Esalda Ringa shared the signature lineage of the Duke’s family—her gorgeous natural blue hair and eyes. Her family served as the chief advisors for the royal family of Amalin. As the heiress of the family and disciple of her father, Esalda had to prove herself.

She journeyed with talented knights, selected directly by the royal family. They were knights that would serve the princess when she later inherited the throne. So, while this was a way for Esalda to train her wit, it was also a way for the knights to gain experience for the future.

Esalda’s group traveled all the way to a border village to meet with an emissary of the allied Kelv Kingdom to the south. Her task was bringing the guest back to the royal capital, while learning the tools she’d need to serve her highness when she became queen.

The emissary was a small girl who seemed younger than Esalda, but the Duke heiress never lowered her guard. If anything, it was the emissary who seemed more experienced than Esalda.

Morticia taught Esalda several things on the way back, even the most common traded items between their respective kingdoms. Morticia emphasized the importance of the cheese and wine trade.

Amalin had more military might than Kelv, so they’d trade weapons and other armaments. However, Kelv would trade back luxuries for the royalty and nobility to indulge.

“No wonder Father is always singing your praises,” Esalda said. She looked at Morticia in awe. “You seem to know everything.”

Morticia smiled. “Hmph, if you don’t even know this much, I will worry about the Ringa lineage.”

“It’s not my fault! The tutors never spoke of trade. It was all noble etiquette, speech, and the basics.”

Morticia clicked her tongue and shook her head. “I am sure there was more, but you didn’t listen. I bet you don’t even remember what I told you yesterday.”

Esalda’s eyes went wide like two large saucers. She pouted and turned to the window. After a brief moment, a worried expression appeared on her face. “Hey, do you see that?”

“Trying to change the subject, are we?”

“No, look!”

Morticia’s eyes scanned where Esalda’s finger pointed. The trees of the forest appeared lifeless. Not even birds could be spotted, and from behind the wilted trees, there was a mass of white. The enemy of the goddess stood there in broad daylight as an army of bones.

Stolen novel; please report.

The skeletons were more sophisticated than Esalda had ever read about. In her leisure time, she read about adventurers and dark creatures shunned by Amelia. The skeletons depicted in those stories were an easily defeated pile of bones, but this sight gave her pause.

There was a robustness about them. Moreover, they were lined up in a formation. Towards the front, those undead donned armor and thick shields. Their eyes held an ominous red glow. Behind those was a line of archers and mages. The clicking sound of bones grated on Esalda’s ears.

At the helm of the lifeless army, there was a skeletal horse, and on top of it, the commander was a skeleton adorned with a crown. He held a horn at his side, and for a moment it was so quiet that Esalda heard her own heartbeat.

The murmurs of Morticia snapped her back to reality. “I can’t believe it...a skeleton king…”

Esalda wanted to ask what it was, but the blaring of a horn rang in her eardrums. The clacking of hundreds of skeleton legs echoed outside. All Esalda could do was watch as the knights in charge of guarding them leapt into battle.

Morticia grabbed Esalda’s shoulder. “Do you have any combat ability?”

Esalda shivered as she looked outside. The knights who met the skeletons head on were met with heavy resistance. She witnessed a knight’s sword bounce off a heavy metal shield. That’s just one skeleton! There are hundreds!

She looked back at the emissary. “I am sorry to say, but against these, I would just be fodder.”

The knight commander outside yelled back towards the carriage. “Get those two out of here! We will hold them off!”

“Sir…”

“Just do it!”

Wasn’t there anything she could do? Even if they escaped now, Esalda felt like that skeleton king would catch up to them. At best, they could hope to run into a patrol further ahead.

Esalda took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She slapped her palms together. The only thing she could do was send a silent prayer to Amelia. She’d never earnestly prayed for anything in her life, so there was only a small thought she could gather. Please, save us!

When she opened her eyes, a speck fell from the sky. It grew closer and closer. A strange warmth radiated from that point. As the dot grew closer, Esalda had to rub her eyes. A girl?

The woman’s fall was graceful. Even though her robes fluttered, there was no trace of losing her dignity. From below, Esalda saw nothing. The warmth radiating from the girl felt divine. Esalda’s mouth hung open like a fish. My prayer was answered!?

Esalda watched the girl’s feet fly through the skeleton king’s body. The moment any part of her made contact with bone, they disintegrated. Red light particles drifted from where the skeletal horse and its master used to be.

A bell tolled and sang in Esalda’s ears. Warmth spread throughout her body, and she felt more comfortable than she’d ever been. Despite the chaos outside, the heavenly sensation was almost enough to lull her to sleep.

The voice of the pointed eared girl came out, and its essence was beautiful. To Esalda, it was the prettiest voice she’d ever heard. It was listening to the rain as she studied in her room. It was hearing the sounds of nature and a smooth running river. The voice was more serene than finding an oasis, and she only said three words.

“Low area cleanse…”

Esalda and Morticia seemed to make the same conclusion upon seeing it.

““Goddess!””