Actually, Nerud should have known that things were not very simple from the very moment he noticed the signs. He then rubbed his hand on the back of his head as if having a hard time. "Mala, you should know… I was normally out in the seas of Tetroka and guarding the coasts facing Kolorantha. My sudden assignment here in Galacia shocked me—even the First Captain isn't here.
"I never had the honor of meeting His Eminence in the flesh before, but he suddenly summoned me to ferry the archduke and the archduchess from Achlys to Tutura and finally to Novaska. Tch, any admiral could do this, but it was assigned to me by His Eminence himself." Nerud sighed. "At first, I thought it was because of that woman. She seemed to be an esteemed guest… we were made to believe that.
