Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
In the 71st year of the the San Calendar, ten years had passed since the last war between the orcs and the humans, which marked the the dissolution of the Crete Empire. After the end of this dynasty, which was once called the Bronze Dynasty, the Crete Empire had become an area with no ruling king.
Eight years after Saintess Kelly’s ascendance to the Divine Kingdom, Pope Hodap, though not as gifted as her, had developed the Church of Light to its peak. After achieving that historic milestone, he had passed away.
The chaos and conflicts of power within the realm, along with the losses that it suffered in the last war, including the destruction of many armies, resulted in the Church of Light’s no longer being capable of controlling its central province.
The powerful king of Rosa d’Oro fought and died in the Sumerian Plains of the Crete Empire. The Mara Kingdom only had a young queen, which left it quite vulnerable in the eyes of most people. As for the other nations, they didn’t even have the military power to send forces into the central province.
As such, all of the major noble families had declared their independence from the central province, which had brought even more chaos to the entire region. The half-orcs that were sold as slaves and then exiled, had now moved to the central province and set up their own factions. Joining them were some orc tribes that took the chance to move in from Red River Plains. Thus, the central province had now become a region inhabited by humans, orcs, and half-orcs.
As a result of the central province’s constant conflicts, many practices that differed from any other human nations and orc nations were born. While many orc merchants and human merchants had been trading here, as this area had become a somewhat safe zone for humans and orcs, the line that had previously divided them had been blurred.
As such, there were many unusual occurrences. For example, humans were living together with orcs, half orcs were conducting business with humans, noble human families were hiring orcs as guards, and orc tribes were hiring human academics as advisors.
The Holy Seville Empire of Orcs, as promised in the peace treaty that was signed ten years ago, restrained themselves from invading any human nation. Thus, peace had finally seemed to arrive.
In the capital of the Holy Seville Empire, Sarga City, Verthandi was inside the palace. She was wearing a blue gown and her blonde hair was tied back beneath her crown. Outside the spacious palace, numerous guards stood at attention, while inside the palace, many priests of the Faith of the Sun were praying.
Behind layers of curtains, an extremely weak woman could be seen. She seemed to be on death’s door, not having much time left. She was a woman from the race of wolf-people, with wine-colored hair and red wolf ears.
She was about forty to fifty. This woman was none other than the wolf-people princess, April!
In stark contrast to Verthandi’s youthful appearance, April’s had deep wrinkles on her face. However, as one could still see, she had once been an alluring beauty.
For women, especially pretty women, aging was the most terrible thing that could happen. Hence, April’s looking at herself aging, while her loved one’s appearance remained unchanged was the biggest punishment she could possibly have been cursed with.
Part of why these signs of age and wear were so evident on April was that, when she had given birth to Delmedi, even though there was nothing wrong with the witchcraft of the boar-people’s wizard Uruk, this kind of rule-breaking witchcraft had taken a great toll on her body and drastically decreased her lifespan. Even though Uruk had warned her about this possible negative effect, she had still insisted on going ahead with it.
Because the witchcraft had damaged her so badly, even the healing of the church or normal wizards couldn’t cure her. In fact, none of the ordinary methods would help treat her condition at all.
Verthandi leaned on the side of the bed, holding April’s hand. Her skinny shoulders were trumbling, which made her seem so sad and helpless. In contrast, April seemed very calm and peaceful, as if she had already resigned herself to her approaching death.
“It is fine, Verthandi. Don’t be sad, okay? It is really fine. I am already over fifty. Death is a part of life…”
April touched Verthandi’s face and ran her fingers through Verthandi’s shiny blonde hair. Her lion-like shining pupils were now constantly constricting, keenly watching Verthandi. Then, she suddenly laughed.
“Everyone will one day reach the end of their lives. Besides, I am afraid of getting old, as my beauty would only continue to fade, while others stay so vibrant. I am very happy to go now, Verthandi!”
Verthandi couldn’t hold herself together any longer, so she burst into tears. “April, thank your support all of these years! Thank you for everything you have done for me. Really, thank you from the bottom of my heart!”
Verthandi held April’s hands tightly, as April struggled to pull herself up. She then stuck her face next to Verthandi’s and kissed Verthandi’s lips, just like she had back in the Amos Icefield, when Verthandi had carried her while she was sick. Thus, everything was like a loop, having started with a loving and nurturing kiss, then also ending as such.
“I now have to thank you, and I also have to thank God for me allowing me to fall in love with a Son of God!” As she finished her sentence, it was as if April had lost all of her strength. She let go of Verthandi’s hand and dropped back onto her pillows.
As Verthandi leaned her head over the bed, her crown dropped and her soft silky blonde hair scattered everywhere. At the same time, her usual majestic expression suddenly became soft and weak.
Meanwhile, the priests of the Faith of the Sun, who had been waiting outside and praying, rang the bell that represented the ascension of one’s soul to heaven. Then, they recited the words of mourning from the Scripture of the Sun, praying for April’s soul. Many knights guarding this area also got down on one knee to show their respects.
At that moment, some noise came from the corridor outside. It was Delmedi, who was walking with rapid footsteps. As she rushed into the door, this sad scene met her eyes.
Delmedi was wearing a full suit of armor and holding her helmet in one hand. She had just returned from the border. Arriving upon this scene, she suddenly dropped the helmet on the ground, revealing her hair blonde hair, which was the same color as Verthandi’s, but was kept even longer. However, her face bore an uncanny resemblance to April’s.
Delmedi then knelt on the ground, clearly emotional. She didn’t know what to do. Then, she suddenly lifted her head and turned to demand an answer from Verthandi… “Why didn’t you save her?”
Verthandi answered in anger, “This was your mother’s choice, so how could I have saved her? This is the fate of all mankind. These are nature’s rules that even Saintess Kelly and the Pope of the Church of Light can’t escape.”
Delmedi got agitated and her pretty face turned red. “But, you are the Lion King Will. You are the son of God. How could there be something that you cannot do?”
Verthandi said, “I couldn’t do anything because that was her specific request!”
Delmedi wiped away her tears and pointed her sword towards Verthandi. Immediately, a group of guards rushed forward and surrounded her. Verthandi signaled them to back off and quietly looked at Delmedi.
“Lion King Will, I Hate You!” Delmedi shouted.
She had grown up listening to the legends of the Lion King Will and had been proud to be the successor to the emperor since her childhood. However, Verthandi had never acknowledged her as her own child. Therefore, she had never received those maternal feelings from Verthandi. Hence, her admiration and affections were never reciprocated.
Her admiration for Verthandi had now been replaced with rage, as she now suddenly burst out and slammed the door behind her.