283. Parade of Faith
Few Weeks Ago at the Start Of Prince Landon’s Rebellion, Imperial Palace, Imperial Capital, Ancorna Empire
Emperor Andrew tapped the throne, his commands becoming sharp and specific, allocating his remaining capable children to the most crucial fronts.
“Order every territory to send mages to the Western Coastlines to join the frontlines and prepare defensive formations to stop Conley if they attempt a landing,” he commanded. He then looked directly at Princess Serena, who was seated in the Imperial Court. "Serena, you will personally lead them."
She stood instantly, executing a flawless, determined bow. “I will see to it, Father.”
The Emperor then fixed his gaze upon Prince William. “William, your task is paramount. You must immediately find out where Landon’s base of operations is, determine where they are sourcing their logistics line from, and confirm where Maria, Gracie, and Benric are currently being secured by Landon.”
“Yes, Father,” Prince William responded, rising to his feet with a solemn, military bow, the determination already gleaming in his eyes.
The Emperor’s strategy was clear: protect the capital from the rebels, repel the foreign invasion, and cripple Landon’s network by seizing his family, his only leverage. The Empire was at war on two fronts, with its fate resting on the mobilization of disparate, and potentially disloyal, forces.
Imperial Palace, Capital City, Hilde Kingdom, In the Southern Part of the Eastern Continent
The Verdant Crown Palace was a fortress of contradictions, a sprawling masterpiece of weathered stone, vibrant moss, and ancient silverwood carved directly into the jagged cliffs overlooking the restless Southern Sea. It was a structure built not to bask in the sunshine, but to endure the relentless battering of storms. Its soaring arches were curved like the crests of waves, and its spires were hollowed out to catch the wind, turning the frequent gales into a haunting, melodic song. Today, the rain was as steady as ever, a grey curtain that veiled the chaos currently tearing through the Eastern Continent.
Inside one of the palace’s secluded tea room chambers, two figures sat in a silence that was far from peaceful.
Princess Frederica Hill Solarius sat with a practiced, icy composure. Her golden-blonde hair, which usually shone like spun sunlight, was partially hidden beneath a veil of mourning, yet it still cascaded in elegant waves over her shoulders. Her cool, blue eyes, usually sharp and observant, scanned the man sitting opposite her. Despite her royal mask, the slight stiffness in her spine and the way her fingers tightly gripped the handle of her porcelain cup betrayed a deep, roiling unease.
“I have already explained the situation to you, Prince William,” Princess Frederica said, her voice firm and echoing slightly in the stone chamber. “No one from the Solarius family is here in Hilde. We are a neutral kingdom, not a sanctuary for political refugees.”
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Prince William, leaned back in his chair with a somber, weary expression. Unlike the aggressive generals of the Empire, Prince William looked like a man who was carrying the weight of a dying sun.
“I understand your position, Your Highness Frederica,” Prince William replied, his voice soft but carrying an undeniable weight of authority. “But my father’s paranoia is not easily satiated. I am under direct orders from him to personally verify the absence of Maria, Benric, and Gracie. He believes Landon has hidden them within the Hilde Kingdom.”
Princess Frederica set her cup down with a sharp clack. “I am being respectful, William, and I have allowed this visit only because you were Nolan’s most favored brother. But this is a rude intrusion. Right now, Hans and I require peace. We need time to grieve my husband’s death, not to be interrogated by the political mess of the Ancorna Empire.”
Prince William let out a long, heavy sigh. He looked out the window at the rain-slicked battlements. “I know Nolan’s death has been a tragedy for Hilde and you. But Father… He sees it as a convenient shroud. He is convinced that Hilde is providing more than just moral support to Landon’s rebellion.”
He turned back to her, his gaze pleading. “Even I think it is foolish to believe Landon would leave his family in such an obvious location. He is many things, but he is not a man who underestimates father. Yet, I must follow the protocol. Just let me perform a formal search of the Imperial Palace, and I will be on my way back to the capital.”
Princess Frederica’s eyes flashed with a cold fire. “I will put a formal request to my father first thing in the morning. Until then, you will remain in the guest wing.”
Prince William stood up, bowing his head in a gesture of resignation. He knew he had pushed as far as he could for one day. Without another word, he exited the room, the heavy oak doors groaning as they closed behind him.
The room fell into a profound silence for several minutes. The only sound was the rhythmic tapping of rain against the leaded glass. Finally, Princess Frederica reached out and rang a small silver bell on the table.
The door opened silently, and a maid entered. She was dressed in the simple, drab linens of the palace staff, her head bowed and her face obscured by a lace cap. However, rather than attending to the tea service or tidying the room, the woman walked directly to the sofa where Prince William had just been sitting and slumped into it.
“I have to make a run for it, don’t I?” the 'maid' asked, her voice dropping the servant's cadence to reveal the cultured tones of Maria Eldric Solarius.
Princess Frederica let out the breath she had been holding, her shoulders sagging. “I am sorry, Maria. I’ve held him off for as long as I could, but Prince William is persistent. He’s under too much pressure from Father-in-law to leave without a thorough investigation.”
Maria massaged her temples, her eyes filled with a mixture of exhaustion and defiance. “The whole Empire is already in chaos. The Conley invasion, the sudden appearance of those... dungeons. You’d think the Father-in-law would have more pressing concerns than hunting down the wives and children of a rebellious son.”
“Father-in-law knows that as long as he has you, he has a leash on Landon,” Princess Frederica replied with a grim determination. “Now that the rebellion has lasted this long, the stakes have shifted. You must protect yourself, Maria. Just for a little while longer.”
Maria nodded, standing up and smoothing out the apron of her disguise. Her eyes drifted to the window, toward the direction of the capital where her husband was fighting a war against his own blood.
“I really hope Landon succeeds,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the wind.
Frederica stood and took Maria's hand. “The carriage will be ready at the servant's gate by midnight. Go to the coastline. Take Kim Island’s merchant ships to Otto City.. they are the only ones Ancorna’s navy is afraid to touch.”
Maria squeezed her hand once, then vanished back into the shadows of the palace, a ghost in a kingdom of rain with nothing but a parade of faith running her.