Epilogue

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.