Cold Dew Manor lay silent in the darkness.
It was a villa built in the distinct architectural style of the Age of the Glorious Return. Its architect was Bolter, the most renowned architectural master in the Empire a hundred and fifty years ago. The villa's magnificent curves disappeared into a sea of trees, while the railings along its outer walls stretched two or three miles away. It was said that two dukes, one count, and the famous lady of the house, Lady Belisha, had once lived here. She had remained here until her death.
Now it was royal property, without an owner.
In the woods near the manor stood a vast stretch of low rose bushes. Brando and the others were hidden among them, the dense leaves perfectly concealing their forms, while magic masked their presence.
Brando observed the mansion beneath the night sky from a distance.
Only a few hours earlier, the mysterious witch had told him one thing: Cold Dew Manor was the trap Silver Queen had laid. Her target was neither Faina nor Sidney, but Brando himself.
The force Queen had stationed heavily around the manor was not guarding Countess Valachi, but the Scepter of Fire, which the Empire had lost long ago.
It was the staff body of Odephys, which had been split into three parts.
It was also the origin of the name of the armed force under the Temple of Flames—the Scepter of Fire.
Brando could not help glancing at his chest.
Because of the Flame Orb within him, as soon as he approached the staff, Odephys's soul would naturally resonate with it, revealing him to the other side.
If that woman had been telling the truth, then under his original plan, he would indeed have suffered a setback tonight. He had not expected