Gun of Ashes

The sound of footsteps broke the tranquility of the Platinum Palace. Only a handful of people walked slowly in front of the grand hall, with sunlight filtering through the stained glass and casting colorful hues on their pale faces.

Lorenzo had visited the Platinum Palace before, yet his gaze remained as curious as a child’s first entrance, furtively scanning the surroundings.

Having experienced so much, Old Dunling held no secrets for Lorenzo anymore. He had ventured to the mysterious Perpetual Motion Pump and the Broken Dome and understood them. The Platinum Palace, however, was an exception.

It belonged to the Victoria Royal Family, outside the jurisdiction of the Purification Mechanism, like an impenetrable fortress nestled at the heart of Old Dunling. If not for knowing the Queen resided here, its tranquility could almost lead one to forget its existence.

Lorenzo’s arrival disturbed the peace. Led by Anakin, they stopped before a large door.

Compared to other doors within the Platinum Palace, this one seemed plain, devoid of intricate patterns or designs, abruptly appearing to block their path.

”From here on, you must proceed on your own.”

Anakin stopped outside the door, showing no intention of moving forward, accompanied by the Royal Guard not far away.

”What’s beyond the door?”

Lorenzo asked. Everything about the Platinum Palace was unknown to him, and his previous experiences were under the Queen’s control, with no freedom to explore.

”Royal Domain.”

Arthur suddenly spoke, looking at the door with a tinge of nostalgia in his eyes.

”I’ve been here... it must have been over ten years ago. It’s been so long I almost forgot.”

Saying this, he placed his hand on the door, gradually pushing it until a gap appeared, with no light seeping through, as if a dark corridor lay beyond.

”Let’s go, Lorenzo.”

Arthur entered through the opened gap, and Lorenzo paused for a moment, grasped his cane tightly, and stepped in alongside.

Just as he imagined, unlike the sunlit hall, the passage beyond the door was dark, the steps descending as if leading underground.

”What is the Royal Domain?”

In the corridor, only Lorenzo and Arthur remained, with Lorenzo candidly questioning.

”It’s literal, the domain where the royal family resides,” Arthur explained. ”Haven’t you noticed, apart from the Queen, we’ve never seen another member of the Royal Family?”

”And... do you know the Queen’s name?”

Arthur smiled, asking as they walked.

Lorenzo froze, unable to think of an answer.

”Indeed, it’s peculiar, isn’t it, Lorenzo? The Queen of Ingwig, such a distinguished status, yet we can’t remember her name. But is it really forgetfulness, or is it something we’ve never known?”

In the vast Old Dunling and magnificent Platinum Palace, all anyone hears of is Queen Victoria. Information about the Royal Family remains an impenetrable mystery. Under such secrecy and subtle influence, most ordinary people don’t understand how the Queen is selected. In truth, they don’t care. More seriously, few even know the Queen’s name.

Lorenzo realized this at that moment, surprisingly aware of the misconception and questioning it. From the start, he never knew the Queen’s name. She was always referred to as ”the Queen,” as if her individual identity was unimportant and her role was paramount.

”What is... going on?”

Lorenzo found the matter intriguing, as if a force compelled him to overlook investigation into this, with Arthur prompting realization he might never have noticed.

”You’ll find out soon.”

The corridor reached an end, revealing an expanse of grass with a dome above casting light. Lorenzo didn’t know the precise location but inferred they were beneath the Platinum Palace, forming a semi-concealed underground fortress.

On the grass, people walked wearing black gas masks, bodies completely cloaked by heavy coats, silent except for heavy breathing.

Lorenzo never imagined Cleaners would be here, and looking around, he saw them almost everywhere, like guardians.

Others wore white clothes, mostly seated in wheelchairs, pushed by attendants to bask in the sunlight. Some moved freely, mainly children running across the grass, soon caught by the attendants for reprimanding.

”Anti-Meme?”

Witnessing this, Lorenzo instinctively recalled that force entirely opposite to erosion.

”Yes, the King’s Curse haunts the Victoria Royal Family. To ensure continuity, the best way is to make everyone forget. To the world, it remains a vague term, not representing any person or place.”

This was a forgotten territory, even for someone like Arthur who’d visited before. Without intentional recollection, it’s hard to remember.

The area is protected by Anti-Meme, fully managed by the Cleaners.

”Cleaners... is this also their base of operations?”

Lorenzo asked curiously.