《A Moonlit Crown》 0.Prologue In a realm where shadows of power and betrayal loom large, a story unfolds that speaks to the heart of human resilience and the quest for freedom. Born into a world of privilege and oppression, individuals seek to break free from the chains that bind them, each yearning to write their own destinies. Amidst the intricate web of political intrigue and shifting alliances, acts of rebellion ignite a tale of struggle, hope, and the relentless pursuit of identity. The journey of seeking new beginnings in foreign lands mirrors the fight against predetermined fates, highlighting the universal desire for a better life.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. As the wheels of power turn and secrets unravel, a master manipulator weaves a treacherous game from behind the scenes. This quest for dominance and control over the realm underscores the complexity of power and the sacrifices made for those we love. Through intertwined paths of these individuals, the story delves into themes of perseverance, sacrifice, and the indomitable human spirit. It reveals that true strength lies not in wielding power, but in the unwavering resolve to create a brighter future for ourselves and those we hold dear. V.1 [start] 1.Beggining Mercinia was a small town in the East Kingdom. The Kingdom was very peaceful as King Lucas Abraham took the responsibility of taking care of his empire. The Kingdom was truly in harmony.The all four factions were in a well balanced position and the power was equally distributed. "Are you doing well,Sebastian?" A man asked "Yes,As long as the business going on well i am doing well." Sebastian answered. "Well thats true for everyone in the market,haha" the man laughed and brought some items. Like Sebastian and the man,Everyone was in peace under the king''s rule.They were preparing for a festive named Usma.Everyone was quite busy in marketing too. But the kingdom''s situation suddenly worsened because King Lucas Abraham became suddenly cruel and the complete opposite of his former self. He suddenly raised the taxes and farmers were about to go into ruins. If someone said anything,He executed them without any other second.His dictatorial rule and stubborn refusal to retire from kingship led to unrest. Because of this, the chain of military forces were totally torn apart, and crime rates increased rapidly. Riots, thefts, and pickpocketing became regular events in the streets.In the worst scenario,Military began to nose in affairs. The factions,that were supporting the king, saw this moment as a golden opportunity and all factions joined in a room.They started to make plan to uproot the fox from the throne and seize power with the excuse of his dictatorship. As the kingdom was getting heated up with the rumours that there is a conspiracy is being made behind the curtains, the kingdom feel into a deep mess. However,this couldn''t hamper a couple then living in the corner of the town. In the night hours,when Sebastian was doing his work,suddenly someone wrapped him from behind with beautiful hands. "What doing my husband?" a lady around 23-24 age asked. "Just doing calculations." Sebastian said. "Its been a whole week that we together went out."the lady said "Menah,its been a hectic week.You know that we are now in our selling season as the Usma Festive coming!" "So what? Just for 1 hour please please..."Menah said "Ok then" the man,Sebastian said and hugged his wife. Professionally,they were both merchants.They took their dinner.Sebastian made the bed while Menah washed the dishes.They were really a happy couple.And after a long day, they laid their bodies in bed. In the middle of the night,Sebastian, rolled to the side and opened his sleepy eyes. He couldn''t see his wife. Panicking, he searched for her madly. After a while, he found his wife sitting on a bench on the balcony of their house. He sat beside her and looked at her face. The scene he saw was heartbreaking for him; it was as if some poisonous arrows had pierced his heart and shattered it into many pieces. In the light of the moon, the tears that were about to drop from his wife''s eyes glittered like pearls, and he could see that her focus was on the stars shining in the clear sky. "Why can''t we have a star? What sin have I committed in my past life?" Menah, his wife, said. This time, Sebastian couldn''t hold back and took his wife into his chest. She cried loudly, covering her face in his chest. The couple had been married for four years, but due to certain problems, Menah''s lap was still lonely. Sebastian somehow managed to console his wife. "Have faith in God. He must have a plan for us," Sebastian said to his perfect half. This pain haunted them every night as they dreamt of a fulfilled, happy family. Next day they both went out.Sebastian brought her wife a gown that was chosen by his wife herself.The smile of his wife made his heart to skip a beat. *** Nearly 25 days later, the king was killed in the kingdom square by a shining sword. The person that was killed,was more like a demon than a king. People in the square were astonished by this incident. "Do you think you will get away after this? What are you waiting for kill him!!" The commander shouted. The imperial army was deployed to kill the sword. But people remembered what was they were going through.They reminded themselves that,this sword did that what was important for the kingdom and the people.Of course,It was the INDEPENDENCE from the king''s dictatorial rule.As the people saw that armies were swarming in to kill their saviour,they threw themselves before the army.The footsteps were halted.Commander realised that it was a moment of the birth of a new king and now he has a Revolutionary army of his own. "Commander,we have to retreat.The people has gone crazy!" One soldier shouted from the frontlines. The Commander then ordered the troops to retreat. After this chaos,The people showed their utmost respect and recognition to that warrior. They started shouting his faction''s name and his name.Who was the new King,was decided in that square that very instant moment.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Sebastian was returning home as usual after his work hours.That moment,he saw many people were running towards the square.He also went there.There was a Huge Crowd there and everyone was hailing the sword''s name. "What happened? Why is everyone so fired up? And who is that man? Why he is all red-blooded?" Sebastian asked to a man. "That warrior broke our shackles and like that moon,he lighted our path with his shiny sword.He killed the tyrant with that sword and his dogs.It''s a night of freedom and new air!!" The man answered to Sebastian. Sebastian understood everything then.He,then returned to home. A group of men gathered around some distance from the square.They were watching the warrior getting showered with all praise and recognition. "Tsk Tsk.Wherever we go,His name,His faction''s name.First it was his father.Now its him." A long bearded man said. "That doesn''t mean its over.We can do something but it has to be as soon as possible." An old man with an scar said "I agree.It has to be as soon as possible.To me,we have eliminate him before he ascends to the throne.Else we wont have chance against him.Specially all weapons are on his side." A man with a red ring on his finger said. "Don''t worry,Old men.Doing too much worry will hamper your health.Just leave it to me.He will also face the same as his father did." A man who had a sign of sword in his right arm said. "You never change,hahahaha" laughed the long bearded man. After that,the group left the square. A lightning struck and it started raining,delivering a message that the game they played together was meant to kill the fox.But it has now turned into a game to checkmate each other. *** Sebastian returned home and told everything to his wife. "Now,what will happen next? As the throne is vacant,wouldn''t there be another bloodbath?" Menah asked "I don''t think so.People already chose their king." Sebastian answered. "I hope this doesn''t mess with our peaceful little life."Menah said those words with an anxious expression. "Don''t worry,dear." Sebastian said and pulled his wife closer to him. And called it a day. But little did they know that Menah''s anxiety will come true.As Laws sharpness broke,that night crime rate peaked.There were many robberies and burglary happened.And the couple wasn''t an exception.A group of burglars trespassed into the merchant couple''s house and stole everything. It was a devastating blow. They lost everything that identified them as merchants. To them, it was like a full-grown healthy tree suddenly fell to the ground. The couple found themselves in a confusing situation. They decided to migrate to the West Kingdom as they thought this time their wealths were stolen but their life also doesn''t have a guarantee.Their decision was finalized as they sold their house, and on another moonlit night, they left the East Kingdom. **** The East and West Kingdoms shared a desert, used only for traveling between the kingdoms. Both kingdoms had forests near their border gates. The couple started their journey on horses. As the horses became tired in the forest, Sebastian found a well. He and Menah took their horses to the well to quench their thirst and give them rest. Suddenly, they heard footsteps. Looking forward cautiously, they saw a lady huffing. "Are you in trouble, M''lady?" Sebastian asked. The lady looked up and saw both Sebastian and Menah. Sebastian noticed she was heavily injured. "Who are you?" the lady asked. "I''m Sebastian, and this is my wife, Menah. We are going to the West Kingdom," Sebastian replied. The lady examined them and saw their belongings. She understood they were merchants with a significant amount of money. The lady seemed worried and confused about something. "Are you worried about something, ma''am?" Menah asked. The lady again examined both of them.As they said they were going to the West,she got curious about something. "Do you not have any children?" Lady asked After hearing this question,The couple''s expression darkened. "No," Menah said with that expression. Then the lady also saw the expression on Sebastian''s face by the corner of her sharpened eyes.She saw Sebastian was maintaining a posture that was simply hiding a pain that was eating his heart away.By judging the situation,The lady quickly knew what is the story of this two. "Oh! I''m so sorry!" the lady said. "No, no problem at all," Sebastian said hurriedly. The Lady smiled and called Menah beside her. "Here, take him," the lady said, bringing out a baby boy from her lap and giving him to Menah. "Take good care of him. Go to the West and please relay my apologies when he learns about me. When he learns the truth, tell him to conquer the Sun." While saying this,The lady dropped a few tears as she went through all memories she had with that baby and thinking that it was the last moment with her baby. The tears of the lady didn''t missed Menah''s gaze.She took the boy with much caution from the lady.The lady quickly wiped her tears as like she wanted to hide them. Sebastian asked, "What is his name?" "Owen Li-" The lady''s reply was cut short by the sound of multiple footsteps approaching. "We don''t have time, go!" she said, pushing them away and starting to run. The couple, with the baby, hid behind the bushes and saw imperial army officers running after her. They then got on their horses and started running toward the border. The immigration officer checked all their information and records and saw the baby boy. Somewhat confused, the couple said it was their son. The officer permitted them to enter the West Kingdom, and they boarded two camels to cross the desert. Soon, they entered the land of sand. "Did you see the boy?" one soldier said to another. "What?" replied the other. "I think I saw a sword sign on his left arm." "Nonsense. Do you know what you are saying? The Arm-Sword sign belongs to...." "I know, I know." "Then, what are you blabbering about? Also, today is the execution night." "Yeah, the operation Devil-Hunt," one soldier said, and they both laughed as the forest turned red. The couple traveled through the desert. Sebastian took out a map and marked a place to camp for the night. "My wife, we will tent here. Just hold on-" he said, looking at Menah. It was a stark contrast to the previous moonlit night on their balcony. She was laughing and playing with the boy, who looked at her with playful eyes. Sebastian didn''t want to disturb them. As they traveled, Sebastian thought about his wife''s face. He decided that as they were going to start anew, he would give the baby boy a new identity. A thorn pierced his heart, reminding him that it would be very difficult for the child when he learned the truth. But Sebastian steeled himself and moved forward. "My wife, let''s name him Owen Sebastian," he said. "But-" Menah was interrupted. "No buts. It''s a gift that God gave us. He granted our wish and fulfilled our dream of a happy family," Sebastian said. "Okay," Menah replied with a smile. The couple then reached the West Kingdom border. It took them three nights and two days to get there. After completing all formalities, they entered the West Kingdom to build themselves anew, to create a new identity. ~~ 2.Why? *Huff huff* The Lady ran through the forest, her breath coming in ragged gasps. As she fled, memories of her childhood struggles resurfaced. She had escaped her parents'' oppressive shadow at an early age because they were unbearably cruel. In the palace, she felt like a caged bird. Yes, she was a princess, and to forge her own destiny, she decided to carve her path independently. However, this decision came with numerous challenges. With her golden hair and piercing eyes, she attracted unwanted attention. Some sought her for their desires, while others saw her as a means to wealth. To escape this harsh reality, she ran and ran. After what seemed like an eternity, she reached the edge of a cliff. Towering trees surrounded her, their leaves creating a patchwork of shadows. Through the gaps, she glimpsed the couple crossing the border with her child. "Goodbye, my son. Please don''t hate me too much," the lady said. The full moon bathed her in its silvery light. Her teary eyes shimmered like pearls, and a gentle breeze tousled her hair. She quickly wiped away her tears and composed herself. The sound of approaching horse hooves spurred her into action once more. But she couldn''t get far. Her dress snagged on a tree branch, and she tumbled to the ground. Exhausted, her legs refused to support her any longer. She realized that even her legs had surrendered to her cruel fate. Lying on the forest floor, she awaited her end. "I promise you, as long as I am breathing in this world, I won''t allow anyone or anything to tarnish your face or your dignity," she remembered her beloved''s words when he professed his love. "But I am a fugitive. You are royalty. This world will never accept us. Please, try to underst-" she couldn''t finish her sentence as her beloved silenced her with a kiss. "So what if I am royalty? I will change the world if necessary," the man declared. The lady gazed into his eyes. In that moment, she felt as though he had drawn her into his kingdom and, with great care, placed a queen''s crown upon her head. Lying on the ground, the lady relived these cherished memories. They were her solace, easing her pain. She suddenly smiled as she beheld the full moon. *** "Captain, we have found some bloodstains on the ground," a soldier reported. "Follow them. She couldn''t have gone far," The Captain,Alex commanded. "Yes, sir." After saying this, the soldiers began to march like an army of robots, following the stains. *** "Ah, who do we have here, and what a beautiful smile you have. Now I understand why our lord fell for you so hard," said the man with a sword sign on his right arm. He had climbed the cliff before the army and found the lady lying on the ground. "Don''t you have any shame? After betraying us, do you still think you can call him your lord?" the lady asked. "What made you think that I was the one to betray our faction?" He smiled as if he had won. He approached the lady with bad intentions.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. The lady pulled herself together and slapped him on the face. Her eyes were full of disgust as she said, "There is only one person who knows about the upcoming events of our faction. Also, the enemies came from the abandoned escape path of the main house. It can only be discovered by deeply analyzing the house''s map with much knowledge. And there is only one person who can do it," the lady said. "So much wisdom and fiery attitude in your eyes," the man clapped his hands while saying this. "Why did you do it? We trusted you like our own family. But you stabbed us in the back. What do you want?" the lady asked. The man, who had been laughing until now, his eyes turned red, and he seemed ready to burst with emotion. "What do I want? It is the power that He had. Do you think all the power, wealth, and support he had was earned? This power, wealth, and support belonged to my family. It belonged to me. I deserved it all. But that old frog gave everything to him. What did I lack? I served that old frog with my life, but you say I don''t deserve a penny? Tell me, Alicia. TELL ME!!" the man screamed. "It was good leadership. He saw all his faction members as family. He was a good human being, unlike you, who is greedy for power. Do you even understand what you said? I feel no pity. Instead, I feel like laughing because you let go of all your self-esteem to gain power," Alicia said. "You''ve got some words. Do you know that your hours are numbered?" the man said. "I know that better than anyone else. And I have no regrets. As my beloved promised to care for me in the afterlife, I have no worries," Alicia said. "We''ll see about that," the man said shortly. *** Meanwhile, the armies climbed the cliff. "I have no more questions. Just get rid of her," the man said to Alex. "Before I leave, I want to say something," Alicia said. "What?" the man looked at her and asked. "Don''t you find it strange why the king suddenly changed? As he was ruling peacefully, what could be the reason behind it?" Alicia threw a question at him. "I don''t think I have to answer you. Hey! Don''t waste time," the man said with an irritated face. As the blade was placed on her neck, she again remembered the face of her baby and the promise. The blade swung, and it was the end for the lady. The leaves on the ground turned red with her blood in an instant. *** The man and the army descended the cliff. They had finished disposing of the lady''s body and were heading down. During the entire time, the man pondered Alicia''s last question. He had ignored it initially, but it was quite strange. He wondered what had caused the king to change so suddenly. As they rode their horses , they took the path to check the border''s conditions. When they reached the border, they heard soldiers laughing. "Oh, we are living the life here, aren''t we?" Alex said with a straight face. Upon confirming Alex''s presence, the soldiers stopped laughing and returned to their positions. "Why were you laughing? Anything funny happened?" Alex asked. "No, sir," the soldiers replied. "Any movement on the border?" Alex asked for a report. The soldiers reported all the activities of the past seven days. "Just a few hours ago, a couple crossed the border heading west," a soldier reported. "So?" Alex asked. "I-I think I noticed something unusual," a soldier said from the corner. "Come here and report," Alex ordered, with eyes of fire. "There was a child with them. I think the child had a sword sign and a lion in the background," the soldier said with a shaky voice. This sentence froze Alex and the man. The man ran to him and grabbed his hand. "Are you sure? Did you see the sign clearly?" the man asked. The soldier, petrified, nodded. "Then, let''s mobilize a team and eliminate them," Alex said. "No, don''t make hasty movements. It''s the desert. Mobilizing troops there will breach the peace treaty between the East and the West," the man said. "Then what do we do? The child of a tiger will also be a tiger. It will target us in the future," Alex said. "No, by then, we will be in power. We will be the powerful ones, and everyone will follow us," the man said. At that moment, an eagle arrived with a message. The man opened it and smiled. "What is it?" Alex asked. "The Table," the man said and threw the message away. "Do you want to join?" Alex asked. "Of course. They invited me. Please lead the way," the man requested. Alex took the lead, and they started towards "The Table." --- 3.MINE!!! After a long journey, Sebastian and his wife finally reached the square of the West Kingdom. It was truly a lively scene. As the sun hid beneath the horizon, the market glowed with a kaleidoscope of colorful lights. A fountain tirelessly danced, adding to the bustling ambiance. "We need to fill out our information there," Sebastian said. --- The West Kingdom was known for its strict laws. One of the rules mandated visitors to register their information and reason for visiting. Additionally, to fully benefit from the kingdom''s opportunities, one had to apply for citizenship¡ªa rule established by the former Western King, Lenar Von Arnold. --- To access all opportunities, one had to be a Westerner, with official documentation stating eligibility, sealed by the Imperial West Authority. It was said, "The West starts from the square fountain." "Sir, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that I, Sebastian, along with my wife, Menah, and my son, Owen Sebastian, seek nationality in the West Kingdom," Sebastian informed the officer at the information booth. "Please fill out these forms and sign here to complete your request," the officer said, handing over three forms. --- Sebastian took the forms and gave two to Menah to fill out her and their son''s information. After completing the forms, Sebastian submitted them. "It will take seven days to receive your citizenship papers. For now, use these temporary documents to prove your status as Westerners. Return them when you receive your official cards," the officer explained. Sebastian thanked the officer for his assistance, and they entered the West Kingdom. --- "Where will we go now?" Menah asked, her voice tinged with fatigue. The baby began to cry, hungry and tired. "I''ve contacted a friend. We have an arrangement, so we''ll head directly to his inn and rest," Sebastian reassured her. --- After a short walk, they reached the inn. Sebastian greeted his friend, as he was a former merchant,he had some connections in the West too. They entered their room and washed up. "Husband, please go to the market and buy a baby feeder. We have milk, and I''ll prepare it in the meantime," Menah said. Sebastian quickly went to the market, while Menah boiled milk for the baby. The little boy, exhausted from crying, finally fell asleep. Sebastian returned with the baby feeder, handing it to Menah. She washed it, filled it with milk, and began feeding the baby. Sebastian watched the scene, a dream they had long shared. He saw contentment on Menah''s face, and without disturbing them, he began unpacking. *** "Sir, may I ask you a question?" The captain, Alex, hesitantly asked the man with a sword sign on his right arm.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. "Don''t hesitate. You''re the captain. If they see you hesitating, they might misunderstand," the man replied. "Yes. I was pondering the question Lady Alicia asked. Why did he change so abruptly?" Alex inquired. "You served him, didn''t you? You should know better than I. Didn''t you notice any abnormalities in his behavior or frequent contacts?" the man asked. Alex remained silent, feeling as though his lips were sealed. It was clear he was clueless about the previous king''s movements. Though it wasn''t his duty as an army captain, one thing was evident: the king acted without anyone noticing. "I''m sure the reason was something beyond mere mistakes, something punishable by death. The man I served wouldn''t have caused such a scene otherwise," the man asserted. ¡ª- While talking with Alex, the man led the way to a burnt building. He excused Alex and walked inside. Though the exterior was charred, the interior resembled a palace, indicating its importance. It was the faction''s building he had betrayed. And the room where he stood was the throne room of the faction. He approached the throne, caressing it gently. There was a crown made of shining gold, with a lion baring its teeth.The throne was slightly damaged, evidence of a fight. "You didn''t deserve it. Blame your former lord who forced me to do this. I''ve always loved you. I would repeat this action throughout my lifetime if I had to," the man whispered, touching the damaged part of the throne. He then started walking towards the room where he was supposed to go. When he neared the room, he heard voices. It was clear his presence was unwelcome. "Oh! So the talk has already started without me, huh?" the man smirked and hid, eavesdropping on the conversation. *** "We should dispose of him too. He is a man of the faction and a black knight. He is dangerous!" the long-bearded man declared. "No, just interrogate him more. There are valuable treasures well hidden. Even he didn''t know the map," the man with a scar countered. "What if he deliberately withheld information? He was the closest to them. Isn''t it suspicious he doesn''t know the map?" a man with a church sign on his clothes asked. The man hiding in the shadows smirked. "Pope, you are smart. But alas! Those money-blinded swine don''t have the wisdom to suspect me," he muttered, laughing quietly. "No, the treasury was only known to the lordship and his black knights,so I don''t think it''s suspicious." the old bearded man said. The Pope remained suspicious. "But where is he? He shouldn''t take this long to return from the border cliffs," the scarred man questioned. "He might already be inside, enjoying himself. He is set to ascend as the new lord and fulfill his dream," the Pope speculated. "To be honest, we should get rid of him first," the long-bearded man suggested. Both the other man and the one hidden in the shadows were shocked. "What are you saying? He helped us wipe them out! You want to betray our own?" the Pope exclaimed. "Can you guarantee he won''t betray us too? He turned on those who cared for him. After seeing how the Strategist of the Strongest faction, known throughout the Eastern Kingdom, betrayed his lord, I can''t assure my safety," the long-bearded man argued. The hidden man laughed and decided to make his entrance. *** The man,The Betrayer,was the Master Strategist of the newly fallen faction. He had served the faction under the previous lord and was highly trusted. His influence in political matters was immense, thanks to the faction''s powerful position in the East Imperial Council. But when the previous lord passed leadership to his twenty-year-old son, the strategist felt shattered. He couldn''t bear it and waited for an opportunity to usurp the inexperienced lord. Whenever he appeared in public, some people bowed their heads, worshipping him as a God of knowledge. This satisfied him and eased his greed for power. His strategic prowess and wisdom made his advice invaluable in the imperial meetings, leading to significant developments in the kingdom. "What is he? If the sword wasn''t here, the kingdom would have turned to dust. Your God of knowledge wouldn''t save it," some people murmured. Even when standing with the boy, the crowd hailed the boy''s name, overshadowing the strategist. He felt like a monster stood before him, blocking his path. The king''s interruption during meetings for his presence and the knights'' deference to the boy fueled his frustration. "Who are you to deserve all this light and respect? It was all mine, MINE!!!" he would scream internally. Now, he had acted on his ambitions, ready to seize his moment. "Am I late, gentlemen?" the Master Strategist, Von Ashworld, with his sparkling eyes, entered the meeting room. "You are, Sir Ashworld!" the Pope said. "Then what are we waiting for? Let''s begin," Ashworld said. ¡ª- 4.Struggles & Rewards The next day, Sebastian came down from the inn and decided to explore the market. Eager to start a new business in the West, he needed to familiarize himself with the products that were in demand. He carried a small notebook where he meticulously noted down all the information. This habit had served him well in his earlier life as a merchant in the East. In an instant, he immersed himself in the bustling crowd. "What are you looking for? Don''t worry, I have everything you need," the shop-owner asked as Sebastian entered a random shop to inspect the wares. "No, no, I don''t need anything. I was just seeing what kind of goods you have. I noticed some crowd near your shop," Sebastian replied. "Let me guess. You want to start a new business, and you''re doing a little inspection of the current market flow. Am I right?" the shop owner said with a laugh. "Yes, you''re right, sir," Sebastian replied with a smile. He then left the shop after chatting with the owner for a while. He roamed the market for several hours, noting down everything he needed to start a business in his trusty notebook. It was thanks to his previous experience as a merchant and his honed skills. Sebastian also made some connections in the market, believing that building relationships would help improve his reputation and boost his merchandise. After buying a few items that Menah had requested, he began walking back to the inn. As he walked, he reflected on his new role as a father. He needed to tread carefully to ensure a comfortable life for his son. He also realized the weight of his new responsibilities, as he had to ensure the safety of his wife and baby boy. "I''m home!" Sebastian announced as he entered the room. "Welcome!" Menah called from inside. As he entered, he saw their son sleeping soundly. Menah was busy with chores in the kitchen. Menah came into the room and noticed Sebastian staring at the baby without blinking. "Isn''t he cute, my husband?" Menah asked. "Really cute," Sebastian replied. He thanked the heavens for answering their prayers and for the joy their son brought into their lives. "Do we deserve this happiness?" Sebastian pondered silently. "What are you thinking so hard about?" Menah asked curiously. The question caught Sebastian off guard. He quickly gathered himself and said, "Nothing, really." "How was your inspection today? Did you learn something?" Menah inquired. "Yes, I learned many things. The most important point is that there are many competitors in the market. No one bothers anyone, and everyone minds their own business. When I asked someone about something, some replied as friends while others viewed me as a competitor. If that''s the case, this will be very challenging," Sebastian said. "Oof, don''t worry too much. You did well in the East, so I know my beloved will not disappoint me," Menah reassured him. "Hmm," Sebastian replied, looking anxious. Menah saw his expression and understood that starting a business from scratch wouldn''t be easy for him. The West was entirely unknown to them, and they didn''t know the people well. They had said they would start over, but it was proving to be a difficult task, especially with their baby boy. Menah sat beside Sebastian, thinking of ways to support him. She knew the struggles but understood the importance of staying strong. "You worked hard today. I know we don''t have time to go slowly, but let''s not rush," Menah suggested.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. "No, that boy is sleeping soundly and is dependent on me. I have to do my best for him. We''ve always prayed for a complete family. Now that we have it, we must face the responsibilities that come with it," Sebastian said. "We have to, and I know that too. But if we rush, we won''t be able to do our best. Let''s relax a bit and think it over again," Menah advised. Sebastian rested his head on Menah''s shoulder, and she welcomed the gesture. He closed his eyes, trying to clear his mind. "It''s my first time in the West. How about we go to the countryside for sightseeing? It will be refreshing," Menah suggested. Sebastian pondered for a moment and then agreed. After dinner, they went to sleep and awaited the new sunrise. *** "I will come straight to the point. Who will now take the throne?" the long-bearded man asked. "Hahaha, Duke Goldsman," said the man with a scar. "Well, it''s in our blood to calculate the profit first, Sir Joshua," Goldsman replied. "Well, we had to confront this matter sooner or later. It''s not something we can avoid," Ashworld said. "But what will you tell the people about his sudden disappearance? They elected him as their next lord in the square that day," the Pope, Joseph, asked. "I have a plan for that. We shouldn''t worry too much," Ashworld said, laughing. His laugh reassured the others, as his plans had brought down the most powerful faction and hero of the land. "What about the division? Are we going to follow it or not?" Joseph asked. After hearing this, everyone looked at each other. Of course, everyone wanted everything for themselves. "We will stick to the plan. What was requested was noted down with their signatures. There is no way to ask for more or give less," Ashworld said seriously. "Where is it?" Joshua asked. "Bring it here," Ashworld ordered his men. Two soldiers entered, paid their respects, and handed the paper to Ashworld. "You know what to do," Ashworld said. The soldiers paid their respects again and left. A few seconds later, a faint sound was heard. "You told them to commit suicide, didn''t you, Sir Ashworld?" Goldsman asked. "There is no need to take any risks. They were just punching bags who would open their mouths for some sweets," Ashworld said mockingly. "You''re truly cruel, Sir Ashworld," Goldsman commented. "It''s also in your blood, Duke. Our faction is built with more blood and might than bricks. Don''t you agree, Sir Joshua?" Ashworld said. "Don''t remind me of that again, Sir Ashworld. You know why I joined forces better than anyone. If I had the chance, I would have struck him dead with my own hands," Joshua said with a hard face. "Enough chatter, everyone. Now it''s time to take our payment," Ashworld said. "Yes, yes, I am ready for an eternity," Goldsman said excitedly. *** After ''The Table'', Ashworld gave the men farewell and came to his room.There was a man waiting for him.He sat on the couch. "Huff, it''s tiring to deal with those swine," Ashworld said to his closest man. "Well, it''s just the beginning. There''s a lot more to come," the man wearing a black hat replied. The man''s attire was completely dark, hiding something perfectly in the shadows of his clothes. Ashworld sighed. He had said those words, but they vanished like vapor as he thought about placing the crown on his head. His wish was about to come true. "Don''t you want to explore the treasuries? Even if you were the most trusted person, you weren''t allowed to step there. Quite fascinating, isn''t it?" the man in dark clothes asked. "Hmm, I think about that too," Ashworld said. "But do you have any ways to find the route?" the man inquired. "Don''t worry about that. Someone, bring him here," Ashworld ordered. "Who is he?" the man asked. "A loyal Black Knight of ''his.'' I want to kill him by torturing every part of his body," Ashworld said, looking forward to it. But the man in dark clothes didn''t pay much attention to Ashworld''s words. In fact, he didn''t care about Ashworld''s wishes. What he needed was in the treasury of the Faction. "Sir, we have an emergency," a soldier hurriedly reported. "What happened?" Ashworld asked. "We were going to bring him to you. But when we reached the cell where we had him captive, it was broken, and all the guards were killed," the soldier reported. "WHAT???" the man screamed as if he was going to destroy the whole world at that moment. The soldier who reported the situation was petrified and trembling with fear. The man saw this and calmed himself. "What are you going to do now? If an ant gets mixed in the crowd and reveals the truth, all our plans will be in vain," the man asked Ashworld. "Why are you staring at me? Go deploy the search team. Get his face drawn and announce a bounty among the soldiers. Move it," Ashworld ordered. "Yes, Sir," the soldier replied, terrified, and quickly left. "I''m going to sleep," Ashworld said. "How can you sleep in this state?" the man asked. "I can''t do anything here. Just pray that the cats successfully catch the mouse," Ashworld replied calmly. "LISTEN HERE, ASHWORLD. IF ANY WORD LEAKS OUT, I WILL BRING EVERYONE DOWN WITH ME!!" the man threatened Ashworld. Ashworld heard the threat but paid no attention. He went to his room and lay on the bed. In the darkened room, the man stood alone. His face was a clear picture of rage, full of annoyance. "Why? Up until now, I did everything flawlessly and brought down the elephant. But now you''re saying I''m in a mess. No! I can''t let that happen. Otherwise, our plans to awaken the ''Demon'' will go to waste. They won''t spare my life if I mess up now. I have to move too," the man mumbled to himself, clenching his fists as if they were about to burst. --- 5.Hidden Ones "Good morning," Menah said to her son, who had just blinked his eyes open. His eyes were like blue pebbles, and if one stared into them for too long, they would find themselves in a deep blue realm where only peace resided. They sparkled in the light of the new sun. As she played with her son, Menah noticed the space beside her beloved was empty. She heard some rustling in the kitchen. Menah got up from the bed and peeked into the kitchen. She saw Sebastian boiling water to make tea. "Too cute," Menah said. She then went inside the kitchen and embraced Sebastian from behind. "You surprised me!" Sebastian said, looking genuinely startled. "Well, I did this because you get surprised by it," Menah replied playfully. "Then, my queen, if you are done, can you please leave me so that I can make the tea?" Sebastian said with a smile. After hearing this, Menah released him. "Yeah, making tea is important now," she said with a pout. Sebastian laughed quietly at her expression. He took Menah closer and was about to kiss her when Owen began to cry. "Coming," Menah said hurriedly, freeing herself from Sebastian and rushing to her son. "Now, look at her," Sebastian chuckled. After some time, they sat down to eat their breakfast. "I have heard of several places for sightseeing, but we need to carry our citizenship papers first," Sebastian said while eating. "So, we can''t go today, right?" Menah said, her face falling. "I will go today to the office and check if our applications got approved," Sebastian said. After finishing breakfast, Sebastian left the inn and began walking to the square. "Attention to all people of the West!" An official stood before the crowd and called out. With just that sentence, he captured everyone''s attention. People began to gather around him instantly. "Three days from now, there will be a collection contest in the kingdom. As usual, whoever presents the most beautiful and precious item will win and be awarded by the Lord of the West himself," the official announced. "It''s here again," a man said. "This time, it''s going to be me," another woman said. This announcement did not fail to reach Sebastian''s ears. While everyone was excited about the contest, Sebastian was surprised and seemed to anticipate it. "How did the lady know about this contest beforehand?" Sebastian wondered. *** When the child was taken from Alicia and she asked the boy''s name, they heard multiple footsteps and were forced to hide. As they were about to depart, "Wait, Sebastian," Alicia said. "Yes, ma''am?" Sebastian asked. "Isn''t it Usher Festival in the East?" Alicia inquired.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. "Yes, ma''am, it is," Sebastian said casually. Sebastian saw Alicia calculating something in her mind. Then, she took off her pendant and gave it to Sebastian. "Wha-" Sebastian was interrupted. "Listen to me carefully. In the West, there is going to be a contest of items soon. When it happens, register in it and present this pendant as your item," Alicia instructed. "How do yo-" Sebastian again couldn''t complete his sentence. "We don''t have time, go, go!" Alicia said hurriedly. Then, Sebastian set off, and Alicia started running towards the cliff. "Who was she? What is the true identity of this boy?" Sebastian wondered to himself. "Registration has been opened in the square office. Register now, people of the West. Showcase your items," the official shouted. Sebastian felt lucky and proceeded to the square office. "Hello, sir, how can I help you?" a lady official asked. "Ma''am, I wanted to know about my citizenship request," Sebastian said. The lady''s expression turned slightly irritated. "Sir, please inquire about that tomorrow, as the related officer is busy today," she said. After hearing this, Sebastian was about to leave the office. "You! Wait here," a middle-aged lady called out to Sebastian. Sebastian quickly glanced at her. She had a rather ordinary appearance. She went inside the office and directly entered the administrator''s room. After a while, the lady official was summoned. She entered with a happy face but came out looking darkened. Then, the middle-aged lady approached Sebastian. "Now, go again and inquire," she said and walked away. Sebastian re-entered and saw a man now sitting there, looking petrified. "Sir, are you alright?" Sebastian asked. "Yes, yes. Please tell me, how can I help you?" the officer replied hurriedly. "Did our applications for citizenship of the West get approved?" Sebastian asked. "Wait a minute, sir. Can you please give me the papers you submitted with your application?" the officer asked. "Here they are, sir," Sebastian said, handing over three papers. After taking the forms from Sebastian, the officer searched through the drawer. He eventually found three papers bearing the seal of the West Imperial Authority. "Here they are, sir. Now you are a proud citizen of the West. Best wishes to you and your family," the officer said, handing over the papers to Sebastian. "Thank you!" Sebastian said and left the office. As he was leaving, he saw the middle-aged lady standing outside. "Thank you, ma''am," Sebastian said to her and walked away. The lady didn''t respond. Instead, she seemed surprised that someone in the West didn''t recognize her. "Interesting. Why was he here?" the lady inquired. "He and his family got citizenship of the West. He was here to collect the papers," the officer replied. "Do you have the applications?" the lady asked. "Sorry, ma''am," the officer apologized. "Hmm, do your work with more responsibility. Don''t be like her, or your fate won''t be much different. Do your work well, and the people will be happy. When the people are happy, the king is happy. And when the king is happy, you are happy. So do your work well to make yourselves happy and comfortable," the lady advised. "I-I-I understand, ma''am," the officer said with fear. The lady then left the office. "Inquire who they are and their motives. I want their reasoning for coming to the West," the lady ordered. "Yes, Your Majesty," the men around her said. After receiving the papers, Sebastian went to the registration booth to register for the contest. "I want to participate in the contest," Sebastian said. "Can I see your citizenship papers, sir?" the man asked. Sebastian showed the citizenship papers. The man took them and wrote their names in the registration book. "Please keep these cards with you, sir. Tomorrow you need to submit your item, and the day after that, the results will be announced. Please bring these cards to enter the ceremony; otherwise, you won''t be allowed," the man said. "Thank you!" Sebastian replied and left. *** It was dark in the night. While every animal slept peacefully, a man''s breathing could be heard from miles away. He stood before a large stone and intoned, "We are knights of him, and our lives are only for the lion who rules the world with the might of the sword." The stone opened like a treasury gate. He entered the cave, and the stone returned to its original position. "You''re here, Sir Redsworth," a man standing at a round table said. "Yes, Sir Owl," Redsworth responded. "Did you find him?" Owl inquired. More than ten men in the cave eagerly awaited his answer. "It was Ashworld, Sir Owl," Redsworth answered. "I KNEW IT. Ever since I took the oath as his knight, I didn''t have much respect for him. I even saw bloodlust for our lord too. But it was only our master who didn''t feel it," another man standing beside Owl said. "Calm down, Sir Jin," Owl said. "How could I? That man killed our lord and our whole faction," Jin retorted. "No, I think he was manipulated. His greed for power is too eye-catching. Maybe there is someone who took advantage of it," Owl suggested. "Wise words, as expected from our captain," Jin said. "But, what is our next assignment?" Redsworth asked. "I said these words now, but I deployed someone earlier. She is keeping an eye on Ashworld," Owl said. "Florence, the fanatic sword?" Redsworth asked. "She was alive? Why didn''t you tell us? Now I feel a bit more confident," Jin said. "She has the most difficult task. Even she took it upon herself. She was the most hurt when our lord died," Owl explained. The expression of the others darkened. "Well, she thinks it was her fault that the lord died. In fact, he last talked to her when he died," Jin said. "Well, Redsworth, go to the West," Owl ordered. "But?" Jin began. "Go by the road of Freedom City as a merchant," Owl instructed. "Don''t take it as disrespect, sir, but may I ask the reason?" Redsworth inquired. "Before Florence went on her mission, she shared an interesting fact. Our Young Lord is in the West," Owl revealed. This statement shocked everyone. "My God! Young Lord Owen is alive?" Jin exclaimed. "Yes, he went to the West with a couple. Lady Alicia gave him to them and sacrificed herself to buy time for his escape," Owl said. "So do I need to keep an eye on him?" Redsworth asked. "Not only keep an eye, but also train him like his father''s sword. Don''t forget he is the future lord of our faction. If we live through this mess and he conquers his father''s seat, we will serve him," Owl said. "Understood, sir," Redsworth replied. "I hereby declare, The Third Sword of the LionHeart, Sir Redsworth, will immediately leave for the West. His task will be leading his young lordship in the right direction and awakening him into a true Lionheart," Owl announced. This was a ritual of the faction. Whenever a black knight received a personal mission, it was also announced to all the black knights. "As I said, Sir Redsworth, please leave immediately. Also, beware of the Imperials. You should know well that Lady Alicia was the daughter of the current king of the West, which makes our young lord an heir of the West," Owl said. "Yes, sir, I will remember it," Redsworth said. By that time, Jin had brought a merchant disguise. "Thank you, Sir Jin," Redsworth said. "Complete your task. Remember, it will decide our faction''s fate," Jin said. "Understood, sir," Redsworth replied. After a while, Redsworth, now in disguise, set off on the path to the West Kingdom to train the child into a mighty sword. ~~