Reborn As A Maid

Chapter 168: Chapter 168 - Sword of Light ( Part 2 )

Royal Council Chamber of Seraiya never saw so many people here.

Long tables covered with maps, military reports, trade records, and letters of neighboring kingdoms were in front of the nobles. Parchment scent mixed with flower fragrance.

Palace continued to work as usual—servants rushed in corridors, courtiers greeted each other, and laughter could be heard coming from the gardens.

Inside—

It was completely different atmosphere.

Everyone gathered here understood that peace was fragile now—the surface that may break at any moment.

Queen Lilia Kingheart appeared in the Royal Council Chamber dressed in a military uniform of the Kingdom. White uniform with royal blue decorations fitted her perfectly, and her golden hair was tied up in a regal hairstyle. At her waist, there was the Divine Sword of Light—Aurelia—and the golden glow cast shadows on the floor.

At her appearance, everyone who was present in the room rose from his seat as usual.

Arthur Queens, the Royal Hand of the Kingdom, approached Lilia. "Your Majesty. The council is ready."

The queen nodded calmly but with a sharp look. "Then let’s begin."

The large map of the continent was put in the center of the room. Arthur moved several carved figures on the map, and each of them represented a certain threat.

"Our scouts report about increased number of demons on the western frontier." He moved another piece on the map. "Ancient ruins of the continent have been disturbed—they haven’t been disturbed for centuries." Another piece. "Also, several merchant caravans disappeared without any reasons."

All the nobles were silent, and the atmosphere became heavier.

Captain of the Royal Knights, Lucas Queens, spoke the next words. His voice was confident. "Our border patrols have been doubled. We didn’t see any demons in our kingdom yet. But they are moving—and in bigger groups than before."

The elderly duke coughed. "Perhaps, it is an isolated case. Rumors often run faster than the truth."

"Yes, we should not waste our money on military expenses. Our treasury recovered from the last conflict just recently," another noble agreed.

Some ministers murmured in the same vein; they wanted to avoid preparation for war.

Lilia listened to them, and she knew their concerns well. Wars were exhausting for the whole kingdom; wars emptied treasuries and filled graveyards with dead people. No one ruler wanted to prepare for such events that may not happen.

After a long silence, the queen said quietly.

"I pray that you’re right."

Some nobles relaxed and even smiled.

But then Lilia continued in sharper tone.

"But if you’re wrong—" Her blue eyes scanned the room, looking at all nobles in turn. "—our people will suffer from it."

The room fell silent.

Arthur smiled slightly; he was proud that Lilia could understand how to rule the country.

The queen did not govern by fear.

She governed by responsibility.

That was the whole difference.

Lilia stood and approached the map, touching the borders of her kingdom respectfully with her hand.

"When I travelled through the northern provinces, I met farmers, merchants, and children." Her voice became soft. "They do not know anything about politics. All they want to live in peace—to wake up every morning without fear."

She put her hand on the map, covering the heart of the kingdom.

"My responsibility is to give them this opportunity."

Lucas approached the queen and looked on the map of the west.

"Our army is strong, but it was prepared for ordinary wars—border skirmishes, bandit suppression, territorial disputes."

He looked on Aurelia; the glow of sword pulsed quietly.

"But if the Demon Generals move again, that would not be enough."

Several generals nodded silently; they remembered the stories about other kingdoms that were ruined during the Great Demon War.

Lilia turned to Arthur; her eyes became thoughtful.

"What do you recommend?"

Without delay, the elderly statesman answered.

"Preparation. But not provocation."

The queen smiled; she recognized that suggestion.

"I thought about the same."

Orders started flying throughout the council—the threads of the defensive web.

The border fortresses would be restored; their walls would be reinforced, and garrisons would be strengthened.

Abandoned watchtowers decades ago would be restored; their lights would be beacons against approaching darkness.

Food and medicines would be collected in all the kingdom in secure places, protecting them from any sieges.

The wyvern riders would patrol the sky much more often, watching any movement of demons.

The roads, which connected frontier villages, would be expanded; this was a grim measure, but it was necessary.

None of it meant fear.

It meant wisdom.

Lucas took a new responsibility. His voice sounded determined. "The Royal Knights will start training all the militias."

The minister seemed to be surprised. "Even in small villages?"

The knight nodded. "Especially in small villages. When the demons will attack, they should not wait for us."

The queen smiled proudly; she felt grateful for the loyalty of her knights. "Excellent."

Arthur opened another map, which showed all the neighboring kingdoms and their borders in the faded ink.

"We cannot stand alone."

The queen nodded. "No."

She dipped a pen in the ink and started to write—letter after letter with steady movement of her hand.

To kings. To queens. To grand dukes. To republic councils. To independent cities-states.

Each letter had the same aim—no demands, no threats, just an invitation.

To stand together.

Weeks passed like whispers of wind.

Royal messengers rode in all directions—horses galloped across fields and forests, bringing words of the queen to distant lands.

Soon—replies started coming.

Kingdom of Valen agreed to cooperate with Seraiya in the military and trade; the king’s seal was put at the end of the treaty.

The mountain nation of Eldor promised engineers to reinforce border fortresses; the mastery of stone construction of the representatives of this kingdom was unique in the whole continent.

The coastal kingdom of Mirea agreed to send ships and medicine; there was an admiral’s signature along with a letter to the queen personally.

Even some rival kingdoms agreed to join forces; their rulers understood that the next war will destroy all relations between friends and enemies.

Arthur was looking at the pile of signed documents, his eyes glittering with proud emotion. "They believe in you."

"No, Arthur. They believe in peace." Lilia’s answer sounded quietly.

Once, Lilia was standing on the balcony of the royal palace above the capital.

The lights of the city glittered in the night sky like sparkling diamonds. Children were laughing in the streets, and music was playing from the taverns; the smell of fresh baked bread and flowers was lingering in the air.

Life went on normally.

Lucas came closer, his steps silent on the marble surface. "You’ve done a great work."

"I hope that none of it will come into use," she answered with a sigh.

"So do I." His glance wandered towards the horizon, where the light of sunset disappeared in the darkness. "But if the war will come—our people will be prepared."

She was touching the hilt of Aurelia, the sword that was pulsating with reassuring warmth.

The voice of Aurelia echoed in her head.

"A ruler, who is prepared for peace—is always prepared for war."

She was smiling faintly and tightened the grip on the hilt of the sword. "I’ll protect this kingdom, no matter what."

Far away from the borders of Seraiya, somewhere in the ruins and in the shadow of the mountains, the search for the remaining Divine Swords was going on stubbornly.

Both sides didn’t declare the war yet.

Nevertheless, both of them started preparing for the coming conflict, which seems to be inevitable now.

The era of unstable peace was coming to its end.

Three days after the royal council ended, the capital of Seraiya was awakening to an unusual mood that filled the streets.

Before sunrise, the workers came to the Grand Royal Plaza, and their lanterns were dancing on the stones of the cobblestone street. The massive wooden platforms were erected in a few minutes; the banners were waving in the fresh morning wind like the wings of excited birds.

The messengers were running around the city with the sealed proclamations with the royal crest; their feet were echoing in the sleeping city.

No one knew, what was happening.

But everyone understood that something important was announced soon.

At nine o’clock, thousands of citizens gathered before the royal palace with anticipation.

The merchants were abandoning the stands with the goods; the blacksmiths were leaving their workshops; the fires of the forges were still burning.

The children were climbing on the shoulders of their parents in order to look better.

Even the travelers who were passing through the capital of Seraiya stopped in order to look at the unusual sight.

The doors of the palace balcony were opening silently; they were groaning with the ancient weight.

The Queen of Seraiya stepped in the morning sunlight.

In her royal white clothes with the gold trim, she looked confident and graceful; the golden hair was shining like a halo.

Next to her was laying the Divine Sword in the elegant scabbard, which was glowing with its own warm light.

Behind her was standing Arthur Queens, Lucas Queens, the ministers, the generals, and the Royal Wyvern Knights—quite a powerful assembly.

The crowd fell silent, thousands of voices died instantly.

She was looking at the sea of faces of young and old people, rich and poor citizens, citizens and foreigners.

These were the people, whom she promised to protect.

She was smiling and said in her pleasant voice:

"My dear people—thank you for meeting me today.

For many years, our continent had known the peace and tragedies. We’ve built the villages, opened the schools, restored the roads, and brought home those people who were dislocated because of the war."

The citizens were nodding proudly; there was pride on their faces. Many of them could remember these achievements; many of them took part in it.

"But the peace—" She paused and said seriously. "—must be protected."

The atmosphere grew tense, the previous mood changed with her words.

She was lifting the scroll with the royal seal; it was unrolling silently.

"Today, I want to announce an event that is unprecedented in our history."

Slowly, she was unrolling the parchment and showing the elegant handwriting.

"The Kingdom of Seraiya will hold—The Greatest Fight Tournament."

The square was erupting with amazed murmurings; it spread among the crowd like the wave of surprise.

"A tournament?"

"The greatest?"

"Did I understand correctly?"

Even the visitors among the merchants were exchanging confused looks.

Lucas was stepping forward; his powerful voice drowned out the crowd. "The tournament will welcome the participants from each kingdom. The knights, adventurers, mercenaries, swordsmen, mages, martial artists—each of them must fight in honor."

And Arthur was saying: "Whoever was born. Whatever title he has got. If a man is brave and strong—he can take part in the tournament."

The announcement caused the new wave of excitement; it spread like a wildfire.

Lilia was smiling and watching how the murmurings were dying away; she was raising her voice with anticipation.

"The champion will receive—" She raised one finger. "—royal fortune of the gold."

There were gasps in the crowd and excited chatterings.

"Enough money for changing the life of any family."

She raised a second finger. "The royal recognition all over the continent."

The people were cheerfully roaring.

Then—she raised a third finger, and her voice gained even more importance.

"And finally—the opportunity to serve the Crown of Seraiya as one of its honored champions."

The cheering was deafening; it sounded like the roar that seemed to shake the walls of the palace.

For many young warriors, to serve in the direct retinue of the queen was an unimaginable honor—an opportunity to prove oneself to be worthy of legends.

Before dawn came, royal messengers set off in all directions with their hooves thudding against the ground with purpose.

Proclamation copies went around inns, guild halls, castles, markets—all carried by interested hands.

Soon, every kingdom learned the same proclamation.

Greatest Fight Tournament.

An event which happens just once per several generations.

The greatest prize ever proposed by any human kingdom.

All over the continent, rumors spread like wildfire, kindling hopes of victory among many, many warriors.

In the Adventurers’ Guilds, experienced warriors started preparations immediately, their faces serious.

"This is our chance. With a win, we’ll never think about money anymore."

Young knights begged their commanders for participation in the tournament, their eyes shining brightly with enthusiasm.

Former champions thought about returning to the ring one more time, their wounds from previous battles becoming secondary.

Mages polished their magical abilities, casting spells full of power.

Martial artists practiced more, improving their skills day after day.

Even distant kingdoms declared that they will participate, sending their best representatives there.

Whole continent buzzed in anticipation, and all people started to discuss just one thing in every tavern, every castle, every village.

That night, after the celebration ended, the palace became silent—the music and laughter gradually vanishing away.

In the royal strategy chamber, only four persons remained.

Queen Lilia. Arthur Queens. Lucas Queens. And Aurelia.

The doors were slammed with a loud sound, and everyone remained cut off from the rest of the world.

Arthur activated a magical shield, its shimmering surface providing complete privacy.

And only now Lucas spoke, his tone serious.

"The whole world thinks that this is just a celebration."

Lilia nodded. "Yes."

Arthur glanced at the enormous map lying on the table, his fingers caressing its faded lines. "But it was never meant to be that way."

The gentle smile of the queen faded, as she remembered her responsibilities. "No."

She put her hand on Aurelia’s hilt, the Divine Sword glowing with warm light.

"The tournament is bait."

Lucas crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes. "Not for demons. For heroes."

Arthur agreed with a nod, his aged eyes shining with intelligence. "Strongest warriors of every nation will gather in one place. We can study them. See who has exceptional skills. Find out whom we can trust."

Lilia added quietly, her voice filled with the weight of her decision, "When the Demon War starts—we won’t have to search for allies. We’ll already know them."

Aurelia started to glow gently, its voice resonating in Lilia’s mind.

"A wise decision."

Lilia turned to look at the Divine Sword, her face showing her doubts. "I don’t want the next generation to fight with the darkness, being unprepared."

The sword answered gently, its light glowing with ancient warmth.

"Neither did the Sword King."

The room became silent, the name carrying weight of the ages.

Lucas looked at the map, his jaw tightening. "If the demons learn about the true purpose of the tournament—they may try to interfere."

Arthur calmly responded, his voice full of confidence of an experienced strategist. "Then let them come. For every warrior they will see, we will see too."

Lilia approached the window overlooking the illuminated capital.

The city below celebrated the announcement of the tournament, the streets resounding with people’s laughter and songs. To them, it was a great festival—an opportunity to become rich, famous and glorious.

Only those who were present in the room knew the truth.

The tournament wasn’t made just for the sake of finding the strongest warrior.

It was made to unite humanity before the coming storm.

Lilia quietly said, her voice almost drowned under the celebration, "If the war can’t be prevented—nobody will fight alone."

Somewhere far to the south, Jennie, Roxy, and Snow still kept on traveling, not knowing about the invitation, which changed their lives forever.

Greatest Fight Tournament had started the countdown.

And the greatest gathering of the warriors in the times of the Sword King was about to start.