Chapter 34

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 34

Chapter Title: Star Festival and the Ashen Wolf (6)

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Kain sat on the edge of the city wall, brushing back his disheveled black hair as he gazed down below.

The north wind blowing at this time of year was quite fierce, but it couldn't cool the festive heat spreading through the capital. Even at this late hour, the streets were bright, and occasionally, laughter like "Wahaha!" rode on the wind.

'Everyone's really excited.'

An entire forest that many people had called home had vanished completely. For the next few years, not a single blade of grass would grow there.

'It might not seem like a big deal now, but once the displaced people start flooding in, all sorts of problems will crop up. We'll need to bolster security.'

It wasn't the first time people who had lost their villages to magical beasts had fled to the capital.

When refugees without homes arrived, the initial scene was quite heartwarming. The capital's longtime residents treated the homeless kindly, patting their shoulders in comfort, providing all sorts of aid, helping them find jobs, and supporting them both materially and emotionally.

But as time dragged on, conflicts and discrimination arose between locals and outsiders, sometimes escalating to fists flying against the locals' bullying.

His left eye throbbed, so Kain placed his hand over the black eyepatch covering it.

Even though it had been a long time since he'd lost his left eye to a magical beast, whenever headaches from tough situations hit, pain flared there. Kirshan called it a "phantom pain" created by the mind. Adrian had added that it stemmed from a "weak spirit."

Kain pressed firmly on the spot where his left eye once was and turned his gaze toward the Lily Palace.

It was quite late, so the palace was dark, and no suspicious shadows moved nearby.

'I hope she's sleeping well.'

When Kain had lost his left eye, he'd been plagued by nightmares for months. Nightmares where he killed magical beasts over and over, only for them to revive and gouge out his left eyeball.

'I went through that over just one eye...'

Roxiana had lost her entire family.

'That princess would probably give up her eyes, her arms, anything if it meant saving her family.'

She must have been enduring pain incomparable to losing one eye. That was why she looked so fragile, on the verge of shattering or fading away.

His twin brother Adrian disapproved of Roxiana, who might bring turmoil to Torkan. Adrian cherished Torkan and Floyd more than anyone, so the potential for conflict with Gania must have unsettled him.

Kain cared for this Torkan too, but being someone who grew softer toward the small and weak, he couldn't shake his pity for the princess in the Lily Palace.

At the sound from the air above, he looked up to see a crow flying through the dark night sky. When Kain extended his arm, the crow shot down like an arrow and landed on his forearm.

Kain tapped the crow's head lightly with his index finger, then untied the letter bound to its leg and read it. Deep wrinkles formed between his brows as he scanned the note.

The sheer cliff face met the sea. The wind blowing in from the ocean was fierce, cold, and salty.

With the moon especially bright that night, the sea gleamed blue. Grayish clouds stretched along the horizon at the water's edge.

Floyd and Kirshan sat on the cliff's edge, drinking beer. Their only snack was a single dried fish. Chewing the salty, tough bite, Floyd pondered how to handle the problems ahead.

The wind gusting intermittently tousled his hair into a mess, but he was too deep in thought to even notice the strands stinging his eyes.

Then, striding through the darkness came Kain, who snatched the wooden cup from Kirshan's hand and gulped down the beer.

"Kain, can't you see the spare cups on top of that beer keg?"

Kain grinned at Kirshan's remark.

"Too much hassle."

He tossed the empty cup back to Kirshan and plopped down beside Floyd.

"My lord. We got a report from the guy we sent to Kanta."

"What'd he say?"

"It's true that a new rift opened on the outskirts of Kanta, and magical beasts are starting to rampage."

Because a rift had appeared in Kanta Kingdom, causing massive damage, King Victien IV of Kanta had personally asked Gania Kingdom for aid. Lucas Pellur, the crown prince soon to marry Kanta's princess, led troops himself to subjugate the beasts.

Lucas fought for Kanta even when facing death, subjugating the magical beasts, but instead of praising his merit, Victien IV tried to steal the credit. This sparked a dispute, forcing Lucas to swallow his bitter tears and eliminate the Franche royal family, who were to become his in-laws.

This was the story widely known about Kanta Kingdom's downfall.

But Floyd just couldn't buy it.

Victien IV trying to steal the credit? The kind king who had taken him in without asking for anything in return, ignoring the help he'd received?

"But from what he saw of the surrounding damage and situation, it looks like the rift hasn't been there for even two months."

"Lucas fought those beasts in Kanta over half a year ago, and now another rift in the meantime?"

"No. He scouted around, and there's only one rift."

"Yeah, just as I thought."

In truth, until he'd found Roxiana in that box, Floyd had no interest in Kanta's downfall. He'd stayed there once, but it wasn't like he'd received major help, and focusing on the present had faded his childhood memories.

Only after reuniting with Roxiana did he revisit the events between Kanta and Gania, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

"Gania claimed the rift caused massive damage in Kanta. But it was suspicious that Lucas's forces alone handled the beasts."

Kirshan, who had been quiet until now, nodded.

"Right. If the Grand Temple had sent holy knights, they'd have made a big announcement, but nothing like that. Looks like they faked the rift."

Rifts were hard to spot with the naked eye, so faking one wasn't difficult. Inflict repeated damage in the same area that looked like magical beasts' work, and people would avoid the place, whispering that a rift must have opened for sure.

Unless the Grand Temple formally dispatched holy knights to investigate, tricks like this stayed hidden.

Sometimes lords used this method to drive out settlers and seize the land.

"Even if they faked the rift, I doubt they faked the beasts themselves... Victien IV wasn't a fool of a king. He'd have gotten reports on the beasts, sent people to investigate thoroughly, confirmed they were real, and requested aid from the Grand Temple."

"And before they could send anyone, Lucas conveniently stepped in."

"Exactly, Shan. What do you think this means?"

"If the beasts were real, it means someone who can control them was attached to Lucas's side."

"Bingo."

Floyd grinned.

"Looks like Lucas picked up a fun toy. Whoever's controlling beasts has to be pretty strong, but can he really handle that guy properly?"

"If he does, it'll be a threat to us too."

"Let 'em try. I'll catch 'em and smash them from toe to crown, nothing left."

Floyd let out a sinister chuckle before downing his beer. As Kain took the empty cup and opened the keg to refill it, Floyd asked,

"Who's on Kanta's throne right now?"

"Haven't confirmed that far yet. Security's tight because of the beasts; can't move freely."

"Figures. Serves them right. They must've eyed Kanta's fertile lands, but the beasts mean they can't use it properly for a while."

"You gonna tell the princess about this?"

Floyd groaned at Kain's question.

"Hmm."

"Wouldn't it be better to tell her? It'll fire up her revenge and give her some spirit back."

"As long as she doesn't go rushing to her death. I'll tell her when the time's right, so you two keep your mouths shut."

Sunlight slipping through the curtains tickled her eyelids, waking Roxiana. She rubbed her crusty eyes, got out of bed, washed up in the bathroom, and emerged to find Petria waiting with flushed cheeks.

"Good morning, Petria."

Petria's cheeks reddened further at Roxiana's greeting.

Was something good happening?

Roxiana returned the greeting and headed to the window.

Opening it let in a breeze carrying the sea's scent. That wind served to remind her once more of her reality.

This isn't Kanta Kingdom anymore, and you're no longer a princess.

Some might wonder why she needed to remind herself so harshly, but it was crucial for Roxiana. Only by accepting this reality could she let go without regret of all the luxuries she'd enjoyed as a princess and the dignity she'd been forced to uphold.

The path to reclaim her family's abandoned corpses somewhere in Kanta's Ider Palace wouldn't be easy. She might have to wallow in the mud, submit to those with vile intentions, or laugh alongside those who mocked her.

To hesitate at none of it, she had to embrace being the most wretched, low status on this continent.

As Roxiana closed her eyes and breathed in air so different from Kanta's, Petria cautiously spoke up.

"Um, Roxiana... The maids have something to say to you. Is it okay if they come in?"