A dark horse galloped through the strangely empty streets of the capital.

The mood within the capital was heavy and stifling because of the ongoing war, which the people knew nothing about.

To them, it didn’t matter which side won, as they had already lost all of their trust in the crown and the duke. They just wanted all of this to end as quickly as possible.

A few minutes later, the horse halted at its destination — the grand palace of the Leonara Kingdom.

Seeing Eldon, the guards at the gate walked over to him and asked in a worried tone, "Lord Eldon, how are you back already? Don’t tell me things have already started to go bad for us?"

The other guard mirrored his companion’s expression, and sensing their worry, Eldon shook his head. "There’s nothing to worry about."

A smile creased his face. "Instead, things are going way better than what we had expected... I have just come to deliver a message to the king."

The two guards smiled and stammered, "T-Thank you for easing our worries."

They lowered their heads in a bow and added, "And we apologize for our rude behaviour. You may pass, Commander Eldon."

"Stay safe," Eldon responded as he jumped off his ride and whistled to let it know that he would return soon.

The horse bobbed its head as if agreeing with him.

Eldon walked past the outer gates and the inner gates, then he set foot into the outer palace and strode towards the inner palace, which included the king’s chamber.

After climbing the sumptuous wooden stairs, Eldon stopped before an opulent wooden door with gold filigree at its frame and center.

He knocked at the door and announced in a respectful voice, "Your Majesty, it’s me, Eldon."

The door opened after a few seconds of silence.

An old, frail woman in an attire suited for royal maids looked at Eldon and said, "Lord Eldon, His Majesty does not wish to meet you."

Eldon frowned and insisted, "Headmaid Kiyara, the report that I have brought is of great importance, and we need His Majesty’s assistance."

Kiyara stared at Eldon with an unimpressed face and muttered, "The significance of the matter does not revise His Majesty’s refusal."

Hearing her, Eldon’s face turned to a balloon deprived of air, and after pondering for a few moments, he took a deep breath and stated. "I have a report related to Princess Laerain."

At his words, Kiyara mumbled after a minute of silence, "What?"

Eldon nodded. "Now you understand why I need to meet His Majesty."

A complicated look appeared on Kiyara’s face, and she mumbled, "I... I still cannot let you pass, Lord Eldon."

Eldon’s expression hardened. He nodded reluctantly and turned around to leave.

"Eldon..." a meek voice called out to him, and Eldon immediately turned his head toward it. "Your Majesty!"

Kiyara turned her head to the right, then she nodded and stepped away from the door. "You can come in, Lord Eldon."

Without ceremony, Eldon stepped into the king’s chamber and looked at the man who ruled over the greatest kingdom of the southern continent — Andarus Leonara.

Andarus lay in his lavish bed, his face was pale, and his eyes were barely open. He looked far from what a king should be, as his figure was no different from a corpse.

As his mother and sister, the king had blonde hair trimmed short because of his ailing state, and his eyes were similar to his father’s.

"Your Majesty!" he called out anxiously and walked closer to the king.

Andarus took a deep, shaky breath as he forced himself to sit.

"You should not stand, Your Majesty," Kiyara stated worriedly.

He glanced at Kiyara and pulled his withered lips into a smile as he whispered hoarsely, "Can you stop worrying for a moment?"

Kiyara fell silent.

Andarus turned his head to Eldon and asked, "Have you come to stand, Commander?"

"S-Sorry, Your Majesty," Eldon stuttered and clenched his fist.

Seeing the same person who had once knighted and promoted him, Eldon felt a knife twist in his gut. Most commanders didn’t know why the king had fallen to such a state, but he did.

The king had two princes and a princess, all of whom were ruthlessly killed by the duke Clifford’s schemes.

Even then, his majesty didn’t fall to this state, but due to the deaths of her children, the queen went mad, and a month later, before the king’s very eyes, she slit her throat and went to Celestia.

The impact made the king incapable of resisting the duke’s coup, and during that, he was severely injured, causing his current state.

"How long are you going to stay silent, Commander? Even though I am a patient person. My body no longer allows me to wait," Andarus spoke gutturally.

Eldon hardened his heart and began to explain.

A few minutes later, the king asked with slight amusement in his eyes, "So this extremely powerful person is saying that he is the son of my dead sister?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Eldon nodded.

Speechless, Andarus heaved a shaky sigh and mumbled heavily, "Why cannot this world leave the dead from their schemes...?"

He let out a hollow chuckle. "So where did this nephew of mine appear from?"

"Ah! I forgot to tell you!" Eldon scratched his cheek and answered, "He said he is from the cursed mountains—"

A loud metallic clang cut him off.

Eldon turned his gaze towards Kiyara, whose eyes were wide beyond belief.

"Hmm? What’s wrong?" he mumbled and looked at Andarus, whose face had turned grim.

"D-Did I say something I should not have?" Eldon asked uneasily.

The king shook his head and glanced at Kiyara.

Kiyara picked up the metal plate and glass with trembling hands and answered in an unexpectedly merry tone, "I had gone to the red and black mountains with the princess... I also met the people who live there and the man who had stolen the princess’s heart... Haden."