“I will send provisions.”

“Angela-nim?”

“Yes, I can do it.”

Next to step forward was Terminus, who was sitting beside her.

“Beautiful Angela. I appreciate your kind and generous heart, but we need a considerable amount. It might be difficult for you to prepare.”

“It’s okay. Actually…”

Everyone focused on Angela’s next words.

“I am the daughter of the lord of Siroco Territory, right nearby.”

Angela blushed and squirmed. Terminus, as if not understanding her words, tilted his head.

“Siroco? Are you talking about the Fox shifters? That can’t be. If you are the daughter of the Siroco lord, we must have met before…”

Terminus widened his eyes without finishing his sentence. It seemed like he recognized her just now.

“Angela Siroco. Oh my, now that I think about it, your face looks familiar. To forget such a beautiful face, I must be carrying around a piece of pudding instead of eyes.”

Terminus stood up, making a fuss.

“No, Terneya. I haven’t seen you since I was a child.”

Angela laughed shyly. Terneya blinked slowly for a moment and then laughed along with her.

“I won’t forget from now on. Angela.”

In the end, everyone agreed that Angela would procure provisions. It was the best option for now. We didn’t have to backtrack, and it was the quickest way to fill our ship.

As dawn broke, Angela, along with some knights and children, left straight for her territory.

“I won’t forget this favor. Your kindness and justice shown mean a lot. Our Fox shifters from Siroco will support Cecilia and Idrish Artigrado with strength.”

It was a reliable promise. Moreover, except for Roberto’s wolf shifters, it was the first time a carnivorous animal shifter had joined our side.

“Thank you, Angela. See you soon.”

Our group set out again.

We crossed between buildings that were partly collapsed and the tents of the burned Chingana. The tents turned to ash beneath our feet. It was eerie. It had only been a few hours, but it gave a strange feeling, as if it had been buried in Artigrado for a long time.

It felt as if we had entered a cursed village that aged everything.

“Back when Idrish lived here, I guess this place prospered too?”

“It did.”

Idrish answered my question as he looked around the village. The forlorn village was reflected in his amber eyes.

Was Idrish looking at the current state of the village, or was he looking at the Artigrado village of the past? Perhaps he was recalling the time of the rebellion.

For him, this place was where he spent his childhood and witnessed his family being slaughtered. It was also a place where he barely escaped death, chased all the way to his chin.
Will the memories of that day fade away once Idrish regains the throne and Artigrado Territory prospers again?

Instead of consoling Idrish with unnecessary words, I tightly held his hand. Idrish took my hand without straining the injured parts.

“Wow…”

I raised my head to the point of feeling a sore throat.

As the palace’s towering peak was clearly visible from the village, I expected it to be large, but this was beyond imagination.

Two giant buildings on each side formed perfect symmetry, centered around the golden-painted twin towers. The outer walls of the buildings were covered with ivy that had repeated cycles of withering and growing over the years. It looked like a palace of dead plants now in winter, but it would likely be lush in summer.

We entered through the main gate. The tiger statues on both sides of the main gate were peeled in many places and covered in aged dust.

We dismounted and tied the horses’ heads to the hitching posts at the palace entrance. Then, instead of grass, we walked across the courtyard, which was full of melted snow.

In the center of the vast courtyard, there was an artificial pond with a square shape, but now only dried, cracked mud was visible. Waterways spread out from the pond to various places. I followed the waterways with my eyes.

Trickle, trickle, trickle. Perhaps you could hear the sound of flowing water from anywhere in the palace. Blue grass would have grown around, and countless people would have passed over.

Even young Idrish Artigrado.

Without realizing it, a crooked smile formed on my face.

How much time would it take for this place to revive like that again?

We circled the pond, approaching the entrance of the palace building. Ivy hung loosely all the way to the entrance. Knights cut through the withered grass with their swords.

Thud, the vines fell weakly, and the entrance was revealed. Inside was dimly lit. It seemed all the windows were blocked by ivy.

“It’s a bit eerie. Even though it’s morning, it’s as dark as the devil’s embrace. Cecilia, where’s my escort? Yes, I probably don’t need one. Don’t be so cautious, Idrish.”

“Take care of yourself.”

“Yes, I’ll remember your kind words.”

Terneya’s casual words slightly eased the tense atmosphere.

“Let’s go in then.”

The knights led the way. Idrish wrapped his arm around my shoulder and followed behind.

When we lit the fire, the interior was revealed.

“Ugh.”