Building a Kingdom and Conquering the World-Chapter 231: Eleanor’s request (1)

Eleanor studied the man before her. Deep black eyes, yet within them, a strange purple glow flickered like a soft fire. His dark coat stood in stark contrast to the blood-colored snow, his presence commanding yet oddly effortless. But what caught her attention most was his smile, easy, natural. Too natural. Even the princes of the Sylvanhart Empire rarely smiled like that.

Then, without hesitation, he extended a hand toward her.

The gesture was so casual, so out of place, that Eleanor hesitated for the briefest moment. Her golden eyes flicked from his outstretched palm to his face. A handshake.

Among the empire's nobility, such a greeting was nearly unheard of, especially between the royal class. She was the fifth princess of a big empire.

Immediately, she sensed her guards tensing behind her, hands drifting toward their weapons. A silent glance from her was all it took to stop them. She turned her gaze back to Henry, noting how he seemed utterly unbothered, as if their reaction had been expected.

"Henry von Stahl, King of Stahl" - he introduced himself as her delicate fingers met his, his grip firm yet controlled. Even through his gloves, he could tell, her hands were smooth, untouched by any hardship.

As he released her, Eleanor tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable. "Stahl?" she murmured. "Isn't this kingdom known as Aritreia? That's what we—"

Her words faltered. Suddenly, she reached for her handkerchief, turning slightly as a fit of coughing overtook her. A deep, ragged cough, thick with something wet. When she pulled the cloth away, fresh blood stained the pale fabric again.

Henry watched silently as she steadied herself with a slow but deep breath.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he spoke. "How about we continue this conversation at the castle?" His voice was smooth, casual, as if he had not just seen her spit blood "It is warm inside, and I have had food prepared."

Eleanor took a moment to think before nodding. "That would be for the best," she said, turning toward the carriage. Zolun followed closely behind her, his movements stiff with unspoken concern. As she stepped inside, another fit of coughing echoed from within, though it was quickly muffled.

Oben, already seated at the reins, watched Henry with a scheming gaze. The venom in his eyes was obvious, but Henry didn't mind. What could a mere coachman possibly achieve?

After ensuring the princess was safely inside and his soldiers repositioned themselves in a tight formation around the carriage, Zolun approached Henry. His posture was rigid with one hand resting on the hilt of his sword while extending his free hand towards the king.

"I am Zolun, Captain of the Fifth Princess's entourage" - he introduced himself, making no effort to acknowledge Henry's status as king.

Henry didn't mind and grasped his hand, with that easy smile always present on his lips.

The moment their hands met, Henry felt it, Zolun's grip tightening, his fingers pressing down with controlled force. A test. If he were an ordinary man, his bones would have already shattered under the pressure and strength being applied by this daring knight.

Henry's smirk widened.

So, this knight was also in the Sixth Stage, the bottleneck between mortal and transcendence.

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A rare sight in the North. Few here possessed the talent to manipulate mana beyond the third stage, where the ability to project mana beyond the body became possible. There were not many people with this kind of ability in the North.

Henry's grip didn't falter.

Neither did Zolun's.

For a moment, neither man moved. No words were spoken, yet an entire conversation passed between them, silent, weighty, an unspoken acknowledgment between two predators sizing each other up.

Then, just as quickly as it had begun, Henry released his hold, his expression unchanged, his posture still at ease. He had barely exerted any strength, but his hand was still throbbing. This would be a dangerous enemy.

"Good to have you here, Captain Zolun," he said lightly. "Shall we move on?"

"Lead the way," Zolun replied, his voice even. But Henry didn't miss the subtle way he tucked his hand behind his back, hiding the faint tremor in his fingers. Henry's body and brute strength after being tempered by the Sun God Technique was stronger than that of an Orc.

Henry said nothing as he turned away. His steps were slow and deliberate as he walked over the blood-stained snow. He approached Zahra, Agusa, and Leier, his voice dropping to a low whisper, just enough for them to hear.

"Find someone to clean this up. Search their bodies for anything valuable or anything that might tell us why they are here."

The three nodded in silent understanding, their eyes shifting toward the path littered with corpses.

With that, the group began their ascent up the mountain. The rhythmic clatter of hooves and the groaning wheels of the carriage filled the cold air as they rolled over some of the lifeless bodies.

-x-

Eleanor's golden eyes wandered across the landscape outside the carriage window. It had been two months since she had left home, traveling through small kingdoms, never staying in one place for too long. Most of her time had been spent on the road.

Bandits were common, but she had the soldiers she had brought from home, especially Zolun, who alone could crush a small army if needed. The further north they traveled, the weaker the people seemed to be and less mana existed. So, she never felt fear.

"Miss, I think we should turn back." - Zolun's voice crossed the carriage's wooden walls. He had been keeping his eyes locked on Henry, watching him stride up the mountain with an unsettling confidence, even after knowing his strength.

Eleanor didn't turn away from the window. "I cannot go back, Zolun." Her voice carried no hesitation. "And... I do not know why, but I believe that man might be able to help me." A faint smile touched her lips. "My instincts have never been wrong before."

Zolun inhaled slowly. That much was true. Her instincts had carried her through the blood-soaked halls of the Sylvanhart Empire, where siblings turned on each other in a ruthless game for the throne, a game that became a nightmare after the king fell into come. She had foreseen dangers no one else had. That was why he had followed her.

But Henry von Stahl was different.

Zolun had lived his whole life in the empire's royal castle, where those who reached the transcendence stage inhabited. He had also fought against numerous Sixth Stage warriors, but only a few made him pause. Henry was one of them.

Still, he bowed his head slightly. "Then I will protect you, Princess," he said, gripping his sword. "Even if I must give my life."