— [ WALTZ OF CROWNS ] —

-『CHAPTER 02』-

« Heiress of the House of Novaldein »
— Velestina von Novaldein —

"By far the fastest messenger avian of all is undoubtedly the Crimson Hawk. However, breeding and training such birds are a strenuous low yield endeavour thus there's only a handful of these speedy creatures available. As a matter of fact Milady, I even heard that our own motherland «Arklaund»  only has less than a dozen of these avian messengers. Due to these factors, crimson hawks are mostly only relegated when a national emergency occurs henceforth it is also infamously known as Birds of Omen."

Jahna expounded before incredulously asking me why I had forgotten all these when in fact, I apparently had even once had a Crimson Hawk as a pet back at home.

I really couldn't tell her that I'm still in the process of consolidating Veleina's memories thus I only made some half-baked excuse that somehow the fever had in some way addled my mind.

Jahna then helped me put on my coat before I proceed towards the ship's upper deck wherein I notice some of the soldiers crowding upon a bird that's perched onto the left shoulder of a tall man whose commandeering the ships control wheel.

"Milady Veleina," Solemnly greeted by the man as he took hold of the hawk and brought it closer towards me. I just wordlessly nodded in response before cautiously holding the avian in my hands. There's a backpack strapped into the back of the bird and upon opening it, I found a narrow cylindrical tube that's bearing a familiar insignia that looks exactly the same as the one etched at the ring on my middle finger.

A snake eating its tail?

Novaldein sure does have a weird familiar symbol.

I then swiftly tried to pull the tube's cap open but shockingly it won't budge all! I tried several more tries exerting more effort after each failed attempts but alas, I've finally ran out of steam yet these tube remains so damn tight.

Heavens, just what did they do to seal this thing?

I finally looked around to ask someone else to pry it for me but to my confusion, everyone's just staring dumbly at me.

"...What?" I asked particularly at no one and all the people around just look at one another as if they didn't know what to say. Eventually the soldier closest to me just scratched his chin and awkwardly responded, "E-Erhm...Milady, may I ask why you're not infusing your Mana and only exerting your physical strength to open it?"

Silence.

I blinked, feeling rather foolish all of a sudden.

....So I have to use my own mana to open this thing?

I felt like facepalming myself.

I turned back my sight at the tube I am holding and....wait.

How do I infuse this with mana anyway?

I can't really ask anyone since everyone seem to be wary of me so instead, I've tried recalling the memories of that Grand Magus I've stumbled upon back in the purgatory. In that old man's views, every living creatures have an innate magical circuits within their bodies and one only needs to focus upon these circuits to activate magic. 

I let out a curt breath before closing my eyes. 

All I did back in the purgatory was to meditate so channeling my focus really came easy for me. I effortlessly delve right into my innermost core and found a soothing sensation akin to a river smoothly flowing within my veins.

I concentrate upon these 'river' and imagines it flowing out of my hand. I then once again opened my eyes and found my left hand shrouded in a thin layer of purple hue.

"Let's see if this works then," I whispered before unscrewing the cap of the tube without much resistance. 

There's a couple of parchments rolled up inside and I carefully pulled both out of the narrow container. I then unrolled the two but to my confusion, these papers didn't contain any words and are completely blank.

Do I need to impart my mana on these papers too?

I tried doing the same thing and my guess was proven correct when sentences etched in dark purple began to appear on the surface of the paper, just like the color of my own mana.

It seems to be written personally by my own grandfather, Zerxius Novaldein, the Grand Naval Admiral of Arklaund's maritime army.

" Greetings my dear granddaughter Velestina, 

I hope you are in good health as you embark onto the voyage onwards the colonies in the New World. I wouldn't beat around the bush for time is of the essence and will impart you the crux of this urgent message. 

A coup d'etat!

At the twentieth day of the third month, precisely last week by the time of this writing, our nation, Arklaund befalls into a civil war of massive proportions! This revolt are spearheaded by the « Nationalé Socialist Faction » and they have seized the imperial palace and tried to make the supreme Kaiser abdicate.

These Narfá imbeciles then took over the palace and blitzkrieg most of the eastern territories before seizing all control over the capitol. Luckily, the Kaiser somehow managed to escape along with some of the nobles serving him and are now seeking refuge in one of the fiefdoms controlled by the « Conservative Faction. »

Henceforth Arklaund as of now is in a state of civil war and are separated into two opposing sides that are vying for supremacy. 

By gods all these begotten fools are giving me a headache!

Our household and the naval army I control have taken a neutral stance to cleanse off our hands upon this whole debacle since we're already stretch far too thin with protecting our nation's borders.

The Kaiser recently sent me a message stating that he's concerned that the turmoil here at the mainland would eventually affect our offshore colonies overseas. Currently most officials presiding there including the acting Viceroy seems to be affiliated to the Narfá and so the Kaiser fears that the Enemy Faction will seize control of all our settlements there as well thus he wants you to pacify the situation there in the New World and seize the Viceroyalty from the control of the Narfá.

I know that you feel bitter at being sent to these backwater colonies due to that whole debacle with the Kaiser's son at the Royal Academy and the annulment of your engagement with him but alas, please understand that the Kaiser force his authority onto me so I was left no choice but to agree on your appointment no matter how reluctant I am.

The other parchment contains your formal induction which includes an Imperial seal hence it can act as an official writ. This will give legitimacy to your cause and anyone who dares disobeying and won't acknowledge your authority shall be punished as you see fit. Whilst the mainland is in turmoil, the Kaiser wants you to oversee the colonies and prevent the Narfá from consolidating their power-base over the New World as much as possible.

A revolt there as well is last thing we need at these turbulent times and the Kaiser knows how keen your domestic and political acumen are thus you're the only one that he could appoint for which have the capabilities to do this task.

I know that this might be a tall order but rest assured that I will try my best to send off some reinforcements within the next months or so to aid you in this endeavor.

Troubled times are upon us so keep your head and blade sharp my dear little Velé.

May the grace of the holy maiden befall onto us so that we may prevail over this national predicament. 

— Grand Admiral, Zerxius von Novaldein."

Silence.

Unbelievable.

This is totally unbelievable.

I just felt the urge to rip these papers apart after reading it thoroughly. 

This can't be real.

C-Civil War!?

"W-What does it says Milady?"

Asked by the a soldier and I let out a long exasperated sigh before pinching the bridge of my nose in a gesture of pure vexation. 

"...The capitol was seized by the Narfá and the Mainland is currently embroiled in a civil war."

A dead silence reigned for a couple of seconds before gasps and curses could be heard all around me. I really couldn't blame these fellows since I too felt like cursing like a damn bloody sailor at the moment.

That bloody Xenobian war just ended three years ago yet these leftists warmongering imbeciles got the nerve to do something asinine like this when the nation is just barely starting to recover. 

Just what the hell are they thinking!?

"So do we have to turn back Milady?"

The captain asked me with a hardened expression but I simply shook my head with reluctance.

"...No, as much as I want to go back, I was given an official mandate by the Kaiser hence we will still proceed onwards the New World since I also received orders to seize the Viceroyalty and govern the settlements there."

Disappointment quickly ensues upon these soldiers as their morale plummets so I quickly added, "Rest assured everyone, I know that you're worrying about your loved ones back at central. Seeing as we may end up staying long term within the new world, I will ask Admiral Zerxius to gather up and include your loved ones together with the rest of the reinforcements when they embark on their departure. This way they too could escape the turmoil back at the mainland."

Expressions of reliefs etched onto the faces of everyone whilst I on the other hand, felt as if my world turned upside down.

Her as the regent colonial Viceroy?

Sure Veleina seems to have some experience in domestic governance due to her grandfather ordering her to govern their fiefdom, however that single domain really couldn't be used in comparison since the industries and population of the colonies are in a much larger scale.

How the hell am I going to manage several colonies?

My woes deepened as we sail onwards the New World.