Day 1 of the Fifth Month, Year 1016 – morning

Northern Forest, Cacao Province

AFTER staying for a night in the duke’s mansion and preparing for her mission, Victoria went out on the next day with Luz, Captain Lewis, and Lieutenant Nile. She gave an excuse wanting to explore the places around Braun City, especially the northern forest, a place where the cacao plant first discovered. The duke generously agreed and even offered his escort, of which Victoria declined politely.

Even as she left the city, she knew she was still being monitored. The question was by whom? The duke was a given, but Victoria didn’t want to complicate things even more if she found out that the Arachnids in Braun was under command to watch out for her. “Let’s go to that restaurant,” Victoria said when she arrived at the junction between roads. “I am tired.”

None of her three attendants believed what she said. Victoria wasn’t a fragile princess; she was a naughty one who was always running around to play. Not to mention she knew martial arts. But they knew cues when they saw one, so they agreed without saying anything.

Inside the small restaurant, Victoria requested for a private place. She was given a place behind a small screen. Thanking the waiter politely, she and her entourage went there.

It needed to be said that her stalkers were all waiting outside, but Victoria still didn’t come out after a few hours. They went in worriedly and sure enough, the girl wasn’t there anymore.

They were fooled!

The ones who fooled them, aka Victoria and her attendants, were walking slowly in the Northern Forest.

“I’d say Victa, why did we have to escape through the window like thieves?” Luz finally brought it up.

Victoria waved her hand. “You know why.”

“But really, you are not dignified at all,” Luz scoffed. “There is no other princess like you.”

“Stop talking,” Victoria smiled in amusement. “I am the only princess, what can you do?”

Well, yes. She was like that—Luz really couldn’t do anything.

They walked through the forest for a long while, the silence occasionally broken by Victoria and Luz’s bickering. “You know, I still don’t understand where we are walking towards. I don’t believe you just want to go out and play.”

Victoria saw that her two guards also glanced at each other and nodded with agreement.

The Princess laughed. “Why can’t you believe? Don’t I always go out and play?”

Luz shook her head. “No. You usually do that, but there was always a reason in each of your trips to play.”

Victoria touched her nose. She really couldn’t hide anything. “I’m going to find Zanio Blackward.”

Her three companions put on a blank expression, though Nile’s face recovered quickly. “You are asking him to help?” He asked, a bit of admiration in his voice.

Zanio Blackward, as the name suggested, was one of the Blackward family main branch’s sons. He had a brilliant career in the Crimson Corps, but was impended when the matter of Lirsk came out. Though, King Gilbert was still willing to trust him, and because the Crimson Corps answered to the monarch and only the monarch, none other could impend this decision to send Zanio’s troops to the battlefield.

But the result was Zanio lost one of the decisive battles. People began to whisper that he actually conspired with Lirsk since they were both from the Blackward family, and he couldn’t endure all the accusations, so he withdrew into hermitage after the war. Many of his loyal soldiers followed him and resigned as well. Since then, no one knew where Zanio was.

“How did you find out he was here?” Nile asked in interest. No one in the Corps didn’t know who Zanio was. He was a legendary figure, with martial arts so great and it surpassed everyone. It was a surprise when he lost, and it was exactly what made people suspect he conspired with Lirsk.

Victoria waved her hand. “I had my ways,” she said, unwilling to say more.

Needless to say, this information cost her a lot of her wealth. Victoria sighed inwardly, feeling like she needed to urge Rex to make more money for her quickly.

Far away in Naveland, Rex sneezed. “Who is talking bad about me?” He muttered to himself while checking the ledger.

But it really wasn’t easy to find a recluse. They had been walking around for a few hours without anything to show. Luz took a deep breath. “Victa, are you sure he is here?”

“Yes,” Victoria said. She didn’t doubt Blades in the slightest. They, after all, prided themselves in dominating the Forewood underworld and information flow. It must be right…

When Luz was about to open her mouth again, an arrow shot towards her in a quick speed.

Thankfully, every single one of them knew martial arts, and they reacted quickly. Victoria jumped aside to avoid the arrow and behind her, Captain Lewis caught it without even injuring herself.

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“Who’s there?” The knightess yelled loudly.

No one replied.

Victoria had a suspicion in her heart. “Sir Zanio Blackward?” She said with a loud voice.

An arrow went fast above her head. A warning. The first one was probing, the second one was warning. This was a whole system. “I come here in peace!” She shouted. “I wish to meet the warriors of Crimson Corps.”

Nothing answered them.

“Aren’t you guessing a bit too wildly?” Luz muttered from beside her. “What if it’s not Blackward at all?”

Victoria grinned. “Better guess wildly rather than miss my chance.”

As she said that, a woman with dark hair and dark skin came out of nowhere. “You wish to meet Zanio?”

Victoria nodded. She was startled because she really didn’t feel the presence of the other party before, but she didn’t show it on her face. “May I?” She said politely.

The woman looked at her, then at her entourage, before scoffing. “Follow me,” she said.

They followed the woman to a place she didn’t expect to find. There were rows of big trees, with many people in between, running and training. She could see that the Crimson Corps was still so well-trained here. Before she could say anything, the woman knocked on the trunk of the biggest tree. A rope ladder fell out of nowhere, startling her into looking up.

They climbed the ladder and—Victoria didn’t expect this—there were even more spacious houses up on the trees. It was almost like a treetop village. “Wait here,” the woman said.

They did, and before long, the woman came back. “Zanio is willing to meet you. Go in.”

Victoria smiled and nodded politely.

“Only you,” the woman added. “Your companions have to wait outside.” Her expression was full of threat and it had the meaning of—if you dare hurt him, I will also hurt your companions!

Victoria raised her hands helplessly. “Then you guys wait here.”

“But…” Luz protested, and the gazes of Lewis and Nile was also not light.

“Relax!” Victoria laughed. “I am not that fragile. Just wait here obediently.”

With the woman watching them, it wasn’t convenient to say anything, so they let Victoria went in one of the bigger houses. The inside was all wood—that was her first impression. The second one was that it was small. The space she entered was a living room, kitchen, and bedroom all at once.

Zanio Blackward sat in the middle of the room, sitting on his sofa. Victoria knew this because she had seen a portrait of Zanio before in her history books. “Hello,” she greeted cheerfully.

Zanio’s eyes were guarded as he watched her. “Who are you?” He asked.

Victoria smiled in understanding. Of course, he would be guarded. She expected that. She then reached for her pocket and pulled out a small token, putting it on the table in front of him.

The man’s breath stagnated. “The command of the Corps!” He looked up at her. “Who are you? How did you get this?”

Victoria laughed. “Why are you so agitated?” But she didn’t leave him in suspense any longer. She curtsied as she said, “My name is Victoria Izabella Luna Ulysses.”

Zanio flinched. “Your Highness…”

Victoria waved her hand. “Oh, don’t bother.” She sat down on the sofa on the opposing side of Zanio. “So, you must know my purpose of coming here.”

“I really am not,” he replied, still dazedly looking at the token on the table.

“Lirsk attacked us again.”

Zanio looked up in surprise. “What?”

Victoria shrugged. It made sense he wasn’t aware because he really was secluding himself in this forest. She massaged her feet a bit. Truly, she had walked for four hours already and her feet started to hurt. “Well, it is what happened. Things aren’t looking good, though. They have so many troops and it seemed like one of them came from inside the Kingdom.”

Zanio looked at her, then at the token. He then shook his head. “I cannot help.”

Victoria didn’t expect to be rejected before she could even throw a request. “Why?” She said after being speechless.

“I am not capable,” he said humbly. “I vowed to myself that I will never go back to the battlefield again.”

Victoria frowned. “Do you want me to restore your reputation? It can be done, obviously.”

Zanio laughed. “You trust me that much?”

“I trust the ability I kept hearing,” Victoria replied. “I heard about how when you retired, your soldiers went with you. This thing couldn’t be explained with just a coincidence. So many of them, all retired after you. You must have impeccable ability to inspire such trust in your men.”

Zanio smiled. “I am honored with Your Highness’ praise.” He looked at the token again. “But why? Many of them accused me of conspiring with Lirsk. Do you still trust me?”

Victoria looked at him. “But my father never believed that, did he?”

Zanio looked dazed. Yes, King Gilbert never believed their words. But he lost a lot of battles after that and his loses truly couldn’t be explained. Gradually, even the King who trusted him that much started to suspect him. He never convicted him, but Zanio could feel that His Majesty was wavering in his decision. That was why he decided to withdrew from the battlefield and vowed to never go back.

Victoria bowed her head. “I know what happened back then wasn’t a pleasant thing. But I wouldn’t be here if I don’t trust you, or at least your abilities.”

“What do you think happened back then?” He asked so suddenly.

Victoria was stunned. “What?”

“What do you think happened?” Zanio laughed loudly. “I also lost many times after the incident. Did I conspire? Why was there so much blood of my soldiers spilled on the battlefield?”

Victoria fell silent.

“That’s what I thought,” he said, then returned the token back to her. The gesture was so respectful, as if that little thing was really valuable. It was, but it was also just a little rock.

Victoria didn’t answer for a while.

“If Your Highness is done, you can go out,” he said.

Victoria glanced at the token, then up at Zanio. “Sir, I didn’t know what happened,” Victoria said. “But you going into retreat was as good as saying it had nothing to do with you. Perhaps you conspired with Lirsk. Perhaps Lirsk did something backhanded to get rid of you. But the thing is he doesn’t know you will come back now, and he won’t get the chance to do the same thing. Your ability is important for the Kingdom. Your soldiers are also sorely needed. Please.”

Victoria could see that Zanio wavered. He looked at her dazedly as if seeing an illusion.

When she saw that, she smiled and pushed back the token on the table. “Zanio Blackward, I command you to aid the Kingdom in this war.”

Zanio widened his eyes. Staring at the token, then staring at her. In the end, his desire to battle won.

He took the token, and said solemnly, “I receive the command.”

Victoria went out of the big treehouse with a smile and Zanio on her tow.

Her guards, Nile in particular, froze. Really, he didn’t expect the Princess could succeed! He had been hearing from the woman that Zanio had been withdrawing himself from doing anything, at all. He still trained daily, and trained, and trained, but he refused to go out.

Zanio, seeing his old colleague, felt complicated. “General Nile,” he said at last.

“General Blackward,” Nile replied solemnly. He had always felt like Zanio’s retirement was a pity. The man was clearly a gem in the battlefield.

And now the princess succeeded in pulling out the gem for them. He couldn’t help but feel excited. With Zanio, certainly their odds would rise. After all, Zanio wasn’t called Ferocious Tiger for nothing. “It’s good to have you back.” []