Teldrasil

At last, they arrived at Teldrasil, the royal capital of Xinteland, a vast city built amid an expansive forest.

Teldrasil was the grandest city Ronan had seen since coming to this world. Its permanent population exceeded one hundred thousand, and its towering walls stood ten meters high and four meters thick.

A broad moat had been dug around the city, stocked with ferocious piranhas. The only way to enter the city was via the steel drawbridges on either side.

Xinteland was divided into an inner and outer city. The outer city was where foreigners and ordinary citizens gathered, and the barracks of Xinteland's defenders were also located there. The inner city's walls were somewhat shorter, standing only seven meters tall.

At the center of the inner city stood Xinteland's royal palace, surrounded by the most luxurious commercial districts and villa neighborhoods.

With Thursma leading the way, Ronan's group passed through without obstruction. Thursma had a clear destination in mind: the royal palace.

Ronan had intended to part ways there and explore the city, but he was told that the Queen wished to see him. He had no choice but to accompany them to the palace.

After reluctantly saying goodbye to Ronan, Daisy headed for the Queen's chambers under Belicha and Thursma's guidance. Ronan and the others were led by palace maids to a side hall to wait. Once the Queen finished handling her affairs, she would summon him.

Thinking that he might never see Daisy again, Ronan felt a little uncomfortable. But their statuses were worlds apart—one was a princess of a kingdom, while the other was merely the leader of a mercenary band.

Ronan and his subordinates were treated very well. The attendants brought Ronan new clothes, helped him bathe, shaved his beard, and trimmed his hair. After all, the Queen would be receiving him shortly; he could not appear too disheveled.

Once cleaned up, Ronan was led to the dining hall in the side palace. The kitchens had prepared a lavish feast: steaks, whole roasted lambs, all kinds of desserts, and Xinteland's distinctive hundred-fruit wine.

As he ate the fragrant roast lamb and drank the sweet fruit wine, Ronan began to feel uneasy. This reception was almost too generous, and he could not help wondering whether the Queen intended to discard him once he had served his purpose—whether this was really his last meal before the executioner's blade.

Leaving aside Ronan and the others, who were eating and drinking to their hearts' content, Daisy finally reached the Queen's chambers after following Thursma along the long route. At the door, Daisy could not help feeling nervous. After all, Dorodamenro had taken her away from Xinteland when she was young, and she had never met her mother.

If Dorodamenro had not suddenly told her to come to Xinteland to find her mother this time, she would have continued believing that she came from a single-parent family.

Thinking of Dorodamenro, Daisy was overcome with sorrow again. She would never see that gentle man again.

Upon reaching the door, Thursma stopped to one side, while Belicha directly led Daisy inside after pushing the door open.

Behind a desk piled high with documents, directly opposite the entrance, sat a woman. With pointed ears, emerald-green hair, a cold and beautiful face, and a tall figure apparent even while seated, she was Xinteland's Queen—Serena Silvermoon.

Hearing the door open, Serena raised her head. The instant she saw Daisy, her coldly beautiful face softened. She beckoned Daisy over.

At the moment they met, the power of their bloodline drove away Daisy's fear. Moreover, Serena did not seem as cold and ruthless as the rumors claimed.

When Daisy sat beside Serena and Serena took her hand, Belicha spoke.

"Your Majesty, the Princess has arrived! The warriors who escorted the Princess have also been settled in the side hall and await your summons at any time."

"You still have no sense of atmosphere, Teacher."

Serena's cool voice rang out, but she did not even glance at Belicha. She merely looked tenderly at Daisy, holding Daisy's hand with one hand while gently stroking Daisy's face with the other.

Belicha smiled, removed the bundle from his back, and placed it on Serena's desk. When he untied it, Dorodamenro's twin swords lay inside.

"Your Majesty, these are Dorodamenro's belongings!"

"Father's belongings." At the sight of them, Daisy could not help feeling sad again.

Serena came back to herself and withdrew her hands from Daisy. She drew the swords slightly from their sheaths, revealing the inscriptions on their blades. Serena gently stroked them, feeling the raised edges of the engravings.

"I carved these myself back then. I just never imagined that when I saw them again, we would already be separated by life and death."

"He fought bravely. He did not disgrace the name of a warrior."

"Heh. That was precisely what drew me to him in the first place. Why wouldn't he listen to me and return to Xinteland?"

Serena gave a soft laugh and spoke slowly.

"Whatever considerations he had back then, they are already in the past. Her Highness the Princess has returned to Xinteland."

"Yes, there is no need to dwell on the past anymore. Belicha, Xibella still has much to learn before she can become a qualified princess. Teach her as you taught me back then. The two of you are already acquainted as well."

"This old servant is deeply honored!"

"But Xibella will stay with me tonight. I have much to say to her."

"Then this old servant shall take his leave first."

"Go. And while you're at it, have the mercenary captain who escorted Xibella back come here to see me."

Belicha nodded and pushed the door open to leave. Serena took Daisy's hand again and continued talking with her, mostly asking about her life over the years and about Dorodamenro.

After stepping outside, Belicha said to Thursma, who was standing nearby, "Go find Ronan. The Queen wishes to see him."

"The Queen wants to receive him here?" Thursma asked in surprise.

"Stop trying to guess the Queen's thoughts. Hurry up and go."

"I just thought the Queen would publicly reward him at tomorrow's court assembly." After replying, Thursma turned and headed toward the side hall. Belicha shook his head and left in the opposite direction.

Meanwhile, Ronan, who had nearly fallen asleep from waiting, finally saw Thursma arrive. Dressed in a soft silk robe, Ronan, accustomed to cold armor, still felt somewhat unaccustomed to it. Still, it was far more comfortable than rough cloth clothing and armor padding.

When Thursma arrived, Ronan was lying on a recliner, eating fruit and savoring the long-lost comfort, while his subordinates sparred in pairs.

"Captain Ronan, come with me. The Queen wishes to see you."

Ronan immediately flipped up from the recliner, patted down his robe, smoothed its wrinkles, and said to Thursma,

"Lead the way, Captain Thursma."

Ronan then followed Thursma through the sprawling palace complex. It took them nearly twenty minutes to reach their destination. There were many guards along the way, but aside from them, Ronan had not seen a single male servant so far. All the guards were elves as well.

When they reached the door to Serena's chambers, Thursma knocked and called loudly, "Her Majesty the Queen, Captain Ronan has arrived!"

A cool voice immediately came from within.

"Mhm. Let him come in."