Milin did not like stories where that certain person from the Brave’s Party appeared.
However, the stories of that person were everywhere, passed from mouth to mouth.
They did not simply cease to exist just because she was unwilling to listen or look.
So, even though she was a thousand times reluctant, that person’s image remained etched in her mind.
The Explosive Flame Holy Sword and… the Heavenly Silver Armor.
“Heavenly Silver” — she had clearly heard that member of the Demon Race say those words, and she had also seen the armguard on Lian’s arm that shone with a brilliant silver light.
Lian had said it wasn’t the real “Heavenly Silver”… She hadn’t been lying.
Milin had seen the real thing. When she was a child and had visited the Holy Nation with her mother, her aunt, the Holy Maiden, had shown it to her.
But the problem was… ‘Isn’t the armguard on Sister Lian’s arm… identical to the one I saw back then?’
Furthermore, Lian was simply too strong… far stronger than she had ever imagined.
That youth in white had released a magic power so intense it made her give up any thought of resistance, leaving her trembling in place —
Yet Lian had actually defeated him. And it was done almost instantly, in a single blow.
Milin couldn’t help but recall the words Lian had said to her back at the farm and on the festival float…
She had always thought they were just the ramblings of a madwoman.
But what if… they weren’t?
This possibility, which she had never even considered, now surfaced in her mind for the first time.
…
……
………
The Flower Crown Parade was terminated.
Soon after, the fire department and the City Guard arrived at the scene to maintain order amidst the chaos.
Fortunately, when the mansion exploded, all the registered staff happened to be outside of the building. In the subsequent search, not a single body was found.
However, the shockwaves from the mansion’s explosion and the falling debris that the Princess could not block had inevitably caused some casualties among the citizens in the plaza.
These casualties were not heavy, but they were enough to completely extinguish the festive atmosphere that had reached its peak.
After all, this was an attack on the mansion. Moreover, it was timed perfectly for when the festival float reached the front of the building during the Flower Crown Parade…
Even a fool could see that this attack was targeted at the three people who served as the symbols of the Northland — the Duchess, the Princess, and the Royal Princess.
Although none of them were injured, the populace inevitably fell into various states of emotional turmoil:
“This is the most terrifying attack the entire Northland has suffered since the founding of Seles City… no, since the end of the war! I was originally dissatisfied because I didn’t see the Lord Duke and the Royal Princess on the float… but looking at it now, it’s a good thing they didn’t show up!”
“If the Princess hadn’t helped us break those stones… many people would have died.”
“And wasn’t she right in front of the mansion? If she weren’t the Princess, the daughter of the Hero…”
“Is this a declaration of war? Is there going to be a battle?”
“Who on earth planned this? Was it those high-and-mighty officials in the Imperial Capital, or those bastards from the East, West, and South who have always looked down on our Duchess?”
“This was a despicable assassination attempt! They wanted to assassinate the Duchess, the Princess, and the Royal Princess! Catch the culprits! Chop off their heads!”
Unexpectedly, rather than panic, the people felt more suspicion and anger — not toward the Demon Race, but toward the rulers of the Imperial Capital and the other four regions.
Ever since the current Duchess took control, the Northland had been targeted by the Imperial Capital and the other regions rather than the Demon Race.
Sometimes pressure was applied through unequal political and trade policies, and at other times, threats were made through the movement of massive armies…
As a territory that had been most severely devastated during the Great War, the Northland should have remained in a slump… but the people of the Northland had withstood every pressure.
Under the leadership of the Duchess, they had rebuilt their homes from the ruins despite the difficult material conditions and suppression from all sides.
Later, with passion and boundless energy, they threw themselves into the industrial revolution born from new inventions and ideas, pushing it forward to this day.
They were resilient, proud, and wise. Seles City, which was now more prosperous than Yilansiya or any other city in the world, was the crystallization of these excellent qualities.
The Duchess, who had shared their joys and sorrows and had worked alongside the Sage and the Royal Princess to build this prosperity, held a mountain-like image in their hearts…
She had already begun to overshadow the Emperor of Yilansiya himself.
…
……
………
By the time Milin finished handling the aftermath as the on-site commander and returned to the Honglian Palace, it was already evening.
She and a group of influential local Northland nobles from the float were heading to the Main Hall where the Duchess was located.
They were going to meet with the Duchess to discuss everything that had happened today — and Lian followed at Milin’s side.
“You must be very worried about Mother and Teacher. When I go to see them, stay by my side.”
Given her status as a mere maid, it was naturally impossible for Lian to participate in such a major meeting held under an emergency state.
However, because she had the Princess’s permission, no one raised any objections to her presence.
Walking down the corridor toward the main reception hall, Lian still had a little time to organize her thoughts… but everything that happened today was too chaotic… even just sorting it out was difficult.
From the results, his daughter had completely refused to accept his explanation… and he had even collapsed for a time because of it.
Then, while facing that Shadow Demon in the ruins who clearly knew her true identity, she had killed him so easily.
Furthermore, what others didn’t know was that before she had reached her daughter’s side, she had encountered a Shadow Demon disguised as herself.
That Shadow Demon had called her “Sister Lian” in the intimate tone she had used before the fallout with her daughter… She had immediately sensed something was wrong.
Just as she struck down that Shadow Demon and was about to interrogate her, another person suddenly appeared and rescued her.
That person was hidden within the shadows… clearly another Shadow Demon. But Lian had failed to catch that person, failing even to see their face clearly.
She had originally thought the youth in white was the one who had rescued the Shadow Demon… but judging from the fact that the youth was killed instantly by her single blow, there was no way he could have rescued someone right under her nose.
Thinking of this, she regretted not being able to suppress her anger and killing that youth immediately.
Judging by his final words, he definitely knew the reason for her transformation…!
And what he had said at the end about the moon was also quite intriguing… but what concerned her most was the safety of her wife and Vera.
Sephy’s communication told her that both were in the mansion under the protection of her Doppelganger… so when the explosion occurred, was it her Doppelganger that had teleported them away?
Since they were not in that room and now everyone was going to see her… she should be safe and sound.
However, until she saw it with her own eyes, Lian could not be at ease.
Amidst Lian’s infinite anxiety, the group finally arrived in front of the drawing room.
Feiyin, the Head Maid, was standing there waiting.
After Milin gave her an anxious look, Feiyin nodded slightly toward her.
“The Duchess is inside. Please enter, everyone.”
The door slowly opened as she spoke. Sitting in the main seat of the brightly lit drawing room was a figure that made everyone feel incredibly relieved.
“Milin… I’ve heard about what happened. You’ve worked hard.”
Meliya smiled gently at her daughter and the others.
Seeing that she was unharmed, Milin immediately rushed forward and hugged her.
“Mother! …Ugh, wah…”
“Your Grace… it is wonderful to see that you are safe.”
“Lady Meliya… about your illness… why didn’t you tell this old woman?”
“It was my fault for not notifying you in advance, Marchioness…”
She greeted the nobles who were worried about her one by one, using gentle but powerful words to put them at ease.
Lian stood behind the nobles, silently watching her, bowing her head as tears of relief fell.
‘That’s great… really… that’s great.’
She lifted her face and wiped away a tear. Right at that moment, she suddenly saw Meliya’s gaze shift toward her.
“…”
Their eyes met. Lian was speechless. Meliya smiled at her and gave a gentle nod.