Two weeks earlier, in the Kingdom of Claudia,

An old man covered in silk and wealth entered the great dome of Claudia. Servants were busy hanging the banners of blue and red stripes with a white figure of Pegasus all over the hall. Some were washing the white marble floor with mops till it became sparkle when a lantern was brought near. If it didn't sparkle, the foreman would whip the servant and tell her to do it again. It was the same for others, too. A whip man was overseeing each group. Like the moppers, those who brushed the seats had to do it again if the foreman saw a fine grain of dust when the lantern was brought near.

The servants stared at the wealthy man when he walked inside the dome with the shoes on. They had to clean the dust again.

"Why are you stopping!? Stop looking around and do your job properly!" The foreman yelled and whipped a servant who glared at the old man.

The old man didn't care whatever was happening in his surroundings. He walked across the hall right in the middle with his dirty shoes toward the opposite side. He extended his arms happily when he met his old friend. "Aruther! My nemesis!" He greeted.

His friend also welcomed him back merrily. "Arthur! You bastard! I am glad you can still walk on your feet. I would be bored killing an old fart who would be sticking on a chair."

They laughed at their stupid joke. Arthur and Aruther were rivals back in the day. Twenty years ago, Arthur was the guardian of Forkguard for King James while Aruther was the general for Claudia. Arthur defeated Aruther two times but at the third time, Aruther beat Arthur in a decisive battle and raided the Forkguard. Arthur had to fall back as much as to Southsail until Davis Schneider the young lieutenant marched down from Norg and retook Forkguard with Arthur. After that, Arthur was stripped of duty and the peers demanded to give him capital punishment. But he was the most trusted ally of James in the king's court so James sent him to the eastern continent as a diplomat. It quenched the anger of royalties and Arthur got to live.

"Quite a preparation you are doing for the coronation." Arthur looked around impressively. "Didn't know your town has become this grand from a mere village? I am quite impressed, chancellor."

"It is thanks to you, Arthur. If we couldn't sack Forkguard back then, Claudia would never become this. It is the reason I let you enter this dome. I would have ordered to behead any other Midlander. Now, tell me. The true reason for your visit."

"I will. But shouldn't you at least treat a meal to your guest? You built a dome but your manners are still the same barbaric as before."

"I will gladly treat you to a meal if you can hold up a drink with me."

"I prefer wine these days but I can handle some cheap spirit from Claudia easily."

Arthur dropped the cup after gulping down the drink in one stroke for the second time. Arthur might be his past rival but Aruther respected how Arthur could keep up with him. He refilled the cup by himself for Arthur, and Arthur gulped it down quickly like before. The bitter sweat fluid rushed down his throat but the hot burning sensation lingered near the larynx. His body felt warm and tingly. Arthur admitted that those were some strong stuff.

Arthur turned around to see the state guesthouse. It was decorated with riches and fine products of various artisans. Claudia became a wealthy kingdom when Midland closed its border under Mordu's order. After King James' rebellion, Mordu' closed all borders and permitted trade to only a selected few families who were major donors to the Temple and loyal to his cause. He thought ideologies from foreign lands poisoned James' heart. When Midland fell behind in commerce, Claudia took the role of the trading hub between the two continents.

Aruther refilled the cup again but this time he told Arthur to take it slowly. "It is time to talk business."

Arthur took a sip from the cup and recollected himself. "We know what you and your new king are planning, Aruther. We found great movements of your armies and ships around our borders. We also have credible intelligence that you are stockpiling large amounts of weapons and armour."

"Well... It isn't a secret that we send raiding parties every winter."

"Except this won't be just a raid, will it? Our reports show you are preparing enough to make a full-scale invasion. We believe it will be your coronation gift to your young king and your final legacy."

Aruther was shocked when his plan was revealed by Arthur. He even moved his decoy army to pretend as a simple raid while he secretly prepared for a huge war deep inside the region. After all these efforts and his plan was still known by his enemies, he was flabbergasted. How deep the spy web of Midland had been built into Claudia. However, he remained calm and composed in front of Arthur. "I see. Not bad. But don't think that you are the only one with information. I heard there is a new group of Fanatics appearing in your kingdom, fighting Templers. You must be quite busy."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Oh, not really. I am just an advisor."

"Right. Temple and that coward Hammond run your country. You are just an advisor of a puppet king and an emotional princess who still hides in the tower of the palace. I hope your torn country can put up a fight against the might of Claudia. I hope it will be not too boring."

Aruther mocked at Arthur. He implied that even if Arthur knew he couldn't do anything to stop it. Aruther was sure that a country led by weak and greedy leaders would not be able to stop the ambitious mind of Claudia.

Arthur smirked when he heard Aruther. If Aruther believed Cleo was an emotionally battered princess, then Claudia knew nothing about his real plan.

"I dare you, Aruther. Come. I heard your new young king has a temper so I hope you are not so over yourself and make yourself a disgrace. Be Careful or you may lose your head. Louise and Cleo are Adders, the lineage of King Dane Adder, the great unifier of Midland. Don't come fully prepared."

"Nonsense! What lineage? Our king is the true heir to the throne of Midlake where King Dane once sat. Rane Cedder Eclair the fifth is the bloodline of Rane Cedder the first who was the younger brother and the lieutenant of Mighty Dane. King Dane wanted his brother to take the throne over his stupid greedy son. It was Rane's throne until Eugene Adder usurped the throne together with Mordu' and ruined Midland. I will give my liege the throne he deserves."

Authur met his old friend from the East at the port of Claudia, after provoking the premier. He told him to go to the imperial court of Indra with his letter of introduction and the book of Sahel. "Safe travel my friend. May God protect you on your journey."

"Thank you, my old friend. You are playing the risky game. I shall pray your success in your endeavour."

The man sailed to Indra with one mission. It was to convince the emperor of Indra that Mordu' was the deceptor and the enemy of Humankind.

Even before King Dane's reign, there had been trades and cultural exchange between Midland and Indra through Portland in Easton. Ideologies about life and afterlife, theology were also exchanged. People of both lands had lived with the same basic principles about life until Mordu'. Mordu' created monsters then acted like he was the saviour of mankind by defeating his own creations. By pretending as the incarnation of God, Mordu' added his own twisted principles to midlanders. Mordu' used men to kill for him and women to satiate his lust, all in the name of serving God.

In the ear of virtuous King of Indra, such devilish acts of Mordu' were intolerable.

As expected by Arthur, the news of Emperor Chakha denouncing Mordu' reached Midland two weeks later.

"We got thirty ships coming from Indra." Luther brought in the report from the spy in Indra. "It says emperor Chakha is furious and vows to annihilate Mordu'."

"Great, now we have two wars coming to us. ... I hope our people can withstand this and emerge victorious."

"Don't worry. We are the midlanders. When did we ever have a peaceful day in our lives? There was war before the unification. Now, monsters. At least, after this, there will be no more monsters and hopefully no more wars." Luther reassured her but Cleo still felt heavy heart. "I just hope we are doing this right."

Cleo told Luther that she wanted to rest. The medicines kept making her drowsy and sleepy. She closed her eyes to rest but a sweet cheerful melody was tingling her ears. It came from downstairs. She asked Luther if Louise was hosting a ball again. She remembered there was a ball a month ago. She was suddenly angry to Louise for wasting so much money. "I understand this is our cover. But don't you think it is too much?"

"There is no ball tonight, your highness."

"So, am I hallucinating?"

"No. It must be his majesty fidgeting his fiddle."

Cleo shook her head strongly. She knew Louise couldn't play that well. "It must be Maria, then. She is the king's new companion." Luther answered.

Maria was her lady in waiting. She was always ambitious and seductive. She was also a distant grandniece of the Duke. Cleo never trusted her. She couldn't believe Louise was clapping her. She told Luther to shut her windows so she would not hear the fiddle. Luther closed the windows for her and put her inside a fur coat. "I don't like it." She tried to take it off but Luther insisted. "It is chilly tonight, your highness. Winter is here. If you catch a cold, your wound will not heal." He also tucked her inside a big warm blanket before he left the chamber. "Good night, Cleo."