The stars illuminated the red-dyed sky of twilight, each twinkling brightly in their own radiance. A banquet had just begun in the saloon of the castle of Armenia. The group from the country of Kanizales danced to bells, drums, and lutes, stepping to a playful beat. Probably because it was heavily integrated into their national culture, the people from the southern countries were brilliant at entertaining the crowds, rousing their onlookers and adding an exciting flair. In one corner, Luciano was using a well-versed hand to pluck at the lute strings. Back when he was a prince, he was good at playing, and now, in more dire straits, he put this once enjoyable pastime to use. Dressed in the dark green of a musician, he wore a hat that shrouded his face, hiding his characteristic hair and eyes.

It was a plain outfit to complement the other dancers, but thanks to that, he could act inconspicuously. The vast hall had an open roof, which was themed in white like the castle of Armenia. The surroundings had gold everywhere, and at a single glance, one could easily tell it was a prosperous country. Large, ornate pillars stood at equal intervals, and the arches of the ceilings connect the pillars and the walls were carved in an Armenian style composed of snakes and grapes.

Each of the elaborate decorations on the chairs and bills reflected the height of culture. Armenia was also known as the “Millennium Empire.” It had more than a thousand years of history and ruled much of the world. But over time, the former national power was no longer present. In spite of this, the standard of culture was maintained, and it was still regarded as a great power. The bloodline of the proud royal family remained on a single set of shoulders. Luciano was one of the reasons behind the line slowly dying out.

Where was Queen Alana? While the nobles congregated in the pavilion, each gorgeous in their own right, the true centre piece, the queen-like figure, was nowhere to be found. The golden throne, which stood out in its elevated resting place, was also empty.

At the end of the song, a new song began, and Luciano played the lute while gazing around. The performance had ended and started once again. This cycle repeated a few times before Luciano started to feel irritated. The music was suddenly stopped by an aristocratic nobleman.

Looking at the point where the aristocrats were paying attention, the guards stood at attention around the door. As silence descended into the outdoor pavilion, the centre of the double doors cracked open, and at the same time, a small sound was heard.

The golden hair, which was close to white, danced softly. The texture seemed to be soft as silk, as it fell gracefully over slim shoulders. Emerald glinted on the crown that decorated her head, and the dress seemed to match the hair, each strand like a ray of sunshine streaming down onto her dress, which was a pale gold colour.

The decorations and elaborate embroidery of the dress created a flickering illusion as the bright lights of the hall fell on her. 

It was hard to say that the hem was perfect. Perhaps this was only because he was unfamiliar with the trends. Her face was young and lacked expression. While her eyes were a bright green, they were resigned and had no courage. Those eyes stared into the crowd but saw nothing. All the aristocrats, who had stepped back until that point, all bowed uniformly towards the girl. The appearance of those who dressed up, bowing in gratitude, was a masterpiece. The girl went straight to the throne and sat down, barely moving as she did so. No doubt she was Queen Alana. Following close behind her was a young man with black hair. With a well-structured face and perfect posture, he was more eye-catching than the Queen. He could only be Callisto. It seemed that the costume of the Lord was quite fine, a completely white outfit from top to bottom. Luciano paid attention to the movement of Callisto’s eyes. It seemed that they were sending a signal, as if there were people who lay in waiting everywhere in the hall. Not only that, the Prime Minister and many knight-like nobles were poised to protect Queen Alana.

Everyone seemed desperate, probably because she was the last living member of the royal family. Luciano lifted his lips ever so slightly in interest. He thought it was quite intriguing. Killing the Queen while under such vigilance would bring Armenia to despair. Royal families with old bloodlines were their pride—the source of the “Millennium Empire.”

-Still, it was ironic. He turned to Queen Alana. With a magnificent castle in the name of a great power, impeccable human resources, vast wealth, and a handsome lover, she should have been in bliss.

A girl who lived in a fairy tale-like dream, and yet she was too weak to be called a queen. It seemed that she was either not prepared to become a king or lacked the willingness and vigilance to carry the country.

In such a state, without her heart, she sat expressionless in a chair.

Without confidence and probably dull, it seemed her capacity was not enough. Was it said that she was weak when she was born? No wonder her face was pale. The same age as the dead Mileia… Queen Alana was just born in this country. She did not destroy Serrat. He knew that. However, the blood of Armenia was flowing in her body, even if she was his relative. It was something he hated. Armenia was no longer just a sin that existed.

Luciano hid his eyes with his silver eyelashes.

– That queen has already lived two years longer than Mileia.

In Armenia, it was forbidden to set sail on the lake at night. Only knights guarding the castle were allowed. Breaking the rules would result in the immediate sinking of the ship. Thanks to that, the party of Kanizales was stopped at the castle, so they had to remain for the night. But that was in Luciano’s favour and another step toward his aim. Queen Alana was at the banquet for only a short period of about thirty minutes. Greetings to everyone were made by Callisto, an aide on behalf of them. The Queen didn’t talk, she didn’t show a single expression, she didn’t eat or drink, she just sat down. After the words of the Prime Minister, she stood up, her lips never cracking open once, and left with Callisto while being strictly protected. After that, it became a full-fledged banquet, and the atmosphere of the hall completely changed. This was partly because a serious knight and a solemn nobleman left with the Queen.

I drew what I thought her entrance would look like~

You can view all official illustrations here!