Chapter 11: The Guest of the Village

The village chief, hearing the commotion, stepped outside. His eyes widened as he took in the sight before him. Knights, their armor emblazoned with a moon crest, stood in formation around a royal carriage parked in front of his house. The sight was so unexpected that the chief found himself rooted to the spot, his mind racing to make sense of the situation.

After a moment, he gathered his wits and approached the knights, his heart pounding in his chest. He swallowed hard, his voice trembling slightly as he asked, "What…what brings you to our humble village?"

One of the knights stepped forward, his gaze stern and serious. "We seek the village chief," he stated. The chief nodded, "I…I am," he stammered, confirming his identity.

Upon receiving the confirmation, the knight signaled to another by the carriage. The second knight knocked twice on the carriage door, a clear, resonant sound that echoed through the silent village. The pause that followed was filled with tension, the entire village seemingly holding its breath.

The door to the carriage swung open, revealing two figures. A tall, handsome man with golden hair and red eyes, together with a slender, graceful woman with black hair and hazel eyes. They were dressed in royal attires, their clothes rich and elegant, befitting their status.

As the chief saw them, his eyes widened further, and he immediately kneeled, showing his respect. "Welcome to our village, Your Grace, the Archduke and the Archduchess," he said, his voice filled with awe and respect.

The Archduke, Hiro Hamada: age 38 and The Archduchess, Sakura Hamada: age 36. They stepped out from the carriage, their royal attire shimmering in the sunlight. They approached the village chief, the Archduke's demeanor calm and composed. The Archduchess, on the other hand, wrung her hands together, her eyes darting around anxiously.

The Archduchess opened her mouth to speak but stopped midway, her voice catching in her throat. The Archduke gently placed a hand on her shoulder, whispering words of reassurance. "It's fine, I will handle the rest," he said, to which she nodded gratefully.

The Archduke then turned to the chief, his voice commanding yet gentle, "Raise your head." The chief complied, his eyes meeting the Archduke's. "What brings you here, Your Grace?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"We came here looking for someone. Her name is Emily Klein," the Archduke replied. As the chief heard Emily's name, his eyes widened in shock, but he managed to stammer out, "I… I know her, but what business do you have with her?"

Upon hearing the confirmation, the Archduchess rushed forward, her voice desperate, "Please tell us where she is!" Tears welled up in her eyes, but before she could say more, the Archduke held her back.

"I'm sorry, Your Grace, but you can't meet her," the chief said, his voice heavy with regret. A silence fell upon them, broken when the Archduchess asked, "Why can't we meet her?"

"She… she died five days ago. A calamity-class monster attacked our village. She… she didn't survive the rampage," the chief explained, his voice barely a whisper.

Another silence fell. The Archduke, his voice choked with emotion, asked, "What about her son? Did he also…" He couldn't finish the sentence, noticing the Archduchess, who had started to shake.

"No, Your Grace. He is safe. In fact, he is inside my house right now," the chief said. As they heard, both the Archduke and Archduchess exchanged a glance, their expressions filled with a mix of relief and sorrow. Without another word, they moved towards the chief's house, their steps measured and heavy.

Inside, they saw a young man sitting in a wheelchair, a pendant hanging around his neck. As they recognized the pendant, their eyes widened, and they rushed towards him, enveloping him in a tight hug.

"We finally found you!" they cried, their voices filled with relief and sorrow.