Princess Akiko of the Nightmare Court

Sariel stood stiffly in front of the Monarchy's mansion. Her expression was neutral but her hands were clenched behind her back, betraying her true feelings.

Gathered and arranged behind her was a small but proper welcoming party of Monarchy elites present in the Crossroads, their uniforms pressed and gleaming under the light of the sun.

The breeze blew, tugging at the edges of Sariel's cape as she waited, her mind scrambling for a way out of the closing box.

Even with everything going on with her, to the untrained eye, she looked calm, like a still lake.

The courtyard was silent as they waited, nobody making any noise.

Today's guest was special. Well, special was an understatement. It was Princess Akiko of the Nightmare Court.

The title alone was enough to demand reverence, but what truly set Akiko apart was the relic she wielded. The fourth relic from the Book of Darkness.

"Nihil."