Chapter 277: Grancel Castle

As always, Giliath demands your power stones!

*****

Liberl.

Grancel Castle.

Uppermost Terrace.

Early afternoon.

A sole stoic figure sporting a regal dress could be seen standing outside, enjoying the view of the glistening lake beneath her as snowflakes fell onto it, only to melt away the moment they reached the water's surface. A blizzard was striking most of eastern Liberl as the first day of the new year started, but every so often, the dark gray clouds would scatter, only to form again. Even a thin layer of snow could be seen gathering everywhere at the capital.

As for who this woman was, she appeared rather aged. Her violet-gray hair was fading, showing signs of old age. Despite that, she still had her same intelligent look in her eyes showing full of wisdom just like she did in her earlier years. No, perhaps with the passage of time, this woman has grown more intelligent as her reign continued. She was, of course, the reigning Queen of Liberl's monarchy, Her Majesty, Queen Alicia II.

If Naoto succeeded in inheriting the throne over Princess Klaudia, the ruling structure would change from a matriarchal system to that of a patriarchal system, where a man would have sole power over the entire ruling class. It has been passed down by women through the last several decades barring Princess Klaudia's deceased parents, but it wasn't unheard of for a man to take the Liberlian Throne.

To say the least, Liberl was founded by a woman, the very first Auslese.

A look of melancholy appeared in Queen Alicia's eyes as she observed the glistening lake before her. It was quite cold out even though the sun was peeking through the dark gray colds. Cold breaths of air escaped her lips as she began to utter to herself.

"Was this really the right choice, Chancellor Osborne? I know you're currently drafting an armistice, but I can only see things moving poorly from here on...", Queen Alicia uttered with a worried look in her eyes, worried of what future would come her way.

It was within reason for Queen Alicia to be worried for her people. Two of the largest countries have just entered a partnership of sorts. It wasn't even a decade ago to where Erebonia and Liberl were at each others' throats during the Hundred Days War. Sure, it was the machinations of some dubious nobles, but those nobles still had their roots nestled in Erebonia. Erebonia did take the blame, but Chancellor Osborne issued a hush order along with the reigning Emperor that Naoto was just having dinner with the other day during the celebration of the new year. And on top of all of that, Chancellor Osborne has been busy trying to draft a peace treaty that would benefit not only Liberl and Erebonia, but also their neighbor, Calvard.

It was just that things took an unexpected turn, causing the current look that Queen Alicia had. She did not expect the Chancellor to declare an engagement between Erebonia and Liberl. Only a day or so has passed since the declaration, but it has already spread far and wide to most news agencies. It made the headliner no matter where it went.

"Hehe, you'll catch a cold like this if you stay outside in the freezing air, Your Majesty. You should come join me for lunch. Hilda is already in the middle of preparing it.", A familiar voice called out to Queen Alicia, drawing her gaze from back inside her private terrace. Not just anyone could approach this place apart from her personal maids and the Head Maid, Hilda. Her private quarters were situated on the uppermost floor of Grancel Castle, with Naoto and Klaudia's private quarters right underneath hers.

Another familiar violet, short-haired woman sporting turquoise eyes came into view. The rebellious look that she used to have before coming into Naoto's life had long since vanished. She was much more laid back, and carried an air of politeness. Despite that, she still kept her attractiveness. She wasn't wearing a dress or anything, she was wearing a long pink-sleeved shirt and dark blue pants with a dark blue scarf over her neck to keep it away from the cold. Still, cold breaths escaped from her lips even while wearing her scarf. The sounds of heels echoed through the chamber as this woman approached Queen Alicia.

Well, she appeared similar to that of a woman, but was still young, and in her teen years. She will be turning fifteen this year, making her a year older than Naoto.

"You are...", Queen Alicia said, raising her eyebrows seeing the girl arrive. "Fufu, I take it you are taking a pause in your bracer studies, Miss Angelica?", Queen Alicia said with a smile.

"You know it. It's still the holidays so I figured I'd take a good rest. Studies are going well, by the by. I hope to take the Bracer Exam soon next year before Naoto starts school. Oh and none of this Miss Angelica business. You know I tossed my family name aside. Just call me Angie like everyone else does, Your Majesty.", Angelica responded with a stern look in her eyes.

"Is that really alright? Either way, I'm sure Naoto's disappearance came at a shock to you, or did you already know about it like Klaudia did?", Queen Alicia said, letting her smile turn into a grin.

"Seems like you knew all along, Your Majesty. Naoto had already wanted to depart for Erebonia, so he made a flashy escape. I do apologize for him acting like that.", Angelica responded with an apology, recalling how Naoto vanished from plain sight after getting checked up at St. Ursula after his 'fight to the death' with Ace Rayne.

That night, Naoto came out victorious, and the person known as Ace Rayne died, only to get twisted into another identity. Naoto wasn't sure if lurkers from the other sections of the Garden would keep track of his whereabouts, but just in case they did, he left traces of the battle there back in Roer. In case other assassins did pick up that trail, it would likely get reported to the Garden of Swords. Naoto hadn't a clue how his younger sister, Nadia Rayne, was currently. It's not like Naoto could waltz right into that place. At least not now. Should he gain an interest, the person that was likely best to get in contact was The Oathbreaker, one of Ouroboros's Anguis.

"You don't need to apologize on the crown prince's behalf, Angie. It just makes me relieved knowing that he is still doing fine out there. I just didn't think he would wind up in Heimdallr out of all places, but perhaps the signs do point to there. After all, his lineage does make him bound to that place.", Queen Alicia responded.

"That's right, you are the Queen. It makes sense if you know about Naoto's other half.", Angelica said with a nod of her head.

"Don't underestimate a ruler, Angie. I've been in reign for a long, long time. So I can see how things go in more than one way. After all, this is all part of Naoto's unification plan, isn't it?", Queen Alicia decided to drop a bomb on Angelica, causing her to halt her approach.

"So you even know about that. Honestly, I'm not surprised knowing that you do. I will say that some things are in motion, and I am not sure if you'll be able to respond to it.", Angelica said, letting out a sigh.

"Fufu, do I have a need to? The culmination of what you two have been working on just got announced to the public, did it not?", Queen Alicia asked Angelica.

"Well, I did get a message passed to me through Sieg that Naoto accepted it, but I was surprised by the initiator. It was that Chancellor who initiated the engagement.", Angelica responded, nodding her head.

"So it was him...", Queen Alicia uttered. 

"So it would seem. But that isn't everything Naoto and I have planned. Tell me, Your Majesty. What would happen if someone or something were to try and unify the Great Houses under a single banner?", Angelica asked with a serious look in her eyes.

The moment Angelica asked that, even Queen Alicia couldn't help but suck in a cold breath of air.

"Please tell me that isn't what you're trying to accomplish.", Queen Alicia immediately retorted. "It could even cause a widespread civil war!", Queen Alicia continued to say, revealing a frown.

"It could very well lead into a civil war should the other houses oppose it, but that deadbeat father of mine needs something to get him back into shape. The other houses will have no choice to follow after what Naoto is going to do in the coming month.", Angelica responded with a serious look of her own.

"Just what is it, exactly? It must require the crown prince's presence in the capital of Erebonia...?", Queen Alicia began to think to herself, wondering what something could be needed with Naoto's presence currently in Heimdallr. It didn't take her long to realize Naoto's other half. She wasn't referring to Naoto having the Osborne blood in this scenario, but the half that came from Naoto's mother. Yes, she was an Auslese, and was her own sister for that matter, but she came from Erebonia, and was one of the last descendents of the Phoenix Family, who had direct relations to the Erebonia's Imperial Family, even sharing the same blood they have. Naoto was that much of a bastard son. He not only had Auslese Blood and Osborne Blood, but also that of the Arnor Blood flowing through his veins.

Queen Alicia sucked in a cold breath of air realizing what Angelica was referring to.

"Naoto's planning to erect the Infernal Castle, isn't he?", Queen Alicia said, only to come to this conclusion. Her frown remained on her lips. "Is that why Klaudia is going to such lengths to strengthen herself?", Queen Alicia continued to ask.

"I'm glad you can catch on quickly, Your Majesty. I have just received another message from Sieg over the night that widespread evacuation orders are now being drafted as we speak. Naoto hopes for it to be swift, but you can be rest assured that he has some hired help on his side to make things go smoothly. I do not know what repercussions we will face after, and even if we do face civil unrest, the one thing we don't want is to harm civilians during the process. That is why we have a whole month planned to make sure no one gets caught up inside of it.", Angelica said, trying to clear Queen Alicia's worry.

"I see. You are spinning this in a way to where we won't even need to worry about how the east will see us, even with Erebonia declaring an intent of entering a partnership...", Queen Alicia said, going silent for a moment after taking Angelica's words.

"I don't know how the east will see this either. If they see the chaos erupting in Erebonia, they may take this opportunity to attack.", Angelica also wondered what could happen.

"I fear you may be correct, Angie. With the Chancellor being at the forefront of this, I didn't want to go through with what I was originally not wanting to do.", Queen Alicia said with another frown.

"Oh? And what would that be, Your Majesty--?", Angelica tried to respond, only to see a shadow enter her eyes.

"So that's what the kid has been up to.", A third figure suddenly called out to the two. The two couldn't even finish their current conversation before they saw another figure approach them outside the terrace, likely having been dropped in. Angelica saw space twist further up in the air for a brief second, showing a large ship-like figure, before it vanished from sight again. What came out of it was a short, spiky white-green haired man sporting a priest's robe. If one had a close look, one of his arms could be seen wrapped in a tight white cloth.

"You are...", Queen Alicia began to utter, seeing the green-haired man appear before the two. Angelica could only blink her eyes seeing the man come in unannounced like this.

"Sorry for droppin' in like this. Been a while. Not since the martial arts competition Her Majesty held here during her birthday, yea?", The man said.

"You called yourself Kevin, didn't you? Did you really have to come all the way up here on Her Majesty's terrace no less?", Angelica said with a smug grin.

"I take it you know this man, Angie.", Queen Alicia said. "If it wasn't the fact that you were wearing a robe that priests wear, I would have had security drag you away right then and there. You're with the Septian Church?", Queen Alicia guessed.

"Sure am. I'm currently helpin' the department that helps retrieve artifacts lost by the Goddess since time of yore. Ya see, High Highness invited me to partake in what is to happen back at Erebonia's capital, but I wanted to come pay a visit here first. Yer weren't in the Bracer Guild Lady Angelica, so I figured this would be a good area to start.", Kevin said, explaining his position.

"Oh right, that did happen, didn't it? Sounds like you got what you wanted at least. I don't see why you needed to come all the way here, but since you did, you can at least join us for a late lunch.", Angelica responded, scratching her cheeks as she said that.

"That sounds great! I'm pretty vamished, I must say. I mostly wanted to see what connection that weird circle had since it never vanished from the square. His Highness never did explain what it was other than that it was the starting point to his trials. I didn't think a legend would be involved with this...", Kevin uttered.

"Nor would I think I would get to see it in this day and age. I take it Naoto has already started to prepare for it, seeing as he is in Heimdallr now. At least I can be rest assured that he has allies he can trust.", Queen Alicia said with a smile. Kevin could only stare at the Queen, not expecting the Queen to say that.

"Ya sayin' the prince is already in Heimdallr? Sheesh he moves fast.", Kevin exclaimed in shock.

"He isn't the only one, Kevin. Zin and Kilika have already made their way there. Apparently Lady Aurelia is already there too, so that just leaves you. I don't know if Naoto has any plans of inviting anyone else to join him in the trials. I would love to go, but I'm watching things here.", Angelica explained her end to Kevin, causing Kevin to frown.

"Aww man, I'm the last one to join the ship?", Kevin retorted hearing that. Queen Alicia let out a chuckle seeing Kevin act this way.

"Fufu, either way, it is out of our hands. So as Angie here said, come join us for lunch. It isn't going to take place immediately, so you can feel free to spend some time here first before heading into Erebonia. I may not be able to assist with much but it's the least I can do if you are going to be supporting the crown prince directly.", Queen Alicia said, offering an unexpected hand to Kevin.

"I was plannin' to stay at a nearby inn for a while but if I could stay in the castle, that'd be great.", Kevin said, scratching his head as a feeling of guilt swept over him.

"Oh my, do we have a guest?", Another voice called out to the two. This time it was from the other end, coming from further inside the castle. "The Head Maid wanted me to tell you that lunch was now ready, Your Majesty, but it would seem I am interrupting something?", A voice of a woman said, revealing a rather breathtaking beauty. Her hair was long and pale white. Strands of violet specks streaked across the right side of it. She appeared to be in her mid twenties. Despite wearing a professional suit, a sword could still be seen equipped at her waist.

Kevin's eyes turned serious as he put up his guard, not expecting to see such a beautiful woman approach their view.

"It looks like you have returned, Jayna. I take it the escort was successful then. Thank you for escorting the Divine Blade and Klaudia back to Leiston.", Queen Alicia said, welcoming Jayna in.

"It is nothing but my duty to do so, Your Majesty.", Jayna said, giving a polite bow to the Queen.

"Wait, what?", Kevin couldn't help but retort the moment Queen Alicia said that. Seeing the obvious confusion in his eyes, Angelica sported another smug grin.

"Wow, we really haven't caught up in a spell, have we, mister priest?", Angelica retorted back, letting out a giggle as she observed Kevin's confused face.