*Clip-Clop*

Two dozens of fully armoured royal guards forced marched to the carriage. They stood in two separate rows, with a rough 2 meters gap between them, creating a way for the extremely special guest that came all the way from the East- the powerful Kingdom of Nemphis.

The old ‘coachman’ stepped down from his driver’s seat and respectfully opened the carriage door. A youth with otherworldly looks stepped out. His jet black coat and hair fluttered with the gentle breeze. His eyes, which was shades darker than everything he had on, scanned through the indomitable fortress.

The castle was smaller and its small grey colour caused it to look more dull compared to the Royal Palace of Nemphis. But when it came to fortifications, the castle would beat any other structures in the Confederation.

He darted his eyes to the pathway created by the loyal and brave soldiers of Northguard. He stepped forth and walked slowly but grandly before the eyes of the metal armoured guards.

All of those who set their eyes on him had the urge to kneel. The aura surrounding him was not any less than that of their own liege. Furthermore, he was not even twenty years old.

The old man followed Adrian with his eyes until the Royal Advisor stepped into the sturdy gates of the castle.

He nodded before jumping on the coachman’s seat again. His job was done- for now. Everything would be on the Royal Advisor from now on.

“Hyah!”

*Neigh!*

The horses slowly trotted the carriage away.

The inside of the castle. The hall was not as large as the the one in the Royal Palace back at Nemphis, neither was it as grand. But what made it stand out from rest were the magical weaponry fixed on the wall- always ready to pound any intruders that would sneak into the fortress.

Adrian gave the weapons attached on the wall a glance one last time before looking right ahead.

A suited man and a gorgeously dressed woman, who looked as if they were in their forties, were approaching him with smiles on their faces.

“Greetings, Sir Darkheart.” Both of them bowed.

“I am the Prime Minister of Northguard, Rukas Britt.” The gentleman introduced himself.

“I am Shera Esten, the Chief Defence Strategist of Highfort.” The woman curtsied. She had the same smile on her face.

“Nice to meet you. We will be working together in the future.” Adrian did not bother to bow his head, he did not need to.

The other two did not mind. After all, when it came to official posts- the Royal Advisor to the ruler of Nemphis was the most powerful of them all.

“Please proceed along the path.” Both of the duo moved away for each other and gestured at the door which looked grander than the main castle gates just ahead. “Her Majesty the Queen is waiting.”

Adrian did not dally any further as he began to walk again. Once he walked past between the two, the man and woman began to follow.

Soon, they were in a magnificent courtroom.

Bright chandeliers lit up the entire room. There were seats on both sides, both luxurious and regular, but one thing was common; all of them were unoccupied. Bright crystals embedded into the solid marble pillars and walls glittered from the light of the chandeliers.

The room was undoubtedly grand, but it was nothing compared to the Etherwood Court back at the Royal Palace of Nemphis.

At the extreme end of the long courtroom was a stage with a dozen steps of stair. And upon it lied a grand throne made from purple-pinkish Crystal.

Upon it sat a beautiful young woman with a tiara on her head. The colour of her dress and the gems implanted onto her crown matched that of the throne’s.

Adrian halted right when he was in front of the steps.

“Greetings, your Majesty.” Adrian greeted with a gentleman’s bow.

“Greetings, Sir Adrian. You have gone through quite the long journey.” The woman who did not look any older than twenty two smiled.

“It has been quite hectic indeed.” He looked into her eyes. “Now that I have witnessed your beauty, it was totally worth it.”

“Is that so?” She giggled. “But I guess that’s not enough to completely wash away your tiredness.”

“That is also correct.” He smiled. “I need a bath and rest.”

“Sure.” She smiled. “We have prepared the best room, the best bathing materials and of course- the best maids to welcome you.”

“I will make sure to not let any of these to go to waste.”

“Even better.” The queen then turned to the man. “Prime minister, please lead the Royal Advisor to his room.”

“As you command, your Majesty.” The man bowed before turning to the young man. “Please follow me.”

“Go ahead.” Adrian gestured.

The man nodded before going to the left of the room, towards the stair case.

Adrian followed the man to the upper floor.

The moment Adrian left the two women’s site, the Queen knitted her brows.

“Is something troubling you, your Majesty?” The strategist frowned.

“Something… something does not feel right about him.” The crowned woman looked at the stairs.

“Did your majesty’s sense…”

“Yes.” The young woman looked right into the eyes of the middle aged lady, with her brows still knitted. “You know my property, I can sense that…” She heaved out a breath. “He is terribly ‘impure’.”

“But…” The strategist’s forehead creased. “He is a human.”

“Ah. This is vexing.” The queen began to rub her own temples. “You have seen the reports. You must have noticed something.”

“Notice what?”

“That all the major even that happened in past decade in Nemphis are clustered around the last two years.”

“Now that you have said it- yes. The trouble at the North, the Vice principal’s exile, the mass disappearance at the Hunt, the upset at the ‘Selection’- everything happened in the last two years…” The strategist’s eyes knitted as she looked down, contemplating on something. Suddenly, she looked up at the Queen and gasped.

“Yes.” The queen nodded. “Adrian made his entrance into Nemphis a little more than two years ago. Moreover, he is close to the principal, joined last year’s Hunt and he is the most trusted aide of Evelyn Greatwoods.”

“Your Majesty might be making an error here.” The secretary shook her head. “It could just be a coincidence. Look how young he is; he is not even twenty.”

“Can’t you see it?” The Queen asked. “His age is the biggest factor of them all. Would the Greatwoods bestow the highest official title on a teenager for no reasons?”

The woman gasped again. But soon, a smile formed on her face as she bowed. “My Northguard is blessed to have your Majesty as the Queen. You are only twenty four years old, but you already possess a wisdom that surpasses us fogeys.”

The Queen turned to the staircase again. “Adrian Darkheart, O Adrian Darkheart, what dark secrets do you hide? And what calamity will you bring upon my beloved Northguard?” She sighed.

The next morning.

Adrian yawned and stretched as he got up from his bed. Four beautiful but naked maids were still lying on it, all exhausted. He dressed himself up before getting out of the room.

The woman in her forties from yesterday, the strategist was waiting outside. She noticed the conditions of the maids inside but it did not affect her countenance at all.

“Good morning, Sir Darkheart.”

“Good morning.” He gave a gentleman’s smile.

“How was dinner?”

“Fresh and tasty. Thank you.”

She smiled, knowing all too well what he meant.

“Her excellency, the Queen mother, is waiting. She wants to have a breakfast together with the most talented youth in the entire Confederation.” She said.

“You mean Ervilia?”

“Ahem… yes, Ervilia. My mistake.” She coughed, not expecting that at all.

“Let’s go, shall we?” He gestured.

“Please.” She bowed. “Follow me.”

******

Adrian entered the room of the Queen mother.

Unlike all the other Royal rooms he had ever seen, the one in his sight had to be the simplest and most down to Earth.

There was only a bed, not anything lavish. There was only one wooden cupboard which was most probably holding the Queen mother’s dresses. There was a small round table with two sofas sandwiching it. The grey walls were plain, and so was the white floor.

But the one sitting on one of the couches was enough to beautify the entire room- to the extent of exceeding the other royal ones.

She looked as if she were in her mid thirties. None would dare to say that she was actually fifty nine. Her hairs were black like most other people of the continent. But it had a shine that could make one differentiate it from an entire sea of black.

Her skin was fair, one could feel the smoothness with just their eyes. But the trait that made her beautiful to the point of enchanting was her eyes. The purple eyes with the pinkish hue could trap anyone in endless dreams- good ones. None would even think of defiling the ultimate being in front of them- not even in their dreams. It would be blatant blasphemy!

But… there were always exceptions.

Adrian bowed. “Greetings, your Excellency.”

“Greetings.” The woman gave him a smile while gesturing at the other sofa.

Adrian bowed once again before sitting opposite her. The female strategist bowed once before leaving the room, shutting the door behind.

“So tell me, Adrian. What brings you all the way here?” Her voice was enchanting, and soothing- capable of pushing a man into slumber.

“I came here just for you…” He smiled.

“With a deal.”