Chapter 104

Delphine sighed, shaking her head at Legion as she stepped out of the Golden Canopy.

A silent message... 

She still refuses to eat.

Legion exhaled sharply but didn't say anything.

It had been days since the Empress had woken up. Since she had broken down.

And after that, she had shut herself away from everyone.

She did not want to see anyone.

Did not want to talk.

Not even to Legion.

Only Delphine was allowed inside the Golden Canopy.

And even then, Ceres barely acknowledged her presence.

She had stopped eating, only drinking the warm coffee that Delphine brought her.

Yet, despite the weight of grief still clinging to her, Ceres had given one clear instruction... 

Seiryu was to teleport the commoners back to the capital.

But... 

They refused.

They knew the Empress would be traveling back by carriage.

And they wanted to journey with her.

Even if it meant taking a month-long trek back to the capital.

No one worried about the cold anymore.

Because after the night of the Warrior's Farewell, after Delphine restored the Frozen Sea, the climate of Aquilonis itself began to change.

First, the constant snow had stopped.

Then, the ice melted.

And now... 

Spring had arrived.

Seiryu had told them... 

Before he fell into his long slumber, Aquilonis had once known all four seasons.

And this time of year had always been Spring.

The commoners rejoiced.

For the first time in generations, they would not have to suffer through endless winter.

Hope had finally come to their land.

And with the Frozen Sea restored,

Even though its name no longer suited its waters, the people had begun to explore the shallows.

They had never known the sea's bounty... 

Never realized the abundance of fresh fish and seafood it had held beneath the ice.

And even though many of them couldn't swim, they still found ways to catch fish, bringing back baskets filled with their first true feast in years.

With the spices provided by the Empress, they tasted warm, flavorful meals for the first time.

They set up camp along the shoreline, letting the children play on the Field of Lilies, picking flowers for the Empress.

Sometimes, the children would chase each other along the shore, their laughter ringing through the air.

For the first time, the commoners had learned how to laugh again.

But no matter how much joy filled the air... 

They still glanced toward the Golden Canopy.

Even though they could not see her, they knew she was in there.

And as they found happiness, the one who had fought for them… suffered alone.

"Big Sister Delphine…"

A small voice pulled Delphine from her thoughts.

She glanced down at Maureen, who was walking beside her along the shore, her bare feet sinking into the cool water.

The girl hesitated, then mustered the courage to ask... 

"Is Her Highness still sick?"

The other children around them turned their gazes toward Delphine, waiting for an answer.

Delphine hesitated.

She couldn't tell them the truth.

She couldn't tell them that their beloved Empress was suffering from something that could not be healed with magic or medicine.

So instead, she twisted the truth... just enough to keep them from worrying.

"Yes, she is." Delphine smiled, though there was sadness in her eyes. "But you all remember what happens when she uses a lot of magic, right?"

The children nodded.

"Remember the first day you all arrived at the Empress's Palace?" Delphine reminded them gently. "She almost collapsed after using her magic, right?"

The children nodded again.

"She only used a little magic back then." Delphine knelt slightly, looking at them with a comforting expression. "But here… she used a lot."

Her voice softened.

"But don't worry. She will recover."

The children seemed relieved, nodding in understanding.

Delphine let out a small breath.

She needed to distract them from their worries... 

Especially since some of these children were still grieving the loss of their families.

So, with a bright smile, she lifted her hand... 

"How about a game?"

The children cheered, their laughter returning... 

When suddenly…

A strange sound rippled through the air.

A low bubbling... coming from the ocean.

Delphine's smile faded, and the children turned toward the water.

Bubbles began rising to the surface, growing larger and larger... 

Then... 

Something emerged.

Or rather... 

Someone.

A man slowly rose from the water, his silver hair cascading down his back like flowing silk.

The children gasped.

His ears were unusual... 

Half-human, half-like a fish.

He wore no clothing, yet from the waist down, his body shimmered with iridescent scales, almost like a bodysuit.

But despite his inhuman appearance,

He was breathtakingly beautiful.

His eyes... slitted, deep blue like the sea itself... 

Pierced directly into Delphine.

And then, he spoke.

His voice was cold, laced with something unreadable.

"Are you the Saintess?"

Delphine stiffened.

The children froze, clinging to her in fear.

The stranger stepped forward, water dripping from his body as he approached.

"No," Delphine replied automatically, taking a step back.

The man's gaze narrowed.

"Saintesses should not lie."

Delphine's breath caught when she heard the stranger's words.

"I can see the mana around you," the man murmured, his gaze sharp as if it could pierce her soul.

He took another step forward.

"Please… come with me."

Delphine's eyes widened in alarm. She tried to run, but he lunged, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the water.

"Wait!" she cried, struggling against his grip.

"Call for help!" Delphine shouted to the children, who immediately turned and ran toward the camp.

"Let go of me!" she yelled, desperately trying to yank her hand free from his grasp.

But he was strong.

"Just come with me," he repeated, dragging her further toward the deeper water.

Delphine's heart pounded. She couldn't swim, and she felt terror clawing at her.

"Let go!" she screamed. "I'm not the Saintess!"

But the man acted as though he hadn't heard a word, continuing to pull her along.

"Nightmare!" Delphine cried out, her last resort. She summoned her ability while still clutching the stranger's hand.

Meanwhile, back at the camp, Maureen and the other children were shouting at the top of their lungs.

"Big Brother Legion!" they cried, spotting him in front of the Golden Canopy, talking with Captain Hugo.

"Maureen, why are you shouting?" Mara asked, rushing over to her daughter.

Maureen, breathless, turned to Legion.

"There is… there is a strange man…" she wheezed. "He's trying to take Big Sister Delphine into the sea!"

A wave of concern passed through the gathered commoners. Legion was about to ask them to show him where, when the entrance to the Golden Canopy suddenly opened.

And the Empress stepped out.

"What's happening?" Ceres asked, her voice even, though worry flickered in her eyes.

The children hurried to her.

"Your Highness, there's a strange man trying to take Big Sister Delphine into the deep water!" Kidd exclaimed.

Ceres didn't ask any further questions. She immediately strode toward the shoreline, her expression turning grave.

Those around her... especially Duke Aurelian... were startled to see the Empress finally emerge from her canopy after so many days.

Aurelian moved in step with her, as though intending to speak. But any words he had were cut off when they heard a sharp cry from the beach.

Ceres broke into a run, fear spiking in her chest at the thought of Delphine in danger.

But when she and the others arrived, they found something unexpected.

The strange man was indeed there. But he was the one screaming, clutching his head in pain.

"Release me!" he shouted, staggering on the shore.

"Delphine!" Ceres called, spotting her maid a short distance away, sitting on the sand, panting heavily.

"Your Highness!" Delphine cried out, scrambling to her feet and rushing into Ceres's arms.

"What happened? Who is he?" Legion demanded, stepping up beside them, sword already drawn. A handful of other men also gripped their weapons, ready for a fight.

The stranger continued to shout, hands pressed against his head.

Then, all at once... he fell silent.

"He broke free," Delphine gasped, feeling the snap as her Nightmare ability was dispelled.

Ceres pulled Delphine closer, watching warily as the man appeared to steady himself.

The man exhaled, then glanced at Delphine.

"How is this possible?" he muttered. "A Saintess with a dark magic affinity?"

He stood straighter, seeming to recover. Then he began walking toward Delphine again. Legion and several others lifted their swords, eyes narrowed in warning.

But the stranger did not flinch, continuing forward... 

Until Seiryu appeared beside Ceres in a sudden flash.

The newcomer stopped cold, eyes widening as if recognizing a nemesis.

He grimaced, as though forced to acknowledge Seiryu's presence.

And only then did his gaze flick to Ceres.

His eyes went wide, shock flooding his features.

"I will return," was all he said before turning back to the sea. He dove beneath the waves and vanished without a trace.

Delphine still stood there, her heart pounding. She clutched her chest, trying to calm her rapid breathing.

"Was that a Narf?" Ceres asked, voice hushed, looking at Seiryu.

"Yes, Your Highness. That was the Prince of Narf," Seiryu replied evenly.

A murmur of disbelief swept through the onlookers.

Because Narfs... water dwellers said to inhabit the ancient depths... 

Had always been regarded as nothing more than myth.