Chapter 7: The Secrets of Jeannagos

After weeks of travel, the group finally arrived before the formidable walls of Jeannagos, the Royal Capital of Saint Fros. Though not overtly magnificent, the city walls, ancient and elegant with their subtle cracks hinting at a rich history, were an exquisite sight compared to the ruined towns Chloe had passed along the way. The stone-paved roads stretched primarily lengthwise, with smaller paths branching off like the intricate veins of a living city. Wide enough for three horses abreast, these spacious thoroughfares were regularly cleaned by dedicated workers, a stark contrast to the muddy tracks they had navigated for days.

According to the regional map, Jeannagos was divided into three districts: the Commoner District, the Noble District, and a small island known as the Ecclesiastical District, home to the headquarters of the Holy Church, the world’s foremost religion. The Commoner District lay on the outermost perimeter, with the Noble District further in. Status ascended with proximity to the center, where the Royal Palace stood majestically within the heart of the Noble District. Each district was encircled by its own walls, with the barrier between the Noble and Commoner Districts being the most towering.

Given the recent tensions along the border, travel permits were now required to pass through each set of walls. After presenting the permits, the coachman urged the horses forward, while Chloe and Xiao Nuoqi pressed their faces against the window, eagerly taking in the passing scenery. Jeannagos truly lived up to its reputation as a royal capital, bustling with commerce. Numerous stalls selling miscellaneous goods lined the roads, vibrant and teeming with people. The air was filled with shouts, hawking, and the ceaseless murmur of haggling. Beyond these individual vendors, a government-established market could be seen nearby, featuring specialized facilities where many conducted their business, sparing them the trouble of enduring wind and rain.

Chloe was reminded of the markets in her own world; they didn’t seem vastly different, save for the canvas stalls being replaced by stone structures.

“You’re as excited as Xiao Nuoqi, little Yi. Is this your first time in a big city?” Lady Xina asked, a hint of confusion in her voice.

‘Blast! I forgot. An Elder should be someone accustomed to high society, not like one unaccustomed to such sights,’ Chloe thought frantically.

Just then, Norria interjected, “The Elder is merely curious about the outside world due to their long years of reclusion. Isn’t that right, Elder?”

“Yes, precisely!” Chloe nodded vigorously, surprised that Norria would come to her rescue. She cleared her throat, then sat upright in her chair, propping her chin on her hand as she gazed out the window.

Unlike the earthy fragrance of the countryside, the city’s scent was acrid and complex.

For some reason, the roads were particularly congested today. Ragged individuals roamed the thoroughfares, extending hands withered like branches to beg from the carriage passengers. Some were struck by passing carriages, but they merely picked themselves up and moved aside, for the occupants of the carriage lived in a world utterly separate from theirs.

A well-dressed, brown-haired man emerged from a carriage, pulling a rusted coin from his bulging purse and dropping it into a beggar’s hand. With a mere gesture, his servant immediately sprayed him with perfume, yet it could not wash away the acrid stench clinging to him. Chloe shook her head with a sigh, drew the curtain closed, and allowed her thoughts to drift with the carriage’s rocking motion.

As the carriage ventured deeper into the city, the architecture grew increasingly opulent. Nearing the Noble District, Chloe even spotted a standalone mansion, sprawling over an area almost the size of a small factory.

“Is that also a commoner’s house?” Xiao Nuoqi asked curiously, pointing at the massive estate.

“That’s the residence of Barrett, a wealthy merchant. Some merchants are even richer than nobles, but they can never enter the Noble District, so they can only flaunt their wealth ostentatiously on the outskirts.” Norria shrugged, clearly disdainful of such people. Feudal society was indeed rigidly hierarchical; Chloe was experiencing this firsthand today.

“Oh, Norria, you seem very familiar with this place.” Lady Xina’s eyes shone as she gazed at the opulent villa. “I thought that was the Royal Palace!”

“I grew up around here, so of course, I’m familiar with it.” Norria’s eyes gleamed as he continued, “My mother even worked as a servant for the Barrett family once, but she was cast out after she became pregnant with his son’s child. After that, my mother and I were forced to beg for a living.” Norria spoke freely and openly, but upon seeing Lady Xina’s teary-eyed expression, he quickly adopted a different demeanor. “Lady Xina, all that is in the past. There’s no need to trouble yourself over it.”

The carriage slowly rolled through the second city wall, nearing the Noble District. Just then, the guard on duty peered through the window and spotted them.

“Hey! Norria! Long time no see!” he shouted towards Norria, who was sitting by the window.

“Long time no see, Jack. How have things been?” Norria replied just as loudly.

“Still guarding this broken wall. Nowhere near as comfortable as you are. What are you doing with two beautiful maidens?” Jack asked with a grin. Behind him stood a knight in a white robe emblazoned with a red cross, his eyes as sharp as a cold blade, fixed on the carriage.

“We are going to seek an audience with His Majesty.” Norria’s brief reply was followed by him drawing the curtain. He turned to Chloe. “Elder, it’s fortunate you weren’t seen. Should the Elder suddenly appear in Jeannagos, I imagine it would cause quite a stir.”

“Indeed,” Chloe murmured in agreement. Through a small gap in the front curtain, she caught sight of a resplendent golden palace. That was the palace of Prince Glais II, ruler of all Saint Fros. She wondered what kind of man this Prince was, who had witnessed fertile lands turn to ash, cities crumble to ruins, and people descend into banditry. Chloe pulled her robe tighter, a chill running through her.

****

The Prince’s Palace was roughly cruciform in shape. The entrance’s apex was sculpted into an eagle’s head, its slender wings spread wide, housing the Prince’s family and servants. The sturdy eagle’s body was the ‘Royal Court,’ where subjects, vassals, and foreign dignitaries were received, occupying the vast majority of the palace and thus offering tremendous creative scope to its designers and engineers. Chloe and her companions entered the Royal Court under the watchful gaze of the eagle overhead, marveling at the divine craftsmanship of humankind.

The Royal Court was, as Lady Xina described, as tall as eight Norrias and as long as seven Xiao Nuoqis holding spears. Its walls were adorned with decorative stained glass, and the floors were constructed from pure white marble, so brightly polished that Chloe could even see her own legs beneath her robe, though there were some visible signs of wear. Looking up at the dome, she saw a map of the principality and its emblem—a black and gold double-headed eagle, its massive wings spread wide, sheltering the territories under the principality’s rule. Above the double-headed eagle, an unnamed deity crowned it. The deity’s eyes gazed downwards, seemingly at the eagle, yet also appearing to look down upon everyone in the Royal Court. To Chloe, it felt as though the deity was watching her specifically.

A fresh red carpet was laid upon the floor, stretching from the entrance of the Royal Court all the way to the throne. As they walked along the carpet, the person seated upon the throne was none other than… Prince Saint Fros, Glais II. He appeared as an elderly man with hair and beard as white as snow and a benevolent face, his thick white beard obscuring his chin. Though advanced in years, age had not entirely erased the handsomeness from his face, and his eyes held a majesty exclusive to monarchs. He looked haggard; even the simple act of standing required the aid of an attendant. His ten fingers were adorned with numerous rings of various materials, a dazzling sight. ‘Is this guy the Lord of the Rings?’ Chloe muttered to herself.

“Elder, welcome to our presence.” Glais II clearly held great respect—or perhaps great fear—for the Elder’s identity, so he did not question Chloe’s true nature. “What brings you to condescend to visit our Principality of Saint Fros?” the Prince asked Chloe, utterly respectful and completely disregarding Lady Xina and the others standing by.

Chloe took the opportunity to hand the letter she held to a servant, who then passed it to Glais II. The Prince merely glanced at the letter before putting it away, then turned to Chloe, beaming with a smile. ‘What! He completely ignored us?’ Norria’s face practically screamed. Chloe glanced at them, secretly making a face. Glais II, dragging his cumbersome robe, stumbled closer to Chloe.

“I know you are not the Elder. You are an envoy from the Pontiff,” he whispered into Chloe’s ear. “Let us speak elsewhere.”

“Charles, handle the affairs of the others. The Elder and I have important matters to discuss,” Glais II commanded, pointing to his Prime Minister who stood beside the throne.

Their footsteps echoed in the spacious corridor. One old, one young; one in front, one behind; one walking with head held high, the other lost in thought. Glais II, completely shed of his ailing demeanor, walked briskly into a room on the left, gesturing for Chloe to follow. Chloe’s heart was filled with trepidation; she hadn’t expected her identity to be exposed so quickly. ‘Was it the way I wore my robe? Did I lack the regal aura of an Elder? Or perhaps I didn’t brush my teeth today? No, could it be because I’m too young and beautiful to be an Elder…’ Chloe shook these wild thoughts from her mind and entered the room.

The room was small, containing only a table and a chair. On the dusty table lay a book, its cover inscribed with words Chloe couldn’t comprehend at all—likely text from this other world. ‘It seems the script of this world and my own are incompatible,’ Chloe thought despairingly. She had once mocked medieval people for their lack of culture, only to find herself the illiterate one.

Glais II began to stroke his beard. He picked up the book, and then a section of the wall suddenly began to tremble. The wall swung open with a heavy groan, revealing a tiny indentation. Glais II approached the wall, drew a small dagger from his robe, and lightly cut his finger, allowing blood to slowly fill the indentation. Chloe felt her bloodlust frequency intensify dramatically, almost triggering every five seconds. She recalled the torment she had inflicted upon her horse over the past ten-plus days, feeling utterly apologetic. However, horse blood was indeed difficult to stomach; she couldn’t help but vomit after drinking it. If she couldn’t find a fresh human blood source soon, she might suffer severe malnutrition.

Yet, Chloe wasn’t bold enough to suck the blood of her companions. After all, they had been together day and night, and such an act would surely arouse suspicion. If her vampiric nature was exposed, things would undoubtedly become very complicated. The temptation of human blood made it difficult for Chloe to concentrate. At this moment, the old Prince appeared to her as a large, mobile blood bag. She clutched her right hand tightly, fearing it might suddenly attack the Prince. Finally, this strange sensation completely receded. She felt utterly drained; overcoming a vampire’s hunger was truly an arduous task.

The Prince retrieved a silver bracelet from the indentation. The bracelet gleamed with an eerie red light in the dim illumination. A few English letters were faintly engraved upon it. ‘—Wait, English letters?’

“This bracelet is a treasured heirloom passed down through generations in our Principality of Saint Fros. According to the dying wish of our founding ancestor, this bracelet is to be given to successive ‘Traversers,'” the Prince said, holding the bracelet, his eyes gleaming with a murky light. “The previous Traverser, Lady Alena, returned this bracelet to me during her escape, entrusting me to give it to the person she chose. This bracelet can protect you from the Elder Council’s magic.”

“Traverser? What are you talking about?” Chloe had an ominous premonition.

“Please accept this bracelet, and continue to lead us in escaping the clutches of the Elder Council!” Chloe hadn’t expected the ruler of a nation to humble himself before her.

“Wait—what has the Elder Council done to you?” Chloe racked her brain, recalling the Elder Council’s deeds, only to remember the sweet-voiced Wuxu and her rather unrealistic goals. “They have wielded power for centuries… since the collapse of the ancient empire. Whether in diplomacy, economy, politics, or military, the Elder Council has controlled the lifeblood of most nations. Under their rule, we have lost all our freedoms. They arbitrarily caused powerful armies to vanish, made bountiful farmlands wither in an instant, caused prosperous cities to decline in a blink, and made handsome youths inexplicably fall from their horses!” The Prince’s tone grew increasingly fervent, and Chloe couldn’t help but take a few steps back. “My two beloved sons were killed by them, and now I have no heirs left to succeed to the throne.” The Prince raised his head, his gaze resolute. “And the gravest mistake the Elder Council ever made was initiating the ‘No-War Edict.'”

“What is the No-War Edict?” This was a new term; Chloe had never heard of it.

“Shortly after the collapse of the ancient empire, the Elder Council declared to the entire world that all warfare was forbidden, and violators would face the severest punishment. This was the ‘No-War Edict.’ However, the Eledis Empire has been silently encroaching upon our territories—through intermarriage, bribery, religious infiltration, and other methods, they have constantly caused our vassals to defect to their side, and it is through this that they have rapidly expanded.” The Prince continued, “I wished to resist, but any means of resistance were construed by the Elder Council as evidence of violating the No-War Edict, and my army and my children turned to naught.” King Glais spread his hands, like a leader standing before an assembly, his voice modulated and full of emotion. Chloe felt only shame in the face of this series of human tragedies. How could war be ended so simply? She felt the Elder Council needed to summon a historian to this other world, not her.

“Then why don’t you go discuss it with the Elder Council?” Chloe kicked the ball back to the Elder Council, and she felt that Wuxu wasn’t such an unreasonable person. “The Elders are elusive and unpredictable; there’s almost no opportunity for direct negotiations with them. Moreover, they have been stubbornly unyielding for hundreds of years; suddenly asking them to change now is impossible.” The Prince took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead. “Fortunately, Lady Alena was exceptionally discerning; she exhausted every means to lift the No-War Edict, but now Lady Alena is also dead, and we have only you left to rely on!”

“Alright, alright,” Chloe said, absentmindedly taking the bracelet. “So, what about the territory mentioned in the letter? That young woman outside, Lady Xina, seems to be the rightful heir to that territory, doesn’t she?”

“If we can secure your assistance, half the kingdom could be yours, let alone Avros, which is merely a frontier territory. Should you simply command it, that rightful heir would vanish from this world,” the Prince said, utterly respectful. Chloe, however, felt a shudder of disgust. This Prince would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Yet, it sounded as though he indeed harbored a blood feud with the Elder Council. She wasn’t particularly interested in the conflict between the kingdom and the Elder Council, nor did she wish to get entangled. But Alena could be considered Chloe’s savior, and the first friendly face she encountered in this other world; she felt it necessary to understand the full scope of the situation. So, for now, she needed to negotiate terms with the Prince.

“No need for that extreme. I intend to co-govern the territory with her; after all, the rule of law must still be respected. But first, return the territory to her, and then deal with that Count Cliff, who is arbitrarily seizing others’ land.” The Prince looked surprised, apparently not expecting Chloe’s conditions to be so simple. The mention of Count Cliff’s name made his brows furrow into a knot.

“Count Cliff? Has he been bought over too?”

“What? Are you surprised?” Chloe thought it perfectly normal for the Eledis Empire to prioritize bribing frontier vassals and annexing border territories.

“No, he’s my grand-nephew… I appointed him there specifically to prevent the Empire from buying over border vassals.” “Then perhaps the Empire simply offered too much,” Chloe said, having little patience left for conversing with the Prince. She put on the bracelet; it seemed unusually large on her wrist, but it quickly began to shrink, eventually fitting Chloe perfectly. “Hmm, is this a magical artifact too?”

“I’m not entirely sure… it’s an ancient imperial art, now lost.” The Prince’s brow was tightly furrowed; he seemed still reeling from the news of his grand-nephew’s betrayal. “Are you certain it’s Count Cliff? He’s quite high in the line of succession to the throne; why would he do such a thing?”

“It seems the Empire is playing a grand game. I advise you to strip him of his inheritance rights sooner rather than later.” Chloe patted the Prince’s shoulder, having to stand on tiptoe to reach. “Regardless, thank you for agreeing to assist us. Walls have ears in the palace; I will have a contact explain the specifics to you later,” the Prince said solemnly.

When the two returned to the Royal Court, Chloe saw a red-faced Norria arguing with the Prime Minister.

“You coward, what do you mean a good-for-nothing who lost their territory doesn’t deserve to inherit it?” Norria angrily yelled at the Prime Minister. “Your master himself signed the land-sale agreement with Count Cliff; you can’t blame anyone else.” The Prime Minister stood rigidly beneath the throne, his head held high, clearly not wishing to bother with a mere guard. The surrounding guards came forward to restrain Norria. One guard forcibly pressed Norria’s head to the ground and reported to the Prince, “Your Majesty, this guard is of lowly status and has spoken disrespectfully to the Prime Minister. I propose he be executed on the spot.”

“Enough. Release him. We cannot have the Elder Council witness bloodshed.” The Prince stroked his thick beard. He glanced at Norria, his gaze lingering for a few minutes.

“We’re done talking,” Chloe said as she passed the thoroughly beaten Norria. “Where’s Xina?”

“She suddenly left after hearing what the Prime Minister said,” Norria replied indignantly, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. “I told Xiao Nuoqi to follow her.”

“You fool, you’re truly slow-witted. Wasn’t that a perfect opportunity?” Chloe said with a mischievous grin.

“What opportunity?” Norria looked confused.

“Blockhead,” Chloe commented succinctly. “With Xina gone, the Prince’s decision cannot be issued. I’ll go find her; where do you think she went?”

“They shouldn’t have gone far. I’d guess they’re still somewhere near the palace.”

Before he finished speaking, Chloe curled her finger and flicked Norria’s forehead. “It’s best not to openly attack these high-ranking officials, otherwise you’ll easily lose your life.” Chloe offered Norria a friendly reminder, for she quite admired Xina’s loyal dog.