At the cliff's edge, the freezing wind howled, and the snow piled up along the rim like layers of frozen white waves.
Rhine tossed the rope ladder over the side. The cords dropped straight down, disappearing into the swirling mist as if extending into a bottomless abyss. He gave the rope a sharp tug to ensure it was secure, then turned back.
"Alright. Gareth, you head down first and scout it out."
Gareth let out an immediate, weary sigh. "Why is it always me first..."
Rena leaned in close, a playful smirk dancing on her lips as she whispered into his ear. "This is your chance to show off some of that 'manly courage,' you know." She pointedly glanced in Milia's direction. "Surely you want Milia to see your heroic side?"
Gareth's eyes darted toward Milia. She was staring into the darkness below the cliff, her expression clouded with worry.
In an instant, Gareth straightened his back, puffing out his chest with a heavy thud. "Boss! Leave it to me! I'm going down right now!"
Lunethia spoke up from the side, offering a reminder: "When you reach the bottom, you'll find a wooden panel. Just pull it outward."
Gareth swallowed hard and took a deep breath. "Understood..."
He gripped the rope ladder and carefully stepped out, slowly descending into the void. Below the cliff, the wind and snow lashed at his face, and his cloak snapped violently in the gale.
After descending for a while, he noticed a wooden panel embedded in the rock face. Its color was slightly off, looking distinctly unnatural against the stone.
"Is this it...?"
He reached out and grabbed the edge of the panel, pulling with all his might. It didn't budge. Gareth knit his brows, grit his teeth, and gave it one more violent heave—
Click!
A crisp mechanical sound echoed. In the next heartbeat, the entire wooden wall began to flip downward from the rock face like a complex mechanism. The planks extended further and further, eventually transforming into a sturdy drawbridge that led directly into a deep, dark tunnel carved into the mountainside.
Gareth stepped cautiously onto the bridge, testing its stability with a light tap of his boot.
The wooden planks held firm under his weight.
Gareth exhaled a long breath of relief, cupping his hands around his mouth to shout upward: "I found it! It's safe down here! There's a proper landing, you can all head down now!"
At the cliff's summit, Rhine gave a sharp nod. "Good." He turned his attention to Owen. "Owen, you go first. Take the old man down on your back. We'll secure you with an extra safety rope—if the ladder gives way, we can still haul you back up."
Owen grunted in agreement. He carefully lashed the unconscious Gerald to his broad back, then gripped the rope ladder and began a steady, powerful descent.
Rena glanced at the horses remaining at the cliff's edge, her brow knitting in worry. "What about the horses? We can't just leave them here, can we? Even if the enemy doesn't find them, they'll starve if they're left tied up like this."
Rhine let out a weary sigh. "There's no other way. We have to release them into the wild." He reached out and patted Storm's neck, his voice uncharacteristically soft. "Go on, partner. You're on your own now. If we make it out of this alive... I'll come looking for you."
Storm let out a low, vibrating huff, tilting his head as if he didn't quite understand.
Lunethia stepped forward with a bittersweet smile, gently stroking Storm's mane. "Storm... Rhine is saying it's time for you to return to nature. You're free now. You don't have to stay here anymore."
Storm huffed again, lower this time, and leaned his large head against Rhine's chest—a silent, final farewell.
For a rare moment, a flash of genuine sorrow crossed Rhine's face. He looked toward Lunethia and blurted out, "White... what is this guy saying?"
Lunethia's cheeks puffed out instantly as she glared at him. Rena saw the danger and quickly nudged Rhine hard in the ribs with her elbow.
Rhine shot Rena an annoyed look before grudgingly correcting himself. "...Lunethia. What is Storm saying?"
Lunethia couldn't help but let out a small giggle. "He says..." She paused for dramatic effect. "...that you should really work on your temper. Otherwise, no one is ever going to like you."
Rhine's eyebrows shot up. "You're making that up, aren't you?"
To Rhine's disbelief, Storm actually gave a slow, solemn nod.
"Hrr-phh—!"
The horse then turned away. With their saddles removed, the other five horses followed Storm's lead, disappearing into the swirling blizzard. Within seconds, the six silhouettes were swallowed by the night and the thick veil of snow, leaving Rhine without even a chance to argue.
Rhine turned back, only to find Rena watching him with a mischievous, repressed grin. He let out a sharp huff. "What are you smirking at? Get moving already!"
The group began their descent down the rope ladder, one by one. The wind howled through the chasm, causing the ladder to sway gently until the last person safely reached the bottom.
After crossing the wooden drawbridge, they stepped into the hollow of the mountain.
Inside was a surprisingly spacious subterranean cavern, one that had clearly been meticulously renovated. Simple wooden partitions had been built into the rock walls, dividing the space into functional quarters—three bedrooms, a living area, a kitchen, and even a basic washroom.
In the corner, sacks of dry grain and racks of cured meat were neatly stacked. Beside them lay a substantial supply of wild game, preserved perfectly by the natural chill of the mountain air. Spare torches and practical tools hung from the walls in orderly fashion.
Rhine scanned the surroundings, his boots echoing on the stone floor. He walked over to a windowsill and ran a finger through the fine layer of dust settled there.
"The old man really thought of everything..." he muttered. "There's some dust, but it doesn't look like it's been abandoned for years."
Lunethia offered a knowing smile. "He mentioned he comes back here to stay for a night or two once in a while. The last time was about six months ago."
Rena couldn't help but laugh at that. "No wonder he vanishes sometimes. Even with his 'sleeping sickness' being as bad as it is, we could never find him when he went missing."
Rhine cracked his knuckles, the sound echoing sharply in the room. "When that old fossil finally wakes up, I'm going to demand some real answers. He's always making us worry for nothing."
Rhine dismissed the subject with a wave of his hand. "Enough of that. Let's search the place and see what else we've got."
The group immediately scattered throughout the sanctuary, rummaging through the various nooks and crannies. It wasn't long before Owen's excited shout echoed from the storage corner.
"Hey! There's so much meat here!" He was flipping through frozen blocks of protein. "Is this a bear paw? This one's labeled venison... and this—"
Rena walked over to inspect his find, nodding with satisfaction. "Not bad. Everything's been preserved perfectly in the cold." She offered a playful grin. "With these ingredients, I can finally put my culinary skills to good use."
Meanwhile, Milia had begun lighting the oil lamps one by one, their warm glow gradually chasing away the shadows and filling the sanctuary with a sense of home. "I'll start by tidying up the sleeping quarters," she said softly.
A short while later, Gareth's head popped out from behind a doorway.
"Boss! This third room is locked!"
Rhine strode over and rapped his knuckles against the wooden door. "Oh?" He turned back toward the main room. "White, go ask the old man what this room is for."
The air seemed to freeze. Lunethia's expression stiffened instantly. She turned her head slightly, giving Rhine a cold, silent sidelong glance that spoke volumes.
Rhine's heart skipped a beat under her icy stare. This woman is so petty... "White" is a perfectly good name, he thought defensively.
Rena hurriedly leaned in and whispered into his ear. "Boss, stop calling her that. She's stubborn, you know? Just be the bigger man and give her some ground."
Rhine let out a defiant huff. "Why should I give her ground? I'm the leader!"
Rena smiled sweetly. "Well, she is a Princess... and a true leader is always the most chivalrous man in the room, right?"
Rhine fell silent for a few seconds, a struggle visible on his face. Finally, he let out a heavy, defeated sigh.
"...Fine. Since I'm the leader."
Rena immediately gave him a thumbs-up. "Boss, you're the best~"
And so, with a face flushed bright red, Rhine walked up to Lunethia and forced the words through his gritted teeth:
"Lu... Lunethia."
He spoke with a visible awkwardness.
"Go ask Gerald... what that room is used for."
Lunethia blinked. Then, a mischievous, cunning smile spread across her lips. "Thea," she corrected him.
Rhine's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "You—!"
Before he could argue, Rena gave him a gentle, warning tap on the back of his head. "Boss, you promised~"
Rhine froze for two agonizing seconds. Finally, he hung his head and mumbled under his breath, "...Thea." His face was now flushed a deep crimson all the way to the tips of his ears.
Lunethia's eyes curved into half-moons. Looking pleased, she leaned over and whispered softly into Gerald's ear. The man remained in his deep slumber, though his brow twitched slightly, as if hearing a faint echo in his dreams.
A moment later, Lunethia looked back at the group.
"He says..." she paused for effect. "...that the room is for his private business, and it wouldn't be convenient to tell you." She stopped, then added, "Furthermore, he said that absolutely no one is permitted to enter."
Rhine frowned at first. Then, a slow, wicked grin spread across his face—a look full of curiosity and blatant defiance.
"Private business?" he scoffed. "The more secret it is, the more I want to know." He turned toward Gareth and Owen. "Break it down."
Lunethia gasped, immediately stepping in front of the door to block their path. "Are you insane? That's his personal space!" She glared at Rhine, fuming. "Shouldn't you at least show him some respect?"
Rhine spread his hands with an air of complete self-righteousness. "Hey, I'm a Prince." He shrugged. "If I want to see it, I see it. Who knows if the old fossil is hiding something dangerous to me in there?"
Lunethia stomped her foot in frustration. "You—!"
But before she could finish her sentence, Gareth and Owen had already retreated several paces with practiced coordination. The two shared a look, both sporting broad, excited grins.
"Ready?"
"Ready."
In the next heartbeat, the two charged forward in unison!
BOOM—!
The wooden door burst open with a thunderous crash, splintering under the sheer force of the impact.
"I'm first!" Rhine blurted out, charging into the room with a triumphant smirk. "Let me see—what secret could this old man possibly have that he'd keep hidden even from the future Emperor?!"
Rena and the others crowded in behind him, their faces lit with uncontainable curiosity. Lunethia alone remained outside. She held her white rabbit close to her chest, her expression unreadable. Ultimately, she chose to honor Gerald's wishes and did not step across the threshold.
The room wasn't large, but it was packed to the ceiling with information. Thick notebooks and ancient tomes occupied every shelf. The walls were plastered with a chaotic yet meticulous array of maps, newspaper clippings, and hand-drawn sketches. There were even massive strategic diagrams pieced together that covered entire sections of the stone wall.
Rhine's smug expression slowly froze. The room fell into a sudden, heavy silence.
He walked toward the wall, reaching out to touch the weathered edges of the papers. Row after row of dense, handwritten notes filled the pages:
"Year 14 of the Lunaris Calendar—Population vs. Conscription Rates across all towns.""Year 13 of the Lunaris Calendar—Records of Shifting Noble Allegiances.""Hypothesized Lurking Grounds of Magical Creatures.""Evaluation of Old Defensive Lines and Projections for Future Fortifications."
Rhine stood paralyzed, speechless. His gaze drifted across the wall until it stopped on a familiar face—a portrait of himself. Beside it were pages of exhaustive analysis and records.
"These are..." Rhine's voice was low and raspy. "Records of every person and event investigated over the last fifteen years..."
His eyes traveled up to the grand strategic map that dominated the center of the wall.
"Everything..." he whispered. "After all this time—has he truly never given up?"
Rhine remained standing before the wall, his face a complex mosaic of shock, guilt, and dawning realization.
The records covering the entire wall filled Rhine with a profound sense of awe, followed closely by a heavy, crushing pressure. It felt as though a massive burden had quietly settled onto his shoulders.
Meanwhile, Gareth was already leafing through several encyclopedias on the bookshelf. His eyes grew wider with every page. "Whoa... this data on magical creatures is incredibly detailed!" He flipped through the entries. "Habitats, combat styles, weaknesses... even their behavioral habits are documented. When did Gerald find the time to gather all this?"
Rena picked up a thick, hand-bound journal. After a few pages, her jaw dropped. "Wait... what is this? Chakra Cultivation Notes?" She continued skimming. "And military training blueprints?" She sucked in a sharp breath. "Heavens... he's already been secretly training people?"
Owen, true to form, opted for a more direct approach. He kicked open a wooden crate in the corner with a loud CRACK!
Inside, rows of weapons were neatly organized. Owen's eyes lit up instantly. "Oho! An armory too!" He picked up a blade and gave it a couple of test swings. "Tch, this one's decent. When he wakes up, I've got to ask if he's got a custom one ready for me."
Milia stood before the bookshelf, pulling out a volume at random.
CLAP!
She slammed the book shut almost instantly, her face turning a deep, vivid scarlet. Her voice trembled as she clutched the book to her chest. "This... the books on this shelf... they're a bit... inappropriate..."
The others were immediately drawn over. Together, they looked up at the top of the shelf. There, a bold, prominent label was pasted:
[Directory of Candidates for Queen and Concubines]
The group: "..."
The air in the room went dead silent. A heartbeat later, Rhine's face turned pitch black. He marched forward and snatched the book from Milia's hands.
"Let me see what kind of nonsense this old fossil is up to now—"
The book fell open. Inside was a dense compilation of data: names, portraits, lineage, personalities, hobbies... there were even detailed personal critiques for each girl.
Rhine's expression grew more hideous with every line he read.
SLAM!
Rhine shoved the book onto the table with a violent thud. "What in the world is this nonsense?!" he barked, pointing an accusing finger at the volume. "Names, portraits, lineage, personality traits, hobbies—he's got everything! Is that old fossil still obsessed with finding me a wife?!"
Fuming, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room.
Rena, meanwhile, was struggling to keep from collapsing in a fit of giggles. She picked up the book and began to leaf through it. "Oh, come on. He's just looking out for you," she said, her voice dripping with amusement. "It's your own fault for showing zero interest in women. Maybe I should start scouting for you too."
However, as she kept flipping, her smile suddenly froze.
"...Huh?" Rena's brow furrowed. She slowly lifted the book closer to her face. "This page is... me?"
Two portraits were pasted side-by-side on the page: one of Rena, the other of Milia. Beside them, the pages were covered in dense commentary. Rena's eyes widened to the size of saucers. "He even recorded our... three-sizes?!"
She leaned in to read the entry aloud:
[Rena Elvy]
Though slightly older than the Prince, she is in excellent health and appears to be a suitable candidate for expanding the Imperial bloodline. The original plan nearly succeeded back then, yet ultimately failed. Is it truly because she lacks 'feminine charm'?
Status: Back-up for the Back-up.
Note: If that brat Rhine still hasn't found a match after the restoration, consider pushing this lass forward as a last resort.
The room fell into a dead silence for exactly three seconds.
And then—
"AAAAAARRRGGHH—!!!"
Rena absolutely lost it. She hurled the book onto the ground with a force that shook the floorboards. "Gerald, you old fossil! I'll kill you!!!"
Milia, her face a shade of red that defied logic, didn't say a word—she simply turned and bolted out of the room to hide from everyone's gaze.
Seeing Milia leave, Gareth waited until the coast was clear, then crept stealthily toward the desk. He swiftly tore that specific page out, folded it with practiced precision, and tucked it deep into his tunic.
"This," he whispered to himself with a devious grin, "is a treasure for the ages... hehehe."
Owen, meanwhile, was leafing through the directories in the cabinet with an uncharacteristic seriousness. "Huh? He even has data on the village girls?" He stroked his chin, lost in thought. "Should I take a few of these back for Karl? It'd be a shame to let all the old man's hard work go to waste."
Gareth let out a bark of laughter. "Karl isn't a blockhead like the Boss." He leaned over to sneak a peek. "But you're right—it could be interesting to have a look."
And so, the two of them actually sat amidst the scattered papers, earnestly picking through the so-called "blind date candidates."
Outside the room.
His fury still simmering, Rhine seized the sleeping Gerald by the collar and began to shake him violently. "You old fossil! It's one thing to hide all those records from me—but how dare you try to pick a wife for me behind my back?!" He roared into the old man's ear, "Do you honestly think I can't find a woman on my own?!"
Rena charged in right behind him. She delivered a sharp kick to Gerald's backside. "And what's the deal with my file?!" she shrieked, her face flushed with indignation. "You even recorded my measurements?!"
She grabbed his shoulders and joined Rhine in the frantic shaking. "Wake up this instant! Explain those notes at the back, or I'll make sure you stay asleep forever!"
Lunethia stood by the doorway, her white rabbit twitching its ears in her arms. She watched the chaotic scene—a group of formidable warriors shouting and shaking a comatose old man—with a look of utter bewilderment.
After a moment, she let out a soft, weary sigh, though a faint, helpless smile touched her lips. "These people..." she murmured to herself. "What on earth are they doing?"
At the same time.
The Royal Palace of the Moon Kingdom.
The towering, cold obsidian castle stood defiant against the night. Moonlight filtered through the stained-glass windows, casting long, fractured shadows across the vast, silent throne room.
The Queen sat solitary upon her throne. Before her, a raven with feathers as black as coal stood perfectly still, its obsidian eyes reflecting the eerie glow of the hall.
The raven's eyes flickered with an eerie, crimson light.
"You say..." The Queen spoke slowly, her voice low and bone-chilling. "That the Shadow Unit has failed?"
The raven offered a small, subservient bow. "Caw."
In the next heartbeat—
"Useless!"
The Queen surged to her feet, hurling the silver chalice in her hand across the room. CRASH! Crystal-clear wine splattered like blood, and the silver crumpled against the stone. Her gaze was abyssal. "The Shadow Unit... humans are truly nothing but worthless refuse."
With a violent sweep of her sleeve, she issued a frigid command: "Go. Mobilize every creature capable of moving through the snow. Scour the land." She glared at the raven, her voice like cracking ice. "Find her—find Lunethia."
The raven took flight, its dark silhouette streaking past the high windows and vanishing into the night.
Just then—
A large mirror in the corner of the hall rippled with subtle waves, as if the surface of a still pond had been disturbed. A face, identical to the Queen's, slowly emerged within the glass.
The reflection let out a soft, mocking giggle. "Hehehe... dear sister. Don't waste your strength. You should cherish the few days you have left instead."
The Queen cast a freezing sidelong glance toward the mirror. "Shut up," she spat, her eyes devoid of warmth. She retracted her gaze instantly, as if the presence in the mirror weren't worth a second of her concentration.
The Queen turned and strode out of the throne room. As she pushed open the heavy side doors, two guards immediately snapped to attention.
"Your Majesty."
The Queen's expression was calm, yet her voice carried an absolute, crushing authority. "Inform the Grand General. Princess Lunethia has been abducted by outlaws. According to our intelligence, they are hiding in the vicinity of Starfall Cliff."
The guards bowed their heads. "At once!"
The Queen's eyes darkened further. "You have seven days to smoke them out." She paused for a breath, then added with chilling precision: "Furthermore—the Princess may have been brainwashed. Ignore every word she speaks. No matter what she says, she must be brought back to the palace."
"As you command, Your Majesty." The guards saluted and retreated into the shadows.
The Queen stood alone at the palace gates. The night wind whipped through the long corridors. She slowly tilted her head, gazing up at the cold moon hanging high in the sky.
"Lunethia..." she murmured, a cruel sneer curling her lips. "Do you truly think you can escape me?"
The moonlight fell coldly, as the entire obsidian palace seemed to sink into a sea of silent, suffocating shadows.