In the drawing room, the afternoon sun streamed through tall glass windows, casting warm patches of light on the floor.

Princess Elizabeth was wearing a different outfit today.

She wore a long, lavender silk dress, and her jet-black hair was still meticulously braided into an intricate plait that fell to her waist. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

She stood by the window, the sunlight gilding her silhouette with a golden edge. The twelve-year-old girl already displayed the unique, elegant bearing of the Royal Family.

When Murphy strode into the drawing room, she turned and performed a perfect curtsy.

"Lord Melfield."

"Her Highness the Princess." Murphy inclined his head slightly and walked toward the main seat. "Please, sit."

An attendant withdrew from the room soundlessly. The heavy oak door clicked shut, separating the inside from the out, as if into two different worlds.

Elizabeth sat in the guest’s seat, her hands folded in her lap. Her posture was impeccable.

"Your Highness’s visit this time," Murphy broke the silence, "is surely not just a courtesy call."

Elizabeth looked up, a complex light flashing in her dark eyes, which were quite similar to Margaret’s. "You see things clearly, my lord. I have indeed come today to inform you of a matter." She paused for a moment, as if carefully choosing her words. "My cousin Eleanor’s fifth birthday celebration will be held at Taymer Palace in ten days."

Murphy’s fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of his chair.

"Duke Temeris has already sent invitations to all the major parties," Elizabeth continued, her gaze fixed on Murphy’s face. "Many nobles from the South will be in attendance. My father... His Majesty the King will also dispatch an envoy."

"Then is Your Highness the King’s envoy?" Murphy’s tone was calm and flat. "If that were the case, you should be on your way to Taymer Palace right now. Why are you here at Monte Castle?"

Elizabeth’s fingers tightened slightly on the hem of her dress, but she quickly controlled the small gesture.

She took a deep breath, her dark eyes glinting with a composure that belied her age. "I am indeed going on my father’s behalf, but before heading to Taymer Palace, I felt it was necessary to visit you first."

"Oh?" Murphy’s eyebrow rose almost imperceptibly. "And Your Highness believes this is necessary?"

"Yes." Elizabeth’s tone became firm. "My lord, news travels fast in the court. Many are speculating why my aunt, Duke Temeris, shows such favor to the Monte Territory. And why a territory in the north has managed to develop so much in just ten short years."

She paused briefly, looking directly at Murphy. "Though I am young, I know how to observe. My father sent me on this mission, ostensibly to celebrate my cousin Eleanor’s birthday, but in reality, he also wishes to use this opportunity to solidify his relationship with Duke Temeris. And among all people, you..." Her voice grew softer. "...are the one with the most special relationship with my aunt. If I could reach some sort of understanding with you before the celebration, it would be most beneficial to my father, and to the Kingdom."

Murphy was silent for a moment. The patches of sunlight moved slowly across the floor, and the air in the drawing room seemed to freeze.

"You are very clever, Your Highness." He finally spoke, his voice betraying no emotion. "But clever people should know that some things are more dangerous the more clearly you see them."

"It is precisely because of the danger that one must prepare in advance," Elizabeth said without flinching. "I do not wish to see unnecessary misunderstandings arise between my father and my aunt, nor do I wish to see the Kingdom fracture from within. And you, my lord, are in a pivotal position."

"I am merely the Governor of the Monte Territory," Murphy said lightly.

"You are the Governor of the Monte Territory, and also Duke Temeris’s most trusted ally," Elizabeth corrected him. "More importantly, you possess enough power and wisdom to make the right judgments in a complex situation."

"I understand your meaning, Your Highness," Murphy said slowly. "But I must remind you, politics is like a game of chess. Every move must be carefully considered. Revealing your intentions too early is often not a wise move."

Elizabeth nodded slightly, accepting his advice. "That is why I came here as a private visitor, not in my official capacity as an envoy. Today’s conversation is confined to this room."

She stood and gave a slight bow. "Then, I shall take my leave. I will see you at Taymer Palace in ten days, Lord Melfield."

Just as she turned and her hand was about to touch the door.

"Please wait, Your Highness."

Murphy’s voice came from behind her, calm yet clear.

Elizabeth’s fingers paused on the doorknob, a flicker of surprise passing through her.

She turned back, an almost imperceptible flicker of anticipation in her dark eyes.

’Is this famously inscrutable Governor finally going to give a clear promise or hint?’

She composed her expression and faced Murphy again, her posture still elegant. "Is there something else, my lord?"

Murphy rose slowly from his seat, his gaze falling on her still-slender shoulders.

A twelve-year-old girl. Even with the precociousness and resilience of the Royal Family, her frame was still that of a child’s.

That black hair and those dark eyes... so similar to Margaret’s... no, to Eleanor’s.

’Will Eleanor be like this in the future?’

The thought surfaced without warning, but Murphy quickly suppressed it.

"From here to the Temeris Territory, even by horse, riding day and night, would take nearly half a month." Murphy’s tone was flat, as if stating a simple fact. "Your Highness is to attend the celebration in ten days. Time-wise... will you make it? Can your body handle such a long and arduous journey?"

Elizabeth froze.

This was not at all the question she had expected.

It wasn’t about politics, or alliances, or even about Eleanor.

It was merely a question of concern for her journey and her well-being.

In an era of inconvenient transportation, it was common for long journeys to take months.

But she knew that for a Great Knight like Murphy, whose endurance and speed far surpassed that of a fine steed, one was not bound by normal travel times if he truly wanted to go somewhere.

A complex emotion flashed in her eyes—a hint of disappointment, yet also an indescribable feeling of being touched.

She quickly collected herself and answered gracefully, her face bearing the standard, gentle smile of the Royal Family. "Thank you for your concern, my lord. My convoy for this trip is specially made. The journey has been calculated; arriving at Taymer Palace in ten days will not be a problem." She paused, then added, "As for my health, as a member of the Royal Family, I have undergone the appropriate training since childhood. I can endure it."

Murphy watched her quietly for a moment, then finally gave a slight nod.

"I thought you were going to use your status as a Royal Envoy to trick me this time."

Elizabeth felt as if a basin of cold water had been dumped on her, pulling her back to reality from those gentle ripples of warmth.

She lowered her head, the faint light in her eyes dimming.

But she quickly regulated her breathing, and when she raised her face again, her expression had returned to one of perfect composure.

"You jest, my lord." Her voice was soft. "Since I have already stated this is a private visit, I would not resort to such a childish trick. Everything I said just now was the truth. If you do not believe me, my lord, I have nothing more to say."

Murphy watched the forced composure in her eyes and remained silent for a moment.

"Take care on the road."

Just four words, and nothing more.

Elizabeth bowed slightly again, the movement even more perfect than before. "I will heed my lord’s words."

She turned, pushed the door open, and left. The hem of her lavender dress quickly disappeared around the corner of the corridor. She did not look back.

...

The Vilt Kingdom spanned a total area of about 800,000 square kilometers, with the five great Duke’s Domains spread across the ancient land like pieces of a puzzle.

The Douglas Duke Domain, home of the Northern Guardian, occupied nearly one-fifth of the Kingdom’s territory.

Here, vast forests and continuous snowy peaks reigned. Though not famous for its mineral wealth, it was rich in the finest timber, rare furs, and medicinal herbs. Its sprawling hunting grounds and frozen winter lakes were its most distinctive features.

The Perrick Duke Domain in the Eastern Territory was backed by the Iron Ridge Mountain Range. Nearly seventy percent of the Kingdom’s iron ore and various other metal deposits were found here, leading to a thriving forging industry.

The Lancaster Duke Domain in the Western Territory possessed a winding coastline and excellent natural harbors, controlling the Kingdom’s maritime trade lifeline.

The Temeris Duke Domain in the Southern Territory was the Kingdom’s breadbasket and garden, with a pleasant climate and abundant produce.

And in the center of the Kingdom, surrounding the Royal Capital Saint Verte, was the Stuart Duke Domain, which was directly under the Royal Family’s control. This was the true heart of politics and power.

The Monte Territory, governed by Murphy, was located on the northeastern frontier of the Douglas Duke Domain. It and the Temeris Duke Domain in the South were positioned at nearly opposite ends of the Kingdom, north to south.

The straight-line distance between the two was over four hundred kilometers. Factoring in the obstacles of mountains and rivers and the necessary detours, the actual travel distance was closer to five hundred fifty kilometers.

For this era, it was a daunting journey.

An ordinary merchant caravan would need nearly twenty days. A noble’s convoy would take half a month. Even with the fastest relay of post horses, traveling day and night, it would require more than eight days.

But for Murphy, none of this was a problem.

On the morning of the eighth day, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, the window of the master bedroom in Monte Castle opened silently.

Dressed in deep blue Knight’s Armor with a sheathed sword at his waist, Murphy was like a nocturnal falcon. He leaped soundlessly onto the windowsill and then plunged downward.

He did not use the castle’s main gate, instead choosing the shortest, most direct path: scaling the steep cliff behind the castle.

His figure flickered between the jagged rocks for a few moments, and then he was at the top of the cliff.

The first light of dawn stretched his slender silhouette long across the mountaintop.

After standing at the cliff’s edge to gaze out for a moment and confirm his direction, Murphy began to run.

At first, his speed wasn’t fast, like an ordinary traveler strolling along a mountain path.

But as he descended in altitude and reached level ground, his pace suddenly quickened.

Qi surged through specific meridians in his body, forming a unique cycle.

Each step he took seemed to land lightly, but at the instant his sole touched the ground, a subtle resonance between his muscles and his Qi converted the reactive force into powerful propulsion.

His figure became a blurry blue line streaking across the open country, his speed rapidly increasing until it stabilized at over fifty kilometers per hour.

This was a full sprint that an excellent warhorse would struggle to maintain for long, but for him, it was merely a cruising speed he could sustain for over an hour.

At noon, with the scorching sun high overhead, Murphy was already deep in the heartland of the Douglas Territory.

He stopped by a clear stream. His brow was free of sweat, and his breathing was long and steady. He took out an exquisite, small glass vial and placed a pinch of the faintly shimmering, golden Dust of Dawn under his tongue.

A cool sensation spread instantly, then transformed into a gentle, warm current that seeped into his limbs and bones, rapidly replenishing the stamina consumed by his continuous high-speed movement.

The Spiritual Qi within this Great Knight’s Secret Medicine was also a highly efficient source of Energy for him.

After resting for a moment, he set off again.

The terrain in the afternoon grew more complex, with rolling hills and sparse woodlands.

Yet his speed did not decrease; instead, his movement techniques appeared even more refined.

When he encountered a steep slope, he used his hands and feet like an agile ape to scramble up, his speed barely slower than on flat ground.

When faced with a wide ravine, he would leap across it, his body carving a powerful arc through the air.

He constantly maintained a nearly straight southward course, leaving one geographical obstacle after another behind him.

At sunset, he reached the border between the Douglas Territory and the Stuart Territory.

The population here was denser, and official roads crisscrossed the land.

Murphy finally slowed his pace, his expression composed, looking like an ordinary traveler. He naturally blended in with the other travelers heading south at dusk.

He bought an ordinary packhorse in a small roadside town and mounted it, moving slowly with the flow of a merchant caravan to get some rest.

After night had fully fallen, he released the packhorse by the side of the road, and his figure once again vanished into the darkness.

Traveling at night was no obstacle for him. His vision, far sharper than an ordinary person’s, and his powerful spatial awareness were enough to clearly discern the terrain for dozens of meters ahead in the faint light of the stars and moon.

He once again employed his movement techniques, continuing to race south through the silent night. Though his speed was slightly slower than during the day, it was still incredibly fast.

And so it went, day and night. When the warm air carried on the wind brought the unique scent of the South—a mixture of moisture and fragrant flora—he knew the Temeris Territory was near.

On the morning of the ninth day, the rising sun touched a distant, magnificent complex of white palaces with a golden edge.

Murphy stood on the last mountain ridge, gazing at Taymer Palace, renowned throughout the Kingdom, at the edge of his vision.

Twenty-four hours, four hundred kilometers.

His clothes were still neat, his breathing as steady as when he started.