Chapter 1328: A Nation Worth Reaching ( 1328 )
Garreth glanced at all his sons and daughter from his first late queen, his expression softening for a moment before turning serious.
"You all know I never wanted to summon these heroes. But your uncles, all the dukes and nobles, insisted. They saw Celestia and Orthosia summoning heroes and didn’t want to be left behind. They spoke of glory, of power, of securing our nation’s future... and I was outvoted. But now? All I see are arrogant fools who think they own this land."
"We know, Father," Kaelen said, his voice steady.
He exhaled, resting his cheek on his knuckle as he leaned against the throne.
"All your uncles and the nobles love to pamper these heroes, using their connections to gain favor. They think it will bring them power, but they are only inviting trouble."
He straightened, his gaze sharpening.
"That is why any information about Armand, or anything that could assist them in their war and invasion of the other continent, must be destroyed. This is Celestia and Orthosia’s problem, not ours. We will not be dragged into their conflicts."
"Understood, Father."
"Mm..." Garreth nodded, a faint smile touching his lips. "Good."
Celine hesitated for a moment before speaking, her voice soft but laced with concern. "Father... about the Second Queen’s affair..."
"Do not worry about that, sweetheart." Garreth’s voice was calm, but his eyes held a flicker of cold resolve.
"I already know. But the Second Queen is the sister of King Thaddeus of Orthosia. For now, I will not punish her. Not until the right time comes. When the first invasion begins, and Celestia and Orthosia send their armies, they will weaken. Their forces will no longer pose a full threat to our nation. That is when we will act."
Garreth smirked before glancing at all his sons and daughter from his first late queen.
"If they want to use our personnel to gather information, or risk our units for their own gains, they must ask for my permission first. If they truly want it done, they can recruit their own people, or better yet, ask the nobles who brought them here in the first place."
"Yes, Father."
"Mm..."
Cecilio stepped forward and leaned in slightly, his voice dropping. "Father... about the blood?"
Garreth’s smirk widened, a knowing glint in his eyes. "Keep it hidden. Bury it deep. None of our units, mages, or wizards need that filth. It is not our power to use, and I will not have our people tainted by it."
"Understood, Father."
Garreth’s expression softened as he turned to Celine. "Celine?"
"Yes, Father?" She glanced at him with a warm smile.
Garreth’s expression grew more serious, a hint of regret in his eyes.
"I need to ensure your safety from those heroes, especially Julius. I have seen the way he looks at you, and I do not trust him. I have no choice but to send you on an important mission, away from this palace, away from their reach."
Kaelen, Cecilio, and Arbalest all stiffened, their eyes widening in shock as they turned to their father.
"F... Father!!"
Garreth’s face turned serious, his voice firm.
"You all know what Julius is like. He sleeps with any woman he desires, including the Second Queen, and forces his way into their beds despite his ’good boy’ façade. I will not risk my only daughter from my first love, your mother, to such a fate."
He exhaled slowly, his voice heavy with resolve.
"Neither I nor you can watch over her every moment. And we cannot be certain that Julius will not use his power to force himself on her. I will not allow that to happen, not while I still draw breath."
He turned to Celine, his expression softening into a gentle smile.
"The only way to ensure your safety is this mission, and this mission alone. It will also benefit us in the future once the invasion begins. You will be far from here, away from their reach, and you will serve our nation in a way that no one else can."
Celine rose from her seat, her movements graceful and composed. She walked toward her father and offered a deep, elegant curtsy, her head bowed in respect.
"Your wish is my command, Father. I will do as you ask."
"Mm... good." Garreth nodded before glancing at his sons, giving them a subtle signal with his hand.
Kaelen, Cecilio, and Arbalest immediately moved, checking the doors, the shadows behind the pillars, and every corner of the throne room. After a thorough sweep, they returned to their father’s side, each giving a silent nod.
Garreth snapped his fingers, and a faint shimmer spread across the room, a silencing skill that locked the space from any eavesdropping. The doors sealed with an invisible barrier, and the air grew still.
"Now." Garreth smiled, turning his gaze to Celine. "Since only you and I possess the Dimensional Storage skill, I entrust this to you."
He snapped his fingers again, and a thick stack of documents, maps, and sealed letters materialized in his hands. He held them out to her.
"I need you to store these inside your dimensional storage," Garreth said, his voice low and steady. "They will be safe there, beyond the reach of anyone who might try to steal or intercept them. No one but you will have access to them, and no one will know they exist."
Celine glanced at the documents in her father’s hands, her expression thoughtful before she met his gaze.
"What am I supposed to do with these, Father?"
Garreth smiled, his eyes softening with pride.
"You will be going to Armand. Not to spy, not to gather intelligence, but to go there as the Princess of Divinity, in secret from the heroes and the nobles, but officially as an envoy from our continent. You will ensure that Armand knows we are not their enemy. We do not seek to invade them, nor do we support the invasion planned by the others."
"F... Father!?" Kaelen’s eyes widened as he stepped forward, his voice laced with panic. "Are you truly sending Celine to Armand?! We know nothing about them! They are from another continent! What if they are hostile?! What will happen to her?!"
Garreth smirked, leaning back on his throne as he turned his gaze to Kaelen.
"Tell me, Kaelen. What information have we gathered about Armand that I ordered to be destroyed?"
Kaelen hesitated before answering, his voice low. "According to the merchants and traders who have dealt with them, Armand is a prosperous nation. Its people live happily, trade flourishes, and the rulers are said to be just and fair. It is a good place for trading, and the quality of life there is high."
Garreth nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful.
"And if Armand were a cruel or corrupt nation, would its people be happy? Would merchants willingly trade there? Would their economy thrive?" He paused, letting the question hang in the air. "From everything we have gathered, Armand is not our enemy. They are a nation worth reaching out to, and Celine is the only one I trust to carry this mission."
"I am not sending Celine into danger. I am sending her to establish a bridge, one that may save our kingdom in the future."
( End Of Chapter )
