Chapter 533: Signs of Conquest ( 533 )

“How did this happen…”

Commander Raikus muttered under his breath as the army thundered across the border trail.

His mind drifted back.

To the throne room.

King Lioness had stood before the grand war map, scrolls in hand, ready to assign Felicia her role in the campaign.

He held out the sealed orders with a calm voice.

“Felicia. This will be your—”

THUMP.

One of the scrolls slipped from his hand and hit the floor.

Before anyone could react, Felicia stepped forward with grace and bent to pick it up.

She opened it.

Eyes widened.

Then narrowed.

“Hah!”

Her voice echoed across the marble floor.

“How dare a mere noble declare war against our kingdom!!”

King Lioness blinked. “Felicia, wait—”

She turned sharply, fire in her steps.

“This man, this Kaxier or whoever, he will regret this!!”

“Felicia!! Wait. That’s not the mission!! That’s the declaration garius youngest son sent as part of—”

But she was already storming out.

Her heels faded into the distance.

Lioness stared at the door.

Then sighed deeply.

“…Raikus.”

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

The king handed him the actual scroll with the mission details.

“This one is… problematic.”

Raikus didn’t respond.

He just bowed slightly and accepted his fate.

King Lioness exhaled slowly and looked at Raikus with the expression of a man who’d been through this before.

“You explain it to her later.”

Raikus frowned. “She’ll probably charge at him and demand a duel.”

“Or worse,” the king muttered. “She might actually try to kill him.”

“…Shall I stop her, Your Majesty?”

King Lioness raised a hand casually.

“No.”

Raikus blinked.

“…No?”

Lioness gave a small shrug.

“Better she learns the truth after she’s calmed down. And maybe this time she’ll actually listen.”

He leaned on the edge of the map table.

“Just make sure the entire army knows the truth.”

Raikus narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Why don’t we just explain it to her?”

King Lioness gave him a look.

A tired look.

The look of a father who had tried too many times.

“Do you think she’ll listen?”

Raikus was silent.

Then slowly nodded.

“…Understood.”

Back to the present. Near the first dwarven town.

The dirt road rumbled under the march of warbeasts and armored boots. Dust trailed high behind the 20,000-strong army.

At the front of the column, Commander Raikus rode in silence.

He glanced ahead at Princess Felicia, still poised atop her mount like a statue of calm nobility, silver hair drifting in the wind, posture flawless, her eyes fixed on the horizon.

She hadn’t spoken a word since they crossed the border.

Raikus exhaled.

How am I going to explain this to her if she refuses to listen…?

He could already imagine the conversation:

“Princess, Lord Javier is not your enemy. He’s actually—”

“No.”

That would probably be the whole answer.

Raikus closed his eyes briefly.

Let’s just hope… she doesn’t get defeated in…

He cut the thought off before it finished.

He wasn’t sure what was worse. Her misunderstanding, or the moment she did understand and decided to act anyway.

Near the first dwarven town.

The abandoned town stood silent in the distance. Broken walls. Collapsed homes. And at its center, a black flag with a golden emblem fluttering in the wind.

Princess Felicia raised her hand.

The entire army halted with precision.

She didn’t speak.

She simply extended two fingers, pointing forward, then sweeping them to the sides.

The scout units moved immediately.

Their beasts sprinted ahead, low to the ground, weaving through the dust and ruin.

Commander Raikus leaned slightly toward her.

“Princess, that town…”

But before he could finish, Felicia raised one finger, signaling him to stop.

She didn’t even look at him.

Just a quiet, motionless gesture.

Raikus fell silent.

She really isn’t going to hear it, huh…

A moment later, the scouts returned.

No resistance.

No traps.

No movement inside.

Felicia raised her hand again, this time, palm open, slicing horizontally through the air.

The formation split instantly.

Cavalry and mage units surrounded the outskirts of the town, encircling it in full.

Then.

Without a word, she lowered her hand.

And with a light pull of the reins.

Felicia charged in.

Raikus followed beside her, motioning for the front squad to move with them.

The dust kicked up behind her heels as she entered the ruined town.

Silent. Focused. Graceful.

Ready to confront the one she believed had “declared war” on her kingdom.

The hoofbeats slowed as the vanguard entered the abandoned town.

Cracked stone roads. Burnt rooftops. Empty silence.

And at the center, the black banner with the golden emblem flapped gently from a weather-worn pole.

Princess Felicia reined her mount to a halt.

Without a word, she stepped down.

Her boots touched the dirt softly.

In one fluid motion, she unsheathed her blade.

A silver flash cut through the air—

Slash.

The pole split cleanly in two.

The banner dropped, twisting in the wind before her feet.

Felicia bent down, picked it up with one gloved hand, and looked at the emblem silently.

She didn’t say a word.

Then she turned and raised her other hand, palm open, fingers tight.

A signal.

The flag bearer of the Beastkin Kingdom rushed forward immediately with a fresh standard.

Felicia stepped aside calmly, still holding the black banner in her grasp.

The soldier planted the new flag. Bold, crimson-red fabric with the royal crest of the Beastkin Kingdom flaring high above the ruined square.

Raikus dismounted quietly, watching the entire exchange in silence.

She hadn’t said a single word.

But the declaration was clear.

This town now belongs to them.

Princess Felicia turned toward Commander Raikus, her voice calm but absolute.

“Commander Raikus.”

He stepped forward instantly.

“Yes, Princess Felicia?”

She didn’t raise her tone. She didn’t need to.

“Place a leader here.”

Her gaze drifted across the town square, then to the broken defensive perimeter.

“Station one thousand soldiers. Set this as our new base.”

Raikus nodded firmly. “Understood.”

Felicia continued.

“Reinforce the perimeter. Build from the remains if needed. Prioritize the southern and western walls.”

She glanced back toward the direction they came from.

“Send a messenger to the capital. Inform them the road is secure.”

Raikus adjusted his gloves. “And the message, Princess?”

Felicia’s golden eyes remained calm.

“Request additional reinforcements. And begin establishing the route for daily supply transport. Food, medicine, maintenance. Standard rotation.”

Raikus bowed slightly.

“As you command, Princess.”

Felicia looked once more at the raised flag above her.

“…No interruptions.”

Then she turned and walked toward the central building, her steps slow, silent, and deliberate.

( End Of Chapter )

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