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13 Years Ago

8:09 P.M. \ Heavy snow

Victoria Border Autonomous Region, County of Toron, Vincent Manor

It is a great city. All Victorians should find time to pay it a visit and gaze upon its magnificence.

So you are saying our respectable dukes have not yet arrived at a conclusion?

Yes, that is correct. They haven't yet. For the time being, Londinium is still a city without a master.

So I take it you had the fortune and privilege to tour Londinium with the Duke of Normandy?

Alas, the Duke is forbidden from entering Londinium by law. Of course, he is a fine gentleman, so he would never be so presumptuous as to invite himself in, so we instead enjoyed dinner on a ship together in the Londinium countryside.

What kind of a hero is the Duke?

Well... he is the most gracious and erudite of nobles. His views in economics and politics are unique and unparalleled. Not only that, but my understanding is that he is well-trained in music, and he possesses an impressive art collection, testament to his respect for the arts.

It is because of heroes like him that Victoria remains prosperous as ever!

Despite not having a ruler for the past dozen or so years, Victoria has managed to maintain its stability.

But the truth is that the Dukes were getting in each other's way behind the scenes, and that's not all...

If so many Victorian nobles actually fell victim to food poisoning and hunting accidents, then the country's noble rule would've crumbled to dust long ago.

And three years ago, your father nearly experienced that first hand.

Yes...

His leg is actually injured.

There is a noble who is an academic enemy of my father. They were at a cocktail party together, and he made his move after the party.

That must have been well disguised, if it was thought to be an accident.

My father had a few leads, but he didn't want this affair to get in the way of relaying intelligence.

How many of Thomson's men are there in this manor right now?

A lot of them, such as the ones you were talking to earlier... They also paid my father's villa a visit before tonight's party.

Richard was quite critical of your father just now...

Ahaha... I suppose he spoke much of it from his heart... He has had quite the rivalry with my father for the past several years...

Yet they still assemble around Thomson. Your father is a good leader.

Not without your guidance, Lady Kal'tsit.

Who could have thought back then... that the Laterano cleric who came to visit Victoria would become our most trusted mentor?

Our goals are one and the same.

Kal'tsit. They will get out of this unscathed... We will get out of this unscathed, will we?

Heidi...

You need to look around with your own eyes. If you truly wish to step into this world, then you cannot allow civilization's facades blind you anymore... You need to see this world yourself.

Comforting words are meaningless. You will grow up one day.

Now, unpleasant as it may be, I must say I heard a rumor from the lesser nobles and ruffians...

My, did they upset you?

Right... As you can see, it was the Dukes' graciousness that forged the peace and prosperity enjoyed by our country today.

However, and this is something that even the traitors in Columbia are aware of, we also cannot deny that it has been a long time since Victoria has seen a rightful ruler ascend its throne.

And what of it? Does that not go to show we are becoming ever more powerful through our own means?

You are correct, Richard, but there was also this opinion... It was naive and absurd... There was this crowd of men there each with their own goals...

They asked if Victoria truly needed a new ruler.

They all said Uncle Vincent's too much of a coward...

We're near the border, but we are being so complacent, not making any progress... This is our chance to fight for our rights... yet all Uncle Vincent knows to do is throwing parties in the manor.

Even this trip to Londinium. It hardly achieved any meaningful results.

This isn't your father's opinion. Thomson is not so foolish as to let radical atmosphere get to his head.

But that's how the adults always complain to my father.

No foolish nobles would ever receive an audience with a real Duke.

Do you think that the Duke of Normandy really didn't intimidate Vincent with any harsh demands?

Toron is near the border, and there are few people here. In other words, this place is not under the influence of any major forces.

Uncle Vincent...

This nobleman may seem uninterested in anything except celebrating this false peace with music and shows, but he is actually doing his best to uphold Toron's peace. That's despite the peace here... is fragile and easily broken.

His arrogance and temperance are just at the right level to hide his thoughts well, and those who actually understand his true intentions are few and far between.

Thomson would never place so much trust on a count severely lacking in courage, insight, and judgement. They may seem like they are heading down different paths, but these paths will lead them to the same destination.

Hehe... It's nice to hear you say so.

Kal'tsit, are you not going to look at your mail?

From Londinium to Toron, these letters have made it halfway across Victoria.

How many hands has the letter passed through, and how many of them know of the whole truth of these events?

There are lots—

Workers, newsboys, popcorn hawkers, park gardeners. They knew nothing of the letter's contents. They didn't even know who these words ultimately belong to.

But now this letter has made it to Thomson, and now me.

There is nothing to worry about.

I see...

But what about the other one? The one from 'Kazdel'...

It was handed straight to Thomson by a Sarkaz Messenger.

I told him how to contact Thomson himself, but if things had gone according to plan, he would've handed this straight to me.

Yeah... but when that Sarkaz made it to Victoria...

Father did not know how the Sarkaz honor their heroes' death, so all we could do was cremate his body according to our traditions and scatter his ashes in the nomadic city's waterways.

I can't tell you his real name, but, at the very least, he died as a Messenger, and I will bring his story back to his homeland.

He won't be forgotten.

Kal'tsit... Is this how you treat everyone?

Why do you ask?

No, I was just thinking... Ah... Aaah...

Achoo!

Oh! P-Pardon me... How unbecoming of me...!

The snow is getting heavier. Let's head back inside.

I will pay Thomson a visit once this party is over.

I am sure Father will be happy.

Should I perhaps hold your arm? That way no one will be suspicious of us.

If you think that is necessary.

Okay... Hehe, you're so much taller than me.

You haven't grown at all, Heidi.

Take a look outside, Kal'tsit. The snow is so heavy. I haven't seen this much snow in a very long time.

You are right. A snowstorm is coming.

Heidi ponders to herself: Just how many clouds are needed to shed so many snowflakes?

The white snow is scattering in all directions, gyrating into the sky as the wind blows past.

Where the pale yellow lights cannot illuminate has been shrouded in a thick mist that covers the entire city.

The night sky tonight is without stars and moonlight.

The black tidal wave is beginning to crash upon the beaches.

*Hiss*... *Huff*...

Kal'tsit?

Black snow...

Huh? I'm not seeing any...

Heidi, tell everyone to keep the party venue under control.

I need about an hour's time. Don't let anyone near the garden...

I can do that... but what's going on with you all of a sudden?

We've got company.

What...?

We may be on the border, but this manor belongs to a Victorian count! Who would—

—Heidi, if I don't come back to the manor, you and your father need to keep this secret.

Do not dig any deeper into this.

But—