Then they headed straight for the Land of the Lost.

The Land of the Lost is no place for the living.

Still, saying it out loud made it feel all the more chaotic.

Jade didn’t mind, merely blaming his poor health, "I’m the one holding you all back."

Sixth Hoffman didn’t care, "We’re brothers. There’s no talk of dragging each other down when you did it for the boss too."

He was anxious, but he wouldn’t blame Jade for something like this.

Jade hung his head, clutching the handkerchief in his hand.

The sun, still blinding, hung on the horizon, its rays a deep shade of orange-yellow, imbued with a rustling sense of desolation and fragmentation.

As if in late autumn, the noisy world could not keep the last sliver of light from fading.

Silent amidst the glow, Jade was drenched in sweat, his entire being looking both exquisite and fragile,

Ill-suited for the desolate surroundings.

Sixth Hoffman whistled for Nicholas, ordering it to scout ahead.

Nicholas could understand simple commands.

All taught by Hannah.

Hannah said, Nicholas was quite like a person.

Nicholas added, very much so, most like Sixth Hoffman.

Thus the name Nicholas was born, and its care was entrusted to Sixth Hoffman.

Nicholas recognized Jade, perching briefly on a withered tree before flapping its wings and flying away.

The wind from its wings stirred the fine yellow sand on the ground.

Jade couldn’t help it and began coughing again.

Sixth Hoffman hurriedly offered him water.

Jade waved him off, "I’m fine."

Sixth Hoffman withdrew his hand, "That Nicholas, not even avoiding people when taking off."

For some reason, Nicholas’s attitude towards Jade was a bit strange.

Not close, but sometimes it would stare at him intently.

Every so often, it would deliberately kick up a wingful of dust at Jade.

It was a bit like an animal vying for affection.

Nicholas had even teased that perhaps Nicholas knew it was found by Hannah just like Jade, and was jealous because Hannah treated Jade better.

Sixth Hoffman didn’t believe Nicholas got jealous, since Nicholas only ate meat.

...

The royal palace.

Decked with jewels and gold, the courtiers stood divided on either side, the left for the literary and the right for the military.

In the past, Sheffield Benedict and Wayne Lane stood at the forefront of each side.

But now, Sheffield was at the border, and Wayne stood at the palace’s center.

Above the nine steps, the king and queen were seated in the middle, with the eldest princess sitting alone to the left.

Emma, though a princess, seldom appeared in the palace. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Today was an exception.

The whisper was the king wanted her to familiarize herself with royal affairs ahead of time.

In the palace, after brief discussions, the king brought down the gavel, ordering Wayne to the border immediately, with orders to execute Hannah on sight, no questions asked.

Another order of execution without trial.

Emma, who was standing aside, seemed pleased, and though she tried to put on a dignified and graceful front, the delight in her eyes didn’t lie.

This command had come from her repeated incitements.

She thought she had won.

So she was happy.

Wayne’s face showed no change as he accepted the command.

Upon leaving the palace, Emma caught up to him.

She was still wearing the dress from the palace.

Opulent, exquisite, adorned with various jewels that lightly collided as she ran, refracting a faint layer of light.

"Brother Wayne!"

She ran towards him, followed by two maids who carefully straightened her dress behind her.

Off in the distance, the freshly exited nobles watched on.