In their daily lives, they would laugh and joke about craving war and conquest. But now that it was truly upon them, everyone hesitated.
Ailinuo was the first to know. She nervously clasped her hands in front of her.
“Her Majesty previously said that if there was no active contact from her within a month, it would mean we needed to dispatch troops… Why this time did Her Majesty personally issue the order? And it’s the elite forces!”
Lina remained silent, merely frowning as she directed her gaze toward Erasia sitting opposite her and Mr. Dekrian beside her.
Mr. Dekrian set the letter in his hand aside and spoke. “Mobilizing such elite troops—troops comparable to the royal guard—is far too conspicuous! But if the intention is to wage war against the entire human world…”
He paused and shook his head.
“I believe the possibility is very small. Recently in the Demon Realm, thanks to the new policies promoted by the Princess Regent, the various factions have gradually settled down, allowing the Demon Realm to recuperate. There is no need to divert internal conflicts through external conquest. Moreover, the Princess Regent is still by Her Majesty’s side.”
Seraphina being by Movira’s side was the most important premise. This made everyone doubt how real any war truly was.
But if that was the case, then why mobilize troops at all?
After all, any troop movement would definitely alert the humans.
Lina sat up a little straighter. This drew the eyes of the other three present onto her.
Her gaze was sharp. If she were here, what kind of arrangements would she make?
In her heart Lina asked herself this, yet in reality her voice stayed calm and resolute.
“I believe the possibility of war is not merely slim—it is zero! Though it may be presumptuous of me to say so, the Princess Regent would absolutely never allow Her Majesty to issue such an order!”
Ailinuo looked at the three of them and shook her head. “I abstain. I’m unable to judge Her Majesty’s intentions.”
Now, among those making the decision, only Erasia remained. She also held the final authority.
Her eyes scanned every word on the letter. The hall fell into silence as they awaited her verdict.
After a long moment, Erasia raised her gaze and slowly swept across the faces of Lina, Mr. Dekrian, and Ailinuo.
“Mobilize the troops.”
“I believe we still cannot defy Her Majesty’s orders. However, for the border garrisons being mobilized, increase their vigilance but strictly prohibit any provocative actions. Keep all movements discreet!”
Then her gaze settled on Lina. “This army mobilization is very likely part of one of Her Majesty’s plans. You are correct—the possibility of war is zero. Therefore, this troop movement should be what Her Majesty needs to draw someone’s attention.”
The final decision was made. Next they simply needed to follow Movira’s prior arrangements and add a few points from the meeting discussion. The Demon Realm’s war machine began to turn quietly.
The troops being dispatched this time were the Flame Demons’ garrison. The Flame Demon leader had once been a radical warmonger, but after the new policies were implemented, the entire clan had discovered a new path in food processing.
The profits were comparable to those from war, yet the risks were far lower. The leader’s attitude had gradually softened.
Still, Erasia worried they might not be able to restrain themselves and would initiate friction on their own. Therefore she decided to personally go and supervise the troops!
In this round of new policies, the Flame Demons had also found their own place. Their clan showed great potential in food processing. The constant sparks flying from their bodies served as the best example—they possessed immense strength and carried a natural burning ability. Since the new policies offered profits similar to war with far less risk, their leader no longer craved conflict as intensely as before.
The perspective returned to the quiet manor.
Seraphina remained completely unaware of all this. At this moment her world seemed confined solely to this warm manor and the presence of Movira beside her.
Afternoon sunlight poured into the living room, occasionally accompanied by the pop-pop of burning wood in the fireplace.
Seraphina was curled up in a large chair in the living room, covered with a soft blanket. In her hands was a novel she had casually taken from the study, one describing the customs and scenery of a distant land.
Yet her attention was not entirely on the book. Her gaze would drift from time to time toward Movira, who sat in the chair opposite her.
The other woman would sometimes lower her head to read and sometimes look up at the snowy landscape outside the window, as if lost in thought.
Seraphina could not read any emotion from her calm expression. “Sister? Are you cold? Or bored?”
Hearing this, Movira instantly pulled her gaze back. “What’s wrong?”
She set her book down and leaned forward, as though ready to move to Seraphina’s side at any moment.
“Neither.” Seraphina shook her head and burrowed deeper into the blanket. “It just feels very quiet… Mm, and that’s quite nice too.” She added softly.
Movira forced a small smile onto her face. “As long as you like it. If you’re really bored, we can go out for a stroll later—just around the garden.”
She still did not mention anything like going into town. While ensuring she did not expose herself, the power she could use was quite limited.
“Okay.” Seraphina did not catch any hidden meaning and nodded obediently. “Mm, okay.”
In truth she had begun to notice that she was becoming increasingly accustomed to following Movira’s arrangements in certain matters. This growing sense of dependence sometimes made her heart flutter with panic, but more often it brought an easy comfort where she did not need to think.
Movira picked up her book once more, yet she showed no intention of actually reading. Instead she seemed to be… spacing out?
“Sister… what are you thinking about?” Seraphina asked again.
“It’s nothing important, just some matters concerning the Demon Realm.” Movira’s attention returned once more. As for what she was truly thinking, she believed it was not yet time for Seraphina to know, so she brushed it off with this excuse.
“Matters in the Demon Realm… I want to know too. Maybe I can… cough, help share some of your burdens…” Thinking of what she was about to say, Seraphina shyly lowered her head.
But Movira shook her head. “No, Seraphina. This matter is not something you can resolve. It’s about… the Abyssal Disaster.”
She should have expected Seraphina to press for details, so she tossed out another smoke screen called the Abyssal Disaster.
“Abyssal Disaster?” Seraphina immediately recalled her first trip to Blackstone Outpost. The problem they had gone to solve back then was an Abyssal Disaster! So… had more lesser demons emerged? Or was it something else?
She truly did not want those lesser demons to occupy the best soil for the new policies! She grew a little anxious. After all, the outpost had…
“Don’t worry. To be precise, there has been no outbreak of an Abyssal Disaster. I am simply pondering related issues.” Movira gently soothed Seraphina’s agitation while fabricating reasons in her mind.
If I had known she would react like this, I would never have brought up the topic at all.