Translator: Nox
(34) Star Festival and the Ash Wolf (6)
Cain sat on the edge of the fortress wall, sweeping back his dark, disheveled hair as he looked down.
The north wind that blew at this time of year was quite fierce, but it couldn't extinguish the festive fervor that had spread through the capital. Even at this late hour, the streets were bright, and occasionally, laughter of "Wahahaha" rode on the wind.
'Everyone's having fun.'
An entire forest, which had been a foundation for many, had vanished completely. For the next few years, not a single blade of grass would grow in that forest.
'It might not be obvious now, but once the displaced people start arriving, there will be many problems. We need to strengthen security.'
It wasn't the first time that people who had lost their villages to monsters had sought refuge in the capital.
When refugees who had lost their homes arrived, a rather beautiful scene unfolded at first. The people who originally lived in the capital treated those who had lost their homes kindly, patting them on the shoulder and comforting them. They took care of them in various ways, found them jobs, and helped them materially and mentally.
However, as that period lengthened, conflicts and discrimination arose between the natives and the newcomers, and there were even instances of the natives' hostility leading the newcomers to throw punches.
His left eye throbbed, so Cain placed his hand over the black eyepatch covering his left eye.
It had been a long time since he had lost his left eye to a monster, but whenever something troublesome happened, he felt pain in his left eye like this. Kirshan said it was a 'phantom pain' created by the mind. Adrian added the words 'weak mind' to that.
Cain pressed down on his now-absent left eye and turned his gaze towards Lily Palace.
It was quite late, so Lily Palace was dark, and there were no suspicious shadows moving nearby.
'Is she sleeping well?'
When Cain lost his left eye, he suffered from nightmares for months. Nightmares of killing monsters over and over again, only for them to revive and squint at his left eyeball.
'I was like that with just one eyeball...'
Roxana had lost her entire family.
'That princess probably thinks she would give up her eyes and arms if it meant she could save her family.'
She must be feeling pain that couldn't even be compared to losing an eye. That's why she seemed so fragile, so likely to crumble and fade away.
His twin brother, Adrian, was displeased with Roxana, who might bring turmoil to Torkan. Adrian cherished Torkan and Floyd more than anyone else, so he must have been anxious about Roxana, who could become a source of conflict with Gania.
Cain also cherished this Torkan, but because he was originally more vulnerable to the small and weak, he couldn't shake off the feeling of pity for the princess of Lily Palace.
Just then, he heard a sound in the air and looked up to see a crow flying through the dark night sky. As Cain held out his arm, the crow swooped down and landed on Cain's forearm.
Cain tapped the crow's head with his index finger, then untied the letter tied to its leg and read it. Deep wrinkles formed on his brow as he read the note.
+++
The sheer cliff face met the sea. The wind blowing in from the sea was strong, cold, and carried the scent of salt.
Because the moon was particularly bright that night, the night sea shone with a blue light. Gray-blue clouds stretched along the horizon at the end of the sea.
Floyd and Kirshan were sitting on the edge of the cliff, drinking beer. Their only snack was a piece of dried fish. Chewing on the salty, tough snack, Floyd pondered how to deal with the problems that would arise in the future.
The wind that blew in from time to time messed up his hair, but he was so lost in thought that he couldn't even bother with the strands of hair that were poking into his eyes.
Just then, Cain, who had strode through the darkness, snatched the wooden cup from Kirshan's hand and gulped down the beer.
"Cain, can't you see there are spare cups on top of that beer barrel?"
Cain grinned at Kirshan's remark.
"Too lazy."
Cain tossed the empty cup back to Kirshan and plopped down next to Floyd.
"Lord. I've received a report from the guy we sent to Kanta."
"What does it say?"
"It's true that a new Rift has appeared on the outskirts of Kanta, and monsters have begun to run rampant."
A Rift had appeared in Kanta Kingdom, causing great damage, so Victian IV, the King of Kanta, had personally requested help from Gania Kingdom. The Peluru Crown Prince Lucas, who was soon to marry the princess of Kanta, personally led his troops to suppress the monsters.
Lucas fought for Kanta Kingdom even when he was in mortal danger and suppressed the monsters, but Victian IV tried to steal the credit instead of praising his achievements. This caused a dispute, and in the end, Lucas had no choice but to execute the Franche Royal Family, who were supposed to become his in-laws, while swallowing tears of blood.
This was the story known to the world about the destruction of Kanta Kingdom.
But Floyd couldn't believe this story no matter what.
That Victian IV tried to steal the credit? That good-natured King, who had taken me in without any conditions, turned his back on me even after receiving help from others?
"However, after examining the surrounding damage and situation, it seems that the Rift hasn't been around for even two months."
"Lucas fought monsters in Kanta more than half a year ago, so another Rift has appeared in the meantime?"
"No. I looked around, and it seems there's only one Rift."
"Yeah, I thought so."
In fact, Floyd had no interest in the destruction of Kanta Kingdom until he found Roxana in that box. He had once relied on them, but he hadn't received much help, and his memories of his childhood had faded as he focused on the present.
It was only after reuniting with Roxana that he looked back on what had happened between Kanta and Gania, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
"Gania said that the damage to Kanta due to the Rift was very great. But it was suspicious that Lucas only dealt with the monsters with the soldiers he brought."
Kirshan, who had been quiet until now, nodded.
"That's right. If the Great Temple had supported the holy knights, they would have announced it widely, but there was no such news. It seems they manipulated the Rift."
Rifts were not easily visible, so manipulation was not difficult. If the same place was repeatedly damaged by what appeared to be the work of monsters, people would be reluctant to approach it and would whisper that a Rift had definitely appeared.
Unless the Great Temple formally dispatched a company of holy knights to investigate, this kind of manipulation would not be easily revealed.
Occasionally, there were lords who drove out the people who had settled and lived in this way and devoured their land.
"Even if they manipulated the Rift, I don't think they would have manipulated the monsters... Victian IV isn't that foolish a King. He would have definitely sent people to thoroughly investigate after receiving the report about the monsters. He was convinced it was a monster and would have requested help from the Great Temple."
"Lucas intervened at the right time before the Great Temple sent people."
"Yeah, Shan. What do you think this means?"
"If the monsters are real, it means that someone with the power to control monsters has joined Lucas' side."
"That's right."
Floyd grinned.
"It seems Lucas has picked up a very interesting toy. If it's someone who controls monsters, they must be quite strong, but I wonder if he can handle them properly."
"If he handles them properly, it will be a threat to us as well."
"Let them try to threaten us. I'll catch them and crush them from their toes to the top of their heads without leaving anything behind."
Floyd let out an eerie laugh and then gulped down his beer. Floyd, receiving the empty cup and opening the tap of the beer barrel to fill it with beer, asked Cain.
"Who's sitting on the throne of Kanta now?"
"I haven't been able to confirm that yet. The security is so tight because of the monsters that they can't move easily."
"Yeah. Serves them right. They did it because they coveted Kanta's fertile land, but they won't be able to use that land properly for a while because of the monsters."
"Are you going to tell the princess about this?"
Floyd groaned at Cain's question.
"I don't know."
"Wouldn't it be better to tell her? That way, she'll regain her strength, burning with revenge."
"It's more likely she'll just want to die more. I'll tell her when I see how things are going, so you guys keep your mouths shut."
+++
Roxana woke up as the sunlight streaming through the curtains tickled her eyes. She rubbed her heavy eyes, got out of bed, went into the bathroom to wash up, and came out to find Petria waiting for her with a flushed expression.
"Good morning, Petria."
Roxana greeted her first, and Petria's cheeks turned even redder.
Could something good have happened?
Roxana received Petria's greeting and headed for the window.
When she opened the window, a breeze carrying the scent of the sea blew in. That breeze served to remind Roxana once again of the reality she was in.
This is not Kanta Kingdom, and you are no longer a princess.
Some might wonder why she would bother to recall reality in such a way, but it was an important issue for Roxana. Only by accepting this reality could she avoid clinging to all the good things she had enjoyed as a princess and the dignity she had to maintain as a princess.
The path to retrieve the bodies of her family, abandoned somewhere in the Ider Royal Palace of Kanta, would not be easy. She might have to roll in the mud, submit to those with lewd intentions, or laugh with those who mocked her.
In order not to hesitate when doing all those things, she had to accept that she was the most miserable and lowest person on this continent.
As Roxana closed her eyes and breathed in the air, which was different from Kanta, Petria carefully opened her mouth.
"Um, Roxana... The maids say they have something to tell Roxana, is it okay if I let them in?"
