landbeastnovel Chapter 390: A New Drama Unfolds
Chapter 390: A New Drama Unfolds
TL: Etude
News of the suppression of the southern rebellion spread rapidly throughout the Kingdom of Ordo. The official announcement by the government hailed it as a great victory, and Jars and Viburen, the rebelling parties, cooperated by remaining silent.
On the surface, it seemed like the Kingdom of Ordo had returned to its former tranquility, and the Rodney dynasty’s rule remained as solid as ever. However, certain individuals with ulterior motives discovered that, although the monarchy had ostensibly triumphed, it had suffered significant losses in the shadows.
His Majesty’s government began shifting its focus to deal with the influx of goblins on the western coast – a problem left in the wake of pirate invasions. And as news of the end of the internal conflict spread, so did word of Ordo’s troubles, reaching other parts of the continent.
In the capital of the Horn Bay Alliance, Fort Ness, unlike the snow beginning to blanket the north where Ordo lay, the sky here was drizzling gently.
A carriage slowly made its way along a forest path on the outskirts of Fort Ness. Two years prior, this forest had been the site of an incident of wolves attacking humans, inciting widespread fear among travelers. It wasn’t until the city hall organized a sweep by the city guards and adventurers that the roads returned to normal.
Having covered a considerable distance from Fort Ness, the carriage turned into a side road and stopped in front of a secluded estate.
The carriage door opened, and Edward stepped out onto the cobblestone pavement at the entrance of the estate.
“Damned weather! It’s been raining for days,” he complained, adjusting his cloak’s hood against the drizzle before approaching the estate’s main entrance and knocking forcefully.
“Who’s there?” A small window on the door opened, revealing a pair of cautious eyes.
Without a word, Edward handed over a wooden token. Moments later, the doors swung open.
Wrapping his cloak tightly around him, he followed a stone path into the courtyard and entered the mansion.@@@@
Handing his cloak to the servant who greeted him, Edward straightened his hair and moved upstairs to the card room, where two people were already waiting. One was a young mage named Nathan, idly fiddling with a deck of cards. A woman in casual attire stood by the window, staring out at the incessant rainfall.
Edward gave Nathan a slight nod, which the young man acknowledged with a cursory nod of his head, continuing to play with the cards. Edward wasn’t offended; he was well acquainted with the young man’s disposition and knew that another with a significant tie to Nathan was also present.
With restrained formality, Edward greeted the woman at the window—a greeting her position demanded, even though she didn’t see it.
“My lady, Scott has sent confirmed news—Ordo’s civil war has ended.”
“Civil war?”
Had they harried the kingdom too much from the rear, what would have happened if Jars had advanced to Crystal Shine Fortress? The Arcane Society’s goal was never to prop up Jars as ruler of Ordo, but rather to create a fragmented Ordo, ensuring no unification of forces.
“Now Jars is probably cursing us for not giving enough support,” Nathan said with a grin. “His initial dream was to wear the crown, not merely to rule a split territory.”
The woman scoffed dismissively, “Let him blame his own incompetence. A crown gained through others’ power is always a heavy one to wear.”
She then said, “Alright, from now on, we should abstain from meddling in Ordo’s affairs, especially in the northwest... Well, let’s leave it at that.”
A hint of excitement appeared on Nathan’s face. “Haha, the new drama is about to begin.”
The woman sighed, “I don’t know how I ever gave birth to a son so fond of causing trouble.”
Nathan moved to the window, peering out into the misty forest beyond. “Nesta has submitted, Ordo is preoccupied with itself, and next, we’ll contain the Church’s influence in Horn Bay. Then the prince’s master plan can be truly set in motion.”
Standing behind him, Edward’s eyes glowed with anticipation, “Then we can walk openly among the people.”
After a silent moment, the woman asked, “Have we made contact with those escapees?”
Nathan replied, “We have, though many seem hesitant.”
The woman’s expression softened with memory. “Leaving a place where one has lived for so long is indeed a difficult choice.”
Nathan scoffed, “Short-sighted, all of them.”
His mother shot him a stern glance, “Do not mock our kin. Moreover, given the dangerous situation we’ve placed them in... we are responsible.”
Nathan fell silent and after a while muttered softly, “All for the greater cause... such sacrifices are necessary.”
His mother shook her head, turning back to the window.
“Let’s do our best to welcome them to our side...”
Outside, the rain began to pour more heartily.