Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

The Grand Commander left after bidding them farewell.

“Your Highness…” Jaymund Felton was present throughout the whole conversation, so he heard everything clearly. He was scared by Alaric’s plan and wanted to withdraw from the deal.

“I know what you’re thinking, Senior Inspector, but before you make a final decision, please think about it carefully.” Alaric stared deeply at him.

“You mentioned that the heretic cult has been in Veronica for decades. There must have been many cases of disappearances and kidnappings.”

“How did you…” Jaymund Felton stared at him in disbelief.

Alaric shook his head. “It’s not hard to guess. I have also heard of rumors about the heretic cult…”

“They offer human sacrifices for their false gods. I’m sure Veronica’s officials know about this. It’s just that they are powerless to do anything. Please give it some thought before you make your decision.”

Jaymund Felton frowned, deep in his thoughts.

After a moment of silence, he stood up from his seat and said. “Your Highness, I will persuade the other senior inspectors and see if we can ask for more support from the inspection department.”

“Alright, but I hope it won’t take too long, and make sure not to leak any news to the public. We don’t want the heretic cult to know about our plans.” Alaric reminded him.

“I understand. I will remember your words.”

The senior inspector bid him farewell and left with his subordinates.

After they left, Alaric wrote a letter, requesting military support from Astania. He mentioned the threat that Veronica was facing and the possibility of an alliance between the two empires.

This would be a good thing for Astania. If we can form an alliance with Veronica, the only threat left for the country would be the monsters from the Enchanted Woodlands.

Alaric handed the letter to Einar and instructed him. “Send our fastest bird to deliver this letter to the imperial palace.”

“To which imperial palace…”

“To Astania.”

“I understand, Lord Venerable.”

…

In the imperial palace of Veronica, inside her bedchamber, Yskaela Veronica was leaning against the wall. Her face was covered in thick beads of sweat.

It’s acting up again! She groaned as she clutched her head. It felt like her skull was being cracked open with a hammer.

I need my medicine.

She could feel her face heating up. She even saw apparitions in front of her, but she was already immune to this.

It has been a while since she had these hallucinations. Every time they appeared, it felt like something was controlling her mind.

She stumbled and fell to the floor. Her face was pale and it looked like she was in great pain.

Just a little bit more…

She unleashed her mana to temporarily clear her mind. She then grabbed a pill bottle from her cabinet with her shaking hands.

She opened the bottle and took one pill. She then quickly popped it into her mouth.

As the medicine melted away, she could feel her mind clearing up. The splitting headache also disappeared, giving her immediate relief.

Luckily, I have this medicine. I should ask Samantha for more.

She thought when she noticed that there were only a few pills left inside the bottle.

Knock. Knock.

A series of knocks on the door interrupted her thoughts.

Yskaela didn’t respond right away. She wiped off her sweat with a clean cloth and adjusted her emotions.

“Who is it?”

“Your Majesty, it’s me.” The Grand Commander’s voice echoed from outside the room.

“You may enter.”

Creak.

The Grand Commander stepped inside the bedchamber and bowed deeply with an apologetic look. “Please pardon me for disturbing Your Majesty’s rest, but there is an urgent matter that I need to discuss with you.”

Seeing his serious expression, the empress furrowed her eyebrows and replied. “Wait for me at the study. We can talk there.”

“Your servant obeys.”

After he left, the empress changed into a new set of clothes before she headed to the study room.

The Grand Commander was already there when she arrived.

“Have a seat.” She smiled at the old man while motioning for him to sit.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” The old man took his seat.

The empress observed his expression and asked. “Why do you look so gloomy, Lord Grand Commander? Did something happen that made you upset?”

The Grand Commander waited for the empress to sit comfortably before he replied. “I had a conversation with the Astanian Prince and he told me his motives.”

He told her everything he discussed with Alaric without missing a single detail.

The empress adjusted her posture and furrowed her eyebrows. “Do you think he is being truthful?”

She was afraid that it was a plot. She couldn’t bring herself to believe that Astania would willingly offer them help.

Both countries had been enemies for many years so she found it unbelievable for an enemy prince to make such a request.

The Grand Commander shook his head. “I am not sure, Your Majesty. Alaric is a difficult man to read. At first, I thought that he only came here to seek justice for the dead bishop, but it seems like he had other plans. I think Your Majesty should speak with him properly when your mind is clear.”

As the empress’s most trusted subordinate, he was aware of her hallucinations.

Other people thought that the empress was just moody, but he knew that it was far from the truth.

The invincible empress was afflicted with some kind of condition that no doctors or healers could understand.

Yskaela nodded. “Set up a meeting with him. I would like to speak with him in private. Don’t let anyone else know about this.”

“I understand.” The Grand Commander nodded.

Just as he was about to leave, the empress called out to him.

“Hold on.”

“Is there anything else, Your Majesty?” He looked at the empress and waited for her to speak.

“Tell Samantha to bring more of that medicine.” The empress instructed.

The Grand Commander frowned. He looked like he wanted to say something, but he was hesitant to say it.

“Your Majesty, I think…”