"Move the carriage,"
I ordered firmly as I settled into my seat, my mind already calculating the next steps.
My journey towards Maria's Duchy was driven by an unyielding determination to obtain the sanctum's keys at any cost.
The stunt I had pulled off during my previous encounter with Maria would make dealing with her a challenging task, but the prize outweighed the challenges.
"Young Master, we have arrived at Ronen Duchy,"
The coachman's voice interrupted my thoughts, bringing my attention to the situation outside.
As I glanced at the devastated surroundings, I understood that the Demon elites were growing increasingly restless.
Despite the emblem from my family in the carriage granting us permission to leave, the nearby areas bore the scars of their rampages.
Recalling the novel's details, where it was mentioned that the minds of the demons had begun to numb from their relentless search and defeats in Liander Duchy, I could sense the restlessness escalating.
The elites were wreaking havoc in all four places, and Ronen Duchy had suffered the most, despite having only a nominal protection from the order.
The carriage continued its journey towards the mansion, and along the way, I noticed numerous people leaving the area, likely headed towards Liander Duchy.
It had been a year, and the prolonged and failed infiltrations had pushed those individuals into a state of demon rage, a condition that sent their minds into a berserker state causing them to wreak havoc everywhere.
As I observed the distressing scene, I couldn't muster any emotional reaction.
It seemed living in this world had desensitized me to the suffering of others, or perhaps these individuals were simply strangers to me.
The carriage finally came to a halt, bringing my attention to the opulent mansion that stood before us. It exuded sophistication and beauty, a clear display of Ronen Duchy's strength.
Despite the challenges they faced, it remained one of the mightiest duchies in the entire Empire, a testament to their resilience and power.
And I had chosen this day to arrive precisely because it marked the point when the Order, pressured by Ronen Duchy, would begin protecting its borders. However, it came at a cost—something I needed urgently.
Hence, I had to position myself as the savior of Ronen Duchy.
I being guided by the maid, entered the room and took a seat while lost in thought.
'Obsidian Order'
While closing my eyes, I remembered the details about the very protectors of Human realm.
In the novel, after Chrono died battling in the valley, chaos ensued. It seemed as if everything had ended right there.
But little did anyone anticipate that the very protectors of the human realm, the Order, would be the ones to...
"Give me a reason to calm my anger, Zephyr Liander," A voice reverted in the room pulling me out from my thoughts. Before me stood an enchanting woman, her scarlet hair ablaze with vitality, and her eyes sparking like embers.
Her presence was a reminder that my timing for this visit was indeed impeccable.
.....
Maria's POV
"Are you kidding me? You're saying they are searching, and yet there have been three casualties?" I exclaimed, frustration and anger boiling within me. I turned my gaze towards the two men kneeling in front of me, the ones who had assured me they would not let those demons roam freely.
Yet, every month, my duchy suffered casualties, and the damage escalated. People were living in fear, and a sense of helplessness overwhelmed me.
Whenever I eliminated one demon, another would appear, trapped in an endless loop.
"The casualties occurred due to a retaliation victims did against their search," a shadow explained, attempting to justify the situation.
My mind snapped at the words.
Did they think it was acceptable to trespass someone's house in the middle of the night, doing nothing and allowing them to wreak havoc?
My anger surged to a breaking point. 'It's enough,' I was holding back my rage for the sake of the people behind the Order.
But not now. 'I can take down half of the shadows in this room, then deal with the rest after my mana refills until then I can just hold them with artifact, It will take another half an hour.'
*SWOOSH*
Eight men sprang into action, leaping out from their hiding places, their guards up and ready.
The air inside the room surged, causing the curtains to catch fire and the woman's fiery eyes to blaze even brighter. Her scarlet hair fluttered, and her entire body lifted a meter from the ground.
The eight men began circulating their mana to shield themselves from the intense heat, their expressions emotionless.
However, a subtle bead of sweat on one of the shadowy figures betrayed their inner fear. The stakes were high, and the tension in the room escalated.
The Obsidian Order was known for selecting individuals based on their strength, ensuring that their might remained a stronghold for the upcoming generations to protect the human realm at all costs.
However, one well-kept secret of the Order was the true extent of their members' strength. This mystery alone was enough to instill fear, but the ultimate fear for those who became shadows was not death—it was what happened after death.
Ronen Duchy stood defiant against the Order, driven by its own motives. The Order, for the most part, turned a blind eye, as long as it did not interfere with their grand plans.
However, if a realm war were to erupt and Ronen Duchy aligned with any of the realms, a massacre would be inevitable.
They had persuaded Ronen to provide an heir, emphasizing the importance of securing the future. However, any incident that severed their relations could lead to regret for the Order.
The delicate balance between power, strategy, and alliances kept everyone on the edge, knowing that any misstep could set off a chain reaction with devastating consequences.
As the leader of the shadows contemplated the situation, weighing the need to protect the duchy to pacify the raging Duchess, a heavy sigh escaped his lips.
" But Order need access to your trea..."
However, before he could finish his words, a sudden knock echoed through the room, followed by another.
*KNOCK* *KNOCK*
The butler had arrived to deliver urgent news—the esteemed Zephyr Liander had arrived at the doors of Ronen Duchy.
....
The young man cast a glance toward the woman, a faint smile gracing his lips, appreciating the well-brewed tea he had been served. "It's really well-brewed tea," he remarked, taking a composed sip, subtly steering the conversation away from its simmering tension.
The woman, catching the change in tone, furrowed her brows, not entirely understanding the deviation from the anticipated discussion. However, she managed to control her anger and gracefully took her seat. Delicately, her long eyelashes fluttered as she picked up the tea cup and sipped, offering a measured response, "It's indeed good."
The young man placed his tea cup on the table, his expression calm and collected. "Now, with your mind calm, you will be able to make a rational judgment," he stated, subtly guiding the conversation towards a more constructive direction.
The woman, taken aback by the young man's astute observation, slightly widened her eyes. It was a closely guarded secret known only to her—how she tended to lose her rationality when consumed by anger.
The massacre of the hundreds of her brother's lineage a few months ago had been a grim testament to that, leaving her with profound regret for not sparing any as a potential heir.
'How does he know?' she pondered, her gaze shifting towards the young man. She scrutinized his demeanor, attempting to discern any signs of deception or loopholes.
Yet, to her surprise, he appeared to be an open book, transparent in his performance at the academy and his behavior. However, a new thought flickered in her mind—'could there be something more about him beyond what met the eye?'
The woman took another calculated sip of her tea, concealing any openings that might reveal her thoughts. "Why have you come here?" she asked, maintaining her composed facade.
The boy ceased caressing the cup and gazed at the woman, a glint in his eyes lending him a cold and composed demeanor, a stark departure from his previous behavior.
"I can solve your problem with the Demon Elites, but in exchange, I need access to your treasure...thud"
Before he could finish his sentence, an emblem was thrown towards him, which he swiftly caught. It bore the inscription "Ronen" with a flame symbol embroidered in scarlet. He heard the woman's voice commanding, "Take whatever you want and solve my problem."
For a moment, the boy's eyes widened before relaxing, understanding the woman's helplessness in the face of her current circumstances.
"Lily is in Liander Duchy" He revealed before noticing confused gaze of Woman and a sudden realisation hit him "Oh, guess you don't know, those people are here to search for that girl who is also the Demon Queen's daughter, and she's currently with Duchess Kassidy,"
" WHAT !?! "
The woman stood, the anger that had momentarily subsided now surging once again.
The air danced with flames as she clenched her teeth, infuriated at the realization that all her suffering was tied to that particular individual, 'Damn, you bitch'
' No, calm down, Maria,' she told herself, making a conscious effort to regain her composure.
She looked at the man, seemingly lost in savoring his tea, and took a moment to quell her anger, attempting to resolve a doubt that had arisen in her mind.
"You are aware, aren't you, that if those demons find what they seek in Liander Duchy, they might go on a rampage? And isn't Kassidy your mother?" she inquired, carefully observing the boy's reaction.
He paused, setting down his tea, and looked at her, as though she had asked some stupid question, his face was blank and filled with confusion as he Looked towards her.
"Is she?"
Hearing his words, the flames that had surrounded her body abruptly vanished, replaced by confusion on her face.
'Isn't Kassidy his mother,'
'Aren't they on good terms?'
'What's with this reaction?'
Her mind was filled with confusions noticing boy's uncaring expressions, she can't help but rub her forehead , ' Why I get headache whenever dealing with him '.