Chapter 428 - 427: Estaral Kingdom

Chapter 428: Chapter 427: Estaral Kingdom

Far away from Noctaris...

Beyond countless mountains, forests, and rivers...

A luxurious carriage slowly traveled along the main highway leading toward the Estaral Kingdom.

The carriage itself was anything but ordinary.

Its body was crafted from high-grade spiritwood reinforced with enchanted steel. Elegant golden carvings decorated its sides, while a faded royal crest had been carefully concealed beneath a layer of dark paint.

Although it no longer openly displayed its origin. Anyone with a discerning eye could tell that it had once belonged to royalty.

The road ahead stretched toward a series of towering stone walls that disappeared into the horizon.

Those walls marked the border of one of the strongest kingdoms in this region.

The Estaral Kingdom.

Standing atop the massive walls were hundreds of armored soldiers.

Tall watchtowers overlooked every road leading into the kingdom, while powerful defensive formations shimmered faintly beneath the stone, ready to activate at a moment’s notice.

Merchant caravans formed a long line outside the checkpoint.

Travelers waited patiently as border officials inspected every carriage entering the kingdom.

It was busy, orderly, and heavily guarded.

Inside the carriage. Silence filled the spacious interior.

Ashan quietly lifted one corner of the curtain and gazed through the window.

His calm eyes reflected the towering walls growing larger with every passing minute.

"So..."

"We’ve finally arrived."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

Across from him, Princess Mili also looked outside.

Unlike when they had first left their homeland, the sadness in her expression had gradually faded.

It hadn’t disappeared completely...

But she understood why they had come.

This journey wasn’t simply an escape.

It was a chance to preserve the royal bloodline.

If the worst happened, someone had to survive.

Someone had to rebuild.

She quietly clasped the pendant hanging around her neck.

It had been a farewell gift from her father before they departed.

Every time she touched it, she remembered his final smile.

The carriage gradually slowed.

Outside, one man rode alongside the carriage atop a massive black warhorse.

He wore polished crimson armor adorned with the royal insignia of their homeland.

Although the insignia had been partially covered to avoid attracting unnecessary attention, the quality of his equipment still revealed his status.

He was Sir Darius.

A Tier 6 Royal Guard.

The strongest protector assigned to escort the prince and princess.

His expression remained vigilant.

His sharp eyes constantly scanned their surroundings.

Every traveler.

Every merchant.

Every guard standing atop the walls.

Nothing escaped his attention.

Behind the carriage rode four additional royal guards.

Each one had reached Tier 4.

They maintained a disciplined formation around the carriage, ensuring that no suspicious individual could approach unnoticed.

Compared to Sir Darius...

Their cultivation was lower.

But every one of them had survived countless battles.

Their loyalty to the royal family was absolute.

One of the younger guards rode closer to Sir Darius before lowering his voice.

"Sir..."

"We’re approaching the checkpoint."

Sir Darius gave a slight nod without looking away from the road.

"I see it."

The younger guard hesitated before asking,

"Do you think they’ll recognize us?"

Sir Darius remained silent for a few moments.

His sharp gaze stayed fixed on the towering walls of the Estaral Kingdom.

The massive fortress stood like an immovable mountain, radiating the confidence of a nation that had enjoyed peace and prosperity for many years.

Only after several seconds did he finally answer.

"I hope so."

His voice was calm, yet it carried a trace of exhaustion that hadn’t been there before.

A bitter smile appeared beneath his helmet.

"Because, in truth..."

"We’re literally homeless right now."

The younger guard fell silent.

No one laughed.

No one found those words amusing. Because they were true.

The kingdom they had sworn to protect was no longer theirs.

Their homes...

Their families...

Their comrades...

Everything had been left behind.

Whether their homeland still stood or had already fallen into enemy hands, none of them knew.

The uncertainty weighed heavily on every member of the escort.

Another royal guard, an older veteran with streaks of gray in his hair, let out a quiet sigh.

"I never imagined I’d one day become a refugee."

He looked down at his gauntleted hands.

"I spent thirty years defending our borders..."

"And now..."

"...I’m crossing another kingdom’s border while hoping they’ll allow us to stay."

His words left everyone speechless.

Even Sir Darius lowered his head briefly.

For soldiers, there was no greater humiliation than abandoning the land they had sworn to protect.

Yet none of them regretted the decision.

Their mission had changed.

No longer were they defending walls or cities.

Now, their duty was to protect the future of the royal bloodline.

As long as Prince Ashan and Princess Mili lived...

Their kingdom still had hope.

Sir Darius slowly lifted his head.

His eyes remained firm.

"Fortunately..."

"Our kingdom has maintained good relations with Estaral for many years."

"The royal families have exchanged envoys."

"They’ve conducted trade."

"They’ve even signed mutual agreements in the past."

He paused before continuing.

"I don’t believe they’ll turn us away without hearing our circumstances."

The older guard spoke once more.

"At the very least..."

"We’re not arriving empty-handed."

He glanced toward the carriage behind them.

"The Crown Prince and Princess are valuable guests."

"Our late king and the King of Estaral have some interaction in the past."

"There is still goodwill between the two courts."

Sir Darius nodded.

"Exactly."

"And goodwill is more valuable than gold during times like these."

Inside the carriage...

Ashan had quietly overheard part of the conversation through the slightly open window.

He lowered his gaze.

The words homeless echoed repeatedly in his mind.

Only a few weeks ago. He had lived inside a magnificent palace.

Servants had attended to his every need.

Thousands of soldiers had saluted him wherever he went.

Now, his future depended upon the mercy of another kingdom.

He slowly clenched his fist.

"...One day."

His voice was so quiet that only Mili, sitting across from him, could hear it.

She looked at her brother.

"Ashan?"

"We’ll return."

"We’ll reclaim our homeland."

Mili stared at him for a long moment.

Then, despite the uncertainty awaiting them beyond the gates of Estaral...

A small smile finally appeared on her face.

"...Yes."

"We will."

The line of merchant caravans steadily moved forward.

One after another, wagons passed through the enormous checkpoint beneath the watchful eyes of Estaral’s border guards.

Merchants presented trade permits.

Travelers showed their identification tokens.

The inspections were thorough, yet efficient.

Within the kingdom’s borders, security had become increasingly strict over the past few years. Every person entering or leaving was carefully recorded to prevent spies, bandits, and criminals from slipping through unnoticed.

Finally, the luxurious carriage carrying Ashan and Princess Mili reached the front of the line.

The moment it rolled into the inspection area...

The surrounding guards instinctively straightened.

Even though the royal insignia had been concealed, the carriage itself radiated wealth and prestige.

The polished spiritwood.

The intricate golden engravings.

The enchanted steel reinforcing every corner.

None of it belonged to an ordinary noble.

Even the four escorts riding behind it wore equipment far superior to what most local officers possessed.

Then, the guards’ attention shifted toward the man riding at the front.

Sir Darius.

Although he wasn’t deliberately releasing his aura, the pressure naturally emanating from a Tier 6 expert was impossible for weaker cultivators to ignore.

Several Tier 3 guards unconsciously swallowed.

Even the captain overseeing the checkpoint narrowed his eyes.