《Althea: The Legendary Saintess [Shoujo]》 Chapter 1 – The Miraculous Magic "Once upon a time... There was a kingdom that was peaceful and prosperous. But one day, when seven particularly large stars in the sky aligned in a row, they emitted a light so intense that it seemed as if the heavens were about to split, enveloping everything in darkness. After being shrouded in darkness, terrifying giant creatures that were considered symbols of malice emerged from remote regions, gradually tormenting the people. The people despaired in the darkness, feared the attacks of the creatures, and lamented the end of the world. However, the heavens had left a glimmer of hope. In the moment before darkness covered the world, two maidens were bestowed with power under the brief light emitted by the heavens..."
One hour later...
"Big brother, why did you stop? Please continue!" "Wait... I need to drink water first." Regalus reached out for a glass of water served by his butler and immediately gulped it down as if in a hurry. "Brother...!" "Okay... okay... ahem... For a moment, the Maiden of Dawn widened her eyes in surprise, but upon hearing the plea of the weakened Maiden of Dusk, she left the room. After confirming that the Maiden of Dawn had left, the prince came forward. "...Forgive me for speaking so rudely in this condition. ...I don''t have much time left. ¨D¨D¨D I haven''t told her, but on the night when the crest appeared on my chest, I was told that the magical power in my body was meant to be offered to the Maiden of Dawn. Until the prince retrieved the ''Sword of the Sun,'' I had been gradually reducing the amount of prayer directed towards her. Otherwise, my magical power would have truly disappeared." With a slightly sad expression, the Maiden of Dusk continued to speak to the prince. "Your Highness, tomorrow, I will dedicate all my remaining magical power to the Maiden of Dawn. After the prayer is finished, stand at the entrance of the church with her, raise the ''Sword of the Sun'' you brought back to the heavens, and say this: [We, bearers of the ''Sun Crest.'' Hear our wishes and dispel the darkness of the evils!] The Maiden of Dawn also knows the words you should say, so please practice them later. To dispel the darkness and the monsters, it is necessary for ''two Sun Crests to align'' and for ''the aligned crests to perform together.''" "Understood. ...But if you offer all your magical power... What will happen to you?" "It''s okay. ...However, there is no replacement for ''not much time left''... For now, please think about the welfare of this country. As I mentioned earlier, once everything is settled, this darkness and the monsters should be swept away... Your Highness, please save my precious family and friends." "...Yeah, I''ll definitely save them with the Maiden of Dawn. ...I want you to witness that." "Yes. ...Um, Your Highness, one last request..." "What is it? If it''s something I can do, I''ll listen to anything." "Tomorrow, when I offer all my remaining magical power to the Maiden of Dawn in the ''prayer,'' please don''t tell her. At least until the darkness is dispelled... Even if my time is running out, if she were to know, she probably wouldn''t accept it. But it''s already taking too long. There''s no other way to save this country... I understand that I''m asking something difficult at the ''end.'' But..." "...No, I''ll accept your determination and request." "Thank you, Your Highness, I truly appreciate it." Saying that, whether relieved or not, the Maiden of Dusk closed her eyes quietly. Carefully leaving the room so as not to wake her, the prince informed the Maiden of Dawn about the events of tomorrow. However, he concealed the fact that the prayer from the Maiden of Dusk would involve offering all her remaining magical power... The next day, the Maiden of Dawn headed to the room of the Maiden of Dusk as usual. Instead of lying down as usual and holding hands with the Maiden of Dawn to perform the prayer of sharing magical power, the Maiden of Dusk, today, leaned against the bed and sat. "Oh, today you seem to be feeling good, huh?!" "...Yes, thanks to the ''Sword of the Sun''... But, it''s impossible for me to stand up and perform the ritual together. Ideally, all three of us should offer prayers together... I''m sorry. As always, I''ll pray to you here. So please offer a prayer to the ''Sword of the Sun'' on my behalf." "I understand. I''ll also pray with all my might. ...So let''s dispel this darkness today. And when it''s all over... as promised, let''s enjoy tea together someday." Upon hearing those words, the Maiden of Dusk, who smiled back with a smile, gently held the hands of the Maiden of Dawn and offered a prayer. After praying for about 5 or 10 minutes, the exhausted Maiden of Dusk slowly lay down on the bed, facing only the Maiden of Dawn, and said, "...I''m praying from the bottom of my heart... My dearest friend, please save this country." The Maiden of Dawn nodded and left the room. After the Maiden of Dawn left the room who had received all her magical power from the Maiden of Dusk as proof, had the ''Sun Crest'' floating on her forehead, not the ''Dawn Crest.'' ¨D¨D¨D The fact that the Maiden of Dawn would learn about this would only happen after everything was over. Outside the room, the prince, holding the ''Sword of the Sun,'' was waiting, and when he saw the forehead of the Maiden of Dawn, he momentarily widened his eyes, but without saying anything, he offered his hand to the Maiden of Dawn. The Maiden of Dawn also took the prince''s hand without saying anything, and the two headed to the entrance of the church. Standing at the entrance, the two raised the ''Sword of the Sun'' to the heavens, locked eyes, and nodded, saying at the same time, "We, bearers of the ''Sun Crest.'' Hear our wishes and dispel the darkness of the evils!" At that moment, just when it seemed like the ''Sword of the Sun'' emitted a dazzling light, it rushed straight towards the sky, and as it collided with the darkness covering the sky, cracks appeared in the place of impact, and the darkness disappeared in an instant. According to later reports, as soon as the darkness disappeared, the monsters that had appeared in the vicinity also vanished. People who witnessed the miracle in front of the church shed tears of joy, truly praising the prince and the Maiden of Dawn. While ignoring the crowd, the two hurried to a room in the church. ...To report to the Maiden of Dusk, who was the main contributor to this miracle. However, when the two arrived at the Maiden of Dusk''s place, she had already passed away, having taken her last breath with tears of joy. Unable to stand, the Maiden of Dawn collapsed, and the prince supported her. Seeing this, the prince timidly asked the maid standing by the side of the Maiden of Dusk, "Did we... not make it in time?" "No, she watched you dispel the darkness and went peacefully. ...I also have her final message." "...A final message...?" When the two looked at the maid, she quietly shed tears and said, "Yes. ...She sincerely thanks both of you. And she wishes for both of you to lead light to this country.¡­" The Maiden of Dusk, a ''comrade'' precious to both of them and a ''close friend'' to the Maiden of Dawn, had quietly returned to the ''Sword of the Sun'' in the depths of the northern cave, protected. Afterwards, the prince and the Maiden of Dawn got married, contributing to the peace of the kingdom and living happily ever after...~ ...Hey, Althea, why are you crying?" "Because... dear brother, the Maiden of Dusk is... pitiful. She became a shadow to the Maiden of Dawn, offering all her magical power. Was the Maiden of Dusk born just to offer her life?... If that''s the case, it''s not fair..." "Ah... well... this is a ''Story of Two Blessed Maidens,'' you know? It''s not a true story, so don''t cry so much..." "Brother... if it''s a story, wouldn''t it be nice to make the Maiden of Dusk happy too? Even if it''s just a ''story.''" The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Now, Althea was visibly angry.
As the expressions of his sister Althea changed in a cute manner, Regalus, her older brother, smiled wryly and said, "Yeah, that''s right. Honestly, in stories, it''s nice when everything ends happily." While saying this, he gently stroked her head and Althea replied, "Yeah." Looking at her sister''s face, which now turned into a bright smile, he thought, Really, my sister has such an expressive and adorable face... "Althea , no matter what happens, I will protect you. For that, I''ll become stronger, like Father!" Regalus said, clenching his fist with determination. "Stronger? But Althea also wants to become strong like her brother." "What? Well, being a strong noblewoman? Besides, you''re already learning self-defense, and Laila is by your side. Isn''t that enough?" "But... I don''t know what might happen, and yet Father just says it''s no good." "Well, it''s natural... Besides, you can spend more time with your brother... Is that not enough?" Regalus found it hard to oppose his cute sister, who looked at him with sparkling eyes, pleading. Indeed, there was no man who could resist such a plea. "Ugh... Alright! Next time, when I''m going to talk something to Father, I''ll also ask him..." "Yay! Thank you, brother! I love you!!" Saying that, Althea , clinging to her brother Regalus, was being watched with a fond smile by the maid Laila. This takes place in the western outskirts of the Royal Grand Central, commonly known as the ''Frontier.'' In this world, there are three continents, with the largest one being occupied by the Royal Grand Central kingdom, covering three-fourths of it. To the west of the RGC is a small but resource-rich country called Uranos. Although officially a friendly nation, the current king of Uranos is rather passive, and the border management doesn''t seem to be very effective, leading to frequent activities of thieves and other criminals on the side of the RGC. Among the remaining two continents, the second largest one currently has three countries: Radiant Sun Kingdom, Moon Eclipse Kingdom, and the Starry Stars Empire. About a hundred years ago, small nations engaged in frequent wars of aggression, but now they trade and live in peaceful times. The last remaining continent is the small island nation of the Ecclesiastical Congregation of Sacraments Principality. It is considered a ''sacred'' place in this world and serves as the central hub of the Illumi religion, functioning as a ''neutral independent vassal state of Royal Grand Central.'' The principality is governed by the Pope, who oversees the church, and by the Headmaster, who manages the academy. Both hold the special peerage of Grand Duke granted by the RGC kingdom. [modern_footnote]This was similar to Vatican City inside Italy[/modern_footnote] In charge of guarding the border with Uranos Kingdom from the central hub of the Royal Grand Central is the recently ascended archducal family, trusted by the royal family and possessing the greatest military force and largest land territories. It is the military family where Regalus and Althea were born. Their father is Archduke Thomas Von Monclair, with platinum blond hair and sapphire-colored eyes, a handsome and strong man. He has held various positions, such as a general and a magic knight in the capital, and is still admired by many. Their mother is Clara Von Monclair. With brown-blond hair and purple-blue eyes, she attracted attention before marrying into the Frontier as the daughter of retired Count Monte Del Salvador. She was renowned for her beauty, being ranked alongside the current queen as ''Elegance'' and ''Butterfly.'' Rumor has it that all the unmarried male nobles in the capital cried when she married. While the truth is uncertain, she remains beautiful even now. The siblings, inheriting the best traits from their parents, had such beautiful appearances that it would be a waste to confine them to the Frontier. The elder brother, Regalus, two years older, inherited the same platinum-blond hair with a slightly wavy texture, and the purple-blue eyes from his mother. His features were firm, giving off a slightly stern impression. Althea, the younger sister, had hair that appeared white due to the play of light, and her eyes, like her brother''s, were violet-blue inherited from their mother. Her silver hair color was a throwback to Thomas''s mother, their grandmother. With round and large eyes, she looked extremely cute, and the entire family, including the servants, loved and cherished Althea sincerely. The turning point in Althea ''s life and her encounter with the story of the ''Two Blessed Maidens'' happened on her sixth birthday. Among the numerous presents from the people in their territory was the story of ''Two Blessed Maidens.'' Althea, attracted by the beautiful ''illustrations'' in the book, felt an impulse to "read it." While she could read a bit, being only six years old, the recommended age for the said book was around ten. Unable to read some characters, Althea asked Regalus to read it for her.
Althea had been learning self-defense since the age of five. The reason she started learning was an incident when she was five years old, where she was almost kidnapped. Due to this "kidnapping attempt," Althea met the maid Laila and, until the age of 10, was unable to leave the territory...
The story goes back one year to when Althea was 5 years old.
Despite her adorable appearance, Althea was a tomboyish and very active child, running around inside the house, the backyard, and all around the fence surrounding the estate, climbing trees without hesitation. One day, while running around the garden as usual, Althea happened to find a "hole" in the fence at the far end of the backyard, where people rarely ventured. There was just enough space for a child to pass through. Unable to resist the impulse to explore, Althea secretly passed through the "hole" and decided to explore the town on her own. Although she didn''t often go out to the town, she had a fair number of "acquaintances" from smiling and greeting everyone when she went out with her mother and brother. Moreover, this time was a "secret" outing. There was no way she wouldn''t be excited, and in her curiosity, she roamed around until she found herself at the outskirts of the town. At that moment, she happened to encounter a recently escaped ragtag group from the neighboring country, who were nothing short of thugs. For the thugs, Althea was the perfect target. A "noble''s child" with an angelic cuteness that could be mistaken for an angel. There was no reason not to target her. The moment Althea made eye contact with the thugs, she recognized them as "people she shouldn''t approach" and tried to run away. However, they were adults, and escaping from several of them was impossible. No!! I''m scared... I don''t want to get caught!! With a strong determination not to be captured, Althea unconsciously activated "magic." The magic she unleashed was "earth magic," forming a sturdy dome of earth to cover Althea. The thugs were surprised, but since it was just a child''s magic, they thought it would collapse with a little force. They tried to break the dome-shaped earthen wall with a stone nearby. While they were attempting this, the head of the border guard house, Hanny, and several other guards rushed to the scene, and the thugs were apprehended. Hanny''s timely arrival was because a familiar adult from the estate, upon seeing Althea walking without an escort, contacted the border guard and reported the situation. Upon receiving the report, Hanny, thinking that the child might be Lady Althea, hurriedly headed to the outskirts of the town. However, when they arrived, there was only the ragtag group pounding on the dome-shaped earthen wall. Hanny arrested the thugs for the time being and questioned them about the girl inside the dome. "It''s a child. The child made it. We just wanted to play with the kid, but she got scared and hid behind the earthen wall on her own. We didn''t do anything wrong." The headstrong Althea, who thought, "I don''t want to be caught!" unconsciously activated "magic." The magic she activated was "earth magic," and it created a sturdy dome of earth covering Althea. Even as Hanny listened to Althea''s half-crying voice, he glared at the thugs. What did they think they were doing, wanting to play? That energetic and friendly Lady Althea found them ''scary.'' I won''t forgive these guys. ¡ªBefore that, how do I rescue her? Maybe asking Lord Thomas is the best option...
Upon seeing the earthen wall dome, Thomas momentarily doubted his eyes. It was a very first-time magic, and moreover, an unbelievably sturdy earthen wall activated by a 5-year-old, making it seem like an advanced class magic. This kind of thing... Can it even be made by an intermediate class? And my daughter, still only 5 years old... Another worry crossed his mind, but first, he needed to rescue her. Placing his hands on the earthen wall, Thomas began chanting what seemed like half-a-minute long incantation. As soon as Thomas finished chanting, the once formidable earthen wall avoided Althea and returned to the original soil. Safely rescued, Althea, after being embraced by her father and brother, shed large tears and cried for a while before eventually falling asleep.
The next day, when Althea woke up... of course, everyone in the family... no, even the mansion''s servants scolded her. Initially shrinking at the scolding, Althea started to smile a little when she felt that the scolding was coming from everyone''s concern and affection. Consequently, she was scolded even more. When the scolding settled down, Thomas, her father, called her, saying, "We are heading to the capital urgently. Althea, come along." Althea wondered why her father suddenly decided to take her to the capital, but being just a 5-year-old girl, she suppressed her curiosity and felt the joy of reuniting with her cousins after a long time and the excitement of seeing the unfamiliar capital, her eyes sparkling. Contrary to Althea''s excited anticipation, her mother and brother, who knew that the worst might happen, and that she might not be able to see Althea for five years once they reached the capital, did not look cheerful. Thomas, noticing their expressions, whispered softly, "It''s alright. Althea will definitely come back. Don''t make such faces. ...Althea might get anxious." He said with a smile to both of them. "Yeah, it''s ''you,'' so it should be fine... dear, take care of our child." Clara smiled and replied, snuggling up to Thomas. Holding his hands tightly, Regalus listened silently to his father and mother''s words, then lifted his determined face, "...Mother, I also believe in Father and will wait for Althea''s return." After conveying this to his father, Regalus turned to Althea, hugged her with a reassuring smile, and said, "Althea, could you please tell Mythril and Lilac that I said hello in the capital?... I really wanted to go with you, but I have various classes overlapping, so taking leave suddenly is difficult. I''m sorry." He said with a slightly melancholic voice, unnoticed by Althea. "...Is that so? I thought big brother was going too... Father, is it because big brother can''t take a break until his day off?," "Ah, yeah, it''s impossible this time. It''s sudden, but we have to head to the capital immediately." "So, will it be just me and Father going without big brother?" "That''s right. ...Althea, you''re not worried being just the two of us?" "No, I''m not worried. I''m not worried, but... it''s just lonely that we can''t all go together." "I see, I see. Well, let''s make sure that we all go together next time we head to the capital." Thomas patted Althea''s head and said. Looking at Althea''s innocent smile, Clara and Regalus returned warm smiles while nodding. The next day, the carriage carrying Thomas and Althea left the Monclair residence. Clara, Regalus, and all the mansion''s servants prayed from the bottom of their hearts for Althea''s safe return, watching the carriage depart. Chapter 2 – Monte Del Salvador Family To the royal capital, it takes about 2-3 days by carriage from the western frontier. For Althea, who has never left the domain before, everything she saw seemed new. Although they took a relatively leisurely pace this time, it felt as if they had arrived in the royal capital in no time, even though it should have taken three days. In the royal capital, they would be staying at the home of her mother''s family, the Count Monte Del Salvador residence. The current Count Monte Del Salvador is Clara''s younger brother, Rohmund aka ''Aether''. Rohmund serves as the captain of the 2nd Class Royal Guards, and the Monte Del Salvador family, like the archducal Monclair family, has a military background. The difference lies in whether they protect the royal capital or the borders. That''s why the two families get along well, and it probably led to the marriage of Thomas and Clara. The Monte Del Salvador family has twin children, cousins to Regalus and Althea. The twins, named Mythril (boy) and Lilac (girl), are identical and three years older than Althea. Both have brown-blond curly hair and brown eyes. Mythril, being the heir to the military family, is raised strictly and is serious and dignified. Lilac is an affectionate and adorable young lady with a friendly smile. As the twins often visited the Monclair residence for summer vacation, they got along well with Regalus and Althea. Especially Lilac, who would say, "It would have been nice if Apphy were my sister..." every time they met, making her a fan of Althea with giggles. Excited about meeting her close cousins and staying in the Monte Del Salvador family''s residence for the first time, Althea entered the lobby with her father. "Hello, Rohmund. I apologize for the sudden visit. We''ll be in your care for a few days." "No need to apologize, brother-in-law. You seem to be in good health... Our house is at your disposal. Our children were delighted to hear that they would be able to meet their cousins after a long time. However, about this matter..." Saying that, Rohmund glanced at Althea. Althea, meeting Rohmund''s gaze, hurriedly said, "H-Hello, uncle. I''ll be in your care along with my father." And she elegantly bowed. "Haha. You don''t have to be so formal, Althea. You''ve grown quite a bit since the last time I saw you. Well, Mythril and Lilac are waiting for you in the back. Show those adorable faces of yours to my children as well. Meema, guide Althea to her room. After that, go to Mythril and Lilac''s place." "Understood... Young Lady Althea, please follow me." Meema, after a slight bow to Thomas and Rohmund, offered to guide Althea to her room, carrying her belongings. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Althea looked up at her father, and seeing Thomas smiling, she said, "Yes. Please take care of me." She then obediently followed Teema out of the lobby. In the lobby, Rohmund, confirming that Althea had disappeared from sight, slightly clouded his expression and spoke to Thomas. "Since we can''t talk in the lobby, let''s head to my study, brother-in-law... Please come this way." "Ah... Thank you." The two headed towards the study.
Guided to her room, Althea quickly went to the window and looked outside. The view from the window did not capture the lively atmosphere of the royal capital that she felt on the way. Instead, she saw a quiet and refined garden. However, if she left the mansion and walked a bit, she thought she would find the bustling city she had seen on the way to the Monte Del Salvador family. Her adventurous spirit couldn''t wait. Just as she was lost in her thoughts about the cityscape, Meema, who had guided her here, spoke up. "Allow me to reintroduce myself... I am Meema, and I will take care of your needs during your stay here, Young Lady Althea. Please feel free to let me know if there''s anything you require." Meema deeply bowed, and caught off guard by Meema''s sudden words, Althea said, "I... I''ll be in your care then." And she instinctively bowed in response. Meema, bowing slightly, coughed and said, "Young Lady Althea, there''s no need for such formality with a servant like me. A daughter of an archduke shall not lowered herself in such degree" And she gently admonished Althea. "Oh... right, sorry. I''ll be more careful..." Seeing Althea''s visibly crestfallen expression, Meema wondered if she had said too much and hurriedly added, "Um, it''s not that I scolded you... I apologize if I said too much. You''re only five years old, after all. Rather, it''s charming behavior. But please be careful from now on. You don''t need to be considerate to a servant..." She bowed again, looking a bit embarrassed. Observing Meema, Althea thought she must be a good person and responded with a radiant smile. "Yeah. ...Thanks, Meema." Seeing Althea''s unexpectedly bright smile, Meema became an undisputed Althea fan.
After finishing tidying up her belongings, Lilac burst into the room as soon as there was a knock, embracing Althea. "Apphy, it''s been so long! I''m glad you came! ...And as adorable as ever" While hugging and rubbing her cheek against Althea, Lilac said, "Sigh... Lilac, you keep saying ''I''m already a lady,'' and yet... Ladies don''t burst into rooms without knocking, you know? You seems lively as ever hehe." From behind her, with a wry smile, Mythril entered the room, raising a hand to Althea. Adding to the remarks, "Yes, indeed, Young Lady Lilac. It''s not a behavior befitting a lady." Meema, too, was advising them. "What... even Meema... It''s been so long since I was genuinely happy. Well, Meema will be taking care of Althea? How unfair..." "Yes, I may be presumptuous." "Fine... Anything but that. Anyway, let''s have tea together. The roses in the garden are beautiful right now. I''ll guide you. Meema, please prepare tea during that time." "Yes, understood." "Thank you. ...Now, Althea, let''s go outside together." With those words, Lilac took Althea''s hand and led her out of the room. Mythril silently followed them. Chapter 3 – The Two Fathers At that time, the two adults who entered the study were discussing future matters. "Brother-in-law, is it really true?... At first, when I received the letter, I couldn''t believe it. Althea is only five years old, and even last year, there was a commotion when his little highness activated magic at the age of six. To think that she activated it even earlier than our little prince did..." "Oh, it''s true... If possible, I wouldn''t believe it either. Having magical ability is one thing, but... too much power can be dangerous. Activating magic at such age is unheard of. We need to report it to the royal family, but we want to proceed with utmost secrecy." "...Secrecy, you say?" "Secrecy, indeed... She''s only five. If, for instance, this information were to leak, there''s a high risk that my daughter would be attacked or some bad elements would exploit her. But..." Thomas covered his face with both hands. "...Althea is quite tomboyish, despite her appearance." "That''s true. Even if you take your eyes off her for a moment... Just this time, it was because of that momentary distraction that she activated magic, and she still doesn''t fully grasp the seriousness of it." "Well, isn''t that understandable? She''s still a ''five-year-old girl.''" "I understand. But can we afford to say that in the current situation? That''s why I want to eliminate as many uncertainties as possible." "So, that''s why, in secret, right?" "Yes, in secret. If, by any chance, this information leaks, there''s a high risk of danger. And..." The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Thomas lowered his face into his hands. "...It might come with a cost?" "Yes... I protect the western borders of this country and believe I contribute to the king in doing so, but... somehow, it doesn''t feel enough. Being an archduke is merely a title, one generation ago Monclairs was a count family; my domains own a huge plot of lands and have a sizable number of soldiers in my reign, but my political influence in the court and economy is less than a marquiss''s. After all, my neighbors want a part of the huge pie," Thomas said while pouring wine into his cup. "Being a count was too low a title considering the contributions, talents, and geniuses of your ancestors. Anyway, what about taking command of the entire Royal Guard, perhaps?" "I wouldn''t put it that bluntly, but the king wants me to remain the status quo." "I understand. In that case, I''ll speak to the king to arrange some time for you. It might not be an immediate audience, given the secrecy involved." "I understand... Sorry, Rohmund." "No need to apologize. While I may have been bestowed the nickname ''Aether'' by the queen, hold the noble title of Count, and go by the name Rohmund Monte Del Salvador, for me, you''re still the senior I admire... in the past and now. If I can be of help, I''m happy." With that, Rohmund, also known as ''Aether'', sipped his tea and glanced outside. Just then, he noticed Mythril and Lilac taking Althea for a walk in the garden. "...So, Althea has truly awakened to magic. Even though she''s still such an innocent child." Thomas followed Rohmund''s gaze, smiled faintly, and observed the three children. "It''s a relief that Mythril and Lilac are fond of Althea. They really seem like siblings." "Brother-in-law, if Regalus were to hear that, he might get angry. At least say there are four siblings..." "Haha... that''s true. When it comes to Althea, they''re almost overly protective, don''t you think?" "I won''t deny that. Well... if you say that, our twin daughters at home are probably just as overly protected..." As they watched the cheerful children conversing, the two fathers, burdened with worries about potential future events, sighed. They contemplated how to ensure the safety and well-being of their children, pondering the possible dangers that lay ahead. Chapter 6 – Two-Colored Roses The carriage, transporting three passengers, glided through the main gate of the royal castle and halted at a junction near the grand hall lobby and a path leading to the back door for wealthy merchants and nobles. Thomas and Althea disembarked at this point. "Alright then, brother-in-law. I''ll head off." "Althea, be sure to heed your father''s words and be a good girl, okay?" With those words, Rohmund affectionately patted his niece''s head. "See you later," Thomas waved farewell to the carriage carrying Rohmund, then took Althea''s hand, and together, they commenced their stroll. "Father, where are we headed? Aren''t we going to the castle?" Althea inquired, her tone straightforward. "Hmm? Oh, of course, we''re going to the castle. However, we''re a bit ahead of schedule. Since we''re here, I thought we could take a leisurely walk through the castle''s garden on the way. ...Althea, you enjoy beautiful gardens, don''t you?" He asked mischievously, prompting Althea to respond with a smile that bloomed like a flower. "Yes! I love it!! I wonder what kind of flowers are blooming in the castle garden? I''m looking forward to it! ... Father, let''s go quickly!" The two strolled, marveling at the blooming flowers along the narrow path in the depths of the royal castle garden. This garden, usually concealed from the public and protected by barrier magic, was a ''Secret Garden'' accessible only with the king''s permission. Although the barrier magic remained in place today, Thomas and Althea could explore the garden thanks to a magical pass obtained through Rohmund. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. "Father, these roses have two colors on one rose. I''ve never seen anything like it before. They blend and it''s so beautiful... Hey, hey, my dress matches too. We''re matching, right?" "Haha, that''s right. These ''Two-Colored Roses'' are exclusive to the royal castle garden. Moreover, this section of roses is strictly off-limits, so unless you''re a member of the royal family, you wouldn''t normally see it." "...? So why can we see it today? Uh, maybe it was a place we weren''t supposed to go?" Watching his daughter''s puzzled expression with amusement, Thomas replied, "Today is a ''special day,'' so I got permission from His Majesty. So it''s okay." "I see... It''s a ''special day,'' huh..." As she admired the ''Two-Colored Roses'' that adorned her dress, Althea suddenly turned around. "...Hey, Father? Did you say something?" "Huh? No... I didn''t say anything. Did you hear something again?" "Well... I feel like I heard a kind and said ''let''s play''..." Althea sometimes perceived faint sounds. She first noticed it a while ago. Initially, Thomas was surprised and suspicious when Althea claimed she could ''hear something''. However, during Clara''s school days, a friend mentioned hearing voices from spirits, and since there was no ''malice,'' they observed without worry. For now, Thomas closed his eyes to grasp the situation. "...It doesn''t seem to be anything bad, so it should be fine." "If you say so, Father, then it should be okay. But if it''s not harmful, I want to play... What should I do?" Smiling at his daughter who was wondering what to do, Thomas checked the time. "...Althea, it''s about time. We can''t keep them waiting, so let''s go." Saying that, he urged her to leave the garden. "Is that so?... It''s a shame, but it can''t be helped. Goodbye, Roses and you Roses too. I hope we can meet again." As she departed, she gently kissed the ''Two-Colored Roses,'' then ran after her father. Unaware that someone observed her from a distance...