Chapter 429 - 428: General Victor

Chapter 429: Chapter 428: General Victor

"A Tier 6 expert..."

He quietly muttered to himself.

"It has been years since someone of that level entered through this border."

Normally, people of such status traveled directly to the capital through official diplomatic routes.

Very few would appear at this relatively quiet frontier crossing.

The captain quickly composed himself before stepping forward.

His posture remained respectful.

"Greetings."

"I am Captain Roland, commander of this checkpoint."

He placed a hand over his chest in greeting.

"May I know your identities and the purpose of your visit to the Estaral Kingdom?"

Sir Darius dismounted from his warhorse in one smooth motion.

His boots landed softly upon the stone road.

He returned the greeting with equal courtesy.

"My name is Darius."

"We come from the Alnera Kingdom."

The moment those words left his mouth...

Several nearby guards exchanged surprised glances.

The Alnera Kingdom.

Everyone had heard recent rumors.

There had been reports of war.

Entire cities falling.

Communication with the kingdom had grown increasingly sparse over the past month.

Captain Roland’s expression immediately became more serious.

He looked toward the luxurious carriage.

Sir Darius continued calmly.

"If possible..."

"We wish to request an audience with His Majesty, the King of Estaral."

The captain blinked.

"An audience... with His Majesty?"

Sir Darius nodded once.

"The Crown Prince and the Princess of Alnera are currently inside the carriage."

For a brief moment, silence descended upon the checkpoint.

Every nearby guard froze.

Even the merchants waiting behind the carriage instinctively lowered their voices.

Captain Roland stared blankly at the carriage.

His mind struggled to process what he had just heard.

The Crown Prince...?

The Princess...?

He had expected wealthy nobles. Perhaps an influential clan.

But actual royalty from another kingdom...

That was something he had never encountered in his entire military career.

The captain quickly bowed much more deeply than before.

"Please forgive my earlier discourtesy."

"I... I wasn’t aware of your identities."

Darius merely shook his head.

"There is nothing to forgive."

"You were simply performing your duty."

Captain Roland straightened again, though a trace of nervousness remained on his face.

He hesitated for several seconds before speaking.

"Sir Darius..."

"I must be honest."

"I’m only the captain of this border checkpoint."

"I’m afraid I don’t possess the authority to arrange an audience with His Majesty."

A helpless smile appeared on his face.

"Such matters are far beyond my rank."

Sir Darius nodded calmly.

"I expected as much."

The captain thought for a moment before an idea came to him.

"If you don’t mind..."

He spoke carefully.

"Would you be willing to meet with General Victor first?"

"He commands all military affairs along this section of the border."

"If anyone here has the authority to report this matter directly to the royal court..."

"It would be him."

"He can also verify your identities and arrange an official escort to the capital if necessary."

Sir Darius considered the suggestion for a brief moment before nodding.

"That is reasonable."

"Please inform General Victor that the royal family of Alnera seeks an audience."

Captain Roland immediately saluted.

"At once."

Without another word, he turned toward one of the soldiers standing nearby.

"You!"

The young guard snapped to attention.

"Ride to General Victor’s headquarters immediately."

"Tell him distinguished guests from the Alnera Kingdom have arrived."

"The Crown Prince and Princess are requesting an audience."

The soldier’s eyes widened.

"Y-Yes, Captain!"

A moment later...

He leaped onto his horse and galloped toward the interior of the Estaral Kingdom, kicking up a cloud of dust as he disappeared into the distance.

Meanwhile, Captain Roland respectfully gestured toward a nearby stone pavilion built for honored guests.

"Please, Sir Darius."

"It may take some time for the General to arrive."

"Until then..."

"You and your companions are welcome to rest here."

Sir Darius inclined his head slightly.

"Thank you."

Inside the carriage, Ashan quietly lowered the curtain after watching the exchange.

"It seems..."

"They’re treating us with respect."

Princess Mili let out a small sigh of relief.

"That’s a good sign."

Ashan nodded.

"It is."

"But whether they’ll truly help us..."

He turned his gaze toward the distant mountains beyond the border.

"...We’ll know soon enough."

----

Hours had passed.

The checkpoint remained unusually quiet.

Although merchants continued entering and leaving the Estaral Kingdom, many couldn’t help glancing toward the luxurious carriage resting beneath the stone pavilion.

Rumors spread quickly.

Some whispered that a powerful noble had arrived.

Others claimed a renowned sect elder was visiting.

Only a handful of people knew the truth.

Inside the pavilion, Sir Darius stood with his arms folded, patiently waiting. The four Tier 4 royal guards remained stationed around the carriage without relaxing their vigilance for even a moment.

Then, a deep horn echoed from the fortress.

The guards atop the walls immediately straightened.

A column of cavalry emerged from the distance.

At their head rode a middle-aged man mounted upon a massive silver warhorse.

His armor was dark blue, engraved with golden dragons along the pauldrons and breastplate. A crimson cape fluttered behind him despite the almost nonexistent wind.

Unlike ordinary soldiers...

He radiated the composed pressure of someone who had commanded armies for decades.

His aura was restrained.

Yet every cultivator present immediately understood one thing. He was powerful.

Captain Roland immediately saluted.

"General Victor!"

The surrounding soldiers followed suit.

"Greetings, General!"

General Victor gave a slight nod before dismounting gracefully from his horse.

Although he appeared to be around fifty years old, his movements remained light and steady. His sharp gray eyes swept across the surroundings before finally settling upon Sir Darius.

For several seconds, the two Tier 6 experts silently observed one another.

Neither released their aura.

Neither attempted to intimidate the other.

Yet an invisible exchange had already taken place.

General Victor smiled faintly.

"You must be Sir Darius."

Sir Darius returned the greeting.

"And you must be General Victor."

The two clasped forearms in the manner of soldiers rather than nobles.

"I apologize for keeping you waiting," Victor said.

"The moment I received Captain Roland’s report, I departed immediately."

"There is no need to apologize," Darius replied.

"We understand your responsibilities."

Victor’s gaze shifted toward the carriage.

"I’ve been informed that the Crown Prince and Princess of Alnera are here."

His expression grew solemn.

"If that is truly the case..."

"Then allow me to personally welcome them to the Estaral Kingdom."

Sir Darius stepped aside.

"Your Highness."

"The General has arrived."

A moment later, the carriage door slowly opened.

Ashan stepped out first.

He wore simple yet elegant royal attire, though the long journey had left faint traces of dust upon it. Despite that, his bearing remained dignified.

Princess Mili followed quietly behind him.

General Victor immediately placed a hand over his chest and bowed respectfully.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

"I am Victor Arclight, one of Estaral’s frontier generals."

"It is an honor to meet the royal family of Alnera."

Ashan returned the greeting with equal respect.

"The honor is ours, General Victor."

Victor studied the young prince carefully.

Before coming here, he had expected to meet a frightened child.

After all, the rumors surrounding Alnera’s in a war right now had spread throughout neighboring kingdoms.

He imagined a prince who had fled in panic.

Someone overwhelmed by despair.

Instead, the young man standing before him remained remarkably composed.

His eyes still carried traces of sadness.

But beneath that sadness, there was determination.

Victor silently nodded to himself.

Not bad, he still possesses the bearing of a prince.

He gestured toward the pavilion.

"Your Highness."

"Please."

"It would be better if we spoke somewhere more private."

Ashan nodded.

"I agree."

A few moments later...

The two sat across from one another inside a quiet reception room built into the border fortress.

Only Sir Darius remained inside.

The other guards respectfully waited outside with Princess Mili.

Warm tea rested untouched between them.

For several moments, silence filled the room.

General Victor finally broke it.

"I received word that Your Highness requested an audience with His Majesty."

Ashan nodded.

"That is correct."

Victor folded his hands together.

"May I ask why?"

Ashan lowered his eyes briefly. He remembered his father.

His uncle Charles.

The capital they had left behind.

The soldiers who had remained to fight.

A week ago, he would have struggled to answer such a question.

He would have relied on others to speak for him.

But now, That was no longer an option.

His kingdom needed a prince.

Not a frightened child.

Ashan slowly raised his head.

His gaze met Victor’s without wavering.

"My kingdom is at war."