Around noon the following day, Theo, Gwen, and Lulu prepared to depart for Farport. They were traveling with a force of 300 barbarian warriors and 100 demon soldiers. Having secured Lord Patrick's permission, they loaded their gear onto House Levent's ships at the harbor.
"Alright, safe travels," Leon said to the three of them as they stood by the ships.
"Everything is packed. Remind Hugo to station guards at the borders toward Central and Western Vanadias," Livia added firmly.
"No matter what happens out there, if you need us, send word immediately by courier or pigeon," Lucia insisted.
"Understood. Gwen, Lulu, and I are taking our leave," Theo said.
"See you later, Theo," Casey replied.
"Yeah. Take care of yourself," he said back.
The two shared a hug—no tears this time—and then Gwen embraced Casey as well.
"Look after my brother, Gwen," Casey said.
"I will. Don't you worry," Gwen promised.
"Hey... you guys act like you're never going to see each other again. It's only for a few days! We barbarians don't do goodbyes like this. Good grief," Lulu muttered, annoyed, with her hands on her hips.
"Haha... sorry, Lulu. You're right. Let's get moving; Captain Nhar Thez is waiting," Theo said, pulling Gwen along.
"That's more like it! Let's go. Leon, Lucia, Livia—we're off. Bye!" Lulu shouted, turning to march up the gangplank.
Once the three were aboard, Captain Nhar Thez gave a loud command, and the ship began to pull away. Theo, Gwen, and Lulu waved from the deck. Leon, Lucia, Livia, and Casey waved back. Once the ship had drifted some distance away, Livia spoke up.
"Are Mariana and Dustin already locked away in the monastery?" Livia asked.
"Yeah, since early this morning," Leon answered.
"Where is Cyrill, Livia?" Lucia asked.
"He's coordinating his assassins, sending them to Nortrom to catch up with the team that left last night," Livia replied.
"Hmm... then we'll wait for their report. In two days, we'll interrogate Alesya, and we're still waiting for Lot Har to arrive," Leon said.
"So that means we get a day of rest while we wait," Lucia remarked.
"Yep. Let's go eat... by the way, how is Calvin doing?" Livia asked.
"Don't worry about him. He has no desire to be a king or an emperor like his father. He told me everything. His mother was a palace servant who was taken advantage of by Emperor Barrington. When he found out she was pregnant, Barrington kicked her out immediately," Lucia explained.
"The rumors say Emperor Barrington is already dead. If that's true, Calvin is the sole heir to the throne," Leon noted.
"He's not interested. According to Gwen's visions, she saw Calvin leading an uprising from inside Castletown. But knowing who Calvin actually is, I don't think he's capable of starting a rebellion—unless he was captured and someone else led it in his name," Lucia said.
"Haaah... true. From what I've seen, Calvin doesn't look like the revolutionary type. At least he's safe with us for now," Leon replied.
"It must be the Council of Lords using him. They'll stage a rebellion and make Calvin the scapegoat. Whatever, we'll clean them out later," Livia said firmly.
"Um... excuse me, but Lord Edgar Clark is also a member of the Council of Lords," Casey noted.
Leon, Lucia, and Livia immediately whipped around to look at Casey. Leon knelt down in front of her wheelchair and took her hands.
"Do you know who all the members of the Council of Lords are?" Leon asked.
"From what I know, there was my father, Gerald Rochele, my uncle Geoffrey Baranger, Edgar Clark, Meredith Levent, Jasper Quintrel, and Fabian Marlow. But my father and Lady Meredith have already been executed... I heard this from Lord Jourell, Lord Malcolm's son, while we were at Mirriad. So, that leaves only four," Casey answered.
"I'm sorry. It must be hard to hear that your father was executed," Leon said gently.
"It's okay," Casey replied.
"Do you know why it happened?" Lucia asked.
"According to the messenger who came to Arlington Castle... my father was accused of murdering the Reinald family eighteen years ago... and of conspiring with Lady Meredith to overthrow the Council. But I don't think that's possible. According to Valen and Theo, my father and Alex Reinald were actually friends," Casey answered.
"Yes, I know. According to Eluisa, Gerald Rochele was a friend of our parents. She also said the one who actually killed our parents was our own uncle, Edgar Clark," Lucia revealed.
"That's right. That is exactly what Eluisa and Helen told us," Livia added.
"It's all clear now. Our enemy is the Council of Lords—those four men. So now we wait for Cyrill's assassins, the results of Mariana and Dustin's prayers, and Lot Har's arrival. Then, we crush one of those four lords," Leon said.
"Right. I already told Cyrill that if it's possible, I want his assassins to kill Edgar outright. It would make taking over Nortrom much easier. That's why he sent more men to follow the ones from last night," Livia explained.
"Ok, let's hope they can do it. Then we'll execute Bruno and Alesya as a warning to the remaining three lords. It will ensure Nortrom stays loyal to us," Lucia added coldly.
"Alright, all we can do now is wait and act once the news hits. Let's go eat. Come on, Casey," Leon said.
"Sure, let's go, Leon," Casey replied.
Leon pushed Casey's wheelchair back toward the town to find a food stall. Lucia and Livia followed behind, watching the two of them.
"Do you think Leon really loves Casey?" Lucia asked Livia.
"Yeah. This is the first time I've ever seen him go to such lengths for someone," Livia answered.
"Hmm... he's changed, and so have you. Finally, you're able to open up to a man... instead of hiding behind your looks. I'm happy to see it," Lucia said.
"I suppose... it's because my face isn't what it used to be. You've changed too, though. This is the first time you've ever acknowledged someone as your lover. You never did that before... not even with Alfo... I mean, Leon," Livia noted.
"Well... eighteen years of living with Eluisa, Helen, Lot Har, and the villagers on the Dark Continent changed us. We aren't those cold, heartless rulers anymore," Lucia said.
"That's true. The last eighteen years really did leave a mark on the three of us... in a good way, I mean," Livia replied.
"Anyway, let's eat, my dear little sister," Lucia said, taking Livia's arm.
"Hey... I'm the older one... don't get ahead of yourself," Livia replied, hooking her arm back into Lucia's.
The two of them walked on, following Leon and Casey, joking around like normal eighteen-year-old girls rather than the powerful rulers they used to be.
***
Meanwhile, on the ship's deck, Theo stood at the railing, gazing out across the vast ocean. Gwen was by his side, with Lulu standing next to her. Captain Nhar Thez walked over to join them.
"You three should get some rest. We probably won't reach land until tonight," the captain suggested.
"What do you think the situation is like in Farport?" Theo asked him.
"Many of the locals are still there. Almost all the soldiers surrendered; they're being held in a warehouse now. The dungeons in Steelhold are packed, too. A lot of buildings in Farport were leveled during the fighting last night," Nhar Thez answered.
"I see. That means we'll have our work cut out for us when we arrive," Theo muttered.
"Well... that much is for sure," Gwen added.
"How exactly did Leon take down Steelhold, Captain?" Lulu asked.
"Oh... that is an incredible story. I'll tell you, because I saw it with my own two eyes," Nhar Thez replied.
Without wasting a second, Nhar Thez began to recount the entire ordeal. He described the massive tsunami Leon unleashed, how Leon charged forward alone protected by a shield of his own making, and how he focused cannon's power on the walls until Steelhold finally fell. Theo, Gwen, and Lulu listened in total awe, even though the tale sounded more like an unbelievable myth than reality.
"Truly remarkable. I'm glad my sister is with our King," Theo said.
"Yes, I can see that King Leon truly cares for your sister... I mean, even though they might have just met yesterday, he's willing to push her wheelchair, carry her whenever things get difficult, and the works," Gwen replied.
"Wow... I knew Leon was strong, but hearing that... just, wow," Lulu remarked.
"I'm not exaggerating. Everything I just told you is exactly what I witnessed yesterday. I even heard from Lord Hugo that Queen Livia moved an entire mountain, using it as a siege tower to attack Toreno Castle. It's hard to wrap your head around, but after seeing what King Leon can do, I believe his sisters are just as powerful," Nhar Thez replied.
Nhar Thez continued to share every detail with Theo, Gwen, and Lulu, who hung on his every word as the ship sailed toward Farport.