The Mythical Path of a Princess from a Destroyed Kingdom

She shook the teddy bear's arm, her mind filled with images of the two of them. Completely clueless about romantic relationships, she felt a jumble of emotions, unsure of what she was struggling with.

Just as Maginus was falling into a new round of confusion, the maid knocked on the bedroom door with a message: "Your Highness, Miss Inser invites you to go to the opera. What is your response?"

"Ah, Father, you'll still let me go out?"

The girl turned around in surprise. She had thought that after the assassination attempt, she would have to stay in the palace and not be able to go out at all. But now the news had reached her and she had to confirm it herself.

"Yes, His Majesty said he would send more guards to protect you, not to mention Captain Susan and Miss Inser are also there."

Very good!

After telling the maid who brought the news that she would be going and asking her to inform Inser, Maginus excitedly led the other maids into the bedroom, picked out a dress for the trip, and immediately changed into it with their help.

Taking a deep breath to ease the tightness in her chest, she sat in a chair waiting for Inser to arrive. Soon after, the blonde girl in a long white dress entered the bedroom, opened the door, and embraced Maginus.

"Oh, my sweetheart!"

"Hey, you're not married yet!"

Upon hearing this address, Maginus blushed and pushed away her fiancé. Inser pouted and pretended to be pitiful: "But you are already my fiancée. We can't be like we were not long ago."

"Well……"

Before she could react, Inser took the opportunity to kiss Maginus, then pulled her up from the chair and led her out the door: "Alright, alright, let's hurry up and go see the opera. I heard that a famous troupe from out of town is performing today."

After being abducted from the palace, Susan was already waiting by the carriage. Inser curled the corners of her mouth and gave the guards a contemptuous smile from out of Maginus's blind spot.

They boarded a carriage bearing the crest of the Lutti family and soon arrived at the McKay Opera House, located at the border between the wealthy and the working-class districts. Maginos, who had been specially disguised with magic, alighted from the carriage with Inser and walked into the theater under the gaze of the crowd.

Inser had already reserved a penthouse box. The three of them, along with two maids, entered the box. Maginus looked down at the stage and asked the young lady beside her, "So what show is on today?"

"It seems to be a new drama, about the love story of a noble couple from two opposing factions." Inser picked up a hand-drawn poster and handed it to Maginus. Looking at the handsome men and beautiful women on the poster, she was quite looking forward to it.

After a while, as the lights gradually dimmed, the show began, and the female performer on the poster took the stage first, singing a melodious song.

Maginos's eyes widened in surprise. She sensed a slight fluctuation of magic, and it was clear that the performer knew some techniques of magical singing.

"She's a bard?"

"Anyway, he should be one of the superhumans in the category of music spellcasting, but he might just have some skills." Inser wasn't too concerned, since this actor wasn't a permanent resident of the capital, there was no need to observe him too much.

Using her beautiful singing voice and magic, the audience was gradually drawn into the story. Maginos did not sense any trace of magic that was detrimental to her, so she also began to enjoy the performance.

Hmm... is it really appropriate for me to watch an opera here by myself...?

The stage quickly transitioned into a battle scene, and as the actors attacked each other with unsharpened wooden swords, Maginus was once again pulled away from appreciating the performance, feeling quite uneasy about her own behavior.

The situation is already so dangerous, yet the wealthy businessmen haven't seen much of it. Why are the nobles in the rich neighborhood still so calm?

Maginus reached out and gently tugged at Inser's sleeve before asking the question. Both Inser and Susan behind her paused, unsure how to explain it to Maginus.

Does that mean they should just say, "The Imperius royal family is finished; they're prepared for a change of leadership and aren't worried about being dragged into the conflict"?

The princess seemed to realize something, and silently withdrew her hand. Suddenly, she felt that the performance wasn't so good after all, and her gaze swept over the faces that were engrossed in the opera.

……

When the performance ended, Inser clearly noticed that her lover was in low spirits and didn't know how to continue their date. Just then, a tall woman passing by raised her eyebrows and looked at them:

"Miss Inser, it's been a long time."

The red-haired girl, with her head down, looked to the side. The first thing she saw was a towering mountain peak that was nearly half exposed, followed by an extremely alluring face. The incredibly seductive appearance made Maginus's expression become dazed.

All eyes were drawn to the scantily clad woman. Inser, who had seen her before, flashed a hint of wariness in his eyes. He pulled Maginus behind him and then had Susan stand at the front: "Hello, Ms. Mackaysti."

Chapter 14 The Strange Woman

Maginus, who had been pulled behind Inser, secretly glanced at the woman known as Mackayshti, still filled with amazement.

She was incredibly beautiful. From her temperament, appearance, clothing, and every other aspect, this woman was the most beautiful woman Maginus had ever seen. However, she was somewhat dissolute and...wicked.

Strange, how come she didn't notice such a beautiful person just now?

Maginus thought back carefully and realized that she only noticed Inser after Mackay called out to her. Before that, she had no idea that Inser existed at all, as if she didn't exist at all.

"Who is this?"

After calling out Inser's name, McKess glanced at Maginus, who was being protected behind him, with a slightly amused look. Susan stepped forward to block his view.

Although she didn't know who this person was, the fact that Inser had asked her for help and hid behind her because of her definitely indicated that the person in front of her was very dangerous.

The woman with long, black hair gave a charming smile, not paying any attention to their actions. She simply raised her hand and said meaningfully, "Miss Inser, I hope you will take good care of my theater and tavern in the future."

"Sorry, I'm engaged. I'll be a regular at the theater, but I'll pass on the pub."

Inser shook his head. The woman didn't reply, her lips remaining upturned. Her gaze pierced through the two of them, landing on Maginus, and she spoke to someone else, seemingly saying:

"Hmm, if you encounter any difficulties, you can come to me. I can handle anything here, as long as you are willing to pay the price."

As soon as she finished speaking, Mackaysti strode up and swayed her hips to board a crimson carriage. When she opened the door, a whiff of smoke filled Maginos's nostrils.

In that instant, the air, thick with the smell of sulfur and ash, filled the girl's lungs, and fragmented scenes involuntarily flashed before her eyes.

Endless lava flowed across the dark red earth, the sky was crimson, and black smoke shrouded everything there.

Blinking, Maginus came to her senses and watched the carriage leave before asking Inser about the person's background: "Inser, who exactly is she? Why do you seem so afraid of her?"

"Let's talk about it once we're in the car."

Inser pulled Maginus's hand and got into the carriage. Then, with a dark expression, she told Magneti and Susan about her background. It turned out that she was a merchant who was also connected to the underground exchange. She controlled nearly half of the various taverns and dance venues in the capital, including the Magneti Opera House.

"But that's not enough to make you so afraid of her, is it?"

Maginus was still puzzled. In the Kingdom of Nesery, big merchants usually had titles. Correspondingly, merchants without titles had no way to fight against nobles, and the same was true for gangsters.

Inser shook his head: "Of course not because of her identity. Besides being a merchant, she is also a very powerful professional. For some reason, I... had a guard whose strength reached that mid-level once fought her and was utterly defeated."

"More importantly, I suspect she has connections to the lower realms."

The lower realm!? Hell or the abyss?

Looking at her pointing index finger, Maggie Nuss's eyes widened instantly. Recalling the scene that had appeared in her mind earlier, she believed it to be about 50% certainty: "Don't the church in the city and Father know about this?"

"It's just suspicion. The church... I guess the church and His Majesty the King have investigated several times, but no problems have been found with her."

Inser touched his cheek, recalling the dangerous woman's last words, and grabbed Maginus's hands to remind her: "So Maginus, if you encounter danger, remember to come to me, not to go to this stranger."

"I know, and Susan is here too." Maginos nodded obediently, indicating that she would listen.

After watching the opera, Maggie returned to the palace and kissed Inser goodbye. Shortly after entering the bedroom, there was another knock at the door: "Maggie, may I come in?"

"Mother, please come in."

Hilda Imperis pushed open the door and saw her daughter changing clothes. After closing the door, she sat down beside her and asked, "So, how did your first date with Inser go after the engagement?"

With the help of the maid, the girl Junyang Wuyiqi VIII[Baling Qi Liuyi] relaxed her straight back: "Hmm... it's okay, I just tend to overthink things."

What are you thinking about?

After dressing in her pajamas and dismissing the maid, Maginus cast a silencing spell on the room, lay down on the bed, using her mother's knees as a pillow. After a moment of silence, she managed to ask:

"Mother, are we in a very bad situation? Are we going to die soon?"

Maginot didn't really understand the meaning of "death," but she knew that the souls of the dead flowed into the River Styx and traveled with its waters to the outer planes.

If they are not resurrected within a certain period of time, most of them, who have lost their memories after being washed away by the River Styx, will be transformed into creatures called Prayers in an outer plane that matches their behavior. If they believed in a certain god in their previous life, they will most likely be in that god's divine kingdom.

The good ascend to the place of goodness, and the wicked descend to the place of wickedness.

The girl was actually somewhat afraid of death because she was a casual believer, someone who sometimes talked about gods but didn't have a devout faith. She wondered if she could live a happy life after being reincarnated as a Prayer.

Hilda gently stroked Maggie's cheek with her warm hand, comforting her daughter who was afraid of the future: "Don't worry, we will definitely get through this. Besides, your father, me, your mother Sylvia, your sister, and your brother are all still here. Don't be afraid."

"Ah."

Maginus turned her face to her mother's belly and gradually fell into a deep sleep. Hilda felt both gratified and heartbroken for her obedient daughter.

Even if we all leave, you still have Susan and Insel. If even they abandon you...

Hilda gently lowered her daughter from her lap, tucked her in, and sighed deeply, contemplating a completely dark future. She clasped her hands tightly in prayer to the god she believed in.

"Great light of endless hope that my daughter can grow up well like her older brothers and sisters, and live with hope even if the road is full of thorns."

Queen Hilda leaned down to kiss her daughter's face and quietly left the room, unaware of Maginot's furrowed brow, which was furrowed as he succumbed to a nightmare.

Chapter 15 The Storm Is Coming

“Maggie, don’t go out with Inser these next few days. And if anything happens, you must run to the cemetery, understand?”

"Understood, Father."

Maggie emerged from the study, her eyes filled with fear and worry. It had been about two months since her first date with Inser.

Over the past two months, the allied forces seem to have experienced some internal divisions, causing their offensive to slow down, and they have yet to break through the last layer of defense of the Kingdom of Nesery.

But for Lynch, this was more like the calm before the storm. He knew that what those people wanted was not the wasteland, but a more complete and orderly territory.

In other words, the military is only one part of the plan; the other is to take direct action against them. This is a world with extraordinary powers, and decapitation strikes are very effective.

Maginus returned to her bedroom, took out the love letters Inser had written to her during this time, and read them again, suppressing her worries about her loved ones.

The eldest brother, Kadenor, led the army outside the city to guard the capital, while the second brother, Senor, led a group of mages to protect the palace together with the inner city army of his sister, Beth. The only thing she didn't know was the whereabouts of the third brother, Walker, whom she hadn't seen for a long time.

The atmosphere in the palace gradually became somber. She noticed that the nobles were coming less and less these days, and the entire palace was like an isolated island... like a tomb.

Her father sent her to the royal cemetery located behind the palace, where a ridge road led directly to the capital's sewers, serving as one of the secret escape routes.

If anything unexpected happens, her father's plan for her is for everyone to leave through different secret passages and then reunite using magic once outside. The same applies to Maginus; instead of heading to Insel for the time being, she and Susan should hide away first.

As for whether it was true or not, and whether her father had other plans, Maginos wasn't entirely sure, but the young girl was already prepared for sacrifice or the death of her loved ones.

That's what she said, but the thought of it actually happening still made her feel extremely distressed and scared.

I wonder how Inser is doing. If we really have to run away, we should go to her house first...

"Susan! Susan!?"

Taking a deep breath to clear her mind, Maginus called out to the captain of the guards standing outside the door. The blue-haired attendant pushed open the door and stood beside her: "Your Highness, is there something you need?"

Reaching out to hug Susan, the cold, hard armor gave Maginus a sense of security. She didn't notice Susan's stiffness and looked up with teary eyes: "Susan, you'll protect me, right? No one can kill me, right?"

“Please believe me,” Susan said, looking at the princess who was holding her, her expression full of struggle, but she finally reached out and hugged Maginus back. “As long as I am by your side, no one else can kill you before I die.”

Hearing Susan's comforting words, Maginus felt a little relieved and took her hand, pleading, "Can we stay in the bedroom? I'm a little scared."

"Yes."

……

In the dead of night, a dark figure evaded the patrolling soldiers within the palace. Soon, he reached the edge of the palace wall, and a slip of paper floated down from outside the wall, bearing a line of text written on it:

They will take action at 11 PM four days later.

The capital city outside the palace was not as peaceful as it appeared. The superhumans and soldiers who had arrived earlier were ready to attack the palace, and the nobles who had been won over had also taken up weapons for rebellion.

The royal family is not without its supporters. They have also noticed the unusual situation and are actively preparing for war. If they can successfully weather this storm, the situation will return to a tug-of-war on the battlefield, and there is still a possibility of turning defeat into victory.

If the Imperius royal family fails to withstand this "secret" attack by the allied forces, then there's no point in talking about the future.

But is it really possible for them to protect the Imperius royal family?

The supporters were uncertain, as rumors circulated that Walker Imperis had disappeared for a full month, as if Lynch Imperis had hidden him away.

"Four days later? Couldn't it be a few months later!?" In Inser's mansion, the blonde girl, upon hearing the news, stood up from her chair, looking furious.

The reason is simple: Maginus's birthday is in five days. To launch an attack the day before her birthday, no, just a few hours before her birthday, would cause her lover immense pain!

“My daughter, this is not something I can control. The best time to act is in four days.”

Aibes banged on the table, trying to persuade his child through the screen: "Due to the prolonged war, there are disagreements within the coalition on various issues such as the division of interests and even casualties. We can't delay any longer."

"If we don't completely dismantle Imperius's rule over the Kingdom of Nesery this time, the allied forces will probably be unable to continue their offensive."

"What does this have to do with me?"

Inser spread his hands, Ebes sighed, and finally chose to use Maginus as bait to lure his daughter up:

“My sweetheart, you should think of it this way: when Maginus is in the most danger, you suddenly appear in front of her and save her, and then the two of you can spend her birthday together, wouldn’t that be better?”

It's a birthday for both of them.

The extremely sickly blonde girl, revealing her possessiveness, suddenly realized that what her father said made a lot of sense, and nodded in agreement.

……

"Four days from now, are you all ready?"

Lynch and his two wives sat in the study, looking at their four children, who held power, through a screen. Walker, who had disappeared, was also among them.