Act VI: Wizards, Dragons, and Empire III

"Brando, do you remember when we had just returned to Tonigell, and I asked you to keep our whereabouts secret and not announce them to the outside world?" In the smoke-filled room, Veronica was the one who finally spoke first. Brando nodded. That had indeed happened. That was why Princess Griffine had to wait until Freya reached Valdenburg before she could learn that they were safe. Nemesis and the others, including the wounded members of the Broken Sword Knight Order, had been settled in Shafrund. The Kouhua Sisters had gone to Valhalla. As for Medisa, Hypamira, and the few others who moved about freely, their activities were mostly confined to the castle. Although they occasionally met the servants in the castle and Charles's apprentices, those people generally did not leave the castle except during festival celebrations. Antitina had even issued strict orders, so at least until the Harvest Festival, the news should not leak.

As for the princess, although doing this was somewhat inhuman for an elder sister concerned about her younger brother's safety, Veronica had looked extremely solemn when she warned him. That was why he had reluctantly agreed. Seeing the anxiety on Veronica's face, he paused. Could the news have leaked?

If so, the problem could only have come from the Shepherd's Inn. However, the innkeeper was an old subordinate of the Bronze Dragon and a veteran of the November War. His background was absolutely reliable, so it was unlikely he could be bought. Perhaps some interested party had spotted the young people from the Broken Sword Knight Order, but that possibility was even slimmer. Griss was now a commercial port, and a large portion of the merchants traveling north and south were Cruzian. A few young people would hardly stand out among them, especially since they were