Meanwhile... as Verc was getting his territory up and running with the others; in the City of Saligao, also known as the capital of the Halveron Kingdom—
A ball was being held at the castle of the royal family. The whole place was bustling, full of nobles and powerful people, dressed elegantly while socializing and drinking a lot of wine.
The grand hall was a sea of shimmering fabrics and expensive jewelry, illuminated by hundreds of candles that hung from massive crystal chandeliers.
The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfumes, roasted meats, and the sweet aroma of aged beverages. Guests were dancing with their partners, moving in perfect synchronization to the music provided by the royal orchestra. In every corner of the room, connections were being created here and there. Business deals were whispered behind fans, and political alliances were forged over glasses of sparking gold liquid.
Though, at the corner of the room where the party was being held—
"I don’t really like being in places like this."
Elianna mumbled that to herself. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, feeling the unfamiliar pinch of her shoes. She wasn’t wearing a golden armor like she usually does. Right now; she’s wearing a beautiful one-piece white dress with glittering decorations that caught the light every time she moved.
She looks beautiful, and adding that to her title of the saintess—she was obviously attracting a lot of attention.
Despite her stunning appearance, her expression remained stiff and uncomfortable. She would have much rather been in a training field or a damp dungeon than standing in a room full of people who only cared about status and gossip.
"Haha, well, it’s not like we can decline the invitation made by the royal family themselves. Even the cardinals ordered us to attend here."
Then, right beside her; Kael stated that with a smile on his face. He was wearing an excellently tailored white suit just for him, making him look very sharp and handsome. He seemed much more at home in this environment than Elianna, though there was a hint of weariness in his eyes that suggested he was also putting on a front.
It wasn’t just them; Stanford, Kelton, Harper, Gibson—their whole group was in the ball. They formed a small circle of white and gold amidst the colorful crowd of nobles, looking like a fortress of heroes trying to survive a social battlefield.
"Why are we even told and invited to come here?"
Stanford asked. He was a son of a noble as well, so he understood the etiquette of these events, but even he found the sudden summons to the capital strange. He crossed his arms over his chest, his gaze scanning the room for any sign of why they were actually there.
"I have no idea as well, so don’t look at me."
Kael said, before looking at Elianna to pass the question to her.
But silently, she just shook her head. Even her, the saintess, had no idea why they were told to come here. The order had been absolute, delivered by the highest ranking members of the church with little to no explanation.
And that fact actually annoys her. Her title and position should’ve given her the same power as the pope; but because she was still earning it and proving herself worthy of the title; the cardinals are pushing her around, trying to power trip her and her group.
They treated her more like a tool for the church’s image than a leader with her own will.
’Those old guys are frustrating.’
She thought to herself.
She could almost picture the smug faces of the cardinals as they sent her off to this party like a doll meant for display. She gripped the fabric of her dress slightly, her fingers twitching as if she were looking for the hilt of her sword.
Anyway; the ball had been going on for about a couple of hours now. Elianna was tried to be approached by numerous sons of nobles, trying to earn her favor. They would walk up with practiced smiles and rehearsed lines, hoping to catch the eye of the Saintess.
But fortunately; Kael and the others blocked them smoothly. They acted as a human shield, expertly steering conversations away or simply standing in the way with a presence that made the young lords reconsider their approach.
But still, even though it has been a while since the ball started, and even though they were invited a week ago—nobody still knows the goal of this social event. The King had greeted a few high-ranking dukes, but he hadn’t yet made a formal address.
But luckily, they didn’t have to wait long anymore.
Tink— Tink— Tink—
The sound of a metal utensil hitting a glass wine glass echoed throughout the area. The sharp noise cut through the chatter like a knife.
The band playing classic music immediately stopped, their bows freezing in mid-air. The guests who were dancing slowed to a halt, looking around in confusion before turning their attention toward the front of the hall.
Everyone, regardless of what they were doing, stopped and looked at the source of the sound.
And there, on top of a grand platform overlooking the ballroom; they saw the king of the Halveron Kingdom—[Erui Lugh Halveron III].
He was an attractive looking man in his mid-40s. He had a well-groomed beard and sleek clean hair, both golden colored, which shimmered under the chandelier light. He wore a heavy red robe trimmed with white fur, and the crown on his head looked remarkably heavy.
It wasn’t just him; his wife and his two sons were also with him. The three of them were sitting on grand-looking chairs beside his throne, wearing expressions of calm dignity.
As soon as the eyes were all on him—The king stood up and walked forward as if he was going to announce something. He stood at the edge of the platform, looking down at his subjects with a confident smile.
"I invited you all here because we want to share a good and exciting news to everyone."
He declared. His voice was deep and resonant, carrying to every corner of the room without him even needing to shout.
"..."
Everyone in the ball was silent, expectant of the news. The nobles leaned in, whispering softly to one another about what it could be.
Some thought it was a new tax law, others hoped for a marriage announcement between the royal family and another kingdom. The tension in the room was thick enough to feel.
Satisfied with all the attention he was getting, the King smiled and nodded his head. He seemed to drink in the silence, enjoying the fact that he held the heartbeat of the entire nobility in his hand.
"My loyal subjects, esteemed nobles, and friends of the Halveron Kingdom..."
The King began, his voice projecting with a practiced, booming authority that reached every corner of the grand hall.
"I have brought you all here tonight not just to celebrate our past, but to look toward our future. For too long, our borders have remained still. But now, the time for growth has finally come. I am proud to announce that, in a grand coordination with my Royal Knights—and with the support of the elite subduction squad sent personally by the Emperor—we are planning to expand our territory!"
And then, he annouced that.
At this news, the others were surprised and started clapping. The room filled with a sudden, electric energy.
Territory expansion meant more resources, more land for the nobles to manage, and more glory for the Halveron name. It was a sign of a strong and healthy kingdom. The hall erupted in a polite but enthusiastic round of applause.
"Finally, a move toward the horizon!"
One of the older Dukes whispered to his neighbor, his eyes gleaming with greed.
"Think of the new trade routes this could open up."
The neighbor nodded, his hands coming together in a frantic rhythm.
"The King has been quiet lately, but this... this is the ambition we’ve been waiting for!"
The King stood tall, nodding pleasantly at the crowd and letting the celebration continue for a long moment.
He seemed to bask in the cheers, closing his eyes briefly as if to soak in the approval of his people. But when the silence finally returned, he held up a single hand, calling for order. His expression shifted from a simple, benevolent smile to a sharp, meaningful smirk.
"However--"
The King said, his voice dropping an octave, making the atmosphere in the room turn suddenly heavy.
"Do not think this is just a normal expansion into the empty plains or the border villages. We are not simply moving our fences a few miles."
He made a small pause, dragging the suspense out as long as he could.
He watched as the guests held their breath, their curiosity reaching a breaking point. The only sound in the room was the soft flickering of the candles in the massive chandeliers.
Then, with a smirk on his face—
"We are going to conquer the darkness that sits on our doorstep. We are going to subjugate the [Cursed Forest]!"
He declared the true target of his ambition!
"?!!!"
Everyone stopped when they heard this. The clapping died instantly, replaced by a silence so heavy it felt like the air had been sucked out of the room.
Gasps filled the air, and a cold shiver seemed to pass through the room.
"The [Cursed Forest]...?"
A young noblewoman gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as she nearly dropped her wine glass.
"But... that’s a death sentence. Nobody comes back from that place."
Another noblewoman whispered.
The [Cursed Forest] was a name that carried a heavy weight of dread. For centuries, it had been a no-man’s land, a place where the sun didn’t shine and monsters ruled the shadows. The bold announcement had turned the joyful atmosphere into one of pure shock.
There were already a lot of attempts made to conquer the forest in the past, but all of them miserably failed.
Entire battalions of knights had disappeared into those woods, never to be seen again. Even high-ranking adventurers spoke of the place with fear. To suggest subjugating it was bordering on madness.
"..."
The King noticed that the people were thinking this. He could see the pale faces and the way the nobles were looking at each other with uncertainty. The doubts were spreading through the crowd like a wildfire.
But that was exactly what he wanted—and so, he opened his mouth and broke the silence. He didn’t look bothered by their fear at all. In fact, he looked even more confident.
"I see the hesitation in your eyes, and I understand your caution,"
The King spoke, his voice booming as he looked over the silent nobles.
"The stories of that forest are many, and the failures of the past are well-known. But this time is different. This time, we do not march into the shadows alone. We march with the blessing of the heavens!"
He pointed at the corner of the room, his finger straight and unwavering.
Everyone’s eyes followed his direction, and there—at the edge of the crowd—they saw Elianna and the others!
The white of their formal clothes stood out against the dark shadows of the corner, making them look like a beacon of purity amidst the luxury of the hall.
"Behold the heroes who will lead our way!"
The King aanouced, his eyes gleaming with a sharp intensity.
"I have spoken with the leaders of the faith, and I am proud to announce that [The Radiant Church] will be accompanying our knights on this glorious campaign. Their priests and holy warriors will be at the front lines, ensuring that the darkness cannot touch our men!"
He added.
Then as soon as the attention was fully focused on Elinna and the group—
"And not only that; the Saintess will personally join us in this mission!"
The King declared that.
And hearing this—
"Huh...?"
Elianna couldn’t believe her ears. Her heart skipped a beat, and her eyes widened in shock.
She looked at Kael, whose smile had completely vanished, replaced by a look of pure confusion. Stanford and the others were just as stunned, looking back and forth between the King and Elianna.
She hadn’t been told anything about this. The Cardinals hadn’t mentioned a subjugation mission. They had only said she needed to attend the ball to represent the Church’s interests. But now, in front of the entire nobility of the kingdom, the King had essentially forced her into a dangerous mission.
’Subjugate the Cursed Forest? With us?’
She thought, her mind racing.