Inside the carriage, Celia lay on the soft seat, her eyes closed, her breathing steady.
Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating her golden hair spread across the crimson cushion. Her fair skin held a delicate blush, and her long eyelashes fluttered gently with each breath, making her both adorable and profoundly endearing.
Sitting beside her, Dorothy finally felt her worries completely dissipate upon seeing Celia safe and sound.
After gently stroking Celia’s cheek for a moment, she turned her gaze to Orl, her voice chillingly calm. “You can answer my questions now, can’t you, Orl?”
She yearned to understand why Sophia had entrusted her daughter to his care.
“This…”
Beads of sweat, a rare sight, trickled down Orl’s forehead under the Queen Consort’s scrutinizing gaze.
He hesitated for a long time, then ultimately shook his head. “Your Majesty, entrusting Princess Celia to my care was the Demon King’s decision. As for the reason, I am not privy to it.”
While Orl was indeed the true power behind the Fiona family, he was merely one of Demon King Sophia’s subordinates. He held no authority to know why the Demon King had entrusted Celia to him.
Dorothy clearly sensed he wasn’t lying. She glanced at Celia’s sleeping face, then, after a moment of silence, inquired, “Can my daughter become a Hero now?”
This seemingly light question caused the cold sweat on Orl’s forehead to suddenly intensify. He offered an awkward smile. “Uh, whatever Your Majesty decides would be best.”
‘Stop the Princess from becoming a Hero?’
‘Her own mother supported her becoming a Hero; what right did a mere subordinate of the Demon King have to object?’
“Return to the city,” Dorothy commanded.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
A servant tugged the reins, and the carriage turned, heading towards Vidona.
Blessed by magic, the carriage would only take a short while to reach Vidona. However, midway through their journey, Dorothy suddenly recalled something and instructed Orl.
“Also, do not inform Celia or Sophia of my return. Do you understand?”
“I will obey Your Majesty’s command.”
Orl lowered his head, a flicker in his eyes, and assented.
****
Back in Vidona, the flower sea had successfully repelled the beast tide, allowing the knights and Heroes on the city walls to return inside. Any lingering low-level demonic beasts still roaming the city had been dealt with.
The fires had been extinguished, and much of the thick smoke had dissipated. Although rubble and collapsed structures still littered the roads, the despair that had gripped the populace was now gone.
Their next task was to rebuild Vidona.
Furthermore, tales of the Silverbloom Sword Princess began to spread like wildfire throughout the city.
****
Behind the Demon King’s palace stood a grand sacrificial hall. Within it, a demonic idol, towering roughly ten adult humans high, dominated the space. Beneath the idol lay a crystal orb shrouded in swirling black energy.
“You may all withdraw.”
The cold voice echoed through the empty hall. Upon receiving the command, the maids bowed their heads and retreated.
Clad in a black gown, Sophia approached the crystal orb on high heels. Upon seeing the dense black energy swirling within, her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Then, she slowly extended a hand and placed it upon the orb.
The black energy from within the crystal orb, like starving wolves spotting a flock of sheep, instantly coiled around her arm and surged into her body.
Slowly, a fragrant sweat dampened the hair at Sophia’s temples. An expression of uncontrollable agony contorted her face, and she bit down hard on her lower lip. Soon, warm blood welled from her delicate lips.
Her vision blurred, and her body swayed. She barely managed to remain standing by leaning against the crystal orb’s pedestal.
Only when the black energy within the orb was completely purified and the pain receded like a tide did Sophia clutch her chest, gasping for breath.
Before long, she wiped away the blood from her lips, dabbed the sweat from her forehead, and straightened her posture once more.
With a casual adjustment of her gown, her expression reverted to its usual placidity. The bearing of a queen of old made her appear utterly aloof and majestic.
As she lifted her foot, preparing to leave the sacrificial hall, a sharp, grating voice echoed from the demonic idol behind her.
“Is she truly worth this suffering?”
Endless echoes reverberated through the empty hall. Sophia merely paused her steps for a brief moment before continuing her walk out of the hall.
Seeing that she completely ignored it, the demonic idol seemed to grow indignant.
“Hmph, the demon race will soon birth an obedient new king! When that day comes, your only fate will be to be hanged!”
At these words, Sophia finally halted, turning to look back at it.
Yet, her pause was not born of fear.
“Are you speaking of those useless puppets you’ve propped up? After all these years, I remain the Demon King. You decaying old relic, you’d best return to the earth sooner rather than later.”
After delivering a scathing retort, Sophia paid no mind to the demonic idol’s reaction and strode directly out of the sacrificial hall, returning alone to her study in the palace.
However, no sooner had she settled into her chair at the desk than she clutched her mouth, coughing violently twice. A coppery sweetness filled her throat, and the color drained from her cheeks.
The dim, yellow light of the study cast upon her face made her appear not just melancholic, but utterly exhausted.
She casually picked up a magic-infused letter from her desk. Upon seeing the words “rebellion” inscribed upon it, she let out a cold snort, a fierce murderous intent flashing in her eyes.
After composing her reply, she then retrieved another newly arrived magic-infused letter.
Her eyes widened momentarily when she saw Orl’s signature, then a faint, happy curve unconsciously graced her lips.
‘It must be about Celia.’
With that thought, she broke the seal on the letter. Inside, it detailed Celia’s experiences over the past years.
As she read about Celia’s every step of growth, she couldn’t help but smile with profound relief, feeling much of her own weariness dissipate.
However, Celia’s story only accounted for half the letter. What could Orl have written in the remaining portion?
Curiosity compelled Sophia to continue reading. Yet, upon seeing the next passage, she froze.
‘Dorothy?’
She blinked, fearing she had misread. But when her gaze sharpened and the three characters “Dorothy” remained, she broke into a smile.
‘News of her beloved, missing for sixteen years? Incredible!’
‘And she had actually met Celia?’
Sophia reread every subsequent word with meticulous care, her face radiating doting affection as she murmured to herself.
“Vidona, was it? I knew you’d be there. To hide from me, you really should have chosen a more secluded city, honestly.”
“And you even agreed to let our daughter become a Hero? Hmph, just wait until we meet. I’ll have to show you both the true power of the Demon King.”
After reading the letter several more times, she leaned back in her chair, a soft chuckle escaping her as she cradled the missive in her arms.
Closing her eyes, she seemed lost in memories of the past. The dim, yellow light bathed her face, and the queen, usually so full of majesty, now revealed a touch of softness and warmth.
“How I long to come find you, but alas, it will require a little more time…”
Murmuring softly, the exhausted queen gradually drifted off to sleep in her study. Her arms fell naturally to her sides, yet the letter remained nestled against her chest.
But in the empty palace, no one was there to cover her with a warming cloak. Loneliness and solitude permeated the study, and her only companion was the shadow on the floor.