The story is long forgotten, there once lived a nation renowned in the world. All bowed to them, the canaries, the white-horned deer, the evergreens, and the mermen that filled the shores of the plains. All life is subject to them. Glorious they were, able to conquer heaven and earth. But one day this nation disappeared without a trace, leaving the plains leaderless.
No one knew where they had gone, there was only one trace they left behind, the ancient prophecy of the princess and the darkness. 'When the queen gives birth to a blind princess, the world will be on the verge of destruction and darkness will return.' There must be a reason why they left this prophecy to the next life in the world of Thyr'das.
On the other side of the world when the ancient nation was far forgotten. A flag depicting a red rose fluttered proudly atop a perfectly conical little dome. The flag of the Rosewell family, one of the great Families of the Empire. The rulers of the western plains, in the most beautiful of palaces, the High Garden palace.
That night the evening breeze blew hard, banging on the palace windows. On the terrace, Charlotte stood in the moonlight. Her face greeted the moonlight back. The night was cold and silent.
"How nice of you to be alone, princess."
"You again, what are you up to this time?" snapped Charlotte irritably.
"Just as usual princess, comforting you in times of sorrow."
"I often hear you say that, but it just so happens that every time you show up you say the opposite."
"Are you tired, princess?"
Charlotte let out a long sigh, "As you say. It's very hard for me, I have to pretend."
"Anyway, it's amazing that you've made it this far."
"You're so nice to say, isn't there anything else that can cheer me up? Wasn't that supposed to be your job earlier?"
"Do I need to comfort you by recounting to you a passage from the Book of the Dead? A person like you-"
"As usual, your words are very complicated to understand,"
It was no longer unusual for the man's complicated words, that was how he was from the start. Complicated and unpredictable, coming at the most unexpected times and leaving when needed. Sometimes he came to comfort Charlotte who was alone and other times he was just like before, getting on Charlotte's nerves.
The festive sounds of the party slowly drifted onto the palace terrace. Now the music of the royal musicians took over as the evening breeze stopped knocking on the palace windows.
Charlotte paused for a moment, her head covering that was used to hide her face was blown away by the night wind. From the gap in her head covering that was blown away by the wind, Charlotte's beautiful face was glimpsed.
"Hey Eru, you said you would do anything for me." Charlotte removed her hood, "Can I ask you something?"
"As you wish," the man replied briefly. "Anything I can do for you."
"Then is it true that you can give me visions?"
The music of the party grew louder and louder. The melodious humming of the harp that echoed softly became the main star of the evening. while outside, the night wind picked up again, whipping Charlotte's red hair. A hush fell over the terrace afterwards.
"You can, princess, but there's a price to pay."
"I can give you anything you want."
"You are so naive, the price for your new eyes-"
"So can you or can't you?" Charlotte folded her arms on the porch railing. Her sea-blue eyes looked blankly at the sky studded with twinkling starlight. "So.anything about the Book of the Dead and other words from your mouth is just plain lie."
"Close your eyes, princess, and lift your face to the night sky."
"Very well," Charlotte snapped irritably. Nevertheless, Charlotte still followed Eru's words, closed her eyes and turned her face to the sky. "Like this?"
"Right."
"Then, what should I do next?" Charlotte asked the man again.
The evening breeze was cool on the beautiful face of the High Garden princess. The princess's hair fluttered in the night breeze.
Silence filled the room for a moment. The man said, "Now, open your eyes and see the beauty of the world with your own eyes." As always, the man's voice remained heartlessly flat.
"Hey Eru,"
There was no reply, only the swish of the wind.
"Eru?"
Still no reply.
"Eru?"
Again, there was no reply.
Charlotte sighed, her thoughts feeling jumbled. Her breathing quickened, and her hands trembled a little hesitantly.
Although it sounded nice to be able to see the beauty of the world for herself, witnessing how beautiful the Rosewell family's Eternal Tulips were, the lush green plains of the western continent, and the cute Fey flying with flickering wings, but for Charlotte all this somehow felt a little scary.
Was the world really as beautiful as she had heard in fairy tales, what about the cruel and ruthless Children of Hera or the Dark Sons and Daughters of the Goddess Avya, or even the dark magus in the depths of the forest.
All that aside, Charlotte's curiosity conquered all doubts. Her heart was racing, her palms were sweating coldly, and the shadows of the red moon were beginning to show their light little by little.
Charlotte opened her eyes wide, to her surprise. The beautiful landscape around High Garden greeted her, the dim lights of the residential neighborhoods in the foothill town, not to forget the bells of the church tower, also a little towards the top of the town was the magnificent and beautiful palace of High Garden itself, and all this under a dark sky filled with twinkling stars.
Charlotte was finally able to see the world with her own eyes. Although everything was not perfect, but at least it was still beautiful to look at. That's right, her vision wasn't perfect. All the beautiful scenery was still black and red. Charlotte's eyes were not yet able to accept the light of other colors. But for Charlotte this was all wonderful.
Raising her hands to the ceiling, Charlotte said while enjoying the night breeze.
"You were right Eru! You were right all along, I'm sorry I doubted you!"
"I'm disappointed in you."
The stern and authoritative voice startled Charlotte, as if there was lightning coursing through the princess's body. Charlotte looked silently at the man before her.
"Charlotte."
Charlotte
Charlotte
"Charlotte," Lady Cathrine said, waking Charlotte who had fallen asleep on her lap. That dream again.
Charlotte opened her eyes wide, trying to rise from sleep. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the world outside the window. The blue sky that greeted her in the distance, and the city of Rattay that had visibly shrunk.
"Where are we going?" asked Charlotte, breaking the silence.
"The easternmost place in the empire." Lady Cathrine smiled at Charlotte as she gently stroked her head. "They say there are lots of cute Fey waiting there," Lady Cathrine continued.
Charlotte did not respond. Her gaze continued to wander outside, the vanished city of Rattay replaced by the river and the grass.
"Charlotte, are your eyes okay?"
"It still stings a little," Charlotte rubbed her eyes. her gaze returned to staring at the sky through the window.
"All will be well, father rest in peace there," Lady Cathrine hugged Charlotte warmly with her left hand. "It's not your fault, God must have had a purpose in giving you sight, it's a miracle that never happened before," Lady Cathrine continued.
It was all Charlotte could do, accepting Lady Cathrine's warm embrace and staring blankly at the wagon floor. Meanwhile, the scenery outside was changing.
The atmosphere in the carriage returned to silence. In the sky, the sound of birds flying could be heard faintly filling in. The rattling of the wheels could be heard coming to a halt. The carriage swayed for a moment, then instantly stopped. A maid opened the carriage door wide, sunlight shining through.
"Lady Cathrine." Leclerc appeared from behind the door. "Here we are," he continued.
Lady Cathrine woke Roebart who was asleep on her lap on the right side. Charlotte went down first, Lady Cathrine and Roebart following behind.
It was the first time again for Charlotte to set foot on the ground after a long journey from Narva city. The ground was lush with weeds and flowers in bloom. Not far away, the sight of a towering palisade wall was visible as far as the eye could see. It protected the village of Riverrun, where the Rosewall Family lived after the High Garden fell. This was the easternmost life in the Empire.
"Long time no see, Lady Cathrine," greeted the old-fashioned man with three legs thanks to his wooden staff.
"Lord Hugh."
"It's a bit of a surprise to hear from the capital," the old man's face broke into a wide grin. "My heart felt like it was going to burst when I heard the news."
Lady Cathrine shook her head, "Inevitably, we are the losing side." Lady Cathrine's voice was weak.
"Take it easy, your family always wins before my eyes, the Namin faction is meaningless to you," Old Man Hugh said politely. Old Man Hugh's eyes drifted to Charlotte for a moment. Feeling bad, Charlotte hid behind Lady Cathrine.
"It is not good to make someone who is tired from a long journey continue to stand in the hot sun," Old Man Hugh turned his body around, he then walked with the help of his cane. "Come to my house, a cup or two of hot tea will do. There's a lot we can talk about inside," Old Man Hugh invited.
Old Man Hugh's house resembles many other merchants' houses. An array of merchandise is displayed in the front room. A white deer head trophy welcomes guests. However, the back room has a different feel, luxurious and elegant. Tiled floors and alabaster walls.
Old Man Hugh sat on a chair, placing his cane on the side. "Please, think of it as the High Garden palace."
"Thank you very much Mr. Hugh." Lady Cathrine sat on the settee, Charlotte sat beside her. "Thank you very much again, Mr. Hugh," Lady Cathrine continued.
"No, no, I owe your family a great deal anyway."
"Mother..." said Charlotte softly.
"Ah, sorry, this old man is Mr. Hugh, a friend of my father's, a traveling merchant and a true adventurer. He and father were heroes who saved the land in the north." Lady Cathrine explained.
Old Man Hugh laughed at Lady Cathrine's explanation. "You could be Lady Cathrine, after all I'm no match for..." Old Man Hugh's laughter stopped as Lord Jeremiah was already gone. "Sorry," said Old Man Hugh while staring at the wooden floor.
It was at this moment of silence that a servant entered the room. A cup of tea was poured by him, the fragrant aroma of the tea spread throughout the room.
"So she's the rumored princess?" asked Old Man Hugh. His gaze returned to Charlotte, "What's your name?" asked Old Man Hugh as he gave her a wide smile.
Charlotte hugged Lady Cathrine's hand tightly, "Charlotte," Charlotte replied quietly.
"What a lovely name," said Old Man Hugh as he took a sip from his cup of tea. "May the old man have a word with your mother?"
Charlotte looked up into her mother's face, the ruby red eyes slowly dying out. Lady Cathrine returned it with a smile, she stroked Charlotte's head.
"Charlotte," Lady Cathrine said softly.
"Yes mother," Charlotte replied briefly
The soft voice seemed to hypnotize Charlotte. Perhaps it was also because Charlotte herself understood that the content of their conversation must be about the incident on Red Moon Night. This was enough to make Charlotte want to go out alone.
As Charlotte left the room, she opened the door to the living room. Leclerc was already standing looking up at the sky through the window, the view of the split sky in the eastern forest clearly visible behind the window.
"Princess." Leclerc was surprised to see Charlotte suddenly appear.
"Leclerc, where is my brother Roebart?" asked Charlotte, her gaze searching.
"Prince Roebart is fast asleep in the guest room," explained Leclerc politely. He then added, "What's wrong princess?"
Charlotte shook her head, "Nothing, I just wanted to get some fresh air."
"Shall I accompany you princess?"
"I want to be alone," Charlotte replied. Then she opened the front door and went out.
"Take care, princess, and never go east of the Rhinè river."
There was no reply from Charlotte, she just nodded in understanding. The front door squeaked open, Charlotte walked through the door window. Her figure was lost behind the tightly closed front door.
There was an ancient prophecy left by the ancients, the prophecy said "When the queen gives birth to a blind princess, the world will be on the verge of destruction and darkness will return". That's right, the princess is Charlotte, the first child of the Rosewell family. She was the child of the ancient prophecy and a cursed princess. Her wish has finally come true, to be able to see the world with her own eyes.
On the Night of the Red Moon, Princess Charlotte had a vision, in the year 1211. How happy the red princess was when she got the vision. However, as the man said, everything has a price and the price is no joke. It was exactly on that night that the most shocking event happened in the Empire.
The people of the empire called it the Night of the Red Moon, a night in which seven of the thirteen great founding families of the empire died, including His Majesty the Emperor. News of this incident spread across the land, spreading like an epidemic of fear, putting the entire empire in an unprecedented crisis. A civil war erupted in the Empire, leaving the Rosewell family and its followers devastated.
But all is not over yet, remember the ancient prophecy, 'When the Queen gives birth to a blind princess, the world will be on the verge of destruction and darkness will return', what happened on the Night of the Red Moon was just the beginning of the world's destruction. It was just the first drumbeat of the beginning of the world's destruction.
"Eru, Book of Death, Red Moon Night," Charlotte muttered to herself as she silently looked at the split sky in the east, a rippling darkness. That horrible feeling was similar to the one Charlotte felt during the Night of the Red Moon.
I must find that man, the one who gave me the vision and restore what he took away.
Charlotte said to herself. However, there is something that Charlotte must know first. That the world is not as beautiful as it is in fairy tales.
Someone called out to Charlotte from a distance, and then threw a tomato at her.
"Want a tomato?" the boy asked.
"Thank you," said Charlotte.
"Weird," the boy replied.
Little did Charlotte know at the time what this meant. 'Witch', that's exactly what the boy was trying to tell Charlotte.