Queen Alina arrived at the Capital. She looked around as a crowd of people gathered around her carriage.
She stayed seated while the royal knights stood at the ready around her. Without glancing at them, she raised her hand and pointed at the coachman.
"Can you tell him to go faster?" she asked calmly.
One of the knights gave a respectful nod and made his way to the front to relay her order.
Outside the window, Alina watched the people. Some waved and welcomed her return with cheer, while others lingered silently in the shadows, watching.
In an upstairs room of the nearby tavern, Xiandre stood by the window, quietly observing the Queen's arrival with the girls at his side.
"Looks like I'm meeting her again," Xiandre muttered.
"This time she's with the King," Fillia replied, crossing her arms.
"Even if she is, as long as they continue to protect those students… I'm coming for them," Xiandre said coldly.
Amelia and Millie sat on either side of Faye, who had remained mostly quiet.
"So… what was Xiandre like when he was a kid?" Amelia asked, curious.
Alice smiled faintly at the question. "He was always quiet. Always trying his best to help our family, even when we had very little. Our life wasn't peaceful—there were a lot of arguments between our parents."
Velmora stepped up behind Xiandre.
"How do you plan to defeat the King?" she asked, arms folded.
"The King?" Xiandre turned slightly toward her, his tone steady. "Do you really think he's capable of matching up to me?"
"This isn't the first time we've warned him about you," Fillia added. "But… he's very strong. Overwhelming, even."
"If that's true, then there's only one way to find out who's stronger," Xiandre replied. "I'll face him myself."
"Brother," Alice called softly.
Xiandre turned.
"What is it?" he asked.
"If I suddenly disappeared… what would you do?" she said with a strange smile.
Xiandre fell quiet, clearly taken aback. All the girls turned toward her, intrigued.
"If that happened… I'd go looking for you," Xiandre answered.
"Hihi, I thought so," Alice giggled.
"Why are you talking about vanishing?" he questioned.
"Maybe because… the only way to truly protect you is to watch over you from outside our dimension," she said, almost in a whisper.
"What are you talking about?" Xiandre asked, his voice low.
"You'll figure it out soon," she replied with a cryptic grin.
The girls exchanged confused glances. All except Fillia—who seemed to understand, but chose to stay silent.
Meanwhile, Queen Alina reached the Capital's castle. As the carriage came to a halt, she stepped out with the assistance of her royal knights. Her eyes lifted toward the towering structure in front of her.
"This castle is ten times larger than the one Millie lived in," she thought to herself.
The castle loomed like a monument to power. Its height rivaled skyscrapers, its width stretched across half the city, and it rose above the clouds. Guards were so numerous it felt like a city of soldiers surrounded the fortress.
As the queen entered, nobles within the grand hall immediately bowed.
Nobles? What are they doing here? Is my husband hosting some kind of event? she wondered silently.
She began ascending the massive staircase, glancing up toward the top. Twenty floors. A place like this would easily lose anyone without a guide.
The grand interior glowed—chandeliers bathed the space in radiant light, and ornate lamps shimmered across the marble walls. The castle buzzed with activity, but the weight of its presence pressed against her.
"Welcome back, Your Majesty," the nobles echoed as she passed by.
With her knights at her side, she reached the top—the throne room. But just before entering, she stopped.
"My queen, is something the matter?" one of the knights asked.
"Is my husband waiting behind this door?" she asked quietly.
"Yes, I believe so. All of this… was prepared for your return," the knight replied.
Alina sighed and turned away from the door.
"My queen, the King awaits inside. Where are you going?" the knight asked again, surprised.
"To see my daughter. Do you have a problem with that?" she replied, her gaze cold.
"I do not… but the King will," the knight said.
She ignored him. The other knights followed her silently as she descended back to the 19th floor—where her daughter's room was.
This level was silent. No nobles were allowed here. Only guards lined the corridors, hands always on their swords, backs straight and eyes cold under their helmet.
These guards are trained to give their lives for the castle. They've been stripped of emotions… turned into hollow tools. My husband doesn't care about them. Each one might have a wife or child waiting at home… but Dula sees them only as weapons. That's cruel enough, but what makes it worse is that the heavens are on his side, she thought bitterly.
She glanced out a window.
Why does it feel like Millie and even the Goddess Fillia are living freer lives than me? Is it because I'm trapped in his grasp? He doesn't want a wife—he wants a breeding tool. He wants stronger children to use as pawns. Kin, Bakla, and Shibu… they're just his puppets now.
And the worst part? They don't even see their strings. As for Neru—she's the only one not yet under his control. Maybe because she's a girl… and he doesn't care about daughters.
That might be a blessing—but it also means he might eliminate her, just like he did to with Scarlett. Damn it… he's the reason my daughter turned into the Black Hood and is now trying to kill me and everyone in our family.
She finally reached the door to Neru's room and took a deep breath.
Neru is still under my protection. I've been trying to keep her safe… just like I did with Millie. I sent Millie to another city to keep her away from Dula. I want to do the same for Neru—to let her live safely in her own castle. But I couldn't… not until she turned sixteen. And now… she finally has.
She knocked gently.
A pause.
Then she heard something inside. A man's voice.
Her heart dropped.
Without hesitation, she flung the door open.
Inside, Kin stood with a pair of scissors in hand, laughing. Neru lay on the ground, a red scar slashed across her cheek, tears streaming from her wide eyes.
"Kin!" Alina shouted in horror. "What are you doing to your sister?!"
"Huh!? Mother, she wouldn't fulfill my desires... she wouldn't let me have fun with her. She's all grown up now, she just turned sixteen..." Kin said, smiling maniacally.
"What are you talking about!?" Queen Alina exclaimed, her voice trembling with fury.
"Mother... he's lost his mind—physically and mentally," Neru stammered, her voice shaking, her eyes wide in terror.
"Mother... I like Neru. Her body..." Kin muttered.
"So this is what happens when you spoil a brat too much," Alina thought, her fists clenching.
"He's too fast… too powerful for me... I can't fight him," Neru whispered, trembling.
"Kin! She's your sister! She's sixteen, and you're twenty-one! You bully her, torment her, and now you think she'd like you back!? You idiot! It's even her birthday today, and this is how you treat her!? Can't you see the fear in her eyes!?" Alina shouted.
Kin turned to Neru and flicked his tongue with a sick grin.
"I don't care! I get what I want. I'm the eldest. Make her beg for me—just like how father gives me everything I want! I'm powerful, dammit! I've slain thousands of monsters! I'm stronger than any Platinum-ranked adventurer! I've proven my worth! WHY WON'T YOU SEE THAT!? LET ME HAVE EVERYTHING I WANT FOR ONCE!" he screamed.
The scissors in his hand warped and grew—elongating into a flaming blade. He raised it toward Neru's neck with a wicked grin.
"Come on, Neru... strip for your big bro—"
Before he could finish, Queen Alina was already behind him.
With blinding speed, she slammed her fist down on him. Blood burst from his mouth as he hit the ground hard.
Kin groaned, struggling to get up, only to be grabbed by Alina and hurled across the room. He crashed into the wall with a thunderous thump.
"This room is reinforced with holy walls," Alina said coldly. "Built like the floors of heaven."
Kin collapsed to his knees, coughing blood.
"How dare you hurt me!" he spat, summoning his giant scissor-blade again and cracking his neck.
He charged at her.
Alina didn't move.
He swung.
She jumped—twisting through the air—dodging it entirely.
"Even without the angels aiding me right now, you're pathetically weak," she mocked, disgust in her tone.
Neru watched in awe and relief as her mother shielded her from what could have been the end.
Kin roared and launched a fireball straight at Alina.
She stopped it with her bare palm.
Then, in a blink, she surged forward and punched him square in the chest, sending him flying through the door.
He crashed out the door, blood pouring from his mouth, his nose broken.
Before he could hit the floor fully, she was already standing in front of him.
"You came from me. You suckled at my breast. You cried in my arms, begged to be held, soiled your diapers—and now you point a weapon at me!?" Alina yelled.
"Mother..." Kin gasped.
Her fist silenced him, cracking across his face. He hit the ground with a thud, a tooth flying from his mouth.
Neru rushed to her mother—but then her eyes widened.
Behind Kin stood a shadow.
King Dula.
He looked down at his bleeding son, then raised his cold gaze to Alina.
She understood immediately—the royal knight must've told him.
"What is the meaning of this?" King Dula asked, his tone deadly, his presence suffocating.
Alina narrowed her eyes. "It's disrespectful… for your son to be this weak. How disappointing."
"Hmph. You did this to him to protect your daughter, didn't you?" he said with chilling calm.
"My daughter? She's our—" But before she could finish, Dula drove his fist into her stomach.
Alina was hurled backward, landing at Neru's feet.
"Mother!" Neru cried, kneeling beside her.
Kin sat up, laughing.
"AHAHAHAHA!"
Dula approached slowly. "Alina… never disrespect our son again. Do it once more—and I'll kill you myself. I'll find a new wife. One who knows her place."
"You mean—find another woman to be your breeding slave?" Alina muttered through clenched teeth, coughing blood.
Dula smirked, grabbing Kin by the hair and dragging him away.
"O-Ouch! D-Dad, that hurts!" Kin screamed.
The royal knights followed the king, leaving Alina and Neru behind.
"Mother… are you okay?" Neru asked, tears in her eyes.
"I'm fine, honey. Don't worry about me. Worry about yourself. Because that bastard… your father... I hope he dies soon," Alina growled.
"It's no use, mother… don't waste your hope. We can't do anything about him," Neru whispered, breaking into sobs.
Alina embraced her tightly, gently patting her daughter's head.
"Don't cry. We still have one hope," she whispered.
"Hope? What do you mean?" Neru asked.
"Are there Holy Knights in this castle?" Alina asked.
Neru pulled away, wiping her tears. "Yes… a few days ago, they came here. They're currently training outside, but I think their rooms are on the 18th floor."
"Are they under Dula's protection?" Alina asked again.
"I guess so... I don't really leave my room. I've been locking myself in to hide from my brother and… everyone else," she murmured.
Alina's expression darkened.
"Then we only have one chance left."
"Chance? For what?" Neru asked, confused.
"As long as those Holy Knights are within this castle… they'll remain prey."
"Prey? Prey to who?"
Alina's lips curled slightly.
"...The Smiling Reaper."
Neru blinked. "Smiling Reaper…?"
"You'll see soon."
"Who is that?" She asked.
"Oh yeah, I nearly forgot—happy birthday," Alina said gently, her tone softening.
"Thanks... mom," Neru replied quietly, her voice still shaken.
Alina smiled and handed her a small box. Inside it lay a silver ring, shimmering with faint divine light.
"A ring...? Is this a gift?" Neru asked, her eyes widening in surprise.
"It's more than a gift," Alina said. "It's a ring forged from the materials of heaven. It should grant you some form of protection... and maybe even power."
Neru held it carefully in her palm, staring at the glow. "Thank you... really," she whispered, her voice trembling, her eyes cast down.
Alina nodded, her expression returning to its composed, focused form. "Anyway... go back to your room for now."
Neru hesitated, then gave a small nod. "Okay..."
As she turned to walk away, the silver ring gleamed slightly in her hand—its light subtle, yet steady.
Alina turned down the corridor, her thoughts sharpening again.
Time to find those Holy Knights.