Selestia's plan was successful, Duke Barlock seemed to notice the subtle height difference but nothing else bothered him. Enric was able to deliver his role well. To ensure that Selestia's excuse was credible, she imprisoned the guards in Shyna and tormented them in the dungeon for lack of discipline.
Selestia then hired new suitable and qualified men to guard and patrol Shyna.
"Grandel will be reaching Celeste tomorrow." Selestia looked at her glass window. Then, she took a letter from before her and handed it to Cecilia.
"I want you to deliver this to Enric. In that envelope is the compensation I promised him for his service."
"Yes, milady."
"Before you leave, prepare me my clothing and garments, I will journey to The Valley to meet Grandel in his dwelling. After you deliver that letter to Enric, come to me."
"Yes, milady. I shall prepare your luggage before you leave." Cecilia curtsied.
'From Grandel's letters, I reckoned that Thuhelda is a stringent empire, it was also titled the most powerful nation in the world. It will be hard to even make any wrong move, even the slightest. Being Empress doesn't ensure that I won't be executed. Well, I don't plan to be Thuhelda's Empress for long. This is the main course, the reason why I sent Grandel to Thuhelda is to map the possible routes of my escape and to recognize the people to be trusted.'
She snickered. 'If I have to burn Thuhelda to escape, I will. I did not spend the entire month loitering, waiting for Grandel's return. I have built my master plan…'
Selestia strode on the hallways, her eyes seem to wander and look for her father. By the end of the hallway, her eyes finally found who she was looking for. The King, her father was talking to his wife, the Queen, and the crowned Prince, Selestia's brother, Fritz.
Selestia had never closed their distance from each other yet but the echoes had made it loud and clear what they were talking about.
"Father, we can still withdraw from this engagement!" Fritz tried to convince the King.
"Fritz, let's not try and change your Father's mind…" the Queen vied to stop his persuasion.
"Mother, we can't just marry Selestia off to some man! Have you ever asked her if she wanted this?"
The King was tight-lipped, he only lent his ears to listen, he did not want to say anything even if they were worth mentioning. It became apparent to Fritz that just like him, Selestia only later knew about it.
"Have you been hiding this from Selestia? Just like how you hid it from me, the crowned Prince?! How come a lowly component of the Duchy, someone like Freiya knew but I do not?!"
"Son, you should rest, you were tired from your journey. You have just arrived."
"I never got a letter from any of you except for Selestia. Selestia and I vied to rule side by side once I inherit the throne, that is what we desire. Only for us to find out that their biggest asset of Celeste will be married off to some man just because his empire was the most powerful. Father, you are a King of injustice…"
Fritz stormed out of the hall, Selestia who have seen all this moved away as their parents talked.
'My brother is always sensitive when it comes to me. He must've been surprised to return from a battle with no victory only to know his sister is to be married off. I'd wish the same thing to not be married at all but Celeste's alliance is my priority apart from myself.'
It has been eight months since the crowned Prince was sent to battle with Trost, a nation who vied to take the Celestial land, Sydneus within the kingdom of Ishkamir. Sydneus is a territory Celeste bought from Ishkamir when Ishkamir was ceasing to function with their commodity.
Ishkamir, the land of diamonds where three of Uryasha's volcanoes are had failed seven years ago when two of their volcanoes erupted. It ruined various cities of Ishkamir. They were failing with diamonds thus they needed to market them at a higher price. But that method barely helped with the rise of Ishkamir, the ruler of the nation then sold three of its eleven territories to different nations.
Selevistus, Thuhelda, and Celeste were the three nations that bought the land of Ishkamir.
A year ago after Fritz was crowned as the King's successor, Trost started to take the land of Selevistus within the borderline of Ishkamir. Because Selevistus was a regime that mandates every fifteen-year-old child serve as a knight with a minimum service of ten years, Trost was unable to face them. Selevistus was abundant with the population of knights, it was never easy to take them. Aside from Selevistus itself, Thuhelda, the most powerful nation in the world subsidized Selevistus through subsidy, Selevistus will not be easily beaten.
Trost then decided to take Sydneus from Celeste after they failed with Selevistus.
After two months since Fritz was sent to battle Trost, the King proceeded to find a suitable man of marriage for Selestia. It was the reason why Fritz felt disappointed, he felt that his Father sent him to battle so that no one will hinder Selestia's marriage.
'That old man. Selfish, absurd, and greedy. He feared Selestia's manly strength, something must have gotten into his head for thinking his own daughter will kill him!'
Fritz clenched tightly on his bow and arrow after he had just shot the center of the mark. His brows furrowed and his forehead creased. He felt enraged within him.
"You seemed to be vindictive today…" A voice spoke from behind him. Fritz turned around and found Nilus who stood with a straight poise.
"Nilus…"
"Greetings, my prince." He curtsied. "So you've found out your father's master plan, I see."
"As always, he's absurd and selfish…"
"Hm…" Nilus seized the bow and arrow on Fritz's hand.
He placed the arrow and spanned the bow and shot the arrow. It broke Fritz's first arrow and landed on the center of the mark, leaving Fritz's arrow to fall on the ground.
"Impressive as always, Nilus…"
"Why, thank you, my prince." He returned the bow to him. "How did the defense of Sydneus from Trost went?"
"Lost…it seemed like Syndeus will be claimed sooner or later. Trost had called allies from different nations all around the world. Celeste had too little manpower in battle, I'm well certain Sydneus will be taken."
Nilus looked at him, "Don't you think it's time to use the princess's marriage with the Emperor of Thuhelda to gain the manpower you need?" He smiled.