The Crimson Throne

'If I am privy to the knowledge, milady, what benefits will you derive from the event?' Alexander quizzed.

'I implore you for patience, Your Highness. Please trust that the result will advantage us both.'

"The time has come for our departure, Your Majesty," Elias announced, interrupting Elaine's and the Third Prince's telepathic exchange.

"Excellent," the Emperor exclaimed. "Our Empire could not ask for more fitting emissaries than you two. I wish you both a safe journey."

The Empress held Elaine's hands. Her face stirred with emotions. "Though the Crown Prince remains too frail to come and bid you farewell, know that he recognizes your sacrifices. My son is very fortunate to have you as his fiancée, and I am grateful to have such a wonderful future daughter-in-law."

The blatant lies you are spewing are only because I am replacing your useless son in receiving a possible death sentence. Despite mocking the situation inside, she lowered her gaze and sweetly curled her lips into a bow, emulating a demure noble lady's mannerisms. "Supporting His Highness is my obligation, Your Majesty."

"Good, good." The Crown Prince's mother's hands gently squeezed hers and then let go.

Elaine perfunctorily curtsied before the royal family and returned to her carriage. Instead of traversing through a portal to reach the magician's satellite tower like standard procedures, Elias steered his horse ahead of the troop as the guards opened the main gate. Their entourage headed outside the Lumière Palace while curious onlookers crowded both sides of the streets, filled with awe and wonder at the passing company's lavishes. Despite leaving the palace, they still had to parade like a spectacle for the masses and other concerned parties according to the Étoile Emperor's wishes.

Elaine was uninterested in looking outside the carriage's window. She leaned against the cushioned seat and shut her eyes, blocking all the external cacophonous noises from her head. Buried in ruminations, Elaine did not notice the carriage had arrived at the magician's tower until Mariam notified her. Similar to previous times, she listened to the routine instructions and warnings. However, one piece of information about the route to the Léonas Empire surprised her. The portal would only carry the envoy to the edge of the continent. From there, they would be required to board a ship and cross the ocean to reach their destination.

"Why can we not transport directly to the Léonas Empire?" she asked a nearby magician.

"That is—"

"It is because of the treaty, Lady Estella," Elias rode his steed toward Elaine's carriage and interjected.

"The treaty?" She crinkled her brows, staring up at the black-haired young man with inquisitive eyes.

"Yes, the treaty between Étoile, Léonas, and the Magic Association," he confirmed. "Signed several hundred years ago by the three parties and strictly upheld until today."

"Why would the empires sign such an inconvenience treaty?" Elaine fretted. "Surely, it would be much faster to traverse back and forth between Étoile and Léonas through the portal." She had expected to spend about a month in the foreign nation, providing her ample time to approach Nickolas. The new knowledge, however, had ripped through her plan with a hatchet. The cogwheels turned in Elaine's mind, attempting to calculate another path forward.

"The portal would significantly shorten our journey. However, we must follow the treaty's terms."

"Who knows how many days I will have to be stuck on the ship," she lowered her cast and murmured.

"Nine days," the male protagonist answered.

Elaine again lifted her head, not expecting him to hear her hushed complaint from his distance.

The ground grumbled beneath their feet as the dense, multicolored fog gathered. "Stand clear," someone called.

"The portal is opening." Elias' head slightly shifted, looking toward the congregated magicians. "Perhaps we can continue our discussion later on if you remain interested in the treaty's details, Lady Estella," he said, pulling the reins and directing his horse to the front.

Her gaze momentarily followed him before turning back inside the carriage. "Close the window," she ordered, again closing her eyes.

"As you wish, milady." Mariam complied.

Hours later, they exited the portal and arrived at the magician's tower in Rhiska, a port city of Caipse. Caipse was one of Étoile's vassal countries in the far east of the Crea continent. The Caipseans, a seafaring people specialized in shipbuilding, submitted to the Empire four hundred years ago. From then on, they supplied many of Étoile's maritime warfare ships.

Cecil opened the door, assisting Elaine down from the carriage. She thanked the blond-haired young man, then studied her surroundings. The tower in Rhiska was constructed near the coast. From its location, the tower offered a view of several ships of various sizes and nationalities sailing and docking within a distance. Footsteps approached from behind. Elaine turned around and saw a group of men in extravagant attire advancing toward them. Their faces all donned an affable smile as they greeted the envoy.

"Welcome to my humble country. It is an honor to serve the Empire," an older man leading the group proclaimed. The man appeared in his fifties with a sharp eagle face. He had an oversized, golden earring embedded with precious stones dangling from his left ear while dark, illustrative ink covered his hands and neck. The man stood out even among his similar-clothed and accessorized companions.

Perhaps he is of higher status. Elaine had learned about the Caipseans and their culture in Estella's lessons. She combed her memories for clues about the man's identity.

"The honor is ours, Your Majesty," Elias stepped forward and inclined his body before the older man.

So he is the ruler of Caispe. Elaine followed the male protagonist's lead and curtsied. "Thank you for hosting us for this short period, Your Majesty."