CHAPTER 56: MEETING BETWEEN TWO KINGDOMS

Two days later, Ard, along with Eva and the others, returned to the village. They said goodbye to Reese, who was about to leave for their next destination.

"Alright, you all will be safe in this village. I’m heading to the next one," Reese said, offering her hand to Ard and smiling.

"Thank everyone, Reese, for helping us," Ard replied, shaking Reese’s hand.

"I have to go now. We will definitely meet again. I can’t wait to see the kingdoms the two of you will rule one day, and if you ever need help, send me a letter. I’ll come and assist you," Reese replied, smiling.

"Understood, thank you for your support. But as for the kingdoms, we haven’t thought that far ahead," Ard said.

"That’s right. For now, we’re going to head to a safe place first and plan our next steps," Eva added.

"Haha... alright, I’ll be going now. See you again," Reese said.

Then Reese turned to look at Claudia and walked over to her, immediately hugging Claudia, who hugged her back. After releasing the hug,

"I’m leaving now, little sister. Be careful on your journey and look after them," Reese said, glancing at Ard and Eva.

"Okay, sis. See you again," Claudia replied, nodding.

"See you all, I’m off," Reese said to Mirea, Alicia, Milia, Beatrice, Rosalind, Patricia, Geoffrey, Ainsley, and Irwin.

"Safe travels," everyone said together.

Reese turned around, walked to her merchant carriage, and climbed aboard. The carriage procession immediately started moving, and Reese turned back to wave at Ard, Eva, and the others. They all waved back at Reese and watched the carriage procession until it passed out of the village gate. After that, Ard thought for a moment and muttered,

"Hmm... a kingdom, huh? That’s not a bad idea," he murmured.

"Don’t tell me you’re thinking of starting a new kingdom," Eva replied.

"Haha... just thinking. Reese seems to have high hopes for us. Oh, by the way... how do you know Reese?" Ard asked, turning to look at Eva.

"She was my informant and a spy for me in the Ateras Kingdom in the nine previous lives. Of course I know her," Eva answered.

"Huh... in that case, you should have known I once lived with her and was a merchant, right?" Ard asked, shocked.

"Um... no. I found out later when one of Reese’s merchant carriages was caught in my war against the Barbarian tribes," Eva replied.

"Ah... that’s right, and you accidentally killed me," Ard replied.

"Something like that, but that was your own fault... who told you to cheat on me?" Eva said.

"What? Cheat? I don’t feel like I had a lover in my second life," Ard asked.

"Wasn’t that Rosalind who was with you at the time?" Eva asked.

"Huh... Rosalind? Are you serious? Of course not... wait a minute, what’s Rosalind’s name?" Ard asked.

"Rosalind Zoya Flaurend. Remember Linzi?" Eva replied in a whisper.

"You remember, right? From the moment they first entered our class at the academy, I knew they all had connections to us in the past, including Geoffrey and Ainsley," Eva said.

"Linzi, huh... I remember... so Linzi is Rosalind? Why does her face look different?" Ard replied, glancing at Rosalind.

"Yes. In her second life, she ran away from her kingdom because she didn’t want to get married and changed her name," Eva replied.

"Then Geoffrey? Ainsley?" Ard asked, confused.

"Just try to remember," Eva answered.

Ard immediately turned to look at Geoffrey and Ainsley. He observed their faces. When he saw Ainsley talking to Mirea, a scene from his seventh life, where he was in the capital, he remembered his friend who worked in the restaurant with him and was executed with him. Then, when he observed Geoffrey, he recalled that in his eighth life, when he lived in a coastal village, the leader of the rebellion against the Empire, whom Eva had crushed, was Geoffrey, who had changed his name. Ard immediately covered his face.

"Hahahaha... so that’s it. Destiny is hard to fight," Ard said, laughing.

"Hey, why are you laughing? Do you remember?" Eva asked.

"Yeah, I remember everything now. They definitely all have connections to us across our nine past lives," Ard answered.

"Yep. Even though in those past lives we all had diverse relationships—ranging from friends, lovers, and enemies—now we are all comrades-in-arms," Eva said, smiling.

"You’re right. Let’s head back to the mansion," Ard replied.

"Let’s go," Eva replied.

The two returned and joined their friends, who were standing slightly behind them. After that, they all walked together toward the mansion, which was far behind the village, accompanied by greetings from the villagers. Ard turned to look at Rosalind, who seemed to be arguing with Beatrice beside her.

"Linzi, huh... why didn’t I realize? She was my wife in my second life. Sorry I just remembered now," Ard murmured to himself, trying to suppress the feelings that arose when he looked at Rosalind.

Meanwhile, in the King’s study in the Fredonia Royal Palace, two envoys cloaked in white, wearing hoods, and carrying staffs with tips that looked like a crescent moon with a sun in the middle, stood before the desk where King Arthur was seated and Alexis stood beside his father.

"We have relayed the Emperor’s command to Your Majesty," one of the envoys said.

"Very well. I emphasize once again, the Fredonia Kingdom will not get involved in the war between the Orthus Empire and the Ateras Kingdom. Please convey this message of mine to Emperor Ellard III," Arthur replied firmly.

"We apologize, Your Majesty, we were not asking you. The Emperor gives a command, he does not ask if you wish to join or not," the envoy replied.

"My answer remains the same. The Fredonia Kingdom will not be involved. Please convey that to the Emperor," Arthur stated.

"Understood. That means the Fredonia Kingdom is defying the Emperor, and the judgment of the Goddess Ophelia will fall upon the Fredonia Kingdom. We will convey this to the Emperor. Excuse us," the envoy replied.

"Whoosh," the two envoys suddenly vanished right in front of Arthur and Alexis, who stood silently.

Arthur leaned back in his chair. He rubbed his face, which looked very tired, then he took off his crown and placed it on the desk.

"Alexis, prepare our forces. They will surely stir up rebellion in our kingdom. Restrict the access of nobles who adhere to the Goddess Ophelia’s teachings," Arthur instructed.

"Yes, Papa. I already did that when I received the report from Abel," Alexis replied.

"Good... and is there any news from Arden?" Arthur asked.

"In Abel’s last letter, he told Arden to leave with Princess Eva. He said he sent some Crow soldiers to follow them and is still waiting for their report. Abel himself is currently on his way back to the kingdom," Alexis answered.

"Haaah... that boy really gives me trouble. Thank goodness he has left the academy city," Arthur said.

"Yes, Papa. We should just trust Arden. He can be reckless and willful, but I think he can be relied upon," Alexis replied.

"You always defend him. Please don’t keep spoiling him. It’s not good for his future," Arthur countered.

"You spoil him yourself, Papa. We’re the same," Alexis replied.

"Well, I hope he and Princess Eva can bring change to this world. We can only pray here and prepare to welcome them when they return," Arthur replied with a bitter smile gracing his face.

"That’s right, Papa. I agree with you," Alexis replied, holding Arthur’s shoulder and massaging it with a smile.

"Knock... knock," suddenly the door was knocked. "Enter," Arthur shouted, granting permission to enter. The door opened, and a soldier escorted a middle-aged man who was dressed like a noble and wearing a crown into the room along with his two aides. Seeing the man, Arthur immediately stood up, and Alexis bowed in respect.

"Welcome, Your Majesty King Brutus Zakaria Rellios," Arthur greeted.

"Greetings, Your Majesty King Arthur Dranar Fredonia. Let us discuss our defense and the protection of the Elf tribe village from the war that will surely involve both our kingdoms," Brutus greeted.

"Very well, please have a seat, Your Majesty," Arthur replied, gesturing for Brutus to sit at the round table in front of his main desk, then stepping out from behind his desk with Alexis.

Without delay, Brutus immediately sat at the table next to Arthur, while Alexis sat next to Arthur and Brutus’s two aides sat next to him. After sitting down, Brutus’s two aides took off their hoods. They turned out to be the Elders of the Elf tribe from the sacred forest. Arthur and Alexis immediately greeted them, and of course, the two Elf Elders also greeted Arthur and Alexis in return.

They began to discuss a strategy that combined the strength of the two kingdoms to anticipate the war that would occur against the Orthus Empire and the Durnhill Kingdom, which was also heating up, and a strategy for protecting the Elf tribe dwelling in the sacred forest between the two kingdoms.