Chapter 415
“Stop right there!”

Soldier Luswena waved his hand at the approaching high-class carriage heading toward the camp.

It wasn’t coming from enemy territory, but judging by its direction, it wasn’t a messenger from their own side either. It was likely someone who had taken the road down from Bariel or another village in Klipoford.

The Luswena soldiers all raised their spears in unison, signaling caution, their brows furrowing as the carriage drew nearer. It wasn’t a war chariot, and the driver wasn’t armored—just an ordinary civilian.

Had they taken a wrong turn? But the carriage didn’t veer off course; it slowed down but kept coming steadily forward.

“Sounds like a Bariel carriage,” one soldier muttered.

“What should we do?”

“Report this to command immediately.”

As the soldiers hurriedly moved back, Alenara opened the door herself and stepped down from the carriage.

She brushed her hands off and scanned the soldiers. She wasn’t familiar with war, but was it normal to set up a camp like this, with stakes driven into an empty plain?

“I have come to see His Majesty, King Eriphoni of Luswena.”

“What are you saying?”

“I am Alenara Sero, daughter of Sero, a central noble of Bariel. If you deliver this to His Majesty, he will surely listen. No more delays—move.”

With that, Alenara flicked a small jewel—a tiny ruby—toward the soldier, and waved a fan as if it were a token of her rank or a royal emblem.

The soldier snatched the jewel quickly, glancing nervously around. Too many eyes were watching. There was no way to slip it into a pocket unnoticed; he had no choice but to report it up the chain.

Clearing his throat, the soldier motioned for her to wait.

“Miss, I think I should—”

“No. I can’t ride a horse.”

The driver, anxious and uneasy about entering a war zone, wanted nothing more than to turn back immediately. But Alenara silenced him with a sharp word and faced the soldiers standing silently, their expressions unreadable. Hurry, hurry…

“Come in. But there will be a body search. Please understand.”

“Of course.”

Alenara raised her hands as if it didn’t matter.

After a quick frisk, she followed the soldier into the camp, where dozens—no, hundreds—of eyes immediately turned toward her. Word spread instantly: a noble from Bariel had entered.

At this critical moment, when the war might end in defeat or victory, Alenara’s arrival sparked deep interest.

“This way.”

With a sharp sound, the soldier pulled back a tent flap, and a strong wind swept through. Alenara smoothed her fluttering hair and met the gaze of Eriphoni, seated inside.

Eriphoni leaned back on a sofa, her hair tied high, a half-empty bottle of liquor on the table before her.

“Lady Alenara, it’s been a while.”

Eriphoni smiled, arms open as if welcoming her, but the atmosphere was cold—her generals nearby looked ashen.

Alenara wasn’t wearing a dress but gave a slight nod and stepped inside.

“Seeing you here, dressed down, is quite a change. You wear it well.”

“An honor, Your Majesty.”

“There’s so much to ask, but let’s start with the basics. Why have you come here?”

Eriphoni’s sharp eyes flickered with suspicion—was Alenara a double agent sent by Bariel or Ian? If so, she could turn it to her advantage and extract information.

Since they had been in contact since the crown prince’s appointment, Ian would know. Eriphoni was almost certain and probed further.

“I was worried whether my letter reached Your Majesty safely. I wanted to see for myself that you are well. That small wish brought me here.”

“Ah, the letter.”

Eriphoni glanced at Eldert. How many letters had they received? Many had been filtered out by Eldert, so Eriphoni didn’t know exactly how many times Alenara had tried to contact her.

In a brief moment, Eldert blinked several times. Quite a few, it seemed. Eriphoni inhaled her pipe smoke and smiled again.

“It arrived well. Of course.”

“Your Majesty—”

“But, Lady Alenara, things have changed a lot since the crown prince’s appointment. This place isn’t a marble hall but a battlefield piled with corpses. The relationship between Bariel and Luswena has shifted, too. Honestly, I don’t understand why you’ve come.”

Alenara hesitated. It felt like a broken clock suddenly ticking again.

Even if she proposed Luswena’s asylum again, Eriphoni wouldn’t easily accept it. Actually, that might be the easier option.

Or perhaps…

“Does Bariel know you’re here?”

If she used the letters as leverage to threaten, she realized she could fall all the way down. That night she met Eriphoni had been so sweet, she hadn’t noticed her own feet rotting beneath her.

Swallowing dryly, Alenara composed herself.

“No. My brother led the reinforcements to the Klipoford barrier, and I left midway to come here. So, they wouldn’t know.”

“Reinforcements? How many?”

Eriphoni frowned, pressing her temple. With Burgos’s mistakes, the war was teetering on the edge of ending or continuing. Reinforcements? She chewed her pipe stem briefly, then stubbed it out on the table.

“Lady Alenara, I asked how many reinforcements.”

“Well, my brother is in charge of them, so I don’t know. I just came along thinking I could meet Your Majesty.”

“Thousands?”

Alenara smiled faintly. The broken clock was ticking faster now. Judging by Eriphoni’s expression, she didn’t want the war to end just yet.

Her actions might be a weakness that tightened around her, but to Eriphoni, it was an opportunity. Reinforcements already inside the Klipoford barrier could easily switch sides.

If chaos broke out inside the barrier, it wouldn’t matter whether the King of Burgos was captured or not. The order was to advance—no matter what. This would be the most crucial chance in all their battles, a do-or-die gamble.

“Your Majesty, to find out, I must return to my brother. But then he will ask where I’ve been.”

She couldn’t return empty-handed. She needed a clear answer. Would Eriphoni grant her royal authority or a title equivalent to the Luswena throne? Or would she use this as a pretext to drag her down to the bottom?

Eriphoni brushed her hair aside and appraised Alenara from head to toe. Why trust someone who had turned her back on her own country? No matter how she thought about it, she didn’t want to accept her defection—but for now, she was a useful card.

“Then say you have met King Eriphoni of Luswena in person.”

Yes. If you want to come to Luswena, I’ll allow it. With Eriphoni’s approval, Eldert subtly turned his head, and Alenara bowed gracefully.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Is there anything else you wish me to tell my brother?”

“Alenara, this is not only for your brother but also a direct request from me. Can you fulfill it?”

“Just say the word.”

“I want Ian Hielo gone.”

Just killing someone wasn’t easy for her, let alone Ian Hielo—the mage, the most trusted minister and current power in the empire.

Alenara was too stunned to answer. Eriphoni stood and gripped her shoulder firmly. The height difference made Eriphoni bend gracefully.

“If you can’t eliminate him, at least restrain his magic temporarily. I’ll give you a dagger made in Idgalo. After you see Ian’s blood with your own eyes, come here. It would be even better if your brother can secure the inside of the barrier.”

Alenara felt the solemn desperation in Eriphoni’s grip. She placed her hand gently over Eriphoni’s and replied with a tone full of sympathy.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will do my best.”

“And if possible, I want detailed reports on the situation inside.”

“Of course, Your Majesty. Would you like a negotiation table?”

“The best thing now is the absence of Ian Hielo and the mages. Bariel will surely hold Luswena accountable, but it won’t be a matter to be taken lightly at the negotiation table.”

“I see. I understand.”

The Klipoford side’s momentum seemed even stronger than the messenger had said. During this truce, if they played their cards right, both Bariel and Luswena could claim credit.

Alenara decided to stand between the two sides rather than assassinate Ian.

Since they would end up at the negotiation table anyway, wouldn’t it be better to lead and meet quickly? The key was to explain Luswena’s friendship with Bariel plainly.

With a sharp sound, the tent flap was pulled back again.

“Your Majesty!”

It was the moment when Alenara was scribbling all sorts of thoughts in her mind, only to erase them again. Outside the tent, the urgent voice of a soldier rang out. The generals, tense and on edge, rose from their seats without realizing it, while Eriphoni stepped away from Alenara and reached for her bow.

“What’s going on?”

“Th-there’s something strange in the distance.”

“Strange? What exactly?”

“You should see it for yourself.”

Eriphoni grabbed her telescope and stepped outside the tent. At that moment, the ground beneath them seemed to tremble ever so slightly. Thinking it might be her imagination, she glanced back—and saw others hesitating, their expressions betraying that they too sensed something was off.

Eriphoni fixed her gaze toward the direction the soldier had pointed. They were on the hillside of the Clifpord lands, known mostly for its vineyards, with a clear view in every direction. So it didn’t take long to spot the mysterious smoke the soldier had mentioned far off in the distance.

“What is that?”

A faint, grayish plume of smoke.

It looked like a dragon’s breath rising from a crack in the earth itself. Eriphoni frowned at this natural phenomenon she had never seen before and quickly summoned the mages.

“Do you know what that is?”

“No, we’re not sure.”

Even the mages of Luswena had never witnessed the origin of such a fissure. It was a moment when the long-standing beneficiaries of civilization suddenly found themselves reduced to mere mortals.

Nearby, Zaira, who had been watching all this, spoke to the king.

“Your Majesty, whatever it is, we should inform the palace immediately. There’s no faster way than the sky routes. Please allow us to send word at once.”

“The scout mage hasn’t returned yet.”

“Please, at least let me go first. I will do everything in my power to make the journey and return within a day.”

She glanced briefly at Alenara. Though they had just met, it was clear she was a noblewoman from Bariel. Both the noblewoman and the king seemed resolute in continuing the war. If Eriphoni received orders, she would head to the palace to save her family and then seek refuge in Bariel. She also made a mental note to inform Lord Ian about this woman.

Meanwhile, Alenara carefully observed the mages, imprinting their appearances in her mind.

Remember the number of mages. Judging by the conversation, they’re planning to request reinforcements from the palace. Along with that, I should report that two mages are currently absent. That will earn me some trust from Bariel.

When Alenara’s eyes met Zaira’s, she smiled faintly. Zaira returned the look with a neutral expression. Both were altered beings, yet why did she find this woman so unlikable? Could it be that her own allegiance was already shifting toward Bariel?

Zaira shook her head, uncertain. Some things were simply beyond understanding.