Juviana continued, “it is a bit complicated if it is someone else's personal property, but we can still make it happen. Thankfully, we don’t have to seize the land by force. I am so grateful for that. The time was impeccable as well.”Shadow slowly lost the ability to talk. Everything she said sounded like an angel's sound to Shadow. The sound of flowing money rang inside her head. It sounded beautiful. Juviana was indeed so generous. “How– how can you give me a beneficial contract like this? What– what if your people riot or something?”The document Shadow received had Litana’s name and thumbprint stamped on it. As soon as Shadow signed it, it would be a valid complete contract. In retrospect, it was almost a done deal. If Shadow signed this contract, the vast shoreline would be hers for eternity. The ownership would be returned to Juviana or her descendent once Shadow passed away. “You are as I imagined, Lord Holiness.” Juviana was extremely happy for some reason even though she
“Miley!” “Juviana. What do I owe you?” Juviana subtly looked at Shadow who was behind Nathan and arrogant Miley back and forth. She could feel the rising temperature, not because of Miley. As the lord of the kingdom, the queen’s mood sometimes affected the temperature of the kingdom.However, she knew for a fact that this dropping temperature wasn’t her doing. It felt sharp and menacing.“Miley, me, my friends, and Lord– Lord Holiness wishes to meet you personally.” Juviana had to step up because their complexion wasn't good at all.Shadow, specifically. She was smiling under the mask, but her demeanor suggested otherwise. Juviana didn’t want Shadow to turn her back on her best friend over a mistake like this. Nathan had spoken to her regarding Shadow’s personality. The cute lady held a grudge. For a very long time. The grudge only dissolves if Shadow personally took good care of it.“Your friends?” Miley openly glared at Ali and Ibrahim, then she flinched. “Lord Holiness? You’re s
“Gasp!” Miley lowered her gaze, biting her lower lip. “Lord– Lord Holiness.”“Do you know what your mistake is?” Sharp and icy.The Lord gave her no room to work up an excuse. She watched Miley closely and noted every change in her face. She knew that much. “How’s life?” Shadow leaned closer. “I know, for a fact, you act blind and deaf when you hear about your best friend’s situation. A selfish best friend, I presume.”Jerked. Badump! Badump! Badump!Her heartbeat increased tremendously. It was the sign that she was caught red-handed.“Raise your head.”It was a command from Lord Holiness. There was no compromise, at all. She had already figured out her real personality.Queen Miley, the lord of her own kingdom, only focused on it. She discarded her friend’s help and acted dense ever since. Miley was a selfish bastard that cared not carelessly about everything around her as long as they were not from Miley’s kingdom.Even if it means abandoning her best friend. She would do it. “P
“Shhh… everything will be alright.” Her voice was still full of softness but to Miley, it was full of disdain.“No, no, no…” Miley cried even louder than before.“I was stupid…” Juviana kept on repeating the same sentence while sobbing.“No, you’re not stupid. A little unwise but definitely not stupid. You are the smartest person I’ve ever seen. Even braver than anyone else. Not many dared to risk their lives for their people. You are brave and wise.”Juviana lifted her head, looking at the kings. She didn’t know why she did it but she must see the reaction as well.Thankfully, they seemed to agree with Shadow. Their heads were nodding albeit tinily.“Uwaaaaaa~” She wailed even harder when the fellow kings agreed with Shadow. “You’re *sniffle* my new best friend.” “Cool, cool, cool, cool.” Shadow patted her back.“No, no! I am your best friend! Juvi! Please don’t–”ROOOOOAR!Miley’s plea was cut off by the majestic roar of Double. Shadow zipped her mask back and looked up.{I am her
“Why?”“Juvi believes in you.”“And you believe in me?”She nodded vigorously.“Just like that?”Nodded again.Shadow’s brain instantly short-circuited. “Why– I mean why? Why– why?” Goosebumps attacked her whole body.[What is wrong with these elves?]Shadow asked her father.‘Daughter, I am not so sure, myself.’ Ibrahim answered her by talking to himself.[Why are they so… blindly trusting an unknown person like me?]‘Tell me about it, daughter.’[Weird, this is weird. So weird. Daddy, talk to her.]Shadow became uncomfortable as Miley looked at her with shining eyes.Nudge.Ibrahim nudged Shadow’s head with his sharp knee.[Aw! Stop doing that!]‘You deserve it.’[No, I am not.]“Lord…”‘Quick. She is talking to you.’“Aw!” Shadow exclaimed sharply.Ibrahim watched Miley sharply even after nudging Shadow’s head with his knee for the second time. Acting as if he did nothing.Shadow maintained her icy aura. Her pupils steadily shifted at Miley, looking down at her.Meanwhile, Miley’s
Shadow was flabbergasted. She’d never viewed them to be this… dark.‘Damn. so savage.’Suddenly, Shadow had no ability to talk. These beautiful girls had talked about burning the corpses to destroy the evidence of their misdeed in a casual manner. Shadow wasn’t that heartless.‘Must I learn from them?’She wondered alone.“Don’t you dare learn any of that from them, daughter!” Ibrahim’s voice snapped her back to reality. Suppressing the arising curse that was just at the tip of his tongue.Shadow smiled and raised both of her hands promptly. “Chill.”“I can’t be chill. I know you’re too well.” He narrowed his eyes.Shadow submissively nodded her head and changed the topic because she had a better thing to do than argue with her father.“We’ll hurry as soon as you finish with your ceremony. Juvi, Miley, work together and burn the corpses together. Their ashes will be scattered into the river.”“Roger that.”“As you wish, Lord Holiness.”&&They resumed their journey after Shadow and Ju
“Like an assassin?” Miley’s eyes sparkled.“Similar.” Shadow agreed. “Now, wake up. You need to give them a ride and wait for them until they finish.” Shadow stroked Hide and Falcon.{Okay.}Hide stretched his body while Falcon yawned. They were forced to rest for this very purpose anyway.“Don’t worry. You still can feel their weight. So, there’s no will be accident where you accidentally forgot about them. If you don’t feel their bodies, stop and let them come back to you.”Shadow was seriously talking to the falcons and gave sincere guidelines to make sure everything went smoothly. These birds would be the assurance. They would be her little spies to understand and measure the geography of the enemy’s area and building.After preparing for a while, the two falcons took off while carrying the two invisible birds on their bodies. One small bird on each of their bodies.“Now, we’ll wait.” Shadow looked around. “I think we can stop here.”&&At the same time, inside the Safani dungeon.
The next morning, they moved faster than before. They had a few dozen more even before they could enter the city.It took them a few more hours.“I am afraid we will have to stop here.” Shadow raised her hand and jumped down Double’s back mid-running. Shrrrrrk!Doubled made a sudden stop resulting in Hide and Falcon, who slept on his back, being flown to the ground.Puk!{Aw!}{Kergh!}They were rudely awakened by Doubled unintentionally.{Ops! Sorry, guys.}Double apologetically nuzzled their wings.Falcon and Hide were helped by Double. He nibbled the wings gently and slightly raised his head approximately until the falcons stood with their two legs.Chirp, chirp.At the same time, the small birds were rejoicing on top of their heads.The birds had been flying anxiously right after waking up due to the anxiety that attacked them whenever they were conscious of a bunch of predators’ presence around them.All of Shadow’s pets were carnivores so, their anxiety was extremely taken into