The Grand Duchy of Limbult was located to the southeast of the Rhoden Kingdom.
Though originally a part of the Rhoden Kingdom itself, after the war six hundred years
ago, Duke Ticient had sought to reconcile with the elves. He and several of his allies
broke away from the Rhoden Kingdom to form the Grand Duchy of Limbult.
The Rhoden Kingdom wasn't pleased with the formation of the Grand Duchy, but
having just suffered a defeat at the hands of the elves, and already exhausted of
resources, they could do little about the situation.
The Grand Duchy immediately went about making good on Duke Ticient's promise
and worked toward reconciliation. Today, they were the only human nation to have
any form of trading relationship with the elves.
The humans were enamored of the high-quality magical items created by the elves,
and they were always in high demand. Even in the Rhoden Kingdom, elven items and
skills were highly prized. However, as a result of the massive victory the elves had
managed against their aggressors despite their inferior numbers, the Great Canada
Forest had kept itself closed off to the Rhoden Kingdom—then the second largest
country on the continent, right behind the Revlon Empire.
Several other countries were also interested in the elves' abilities, but after seeing the
fate that befell the Rhoden Kingdom, they were left with no option but to change
tactics from trying to take what they wanted by force to opening trade relations.
The elves, however, burrowed deeper into the Great Canada Forest, refusing to trade
with anyone but the Grand Duchy of Limbult. This gave the Grand Duchy the exclusive
right to sell the elves' magical goods to other countries, greatly increasing their wealth.
In spite of its small size, the Grand Duchy's power only continued to grow.
Limbult, the capital of the Grand Duchy, was built overlooking the massive port of
Aldoria to the east. Ships flying the flags of countries throughout the northern
continent visited the port, lending an exciting vitality to the city.
Thanks to this, Limbult boasted a larger population than even Rhoden's capital of Olav.
The city was filled with all manner of magical items obtained from the elves, which
merchants from across the continent—as well as the crews that manned their ships—
were constantly purchasing and reselling. The city was so busy that it could easily have
been mistaken for the seat of an empire.
Limbult was also the only human city where you might actually catch a glimpse of an
elf.
Amid this exciting chaos, a procession of over one hundred soldiers, some wearing
unfamiliar-looking armor, marched up the roads of Limbult, leading a black, horsedrawn carriage to the palace.
The carriage carried Yuriarna Merol Melissa Rhoden Olav, the second princess of the
Rhoden Kingdom. She wore her blond hair straight, with a slight curl at the tips. Her
brown eyes, contrasting nicely with her snow-white skin, gazed out the window of the
carriage at the bustling city of Limbult. The scenery reflected in her large eyes as it
slowly passed them by.
It had been twelve days since the ambush in the forest near the Anetto Mountains.
After the ambush, the procession had sped toward Limbult, avoiding all major routes
that might give their attackers a second chance. They were only slightly off schedule
crossing the Librout River, which marked the border between Rhoden and Limbult.
As soon as they entered the Grand Duchy, the princess paid a visit to Marquis du Braht,
who ruled the surrounding area, to explain their situation and ask for protection.
The surviving contingent of thirty guards was exhausted by the time they entered
Limbult. Even if their injuries from the ambush had been miraculously healed, many
of them were still without horses, and all of them had spent the rest of the trip on
constant alert, watching out for a follow-up strike.
Marquis du Braht allowed Princess Yuriarna and her guards to rest at his castle while
he sent a messenger off to Limbult to notify Duchess Seriarna. Three days later, the
messenger returned to du Braht's castle with the duchess' reply and a contingent of
soldiers to escort Princess Yuriarna from Braht to Limbult.
Her carriage was now crossing the massive stone bridge leading to the duke's royal
palace at the center of Limbult. A massive moat, filled with water from the nearby
ocean, surrounded the palace. A number of peasants idly fishing from the sides of the
bridge watched as the impressive procession rolled past.
Once across the bridge, Yuriarna finally caught sight of the pearl-white palace—the
home of the duke who oversaw the entire Grand Duchy. It was absolutely stunning,
sporting countless spires and intricately carved designs, its magnificence befitting the
power and wealth wielded by the Grand Duchy.
Ferna spoke up from her seat beside the princess. "I see nothing has changed. It's just
as beautiful as ever."
Yuriarna silently agreed.
The entrance to the palace came into sight—a majestic staircase, at the top of which
stood a familiar figure in a blue gown flanked by guards in imposing armor.
The carriage entered the palace's vast courtyard, coming to a stop at the base of the
stairs.
Yuriarna didn't even wait for the driver to open her door. She climbed out of the
carriage herself, running up to meet the figure at the top of the stairs.
"Meria!"
"I'm glad to see you've arrived safely, Merol," the woman said, using Yuriarna's childhood
nickname.
This woman was Seriarna Meria du Olav Ticient, Yuriarna's sister, and wife to the duke
of Limbult.
Seriarna came running down to Yuriarna, pulling the younger woman in for a tight
hug. Tears appeared in her eyes as she looked down at her younger sister. Her hair
was the same shade of blond as Yuriarna's, tied back into a ponytail. The sisters also
shared the same affectionate brown eyes.
"I'm so relieved that you're alive…"
"I'm sorry for worrying you, Meria…"
Yuriarna's eyes stung with barely restrained tears at her sister's words. Seriarna
pulled her in closer.
Seriarna gently caressed her sister's hair. "When I heard you were assassinated by our
stepbrother Dakares back in Rhoden, my world went dark. I thought my heart would
stop right then and there."
Yuriarna's head bolted up. "What do you mean, Dakares?"
Seriarna looked confused. After a tense silence, she went on to explain to Yuriarna the
recent events that had been going on in the Rhoden Kingdom. "I… I thought you knew.
A short time ago, Dakares carried out a massive attack in the middle of Olav. He tried
to murder Sekt in all of the confusion, though Sekt killed him instead, with only
minimal injury to himself."
"Then what makes you say Dakares was behind my assassination?"
"When Dakares was killed, mother's heirloom necklace—the one you always wear—
was found in his pocket. From what I heard, Dakares had ordered General Maldoira to
carry out the attack on you."
Yuriarna's hand flew to her chest.
After the attack, she hadn't been able to find her necklace anywhere. Too worried
about a second ambush, she had put her feelings aside and decided to worry about it
later.
She was filled with both a strange sense of comfort and an intense anger over hearing
that it had been stolen by her brother.
"What happened to General Maldoira?" Yuriarna struggled to stay calm as she asked
about the man who'd led her assassination attempt.
"As the story goes, the general was also involved in letting out the beastmen in the
capital in order to cause all the chaos. His son, Lieutenant General Cetrion, struck him
down then and there. Since he helped save Sekt's life, he's going to be the next Duke
Olsterio."
Yuriarna looked down, trying to hide the flurry of emotions racing through her mind.
Seriarna brushed a hand through her sister's hair and pulled her close again. She
whispered in Yuriarna's ear.
"You're alive… That's enough for now."
The whirlwind running through Yuriarna's heart dissipated, replaced instead by an
intense warmth. She buried her face in her beloved sister's neck as she fought back
tears.
"Thank you, Meria. But I can't leave Sekt alone like this, or the Rhoden Kingdom will
be assimilated by the Great West Revlon Empire. I need to tell Father that I'm safe and
make sure that Sekt doesn't steal the crown."
Seriarna shook her head in response to her sister's plan.
"I beg you, stay here for a while. Sekt is a careful man. As long as he thinks he's the heir
apparent, he won't be in any hurry to assume the throne. If you were to return to
Rhoden now, he might very well succeed in killing you a second time. He might claim
that your murder was all Dakares' plot, but we have no proof of that. And Dakares'
former supporters haven't declared for anyone yet, so there's a possibility that they
may try to come over to your side. Sekt would be a fool to risk that."
The worry in Seriarna's face left Yuriarna at a loss for words. But as a member of the
royal family, she couldn't just run away. She told her sister as much, a look of
unbending determination etched on her face in spite of her young age.
The duchess frowned at this. "In that case, at least fulfill the duty Father assigned you
first. If you can pull that off, then it will surely serve as a great asset to you when you
return to Rhoden."
Yuriarna nodded, then turned her head to look past the palace to the Great Canada
Forest north of Limbult.
"You're right. First, I will meet with the elves and try to open a dialogue concerning
the future of our countries' relationship. I will need your husband's assistance,
however, if we are to have any chance at success."
Yuriarna looked back at her sister, the determination still evident in her eyes.
Duchess Seriarna smiled down at the young princess and squinted slightly, as if she
were staring into a bright light.
***
The Holy Revlon Empire was located in the northeastern corner of the northern
continent.
Habahren, the capital of the empire, was located at the center of its expansive territory.
A picturesque city built in the midst of vast fields, Habahren was home to
approximately eighty thousand people, the round, walled-off city radiating out from
the castle at its center.
The castle, called Siguenza, had been built for defense rather than beauty, and had
served as a fortress in the days of the old Revlon Empire.
Inside the emperor's office, deep within Siguenza, a man with a sharp nose and muddy,
reddish-brown hair sat in a chair reserved for the ruler of the empire. Domitianus
Revlon Valtiafelbe, the young emperor of the Holy Revlon Empire, wore a fitted
military uniform as he looked at the maps of his domain spread across his desk. His
head was propped up on his fist as he gazed at the papers.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in."
The door opened hesitantly, and a chubby, mustached man dressed in the flashy garb
of the imperial officials stepped inside. The man's paunch swayed slightly as he
walked, a shifty smirk plastered to his face.
At a glance, the man looked like any other wealthy merchant, but he was in fact the
lord chancellor of the Holy Revlon Empire, charged with handling the government's
affairs. His name was Velmoas du Lyzehl.
The emperor shot the man an annoyed look. "What is it, Velmoas?"
The shifty smile never left Velmoas' face. "Ah, yes, Your Highness. We have just received
a letter from our contact in Rhoden. It seems that, um, that the successor will almost
assuredly be Prince Sekt."
"What?!" The emperor made no effort to conceal his anger at this unpleasant news,
delivered by a man whose company he could hardly stand in the first place.
Velmoas, however, seemed to be used to this treatment, and carried on as if nothing
had happened.
"That's correct. Apparently, Prince Dakares had plotted to do away with Princess
Yuriarna and Prince Sekt, but ultimately it was Prince Dakares himself who was killed.
And at Prince Sekt's own hand."
"Why the hell would that idiot Dakares try to carry out such a hare-brained scheme?!
No one ever ran this past me!"
Domitianus' face contorted into a scowl as he unleashed a series of expletives about
the late Prince Dakares.
"After the assassination of Marquis du Diento, perhaps his supporters' confidence was
shaken and he was desperate to get it back?"
The Lord Chancellor's paunch jiggled slightly as he let out a crude laugh. "That's where
the elves were coming from, no? Hmm… so if Sekt is the successor, then that means
their relations with the heathens in the west will strengthen and we will have an even
harder time expanding south."
Domitianus crossed his arms, glaring down at the maps in front of him.
Velmoas stroked his mustache. "The Monster Corps isn't quite ready for deployment,
but what do you think about sending them up north to Wetrias as a trial run?"
Domitianus considered this suggestion. "Hmm, you're right. If monsters start racking
up victims in Wetrias, they'll have no choice but to move their armies along the
southern border. But don't send anything other than monsters. We don't want them to
realize we're behind this."
Velmoas bowed ever so slightly in acknowledgement.
"After Wetrias, I was thinking we could try scattering the 'cultivation rune stones' as a
trial."
"Understood. I will contact the Runeology Cloister." Velmoas hefted his stomach and
leaned in even closer, as if the two were bosom companions.
Domitianus raised his head. "Speaking of, whatever happened with Fumba?"
"Ah, yes. They have been sent to the Leibnizche region, near the Karyu Mountains.
There are some particularly strong monsters active out there. According to the report
I received the other day, they have already caught a five-headed hydra."
Domitianus' eyes went wide. "That's… amazing. A five-headed hydra? We could easily
overrun an entire town with one of those."
The hydra was a large monster that looked like a snake with four legs. They were
usually found in swamps and wetlands. The longer a hydra lived, the more heads it
would grow, increasing its power by leaps and bounds with each new one. Add to that
its regenerative abilities and water magic, and a hydra was a force to be reckoned with.
"Fumba has it under control for now, but they're unable to get the employ ring onto
its body due to its size. They'll need enough rings to put one on each of its necks in
order to truly get it under their control."
"I see… In that case, have the Runeology Cloister prepare some special employ rings,
and tell them to increase production of the normal ones. No matter how we plan on
using the Monster Corps, we'll need to have Fumba redouble their efforts."
The corners of Emperor Domitianus' lips curled up into a wide grin.