on the balcony of a small castle a man in late 30's was enjoying himself a cup of wine as he watch the view of his city.
his name was Adam, the marquis and owner of the city.
he was enjoying his night after he finished his paper works. when sip his finest wine. a knock came.
"master we have new for you."
a man who wears a military uniform bow to Adam and he replied.
"what news?"
"the criminals organization, crimson star has attack a foreigner in our city."
"oh? they sure have a balls to do so after we executed most of this people."
as he rub his signature beard. the man continued.
"yes, but what's more interesting was the foreign wasn't ordinary."
adam stop sipping his wine as he looks at the soldier who was still looking at him with interested.
"oh? what do you mean?"
"this person walk alone in the middle of the night and some of our guards let her go after she show her badge."
"badge? I don't remember about this badge? tell me, what special about this bad."
"according to our men. this woman said she was delivering a order from her client named rock the merchant from fritz country. we check this man rock and we confirmed that rock order a doll to the girl named Teresa. although we suspect that this woman's name was suspicious. it all change when she show her badge. which is belong to her."
"her? who?"
"from your mother your majesty."
"what?!"
adam was surprised as he look at the man's eyes.
Adam's mother or rather Amanda was a lady who was feared by many people including criminals.
she serve the kingdom and retire with full honor and even became a general in the age of 24.
many people avoided Amanda due to her destructive nature and few individual can talk to her nicely.
adam who knows her mother's mind couldn't help but twitch his lips.
even he, the marquis of the city could help but afraid too.
"why did mother gave that badge?"
"I didn't know master. but whoever this woman is. madam knew her identity."
as Adam things. he couldn't help but sigh.
"I guess we have left Teresa from a while. but what about the people attack her?"
"we secured them and right now they are now in interrogation room."
"hmph, make sure those fools won't die yet. we need their information including Steven's whereabouts."
"yes your majesty."
when the informed left the room. adam sigh and spoke in a low tone.
"what are your plans mother."
.....
in the hotel where Henrietta was staying. the woman named Amanda was sipping her warm tea as she look at Steven that bound by the ropes.
more over Steve was already black and blue as his face was shallow with wounds and punches.
next to him was a man who wears a light armor with a gauntlet in both hands. he was red hair in a ponytail style and his eyes was sharp as a hawk while looking at Steve.
Amanda only chuckled while looking at her discipline face. few days before Henrietta left the city. Amanda called his disciple after the crimson star attack Henrietta.
nobody knows who Henrietta was since she was sheltered in the castle but Amanda knew her.
she also knows that the king was trying to find her whereabouts but she didn't report her.
why?
because Amanda hate the new king.
from the very beginning when Amanda was a general. Romano was self entitled parent who only wants was to expand his influence and her mother was a heartless woman.
both of them are not worthy on Amanda's eyes so she quit her position and retired. she let her son to rule the territory since she have high hopes to her son and she only wanted was to live with the commoners.
but she never expecting that the princess that she once saw in the castle will stay in her hotel.
she listened to Henrietta from where she going after her business with the city. after all she already pictured what happened to the castle so she didn't dig it or investigate.
this cause Amanda to smiled since the country called terra was a magic country who was specialist at magic.
although it's enrollment has a high price. every graduate are famous and also very influenced people in the country.
Amanda also recommend her to enter the best academy called Soule.
this academy was specialist from magic theory and making new magic.
the reason was she heard Henrietta can control a puppet or a person with her mana strings. she even told Amanda it's weakness which she understands.
"it's a shame that her stupid father ignored her talent before it blooms. well it's his fault anyway but I wonder what's his reaction when he heard this."
Amanda chuckled as she imagine how Romano's reaction. then Amanda look at Steven with cold eyes and spoke.
"am impressed that you have balls to attack the very important person in this country. otherwise, it will bring a huge problem to my son if your scheme succeed."
"w-w-what do you mean general?"
Steven was shaken to the core.
when his subordinate fails. he tried to conduct a new plan but suddenly out of nowhere. Amanda and her discipline attack and beat the living out of him.
Steven knew that this woman was a monster and attacking someone close to her will be bad for him.
but he never expecting that the person he tried to kidnap will brought him to his end.
he didn't know what her connection to Amanda but he can tell that he screwed this time.
"do you know who she is?"
"no, general."
"good, because the person's grandfather came to meet you."
a metallic boot was walking towards him. Steven couldn't help but shaking and slowly turned around.
when he saw his face. all of his expression vanish and turned very paled.
the man was 70's but his appearance was almost in 40's. he has a messy white hair and few wrinkles on his face. but his muscles are still pack as he wearing an armor.
next to him was two yellowed armored knights both of the carrying sword while their shield was in there back. in front of those shield was the emblem of three head Dragon with a sun in the top while the moon was on the bottom.
"k-k-king maximus?!"
king maximus. the previous king of odermatts kingdom and the most feared man in the kingdom and the the central legion. who once said. he kill the an wyvern and orc king with his bare hands, killed the army of death alone and most famous of all. he slept the witch of calamity and turned her as his wife while her female followers are his concubine who was range of 50 woman.
this achievement was so high, it was like a joke from someone. not even the holy kingdom wouldn't want mess with them.
maximus look at Steven and said in a calm tone.
"I'll take this bastard."
"sure your highness but aren't you going to visit your granddaughter? after all. her talent and her stubbornness came to both of you?"
maximus knew about her granddaughter Henrietta. in fact he even let her to enter the library where his wife. skadi wrote her magic theory and her collection of magic spells.
maximus knew that her granddaughter wasn't a earlier talented like her siblings but he knew that talent isn't coming out early but later.
maximus wait patiently for Henrietta even though she was abandoned by her parents expectations.
as a result, Henrietta succeed in making mana strings causing to smiled.
he saw his granddaughter happily making her puppet to dance and as far and making the guard dog to control. of course this method is hard as he still remember on how those dogs chase her in the courtyard.
Amanda knew how caring maximus to his children and grandchildren. the only thing he regret was his son Romano who became unworthy to his eyes.
when maximus heard his granddaughter ran away. he told every who was connecting to him to search Henrietta without telling to anyone including the king.
as a result, maximus found out Henrietta's location earlier that his worthless son who was still searching for her.
not only that, he even told his best of the best knights to guard Henrietta without interfere. he wants his granddaughter to experience the outside world while being protected.
the elite guards will only move if their princess was in deep danger that almost threatening her lives.
"no need, I know that my granddaughter will be fine so I'll let her enjoy the outside world while my idiot son find her. beside my wife skadi was happily watching her progress too."
maximus grab Steven's neck and look thim in his eyes.
Steven so scared that he wants to ran away. his legs was shaking and his bladder already leaking to his pants.
"as for you, I'll make you turned into a finest soldier since a worthless cockroach like you still need to the kingdom, so relax and enjoy the hell among hell you'll face."
Amanda only shake her head. what the previous king was telling was to send him to black ops where he will taste the meaning of regret.
when maximus and her soldiers left dragging Steven like a sack.
Amanda look at the window and smile.
'i wonder what will Henrietta will become after her graduation.'
...
in the dark room where all books and magical equipment was laying on the table.
a woman wearing a revealing clothes was watching the crystal where Henrietta was ridding.
she can see how Henrietta was happily and looks excited while carrying the sack of gold in her lap.
skadi watch her granddaughter with a smile and said in a low tone.
"I couldn't wait until you became strong my dear."
happily sipping her tea. she spoke mischievous.
"I wonder if maximus will ride me again after he came back."
"mistress, I think it's not how you act as a lady."
skadi look at her discipline has smirk.
"don't worry little Mick, you can join us too."
"no."
as she spoke, skadi only shrug and look again to the crystal ball.