Although it had been overcast for the past week, the sky that day was sunny. The chalky texture of the limestone castle was wrapped in light, glittering brightly in the sun. The Royal Castle of Armenia stood on a small island in the middle of a large lake. It was a grand, solitary monstrosity over towering its surroundings. The twelve spires scattered about its perimeter were each reflected on the surface of the lake in a shimmering haze, and inside the limestone walls were wonderfully arranged corridors. The castle on the lake was so brilliant that it seemed almost otherworldly, far too beautiful to have been built by human hands.

Since ancient times, it had been the subject of painters, bards, and poets. With a bustling and flourishing Castletown, the majestic castle stood magnificently overseeing every part of the town, a prominent and dignified presence admired by all. It was a sight that caused travellers from all over the world to gather and witness it at least once in their lifetime.

That day, the town was more crowded than usual, a hustle and bustle uncommon but not unheard of. In the midst of this, a man in a black robe had his head inclined upward, quietly gazing up at the castle. After an empty cannon thundered, the townspeople glanced towards the castle. A few more loud, short noises roared in quick succession. Today, the new Queen of Armenia, Princess Alana, would be crowned the new monarch.

“It looks like it’s started. We’re witnesses of history. A queen is born in a male nation!”

Next to a thin man who revelled in joy, a man with drooping shoulders and a hunch clicked his tongue in distaste.

“Wow, I’m ‘thrilled.’ What a joke — a woman becoming king. Has this country come to its end? It’s best for men to succeed, but now Alana is the only member of the royal family in Armenia. If she doesn’t give birth early, the Millennium Empire will fall.”

The thin man who heard this frowned, letting out a sigh so large that it seemed like his gut could come out at any moment.

“That’s right… What’s going on in this country? I’m afraid because not only is Alana a woman, but she’s also still only fourteen years old. How can I not be worried? Isn’t she just a child? There is no way she can govern the country.”

“It’s ridiculous imagining a child as a ruler. If Alana were an old woman, we would have to worry about her giving birth to the next heir, rather than succession. In any case, I don’t think Alana will rule the country; after all, there is Callisto at her side.”

“Callisto… He’s a child prodigy, both strong and intelligent. Besides, he’s good-looking and wealthy. For heaven to freely give out both of these gifts, it must be a lie. That’s too many gifts.”

Next to the stout man who was sober, a gangly man grinned, a sly and somewhat lewd glint in his eyes.

“Indeed. How about I tell you something you’ll like. Rumour has it that Alana will only meet people who Callisto admits. In addition, Alana is terribly silent and conversations must also pass through Callisto. He says he stays in his living room all day long, with only one servant by his side. What do you think?”

The man who heard this let out a raucous laugh, his hairy hand pressed against his forehead. “I can’t confirm, but I’m sure they’re doing it. Callisto is seventeen. It’s a prime time for his sexual desire to explode. If a man and a woman are together, there’s only one thing to do.”

The paunchy man rubbed his hands together. “Let me tell you-” Just as the two men were getting excited by the vulgar story, someone interrupted the conversation.

“Who is Callisto?”

The men turned their eyes to see someone in black robes who suddenly appeared. The person wore a hood that shrouded their face; only the person’s nose and mouth were visible. No matter what, they seemed quite suspicious and stood out with such a dubious appearance.

“Ah, who’re you? Don’t suddenly butt in. What kind of position are you in to just call Callisto without honorifics? If I recall correctly, you’re not such a person with that right. It’s Sir Callisto to you!”

The one in the robe did not respond.

“How foolish. Are you a foreigner? Okay, we’re men who are kind to foreigners. Callisto is the only son of Prince Duke Urbano and the future minister of the country. He’s helping Alana. Anyway, he’s Alana’s lover, you know?” The gangly man smirked at him menacingly.

Perhaps the one in the robe had lost interest in the conversation and made a move to leave.

However, the men blocked both escape routes. “Hang on a sec. Don’t sh*t around!”

“Even though we were kind to you, we needn’t be polite to your rudeness. There are three principles that people should never forget! Good morning, thank you, and goodbye!” The tone of the man’s snarling voice promised a fight at the slightest provocation.

Because most people wanted no part of the fight, they naturally gave a wide berth to the group.

Despite being in a tightly packed plaza, where the men surrounded the robed figure, there was a gaping hole.

However, before they could even blink, the mens’ ferocity suddenly weakened — the one in the robe flashed a sharp sword.

“Sh-sh*t, a sword. That’s cowardly… We’ll remember this!” The men left after being threatened, and the man in the robes looked to the castle of Armenia.

The castle had a single drawbridge to enter. It was usually lowered to allow entrance, but perhaps due to the death of Marquis Longolia, it had been shut tightly. Until today, the drawbridge, which had been operating on a daily basis, had been raised all the way to the trap door of the castle.

In addition, the castle was surrounded by tall walls, patrolled by a knight atop them. Even though the Armenian royal castle was famous as an impregnable castle, security was even more stringent. There was no gap that could be crossed, except for by the birds. Additionally, the lake served as a natural moat, further reinforcing its already impenetrable defence.

The violet eyes of the person in the robe were closed. In the back of their mind, the landscape of their lost hometown and lost family took shape. It was a nostalgic and bittersweet scene; the Serrat, which was full of blossoming flowers, was once called the “land of flowers.”

“A letter has come from Armenia. It is a letter of invitation from the alliance. Luciano, you should also look at it.”

That was about a month before the country fell.