Chapter 266 2
Chapter 266 2
At the same time as Ziel and Clara's departure for Moissan city, three people wearing black robes that covered their entire bodies walked in Harkin city, the capital of the Rubelia Kingdom.
The three people were Azalia, Fornius, and Aghares. After Azalia left Arcuz Grand Academy, she went to meet Fornius and Aghares. She intended to inform them that she had obtained the world altar fragment. They had to immediately leave the territory of the Beast Kingdom because they had nothing to do there anymore.
Azalia decided not to rush to the Rubelia Kingdom after leaving the academy. It was because she felt she had to be more careful after the incident in the Beast Kingdom.
According to Ziel, the guardians of the continent only eliminated dangerous people from outside this world. The divine race was one of the extermination targets of the continent's guardians. Therefore, Azalia had to be more careful in her actions.
The Clorius continent had four guardians. Two of them are dead, and the other two are unknown. Azalia didn't want to accidentally run into the remaining continent guards if she acted rashly, which would be their misfortune. Therefore, she hid for a while and came to the Rubelia Kingdom one month after leaving the academy.
"Miss, when are we going to take action?" Aghares whispered next to Azalia. Although he couldn't wait to get his hands on the world altar fragment in the Rubelia Kingdom, he knew he couldn't act rashly at a time like this. Aghares had learned a lesson from the incident in the Beast Kingdom.
On the other side of Azalia, Fornius just silently followed them. He was still in a state of mourning to this day since Oillet's death. He blamed himself for being helpless. Fornius could only see Oillet's body being taken over by the Sacred Demonel and dying at Ziel's hands. Even though he wanted revenge, he didn't have the strength to do so and didn't know who to take his revenge on. Was it Ziel who killed her? Or the guardian of the continent who had possessed her?
Fornius sank into his depression. For the past month since he left the Beast Kingdom, Fornius could only sit still while thinking about what he would do in the future. Even when Azalia or Aghares spoke to him, Fornius would only give a short answer, making both of them sigh and shake their heads.
"I heard the Five Kingdoms Conference will take place in a few more days in the Aurelia Kingdom. King Gustave and several nobles from the Rubelia Kingdom must have attended the event. After they depart, then it is time for us to act." Azalia had been planning that for the past few days.
Azalia didn't want to forcibly break through the Rubelia Kingdom and make a fuss because doing so might provoke the appearance of the remaining two continent guardians. If that happened, then not only would he not get the fragment, but Azalia and the others would also fall into a dangerous situation.
Apart from that, Azalia had other reasons to delay her actions. She heard the news that the Piqmentia Grand Academy was on holiday for ten days. Prince Albert, Princess Reina, and the heroes were asked to return to the Rubelia Kingdom. Azalia didn't want her to clash with Kyouka because their relationship in the Beast Kingdom was pretty good. She didn't want to hurt Kyouka.
If Azalia did it, maybe Ziel and the other girls would be disappointed with her. Azalia didn't want that to happen. But she got other news that the heroes would be participating in the Five Kingdoms Conference in the Aurelia Kingdom. Azalia thought it was her luck, and at that moment, it was her chance to act.
"I understand, Miss Azalia." Aghares couldn't do anything if Azalia had already decided. He would only act after Azalia gave him orders.
Along the way, Azalia was more pensive. Sometimes she caresses her lips with her fingertips. Even though her body is there, her soul doesn't seem to be with her right now.
(What is Ken doing right now?)
Azalia muttered in her mind. Only one month had she been separated from Ziel, and she felt a longing surge from the bottom of her heart. Almost every day, Azalia dreamed about her farewell moment with Ziel in the academy principal's office.
Since then, Azalia hasn't stopped thinking about Ziel in whatever activities she does. The thing he feared the most had come true. Ziel had become an essential part of her life. Azalia felt that Ziel's position in her heart was above the fate of her race. The feeling made her shudder because it gave her both happiness and fear.
***
After Ziel sent her to the Elven Kingdom one day before the academy holidays started, Kalya was lying on the bed in the room she lived in when she was a princess. Since returning to the Elven Kingdom, she felt bored from not doing anything.
At first, Kalya intended to introduce Ziel to her younger brother, Zenoa. Unfortunately, her brother was not at the royal castle because he was checking something in the forest near the border with the Alba Mountain Range.
Then Kalya wanted to meet Dryad, but she remembered that Ziel had tried to meet her before, but Dryad didn't want to show up. Therefore she decided to meet her tomorrow.
"Haa… what is Ziel doing right now?" Kalya sighed while fiddling with the ring on her finger. It's not been a day since they've been apart, but Kalya already misses him very much.
Kalya wanted to hear Ziel's voice. Unfortunately, the communication brooch couldn't reach the Piqmentia Grand Academy. When Kalya was lost in her longing, a knock on the door brought her back to her senses.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Princess, may I come in?" A girl's soft voice was heard from outside Kalya's room.
"Come in!" Kalya quickly answered and got up from her bed.
When the door opened, a beautiful silver-haired elf girl entered. Her appearance was only slightly inferior when compared to Queen Jasmine. That girl is Laurel, Kalya's childhood friend.
"Did I disturb your rest time, Princess?" Laurel asked and walked over to Kalya. She was surprised because Kalya's appearance and temperament differed from the last time they met. Kalya became much more enchanting.
"Didn't I tell you that you don't need to use honorifics when talking to me? I am no longer the Princess of the Elven Kingdom." Kalya complained in a weak voice.
"I understand, Cattleya." Laurel replied happily and sat on the seat next to Kalya's bed.
"So, is there something you want to talk to me about?" Kalya asked and crossed her slender and beautiful legs. She was currently wearing only shorts and a thin sleeveless t-shirt, and that pose showed off her white and smooth thighs.
"I just wanted to have a chat with you. But when I was on my way to your room, Queen Jasmine asked me to tell you that Prince Zenoa had returned and was in the dining room with her and Princess Seira. They asked you to come over there immediately and have dinner together." Laurel explained her intention to come to Kalya's room.
"Zenoa is back? But he was late because Ziel had already returned to the academy. I'm not in the mood to eat right now either." Kalya pouted and lay back down on her bed.
"What are you thinking? You haven't been in a good mood since you came back. Shouldn't you be happy to see me again and reminisce in the Elven Kingdom?" After entering the room, Laurel realized that Kalya's mood was not good. Her face kept frowning, and she looked displeased at returning to the Elven Kingdom.
"I am bored here. I miss Ziel. After finishing my business, I intend to leave immediately. But I already told him to pick me up after three days." Kalya pouted and hugged her bolster pillow tightly.
"Didn't you just arrive? You parted with him for a while, and you already miss him? You guys are like a newlywed couple." Laurel chuckled at her friend's behavior.
"I can't do anything about it. Originally, I intended to finish my business here and reminisce a little about my past life. But it didn't make me happy. I have lost my bond and interest in the Elven Kingdom." Kalya shrugged her shoulders. Her mind and heart were only filled with Ziel.
"Do you love him that much?" Laurel smiled wryly. Her face looks jealous after hearing Kalya's words.
"Do you still need my answer after hearing my lament earlier?" Kalya turned to Laurel and smiled sweetly. Laurel was blown away after seeing Kalya's expression.
"No need." Laurel shook her head and sighed. He felt that Ziel and Kalya were lucky to get each of them.
They chatted for a while and stopped after the maid came to Kalya's room on the orders of Queen Jasmine. Kalya reluctantly went to the dining room and Laurel to another place because she still had some business.
When Kalya arrived at the dining room, Queen Jasmine, Zenoa, and Princess Seira were already waiting for her at the dining table.
"Sister! I heard you're back! Previously I wanted to go to your room to meet you, but Sister Jasmine forbade me and asked Laurel to call you. Since Laurel didn't come back, we asked the maid to go to your room." Zenoa smiled broadly after seeing Kalya.
"Yes, I just arrived. But after I came, I heard you went to the forest near the border with the Alba Mountain Range. Has something happened there?" Kalya asked worriedly. Even though she no longer felt ties to the Elven Kingdom, she still had friends there. Kalya doesn't want them to be in danger.
"Ah, it's just a small matter. An elf heard the roar of a magical beast there and reported it to the royal castle. Coincidentally, I was there at the time. Therefore, I decided to check it out with some elf knights." Zenoa explained the reason he went to the border forest. He paused for a moment and then continued.
"But when I got to that place, it turned out that the roar came from a horde of low-level magical beasts. So we quickly exterminated them and returned to the castle." Zenoa shrugged his shoulders like it was no big deal to him.
"Is that so? Then why did you get a month's long vacation? Does that mean the entire Arcuz Grand Academy is closed?" Kalya was curious about the situation of the demi-human academy after Raphael and Kalya suddenly disappeared.
"The academy continues to operate as usual. It's just that since the sudden disappearance of the principal, Mr. Jourelio was chosen to be the interim principal, and I had to teach two classes at once before getting a replacement. A few days ago, a new teacher arrived, and I was given a month off. Besides…" Zenoa explained excitedly. But he hesitated to continue at the end of his sentence.
"Besides?" Kalya narrowed her eyes as she felt the following explanation related to her.
"Sister, I know you are close to Azalia. But she was now wanted by the entire Beast Kingdom because she was allegedly related to the disappearance of Mr. Raphael. The reason was that Azalia was the last person the principal met before his disappearance, and King Regulus knew it. So I ask you to stay away from her for now because I am afraid you will get involved in this matter." Zenoa warned with a serious face.
"I understand. After all, they won't be able to do anything once they find her." Kalya sighed and shook her head.
"What do you mean, sister?" Zenoa is confused by Kalya's words. Queen Jasmine and Princess Seira also felt the same way and looked to Kalya, waiting for her answer.
Kalya just smiled and didn't answer. Zenoa and Queen Jasmine could only look at each other and didn't ask any further. Then they started having dinner together after a long time apart.
p
Two days had passed since the Piqmentia Grand Academy gave the students a long holiday. Ziel and Clara had arrived at Duke Castilene's residence yesterday. The journey from the Academy to Moissan city took an entire day. Unfortunately, Lilith couldn't return with them because she had some business with Princess Iris and went to the Neigal Royal Castle with her.
In the morning, after breakfast, Clara enjoys a cup of tea and snacks served by Ziel. Even though they could act like friends in the academy, Ziel had to carry out his duties as a butler in the Duke of Castilene's residence.
"It's only been two days, and I already miss Iris and the others." Clara sighed, looking sullen because she wasn't in a good mood.
"You have to be patient, my lady. However, they went home because they had to fulfill their duty as royal princesses. You just have to endure your boredom for a week or so, and you'll be able to see them again. Shouldn't you be happy that you get to spend quality time with your parents?" Ziel tried to comfort Clara.
"You're right..." Clara smiled and was about to say something but her words were interrupted by the engine's roar echoing in the sky.
Ziel and Clara turned their eyes to the sky and saw a magic carriage approaching Duke Castilene's residence. Ziel narrowed his eyes at the magic train because such a transportation artifact could only be owned by the royal family.