Building a Kingdom and Conquering the World

Two days later, Henry stood by the wide windows of Hidden Stone Castle, watching the village come to life. People moved busily through the streets. Laughter and chatter filled the air, a sound that became rare after the blood of dozens of guards washed these streets.

Despite the slow pace, life was returning to these streets. It hadn’t taken long for the people to adjust to this new order, one without nobles, where laughter no longer felt like a luxury.

Behind Henry, the heavy wooden door creaked open. Leier entered, moving as silently as ever, but to Henry, her footsteps were as clear as the wind and the laughter outside.

"Did you spot them?" Henry asked, turning away from the window and walking toward the table. He picked up a cup filled with the dark, bitter drink Luna had introduced to him, something close to coffee from Earth, and took a slow sip.

"Still nothing, my liege," Leier replied, standing respectfully before the king. "We have dispatched scouts ahead, covering at least the nearest villages within a day’s reach, but there’s been no sign of them." - Her eyes, however, weren’t on Henry, they were fixed on the cup in his hands, a glint of interest flickering in her gaze.

Noticing her gaze, Henry raised a brow before taking another sip. "Do you want some?"- he asked.

Leier instinctively shook her head but, before she could stop herself, she gave a small nod instead - "I mean, the smell is quite different…" - she quickly tried to correct herself, but the words felt clumsy.

Henry chuckled, setting his cup down. "There’s some left near the fireplace. Suit yourself."

Leier hesitated for a moment, standing awkwardly as if debating whether to go through with it. But the rich aroma was too tempting. Giving in, she strode toward the fireplace and poured herself a cup.

The moment the hot liquid touched her tongue, however, her body jolted. Her face twisted in shock before she instinctively spat it into the fire, where it hissed against the embers. She turned abruptly, about to apologize, but Henry only smiled.

"Bitter, right?" he asked.

Leier, still recovering from the taste, could only nod.

Henry took another sip, his expression calm. "It’s probably unlike anything you’ve ever had before. You may not like it at first," he admitted, swirling the cup slightly. "But, given time, you get used to it… and eventually, you start to enjoy it."

At his words, Leier glanced at her cup, hesitating for a moment before choosing to trust her liege. She took small, cautious sips, her face immediately betraying her struggle. It was clear she found the taste unbearable, swallowing the liquid as if forcing down medicine, her body instinctively fighting the bitterness.

Henry could only offer smile smiled, before continuing. "So, no signs… According to their letter, they should be arriving today or, at the latest, tomorrow. They won’t go unnoticed once they start climbing the mountain."

"Indeed, my liege," Leier responded, still battling the lingering bitterness on her tongue. "I personally sent those two to watch the path leading to Hidden Stone. The moment a group of suspicious people begins the ascent, we will be notified and-"

Before she could finish speaking, Henry suddenly stood up. His gray eyes flickered with a faint purple hue, stirring to life, as if a wild fire was awakening within them.

"It seems they have arrived" - he murmured, his gaze locked onto something beyond the window and the protective walls surrounding Hidden Stone - "And they are not the quiet type."

Without hesitation, his hand moved, fingers curling around the hilt of a simple iron sword hanging beside the table. The blade was unadorned, plain compared to the weapons that lined the armories of kings. Yet, in his grip, it carried a royal aura, like a family heirloom destined to save the world.

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"Let’s go. We should greet them…before they destroy the path to this city." Henry said simply.

He turned to the large window, pushed it open, and leapt. His figure fell downwards like a heavy bullet, like a black crow cutting through the frigid airs of the North. Henry landed with a soft thud, his posture unaffected by the fall. Leier followed right behind, her hands already hovering on top of her short sword, ready to unsheathe it.

Before the gathered people could even react to their new king’s sudden appearance, Henry was already gone. He moved like a ghost, his figure vanishing while leaving behind a faint trail of heat that melted the thin layer of snow.

The sounds of battle grew louder as Henry with each step he took down the mountain, the clash of metal against metal ringing through the narrow paths. He could also hear shouts that was complemented by a kind of whistle, a familiar noise. A battle had began and it didn’t take long to find the source of these noises.

It didn’t take long for him to reach the battle scene - "What a mess…" - he muttered with a quiet sigh.

Agusa had his bow raised, his golden hair damp with sweat as he loosed another arrow. It flew straight toward an armored man charging toward Zahra, piercing through the gaps in his armor and sending him tumbling onto the snow-covered path. Even before the body hit the ground, Agusa had already drawn another arrow, his sharp eyes scanning the battlefield for his next target.

On the other hand, Zahra was more like a blurred image. Her blade cutting through the air with a deadly intent, slicing through an opponent’s guard before burying deep into his side. With a powerful spin, she kicked the man in the chest, sending him sprawling onto the snow. She didn’t pause. Her gaze had already shifted to the next enemy.

"Why are you attacking us?" she asked, her voice sharp as steel. She raised her sword defensively, eyes locking onto the ornate red carriage at the center of the chaos.

Atop the driver’s seat, the coachman pulled at the reins, his face twisted with rage. "You… What have you done to my Winter Eagle?" - he bellowed, jabbing a trembling finger in Agusa’s direction - "You killed it, didn’t you?! I can smell its blood on you!"