Chapter 1034: Act 206 – Dawn’s Flame VII
“Then I’ll head back first, Mr. Kent.”
“Go ahead, be careful on your way back; it’s not safe outside right now.”
Old Kent shook his head, watching Cetty’s figure disappear into the dusk outside the inn before shutting the door, preparing to close for the night. His age had caught up with him; over the years, his limbs had become less nimble. As he slowly turned around, he was startled to find another person standing behind him. He shivered in fright, only to realize it was the woman among the guests. He didn’t know her name, but she had checked in with her companions three days ago. Her beauty was unforgettable, especially with a few delicate scars on her nearly perfect face that made her even more memorable.
Old Kent couldn’t tell if it was an illusion, but he felt the scars on her face had faded a little since the last time he saw her. He sarcastically thought to himself that it was impossible; perhaps he was truly seeing things.
“Miss, is there anything you need?” Old Kent replied somewhat humbly. After a few days of observing her, he sensed her tone and habits carried a hint of arrogance, reminiscent of the noble ladies and gentlemen he often encountered in the city. However, why would a noble lady choose to stay at such an obscure inn? That was a question he preferred not to dwell on—people with their wits about them didn’t always live longer. “Is everyone hungry? Would you like some supper or something else? There are still ingredients in the kitchen…”
“Is her name Cetty?” Delphine’s lips curled slightly as she gazed through the maple window. A few leaves from a sycamore tree drifted down, tinted with the red glow of dusk, swaying gently in the wind. She watched Cetty’s silhouette fade into the dimming light, her purple eyes quietly reflecting the sunset.
“Yes, she’s a poor girl. I heard her brother is at war, and old Chris is in poor health. All the care for her siblings and household chores falls on her,” Old Kent couldn’t help but sigh and shake his head, “Old Chris has such a good daughter, but her luck is just too bad. The goddess of fortune never favors those most unfortunate.”
“Does she not stay here?”
“No, she has to return home every day; this is my special allowance.”
“Is her brother fighting in the east?”
“I can’t be sure, Miss. Probably in the south.”
“In the south.” Delphine slightly narrowed her eyes, “Who is the person that picks her up?”
“The person who picks her up?”
Old Kent paused for a moment.
“Perhaps,” Delphine said with a smile, “I might have mistaken it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing, I meant to say there’s no need to trouble you for supper. If there is a real need, I’ll let Miss Cetty assist when she’s here.”
“Thanks for your kindness,” said old Kent, feeling profoundly grateful as he glanced at the noble lady. Such a kind-hearted and beautiful noblewoman was rare in Rustra nowadays. “May the golden flames always be with her, blessing this kind-hearted lady,” he thought to himself, while Delphine only smiled quietly in response.
…
Outside the inn, a young man in a short shirt grabbed Cetty’s hand, pulling her toward the direction of the Silverwater Bridge for a few dozen meters until they distanced themselves from the view of ‘The Cat and Whiskers’ before stopping. “What’s wrong, Al?” Cetty asked, puzzled.
“Someone is watching you,” the young man replied in a low voice.
“Watching? Me? Impossible!” Cetty could not help but glance back at the direction of the inn, which had become just a small dot on the main road, “Uncle Kent would never do such a thing.”
“Then it must be someone else.”
“Are you saying those guests?”
“Maybe, just be careful, Cetty.” The young man turned around, looking at her seriously as he warned.
Cetty couldn’t help but laugh, covering her mouth, “You worry too much, Al. I’m not one of their kind. But thank you.” She felt her cheeks redden, unable to help but grip the hand of the young man tightly, feeling the warmth lingering in her palm reach her heart. “Al, what did you want to talk to me about?”
“Don’t forget tonight’s prayer meeting.”
“How could I? Is something important happening? Why bring this up all of a sudden?”
“The high priests said tonight is the most important night.”
Cetty paused slightly, a glimmer of excitement flashing in her eyes. She instinctively held her breath and asked, “Is it… starting?”
The young man’s expression darkened as he nodded, “After tonight, that old witch won’t look so pleasant anymore. One day, I’ll personally avenge Peber!”
“Al, thank you.” Cetty replied softly, but she felt a twinge of unease in her heart, “But can we really succeed?”
“Of course. Have you forgotten what that old witch has done? I heard this wretched country has recently suffered another defeat in battle. A defeat means a need for more soldiers, Cetty. Uncle Chris can’t go to war anymore.” The young man lacked extensive knowledge, but that didn’t stop him from borrowing the rhetoric of the high priests. Though he didn’t particularly like those individuals, he had to admit they made valid points; they had always looked too far ahead, silently bearing suffering—this admission seemed to ignite a fire in his heart. He pressed his lips together, and a flame of vengeance burned intensely in the depths of his eyes.
Thinking of her elderly father, Cetty fell silent. She had two younger brothers and a sister; no matter what, she had to stand up to protect her family.
“By the way, the high priest Marian specifically mentioned you,” the young man suddenly recalled, changing his tone, “He asked me to tell you that you must not be absent tonight.”
Cetty was slightly taken aback, unsure why she had suddenly become important. However, she soon thought of the strict religious rules and understood that her only options were to obey, “I understand.”
The two fell silent, quietly walking along the pathway of the Silverwater Bridge, watching the golden rays dance on the river’s surface. After a while, the young man spoke again, “Cetty.” His tone softened, filled with emotion.
“Yes?”
“I just have a feeling those guys aren’t good people. Once everything’s done, let’s leave.”
“But I still have my younger siblings, my father…”
“Let me take care of them,” the young man interrupted her urgently, “We’ll take them with us, everyone, and get far away from here.”
The last sliver of light was swallowed by the river, leaving only the clouds on the horizon still burning brightly.
Cetty felt a sweetness in her heart. She turned her hand to grasp his and gently nodded.
…
The innkeeper respectfully bid farewell to Delphine and then stumbled away. The Chancellor’s Daughter stood by the window, glancing once more at the magnificent twilight on the main road and smiled mysteriously before turning to go upstairs.
In a room on the second floor, Brendel was analyzing intelligence, compiling various messages from the Ambassadors of the Anidroborian delegation, from the Nazhel people, and news from the nobles within the city contacted through Faina and Delphine, finally sketching a rough outline of everything happening in the city.
Medisa sat earnestly in a high-backed chair, meticulously recording this information on parchment with a feather quill. Faina softly dictated next to her; once she finished one piece, she would lift it and place it aside. Brendel organized them together, stacking them on the desk where the last glimmer of sunlight reluctantly departed, and the view outside was already murky.
Turning around, he happened upon the profile of the Silver Elf Princess. The last rays of sunlight fell between her forehead and chin. In the interplay of light, there was a subtle, almost imperceptible fuzz on her cheeks, making her look exceptionally adorable.
“Lord, it seems that the Silver Queen is not very strict with the nobles imprisoned in the Moss Fort; at least we can glean some hints from this letter…”
“Lord?”
Medisa turned her head to see what he was looking at, her face turning crimson.
Nearby, Faina paused in her narration, glancing over, unable to suppress a frown. Confronted with their gazes, Brendel finally came back to reality and awkwardly cleared his throat, “Um… sorry, I didn’t mean to drift off there.”
“The letter…”
Brendel suddenly recalled the letter Medisa had mentioned.
He was familiar with the letter’s author: it was none other than the commander of the former Empire’s Blue Legion, Lady Veronika, Faina’s mentor, who had met him briefly in the Loop of Trade Winds and the Cold Fir Territory. This letter was sent to him through various channels after she learned that Faina was using her connections within the city to inquire about her and Duke Flowerleaf’s situation.
Since Veronika didn’t know he was near the Imperial Capital, her description of Faina in the letter was limited to how they were treated inside the Moss Fort. Their conditions were relatively lenient; other than being restricted in their freedom, they had not faced the severe punishments rumored outside. However, her anxious emotions could still be perceived through the words.
She repeatedly mentioned her worries and anxieties over the Silver Queen’s recent actions, betraying that the lady commander was not wholeheartedly opposing Her Majesty. Her alliance with Duke Ludwig was merely due to her skepticism about the queen’s choices; she hoped that Her Majesty’s reckless actions would not plunge the empire into irretrievable chaos.
Compared to the naked interests among the northern nobles, the sentiments contained in this letter were much more acceptable to Brendel. This was not something an opportunist could understand; it carried a long-term vision, a hope for the stability of the homeland, and an aspiration that those at the bottom of the society could enjoy the benefits of prosperity. It was a noble sentiment, not blind, merely focused on the future.
Although belonging to different nations, Brendel could empathize with this wish. The difference was that he had personally experienced such a history, while Lady Veronika seemed to be able to foresee the future thanks to her insight.
Unfortunately, the empire was already mired in the depths of war, while this lady commander was caught in a predicament, struggling to protect herself.
After pondering for a moment, he replied, “This indicates that the Silver Queen hasn’t made up her mind yet. Some of these nobles are likely to be swayed; she just can’t spare the effort right now.”
“If we lose at Fatan Port…” Medisa couldn’t help but bring it up.
“Then the outcome will already be determined,” Brendel took over the conversation. “Fortunately, we won; Her Majesty will have to find another opportunity to showcase her power and restore confidence.”
Faina seemed somewhat preoccupied. She should have felt anxious—though the news from the Moss Fort was the best she had heard lately, it didn’t mean she could relax. The queen prohibited any major moves because she was not yet fully confident. Once the situation solidified for Ludwig, the Mehartoff family would be like meat on a chopping block, ready to be butchered.
She would never imagine that her family was among that part of the nobility that could be swayed by the unpredictable queen, because even if Duke Flowerleaf had no intention of rebellion, their intricate ties with the northern nobles were undeniable.
Brendel’s words undoubtedly confirmed this point.
But at that moment, the Flowerleaf Countess looked somewhat absent-minded. She glanced at Brendel and then at Medisa, her expression revealing a hint of anxiety.
Brendel didn’t notice the Countess’s unusual behavior and continued, “Have the Nazhel people reached out?”
Medisa shook her head, putting a piece of parchment in front of Brendel. “This is a message from Princess Margadale; it mentions a location.”
“What location?”
“It is not a definite place, but it mentions that recently the Silver Queen Constance has been in that vicinity twice in the past week… it’s the Tulip District.”
After having just faced defeat on the eastern front, the Silver Queen clearly couldn’t be in the mood to participate in garden activities or visit unimportant characters at this time. The mere fact that she took time to go there was likely not simple. Although it might possibly be a smokescreen, it was enough to make Brendel take it seriously.
He was about to check the map when Faina finally spoke up:
“I know that place, Br-Brendel. That’s the former prince’s villa, the residence of the late king’s brother, Prince Silis.”
Upon hearing the name, Brendel at last remembered: “Isn’t he the prince who died in the Holy War?”
“Along with his two sons,” Faina added.
She stared at Brendel, biting her lower lip.
Medisa looked at the Flowerleaf Countess with some curiosity, then at her lord, a glint of clever realization flashing in her silver eyes. A subtle smile appeared at the corner of her mouth, and she felt a bit amused. But she didn’t show any signs, keeping a serious demeanor as she continued, “There is also a heavily guarded place near this old villa. The Anidroborian delegation would face strict checks even if they passed by there every day—”
“What place is that?” Brendel frowned, wondering why it was becoming more complicated. Could it be that Her Majesty was setting up restricted zones all over the Imperial Capital?
“Cold Dew Manor.”
…
