Christina's slender fingers gently parted the thin curtains, allowing her gaze to meet the outside world through one of the carriage’s clear windows. What she saw left her conflicted. The streets were wide, easily allowing the Earth Dragons to pull her carriage without inconvenience. Yet, she couldn't help but feel the tremors of their step through the pavement as it reverberated throughout her carriage despite its suspension.

The beasts' feet sank slightly into the stone surface, making the paved road somewhat uneven. Christina could feel the slightest sway of the carriage as its wheels dove into those newly formed divots. She could only shake her head at this brittle state of construction.

It would be unthinkable for such a pathetic road to be built in the Capital, where even a platoon of those beasts couldn’t mar its surface. Obviously, the Capital had been built to last. It had endured the test of time. For thousands of years since its founding, the Capital has stood unshakable as a monument of perpetuity. Until Now, Unto Eternity was the Capital's motto, and everything was made to reflect it.

Compared to that, this White City seemed like a husk devoid of substance. The streets were deserted. They only occasionally met incoming carriages coming the other way toward the gate. The roads were large enough to accommodate the two vehicles side by side with room to spare, yet all this grandeur seemed wasted.

Almost no pedestrians were on the sidewalks, except for the occasional White Tiger clan member with their full assortment of guards, perusing the numerous shops. Those shops were bizarre, to say the least. Their front signs all looked the same: only mentioning the types of wares they sold and sporting the White Tiger emblem.

That emblem hinted at why those shops seemed so lacklustre. Christina didn't doubt the clan had put forth stringent requirements for those boutiques to be able to set up shop, all to further their depraved aesthetics. She could only pity those poor shop owners who had moved mountains to get approved, only to be stuck with next to no clientele.

No customers were strolling the streets, and the few who entered those shops never seemed to leave with much goods. Christina wondered how those shops could remain in business; how could this city sustain its economy with so few transactions?

Christina knew what a genuinely prosperous city should look like. Although not perfect in any way, the Capital was such a beast with its well-defined districts and wide range of products for all walks of life. From the street markets near the slums to the massive ornate auction halls of the upper crust of society, the city had it all. Yet, even the Capital paled against the colossus of trade that was Redwaters.

That city was simply a monster of commerce. While chaotic at first glance, Redwaters was a well-oiled machine facilitating the transfer of wealth. Anything you could think of, you could buy there. Whether it be the newest weaponry, the most luxurious artworks, or even human lives—as long as you had the Capital to afford it.

Of course, such a massive undertaking didn't spring up overnight, but over many centuries. From a small trading village between two warring nations to what it is today: a city-state that neither country can ignore. It grew so massive that its wealth could even threaten the Kingdom. Although the city had no substantial armed forces, violence wasn't always the only way to wage war. Economics could also be deadly.

Such as in this instance. How could the White Tiger Clan afford to maintain such deserted streets? Where did they get the money? Christina only asked these questions rhetorically. Of course, she already knew the answer. Such was one of her mandates when her mother gave her the task of going on this journey in the first place.

Where else but the populace would they find the wealth to waste like the parasites they are. It only took Christina one look around White City to learn about the whole situation. Although the city may have looked pure and holy with its pristine white walls and streets devoid of filth, it was only skin deep, just a facade.

To Christina, this city looked like a shambling corpse just waiting for someone to put it out of its misery. There was no vitality to be found anywhere. Where were the bustling markets enabling goods to flow? Where were the libraries and academies fostering knowledge and innovations? Where were the people working to further the growth of the nation? Where was this city’s future, its children?

Rotting away in their own self-indulgence, locked away within the inner city, that’s where. No, that city didn’t have a future. It barely had a present. Nobody lived in that city—well, not nobody. There was still a minimal number of people working to somewhat maintain the facade of a working city, but otherwise, that city didn’t produce anything. It only took and consumed, like a giant beast possessing never-ending hunger and greed. Only a massive destructive force that could only leave a wasteland in its wake.

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One needn't look further than the never-ending slums a few miles from there, locked away from sight as if out of mind. Once upon a time, those people lived in cities and towns. They were productive members of society. They generated wealth for the nation, and yet, under the clan's guidance, they were now shunned and ignored as they wasted away in obscurity.

So much potential, thrown away to rot! To Christina, such a thing was the greatest of the White Tiger Clan’s sins. More than their abuse of power. More than their disregard for human life. Even more than their stupid, baseless pride. What made Christina despise them so much was to see them wasting the country's greatest resource: its people.

Hundreds, thousands, maybe even tens of thousands of people or more were left to fend for themselves in those slums. They had no sustainable source of food while diseases grew rampant, culling their numbers with every passing day. Although Christina sympathized with them, what truly irked her was the lack of education. How could she—once enthroned as Queen—make use of such people if they were no better than peasants.

What? Did you think Christina was a good, righteous and altruistic person? Since when had rulers been any of those things? Although she would strive toward those ideals, it would only be when she could afford it. Being a good person only meant an early death. It was simply that a well-fed, educated and happy populace equalled a strong country and a long rule. Her goals aligned merely with theirs; that was all.

Christina shook her head as she looked outside. She only had disappointment in her heart. Such a short-sighted clan was better off dead. She couldn't wait for the day she would crush them underfoot. As if knowing her state of mind, the young man seated opposite of her shuddered slightly. Claire raised an eyebrow at this strange movement before placing her hand on the hilt of her sword, ready to pull it whenever she noticed the slightest intent to rebel.

The man quickly raised his hands, motioning his intention to remain compliant with their wishes. As the man desperately waved his hands to make Claire let go of her sword, the chain linking the shackles on his limbs hissed as each link scrapped against each other whenever the man moved. Claire's eyes narrowed, prompting the man to sit still, hoping for the aggressive sound to die down.

The man’s expression was grim. Never in his wildest dream would he have thought the next time he would return here would be in chains. He was supposed to be the next Patriarch of the White Tiger Clan, a hero in the making! Yet, here he was, just a prisoner to be judged. His shame knew no bounds. Once given the chance, he would no doubt take his revenge on his captors. Still, he hid his hatred deep in his heart for fear of letting it show on his face.

As you may already have discovered, that man was the Western Duke's son, the same man Maria encountered in the Count's tent during the beasts' stampede. Once Christina returned to camp, they wasted no time arresting him and his retinue. Although Christina wouldn't charge him with treason, his fate wouldn't be any less grim.

She had made sure to capture him alive as he was a much-needed piece in the negotiation with the Duke. She could make him offer reparations in return for his heir's safe return. Even if the Duke wished to abandon him, Christina had other plans in store for that boy. Christina smiled slightly once she thought of what she would do if his father refused her terms, which sent another shiver down the young man's back.

Although he was familiar with the Princess, she had never seemed more frightening than right now. The rumours made her out to be a docile and graceful young lady who would always speak politely, even with people of lower rank. She always seemed calm and composed, never overstepping her bounds. Yet, ever since he met her in that camp, everything he thought he knew about her appeared to be wrong to some degree.

For one, she wasn’t docile in the slightest. Inside of her smouldered a giant blaze of passion. She had no qualms about speaking her mind to her subordinates and even used crass language occasionally, to which people who knew her well didn’t seem to bat an eye. The image she projected to the world was so far removed from her real self that it stunned the young man.

Still, upon thinking more deeply about it, it only made sense. To show a beautiful facade was par for the course for the aristocracy. Letting people know of your actual wants and desires was only foolish. Deceit was a necessary skill for anyone in power wishing to remain and live past the age of twenty. So often were heirs disposed of by their rivals if they threatened their own access to power.

Christina shrugged once she noticed the boy's hidden intent. She was no fool; of course, the man would try to get even with her, but he would never have the chance. Did he delude himself, thinking she was merciful? No, she would wring the man dry of all his value before disposing of him. You might think her cruel, but any of her opponents would rejoice at doing the same to her. You could only fight cruelty with an even greater cruelty, after all.

Christina's gaze left the boy to wallow in his anxiety, feeling a slight hint of contentment witnessing his suffering until she noticed the next step toward their destination. Slowly approaching, in front of her carriage, was a gigantic wall separating the outer city from the inner one. Although made of the same material as the outer wall, this one was completely different. It was like comparing a theatre prop to a real, sturdy castle.

Christina had no doubts that even if a siege army were to breach the outer city, the inner one could tide the waves for a long time without struggling. Such was the massive wall towering over her.

The main road they had travelled on since the outer gate ended in another gate surrounded on both sides by two massive towers, overseeing the district like two giant lighthouses. Once again, if you were to put the two gates side by side, one would only look like a caricature of the other. The inner gate was so over the top in its security measures that Christina only wanted to bury her face in her hands and sigh. She honestly had no words anymore.

Were they expecting giants to invade them? Dragons maybe? The gate was so massive Christina had no idea how they would even open such a thing. Worse yet, Christina spotted oversized ballistae on top of those towers. Instead of bolts, they seemed to be armed with entire trees. Really... what were they expecting to encounter?

Honestly... what was wrong with that clan? Was excess the only thing they knew of?