In eastern Kingsbia, a small boat slowly entered Niptiles Port. Farolynch, Shire, and the others stood aboard, with Xin Erwei and her two children nestled beside Farolynch.
"The war is finally over. Peace has come to Kingsbia."
Shire sighed as he spoke and glanced at Farolynch, then a note of sadness crept into his voice.
"Although you're from Kingsbia, you gained a great deal from this war, while I, a man from Dierjia, lost so much."
Farolynch drew Xin Erwei closer and countered solemnly.
"Xin Erwei lost her parents and her home."
Shire glanced at Xin Erwei, then at the two children, and spoke quietly.
"Sorry, that was thoughtless of me. But you probably don't understand what I lost, either. I lost my family's businesses, our lands, my status as a hereditary noble of the Empire, and the wealth we'd accumulated over generations-enough for an ordinary person to live in extravagant luxury for hundreds, even thousands of years!"
Even without much concern for money, Farolynch and the others agreed that it was an enormous fortune. Somewhat puzzled, Farolynch asked him a question.
"You were a wealthy nobleman who lived a life of debauchery. Didn't you have any children?"
Another devastating blow. Farolynch clenched his fists.
"Our family's pure bloodline seems rather fragile. It's difficult for us to have children, and even those who are born tend to die young. So although I've had many beautiful girls, none of them ever became the Baroness."
"As for those distant relatives, I doubt they'll receive the full inheritance. Her Majesty the Queen of the Empire won't let an opportunity like this slip by."
The Shire Family had a strange tradition: a woman started out as a girlfriend, and as soon as she became pregnant, she was promoted to Baroness. If she failed to