Even someone like her, who had never been involved in politics, could understand the reason for the ministers' quarrels.

Different cities belonged to different factions, and every minister hoped the new capital would be within their faction's territory, giving them more influence in future court struggles.

Her father and mother never mentioned these things to her.

In Charlotte's beautiful fantasies, faced with the invasion of unknown creatures, the Royal Family and the kingdom's most exceptional Summoners should unite to find a solution to the crisis. However, in reality, they concealed their plans for retreat and relocation from the people, sending unsuspecting citizens to the Divine Tree, even attempting to blind the eyes of the Crimson Queen.

This made Charlotte feel a chill all over, a scene entirely different from what she imagined.

Lady Fengweidie also believed in the association and the Royal Family, so she stayed up all night drafting a letter, convinced that solving the crisis was just a matter of time.

A strong sense of unreality enveloped her, as if kicking her from a fairy-tale world back into cold reality.

Soon, a sense of confusion engulfed her.

She stayed in the grand hall for an entire day but could not find the direction for her efforts.

Now, even members of the Royal Family and ministers were preparing to flee. They mobilized the Summoners from the association, using the kingdom's top strength to escort their retreat, while those about to head to the front were mostly ordinary people without formal training, many having never used creatures in battle.

Maybe she should return to Moon Forest City and leave all recent events behind, at least there she still had her parents and people she knew.

But soon, she thought of someone else.

Ethan.

A poacher of unknown origin, still operating under the identity of Rocket Team's Sakaki.

This gave Charlotte a glimmer of hope again.

She had to leave the Royal Palace, to go back to Ethan's side. If there was anyone who could help the kingdom's people through this crisis, the only one she could think of was Ethan.

He had already saved Moon Forest City and Misty Wood County before.

Charlotte couldn't help but recall the fate mentioned by the ancient tree, an unknown traveler, seemingly brought to this land by destiny when disaster struck.

She snuck out of the Royal City, torchlight illuminating the entire city.

The speaking minister had long left, but the mobilized people of the Royal Capital still voluntarily stayed in the square. They actively prepared for battle, spontaneously forming two divisions, one guarding the capital and the other setting out overnight towards the Divine Tree.

More and more residents responded to the call, and the Cuckoo Bird Daily brought some good news.

The Summoners from the border city had regained their spirits and were forming reinforcements hastening towards the Divine Tree.

They believed the Crimson Queen and the Royal Family were with them, and the battle situation was favorable to them, as long as they held out until the reinforcements arrived, everything would be fine.

As the minister said, the key to victory were these ordinary people who cast aside their fears.

Even if they perished in battle, those who survived would remember their sacrifice and contribution.

Meanwhile, another pair of eyes was silently watching the brightly lit Royal Capital.

"Scarlet, what exactly are you planning?"

The Hanged Man in the mirror finally could not help but ask.

Mechanical creatures, plagues, and the impending catastrophe that would tear this world apart were all products of Her corrupting power, even Black Steel was following Her will.

She had been intent on destroying this world, but not long ago, an ancient person offered Her an invitation She could not refuse. After all, having lingered for millennia in this world, She did not mind waiting a little longer, and was willing to trust Scarlet one more time.

In other words, She could have immediately stopped the calamity.

Yet Scarlet's actions completely baffled Her, even as an Old God who had existed for countless epochs and witnessed everything, She could not guess Scarlet's intentions at this moment.

Scarlet had asked Her to accelerate the world's destruction, witnessing Her dragging Ignatius into the pit of corruption.

Now, the King of Black Dragons, who had lost all reasoning and was acting purely on instinct, was about to ring the death knell.

Scarlet was one of the few who could face the whispers of the Old Gods and engage in equal conversation without succumbing to madness.

This seemed to be an innate ability of ancient beings, and She was waiting for Scarlet's response.

Seeing the red-haired girl in the cabin silent with her head bowed, She further asked, "Charlotte, that human girl, why do you care so much about her?"

The collapsing world, the hero leading people out of calamity, this was the destiny the Crimson Queen had written for this world. Over a dozen years ago, she had guided a white dragon to fly over Moon Forest City—the very day Charlotte was born.

Could it be,

since over a decade ago, she already had a premonition of Ethan's appearance?

And according to the information she previously revealed, she, and all ancient beings, had been waiting for Ethan's arrival.

That person would bring them death, end their long lives, and help them complete their mission.

Fate might indeed exist, revealing a glimpse of destiny to the ancient beings.

Argos, filled with countless thoughts, recalled every word Scarlet had said to Her.

Scarlet believed her own death was inevitable and had already prepared to meet her fate, considering their mission as ancient beings was to help Ethan recall his identity and recover part of the memory lost upon entering this world.

Awakener, noble sacrifice.

Human language would describe Scarlet's action as such.

But…

Having dealt with many ancient beings, She could not believe they would so easily accept their destiny.

At least in Her understanding, Scarlet was a complete deceiver. Once, She too was deceived by her harmless appearance, resulting in spending a millennium here as the price.

Scarlet had bound Her in the mirror world, using Her as an energy source to power this world, and not long ago, Scarlet made Her another promise.

According to destiny, she would die at Ethan's hand.

By then, the seal of the mirror world would be broken, and She would return to reality, with true freedom thereafter. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

However, Scarlet must have known what this meant.

Once Her energy source was lost, the curtain maintaining this "fairy-tale" world would be utterly torn apart. The concept of death would return to this world, desires, wars, hatred… It would revert to its original state, and all of Scarlet's efforts over the past millennium would be in vain.

"What have you been hiding from me again…"

Stopping here, Argos suddenly paused, finding the answer to Her lingering question when She thought of the concept of "death."

"So that's it, so that's it!"

Her tone became excited, "No wonder you value that human girl so much! You infused your power into her body… No, perhaps from the beginning, she was your embodiment of power!"

Had She not seen a similar "embodiment" method from another of Her kind, She might have been deceived by Scarlet again.

During the era when "stage plays" popular, some of His kind, unwilling to stay in the background, used the "embodiment" method to place themselves on stage.

According to the destiny written by the Crimson Queen for this world, Charlotte would lead humanity into a new era, at the cost of exhausting her life before dawn breaks, becoming the fire that lights up a new epoch.

Should the prophecy of the ancient tree come true, Ethan would kill Charlotte once.

Scarlet would die at Ethan's hand in this alternate manner.

"This time, you're trying to cheat death!"

This was the ancient being She knew, willing to make others scapegoats for their desires without hesitation.

From the moment Charlotte was born, her fate had already been sealed.

"You've grown smarter, Argos."

The red-haired girl in the cabin finally responded, She turned her face toward the mirror, blooming a smile, "As agreed, please help me deceive 'death.'"