The four-day vacation was nearly half spent on the road. In truth, the time they could arrange freely wasn't much. But at least, within those limited hours, everyone accomplished what they had set out to do. Hielaina's sudden announcement of her true identity added a fair bit of unexpected drama to the trip.
Outside the hotel, at the taxi stand, Shatiel and Nordhausen each hailed a cab. The hotel was a popular one with a steady flow of tourists, so drivers were always circling nearby, making things quite convenient for the group.
As planned, they continued to move separately until they reached the train. Hielaina stayed with Shatiel, while Alice went along with Arcia's group. However, squeezing five people into a small sedan was proving to be a challenge. There were no larger taxis in the vicinity, so Alice ended up cradling the petite Inaya on the rear right seat, with Arcia in the middle and Edwin on the left. Nordhausen remained in the passenger seat up front.
"Um, could you put your hands down...?"
Perhaps out of instinct, Alice had wrapped both arms around Inaya's waist while holding her, much like a big sister embracing her younger sibling. Honestly, if she had a choice, Inaya wouldn't have wanted to endure Arcia's unmistakably unfriendly stare either—but she wasn't about to hang from the overhead luggage rack.
"Oh... o-okay..."
Alice belatedly withdrew her hands, but it wasn't long before Inaya realized the downside of not having a "seatbelt."
As the driver was about to merge onto the beltway, a military vehicle with a small flag suddenly sped up on their left. He had to slam the brakes to yield, and the sudden deceleration sent Inaya flying into the back of the front seat. So, dear readers, always wear your seatbelt.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
Having spent enough time with the Fourth Platoon, Inaya more or less understood that cars were controlled by people. But the driver looked genuinely innocent under her sharp tone.
"I have to yield when entering the loop! Blame that damn army jeep—officers are always acting like they own the roads."
The driver's tone was agitated as he restarted the engine. The earlier jolt had caught him so off guard he'd forgotten to release the clutch.
"Just... be more careful, okay..."
Inaya barely understood half of what he said and wasn't even sure if she was right or not. But seeing both the man's hands leave the steering wheel, she decided not to press further.
"Do you want me to hold you again?"
Honestly, the little cat-eared girl was cute, and Alice didn't mind the closeness. But Inaya didn't quite share the sentiment.
"No thanks. I'll just hold on to something..."
She only looked like a kid—being held like one was a bit too much for her.
"Alright then."
For some reason, Alice felt a twinge of disappointment. Catgirls really were the most huggable beings ever. (´ ▽｀)..ｏ.
...
"Why are there so many people here?"
Outside the train station, Hielaina and Shatiel saw a swarm of armed personnel in green military uniforms completely blocking the main entrance. After asking around, they learned these were reservists called back by emergency orders.
Just yesterday, the Northern Military District had issued urgent mobilization orders to all 32 of its subordinate zones. The railway system was fully taken over by the military, and other military districts were also mobilizing troops. Many corps-level units had already completed the wartime system transition. The General Staff had implemented the new army organization in record time. And the reason behind it all was—
"Total war?!"
Hielaina couldn't conceal her shock. In just four short days—what on earth had she missed?
"They say the Northern League officially declared war the night before last."
The major was dressed in a perfectly tailored uniform, black holster gleaming, his posture crisp and full of spirit. He seemed genuinely excited for what was to come.
"If you ask me, we should've taught those uncivilized savages a lesson long ago. And now they actually have the nerve to declare war on us first."
His tone was indignant, and the determined look on his face suggested he was raring to fight. But Hielaina had no interest in conversing with him further.
"Thank you for your time. We'll be heading off now."
After bidding him farewell, Hielaina and Shatiel found the dispatcher and confirmed their boarding gate. Once onboard, they quickly found their seats in the agreed-upon rear car. Arcia's group would join them soon.
"This is way too sudden..."
Even after sitting down, Hielaina couldn't quite believe that a full-scale war had begun. Her brows were tightly furrowed, the weight of her thoughts clearly showing on her face.
"You know this was inevitable," said Shatiel, seated calmly beside her.
"Yes... but... even so, it still feels unreal..."
Aside from minor skirmishes and border conflicts, total war—one that swept in everyone—hadn't come to the southern lands in a long time. Government propaganda may have dulled the public's memory, but Hielaina knew the Northern nations were no longer helpless against Dazilet's aggression. She also understood that with the two sides now equal in power, it would spiral into a drawn-out war of attrition—just like the end of the Conquest Era.
...
There was a brief silence.
Hielaina looked somewhat dazed. The very thing she had hoped never to see had now become reality. Shatiel noticed and silently took her hand. There was nothing they could do now. The only thing Shatiel could do was stay beside her and face this grim truth together.
"Barini didn't mention any of this during our last meeting. Could it be that he wasn't informed at all?"
The warmth of her lover's hand gave Hielaina a little strength. She calmed herself and began to analyze the situation more carefully.
Though foreign intelligence was the responsibility of the General Staff's Intelligence Bureau, the Ministry of Internal Affairs' Security Bureau was more than capable of obtaining such intel. If the General Staff knew something, Barini surely would too. No one would question that—unless even the General Staff had failed to detect the Northern League's intent, or something had gone wrong in the Security Bureau after Parotno came to power.
The first possibility was almost impossible. Dazilet had grown into a mighty nation through military expansion. Its army and officers were beyond question. The Chief of General Staff, Isuberg, had once claimed he could even tell what the northern emperors had for breakfast.
As for Barini's Security Bureau... Hielaina didn't have access to intelligence on that, so she couldn't make a definite judgment. But considering Barini's background, that too seemed unlikely.
"Maybe Barini was hiding something from us. He is the Grand Sage's man after all."
Shatiel offered another possibility. Once again, the conversation circled back to that legendary figure behind the Empire.
"The Grand Sage... again..."
Hielaina couldn't help but recall her last encounter with Bohard. The man in a white lab coat who never seemed to age, standing among scholars of the Academy to welcome the Bryso delegation at the plaza. He spoke like an ordinary man—if anything, a bit slow and absentminded. At that meeting, he'd zoned out multiple times.
"The Academy always gets a huge share of the Empire's budget. If the war goes badly, that would hurt him too. He has no reason to support war..."
"But the Grand Sage isn't accountable to the royal family."
"..."
That much was true. The technologies developed by Bohard's Academy, like the Night Knights, had immensely empowered the monarchy. Unless there was a split within the royal family, no one could challenge the emperor. Still, that was merely a result of cooperation. The Grand Sage's own motives were a mystery, and he had no obligation to share everything with the throne.
"In any case, with Parotno initiating the conflict, this outcome was inevitable. Dazilet has shown its aggression once more. A united response from the Northern League was bound to happen."
"...Yes..."
Hielaina sighed. She had to admit, her earlier assessment of the situation had been too optimistic. Reality had finally brought her back to her senses.
Just then, a wave of noisy chatter poured into the car, breaking their train of thought. They turned toward the source.
It was the reservist soldiers—most of them young men in their early twenties, each carrying a rifle and a bag, laughing and chatting as they filed into the last car. Some were catching up with old friends, some were talking about the coming war, and a few were quietly commenting on Hielaina and Shatiel. The whole mood felt more like a school trip than deployment.
They quickly found seats and settled down, their youthful energy brightening the once-quiet carriage. But not everyone appreciated their rowdiness—such as the older veteran resting alone by the window, head wrapped in bandages.
He glanced impatiently at the group of cheerful boys, then pulled his hat over his ears and tried to go back to sleep.
"Excuse me, beautiful ladies—may we sit here?"
Three soldiers with bright smiles came over. The seats across from Hielaina and Shatiel were still empty.
"Sorry, those seats are for our friends."
With a warm smile, Hielaina turned them down. But the trio didn't seem ready to give up just yet.
"Look, here they come."
Before they could roll out more sweet talk, Nordhausen's tall figure appeared at the door. Edwin, Arcia, Inaya, and Alice followed him in.
"Alright, maybe next time then."
Realizing they were serious, the three soldiers backed off cheerfully. Hielaina watched them leave, but couldn't help sighing. How many of these bright young men would come back alive?
"What were those three up to?"
After sitting down, Nordhausen leaned in and asked cautiously.
"Nothing much. Just wanted to sit across from us."
He glanced back again, only relaxing when he saw the soldiers chatting with their comrades, acting normal.
"You heard about the Northern League declaring war?"
Once she had his attention, Hielaina pressed on.
"Yeah. Sudden, but not surprising."
Nordhausen's expression didn't change, calm as ever.
"What do you think we should do now?"
A good leader listens to many perspectives. Hielaina knew that well—and Nordhausen was experienced and wise.
"Given the current situation, we clearly can't influence international politics, nor reclaim control over domestic affairs. Since the Minister of Internal Affairs has promised assistance, I think the best course is to wait for his next move. Until then, you should remain hidden. That's the safest option."
"If I revealed my identity to the military, would they support me?"
"I... can't say for sure. I don't know the political leanings of the army's leadership."
It was an honest answer—there was no way to tell. Hielaina realized her question had overreached a bit.
"Then... do you think Barini—or rather, the Grand Sage—is trustworthy?"
The Grand Sage controlled the Minister, who in turn commanded powerful intelligence networks. Whether she planned to launch a coup or seek military backing, that intel would be critical. She first needed to know who her allies were—and thus the Grand Sage's stance was key.
"Hmm... That's probably the trickiest question. From what we know of the Grand Sage, he's only interested in his research. He probably doesn't care about ruling. But he does need someone to lead the nation—no funding means no research. With two claimants to the throne, he could go either way, as long as no one interferes with his work. Maybe he has shown you goodwill, but he could just as easily back the usurper."
"..."
Hielaina hadn't thought of that. She followed Nordhausen's reasoning further.
"In that case... we need to confirm where he stands first."
"Exactly."
"And if he sides with Parotno in the end..."
A possibility she had to consider—she needed to be prepared for the worst.
"Then just come run away with me. Heh, wandering the world with a princess sounds pretty fun..."
Inaya's head suddenly popped up behind Nordhausen's seat, one cat ear twitching playfully, completely unfazed by the serious conversation.
"Grownups are talking. Mind your manners."
"Ugh—"
The little black cat let out a whimper as Edwin shoved her back into her seat with one hand.