'I knew that Celeste is on the verge of losing Sydneus, I learned it after exchanging letters with my brother whilst he defend the territory. I thought we'd just have to watch until Trost conquer Sydneus but there was a luminous hope that approached me. Even though my marriage arrangement to the bloodthirsty Emperor first seemed like the end of my world and my freedom, after all, my father set this up without my knowledge, it became a ray of hope to Celeste. Just like my Father had said, Celeste is weak in defenses but Thuhelda wasn't. Thuhelda wasn't weak in every aspect no matter how much I look at it. It is the perfect opportunity for Celeste's prosperity. That's why I have thought to marry the Emperor even though he was a stranger to me.'
Selestia looked out the window of her carriage. She released a heavy sigh. 'Thuhelda…is it worth it? I'm leaving my kingdom, the land I grew up in for the hopes that it will prosper, will it be worth it? Even after what I come to plan, I still have a lingering feeling in me. The feeling that no matter how hard I try, I won't be the princess everyone wants me to be. If I can't even be the princess everyone hopes for, how can I be an Empress?'
Her eyes were melancholic. Selestia is headed to The Valley to lodge in the Duke's estate. She wanted to meet Grandel first before anyone else, she wanted to know what kind of life Thuheldians live. But with the doubtful thoughts she harbor for herself, Selestia seemed to be fazed.
'What am I even thinking? That's why I planned to escape! If the war with Trost for Sydneus ended, then I have no other reason to live and reign as Empress in Thuhelda. My marriage with him is only to get me what I wanted. Sydneus has great benefits to Celeste, the largest volcano in Ishkamir is in the land of Sydneus. It was rather foolish of Ishkamir's king to barter Sydneus with a hefty sum of money just because their kingdom is declining, he could have just sold the two other insignificant territories and waited until the volcano had come dormant. But maybe the most ludicrous and foolish people are those who are on the throne.'
Selestia scoffed. But then she paused in thought. The two territories of Ishkamir were insignificant. If Selevistus and Thuhelda wanted to expand their territories, they could have conquered substantial lands of other nations than the empty deserted territory of Ishkamir. Selevistus used the land they bought from Ishkamir to be the knights' training ground, after all, Selevistus is a neighboring kingdom of Ishkamir, so their move on the land was significant. Moreover, Thuhelda's purpose in buying the territory was uncalled-for.
Thuhelda had already 33.33% of other nations' territories and cities not including Hestown, the land they bought from Ishkamir. Thuhelda already conquered 30% of Uryasha's nations and had hold of 24% of Theseus' mainland. The regions, nations, cities, and territories they conquered all made sense except for Hestown.
Because Hestown did not signify greatly to other nations, it only was sold this year to Thuhelda for which reason the Emperor has.
Hestown was not significant even to the King of Ishkamir. Hestown was a huge meadow of flowers, it was not capable of holding any treasures that could serve as a commodity for a nation. But Hestown was Ishkamir's only source of salt production since it was the sole portion of territory that reached the sea.
Easily, Ishkamir did not hesitate to barter the land for cheap Ucrestus.
It was said that Ishkamir did not like the taste of salt, in the past when they were still on hold of Hestown, they neglected it. This allowed the neighboring nations to take salt as they please. Salt was not entirely popular to Uryasha, only three nations were fond of it, but the different nations from neighboring continents such as Theseus and Wendyvor had an eye on the said ingredient. The salt stolen from Hestown was discreetly auctioned to the nations of Theseus and Wendyvor, thus the dealers made good business. The export of salt which became a business had then been shut down after being learned by the Uryashan embassy. They proclaimed that it is against the Uryashan Act which states that what they did was an improper infringement of territory. It was punishable by death.
'If only Ishkamir had thought of importing the salt produced from Hestown's shore, they wouldn't have been suffering from such decline. Perhaps this method is the reason why Thuhelda bought Hestown.' Selestia thought.
"Let's just leave the other nations' problem to themselves. Celeste has a problem of its own." She mumbled to herself.
Selestia arrived at the Duke's residence, it was a medium-sized estate but everywhere was filled with Grandel's portraits. "For a narcissist like Grandel, I wouldn't be surprised if even his sheets have his face embroidered on them."
"Milady, it's a pleasure that you are here!" Duke Barlock greeted.
'This stale man is here?' From her mind, Selestia imagined herself groaning in complaint after she saw Duke Barlock.
"Greetings, Duke Barlock. I see you've come to await your son's arrival as well." She falsified a gleam.
To her, Duke Barlock is an annoying old man who was easily fooled. The Duke did less contribution to Celeste even compared to Freiya's duties. Originally, Duke Barlock governed Aldwyna, a city in the middle east of Celeste though instead of fulfilling his duty, governing the city the Duke funded many brothels to be built. Aldwyna's foundation became lust, in that district, everyone seemed to commit to their sexual desires. The city became called the city of lust.
With his doing, Selestia was not proud. Because of this, even children who do not want to contribute to the brothels were forced. It became the custom of the people there to sell themselves as harlots.
It generated the start of orphanages that were against Celestial rule which states that every parent is forbidden to throw their children out of their custody. It formed litigations of child harlotry, and child and women abuse. From within that city also started tremendous violence. Aldwyna also lacked schools afterward because the educational building that the royal embassy funded was soon turned into brothels.
Aldwyna became the problem city of Celeste. It also was the city where most crimes were committed.