Volume 4, Chapter 26 – The Rupture

Like a teacher suddenly entering a noisy morning study hall, the clamorous grand hall fell instantly silent upon Fia’s arrival. In truth, it had already quieted down significantly while she was speaking with Greyan; the more perceptive nobles had been quietly observing their movements.

The moment she stepped through the door, Fia felt countless gazes fall upon her. An ordinary person would have certainly faltered, intimidated by the stares of the nobles and ministers, not daring to step further. However, Fia was not one to fear such gazes. As long as one imagined the nobles and ministers as no different from ordinary people—creatures with two eyes and one mouth—the psychological pressure vanished.

She entered the hall with the poise befitting an Eldest Princess, taking in her surroundings with a magnanimous air.

The hall was quite spacious. The nobles’ aides stood against the walls, while the nobles themselves were gathered in small groups in the center, speaking in low voices.

Among the crowd, two factions were particularly conspicuous. One was the group of old ministers and high nobles she had met yesterday; they were clustered around the Second Prince, offering her friendly smiles. The other group, standing not far from them and conversing quietly, was composed of faces Fia had never seen before. They were also sizing her up. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that this was Prince Schain’s faction.

In terms of numbers, Schain’s faction was about the same size as the one around the Second Prince. Schain had been born earlier than the Eldest Princess, and the advantage gained over time was hard to ignore.

But her priority was not to deal with Prince Schain.

Suppressing the urge to look around, Fia, as if she had been here many times before, walked straight towards the Second Prince, her slender legs wrapped in white fabric.

Of course, she didn’t forget to thank Erin Slate, who was following beside her.

“Thank you, Erin Slate.”

“Th-thank you…? Did I do something worthy of your thanks?”

“If it weren’t for you, Erin Slate, I would have certainly ended up arguing with Greyan just now.” Fia turned her head and offered a smile to the Captain of the Imperial Guard, who was as lovely as a demon maiden.

Although Fia had a hunch that Erin’s current behavior was all an act—judging from Renee’s description, the real Erin Slate should be a considerably clever and calculating woman—she couldn’t help but feel that Erin was very approachable. She was the type of mature woman who made a high first impression, someone you would subconsciously want to trust.

At least on the surface.

“…Captain Anastasia is quite charming, isn’t she? After only two months with Your Highness, she’s managed to wrap you around her little finger.”

Covering her mouth with one hand, Erin Slate let out a melodious laugh like silver bells.

Anastasia, following behind Fia, immediately blushed. She tried to defend herself, but then remembered Fia’s instruction not to speak casually in the hall. She could only stare at Erin with her expressive azure eyes, her gaze full of playful reproach.

Seeing this, Erin’s golden eyes widened slightly.

“Uh, did I hit the mark? Captain Anastasia used to ignore my jokes, but this time she actually reacted.”

“Mmph.”

Noticing that Anastasia’s movements had become stiff, Erin smiled, stopped her teasing, and stood firm, giving Fia a slight bow.

“Then I will not disturb you any longer, Your Highness. Behind the chapel is the audience chamber, which is the place for important discussions. Now that His Majesty has gone south, the council of nobles has been presided over by His Highness the Second Prince. This was originally your duty, but since you have lost your memory, it is best for him to continue for now. It will not be too late for you to take over after you have familiarized yourself with the procedures.”

Was this her, in her capacity as Captain of the Guard, briefing me on what to expect?

Before Fia could ask, Erin had already retreated to the wall, and Fia had finally joined the Second Prince, Kalsey. As Erin and the princess had a private relationship, Kalsey’s group was not curious about their conversation. They were more concerned about her exchange with Greyan.

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“Esteemed Sister, you’ve arrived.”

“Good morning, Your Highness.”

“Mhm.”

Nodding lightly in response to the nobles, including the Second Prince and the Prime Minister, Fia scanned the crowd with an expressionless face. Thanks to their meeting the previous afternoon, the nobles no longer looked at her with worry, but greeted her with relaxed expressions. Although Fia didn’t know how the former princess would have reacted in this situation, she could feel that the current atmosphere was just right for them.

“Esteemed Sister, what did you say to General Greyan just now?” Kalsey made a welcoming gesture, allowing Fia to walk into their circle while he fell back half a step, like a trusted aide.

“A trivial matter you could have probably guessed,” Fia said, pausing for a moment. “Kalsey, did you not relay what I told you yesterday to the others?”

“Well…” An awkward look appeared on Kalsey’s handsome face. He rubbed his nose and said sheepishly, “Your explanation was too unbelievable, esteemed Sister. I didn’t have the courage to tell General Greyan the original words.”

Following right after the prince, a portly middle-aged noble picked up the topic.

“His Highness the Second Prince is right. Your Highness, even I find your explanation hard to believe. I thought about it for a long time after returning last night. I don’t know much about magic, but I know that the Unsinkable Moon cannot make one stronger. If it truly had the effect of enhancing magical ability, the Holy Kingdom would have used it on their own Holy Knights long ago. Furthermore, we elves are naturally stronger than humans. How can we fabricate a lie about using a human artifact to strengthen ourselves? Your Highness, you must not tarnish your own reputation to cover for certain things.”

As he spoke, the portly noble didn’t forget to glance at Anastasia behind Fia. Although he didn’t understand how Fia had bypassed Greyan to bring her into the hall, he wasn’t blind enough to point it out directly.

It would be like this.

Fia couldn’t help but sigh internally. The explanation of using the Unsinkable Moon to increase her strength was indeed too absurd. If not for the note left by the princess, she would never have guessed such a possibility. She should be careful not to use this reason casually in the future.

Fia waved her hand lightly, indicating that the topic was closed. She had already studied up on the noble council the night before; all she lacked now was practical experience. She asked Kalsey.

“Is everyone here?”

“Everyone is here. They originally thought you would rest for a few days to familiarize yourself with the palace before coming to the hall. They didn’t expect you to be as decisive as ever. As soon as they heard you were attending the meeting today, the attendance rate was much higher than the past two days.”

Most of the extra people were here to gauge her condition, opportunists waiting to see which way the wind blew.

With this internal assessment, Fia, surrounded by the nobles, took a step forward and said coolly.

“Let’s enter the audience chamber. You will preside over the meeting.”

“Of course.”

◇

The so-called audience chamber looked more like a council room for the nobility. A large, exquisite, and antique conference table was placed in the magnificent room. About thirty-odd nobles were seated around it, while the remaining servants stood by the walls.

Fia, without hesitation, took the seat at the head of the table. After Kalsey, standing beside her, announced the start of the meeting, the gazes sizing her up gradually receded. Most of the nobles wore grave expressions, as if they were facing a difficult problem. Many of them were the southern nobles who belonged to her faction.

Fia knew the reason for their troubled looks. They were not worried about her memory loss, but about the recent earthquakes in the south of Silvar—the disaster’s impact was much greater than she had imagined.

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“First is the disaster in the south. A messenger from Count Yureidon’s fief reported this morning that the earthquakes are continuing. Although they are no longer creating abysses like the first one, the land within a hundred-kilometer radius is losing its mana essence at an extremely fast rate. As proof, the plants near the Abyss have lost their vitality in just a few days. The ley lines there have been completely destroyed, and the land is no longer suitable for habitation.”

Kalsey’s announcement was like dropping a bomb into a pond. The quiet meeting instantly erupted in noise.

“Not only are the ley lines on the southern border destroyed, but even Count Yureidon’s fief, which is closer to the kingdom’s heartland, has been affected! Why are these natural disasters happening to Silvar?”

“A hundred-kilometer radius of land… an earthquake before the autumn harvest. Count Yureidon is in trouble now.”

“More importantly, how are we going to deal with the undead’s winter offensive? With Count Yureidon’s fief hit by disaster, it will affect the southward movement of our soldiers. If we can’t hold back the winter offensive from the south, we will have to ease our attack on the Holy Kingdom.”

“The only option is to mobilize resources to support him, right? Besides food and clothes, each fief will have to send some magic-casters skilled in natural magic. Even if we can’t repair the ley lines, we can’t just leave the land there. Otherwise, it will turn into a desert in a few years, and it will be difficult to restore it then.”

After this noble spoke, the meeting fell silent. Mobilizing resources would inevitably lead to the question of allocation. The first person to speak would surely be assigned the largest share. Without special connections or a stable return, no noble was willing to expend a large amount of manpower and resources to help another.

And this was when the royal family had to step in.

Kalsey, his slender frame giving off a reliable impression, broke the silence.

“I will dispatch soldiers from around the capital to maintain order in Count Yureidon’s fief. The royal family will also provide all the food for his territory for the entire winter. However, during the time it takes to rebuild, the logistical pressure on the southern front will be unimaginable. The existing manpower will certainly not be enough.”

“The disaster in the south is even more severe than in Yureidon’s fief. The permanent fortifications built in the past may have already been damaged. The undead are not like intelligent humans. If they invade Silvar, it will be a disaster for the entire kingdom. I ask all of you to dispatch troops to the southern front to assist in building the winter defense line and transporting supplies.”

After Kalsey finished speaking, the nobles at the table nodded one after another. If it was only a matter of manpower and not resources, they could afford it. Besides, what Kalsey said was true. The undead left no living thing in their wake. If the southern front collapsed, it would be of no benefit to them.

The nobles’ nods made Kalsey’s expression relax. He placed his hands on the table and said with a smile.

“Then let’s discuss the details—”

“Wait.”

Before Kalsey could finish, Prince Schain, who had been silent on Fia’s left, suddenly raised his hand. With his somewhat harsh features, he was still in his white cloak and flared trousers, with a monocle hanging on his chest. His style of dress was out of place with all the other nobles present.

“Does Uncle Aldrich have a question?”

“No,” Prince Schain said, straightening his posture and speaking slowly. “I would like to add a point. I will share a portion of the burden of the food supply with the royal family. The north has not been harassed by monsters for decades. As a member of the royal family, I cannot just stand by and watch while the south is in trouble.”

“On behalf of Count Yureidon, I thank you.”

“A small matter.”

With that, Prince Schain put on his monocle. With just that single action, Fia felt herself become the object of his attention.

He was going to give her trouble.

Although she was already mentally prepared, when she truly realized it, Fia still couldn’t help but feel annoyed. She disliked this kind of roundabout, inefficient solution, but since he hadn’t left any openings, there was nothing she could do.

Prince Schain said with a worried look.

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“It’s just that the number of natural magic-casters needed to maintain the land’s nutrients is not small. If Dofilia could use her authority as one of the masters of the Three Main Towers to dispatch some of the Elf Tower’s magic-casters to help in Yureidon’s fief, it would surely alleviate a lot of the pressure.”

So that was his game.

She had not yet contacted the magic-casters of the Elf Towers, so of course she didn’t know how to dispatch them. He was deliberately using her past relationships to make things difficult for her. As for his earlier offer to provide food, that was probably just to set up this current predicament.

It was Kalsey who answered again, a wry smile on his handsome face.

“Esteemed Sister has just returned to the palace and needs to refamiliarize herself with many things. To immediately dispatch the magic-casters of the Elf Towers would inevitably lead to mistakes. Let’s discuss this matter later. Besides, I have another matter to report. The Seventeenth Royal Consort told me yesterday that her connection with the Holy Tree has reached the latter half. At this rate, it won’t be long before she can restore the Holy Tree Dance and re-establish communication with Lord Elf God. Then we can learn from him why the Abyss has appeared in Silvar.”

His words being brushed aside by his nephew, Prince Schain couldn’t help but click his tongue. However, the Holy Tree was indeed more important than anything else. When Kalsey finished speaking, all the nobles at the table were filled with joy at the prospect of being able to connect with the Elf God.

A week ago, earthquakes had begun to frequently appear in the southern lands. The first one, in particular, was rumored to have created a fissure that stretched for hundreds of kilometers along the southern border, splitting a small half of the continent in two and even alarming the Elf King enough to leave the capital. No one knew if similar earthquakes would spread to their own territories. To be able to receive a divine oracle like the humans would undoubtedly be a great relief. This was the best news they had received recently.

In the joyful atmosphere, the topic progressed at a rapid pace. The nobles quickly decided on their parts, and then it was a matter of hoping the Elf King could quickly investigate the situation in the south and return to the capital to preside over the court.

Finally, the topic fell on Fia.

Why had she lost her memory, and which part of it had she lost?

The person who asked this question was a male elf in military uniform. Fia knew without being told that these people were from the military. According to Yulisha, the reason they hadn’t punished Anastasia was, one, because of Liti’s pleading, and two, because they needed to determine the severity of the punishment based on Fia’s injuries. It was worth noting that this elf had the strength of a Fifth-Rank and was also Greyan’s eldest son.

“That is to say, Your Highness has only forgotten us, and your magical ability has not only not weakened but has actually become stronger?” As Fia explained, the middle-aged elf frowned. “How is that possible? There is no logic in becoming stronger after losing one’s memory.”

“That is the fact. You can confirm it with the Prime Minister or Kalsey. They both saw me use magic yesterday,” Fia said, spreading her hands.

“I can testify that esteemed Sister is not lying. To cast a Fourth-Rank spell without chanting—even Father can only do that with the blessing of the Holy Tree.”

“A non-chanted Fourth-Rank spell?”

The middle-aged man—Greyan’s eldest son—showed a look of surprise. And not just him, but even the nobles around Prince Schain were slightly moved. A Fourth-Rank spell itself was not particularly outstanding, but to be able to use it without chanting was enough to prove that Fia’s strength had reached a level unattainable by ordinary people.

Swallowing, the middle-aged man quickly frowned again.

“I cannot believe Your Highness’s words without confirming it with my own eyes. The former Her Highness was a woman of her word, but that does not mean the Her Highness who has lost her memory is still the same. Besides, it is a fact that you were injured. Anastasia bears the Sinner’s Mark. Not only is she ungrateful for your grace, but she was also negligent in her duties, putting you in peril. If not for the fact that the Holy Kingdom’s use of the Unsinkable Moon was an unforeseeable event, and that Anastasia made amends in time, she should have been hanged as an example.”

“In my opinion, Anastasia’s position as captain of the Second Squad of the Imperial Guard should be revoked, and she should be exiled, never to set foot in Silvar again.”

After the middle-aged man finished speaking, most of the nobles at the table nodded in agreement. Only a very small number remained silent. As for Prince Schain, Count Reinhardt, and the others, they were already stroking their beards and raising their eyebrows, their expressions incomparably cheerful.

This was exactly the scene he had wanted to see. The Eldest Princess had lost her memory, and Anastasia just happened to be by her side. It didn’t take a genius to know that the amnesiac princess would surely become exceptionally dependent on her.

And the military just happened to detest Anastasia, who had human blood flowing in her veins. If not for the former princess’s overwhelming power, they would have kicked out this “half-breed” long ago. Now that Anastasia herself had made a mistake, and the princess couldn’t remember the people around her, it was the perfect opportunity for the military to erase the “stain” on the royal family.

In this way, even if he didn’t add fuel to the fire, the princess would inevitably clash with the military. Then, no matter which side won, their relationship would deteriorate or even become hostile.

And that was indeed the case. At the entrance earlier, if Erin Slate hadn’t interfered, his dear niece would have already had a conflict with the founding marshal of the kingdom, Greyan.

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Everything was developing in a good direction.

But this was not enough.

Prince Schain began to give a look to Count Reinhardt, who was sitting below him. The count quickly understood. He stroked his beard and slowly began to deliver his prepared speech about Claire.

However, before he could open his mouth, Fia suddenly rose from her seat.

“So you must personally see me display strength greater than before for you to believe me?”

“Not just that, Your Highness. I am not deliberately making things difficult for you, but business is business. I understand that because Anastasia has been taking care of you during this time, you subconsciously want to protect her. But it is undeniable that your memory loss is her fault. She must be held responsible for it. This has nothing to do with whether you have become stronger than before. The rules cannot be broken. Besides, Anastasia is a base sinner. To cast aside the grace you showed her in the past is simply shameless!”

“You refuse to let Anastasia go, no matter what?”

Sensing the coldness in Fia’s voice, the eldest son of the Greyan family paused for a moment. For a fleeting instant, he seemed to see the cold, icy princess of the past again. But he quickly overcame his unease and said helplessly.

“It is not that we refuse to let her go, but that she herself is at fault. We must give an explanation to the public.”

“If it’s just an explanation to the public, then stripping her of her duties as captain of the Imperial Guard is enough. The matter of exile can be dropped.”

There was little patience left in Fia’s voice. Everyone could feel an immense pressure enveloping them, as if the person standing before them was not the amnesiac elf princess, but the enraged Elf King Yelido.

On the surface, these people were accusing Anastasia of failing to protect her, but in reality, they were using it as an excuse to drive her away. Just like in the carriage, when Clark had taken out his anger on her for his Father’s shameless deeds, they were taking out their anger on Anastasia for the stain Veronica had left on the elf race.

Fia welcomed discussion on the matter at hand, but if other things were mixed in, especially the outrageous reason that “Anastasia is a half-breed,” she would not be polite.

“That… that punishment is too light.”

“Too light? I was the one being guarded. Are you more qualified than me to talk about the severity of the punishment?”

“Your Highness, what is that tone? Anastasia belongs to the military. The punishment she receives should be decided by us. Besides, even His Majesty would not speak to us in such a defiant tone. Please watch yourself. You, as a member of the royal family, should know better than anyone what a laughingstock Anastasia and Clark made of the elf race.”

“Hah—”

Fia let out a long breath. At this point, there was nothing more to say. Long before arriving in Silvar, she had planned to resolve the conflicts left by the princess with lightning speed, and then focus her energy on communicating with the Elf God to solve Claire’s curse. Now she had given these nobles plenty of face, yet they still harped on about Anastasia’s origins. It was disappointing. She had thought too highly of them.

“Sister.”

As if sensing what Fia was about to do, Kalsey quickly stepped between her and the middle-aged man from the military. But Fia simply used [Telekinesis] to easily block him. Then, Laevateinn at her waist shot out in an instant. All the nobles saw was a flash of silver light, and the sword was already deeply embedded in the tabletop in front of the man. No one doubted that if Fia had wanted to, the middle-aged man would now be a corpse.

“I gave you plenty of face, but you didn’t cherish it. Don’t overestimate yourself, eldest son of Greyan. I am not discussing this with you. Besides, we have never had much interaction.”

Without another word, Fia raised her chin slightly and swept her gaze across the conference table. Then, with a thought, she recalled Laevateinn and walked straight out of the grand hall.

“Let’s go, Anastasia.”