Chapter 129
“Please, have a seat here.”
Eltan guided her to the seat of honor. Seated, Siren straightened her back and looked around.
First, she noticed the head of the Aquafuran tribe and the second son of the Kalik tribe. Then, Bispar entered with a loud commotion, waving at her.
“Oh, Your Majesty!”
“Welcome.”
Hies, who had arrived leading the Nu tribe, barely nodded with a reluctant expression. Siren responded with only a smile.
“Welcome, Your Majesty.”
“Your Majesty.”
Shortly after, Yasamin appeared.
He entered with a blank expression, but the moment he saw her, his eyes widened.
The corners of his lips naturally curled up, and a smile spread across his face.
It was astonishing how drastically his expression could change—he seemed like an entirely different person as he addressed her with unexpected warmth.
“When did you arrive? Did you wait long? I should have come earlier. If I had known you were already here…”
“I haven’t waited long. I was talking with Eltan.”
“I see.”
Eltan, who had been watching Yasamin’s voice turn several shades sweeter than when they first met, made an odd expression. He seemed about to say something but then shook his head and proceeded with the meeting.
“Then, let’s begin discussions on the critical matter. When does everyone think would be the best time to travel to Wilkeron’s capital?”
The answer was obvious. As soon as possible. Tomorrow, even.
The first to raise a hand was Hies.
“In about a week, the sun will be at its weakest. I believe that would be the ideal time to set out.”
“A week later? That’s not bad. It gives us enough time to prepare… What does Your Majesty think?”
At Eltan’s question, Yasamin tapped his fingers against the table.
“Any other opinions?”
“The Aquafuran tribe agrees.”
“The Kalik tribe agrees as well.”
“Then so be it.”
The decision was made rather quickly.
Siren found the swiftness surprising, but before she could dwell on it, Yasamin spoke again.
“We should prepare a sturdier carriage to ensure the queen’s safety on the long journey.”
…Huh?
“If it cannot be made ready within a week, then we’ll extend the timeframe to a fortnight.”
Of course.
She had thought he was agreeing too easily. As expected, he had no intention of being apart from her in the first place.
Glancing at Yasamin, she then looked across the table at Hies, carefully observing his expression.
For just a brief moment—so fleeting it was almost imperceptible—something flickered across his face before he quickly returned to normal.
But Siren had seen it clearly.
It was a sense only those who had suffered countless torments could perceive—a foreboding premonition.
A look of frustration unique to those whose ill intentions had been thwarted.
‘Good. If my trip to Wilkeron is enough to frustrate them, then it’s worth making the journey.’
She had a gut feeling.
Returning to the place that had long weighed her down—perhaps that was what she needed to finally break free from her shell.
She felt fear, and her heart trembled. But she was certain that going was the right choice.
Besides, she was no longer alone.
They could call her a witch who had sold out and ruined the nation—she didn’t care. Because then, she would simply ask them: what had they ever done for her?
Siren stood tall.
Aquafuran? That went without saying.
And with the strength of both combined, she had no intention of bowing her head in Wilkeron.
What had that nation ever done for her, after all?
“Well, the existing carriage will need some modifications, but…”
“Then we’ll set it for a fortnight.”
“Understood.”
“Eltan, you personally oversee that carriage until the very end. Make sure no one tampers with it.”
There was weight in that command.
Yasamin lazily turned his gaze toward the Nu tribe, twisting his lips into a smirk.
It was a chilling smile, the kind that promised death to anyone foolish enough to meddle.
“Now then, Your Majesty, regarding the infected, there is something I must report…”
As the discussion continued, Siren found herself lost in thought.
How many people would still be left in that royal capital?
How had they managed to survive?
‘Ah, there’s Nicoletta and Daphne. They’ll probably want to return this time.’
Would the capital be relocated entirely to the south?
Or would they simply go back and forth?
The meeting, which had begun in the daytime, stretched on until evening.
And the next day—
“Your Majesty, please forgive me…!”
Siren found herself facing Nicoletta, who had thrown herself at her feet, sobbing.
Nicoletta and Daphne were anomalies in the southern royal capital.
No one welcomed them—anywhere.
They had no desire to marry a southern man, nor did they wish to live in this desolate place.
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