NOVPUB
Chapter 225: Arriving at the Border
Time went by quickly and without realizing it, it was already 04:50 am. At this moment, Althea was sleeping soundly in Ren’s arms.
Even though she unknowingly slipped from his arms in the middle of the night, she nestled back into him as if her body remembered where it belonged.
As Althea was having a good dream, Ren opened his eyes.
He didn’t wake her up and only stared at her sleeping face because he knew she really needed a good sleep.
After all, she was a queen, with countless responsibilities resting on her shoulders.
’I’m glad I can help her.’
A soft smile spread across his face as he touched her cheek gently.
When his gaze fell on her pink, seductive lips, he could not help but gulp his saliva.
’She is really an attractive queen.’
He unconsciously moved his right thumb to her pink lips.
But just as he was about to feel her tender lips, Queen Althea woke up.
’Hmm?’
She was not angry when she realized his fingers were on her cheek.
Instead, she turned to him and teased him.
"You really have already fallen for me, haven’t you?" Althea said with a smile.
Ren didn’t respond to her remark. "You are already awake?"
"Ren, be honest with me. You were about to touch my lips earlier, weren’t you?" she asked with a playful tone. "Were you imagining what my lips would feel like?"
Ren said nothing because he was caught off guard by the sudden questions that spilled from her mouth.
She slipped out of his arms and wrapped herself in her furry cloak.
"Sorry to disappoint but a queen isn’t easily kissed, especially a beautiful one." she displayed a teasing smile before leaving his tent.
The corner of his lips twitched.
’I did unconsciously reach for her lips, but I never considered kissing her.’
He shook his head as he smiled.
’Her imagination is quite wild.’
----
Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, they had been traveling toward the border for several days on the back of the massive bird.
At this moment, they were already close to their destination.
Like when they had left the palace, Althea and Zaria wore black veils and furry cloaks.
Their purpose in coming to the border was to observe the situation and make plans accordingly, so they traveled under different identities, not as a queen and a princess.
"We have arrived." Althea spoke abruptly.
Ren turned his head to look at the border between the two kingdoms.
A wide river cut through the land like a deep wound, separating the two kingdoms that had been at war for generations.
The only thing connecting the two kingdoms was a massive bridge at the center of the border, and soldiers from both sides watched it day and night.
No one dared to cross without orders because standing on the bridge meant that only a thin line separated them from death.
Two permanent forts faced each other from opposite sides of the river. Their walls were thick and unyielding, built to last through sieges, storms, and blood.
The situation at the border looked calm, but everyone knew the calm could shatter at any moment, and war could erupt without warning.
As they drew closer to the fort, the soldiers in the watchtowers spotted them.
Just as they were about to launch an attack, a grown man shouted, "Don’t attack them! They are not enemies."
The mature man had black hair and red eyes.
His name was Raiden Austin, a commander of the fort.
Commander Raiden knew they were not enemies because he spotted General Lara on the massive bird.
Even though the two women wore black veils, he suspected they were Queen Althea and Crown Princess Zaria because General Lara stood respectfully behind them.
When the bird was about to land on the ground, Commander Raiden gave an order. "Open the gate."
Right after the gate was opened, Commander Raiden rushed out to welcome them.
Commander Raiden stood straight and said, "Welcome to the fort, Queen Alth-"
Before Commander Raiden had finished his words, General Lara interrupted him. "Commander Raiden, they are not a queen and a princess."
Commander Raiden instantly understood the meaning of her words. "My apologies, General Lara. I misspoke."
"He is Ren. He is our ally." General Lara introduced Ren to Commander Raiden.
"Welcome to our fort, Ren. I’m Raiden." Even though Ren was younger than him, Commander Raiden still spoke respectfully because Ren had arrived alongside their queen.
"Nice to meet you, Commander Raiden." Ren said with a smile. "I will be in your care during our stay."
"Of course," Commander Raiden replied with a respectful nod. "You can count on me."
"Commander Raiden, prepare four private chambers for us." General Lara gave an order. "After that, meet us in the meeting room."
"Understood, general!" Commander Raiden responded.
Ten minutes later, they gathered in the meeting room.
Commander Raiden briefed them on the current state of the border. He said he suspected the Tuiziya Kingdom was plotting something beneath the surface.
"Normally, they are always shouting or mocking us but lately, they have gone quiet. It’s very suspicious." Commander Raiden voiced out his unease.
"Have you noticed anything else?" General Lara asked.
"No." Commander Raiden shook his head.
"Are they goi-"Zaria stopped her words halfway because the voice of a Tuiziya Kingdom fort commander echoed across the entire area.
"Veneian Kingdom, we, the soldiers of the Tuiziya Kingdom, challenge you to a duel. Do you dare accept?" a mature man in black armor uttered.
The grown man had blue hair and black eyes.
His name was Charles Clark, a Grandmaster rank warrior.
Charles infused his energy into his voice, so despite speaking normally, every soldier of the Veneian Kingdom could hear him clearly.
Some soldiers paused their training and turned toward the gate. Ren and the others followed suit, making their way over.
When the heavy gate finally creaked open, they saw soldiers of the Tuiziya kingdom standing before the fort with their gate wide open.
As the two sides stood face to face, tension crackled in the air and the silence between the two forces weighed like a storm about to break.
Some soldiers of the Tuiziya Kingdom crossed their arms over their chests and wore smug faces as if they were already certain of their victory.
"So, how is it, soldiers of the Veneian?" Commander Charles asked, "Will you face us like warriors and accept the challenge, or back down like cowards and walk away?"
"Commander Raiden, please accept the challenge."
"I agree, Commander. They will think we are afraid of them if we reject their challenge."
"Tch! Look at their smug faces! It makes me want to beat them to death!"
"Do they really think they are invincible?"
"Commander, we must not back down!"
The soldiers of the Veneian Kingdom voiced out their anger because they could not stand the arrogant taunts of the Tuiziya soldiers.
Their pride was on the line, and the challenge was like a direct insult, so their blood boiled with a desire to defend their honor and prove their strength.
Commander Raiden didn’t answer immediately and quietly glanced at General Lara and the others, careful not to give away their identities.
He would have made the decision on his own if they had not been at the fort. But now, with their presence in the fort, the highest authority no longer rested in his hands.
It was in the queen’s hands.
’Should I accept the challenge?’
He threw out a question through his discreet gaze.
