Chapter 21

The entire Imperial Palace was unaware that Nash had already entered and was already in her room.

Nash awoke at a time when it was already lunchtime. She bathed by herself and wore an easy-to-wear off-the-shoulder dress. She made no effort to style her hair.

She's been sitting in front of her vanity table for a few minutes, contemplating her mistakes.

'Is it because of our first mission? I don't think so...'

'Could it be that father already knows my intentions?'

Nash rose to his feet and faced the door.

Before opening her door, she took a deep breath to calm herself. She was surprised to see Dopey when she opened the door. Dopey has developed into a full grown wolf dog. He has such a large build that when he stands up on two legs, he is about the same height as Nash.

"What a big boy!" She stroked Dopey's head. "Let's play later; for the time being, I'll have to question father."

Nash walked with a straight face, while Dopey trailed behind her, wagging its tail.

The maids who ran into her were taken aback when they saw Nash. They wished her a pleasant afternoon, and Nash responded.

The moment she arrived at the dining hall coincided with the time Vernon exited the hall. He was surprised to see the Princess because no one had informed him that Nash had arrived.

"Princess..." he spouted.

Nash grinned and nodded before walking through the open door. "Imperial Princess Nashtassia will make her entrance.

Nash almost laughed but stopped herself when everyone looked at her in unison. "ehem."

'That was close.'

She sat peacefully next to her sister Celeste, not saying a single word. A maid placed a plate and utensils in front of her.

"How long have you been here?" Celeste asked.

"Before the sun comes up," she replied, without looking at her sister.

"How?" Celeste's tone is irritated as a result of Nash's rudeness.

"Didn't I say in my letter that I was with Katherine and the Duke? Katherine has the power to teleport, in case you forgot." She suddenly began eating, she claimed.

"What's the matter with you?" Celeste asked, annoyed. Nash shrugged as he looked at her blankly.

"I apologize for being disrespectful," she said, then bowed down, something she had never done before when they were around their family.

The other family members ate their lunch without saying anything. Nash instructed the servants to remove their meals once they were finished.

"Thank you," she said after the maid complied. "Now, please tell me why you want me to quit being a knight, father. I simply requested a two-day leave, so I need an answer right away."

"You will not be returning to your squad. It's fine to leave the squad because you've only been a member for a month." Roven stated.

"But, father, we've previously discussed this. I didn't train for nearly 5 months just for you to take me back after a month of service."

"Because I didn't know what would happen in the future. Now, problems are propagating throughout the countries."

"What is it? And why am I involved?" Nash acted since she was aware that it was about the creatures featured in the exclusive newspapers.

"There are issues with the creatures lurking along the border places, particularly the abandoned place in the Southwest Kingdom."

'The kingdom of Elisora? I thought the beasts were imprisoned in Serichia Kingdom's Forest of Asra?'

"What does that have to do with me?" Nash inquired, still in character. "Kingdom of Elisora... that must have been where the knights were going before."

"There was one victim who was residing in Siam town, and his right arm had to be amputated owing to the infection caused by the creature's bite," Roven stated.

"I'm not sure where you're getting at,"

"The victim also stated that the creature took all of his mana. His magic ability is Dark Illusion. The leader of the Knight unit believes the creature is a Wendigo."

'Wendigo?'

A wendigo is a monstrous creature that stands like a human but has deer-like feet and thin boned arms with huge fingers and claws. It has a skin that is tightly wrapped around its bones, and the bones are visible against the skin. It also has deer horns and, on occasion, it has a deer's face or a boned face. It has an infectious bite and can kill and consume its victims. According to legend, greedy humans were transformed into wendigos.

"They prefer Dark Magic users," Nash stated.

"Yes. That's why I'd like you to just stay here and do anything you want as long as it's indoors. The creatures may not be here right now, but who knows what might happen in the near future?" Nash shook her head in disapproval. "You will remain here and do as I say."

"I'm sorry, but I'm not an obedient child. I could fight them." she said without hesitation. She crossed her arms and looked at her father.

"Are you insane?! Don't you realize how many wendigoes are out there? And don't you realize how swift they are and how frightening they appear?" Celeste remarked this with a disgusted expression on her face as she imagined the Wendigo.

"I'm strong, and I always have my friends by my side. Some days, I saw red eyes and a frightening smile behind the trees. When I tried to figure out what it was, it suddenly vanished," she said unconsciously.

'Oh shit.'

"Father..." Vincenzo whispered.

"I guess it's not just a wendigo," Roven muttered.

"Prince Lawrence will enter,"

Prince Lawrence rushed to Roven and reported. "There was a missing young lady, and the body of an elderly man was discovered near the river in Siam Town."

"And?"

"According to the father, her daughter has been missing for two weeks. He last saw her two weeks ago at the night market."

"What day was it, uncle?" Nash asked.

The night market is open from Friday to Sunday, which is why she inquired about the date the girl went missing. She wants to know if it was when they were at the night market that she heard the scream.

"Friday, late night."

"I'm not sure if this was related, but my squad and I also went to the night market that Friday. While I was busy buying things I heard a shrill voice."

"Where did you hear it?"

"On the outskirts of Greytown, near the last stall of the night market."

"Do you think it is related to the creature that injured the victim in Siamtown?"

Roven shook his head.

"This brat claimed to have seen a pair of red lights that resembled a pair of eyes and a frightening smile hidden behind the trees. I believe it was a Kapre."

Kapre has a habit of capturing beautiful ladies and adding them to their collection.

"Since when?"

"That day, too," she said, intertwining her fingers, "there is a gigantic tree on the outskirts of Greytown, if it really is a Kapre, it will only stay in big places as they are big themselves."

There are different sizes of creatures depending on their type; there are normal creatures and king creatures. King types are those almost as big as a castle.

"I see. Thank you for providing this information, Nash. Brother, I'll return after I've resolved this matter."

"Better reserve some missions for Squad 15, uncle!" Nash shouted before Lawrence left.

'We need money too!'

The reports from the clients were all looked at first by Lawrence and passed it to Vincenzo, who assigned which squad would take the mission. Though there were times wherein the clients were the one to pick the squad to do their request.