Night fell over Nightfall City, silence reigning in the royal court.
On the massive round table lay a detailed map of the continent.
From Nightfall City to Dawn City, countless roads crisscrossed and intertwined.
Ophelia sat at the head seat, cradling Sylvia in her arms.
The little princess was deeply engrossed in flipping through Volume Four of the Empire Gourmet Compendium.
She showed no intention of participating in the meeting. On the surface. But in truth, her attention had long drifted to that very map.
“Your Majesty, regarding the itinerary, we have several options,”
Grand Duke Glack, the Minister of Military Affairs, spread out an even larger marching map.
Sylvia’s ears quietly perked up. Though she pretended to read, in her heart she was fervently praying.
Take the straight route! Take the straight route! The faster, the better!
Preferably the kind of super-fast path that could be reached in a day and a night. She could sleep on the Bone Dragon Chariot.
Wake up, and they would have arrived at Dawn City. Then she could pretend to be sick for a few days before taking another nap and returning home. Perfect plan!
“The first route is the Official Road direct,” Glack drew a straight line on the map with his finger.
“Departing from Nightfall City, passing through Blackwood Plain, straight to Dawn City.”
“It takes seven days in total. The road is flat, suitable for deploying a large army.”
Sylvia rejoiced inwardly. This is it! This is it! She struggled to maintain a calm exterior and kept flipping the pages.
But her eyes no longer focused on the words. All her attention was on secretly eavesdropping on the meeting.
“This route has the highest safety rating,” Glack continued his report.
“All along, these areas are within our sphere of influence, so there will be no unexpected incidents.”
Ophelia nodded, looking pleased.
Sylvia almost cried out in excitement. Great! Mother agrees!
Only seven days, she could endure it! Just as she thought the matter was settled, Avira suddenly stood up.
“Wait!”
Sylvia’s heart dropped sharply. No! Sister, please don’t speak! Please just keep quiet!
“This route is too boring!” Avira waved her hands excitedly.
“What’s so interesting about plains all the way?”
“You’ll be bored to death!” Sylvia froze in Ophelia’s arms. I won’t be bored! I’d rather it be boring! The more boring the better! I hope there’s absolutely nothing along the way!
“Your Highness the Eldest Princess, what do you mean?” Glack asked cautiously.
Danger flickered in Avira’s eyes. She grabbed a red feather pen from the table.
“This is the route we should take!” She began drawing lines on the map.
First, a big loop westward. Then a turn north. Then a circle southward. Finally, a crooked line pointed to Dawn City.
Everyone crowded to look, then collectively sucked in a breath.
Sylvia glanced secretly and almost fainted on the spot. This isn’t a route; it’s a death journey!
Avira’s planned path perfectly connected all the most dangerous points on the broken Western Front.
Giant’s Fall Hill, Dragon Lich Graveyard, Cursed Elven Ruins, Undead Gorge, Bloodswamp…
Each place name sent chills down the spine.
“These places have such beautiful scenery!”
Avira excitedly introduced them, oblivious to everyone’s pale faces.
“Look, Giant’s Fall Hill has ancient war ruins from thousands of years ago!”
“The Dragon Lich Graveyard has glowing bones!”
“The Cursed Elven Ruins even have singing ghosts!”
“We can hunt a few reckless monsters along the way to make fireworks for little sister!”
Sylvia felt her soul about to leave her body.
Fireworks? Those monsters could scare her to death with just one!
She tried to speak but no sound came out. She could only watch helplessly as her sister continued her wild planning.
“And more, more!” Avira grew increasingly excited.
“There are Mandragora in Bloodswamp! Little sister surely hasn’t seen man-eating flowers!”
“The Skeleton Army parades in Undead Gorge; it’s spectacular!”
“We can camp there at night and listen to the wails of ghosts and wolves as lullabies!”
Grand Duke Glack’s face had turned as white as paper.
“Your Highness, that route is probably unsuitable.” He said with a trembling voice. “Those places are forbidden zones, filled with unpredictable dangers.”
“Dangers?” Avira’s eyes widened. “With me here, what dangers are there to fear?”
“Anyone who dares harm my sister, I’ll chop into mincemeat!” As she spoke, her hand rested on the sword at her waist.
A faint wail came from the scabbard.
Sylvia closed her eyes in despair. Her sister’s protective instincts were flaring up again.
Now no one dared to oppose.
“And the monsters there all have great collection value!” Avira continued to promote her route.
“I can catch some to be little sister’s pets!”
“The Dragon Lich’s bones can be made into bookmarks!”
“Mandragora can be planted in the garden as guards!”
“The singing ghosts can be music boxes!”
Sylvia wanted to cry. Those things sounded terrifying! Who wants those kinds of pets! I just want ordinary cats and dogs! Just as she felt hopeless, Ophelia spoke.
“Avira.” The queen’s voice was calm and authoritative.
“Those places carry too much resentment and dust.”
“They’re bad for Sylvia’s health.” Sylvia’s eyes snapped open.
A glimmer of hope flickered in them. Long live Mother!
“But…” Avira still wanted to argue. “No.” Avira instantly wilted.
Sylvia almost laughed aloud. Mother is still the strongest.
“Then shall we take the Official Road?” Glack asked cautiously.
Sylvia nodded wildly inside. Yes, yes! Take the Official Road!
Take the safest and fastest one! But Ophelia shook her head. “No either.”
Sylvia’s heart sank again. Oh no, Mother is going to complicate things.
“Why?” Glack asked confused.
Ophelia stood and walked to the map. Her finger slowly moved across it.
Finally, it stopped at several places marked as neutral territories.
“For years, elves, Dwarves, and the Mage Council have been watching from the sidelines,” Her voice was cold as ice.
“They’re waiting for the right moment, hoping to see us and Humanity destroy each other.”
“If we’re to go on this visit, we must show them.”
Ophelia’s eyes flashed with a hint of danger.
“Show them the grandeur of the Eternal Night Empire. Show them how noble my daughter is.”
Hearing this, Sylvia felt ill. No! I don’t want to be stared at by everyone! I have serious social anxiety!
“So we take this route.” Ophelia drew a new path on the map.
It was between the straight line and Avira’s death journey. It passed the edges of several neutral territories. Passed some important commercial hubs.
Although the distance was twice that of the straight route, it was far safer than Avira’s path.
“This way, we can display our strength without too much risk.”
Ophelia nodded approvingly.
“And the scenery along the way isn’t bad. Sylvia won’t find it boring.” Sylvia wanted to argue. I will find it boring! I want it to be boring! Boredom is my life ideal! But she knew it was useless to speak.
Mother had decided, and no one could change it.
“This route will take half a month.” Glack calculated the distance.
“We will pass the edge of the Emerald Forest, the Dwarves’ trade outpost…”
Each place name drained color from Sylvia’s face.
These places sounded lively. There would definitely be a lot of people watching.
Her social death zone was expanding exponentially.
“Very well.” Ophelia finalized the decision.
“We’ll take this route.”
“Let those indecisive ones see what true royal demeanor looks like.”
Although Avira was somewhat disappointed, she still clapped excitedly.
“Then we can catch elves in the Emerald Forest as guides!”
“Buy the best weapons in the Dwarves’ Kingdom!”
“Watch magic performances in the Mage Tower Alliance!”
Listening to her sister, Sylvia felt as if the sky was collapsing.
This isn’t a friendly visit. It’s a continent-wide tour! With her as the main attraction!
“The meeting is adjourned.” Ophelia stood, holding Sylvia in her arms.
“Everyone, go prepare.”
“We depart in three days.” Everyone saluted and withdrew.
Sylvia was carried by her mother toward the exit, filled with despair.
A half-month tour. How was she going to survive this?
“Sylvia.” Ophelia suddenly spoke.
“What do you think of this route?” Sylvia wanted to say, “Not good. I want the straight route.” But the words turned into: “Whatever Mother decides is right.”
“Good girl.” Ophelia gently stroked her hair. “This visit is very important for you.”
“Let the whole world know you are the most precious treasure.”
Sylvia screamed inside. I don’t want to be the center of attention! I just want to be a quiet, invisible person! But she could only obediently nestle in her mother’s arms. And continue pretending to read her book.
Tour around the continent😭