“Alright everyone, good job. Now you can go back and take a rest.”
“Yes, thank you, Vicer.”
The strong muscular woman overseeing the dismissal of the soldiers who had finished their training and inspection was Vicer Andreas, the second daughter of the Lord of Bohemia and a 6th-grade mage. Feeling a bit tired after today’s work, she started moving towards the lord’s castle.
“By the way… Did Santana really come back yesterday? I wonder if the wedding in the Dragona Empire went well.”
Her younger sibling had been away for a while for marriage. Honestly, Vicer didn’t care that much about it. While the youngest, Dust, was showing significant attachment to their older brother, Vicer viewed Santana more like a competent superior than a sibling.
Though they were blood relatives, the long time apart and the busy lives they led made their relationship more formal than familial. Therefore, the fact that Santana had entered into a political marriage felt like a mere happening to Vicer.
Instead, what occupied her mind at that moment was her other family member.
She was concerned about her sister, Queen Andreas, a person Vicer had long admired yet often felt a sense of regret for.
“Where on earth has she disappeared to? Everyone else seems to have given up over time, but I can’t shake the feeling that she’s not really dead.”
Many speculated that she had been kidnapped by the Sacred Empire’s emperor. Opinions varied on whether she was dead or had been imprisoned for some ulterior motive, but no one could be sure.
However, Vicer harbored a hope, almost a belief, that her sister was not in the afterlife or a prison but somewhere else entirely.
“She wouldn’t easily fall into the emperor’s hands. I can’t know for sure, but that doesn’t seem likely…”
Calming herself with those vague thoughts, Vicer arrived at the lord’s castle. Just then, she heard a familiar voice in her ear.
“Good job, lady.”
“Thanks for coming out to greet me.”
It was her aide and servant. Together, they entered the lord’s castle.
After nearly two weeks of rigorous training, returning home felt like a relief. Vicer strolled through the castle’s garden, feeling her body relax.
“Has there been any trouble while I was gone?”
“There haven’t been any dangers. As you know, Mr. Santana returned with his bride, and other than that, nothing special happened.”
“I see. The bride is a princess from the Dragona Empire, right? What was she like?”
“She didn’t seem bad. Surprisingly, contrary to what some expected, the two appear to get along very well.”
“Really? That’s a relief.”
Hearing that there were no significant issues, Dust put her curiosity about her brother aside.
At that moment…
“Huh?”
Suddenly, a figure caught her eye as she walked down the first-floor corridor. Dust was enveloped by an odd feeling as she saw a woman in thick robes wearing a mask.
“Who is that? She looks suspicious.”
“That’s Freddy Mars. She’s been assigned by the Dragona Empire to protect the princess. I hear she possesses incredible magical power, even surpassing Count Turun.”
“Really? Someone stronger than Father?”
Amid the intrigue, Vicer felt a spike of curiosity about the mysterious woman. With her schedule cleared, she decided to approach the suspicious figure.
As she walked, she overheard conversations among her aides and soldiers filled with questions and fears about her presence.
The Great Mage from the Dragona Empire—someone stronger than Count Turun.
At this moment, the masked woman’s expression was complex behind her disguise.
Queen Andreas, the eldest daughter of Count Turun and someone who had grown up in Bohemia, felt incredibly uneasy even though she had returned to her hometown.
“Sigh… what the hell happened?”
As she walked cautiously down the corridor, wearing a mask and heavy robes to conceal her identity, Queen was there as a witch from the Dragona Empire on a mission to protect Santana and Cazerose.
If it became known that she was Queen Andreas, things would get complicated quickly.
“Even though I returned home, I don’t want to go back to being just another noble lady in Bohemia.”
Having found a great mentor and learned many things, she achieved the life she dreamed of—one where she was recognized.
Thus, with Santana having secured his position as the hero, Queen had no desire to return to a life where she’d be treated as an obstacle.
Even now, she couldn’t deny that hearing people who once dismissed her now express awe stirred something in her.
Those who’d previously avoided her were now quaking in fear at her mere presence. This was the image she had longed for and felt was right.
And to maintain this life as Freddy Mars instead of Queen Andreas, she had to endure discomfort and hide her identity at all costs.
“Thankfully, no one dares to uncover my face, and if someone asks, I can use illusion magic to get around it. I also have magical tools to modify my voice from when I left the Dragona Empire.”
In this strange situation where she was treated as an honored guest, Queen walked along the corridor toward the room assigned to her.
Just then…
“Excuse me, can I have a moment?”
“…!”
The sudden familiar voice made her jump, halting her steps.
She knew who the voice belonged to without needing to turn around.
It was only natural.
This voice had never left her side throughout her life.
Feeling her heart tighten, Queen turned slowly.
Standing there was exactly who she expected…
“Pardon me, my name is Vicer Andreas. Are you Freddy Mars?”
“Shit…”
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