Aleonia, Capital of Aleonia
– 7 days after the departure of the FIDELIUS group.
The situation intensified in the capital of Aleonia. Foot soldiers were everywhere, surrounding the great gates that protected the great city of Amethyst, a historical symbol of those who fought to protect the people. In the royal court, messengers were constantly addressing His Majesty, the monarch Voros Harlley Aleonia, who had reigned over the country for more than 17 years.
"Excuse me, your majesty–!"
"...What do you wish, Raeligh of Maltaron?"
"Yes. I have information… of the advances of the troops advancing from Balterlutt."
"Hmm… Go ahead"
The messenger by the name of Raeligh addressed his majesty, providing him with information about the Galèsia armies that continued to take important territories in the central siege of Aleonia.
"Tummm–!" Voros slammed his fist against the arm of his throne in frustration.
"Wretched be– Ludwig!"
"Using people..! people–! for your dirty purposes!"
"Your Majesty…" Raeligh and those in the hall with his majesty observed the great anger of their monarch at the informant's statements.
After a great session of tragic audiences in Aleonia's domain, Raeligh leaves the audience, and returns to his post, walking through the corridors of Alviberto's great palace.
" *huff* …" – Raeligh sighed.
"Was the audience with the monarch difficult, boy?"
"Wha–?"
The person who approaches Raeligh is his long-time colleague at court, Willbur'reisen, a man of shorter stature compared to Raeligh, with red hair and dark brown eyes. They both decide to go to Aleonia's intelligence and information team department.
"Willbur."
"What is it?"
"When will this all end? I mean—this war, all this senseless commotion? Does it all have a compelling reason?"
"...I wanted to know too, Ray."
"All this sh*t is driving me crazy… I haven't slept well in two months. I've been having a lot of problems with my wife and daughter because of this work."
Both talked about the lack of peace in their lives, as they walked through the palace corridors. Raeligh assumed the nickname of Leader of the Intelligence and Information Division of Aleonia, while Willbur'reisen commanded the first line of infantry soldiers in the capital. Both had great responsibilities, and because of that, they could barely breathe easy due to the constant incoming attacks.
Arriving at the city, Raeligh and Willbur are faced with a large mass of knights returning through the front gates.
"Those are—" Raeligh said in surprise.
"Yes. Our country's greatest line of defense, the Èrasus squadron." Willbur replied.
The front line of the country, the powerful Èrasus squadron. There resided the most powerful knights of the entire country, handpicked by the crown, led by the squadron general Faulhault Clayserfelt, the most powerful knight of the current generation of Aleonia. A man with long, dark hair, with a neutral expression, without expressing any reaction, which leaves his adversaries completely confused.
"This is new. We rarely see them up close," says Raeligh, perplexed by the knights' mastery in returning with few casualties.
"Faulhault Clayserfelt… the sword genius, it seems like this monster was created by training fencing in his mother's womb."
…
In a unison and triumphant march through the Upper City, the squadron returned to the battalion to prepare for the next orders from their general. The knights were admired and respected by all citizens, from nobles to commoners.
"General Faulhault, what's the situation?" asked his disciple, one of the soldiers closest to Faulhault.
"Apparently… Your Highness summons my presence to court again."
"Lunis, return with your companions to the battalion and wait for the sergeant's second order."
"Yes, sir."
Thus Faulhault went to the court, to which he had been summoned. Arriving in the room, he knelt down in reverence to His Highness.
"Faulhault Clayserfelt, I hear from the mouths of the people that you have once again accomplished unimaginable feats," declared the monarch, praising Faulhault's achievements.
"I thank you for your generous words, Your Majesty."
"Hmm… I also heard from my chief informant that Balterlutt was taken by the squadrons of Galèsia di Vasquiòz, and this makes me uncomfortable."
"Seeing those rotten insects, crawling across my lands–!"
"Well… How is the situation in the Hault region?"
"Hault stands firm and glorious, without casualties or any other types of atrocities, Your Highness."
Faulhault continued to give constant reports about his battles and travels through the nearby lands. The monarch was pleased with the good news from the general of the squadron.
"Faulhault, my general, I will request you for a new mission."
"I am available for all situations, Your Majesty."
The Monarch had requested that Faulhault and his troops head to the borders of Balterlutt in 10 days to eliminate the oppressive soldiers. Faulhault accepted without even questioning the short amount of time for rest and relocation of supplies.
"Furthermore, Faulhault, my general."
"Grace had requested your presence when she returned to the capital. Please fulfill my beloved daughter's wish."
Faulhault lowered his head, placed his hand on his chest in a sign of compliance with the monarch's orders, "As you wish, Your Majesty. I am going to meet your highness."
And so, Faulhault left the room with the permission of Monarch Voros, and headed towards Grace's chambers.
"Knock–! Knock–!" Faulhault knocks twice on the door.
"Who is it?"
Hearing the voice, Faulhault knelt down in reverence.
"I am here, your highness. His majesty told me that you had requested me—"
Suddenly, the door bursts open. Faulhault stands before the presence of the first princess of the kingdom of Aleonia, Grace'liesen Harlley Aleonia, who had light brown hair, vibrant blue eyes, fair skin like her father, and wore an overly ornate jade-green dress.
"Come in my knight~."
So Faulhault went into Grace's quarters. The general's presence made Grace very happy, and she showered him with hugs and kind words.
"Your Highness, I am glad that my presence here has pleased you."
"...you took too long."
Grace expressed frustration at Faulhault's excessive absence.
"I beg your pardon, your highness–"
"I told you to call me Grace when we're alone."
"...Okay, Grace."
Faulhault had asked Grace about the reason for her request. Grace replied that the reason was not very personal, and that there were matters to be discussed.
"So how was it on the battlefield?"
"There were many Galèsia soldiers on the front line, vanguards and sharpshooters. All very well trained and ready for combat."
"I understand, but still–" Grace grabs Faulhault's arm.
"None of them were a match for my knight~"
The Princess had directed her voice to Faulhault's ears. Even though he was tempted by Grace's purposeful advances, however, he struggled to maintain his composure, without making any mistakes.
"Um… I have been speaking with His Majesty regarding… confidential matters."
"My dear father told me that we are not far from finding what our nation so longs for"
"What are you referring to, Your Highness—I mean, Grace?"
"Hmm~... Of course I mean the ancient writings, the epitome of this entire chaotic scenario."
Grace told Faulhault without any guilty conscience about matters of extreme importance that she had extracted from her father, the monarch Voros.
"And once we get them all–! we'll get rid of all these cockroaches that are consuming our lands."
"Princess…"
The knight watched in astonishment at the way Grace acted in his presence. Grace had always been a respectful and cordial daughter, keeping her goals and duties first, receiving merits from His Majesty.
Compared to her younger sister, Grace represents the example of how demure a maiden can be. A beautiful and intelligent woman, in the prime of her life.
"Well… I wish I could have spent more time with you, Faulhy. However, I am aware that you have other matters to deal with, so I will release you~."
"I wish you all the luck in the world in your next missions."
"And next time, don't delay, alright… my knight~"
Faulhault acknowledges Grace's words and leaves his room. Grace, inside her quarters, begins to talk to herself.
"This… I have to try my best… so I can end this once and for all–"
"And so, and so–"
"Take this entire kingdom for myself… once and for all..!"
"For that to happen… I need my knight by my side…"
Grace takes her handkerchief, given to Faulhault for his recent trip, and throws herself on her bed, placing it over her breasts.
"My faulhault… my beloved Faulhy…"
"My faulhy…!"
…
Returning to the imperial court, the monarch had gathered his lords, servants and other palace officials to announce a celebration in honor of the deeds of the Èrasus squadron and its general Faulhault.
"I come to announce to you that within 3 days, we will have a celebration in honor of our victory on the plains of Hault, expelling the soldiers from Galèsia."
After Voros's brief announcement, and the dispersion of all those summoned, the king had sat back on his throne, reflecting on the progress, soon, an astrologer had approached him, telling him the news.
"My lord, I come to bring you the news dictated by the stars of Oryonn's belt."
"Um… say astrologer."
"according to the position of the stars Zephyr, Ameto and Caleb ascending to the Moon of Belda…"
"–Our empire will fall into ruins"
"What-!"
Voros was astonished and furious at the astrologer's statement. He insisted on these statements and replied to the monarch. Voros asked for some time to reflect on the statement of his trusted astrologer, dismissing everyone in the room.
"Impossible… but he never missed a prediction…"
"What will happen from now on..?"
"I have to be cautious"