Special thanks for Angel Wraith, who read the draft of this chapter and provided feedback. And of course, Ace-Triad for editting this chapter through his lingering health issues.
As always, stay behind at the end to watch me blabber some more.
Similar to how Faubley was known as the land of magic and wizards, Melromarc, and the kingdom of Gallia before it, was known as the land of chivalry and knights. Aside from the importance of knights in their standing army, a significant reason for it is due to the Divine Crusaders during the time of the first hero summoning.
Twelve exceptional men and women, who were chosen and blessed by twelve Dragon Lords, and bestowed their dragonblood weapons that passed down their family to assist the heroes: Baldr the Paladin, Ullr the Bowmaster, Thrud the Mage Knight, Fjalar the Mage Fighter, Nal the Axeman, Bragi the High Priest, Heim the Saint, Njorun the Lancer, Dainn the Dragon Knight, Hodr the Black Knight, Ced the Wind Master and Od the Sword Saint.
And over the subsequent Wave of Catastrophes, their descendants continue to play pivotal roles in defending the people and fighting back the Wavespawn alongside the newer summoned heroes, ironically making their bloodline much rarer than even the Cardinal Heroes. It is due to this, and close comrades developed through countless generations, they slowly became known as the 'Crusader Block' by the other aristocrats of the land.
Chapter 72: Unmei no Ketto (Fated Bloodlines)
The pegasus riders of Silesse are only the first formation to fly north towards the palace, even if they are definitely the most flashy of the Crusader Block. Following the ladies on flying equine, a group made of people in light linen regalia walking or riding on filorials begin to walk north among some more traditional looking knights in heavy armor.
Long before Od the Sword Saint, the people of Isaach were a group of steppe dwelling nomads living on what's now came to be known as Prideland of Siltvelt. Seen as little more than savages by the civilized folks, the arrival, and subsequent invasion of the beastmen horde changed everything, especially after Od the Sword Saint.
Moving his people south and resettled on the Isaach grassland near his allies for better protection, the newly crowned king Od of Isaach learnt much from the civilized people of the Old Seven Kingdoms (technically not all ruled by a king, but it's just semantics by this point), firmly establishing the dual ruling system: Where the civilized people he rallied into following him from the Old Seven Kingdoms would build cities to introduce his people better technology and trade, while the nomadic Isaacian would live around the cities in their traditional huts and retain their steppe culture. The Kingdom of Isaach had been a steadfast ally to the expanding De Gallia Kingdom, and later glorious Melromarc.
King Shannan, the latest successor of the Od bloodline is considered by many as the second coming of his great ancestor. One of the greatest swordmasters alive in the world (despite the most current title holder of Sword Saint being the much older Lord Isshin of Siltvelt. Not King Shannon's fault, since he wasn't even alive when Isshin made his name), a fair ruler and a capable military commander. The Kingdom of Isaach has recovered, and even flourished with increased trade despite the devastation caused by the Great War. Many believe he will lead the small steppe kingdom to another new golden age as his ancestor Od.
Instead of riding alongside his mounted archers, the swordmaster king chose to walk with the rest of his swordsman contingent. His long, black hair flowing like a waterfall behind his back. After King Shannan, the exact opposite example of a Divine Crusader descendant sits on top of a comfortable gold gilded black chariot, a black haired Isaachian mistress in each of his arms showing him with kisses as much as flower petals from the spectating crowd. Followed by his own retinue, the black armored axe knights, and axe footmen of Dozel Duchy.
Duke Danann, the current Head of House Dozel and Nal bloodline didn't live up to the example of his steadfast, yet modest ancestor Nal. He was once a distinguished warrior during The Great War with a chiseled body to match. And after the war, he was dispatched by Mother with a large number of Dozel men to help shore up the defenses of the Kingdom of Isaach, acted as a liaison between Mother and King Shannan, and to serve as the boy king's more experienced advisor on the matter of military and statesmanship. Yet, rather than doing his duty, he was more interested in drinking and whoring.
As the first princess of Isaach's sovereign nation, Mein never paid much attention to their small vassal kingdom. But she imagines it's not an exaggeration to say that King Shannan merely tolerated the presence of Duke Danann, instead of appreciating the man.
They are followed by the group of Friege Duchy of Thrud bloodline, the same family Captain Lotheringan of the royal guards hailed from. And arguably, it's the Divine Crusader family that suffered the most from The Great War. It's evident by the way Duchess Ethnia Fiege dresses.
Rarely seen in public, and always witnessed in a simple, black gown with a veil over her face when she does have to fulfill her social obligations. Her chosen attire is dangerously close to a widows gown despite her husband is still well and alive, and she had a good reason to be perpetually in mourning. Her father Lord Raptor, her eldermost brother and the Hammer Hero of Melromarc Lord Bloom, his wife Lady Hilda, and more importantly, her beloved elder sister Tailtiu all fell at the Siltvelt beasts' claws, either dead and buried, or taken north as prisoners of war.
Leading her entourage of the lavender colored Friege mage knights and fighters at the front is a hulking suit of blue armor that gives the battle saint of the Romalia Four Heroes' Church a run for his money in size.
General Adan 'the Slow' had an unorthodox beginning for the Lord Steward of House Friege. He was the sworn shield of Lord Siguard, the heir to House Chalphy, and would likely have continued his service to House Chalphy if not considering his dishonor during the Battle of the Silver Pass where he got his derogatory nickname. He was too slow to catch up to his charge when Lord Sigurd was mortally wounded by Lord Eddard Stark during the final push to drive the Siltvelt invaders fleeing from Melromarc soil. After being dismissed from his service, he somehow ended up the husband of Lady Ethnia. Perhaps out of their mutual loss from The Great War.
After the House Friege's group comes the largest combined entourage of the Divine Crusaders: The combined House Velthomer, Chalphy, and Yngvi formation in their respective red, blue and beige color.
Gossiping noble ladies, and common people who don't know better may spread rumors about how Mother and Duke Luigi Claes used to be lovers. They might have even talked about marriage at one point before Duke Luigi married his wife Miridiana out of the social obligation of being saved by her father during the war. But to anyone with even rudimentary knowledge of how The Game is played, that kind of scandalous hearsay is nothing but nonsense.
On the surface, Duke Luigi Claes has the social status to become Mother's king consort: He inherited Claes duchy, was the direct descendant of the Saint of Spear from over two hundred years ago, and is even distantly related to the Njorun bloodline. But despite House Claes' prestige, they have always stayed away from The Game. Duke Luigi simply doesn't have enough political clout to help mother stand up to Prince Joseph's attempt at challenging her succession right.
Which means aside from Father, the only other candidate Mother could have married was the one who now led the combined northern Divine Crusader group: Duke Arvis Velthomer.
Heir to the Fjalar bloodline and Velthomer Duchy, and Lord Paramount of North Eastern Melromarc. Even before The Great War, young Arvis was already the queen's aide of Queen Lianne. Many expected him to eventually ascend to the position of the nation's prime minister once he's older and more experienced in statecraft and politics. There was even talk of a betrothal between him and Crown Princess Margaret at one point to secure a closer relationship between the crown and the Crusader Block. And the young lord certainly has both the grace, and mind to become a king consort of glorious Melromarc.
The war changed everything, where the northern lords of Melromarc were collectively devastated. And since the newly crowned Queen Mirellia chose to marry the Wand Hero instead of the Crusader of the Infernal Fire, she was probably intimidated by the collective power of the Crusader Block that could still be commanded despite the ravages of war. As a result, Duke Arvis' influence must be curbed to not have his power overshadow the crown.
Citing Crusader Block's inability to stop the Siltvelt invasion, Mother took the title of Lord Paramount away from House Velthomer and gave it to her stooge Grima Consevatie. She also dispatched Duke Arvis away from the capital back to his land, using the excuse of him overseeing the rebuild of the Northern land as an excuse to hide the thinly veiled order of exile.
Yet, despite Duke Arvis being chased away from the central power, his influence only seems to grow even after the war. He married the widow of his friend Sigurd, Lady Deirdre of Heim bloodline, taking Sigurd's son Lord Seliph as his foster son. He also took the newly orphaned House Yngvi children in as his wards, since they have no one looking after them with all of their parent generation either died in the war, or defected to Siltvelt's side.
With one fell swoop, the Fjalar descendant took over House Chalphy and House Yngvi of the northern Crusader Block. He later arranged the marriage of his son Julius with Lady Ishtar, the heir of House Friege, bringing House Friege into his fold, effectively nullifying Mother's attempt at curbing his political power by removing him from lord paramountcy.
Riding atop a dark scaled raptor at the front of the formation is the uncrowned king of northern Melromarc. Duke Arvis Victor Velthomer wears a black overcoat and matching black pants, his once handsome face is no longer youthful as the portrait Mein seen in the castle, yet has gained a certain self-assured regalness that only comes with age and experience. The only thing that's the same as the portrait in her late aunt's empty bed chamber, which Mother painstakingly recreated after the palace was rebuilt, is his flowing red hair, supposedly as deep as the infernal fire conjured by his Valflame tome.
The first princess of Melromarc can't help but wonder how different her and her younger sister's life might have been, if the Duke of Velthomer was her father. Maybe if the Pope had chosen to stay in Flute, and saved her father's wife and daughter as he alluded to. Melty would not have her water affinity without Father's old Tristan royal lineage, and her own fire magic would only be strengthened through the Fjalar bloodline.
But regardless of what she thinks, Father must have been getting desperate despite his earlier bluster at Prince Kael'thas. To summon Duke Arvis, who at one point competed with him for Mother's hand (even if not emotionally), who has since been exiled by Mother. It's hard to imagine there isn't bad blood between House Velthomer and House Melromarc.
Flanking Duke Arvis are his fellow Lords: Duke Oifey Chalphy and the much younger Duke Febail Yngvi. Behind the three of them is the disfavored foster son of Duke Arvis, and House Chalphy's swordbearer, Count Seliph Baldos Chalphy. The boy who passed over his right to inherit Chalphy Duchy for the hand of a commoner woman.
Yet, to many… romantically inclined young ladies who aren't interested in playing The Game, and to the common people, he is more well known as the Light Prince, or 'the Scion of Light' of Melromarc.
As the large entourage of Melromarc knights passed over the main street, came the final group of the Crusader Block. This one from the southern Melromarc: The lancers of House Claus, the original noble family House Claes split from. To the princess' surprise, the one leading their group isn't the blonde haired general of House Claus David, but his younger brother by six summers, Marquis Leif Faris Claus, the Silver 'Prince' of Leonster.
The young, and untested marquis is flanked by his ever faithful knight commander, Sir Finn the Prayer and his fiance princess Nanna of Augustria.
As the respective retinues of the Crusader families assembled into neat formations around the Hero's Square, their respective lords slowly make their way up towards the palace gate. But the loud growl of a dragon is suddenly heard from the sky. A tiny dot slowly becomes larger as a dragon, covered in purple crystal scales, descends, and lands in front of the Palace with the force of a small quake.
Some of the gathered crowds, not familiar with the crusader families begin to panic and run away, believing them under attack. Even the Heroes immediately brandish their weapons and get ready to fight the dragon, or defend the people. Iris' voice quickly calms them down. "At ease, revered heroes. That's not an enemy."
"Have no fear, citizens of Melromarc Castle. I meant you no harm, only showing the strength we Crusader families command!" From atop the dragon's head comes a voice of a young man. The previous panicking crowds of common people look up, and see a young adult man with the same dark red hair as Duke Arvis, in a similar styled black overcoat as his father but a pair of white pants. A young woman lavender of hair in his arm. "Behold! The mighty child of the Worldeater, Darkeater Midir! At our command! We shall not let any foreign invaders, wavespawn or more mundane in origin sully our soil or ravage our people!"
Julius Caesar Velthomar, the son of Duke Arvis. The dark 'prince' of glorious Melromarc, and his fiance Lady Ishtar Friege, the heiress to Thrud bloodline. The crowd slowly, but surely burst into such maddening cheer at his revelation, Mein almost felt the stonewall under her feet trembling.
A great publicity stunt wrapped around a thinly veiled threat at the royal family. Showing both the strength, and the popularity amongst the people of what the Crusader Block, particularly House Velthomer can command.
Midir slowly bows his head down on the ground, letting his master step down. Count Seliph of House Chalphy walks up to his half-brother, an exasperated, yet found smile on his face. "I knew you were up to something when you didn't ride in together with Father. Must you always be the center of attention, my brother?"
"You knew me too well, and it worked didn't it? O brother of mine?" The dark 'prince' smirks at the light 'prince'. Heir Velthomar let go of his fiance, and the two young lords walk up to Duke Arvis with arms on each other's shoulders. Once they stand before the head of House Velthomar and Chalphy, both young men let go of each other and take a more formal stance as they bow down to their guardian.
"Seliph and Julius hand in hand as brothers… that's something I never expected to see." Mein turns around, and sees Naofumi staring down at the two young crusaders with a face that's saturated with disbelieving wonder and intrigue. "The world truly is ending."
Ah, it seems like his textbook misinterpreted the relationship of the Crusader Block and led him astray once again, if he's surprised at two brothers (only from their mother's side, granted) being… well, brothers. And interpret it as some macabre sign of the end times.
"Now that the important people have gathered… Perhaps it's time for us to relocate to the throne room-" Before the king has a chance to finish his speech, he's cut off by one super excited Claes heiress hopping on her heels at the edge of the castle wall.
"Leaf! Cousin Leaf! It's me!" Katarina leans at the castle's crenellation. So overwhelming is her eagerness to talk with her distant cousin, she seems to forget she has a hood over her head… or the fact that a fall from the castle wall can potentially kill her if she goes over. Bertia runs forward in an attempt to pull her back, just as Katarina was trying to leap over the battlement. The two of them fall, thankfully behind the crenellation in a tangled bundle of limbs. "Ouch…"
"BERTIA?! Why are you here?!" The loud and shocked exclamation makes the princess turned adventurer realize that Bertia's hood has been dragged down by Katarina. "Why aren't you at home? I just got a letter from you yesterday! And why are you so… so thin now?! Have you been skipping meals?"
"MEEP!" Bertia makes a squeaky noise. The Noches heiress desperately tries to disentangle herself from under Katarina, as she wiggles towards Iris.
"You might as well come clean now, Bertia. There's no use hiding from your father." Iris looks down at her fellow heiress and shakes her head in disapproval.
"Yes, fa-father!" After another painful grunt, Bertia manages to pull her leg out from under Katarina. The Spear Hero quickly moves his way over, holding up both girls with his arms. The head of the Noches heiress hung low, eyes not daring to look away from her own feet. "I… I haven't been skipping meals. But you remember I was with Master Spear Hero during the banquet?"
"Yes. Heiress Amelia started sponsoring the Spear Hero shortly before the second Wave." The spymaster casts a withering glance over at the finance minister before looking back at his daughter. "And you went with her to the celebration as her childhood friend. To foster connections with the Spear Hero. But didn't you return home afterwards? I have your letters… right here with me!"
The lord of House Noches actually takes out a small bundle of neatly folded up parchment from the inside of his overcoat.
"No… not really. I tagged along Iris, and Katarina. As Master Motoyasu's companions. I - I had my younger brother write them in my tone." To Katarina's credit, she actually looks away from her short statured friend in shame while Bertia gives explanation to her father. Even the living monkey of House Claes realizes how much she messed up in her excitement. "But I haven't been going all over the place too much! We mainly stayed in Balafon."
"Count Whiterun's realm? That's at least not too far… wait!" The spymaster's face slowly begins to calm, until it's broken with another wave of freshly dawned panic. "That's the village that's nearly destroyed by a newborn outer god! Were you at least safely hiding away when that happened?!"
"Yeah, that's my fault." The Spear Hero slowly and shakily holds his hand up. Despite his height, he looks like a kicked puppy, or a little child who knew he made a mistake and got caught by an angry parent. "I suggested we go to a dungeon nearby and get a magical seed that'll help with the village's bad harvest. It… turned into a giant monster tree and-"
Things happened quickly afterwards. One moment, Marquis Noches was standing beside the flabbergasted looking king. The next second, the spymaster bolts forward, quicker than lightning, despite not being well known for his physical prowess. And faster than the eyes of the princess can perceive, the Spear Hero is suddenly flat on the stone floor. Stars and dancing, singing filorials practically spins in front of his face. The Marquis' extended arm ended up in a balled up fist in front of where the Spear Hero's face was. "Oww…"
"Damn it, control yourself, Douglas!" Father quickly rushes forward with two of his royal guards flanking him. The three of them manage to pull the marquis away from the downed Spear Hero before more damage can be inflicted. "You are making a scene in front of everyone! Don't shame your family!"
A bit of a hypocritical reaction from Father, considering what he himself did to the Shield Hero. Then again, it probably takes one overprotective (and not too bright) father to know another one.
"Let go of me!" Despite being held back by two royal guards and the king, the usually composed spymaster is kicking and screaming up a storm, trying to get to the Spear Hero. "That bastard took my daughter and put her in danger of an outer god! Let me give him a piece of my mind!"
"You are showing us Melromarcs Lords in bad light, Douglas!" Duke Amelia also joins in, although he only chided his fellow court member.
"NO! That's not true, Father! Master Motoyasu didn't take me! I followed Master Motoyasu, because I wanted to help!" Despite her small stature, the Noches heiress bravely stands in front of her raging father. Behind her, Katarina has managed to crawl back to her feet, and is currently helping the Spear Hero up. "And he protected me well!"
"That's not really true, Bertia. Remember that time I tried to stop those demi-human assassins attacking Melty?" The Spear Hero blinks a couple of times. He's probably still trying to regain his bearings after that prestige level worthy of a knockout punch. "I got my throat cut. And you have to transfer my wound to you to save me."
Among a new wave of Marquis Noches' struggles, Father suddenly turns his head to glare at the Spear Hero. "Wait, what's this about Melty? My daughter Melty? You have MY DAUGHTER, the second princess of Glorious Melromarc with you, and you didn't think to inform me?! Her FATHER?!"
This is simply not a good day for the Spear Hero, is it? But more importantly… Melty never went to Father and delivered the warning she asked to pass over?!
CHIEF GOD, AND HEROES OF OLD DAMNED FOOLISH YOUNGER SISTER!
Mein peers from the corner of her eyes to look at the Prince Kael'thas. He's currently being ushered down the stairs by Captain Lotheringan, an amused smirk on the corner of his mouth. He is thoroughly enjoying the embarrassment of Melromarc nobility from their daughters' barely thought out shenanigans.
"The princess was hunted down by well trained and armed assassins. Her escort was already slaughtered down to the last man when we reached her, my liege." Iris steps forward and replies to the king after a brief courtesy. She's clearly not content that her fellow heiresses keep making the situation worse, and now see fit to attempt at recovering the situation. "With no fool proof way to identify who sent the assassins, we decided it's best to not announce Her Highness' whereabouts, and keep her with us for her own protection."
"Calm down, Aultcray. Heiress Amelia speaks the truth." Father looks about to argue, but Pope Balmus quickly steps over and holds him back with an arm. Mein gives Heiress Amelia a quick glimpse, and the young woman is leering at the Pope with trepidation. "There are many who wish to see the Queen's heirs harmed, both from outside Melromarc and within. I wouldn't be surprised if some members of my own faith wish to see them out of their way. Despite Lord Spear Hero's earlier blunders, keeping Her Highness close to him in secret was the best choice."
Father visibly bites back down a heavy breath. His angry stares slowly recede as it moves between the Spear Hero, heiress Amelia and the Pope. After a short while, he lets out a disgruntled whisper. "They should still have dispatched a messenger and informed me."
"Yes, hindsight is always perfect, old friend. But let's not get angry at the Spear Hero for not doing everything perfectly, and be more grateful that he was there to save Princess Melty's life." The Pope pushes his spectacles back up the bridge of his nose. The lens reflexes the sun's light, almost sinisterly hides his closed eyes. "It sounds like they averted a very serious attempt at assassinating the princess that almost succeeded."
"Very well…" Father nods his head. He walks forward, stopping only when his nose almost touches the Spear Hero, making Katarina backs away with a muffled 'meep' sound. The king stares down at the Spear Hero as he squeezes his hand, making the hero cringe with a light yelp, and speaks slowly to him. "I'm entrusting the care and safety of my younger daughter to you, Lord Spear Hero. Do not shrink your duty and let harm come to my daughter. Or else, I will personally dump an entire barrel's worth of honey on you, and then kick you down a nest of Slaughter Ants. AM I CLEAR?!"
"Yes, sir. Very clear!" The Spear Hero shakes Father's hand as he nods his head harder than a war drummer, the smile on his face looking very strained.
"Look at how thin you got, my daughter. You must have gone through so much hardship." On the other hand, Marquis Noches is focusing entirely on his daughter now that the Spear Hero is too busy with the king. He has both hands cupping Bertia's cheeks, somehow looking dismayed at her losing her pudge.
"Not really, Father. That one time with the assassins aside, Master Motoyasu is very good at keeping us away from harm." Bertia wiggles and squirms under her father's touch. She steps back as the spymaster lets go of his hands. "He always keeps us behind him when there's danger. He's one of the most chivalrous men we have ever met. That's why all of us, Lady Amelia, Lady Claes and myself, want to do our part to help him."
"Well, you can't stay in the Spear Hero's party, Bertia. It's dangerous to go adventuring, and fight in the Waves." The marquis shakes his head as he rests his hands on Bertia's shoulders, seemingly pushing down at his much shorter daughter. "Our bloodlines have no greater power for us to draw from. And you aren't a skilled mage like heiress Amelia, or a fierce warrior like heiress Claes. Did you even have anyone from our noble house looking after you? You never even picked a personal maid for yourself! Even if you feel left out from your childhood friends, it's better you stay home and-"
"NO!" He is suddenly interrupted as Bertia pushes back, shaking the spymaster's hands away from her shoulder. "I know I'm not smart, like Iris. Or brave like Katarina. But for all my life, all I ever did was sit at home, eat and grow fat! I know other ladies call me 'the Pig of House Noches', or a frilly rider. And I'm SICK AND TIRED of it! I want to help, like Iris and Katarina! This past month I was with my friends helping Master Motoyasu… I have felt more ALIVE than I ever did before! BECAUSE I'M ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING FOR MYSELF WITH MY OWN LIFE!"
Despite no longer physically looking like a pig, the frilly rider seems to have tired herself out after her shouting match with her father. She hangs her head low, either out of fatigue or shame for losing her composure and throws all sense of etiquette out of the window in front of her father and the king's court. For an uncomfortable amount of time, only the sound of Bertia's heavy breathing remains between the shell-shocked father and exhausted daughter of House Noches.
"If I may impose, Lord Noches." Iris glides her way over. Yet, the ever graceful House Amelia heiress seems to hesitate at the last step. She must have wanted to cast Bertia behind her protective back, but Iris instead stood shoulder to shoulder with her childhood friend. "You should have more faith in your daughter. Lady Bertia contributed to the Spear Hero's success as much as Lady Katarina, and myself."
"Yeah, Tia's dad! Tia is always the first one to cheer Motoyasu up when he feels down!" Katarina also stomps over, and throws her arms around her smaller friend's shoulders. "And she uses her dark magic to protect us! It's like she's our personal Shield Hero! So don't you dare take Tia away from us. Because we won't allow it either!"
"I understand your concern, and need to keep your child safe, Lord Noches. There is no worse pain than losing your child, by blood… or choice." Once again, Pope Balmus walks up behind the spymaster and solemnly places a hand on his shoulder. Despite his eyes still seemingly closed, the Pope's face seems to slightly turn towards Mein's father. "But you can't shelter your child behind you forever either. If you try to do so, they will not have enough experience, or skill to survive on their own when you aren't there to protect them. Your daughter has good friends, and a trustworthy hero protecting her, has more faith in them all."
Marquis Noches looks back at the Pope, his eyes squinted ever lightly. After a short pause, the Lord of House Noches turns back to face his daughter. This time, he kneels back to look at his daughter at eye level, rather than peer over her. "I'm sorry for never noticing you have grown up, Bertia. I… almost lost your mother back during the Plague of the Wailing Death. Guess I didn't realize how much I must have suffocated you, my daughter."
"You are the best father I could ever ask for, father!" Bertia leans into her father's chest, and two generations of Noches embrace each other tightly. "But I need to do my part in the Wave of Catastrophe too, because everyone will die if we don't stop it. I want to gain the strength to protect Anes, Mother, and you. Please, let me go…"
Mein's eyes wander over to Raphtalia, and quickly find the raccoon girl is looking back at her too. It seems they are both reminded of their own interaction outside the old House Rabier Keep.
"Very well, I will let you go, my daughter." The marquis slowly releases his hold over Bertia and stands up. He guides his daughter over to the Spear Hero, who by now has finally recovered both from the marquis' punch, and the king's intimidation. "I entrust you with the hand of my daughter and give you her future, Lord Spear Hero. Please, protect her with all your strength. I don't have as much power to call upon as my liege, Duke Amelia or Claes. But if you let my daughter come to harm again… I will find someway to haunt you, even if I have to kill myself and come at you from afterlife."
"Yes, of course! I won't let my companions come to harm." The Spear Hero's face is serious for once as he takes over Bertia's hand from her father. "Not again."
After that brief unpleasantness, their group slowly make their way down the inner wall protecting the palace. Prince Kael'thas, and his small escort is standing by the entrance to the palace of Melromarc Castle, ironically staring down at the gathered host of Melromarc nobility as if he's guarding the gate and daring any, or all of them to challenge him.
And speaking of potential challengers, one of them certainly stands before the rest, with a greataxe in his hands too. Now standing much closer, the princess realizes how much Duke Danan has supposedly let himself go. For a heavy armored warrior who fights at close range, even his gold gilded black titanite armor barely keeps the fat around his stomach in check. His footwork also seems to be stumbling a bit even without engaging anyone in combat. All the drinking and whoring he did in Isaach obviously didn't do him any good.
The Duke noticed the king's entourage. He squints his slanted eyes narrower, his black goatee seems to be wiggling below his strong chin before he turns back to look at Duke Arvis. "Hey, isn't it that animal's head chieftain, the Shield Demon? Should I kill him?"
"No, you aren't killing anyone, Duke Danan. Behave yourself." The uncrowned king of northern Melromarc takes a deep breath, and shakes his head in what seems to be barely constrained exasperation. Besides him, King Shanan of Isaach has his eyes closed the whole time, clearly considering Duke Danan's action a lost cause by this point. "Both Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider, and the Shield Hero are King Aultcray's guests. Don't make an incident."
"Leaf! Cousin Leaf!" Katarina begins to once again, jump up and down while furiously waving her arms overhead in the most unladylike manner possible. At least, this time she actually caught the attention of the Silver Prince. "It's me! Katarina!"
"Cousin Cat!" The previously stern face of the young Lord Claus lights up when he sees his distant cousin. He breaks away from the rest of his fellow lords and ladies of the Crusader Block, his fiance and sworn shield closely following him. "I haven't seen you since your last birthday! How have you been?"
"I'm a warrior too! Just like you!" Katarina didn't so much as jump into Marquis Leif's arms, as she gave her distant cousin a full body tackle. "Will you fight alongside me in the next Wave?"
House Claes split from its original main branch, House Claus, over two hundred years ago during the reign of Queen Evangeline, first queen of the Melromarc dynasty. At the time, Catherine, the first duchess of House Claes was an unremarkable girl from a branch of House Claus. Yet, against all odds, she managed to capture the heart of the Saint of the Spear, who took her as his sole wife and established a new noble house under their lineage.
Even if House Claes' Spear Hero bloodline takes precedence before Njore the Lancer of the Divine Crusader, therefore technically doesn't count as one of the Crusader Block. Both noble families have maintained amicable relationships throughout the years, considering each other close cousins even as their ancestry grows apart.
The young lord actually chuckles at Katarina's antics, his earlier stern demeanor nowhere to be found now. Leif spins Katarina a full circle before setting her down again, and waves her at his two followers. "You remember my fiance, Nanna. And my protector, Sir Finn."
Despite hailing from one of the smaller kingdoms between the bigger players, and spending her earlier days as a refugee hiding away from Siltvelt occupation army. Nanna Lachesis Nordion certainly has the grace of both the beauty and grace of a princess straight out of a fairy tale.
Her short, slightly curly blonde hair falls down naturally around her neck, and is embellished by a sliver, feather shaped hair ornament. Her large, crystal blue eyes sit on up her delicate and soft features, as clear as a beautiful pond in a hidden glade.
The princess of Augustria walks over to her fiance and gives a courtesy to the Claes heiress. "Lady Katarina, I see you are still as uncompromisingly sincere as we last met. I missed you. I wish we could host you more often, but…"
Princess Nanna wasn't lying, or deflecting either. Leonster, and northern Thracia as a whole was the other major food producing land of Melromarc before The Great War. That was the major reason why it was annexed by the Kingdom of De Gallia a few hundred years ago, the current Melromarc Dynasty.
Unfortunately for the peninsula province, it didn't have De Gallia acting as its shield like Romalia, and for five years, it suffered from continuous brutal attack from the Azure Dragon clan, leaving the once fertile northern Thracia all but a wasteland by the end of the campaign. It seems like twenty years after the long war, Thracia has not yet recovered its past prosperity.
"I miss you too! Nanna!" Katarina and Nanna pull each other into an embrace. The more energetic heiress patting the princess' back. "Don't worry about me. I know how much work there's to be done south in Leonster. You take good care of yourself, cousin Leaf, and your people."
"Lady Claes." The blue haired Sir Finn the Prayer, lord commander of Marquis Leif's personal guards, bows his head as a show of respect.
Finn of House Claus, the Prayer Knight, who got his nickname from how he had a record of surviving and coming on top of brutal conflicts after conflicts even as he suffered from heavy wounds that would take a lesser man. Almost as if Chief God favors him, and watches over him despite his lack of association with one of the churches. His most famous feat comes from the first battle of Griffin Spine, when the host of House Claus was tasked to serve as rearguard to delay Siltvelt army and allow what's left of Melromarc army to retreat south.
Only a mere boy of sixteen summers at the time, Sir Finn's small contingent that were tasked to act as a flank skirmish unit to distract the enemy from overwhelming the main Claus host were unfortunately met head first by a force of the boar clan outnumbering them ten to one. They were slaughtered down to Sir Finn himself, who managed to hold back the boar clan raiders back by himself, even killing most of them till he was rescued at the end by House Chalphy host.
Considering how she wasn't born yet, the first princess never met the Prayer Knight when he was still a boy. Looking at the blessed defender of House Claus, he no longer looks boyish. His blue hair suggests distant De Gallia lineage is well groomed but grown long. Lines of ages appeared near the corner of his mouth. Similar to Duke Arvis, the first knight of House Claus seemed to have gained a certain well-aged charm that comes with experience.
"Protect my cousin, Sir Finn." Katarina releases Nanna, and rams head first into her cousin's blue protector and envelops her arms around his waist.
The older knight's arms raises up from his sides, clearly looking unsure at where he should rest them to break his knight's oath and touches Claes heiress inappropriately. He lets out a light sigh of relief as Katarina pulls away from him, dipping his head. "Always."
Iris walks up behind Katarina, and gives him a gentle nudge with her free hand. The Claes heiress nearly jumps out of her skin. She takes a step back, and clears her throat to put up her rarely used noble lady mask. "I, heir of House Claes, Union of the Legendary Heroes and Divine Crusaders, announce to you the presence of our summoned saviors, heroes, and teachers: Sword Hero Ren Amaki, Spear Hero Motoyasu Kitamura, Bow Hero Itsuki Kawasumi, and Shield Hero Naofumi Iwatani."
The heads of the Divine Crusader families, and leaders of the other group all take a few steps forward and bow their heads (Duke Danan had to be nudged by Duke Arvis), while their heirs and closest followers they brought inside the palace wall gate step behind them and bend their knees. "Lord Heroes."
Well… all except Roger of Ajax, Who already stands out due to his massive height. The 'Blessed' Battle Master of the Romalia Four Heroes' Church actually wraps some herbs in a piece of parchment wrappings, lights it up and brings it to his mouth while others pay their respect to the summoned heroes.
"Please rise. My fellow protectors of Glorious Melromarc." Father holds his arms forward palm side up, parallel to his shoulders as if he's trying to pull his fellow nobles up. He turns to look at the summoned heroes, resting his sight on Naofumi longer than the others. "Feel free to get to know heroes."
"So, Lord Spear Hero. You are the one Katarina holds dear?" Marquis Leif walks up to the Spear Hero and smiles at his cousin's object of affection. "She's an incredible woman. Kind, courageous, and always give her all no matter what she sets her mind upon. I'm not saying you have to take her as your sole wife as the Saint of the Spear, but please treat her kindly."
"Aw… I'm not that good, Cousin Leaf." Katarina actually looks bashful at Leif's compliment as she hides her face behind her face. "I'd be happy if I didn't embarrass myself and my mother."
"No, you totally are, Katarina. I'm the luckiest guy alive to have you, all of you choose to support me." Motoyasu pulls Katarina closer to him on her shoulder, making the Claes turn completely red. "I'll do my best to be the best hero I can be, to live up to all of you."
"Lord Bow Hero." Count Seliph, the swordbearer of House Chalphy walks up to Itsuki. "I have heard what you had to do in Lute shortly after the Second Wave. I thank you for protecting the people of Melromarc, even when you had to make an enemy out of Faubley's Four Heroes' Church."
"It was all my fault to begin with." The Bow Hero looks away from the descendent of Baldr the Paladin. One of the two younger heroes is clearly still ashamed of his involvement. "Those people didn't have to die, if I had paid more attention to what I said, and what others said to me."
"Our actions always carry consequences we won't know at the time of making them," The wielder of Tyrfing the holy sword dips his head. Perhaps the fool regretted his decision of rejecting the hand of a noble lady to marry his servant girl of humble birth now after the fire of romance had died down. "We can only live with them, and learn from them, trying to do our best in the future."
"I heard you are one of the best swordmasters in the world." Unlike the previous two interactions, Ren is the one who walks up to King Shanan. Or perhaps it's actually his body double. It's rumored that the king of Isaach had found a con man who can't swing a sword to save his own life, yet has a silvertong that can swindle anyone and looks exactly like him. "Can you teach me how to fight like a swordsman?"
The Sword king of Isaach locks eyes with the young hero. "Do you seek to walk the same path as the Eighth Sword Hero? To treat the sword as an art, one you'll pursue it through your whole life, to constantly break through your limit till you find a way to ascend into the pantheon of gods?"
"I don't know about that." The youngest hero seems to be biting his lips, seems like he wants to keep silent yet being pushed forward by a stronger drive for something else. "It's going to be hard to explain to you how different my world is. But I guess… It's like we had a sport where we engage in choreographed mock fights. I was one of the best, and wanted to be number one, but I found the skill I learned back home is useless against a real swordsman here. I wanted to improve, to actually BE the best, and not just to feel like the best but not knowing what I'm doing."
"I see. You are like one of those competitors in publicity duels who are trained in fancy forms that look good but are impractical in real fights." For a brief moment, the Sword Hero looks about to rebuke the Sword King's words, but once again, he bites back his words. The descendent of Od holds up his sword still resting in its sheath, it has a slight curve similar to those blades supposedly favored by the Lizardsman. "I, or one of my disciples, can teach you the way of our curved sabers, and our sword dance derived from the old shamanic dances. But if your body isn't built for it, and you wish to learn the way of more conventional sword fighting, you will have to speak to one of the Melromarc knights."
"We should also go talk to the people of the Romalia Four Heroes' Church, Master Naofumi." While the other three heroes mingle with different noble families, Mein gives Naofumi a light tap behind his back and whispers into his ears. They shouldn't get so dazzled by the show her father organized, that they forget their original purpose after all.
"Right, you are right, Mein. We…" The Shield Hero didn't finish his sentence, when the Lord High Inquisitor of the Romalia branch actually walked up to him.
Lord Julio isn't the image of a typical church inquisitor, especially one that sits on the highest position of their organization. He always has a disarming smile adorning his boyishly handsome face, and the smile isn't fake either. It's more likely to spot him in a soup kitchen, bringing elms to the homeless and elderly than finding him burning down some hive of cultists and villainy. In fact, if he's not wearing their uniform and cloak, it's easy to mistake him for one of an errant knight. A knight who doesn't serve at the beck and call of their Lady or Lord, but goes around the land to help righting wrongs and protect the common people.
"It's an honor to meet you in person, revered Shield Hero." Right now, the High Inquisitor of the Vicar of Romalia pulls a rolled up parchment and hands it towards the Shield Hero with both hands. "Vicar Vittori sent you his invitation, Master Shield Hero. You are cordially invited to join him in the old Brimir Cathedral of Romalia city, for tea and discussion about the future action of the Romalia Four Heroes' Church. On how we can best support and serve you to avert the disasters that will no doubt be caused by the Wave of Catastrophe."
"BAH! I don't know why Wormy Vinny even bothers with this one." By contrast, Roger of Ajax just spits on the ground as he blows out a ring of smoke from his mouth. Did the brute just called his direct superior in the church a derogatory name? "It's going to be that shitshow with all them ass turds all over again."
"Actually, my lord. The correct official term for the Astral Knights is 'Adeptus Astartes'. Old Romalian that roughly translates to 'To Master the Stars'." Standing beside the giant is a Romalian man with a much normal height and build. His well groomed black hair contrasts to Roger of Ajax' wild graying mane. "Because they gained their power from highly concentrated Ether extracted from the Ether Between Worlds…"
The giant battle saint spins on his heel with the drop of a copper as he scrowls down at who seems to be his lieutenant. His balled up fist that's roughly the same size as his lieutenant's face lovers dangerously closer to the much smaller man's nose. "Look, Sebastian. You know I love you right? But for fuck's sake, if you don't shut the fuck up this instant, my fist will have a very close contact with your face."
"Of course, my lord." Sebastian's reply sounds more like a sigh than anything else.
"What's his problem?" Naofumi turns his face back to Julio.
"My problem with ass-turds like you, is you all think you are someone damn special. Like the sun rises because of you. But at the end of the day, you know who really won the war? Common soldiers, with their boots on the ground." The Master of Battle stomps over to the Shield Hero, making the ground shake with his armored boots. He leans down and glares into the Shield Hero, making the young man take a step back. "That's what they did back in The Great War. Put all their hopes in them Ass Turds to stop the animals. And you know how they did? Slaughtered down to the last man in their first battle, like a bunch of useless pussies!"
"That's not true, my Lord." Sebastian shakes his head behind the giant. Aside from walking forward, the only part of his body that seems to move is his head. "Sir Cloud is still around. Our last Adeptus Astartes from The Great War. And he's training them to be better prepared for potential conflicts than they were back during…"
"Sebatian." Roger of Ajax spins on his heel again. "My fist. Your face. Rearrangement."
"Of course, my lord."
"Anyways…" Naofumi's face slowly turns back to Lord High Inquisitor Julio. "Can you get me sanctioned or something?"
"Sanctified, Master Naofumi." Mein quickly corrected the Shield Hero behind him. "You are trying to be sanctified by the Four Heroes' Church so you can officially start recruiting for your hero's retinue without any nobles, or rulers forcing you to disperse your followers on account of you trying to 'subvert the crown'."
"It is beyond my power to do so, Master Shield Hero. But I'm sure my master Vicar Vittorio will be more than happy to grant you your wish once you visit him." The high inquisitor gives an apologetic smile to the Shield Hero even as father starts to call in order for his grand council. It's a shame they will need to wait for more time to start building up their base of power, but assuming the Romalia vicar is trustworthy (or rather, not a total idiot to make an enemy out of both the Three Heroes' Church and the heroes), they at least made some progress on this day.
Omake: Hesitancy of the Thunder Heiress
The garden of Melromarc Castle palace is truly beautiful. Flora brought all over the vast land to bloom neatly arranged around the architecture, furniture and statues.
Lady Ishtar Hilda Friege rubs her gloved right hand in a brief moment of self-consciousness. She wishes her husband Lord Julius was here with her, instead of her fellow Melromarc ladies. Despite her beloved having grown outwardly colder and more prideful due to Manfroy's constant whispering, he had always been the kind man she fell in love with from all those years ago, when it was only the two of them. No matter how busy his heir study is, Julius would always find time to spend time with her in their garden, letting their sweet scent surround them while they sit together watching birds and butterflies dance around.
Unfortunately, the King's Grand Council is an event that her beloved can't get away from. As all the male members of the Crusader families are sitting in attendance for their strategy to face the increasingly dangerous future waves… and threats outside Glorious Melromarc's border. So the heiress to House Friege simply sits at a corner, away from most of the ladies gossiping and chatting about more courtly affairs.
She can't wrap her head around the courtly intrigue, nor have any interest in them. She would have simply followed the direction of her husband regardless of his choices. Her elder brother Ishtore would have been a much better heir to her noble house for being both a finer statesman and a commander. Alas, he didn't inherit the mark of the Crusader like her, so mo- Aunt Ethnia made her the heir to House Friege.
Maybe she should have simply sat on the Grand Council with her Julius. Aunt Ethnia leaves both managing of her duchy and her army to uncle Adan, but she's still sitting on the council too. Granted, she's forced to be there due to her being the Duchess of House Friege, but maybe she-
A figure that practically glitters walks in front of her catches her attention, and Ishtar looks up. Celestine Chalphy nee Grant, the young wife of Duke Chalphy saunters around in her long, silken ball dress. At first, Ishtar thought it was devil spider silk as the most prestigious and wealthy ladies of high society adored it. But the glitter in the weave, similar to a piece of enchanted equipment, yet more subtle and less gaudy makes her blind in surprise.
This kind of effect… It's a unique property of heavenly cicada silk. A kind of material that is only being produced in Siltvelt Midland, and is hard to come back even if one pays a fortune. Especially since its extraction would kill the monster in question, an otherwise powerful familiar for a Siltvelt Sorcerer. Not even Iris Amelia, the heiress of House Amelia owns a dress made of heavenly cicada silk.
House Chalphy is well off, but nowhere near as wealthy as House Amelia. How did Duchess Chalphy afford… now, even got her hands on a heavenly cicada silk dress?
"My fellow ladies, I see trepidation, even thinly disguised fear, on you. You must be thinking the same thing: will this be a repeat of The Great War, where most of our noble houses lost our true heiresses, to the savage maw of the beast from the North? Rest assured, we are better prepared for this moment. My husband, Duke Oifey and his allies have rebuilt our lost army from the Great War, stronger than ever!" Lady Celestine's voice quickly gathers the attention of all the ladies sitting and chatting around the garden.
What is Lady Chalphy playing at? Is she trying to gain more support from the noble ladies by flaunting the strength of their crusader family's martial prowess?
Even Ishtar feels like shaking her head at Duchess Chalphy's attempt. It'll take more than some vague, empty promises most ladies don't even wrap their head around to take them away from the influence of Lady Amelia.
"But first… we should know who our enemies really are." Lady Celestine turns her nose up as she opens her fan, hiding her face behind it as she looks over at a young woman in plain cotton dress as opposed to silk or satin weave. Lady Muirne, Lord Seliph's wife. "We should beware of weak, undeserving social climbers and linestealers rising among our own ranks and making us weak. This glorious court has no place for leeches like them."
Wait, what? WHAT!?
Is Lady Celestine openly attacking one of her fellow ladies from Crusader families, even one of her own House? Granted, that whole mess where Lord Seliph rejected her family's marriage proposal for the hand of a humble born servant made her a bit of a laughing stock among certain groups. But Lord Seliph already offered to step down his position as the Lord of House Chalphy, allowing her to marry his Uncle Oifey and be the duchess of his noble house. Any slight he caused her should have been glanced over.
"Leeches, with neither birthright, nor talent behind their backs. Only seeking to steal away our most precious lines, making them weaker to elevate her own social status." Duchess Chalphy walks over to where Countess Murine sits. She leers down at the squirming Isaachian woman. "Have no place among us!"
She should do something. Crusader families are supposed to be united together. Yet… despite being one of the children of Divine Crusaders, she wasn't ever close with them. She's not like her cousins Tine and Linda, openly mingling with other children from different Crusader houses and their Issaachian friends. She has always feared getting to know other people, even her cousins when she never knew her father and mother. She's ever been close to her brother Ishtore, and her fiance Lord Julius.
Despite her strong position, the heiress of Thunder found herself frozen with fear. Unable to defend the wife of one of her childhood 'friends'.
"Birthright and bloodline does not determine a man's worth!" In her place, Princess Nanna stands up and walks behind Lady Murine. Glaring right back at Lady Celestine without faltering. Despite her being from the southern Crusader family and spending less time with the northern block, she's showing much more courage than Ishtar can muster. "Saying birthright, and bloodline determines everything would be nothing short of a slight against Lady Merellis, the best example of a Melromarc lady for all of us!"
Duchess Chalphy's face slowly turns pale at Princess Nanna's rebuke. She nearly drops her fan as she looks over at the matriarch of House Amelia. It is well known that General Gazelle Daz Anderson was raised from nothing. There had even been rumors that he was an escaped slave from Siltvelt due to how his command and leadership style more closely resemble that of a Siltvelt, particular their Midland generals.
Wait, is the Lady of House Chalphy abandoning them and seeking to join House Amelia's faction?
"You should not have taken the lessons at face value. Princess Nanna." The sound of a tea spoon stirring around the cup brings everyone's attention towards a table, where Duchess Amelia is gracefully drinking a cup of tea. "Someone who is humble of birth doesn't mean they are self-made. Just like someone who is born from a prestigious bloodline doesn't always live up to the legacy of their family's past. I fought in The Great War alongside my father, where I met my husband. Pray tell, what did Lady Murine do to prove herself? Changing Sir Seliph's loincloth?"
Murmurs break out among different groups of ladies. Not only had the Lady of House Chalphy, effectively the leading lady of the Crusader Block in the absence of Lady Ethnia Friege (with the wife of Arvis, Lady Deidra already passed) openly broke range and started an in fight of the Crusader families, she's apparently already in bed with House Amelia. The biggest potential enemy of the Crusader families?
Ishtar feels like her heart has been caught in her throat. If she simply can't act before, her limbs have turned to ice by now.
She wishes her mother… or Aunt Ethinia is here.
"This matter does not concern you. Duchess Amelia." A voice that sounds labored, almost like it's spoken between sobs makes Ishtar spin her head around. Standing at a side door to the castle is none other than her aunt Lady Ethinia, head of House Friege. Her black veil of mourning pulled down, and holding a piece of wood that looks more like a walking stick than a wand.
Ishtar had seen portraits of her Aunt Ethnia with the rest of her family from a happier time before the war. Even during her prime, Aunt Ethnia wasn't someone exceedingly beautiful. Not by the standard of the Crusader families, at very least. She didn't inherit the light lavender hair color of House Friege. Under her long, straight dark brown hair is a face that can be best described as plain even by commoner standards.
And with the tragedy of House Friege in The Great War, age has truly shown its mark on aunt Ethnia's face. She looks about ten years older than her actual age, with her mouth constantly twisted by a bitter frown. And right now, the usually mild mannered Duchess Friege is bringing her family's thunder like fury down.
"Old women like us should sit back, enjoy our remaining days. And let our children sort out problems among themselves." Aunt Ethnia slowly walks into the garden. Her steps are light, barely audible. Yet, Ishtar can feel her heart beat every time her aunt moves her feet. "The last thing we want to end up is a reputation of us bullying the younger girls, do you not agree? Lady Amelia? I have never graced the frontline of a battlefield like you did back in the day, but for one of my children, I know I would fight tooth and nail."
"This leech is hardly your chi-" Expecting protection from Lady Amelia, Celestine snorts at aunt Ethnia. Yet a full glare from the head of House Friege makes her hold her tongue.
"I am the only woman head of the Crusader Families, Lady Chalphy. Every one is my children!" Aunt Ethnia glares at Celestine with lightning in her eyes. "I will not stop you from seeking retribution to what you felt an unforgivable slight, Lady Chalphy. But do NOT, make a show in public! If you seek to escalate, I do not have a problem showing everyone how I discipline one of my children. Am I clear?!"
Celestine looks at Lady Amelia, no doubt seeking support and protection. She's only disappointed with her mouth agape like a dead fish when Lady Amelia takes another sip of her tea. "You are right, Lady Ethnia. We should let our children sort out their own problems, and simply enjoy our days. After The Great War, we earned that much."
Despite her inaction, Ishtar, the heiress of House Fridge, feels relief. Aunt Ethnia always makes everything better.
End Note:
Before anyone asks, yes, the title of this chapter is Getter Arc's theme song. I just feel it's a song very fitting for the Divine Crusaders of Fire Emblem 4: Genealogy of Holy War.
And Melty, once again acting more appropriate to her age, completely let her elder sister's warning flew over her head when Motoyasu got her a small herd of birbs. Now, it's up to Malty, actually having to work together with Iris to fix the problem... or not.
Also, me being myself, took a pot shot at the whole transhuman super soldier trope. Obviously, Corpse Pretender's over bioengineered frat boy freak band is the biggest inspiration where I literally named the Melromarc super soldiers after Adeptus Astartes. There's also some inspiration from Spartans of Halo where Melromarc put all their hope in the super soldiers from stopping a foreign invasion, and some inspiration of SOLDIER from Final Fantasy 7 with their enhancement method. The result wasn't pretty: their 'super' soldiers got absolutely slaughtered by Siltvelt in the very first conflict they fought in, because they were undertrained.
Guest review time.
To Halo:
Well... without saying too much. I think it's safe to say Ambition crew and Canon crew wouldn't be each other's fans. Especially Shield Hero's party, as I literally made Ambition timeline Naofumi the antithesis of his canon self.
:P
That being said... Ambition timeline crew might get to meet their canon (sort of) timeline crew yet in the future.
;)
To Night:
Glad to see you again after all this time! Hope you are still enjoying the story.
I definitely planned Melty to ends up with Motoyasu from the start, let's say there's a reason why I plucked Iris from her own story and have her being Motoyasu's chaperon. He needs a smart handler to do the thinking for him to be effective. That's not counting the kind of shenanigan I imagine Katarina and Bertia would get into together.
XDDD
As I already implied in earlier flashback from Malty, she knows the importance of at least keeping a cordial front with her younger sister here. So yes, things like reading stories to her younger sister, or take her for joy rides are easy things for Malty to do to get some good PR with the common people and score brownie points with her father.
To Lily:
Sorry about the over-saturation with characters, and I imagine this chapter didn't help.
As my inspiration is to take the most abstract of Rising of the Shield Hero's setting and write a Game of Throne/Romance of the Three Kingdoms style political/war drama out of it. So yes, that sadly means oversaturation of characters.
