“E-Eliana…” I struggled to keep my cool.

“It’s okay, Deek. We’ll handle this.” Alysia’s reassuring voice echoed in my head.

“I-I’m okay…” I took a breath and then glanced back at the girl. “I’ve been out on a prolonged hunting trip. You’ll have to refresh my memory. Isn’t Eliana the princess of Aberis?”

“Yes, it’s true, Aberis and the Ost Republic are on the cusp of war. The armies are at the border, but marriage will fix all of that!” The girl spoke passionately. “Over the last two months, since Princess Eliana visited our country, she’s ended up talking with a lot of humans. She’s become really idolized and loved. Some were pushing for her to marry the king, but he refused. However, General Nova volunteered to take her hand.

“Once they take the vows, they’ll go to the border and broker a peace. Surely, those humans in Aberis will desire to put aside their differences once they see their princess happily married to one of our own. It’s romantic! Their love will save all of us from a war, and we can finally put the evil deeds of that Lord Deekson behind us.”

“Evil deeds?” I blinked, but as the girl continued to stare at me blankly, I shook my head and smiled. “I would like your finest suit. Make it something befitting a groom.”

“Ah! O-okay…”

“And while you do that, tell me everything that has happened the last two months.”

As she worked, the girl continued to gossip. I asked her about everything I could think of. She didn’t seem to know about any elf or anyone meeting Raissa’s description. Two months ago, I was declared dead, the general and his family fled, and it was all explained as some kind of failed coup. The Ost Republic managed to foil my plans, but at the cost of the life of Alysia.

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Naturally, with Elaya a prisoner and me killed and only rumors to go on, King Edward responded with a show of force. Communications had been dancing back and forth between the two nations, with things finally boiling to the point of war. Although the seamstress spoke of Eliana and Nova’s marriage as a last-ditch effort to sway the nations, I could see through the truth of it.

Eliana was being misled and possibly coerced. Nova was going to marry her as some kind of victory over me. It would also hide her pregnancy. As for the talk about her being a national treasure or something, I didn’t know what had happened. I also asked about the west Aberis and Chalm, but that wasn’t known to her either. As I tried to pick her brain for every last detail of the situation, Alysia listened on in stony silence.

We finished talking just about the time that my outfit was finished. She only needed to make a few minor adjustments for it to fit me. This was an Osterian shop, after all, and with the festivities, they had several spare outfits.

“Master, what is your plan?” Alysia finally asked as I put enough coin on the counter, swapping Merchant in so I could claim my discount.

“I’m done acting passively,” I said. “I’m going to blast through anything that gets in my way.”

“Then, I will be by your side to help you.”

“Naturally.” I smiled as I left the shop, only to stop short.

A dozen guards were standing there. They all had weapons up and pointed in my direction.

“Halt!” The man cried out.

“What is it?” I responded in a relaxed state.

“R-reports of an indecent man appearing near the ancient sword.” The man’s voice gained strength as he spoke. “You are to be detained immediately!”

“Alysia…”

“Yes, Master?”

“Try not to kill them.” I held out my hand as the tattoo began to glow.

“Yes, Master.”