'Wowwww!'

I marveled in delight at the sight of the bustling capital.

Despite the weather, the streets were packed to the brim and people were moving in and out of the stores in waves going about their day from one place to another. Even from a distance, I could hear the low humming of the crowded streets.

During my travels, I have seen my fair share of busy cities and towns but none were as bustling and energetic as the capital of the Orion Empire, Volos. Once we were outside the Frost Estate, it took around forty minutes of travel to reach the busy streets at the city's core.

There were rows and rows of buildings with shops of various kinds and restaurants on either side of the streets. There were officials on the road regulating the traffic to flow smoothly without hindering the public.

When I was around four years old I visited the capital with my parents after which Grandma took Clive and me to Grandpa Gilbert's. It was the only time I had traveled outside the Ashford County with my family. It was a wonderful trip but got overshadowed when I fell sick right after we returned home.

Even when I stayed at the Frost Estate when Edward was cursed, I did not get a chance to set into the city for the sake of my safety. Looking back at it now, I regret never getting to explore the capital that had so much to offer.

I read the names of the shops on the side of the road as we passed by and when we went across a blacksmith's workshop I couldn't help but wonder of my talking sword.

'Loki...' I called out the name in my mind as I sighed.

A moving carriage in the middle of a crowded street would be the perfect opportunity for a grand escape. Though, that would not be possible now since I... lost him!

In fact, I'm pretty sure he is somewhere buried under the rubble in Parthellam caught between debris and dust.

Loki was the magical sword I found by accident in a tomb in Eldom when I was chased by a group of ogres. He was not just any ordinary sword but one that once belonged to Orion's Hero from the legends. A sword that could even be held as Orion's national treasure.

'I can't believe I actually lost the Hero's sword. Ugh...' I withheld tears of anguish.

I barely had him for a month when I lost him amidst the spectacle in Parthellam. What would people think if they found out I lost their country's national treasure?

After I woke up, I tried calling Loki many times but it did not work. I figured it was due to the distance that I was unable to reach him. Just like modern devices, he was simply out of my range of call.

Knowing the state I initially found him in, there was also a fair chance he reverted to a rusty old stick again.

At that moment, I sensed a gaze on me. I tried to ignore it at first by pretending not to notice. But when it got to the point I could no longer ignore, I closed the curtains and glared at Edward, who was sitting across from me with his arms crossed.

"Got something to say, Mr.Frost?"

"Nothing. I was merely admiring"

Currently, Edward and I were in a carriage on our way to the Imperial Palace. As to be expected, we were traveling not as a couple but as an entire unit. There were carriages ahead and behind us with a dozen Knights on horses guarding either side of the windows.

This much I foresaw after the fiasco that ended with me clinging to a cliff. Still, seeing it happen in real time was rather taxing. While I understand that safety cannot be compromised, the Knight disguised as a maid sitting next to the coachman overdid things.

I recognized him right away since he was the same Knight who always stood guard by the second-floor window in the library wherever I went there to hide out from the constant surveillance.

'What was his name again? Ervin something?' I vaguely recalled one of the maids mentioning his name in the passing.

I had never heard him speak a word throughout the days he had been assigned to guard me. Not even to his peers.

It was not just him but for some reason, all of Edward's Knights were more of the quiet and brooding type. They never interacted more than necessary and mostly kept to themselves.

On the other hand, Ezra, Edward's former second-in-command and now secretary, had been desperately avoiding running into me even going to the extent of hiding whenever he spots me in the distance.

"I thought this was going to be a 'discreet' visit to the palace Mr.Frost"

"It is"

It is? I doubted myself for a second. Since when did being discreet become associated with an elaborate portrayal of self?

"Certainly doesn't look that way to me" I said and pointed out that we were traveling like a circus which was a far cry from being discreet.

"The news that you were summoned to the palace will get out once we reach the palace. We only needed to keep it under wraps till we crossed the gates"

"Aa ha" I nodded my head in understanding.

I guess some things cannot be controlled. Although it took the Emperor summoning me to get outside the Frost estate, at least now I could get a breath of fresh air.

Then a thought crossed my mind. It was the problem of me being guarded by an entire squadron of Knights and maids every second of the day.

I had been meaning to address it for a while but couldn't find the right time. Since we were already discussing it, I decided to bring it up.

"Mr.Frost as you know I'm a person who prefers privacy" I asserted my preference before making my demand known,

"I don't see the need to be under constant surveillance when I'm inside four walls"

I wouldn't say I liked being surrounded by people continuously watching my every move. Even when I was alone I was not as someone was always monitoring me at a close distance. It made me feel like a prisoner on death row with each passing day.

"Don't tell me you're worried I'll run away?" I teased and held my hand up as a sign of good faith.

While running away at the first chance may have been exactly what I would have done. I couldn't say that to his face, so instead I said,

"If that's what you're worried about I'll give you my word that I would never do such a thing. In case you've forgotten I'm a mercenary. I think I'm more than capable of protecting myself and being truthful to my word"

When Edward did not look convinced, I caved and added,

"Fine. One guard with me at all times. Not twenty. Not fifty. One"

Given how strongly guarded the Frost estate is, I didn't see the need to be protected as closely as such. After all, I was anything but a damsel in constant distress.

Much to my surprise, Edward agreed without as much as a rebuttal.

"Alright. I'll see to it when we get back"

"What? Really?" I yelled back unable to believe what I had just heard.

'It was that easy...'

After weeks of being hounded, all I had to do was ask? I stared at Edward's handsome face dumbfounded. And here I was ready for a battle of wits.

'Just what exactly is going through that head of his?'

One of these days I would love to open up his skull and see what's going inside.

Suddenly I had an idea. If all I had to do was ask and he granted. Maybe I could use this to my advantage.

"Then can I-"

"No"

Edward shot me down before I could finish my sentence as if he knew what I was about to say.

"Tsk... worth a shot" I muttered underneath my breath.

With that exchange, I opened the curtains and turned my attention back to the outside. It seemed like the wish-granting dark genie had its own set of conditions.

'Certainly, he couldn't have known I was about to ask to leave right?' I passively thought as I gazed at the scenery.

We had long passed the busy streets and were traveling through a wooded area that marked the beginning of the palace ground with the dome of the Imperial Palace visible in the distance.

Suddenly I sensed that the carriage was climbing upwards and when I looked ahead to investigate, I was breath taken by the magnificent view that unfolded.

Before my eyes, I saw the Imperial Palace of the Orion Empire rise to the surface as a large golden flag hoisted at the top of the palace gracefully danced to the rhythm of the wind welcoming its people.

Of course, the palace didn't rise from the ground. There was a small mountain we had to climb before we could reach the palace and as we descended, it provided a beautiful illusion of the Imperial Palace rising from the ground.

It was a simple yet clever formation that took advantage of the natural landscape. Whoever, it was that built the palace here certainly knew what they were doing.

Once we reached the Imperial Palace, we were immediately allowed through the gates as the guards recognized the symbol on the carriage and directed it towards the main palace where the audience chamber was located.

Edward got down first and reached out his hand for me. I hesitated for a bit, then ultimately took his hand and climbed down the carriage.

The first thing I noticed when I got off the carriage was the large statue of a golden lion standing at the center of the garden in front of the main palace. Looking at it reminded me of the symbol of the same symbol I saw above the tomb of Emperor Arthur.

The Imperial Palace was just as impressive as I had expected it to be for a fantasy romance setting. It spanned a large area of land at least three times the size of the Frost Estate.

The palace was not only the residence of the royal family. It was where the administration building for different sectors was located with officials of various degrees working full-time jobs.

In addition to those, the palace also held the Imperial Library which was said to hold some of the rarest scripts in the world in its massive archives, and the mage tower within its grounds.

While I was admiring the palace's architecture, we were greeted by a middle-aged man almost the same age as my father. He introduced himself as Baron Green, one of the Emperor's secretaries.

"It is a pleasure to meet you young lady" Baron Green took my hand and kissed the back of it gentlemanly.

He then led us to a private room instead of the throne room where I had expected to be and told us to wait.

The room which seemed more like a cross between a drawing room and a showroom had walls decorated with exquisite paintings everywhere I could see.

The moment we were alone, I plopped down on the settee while Edward took the spot next to me. Ever since I saw the statue at the entrance, I felt a stringing throb in my head I couldn't ignore.

"Are you feeling tired?" Edward asked, raising his hand to touch my forehead.

"Not tired. Just less spirited" I covertly dodged his hand, pretending to look at the paintings when one piece in particular caught my eye.

It was the painting of a woman standing on the shores of a beach looking into the sunset. More precisely, it was the painting I had seen in the Third Eye Guild not long ago.

'Why is this here?'

All of a sudden, the throb in my head worsened.

Before I could dwell on it further, the doors opened and a man with long golden robes entered the room.

I got to my feet and greeted the man who had just entered, with my head bowed.

""We greet Your Majesty the Emperor of Orion""

"You may rise"

I concealed her surprise on seeing the Emperor of Orion for the first time with a poker face that could win tournaments. But inwardly I screamed,

'Oh my god. He's shining! Did they dip him in gold or what!?'

His golden hair and beard which resembled a lion's mane had hints of grey on them while his sharp eyes looked like he had calculative intentions. He had the overwhelming presence of a person of high standing something I had not experienced in a long while.

Typically in romance-fantasy novels like these, the Emperor or any royals in general are always antagonistic towards the protagonists in fear of losing their power.

So, who would have guessed that Schneider Heinrich Orion I, the reigning Emperor of Orion, to be a cheery and gossip-loving old man with a penchant for scandals? Because I for one did not.

"Ah ha! If it isn't the scandalous couple on all of Orion"

He waved his hands indicating that we should sit down and settled himself opposite us with Baron Green standing behind him.

"My eyes don't deceive me, do they Baron Green?"

"They do not, Your Majesty"

"Duchess Frost, you look like a spitting image of Commander Ashford. For a moment there I thought, I was looking at the Commander from my younger years" He let out a hearty laugh and added with a smile,

"No wonder she hid you away. Had I known of you before I would have long welcomed you into the Imperial family"

"Your Majesty" Edward's cold voice pierced the air.

In an instant, the cheerful atmosphere in the room changed into the icy blizzards of the north.

'Welp, there dies my doppelganger strategy' I gritted my teeth while maintaining a neutral expression.

"No need to be so possessive Duke Frost. You might be mistaken for a fiend" Emperor Schneider commented at the dark energy radiating out of Edward.

He then went on to explain how much he had been invested in our star-crossed lover's story since he learned of my return from the dead.

'He did attend the funeral where they buried the empty coffin. So, I can somewhat understand where this zeal is coming from' I thought to myself hearing the Emperor speak so enthusiastically.

"For you two beloveds to meet in Velven of all places is quite the twist. I cannot wait to see what the next chapter holds"

"Actually, Your Majesty..."

Unable to listen to the absurd stories any longer, I was about to clarify a major misunderstanding when he cut me off abruptly.

"I am happy to see you alive and well"

'Oh? Did he just cut me off?'

Since it didn't seem intentional, I went along with it and pretended not to notice.

"Thank you, Your Majesty"

"Now" Emperor Schneider narrowed his eyes at me.

"Let us talk about Parthellam"

I unconsciously straightened my back at the mention of the name.











After Angelica left the room, Edward remained to have a private discussion while Baron Green sent word through a knight standing guard by the door.

While they waited, Emperor Schneider reflected on his observations of the young noble he had seen for the first time.

"For someone with memory loss, she looks in good health"

His first impression of her was that she resembled a snow fox native to the northern territories of Orion and some parts of Velven. Although they might appear to be gentle and unharmful, the snow foxes were one of the most skilled hunters of the north.

Despite her serene semblance, he could see the might of her lineage through her eyes.

Normally when children with extraordinary magical abilities are born in Orion, they are brought under the guidance of the palace where their education and abilities are monitored for the betterment of the empire.

By law, the moment their magical abilities are measured to surpass a certain threshold, children are bound to enter the Imperial Academy, separated from their families, and raised till adulthood where they would later serve as Imperial Mages.

After all, mages were the pride of the Orion empire. Thus people held high prestige when their children displayed the qualities of a mage.

However, that was not the case for Angelica. Somehow she had slipped through the system and grew up not knowing anything of her abilities.

Her childhood itself was nothing out of the ordinary. She had grown up secluded within the Ashford County as just another daughter of a noble family.

The reason Emperor Schneider summoned to see Angelica was to assess her intentions. Judging from her demeanor she seemed to be in the blind just as much as everyone else.

A child with unprecedented abilities like Angelica should have been nurtured under the Imperial Palace. If only they had known earlier...

'Could it be?'

Right then, the knight returned and announced the arrival of Viscountess Marrow and Commander Norton.

When everyone was seated, the meeting began.

"Has there been any news on the Saintess's whereabouts?"

"No. Your Majesty" Edward answered and further added,

"We have intercepted the Serpents messages. We believe the man known as Priest Hansom was one of their high-rank leaders. The Serpents have been in disarray since his capture. Thanks to that, we are closer than ever to finding her"

"Yet another reason we cannot let the Templar Knights take him"

"Commander Norton is right, Your Majesty. The empire's safety rests above the relations with the Church" Viscountess Marrow argued, to which Baron Green nodded in agreement.

"Hmmm... I understand. But we cannot keep the Church at bay for a long time. We might need to create a suitable distraction to keep them occupied" Emperor Schneider nodded and called out to Baron Green.

"Yes, Your Majesty"

"Where is the next Saintess to be?"

"Lady Layton is in the Ivory Palace attending a gathering hosted by Marchioness Hawthorne"

"Make sure she receives an invitation to the foundation ball. We may need her aid sooner than before"

"Your Majesty, if I may"

Viscountess Marrow presented a document to Emperor Schneider with a complex expression on her face.

"This came in just a few minutes ago. The Mages finished charting and sent us the coordinates and... you need to see this"

"Is that from Eldom?" Commander Norton asked, curious about the recent findings in the Eldom Forest.

After hundreds of years of countless mysteries on his final whereabouts, the tomb of Emperor Arthur the founding Emperor of Orion had finally been uncovered in the depths of the Eldom forest.

Since its discovery a few weeks ago, the news had been kept confidential from the public and only a few government officials were aware of the fact. Imperial Mages were dispatched to Eldom to inspect the site along with a few well-known experts in alchemy.

Emperor Schneider received the document and flipped through the pages.

It seemed like just yesterday when Duke Edward Frost returned from a devastated Parthellam demanding the exemption of his beloved wife, who was long believed to be dead in exchange for revealing the location of the Empire's lost history.

Growing up, he had heard stories of Emperor Arthur just like any other child in the Empire. Back then, he could have never predicted his great ancestor would be found during his reign. A feat that couldn't be accomplished by many Emperors before him.

"!"

Emperor Schneider's widened as his eyes scanned the pages in an experienced manner. Almost immediately his gaze landed on Edward seated opposite him.

'Is this true?'

He couldn't believe his own eyes. He then closed the document and passed it to Baron Green, to further read in private.

Following that, they discussed the next course of action concerning the Serpents and the Church of Theodore and addressed the recent skirmishes along the eastern territories among the people.

Once the meeting concluded everybody exited the drawing room.

Instead of returning to his office Emperor Schneider walked over to the balcony on the third floor and gazed outside. Over the horizon, he could see the outline of the capital and the mountains in the far distance.

It was the same view he had seen every day for as long as he could remember. But today, there was something different about it.

He clutched the marbled railing of the balcony, right as a strong wind blew causing the Imperial flag above the palace to dance violently as if signifying the turbulent times to come.

"It's time we learn our true history"









Around the same time, the Emperor of Orion was wondering about the future of his empire sensing the impending changes to come, there was someone else, not far from him who had also sensed the changes in his domain.

At the Imperial Mage Tower, an apprentice mage barely past adulthood trembled at the sight of the furious man in front of him.

'Why does he look so enraged?' He gulped, peeking at the other apprentice mages equally paled in fright.

Of all days to be outside the palace, the other Imperial mages had left to inspect a newly discovered relic site in the Eldom forest leaving only a few mid-tier mages and the apprentice mages in the tower, when they were cornered with no way to escape.

The apprentice mage looked up at the man's face and swiftly cast his gaze downward terrified.

A tall man with long navy blue hair was frowning as he stared at a map of the palace grounds with his deep purple eyes.

He was none other than the famed Archmage Richard Stein, a descendant of the most powerful mage in history, and the Head of the Mage Tower, easily considered one of the most powerful mages of his time.

But everything comes at a cost. As such, the mage with immense talent in magic turned out to have little to no control over his temper which made him angry at the faintest of things.

There were days in which the Imperial Mages worked in fear for their lives whenever there was a mishap in the calculations or an error in the research. Till now there had not been a single soul that lived after standing against him.

His blatant disregard for rules and people alike had landed him in hot waters with the Imperial family on multiple occasions. Despite that, his talents proved more advantageous to hold into account which inadvertently led to him being the way he was. An unrestrained enigma.

However, a miracle occurred over the last few months, that changed the Archmage from being an intolerable tyrant to a somewhat bearable human being.

'Are all powerful people like this?' The mages gulped, reminiscing of the peaceful days they had experienced.

'Here we thought he had become calmer. I wish the lady would come here soon'

'Isn't she normally here by now?

'Why is she late today?'

They desperately cried hoping to send a telepathic call for help.

*THUD*

The apprentice mages flinched at the sudden sound.

Richard had pounded his fist on his desk with a strained expression that could kill at sight.

"It's here. I feel it within the palace walls. That anomaly..." He crumpled the map, his eyes focused on a sketch of the Ivory Palace.