"My lords and ladies, please be quiet. I don't think any of you ignores who I am, but to make sure, I'm going to introduce myself anyway. My name is Allesse Sancroft, General of the Sixth Army of the Kingdom of Antomea. For the hour being, I am the one to whom Our King has entrusted the immense honor and the delicate mission of bringing you safely at destination.

I am aware that among you are high officials. I am also aware that a few n.o.bles are accompanying this delegation who hope that they will be able to return to the capital with their heads held high, proud to have accomplished the mission entrusted to them.

However, I am also very conscious that your usual lifestyles are in complete opposition to the harshness of the conditions of the journey we are about to embark on.

I therefore insist on a few points which I will call back when the need arises.

You have committed yourselves to conducting negotiations or more simply to representing Our Kingdom and no, to going on holiday.

Political quarrels, power struggles or territorial disputes will not take place during this trip. These words are not suggestions, but a reminder for which, any breach will be severely punished.

Any Minister, official or n.o.ble whether you are, during this mission, you will be placed under my direct command and this implies that if I maintain that the gra.s.s is blue, you will have to confirm my words without flinching.

Any sedition, attempt to bribe my soldiers, secret meetings with a view to a revolt which, for information, would prove futile, will be punished by decapitation.

As I will be towards you, I expect you to be cordial towards me. My soldiers are not dogs designed to serve the great figures that you are.

If you miss your little luxury too much, turn back, but don't expect me to allocate you men to protect you.

Well, the whispers that reach my ears prove to me that at least you are thinking about my words.

Well! We'll avoid crossing areas categorized as dangerous, but this security precaution will require us to take many detours. Therefore, the duration of our journey..."

Placed to the front left of the two hundred grey armoured soldiers who are drinking the words of their esteemed General, a square of thirty soldiers in black armour ignore this slightly self-absorbed man and in a hurry to leave, they look forward to the end of this never-ending tirade.

"So many useless words. Soldiers! This is the prerogative of pretentious fools who, in order to play the peac.o.c.ks, take pleasure in putting themselves forward."

Young General Allesse Sancroft turns his head towards the tall, red-haired girl who straight on her dark horse, eye scornfully at him.

He is suspicious of the presence of this free electron, who, apart from Their King, only listens to herself.

The young Royal Protector and her demons are supposedly present to support him in his mission, but from the mouth of this same King, she will be able to leave the delegation whenever she wishes.

What bad trick is being played behind his back?

He has no authority over her. He will certainly have to endure her little gratuitous verbal attacks and he fears that her coming is for a purpose opposite to the objective that the delegation has set itself.

It will be time to verify this later, but for now: He feels ashamed like never before!

The tall, dark hairs man has just begun a long speech in which he firmly stated that quarrelling was forbidden and now his own soldiers are drawing their swords in the direction of those of the Dark Brigade who have allowed themselves to laugh at the words spoken by the Royal Protector.

"Where do you think you are, soldiers? Put away your swords or I shall be forced to have one of you executed as an example.

My lords and ladies, I think I've told you the gist of it. The sun will soon be chasing the night away, and with not a minute to lose, I invite you to rejoin your carriages."

The partic.i.p.ants at the delegation stir in front of the gates of the Royal Palace still asleep.

All join their carriages and horses parked on the large luxurious square made of a large slab, whose four corners are decorated with large pink marble columns, surmounted by busts of the four precedents Kings.

As a tumult of slamming doors is heard, a large brown horse came from the main street gallops toward to the forwards left of the small army formed for the occasion.

Nina's eyes are opened wide as she discovers the person who is rapidly moving towards her.

Even today, as she has been since she joined the army, she is certain that in a moment her credibility as a Captain will be cut in half.

A white-haired old man positions his horse against hers. His face is now only a wide smile full of tenderness, when he reaches out his hand toward Nina's head and, ignoring the place, gently strokes her long hair.

"My Nina, you forgot the pancakes that Jeanne kindly prepared for you. Oh, I also brought you some stones of fire. You may not have thought about it, but the Kingdom of Esope is situated north of Antomea and if you do not protect yourself, you may catch a cold there.

I know that you are of age, however, you still lack discernment with regard to men. It is common that when a young girl goes on a trip, her heart capsizes when faced with the exotic men she meets in faraway lands. I admit that I would like to be a grandfather, but what would people say if I became one without even having a son-in-law?

To protect you from that eventuality, I bought you some Amicea powder. With that, and note that I bitterly regret it, it's highly unlikely you're going to bring me back a grandson conceived by a man of which you ignorate even the name.

In this little bag prepared by Jeanne, you will also find some thick underwear as well as fine spices which will know how to warm your body. General Sancroft is about to leave. So I won't keep you any longer. Take care of you along the way and be careful of the possible dangers you may encounter, my Nina."

Nina isn't so proud to hear the quiet laughter of her men, yet she doesn't interrupt the old man who after murdering her father raised her giving her a lot of love.

She should hate him, but she's incapable of it.

She worries about this old man who every morning finds it harder and harder to get up. She takes care of the one she calls General who every day gets more and more tired. She feels helpless to protect the one whose discomforts has recently tended to recur.

If she wasn't at the front of the procession... If her beautiful face wasn't pointing towards the long main street... If her head was raised...

There is no doubt that those present at the scene would be very surprised to see the little smile on the lips of the one who pa.s.ses for having a heart made of ice.

Without getting angry, Nina takes the little bag from General Maverick's hands.

"I will be careful, I promise. Thank you for your kindness, General, but now, I have to go."