striking red hair and wore modern military attire. A cross-shaped scar marked his face, giving him a hardened appearance.
"Uncle Axel," Shiroi said. "What did you think of yesterday's meeting?"
Axel shrugged slightly.
"The idea itself isn't bad," he replied. "But what matters more is what Uncle Ragnar told you."
Lord Ashcroft, seated beside him, chuckled quietly.
Axel leaned back in his seat.
"Honestly, I might eventually find the right partner myself," he added. "Running the entire Kainaldia military is starting to get boring."
Shiroi smirked.
"How are the Marines and the Space Force doing?"
Axel's expression turned more professional.
"They recently finished an exploration mission. We discovered a nearby planet rich in minerals. It's suitable for establishing a new colony."
Shiroi nodded with interest.
"And the Space Navy?"
"All destroyers and mobile soldiers are fully operational," Axel replied. "If war breaks out, we can deploy immediately."
He added with a faint grin,
"With a little… assistance from the Divine Heavenly."
Shiroi nodded approvingly.
"Begin preparations for the expedition."
Axel immediately grabbed the portable radio device attached to his gear.
"This is command," he said calmly into the transmitter. "Voyage is greenlight."
He paused briefly.
"Repeat: Voyage is greenlight."
Then he looked toward Shiroi.
"Confirmation?"
Shiroi gave a short nod.
"Confirmed."
Axel relayed the confirmation through the radio.
After the transmission ended, Shiroi crossed his arms thoughtfully.
"The Northern Kingdom is still attempting to infiltrate Kainaldia territory," he said. "How's the situation there?"
Axel replied without hesitation.
"Shiroyuki is handling it well. She's already captured a large number of enemy soldiers."
He continued,
"Apparently, the soldiers have started turning against their own government."
Shiroi sighed slightly.
"Honestly, the Northern Kingdom might as well be annexed by the Kainaldia Empire. Their policies are far too racist to survive in the long term."
Axel nodded in agreement.
"On that point… I completely agree."
Ashcroft folded his arms thoughtfully.
"Once victory is achieved," he said, "Your Majesty will likely assume direct control of the Northern Kingdom's government and erase all remnants of the previous regime."
Shiroi nodded without hesitation.
"That's exactly what I intend to do."
He paused, then turned toward Axel.
"Uncle Axel… are the W.M.D. systems ready?"
Axel answered calmly.
"All of them are fully operational."
Shiroi leaned back slightly.
"Then what if we use that tactic?"
Ashcroft looked puzzled.
"What tactic?"
Axel immediately understood what Shiroi meant and raised an eyebrow.
"You're thinking about deploying the Crawler Mark IV?"
Shiroi nodded.
"Of course. The faster we end this war, the better. We should also deploy the experimental Skyfort Battleplane."
Axel turned up the volume on his military radio and spoke clearly into the device.
"Shiroyuki, do you copy?"
A few seconds later, a woman's voice came through the radio.
"Loud and clear."
It was Shiroyuki.
"I was wondering when my beloved niece would authorize the use of Nano Assembly technology," she continued. "It's the most efficient way to break their defenses."
Shiroi leaned toward the radio.
"In that case, you have my authorization. Deploy the Crawler Mark IV and the Skyfort Battleplane."
"Understood," Shiroyuki replied immediately.
Her voice briefly shifted away from the transmitter as she turned to issue orders.
"All units, this is Supreme Command. Deploy the Skyfort platform and activate the Crawler units immediately."
The radio transmission crackled before returning to normal.
Axel lowered the radio slightly and glanced at Shiroi.
"At this rate, the Northern Kingdom will probably surrender within a week."
Ashcroft nodded thoughtfully.
"Honestly, the Custodes Project, Grey Knights, and Marine Forces alone should be more than enough to defeat them."
Shiroi shook his head.
"Those three projects are classified military programs," he said firmly. "The public must never learn their true purpose."
He continued,
"As far as the world knows, the Custodian Force is nothing more than the royal guard that protects the palace and the royal family."
Ashcroft bowed his head slightly.
"My apologies, Your Majesty. I spoke out of turn."
Shiroi waved it off.
"No. Your point isn't wrong."
He looked out the window of the moving carriage as the road stretched toward the horizon.
"The sooner the enemy collapses, the better the outcome will be."
The journey to the Alfana Kingdom proceeded smoothly for five days.
Vergil had already regrouped with Fenrir and Camilla near the outskirts of the Alfana capital before the royal convoy arrived.
Then, without warning, something strange happened.
Vergil, Freya, the five adopted daughters, and even Emperor Shiroi suddenly felt the same disturbance at the exact same moment.
Almost instinctively, they all looked up at the sky.
Shiroi's expression darkened.
He raised his voice toward the heavens.
"Fate Weaver! What exactly are you trying to do?!"
Vergil simply sighed.
"It looks like Fate Weaver is trying to turn something unfortunate… into something beautiful."
Freya chuckled softly when she heard that.
Vergil closed his eyes for a moment, focusing.
Then he spoke again.
"Ah… I see."
Freya glanced at him curiously.
"What is it?"
Vergil opened his eyes.
"Fate Weaver is preparing a destined partner for Fenrir."
Fenrir blinked in surprise.
"…Wait, what?"
Freya leaned closer to Vergil.
"And why is that interesting?"
Vergil shrugged lightly.
"I could tell you," he said casually, "but spoilers ruin the fun."
Freya sighed while the others rolled their eyes.
The royal convoy continued its journey and soon arrived at the capital of the Alfana Kingdom.
Palace officials were already waiting to receive them.
Vergil and Freya were escorted to a special guest suite reserved for high-ranking foreign delegates. Their five adopted daughters were also assigned private guest rooms of their own.
Meanwhile, Emperor Shiroi's escorting guards were given separate quarters to rest.
Axel, however, declined the palace accommodations.
"I'll stay at an inn tonight," he said casually. "There's something I need to check."
As evening approached, preparations for the royal banquet began.
Shiroi walked toward the banquet hall alongside Ashcroft.
By the time they arrived, Vergil and his family were already inside.
The grand hall was filled with nobles from across the Alfana Kingdom.
As Vergil observed the gathering, he quickly noticed something unusual unfolding near the center of the room.
The crown prince of Alfana had just publicly announced that he was canceling his engagement to the daughter of a duke.
The young woman stood calmly before him and do not care at all.
She had long blonde hair, emerald-green eyes, and a flawless figure. Her posture remained elegant and composed despite the humiliating announcement.
Freya studied her quietly before whispering to Vergil.
"Shadow certainly has good taste."
Vergil smirked slightly.
"She does look like someone who could become Shiroi's future wife."
The Duke's daughter showed almost no emotion as the prince finished speaking.
With a perfectly neutral expression, she simply bowed slightly… then turned around and walked away from him.
The prince remained standing there awkwardly.
Vergil, Freya, and their five daughters struggled to suppress their laughter.
Mina quietly muttered,
"The prince just embarrassed himself."
The young woman walked straight out of the banquet hall without looking back.
The other guests—mostly nobles of the Alfana Kingdom—stood frozen in stunned silence, unsure how to react to what they had just witnessed.
Meanwhile, across the hall, Vergil and his family appeared completely unconcerned as they continued enjoying the banquet.
Shiroi walked calmly along the rear corridor of the palace with Ashcroft after finishing an important discussion. They were about to enter the banquet hall when suddenly—
Thud.
Someone collided with him.
A young woman stumbled slightly before quickly regaining her balance.
It was the same duke's daughter from earlier—the beautiful girl with long blonde hair and emerald eyes.
The moment she realized who she had bumped into, her eyes widened.
"Y-Your Majesty!" she said quickly, bowing in a very formal manner.
Shiroi raised a hand casually.
"Relax. It's fine."
The girl straightened, looking slightly embarrassed.
"I… usually leave through the side entrance," she muttered. "I thought I'd try the back this time."
Before Shiroi or Ashcroft could react, she suddenly slipped off her shoes and walked toward a nearby window.
Shiroi blinked.
"…What are you doing?"
The girl opened the window.
"I'm leaving."
Shiroi immediately stepped forward.
"Wait—this is the second floor—"
Too late.
The duke's daughter had already jumped out of the window.
Shiroi rushed forward and looked down.
To his surprise, the girl landed lightly on the ground below, bending her knees slightly before standing up as if nothing had happened.
She grabbed her shoes, glanced around quickly, and began walking away.
Shiroi stared for a moment.
Then he laughed.
"Well… that was unexpected."
Ashcroft looked down from the window as well.
"She seems… unusually athletic for a noblewoman."
Shiroi shook his head slightly, still smiling.
"No. She's interesting."
He turned to Ashcroft.
"Contact Uncle Axel. I want to know everything about that girl."
Ashcroft immediately activated the communicator on his wrist.
"Axel, do you copy?"
The radio crackled.
"Go ahead."
Ashcroft described the girl briefly.
"Blonde hair. Emerald eyes. Daughter of a duke. Just left the banquet hall."
A short pause followed.
Then Axel's voice came back.
"10-4."
Shiroi nodded.
"Prepare my carriage," he said. "I'm going after her."
Ashcroft raised an eyebrow.
"Right now?"
Shiroi smiled.
"Right now."
He added one more instruction.
"Find Uncle Vergil and ask him to meet with the King of the Alfana Kingdom for me."
Ashcroft bowed slightly.
"Understood."
Ashcroft returned to the banquet hall while Shiroi quickly headed outside to pursue the mysterious duke's daughter with his private carriage.
Inside the banquet hall, the party had already begun to wind down. Many guests had left, and the room was far quieter than before.
At that moment, the King of the Alfana Kingdom entered the hall.
Ashcroft quickly located Vergil and Freya among the remaining guests.
"Prince Vergil," Ashcroft said politely.
Vergil glanced at him.
"Yes?"
Ashcroft spoke calmly.
"His Majesty has gone after a young woman."
Freya immediately smirked.
"Oh, I know exactly which girl he's chasing."
Vergil chuckled quietly.
"And Shiroi wants me to speak with the king in his place, correct?"
Ashcroft nodded.
"That is correct."
Vergil waved a hand casually.
"Leave it to us."
Freya crossed her arms with a playful smile.
"We'll handle the king."
Vergil added calmly,
"After that… we'll bring him along and catch up with Emperor Shiroi."
Shiroi quickly stepped into his personal carriage and gave an immediate order to the driver.
"Head to the noble district. The area where the Alfana nobles live."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The driver snapped the reins, and the horses surged forward, the carriage leaving the palace grounds at speed.
As they rode through the streets, Shiroi added another instruction.
"If you see my uncle Axel along the way, stop. We'll pick him up."
"Understood."
The carriage continued through the city until, midway along the road, a flashing signal appeared ahead.
A beam of light blinked several times.
Axel was standing by the roadside, signaling with a flashlight.
The driver quickly slowed and stopped.
Axel stepped into the carriage.
"I tracked her," he said immediately. "She went to the residence of Duke Swardberg."
"Take us there," Shiroi ordered.
The carriage set off again and soon arrived in front of the duke's estate.
The moment the carriage stopped, Shiroi stepped out.
Axel followed behind him.
"You might want to be ready," Axel said calmly. "Just in case something happens."
He then tossed a sword toward Shiroi.
The weapon had a distinctive guard shaped like spread wings.
Shiroi caught it effortlessly.
"Thanks."
As Shiroi approached the front gate of the estate, loud shouting could already be heard from inside the courtyard.
A commotion was clearly underway.
The moment he stepped forward—
Clang!
Shiroi instinctively drew the sword and blocked an incoming strike.
Sparks flashed as steel met steel.
He looked up and saw the attacker.
It was the duke's daughter.
Risa En Swardberg.
Her movements were sharp and precise, her stance steady.
She's skilled, Shiroi thought.
Her sword technique was refined, and her instincts were extremely sharp.
But the moment she recognized who she was facing, her eyes widened.
Her sword slipped from her hands and clattered to the ground.
"Y-Your Majesty!" she gasped.
She immediately bowed her head.
"My deepest apologies!"
Shiroi lowered his sword.
"It's fine."
Risa looked confused.
"What are you doing here, Your Majesty?"
Shiroi smiled slightly.
"I came to introduce myself properly."
Risa straightened and gave a formal greeting.
"My name is Risa En Swardberg," she said respectfully. "The only daughter of Duke Swardberg."
Then she turned toward the gathered crowd in the courtyard.
Many nobles and guards had gathered during the commotion.
"Everyone," she announced clearly, "this is Emperor Shiroi of the Kainaldia Empire."
The Alfana crown prince, who had been standing nearby, suddenly looked shocked.
His face went pale, and he didn't say a word.
At that exact moment, another carriage arrived at the estate.
King Edward XIV stepped out, accompanied by Vergil and Freya.
The king immediately walked up to the crown prince—
Smack!
The sound echoed across the courtyard as he struck the prince across the face.
"On your knees!" the king snapped.
The prince immediately obeyed.
"You will apologize," King Edward XIV ordered, "before your foolish behavior causes a diplomatic disaster between the Alfana Kingdom and the Kainaldia Empire."
Shiroi waved a hand casually.
"There's no need for that," he said calmly. "This is a trivial matter. It won't affect our diplomatic relations or trade agreements."
The tension in the courtyard eased slightly.
King Edward XIV exhaled in relief.
Then he glanced at Risa.
"Perhaps… there is another way to resolve this matter."
He looked back at Shiroi.
"What if Risa En Swardberg became your partner?"
The courtyard fell silent.
Shiroi opened his mouth to respond—
But Risa stepped forward first.
"Your Majesty," she said calmly, "may I speak with Emperor Shiroi privately?"
Shiroi looked at her for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"Of course."
Duke Swardberg quickly led them into his mansion and personally prepared a private room where his only daughter could speak with Emperor Shiroi without interruption.
Inside the room, the atmosphere was calm and quiet.
Shiroi sat comfortably in a chair, while Risa took the seat across from him.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Risa broke the silence.
"Your Majesty," she said calmly, "what is the real reason you came to see me?"
Shiroi answered without hesitation.
"I'm interested in you."
Risa blinked slightly but remained composed.
"It's extremely rare," Shiroi continued, "for a noblewoman to possess swordsmanship like yours. Your instincts are sharp, and your reaction speed is excellent."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Someone like you would make a very suitable partner for me."
Risa remained silent for a moment, clearly thinking about his words.
Finally, she spoke.
"I'm willing to become your partner… but I have several conditions."
Shiroi nodded immediately.
"I'm listening."
Risa raised one finger.
"First. I want to learn how the Kainaldia Empire truly operates."
She continued,
"I've heard that your empire isn't inhabited by humans alone. Many races live there—Ogres, Orcs, Draconia, Titania, Dominion, Beastmen, and many others. In most kingdoms and empires, those races are considered monsters."
Shiroi nodded.
"That's correct."
Risa met his eyes.
"I want to understand how a nation like that functions."
Shiroi smiled faintly.
"That condition is acceptable."
Risa raised a second finger.
"If you ever decide to marry another woman, I must remain your first wife."
Shiroi didn't even hesitate.
"Agreed."
Then Risa raised a third finger.
"I want myself—and any future wives you may have—to be allowed to attend government meetings or at least provide input regarding major policies."
Shiroi immediately clarified.
"You may give advice," he said firmly. "But the final decisions remain mine."
Risa nodded.
"That's acceptable."
Finally, she added one last condition.
"For the wedding dress… I will choose it myself."
Shiroi chuckled slightly.
"And the merchant you buy it from?"
Risa gave a small smile.
"That will also be my decision."
Shiroi leaned back in his chair.
"If that's what you want," he said calmly, "then I have no objections."
Shiroi stood up from his chair and looked at Risa.
"You should start packing," he said calmly. "Tomorrow morning we'll depart for the Kainaldia Empire."
He paused for a moment before adding,
"We'll stop by one place along the way."
With that, Shiroi left the room and returned to the Alfana royal palace where the Kainaldia delegation was staying.
The next morning arrived quickly.
True to her word, Risa had already packed her belongings and was waiting outside the Swardberg mansion.
Not long after, a carriage arrived.
Ashcroft stepped down from it.
"Lady Risa," he greeted politely.
He helped her load her luggage into the carriage before offering his hand to assist her inside. Once she was seated, Ashcroft climbed in as well.
Risa glanced around.
"Where is Emperor Shiroi?"
Ashcroft smiled faintly.
"This carriage will first join the main convoy," he explained. "From there, we'll travel to the Forbidden Forest near Dark Village before entering the capital itself."
Risa's expression turned slightly worried.
"The Forbidden Forest?" she asked. "And… Dark Village? That sounds rather terrifying."
Ashcroft laughed.
"That reaction is quite normal. Most people outside the Kainaldia Empire feel the same way before their first visit."
He leaned back slightly.
"I've already heard about the conditions you gave His Majesty. This trip is actually a perfect opportunity for you to begin learning about the empire."
Then he leaned forward and instructed the driver,
"Head to the MP."
Risa tilted her head.
"What does MP mean?"
"Meeting Point," Ashcroft explained. "It's where the convoy gathers before departing together."
Risa nodded in understanding as the carriage began moving.
The trip only took about ten minutes.
Soon they arrived near the eastern gate of the Alfana capital, where several Kainaldia carriages were already assembled.
Axel was standing nearby, organizing the convoy formation.
When he saw Ashcroft's carriage arrive, he immediately signaled for it to stop at the correct position.
At the same time, Shiroi gathered all the drivers of the royal convoy.
"Prince Vergil and Lady Freya have already departed ahead of us," Shiroi explained. "They're sweeping the route to ensure it's safe."
Axel then stepped forward to clarify the convoy structure.
"The first three carriages contain security forces," he said.
"The fourth carriage carries Princess Mina, Princess Sylphy, and the others."
"The fifth carriage is for Prince Fenrir and Princess Camilla."
He pointed toward the final carriage.
"And the sixth VIP carriage will carry His Majesty, along with Ashcroft."
All the drivers nodded, confirming they understood the formation.
Shiroi then walked toward the carriage where Risa was waiting and stepped inside.
"Apologies for not picking you up personally," he said. "This journey might be dangerous."
Risa shook her head lightly.
"That's understandable."
After a brief pause, she asked,
"What exactly are Prince Vergil and Lady Freya to you?"
Shiroi smiled slightly.
"They're my uncle and aunt," he replied. "Prince Vergil is my father's older brother."
Risa nodded.
"I see."
Then curiosity returned to her expression.
"What exactly is in the Forbidden Forest of Kainaldia?"
Shiroi leaned back in his seat.
"That's actually a perfect place for you to begin learning."
He looked out the carriage window as he continued.
"That forest is the domain of Spirit Queen Lumina and all spirits who live under her protection."
Risa listened carefully.
"The reason it's designated as a forbidden area," Shiroi explained, "is to keep outsiders away."
"Spirits prefer to live peacefully without interference. By declaring the forest a restricted zone and stationing Kainaldia soldiers around it, we ensure that neither the spirits nor the Spirit Queen are ever disturbed."
Risa nodded slowly, beginning to understand.
"So the forest isn't forbidden because it's dangerous," she said.
"It's forbidden," Shiroi replied calmly, "because we respect the people who live there."
The convoy departed soon after, leaving the capital of the Alfana Kingdom through the western gate.
Axel and Ashcroft rode in the last carriage of the formation.
Axel himself sat on top of the carriage, calmly scanning the surroundings. Resting in his hands was a Type AW sniper rifle, equipped with a 36× magnification scope and a suppressor.
Throughout the journey, Vergil and Freya—who had gone ahead earlier—had already left discreet markers along the route indicating that the path was safe.
Inside one of the middle carriages, Mina occasionally leaned toward the window to inspect those markers.
Each time she spotted one of her father's signs, she tapped lightly on the carriage wall once.
That single knock was enough.
The driver would immediately understand: the route ahead was safe.
By midday on the second day of travel, the convoy crossed into the border territory of the Kainaldia Empire.
Vergil and Freya were already waiting there.
The convoy halted briefly so the two of them could rejoin the formation before the journey continued.
Three days later, the royal convoy was finally approaching Dark Village, the capital of the Kainaldia Empire.
From inside the carriage, Risa caught her first glimpse of it in the distance.
Her eyes widened.
The capital was far more magnificent than she had imagined.
"So the name really is misleading…" she murmured softly.
"Dark Village" sounded ominous—but the city itself was grand and imposing.
Soon the convoy turned away from the main road and entered a quiet path leading deep into the forest.
The route became increasingly secluded.
After roughly thirty minutes of travel through the dense woods, they arrived at a heavily secured area.
Tall iron fences surrounded the perimeter, and several guard posts stood along the entrance.
The soldiers stationed there carried weapons that looked unfamiliar to Risa—advanced firearms unlike anything she had seen before.
One of the guards spotted the approaching convoy and immediately snapped to attention, saluting.
He then directed each carriage where to stop, positioning them carefully so the convoy could easily depart the forest again when necessary.
Shiroi stepped down from his carriage.
Risa followed shortly behind him.
One of the guards approached and saluted again.
"Your Majesty," he reported. "The Mantis arrived thirty minutes ago and is currently waiting at the main gate."
Shiroi nodded.
"Good."
He began walking toward the main gate where a lone man stood waiting.
The mysterious figure had clearly been expecting him.