Not for a moment did Alana enjoy looking outside the castle. Even when she looked at the majestic land, she felt no emotion. It was partly due to a lack of emotion, but Alana was preoccupied with what was to come. This was a journey to find out what she could do for a dying country.

After leaving Armenia, she would pass through Nogueira, cross over to Allesus, and then on to Serrat. The journey to Serrat was arduous. They had to cross mountains, and Alana’s health was poor. The road was terrible, and the carriage shook in many places.

In areas infested with bandits, there were skirmishes. Thanks to the quick thinking of Baron Guzman, who was also a general, they managed to catch up with the advance party before they entered the country of Allesus. In the end, thirty-five men joined the group to protect Alana. Aside from the agent Gustavo and the doctor, all the other knights were under Baron Guzman’s command.

Alana and Callisto, in disguise, were mere feeble children. Naturally, no one paid them any respect, and the first team that joined them dismissed them as “kids in the way.”

“Damn them. They think I’m a servant. … I’m the future duke, remember?”

His name was changed to ‘Serino’. Alana was also dressed as Callisto’s brother. Her name was ‘Lupe’. All of these names were given at random by Gustavo, a secret agent dressed as a messenger.

“Mr Serino, please don’t let your pride get the better of you, won’t you?”

“I know. But Gustavo. I tell you, I don’t trust you.”

“Don’t trust me. I’m a hired hand. My master is this little guy, Lupe.”

Alana glanced at Gustavo at the mention of Lupe. “Gustavo. You are Serino and Lupe’s, brother. You need to change your words and your attitude.”

“If you say that, then you too, Lupe. You smell like a woman.”

“Baron Guzman and I pretend not to know each other. So, ah – no, Lupe, he’ll ignore you, but don’t be offended. We are not noblemen, even though we are messengers…. Well, then, we should be a little crude. Let’s copy Gustavo as an example.”

Alana nodded when Callisto told her to imitate his tone.

Gustavo opened his big mouth and laughed, “Idiot.”

“Serino, I’m just a lowlife. I’m genuine vulgarity. Do you want us to be three bastards?”

“Yes, your words are vulgar, but… Well, we’ll just have to get used to it. Gustavo will try to be elegant, and Lupe and I will try to be crude.”

Alana nodded as if she were Lupe, a young boy, when Calisto said, “All right, let’s try it.”

Once in Serrat, the land of flowers, Alana took in the terrain. She looked out the right window at the river, then moved to the left seat to check the roads and cliffs. It seemed strange that she was so active when she was usually so still, so Callisto asked, “What are you doing?”

“This country is dying. No one can stop it. It will be overwhelmed by the forces of Teges. I don’t know how long it can survive. I’m not sure how much it will help, but I want to create an escape route if at all possible.”

Alana was looking at the scenery, but her gaze drifted to Callisto. “I’m going to ask you, Serino, Gustavo and Baron Guzman to move. It’s not about protecting me but about keeping someone else alive. I will use everything available.” Her eyes had changed from powerless to domineering. Her physical condition was not good, but she stood tall with her energy.

It was Gustavo who spoke to her. “The king and prince will arrive in Serrat tomorrow, right? A hundred or so knights from Armenia will also arrive. I hear the castle will be full of welcome feasts. Then most of them will have drunk, and there will be an opening. There’s still time for Teges to invade, right? That means we can inform Serrat’s great figures in the meantime.” She wanted to encourage Armenia in her own way.

But Callisto quickly denied her plan. “It’s not that simple. Things are complicated. You, me, and Lupe are messengers without status. Your request for an audience with the King of Serrat will not be granted. It would be considered impolite to even speak to a nobleman. Besides, we only have a week before Teges invades. That is overwhelmingly insufficient time.

Moreover, it would be inadvertent to inform Serrat of the crisis suddenly. They will be confused, and there will surely be someone who will turn on Armenia. Ostensibly, we’re staying to sign an alliance. If even one person from Armenia dies, Armenia will have no choice but to retaliate. I want to avoid this.”

Gustavo wrinkled his brow, “Then what?”

“I will spare no effort to meet King Ismael before this country is destroyed,” Gustavo confirmed to Alana, who pursed her lips with determination.

“What would it be like to meet the king of a country that I know will be destroyed? I don’t know at all, that is, we have no plans. Is it just at random?”

“Regardless, our top priority is the safety of Lupe. There is nothing more important than that.” Callisto answered.