"We know that this household has gained the full support of the Whispering Shadow," Queen Bethnal said deeply. "Otherwise, the Second Hand would not be sent."
Officially, the Whispering Shadow was one of the largest underground criminal organizations in the Alzar Kingdom and the Zino Kingdom. It had hands in all sorts of unsavory businesses such as illegal arms trading, slavery, drug trafficking, and assassinations to name a few. Its name had even spread to the upper most echelon of society! Even the Royal Family had kept a close eye on it. The fearsome reputation that it garnered over the years was enough to threat anyone regardless of their status!
Lord Korogin and past monarchs had invested some energy into the organization to dismantle it, but never focused their full attention to the task due to the wars. Of course, this was due to the Whispering Shadow tacitly avoiding the ire of the Alzar Kingdom. They knew exactly where the line was drawn and did their best to avoid stepping over it. This wisdom allowed them to continue to the present day! Otherwise, they would have been annihilated long ago.
Leading the Whispering Shadow was the five leaders known as the Shadows. The First Shadow was the leader of the Whispering Shadow with decreasing order of authority up until the Fifth Shadow. Each of the Shadows controlled an elite unit, the Hand, which helped exercise their power. They were extraordinarily powerful and had the capability to contend with Perception Realms easily. The Second Hand had already displayed formidable prowess that allowed them to threaten Elizabeth! Although the First Hand had not been seen in public eye for nearly ten years now, one could easily imagine the power it wielded to dominate the Whispering Shadow!
"To think that even the Whispering Shadow has turned its eye toward the Royal Family," the queen hissed with a surge of bloodlust. "They must think that we've declined over the years. Very well…"
Prince Dannark narrowed his eyes coldly while General Illion felt a chill. Queen Bethnal's words were clear. She would once again establish the supremacy of the Royal Family! The only options were submitting or dying! There was no other choice!
Elizabeth was sitting in a chair in her room. Her body had already been carefully inspected from head-to-toe to ensure her safety. Who knew what the Second Hand was capable of? They had already revealed their deadly poison. If they had secretly poisoned her, while escaping, then it would really be a big joke! So, after a long inspection, she was left alone in her room. Of course, that was her room only. Outside, the hallway was swarming with guards and soldiers. There were also several Royal Guards present! Even if the Second Hand were at full strength again, they would be forced to give up after seeing such a lineup. She was at the center of an impregnable fortress!
She was melancholic after thinking about everything that happened. The events of that Grand Nobility celebration were thrown far from her mind. It seemed so long ago that she forgot about it entirely. Her mind was solely focused on her aunt's precarious situation. You could argue that Auntie Christina was last person related to Elizabeth's past on New Havens. Elizabeth sighed. Indeed, her attitude toward Christina was uncalled for. Her aunt had her share of responsibilities too. They both had a role to play in this world! Elizabeth was sure that her aunt regretted her actions as well.
If only I were stronger, Elizabeth pondered. She clenched her fists tightly.
In this regard, she was completely different from those Grand Nobility heirs. Most of them believed that wealth and status were the keys to the world! But that was nothing more than an illusion of society. When rules and law reigned, then certainly that was true. However, out in the real world, where darkness lurked, was there such a thing as rules or law? What a joke! Only an idiot would think so! If she had tried demanding the Second Hand back down on account of her status, then she would have been killed a thousand different ways before she realized her mistake! If Sir Sebastian was one step slower, then she would have been captured! In the end, it came down to personal strength!
Alas, was power so easy to obtain? If it were, then there would not be so few Perception Realms! There would not be Ten Dawns! Personal strength was indescribably difficult to gain. The journey was filled with countless tribulations and struggles. And sometimes… the result was death! Understandably, not many wanted to pursue such a dangerous path. Many wanted to live a comfortable life whether it be dressed in riches, women, or status. Everyone had a different ambition in life. This led to the rise of nobility, of royalty, of society!
And this was precisely where Elizabeth was different. She had already tasted the bitter fruit of defeat and death. Her family was massacred in front of her. Her world was ripped from her hands and burned to the ground. Everything was destroyed! This seeded a deep sense of powerlessness inside her. It was further nurtured when she was captured in Port Silic and failed in saving Lord Korogin. She believed that becoming stronger was just as important as anything else. Compared to those noble heirs, who believed that money could solve anything, it was entirely incomprehensible to her! They were already living in two separate worlds!
Thinking this, Elizabeth glanced at her bow as the images of her battle with the emperor surged. That mysterious power she unveiled at the last second to turn the tides and kill the emperor… remained a mystery. Even after so many months, she was no closer to understanding anything. The Alzar Kingdom had also investigated and consulted with the Zino Kingdom. Unfortunately, since there were no Arcanists on the level of Condensed Drop present, no one could tell for certain. Nassandra and Tengon were both heavily incapacitated following their magic, so neither counted. Iris and Krogan arrived much later, but they did not see the carnage created by Elizabeth. They too had little clue. Therefore, she was left with nothing but questions and no answers.
Elizabeth never trained in Arcania, so she naturally believed her bow was responsible for everything. This Whiteangel Bow was a sleek white bow designed with the wings of a deity. Embedded in the center was a small translucent crystal that glittered like a diamond. It maintained its timeless beauty as if it were an artifact from the heavens themselves. Together with the Holy Reingolian Medallion, they were the two gifts handed down to her by her parents! King Harth's gift went without saying. It was obviously the Holy Reingolian Medallion and the keys to the Alzar Kingdom! But then… What was this bow? Was it really so simple?
Her mother was a mysterious figure. Elizabeth had no idea who she was, where she came from, or even if she was still alive or not. Lord Korogin had once mentioned her mother in passing, but the details were few and far in-between. All Elizabeth knew was that her mother was a commoner such that King Harth had a secret affair. Otherwise, if she were some powerful heiress, her name would have been announced throughout the world already! Unfortunately, this meant that finding more about her mother was nigh impossible. Sir Winstin and her aunt Christina met with her before, yet their information was just as limited. All they knew was her name… Sonae Nor!
Elizabeth touched her crimson red hair and sighed. Her mother, Sonae Nor… Was she already dead? Or was she alive in some faraway land? Regardless, Elizabeth felt a tinge of disappointment. Right now, news of her inheritance reached its zenith, spreading to every corner of the known world. If her mother was truly still alive, then she would have heard already. What mother would not want to see their child? Or perhaps she had forgotten about Elizabeth? Or worse yet, she was dead? However, despite everything, Elizabeth had the faint feeling that her mother was not normal, that she was a unique person! This was a feeling that came from deep within her body and blood!