{I want to let everyone know that I have a p-a-t-r-e-o-n with two new exclusive stories on it. One is The Aeternus Universe, and I've also started up a new VRMMORPG called the Libertas Dive. If you wish to read that as it develops, head to my p-a-t-r-e-o-n. I won't be uploading The Libertas Dive on webnovel until I've reached 30 pages on it. So get it while it's young and cheap. I hope you guys will give it a chance. The link is https://www.p-a-t-r-e-o-n.com/easyread. Remove the dashes. Webnovel censors the word.}

I watch as Sally comes out of the bathroom at our room in the inn. She's wearing a silky beautiful gown that's absolutely indescribable. The dress holds tight in the upper body and flows into a loose wave of fluttering clothe. The black looks over the gown isolate her amazing blonde hair. "So... How do I look?" My mouth is hanging open in total idiocy. I register her words, and I stand up. I have to look at her up and down, but I struggle to find the right words. "That good?" She sounds so uncertain of herself. I walk forward, and I place my hands on her bare shoulders.

She looks into my eyes, and as she does, I lose my breath. She's the most beautiful woman I've ever known. "It's... Brain stopping, Sally... I can't even describe how it looks on you..." Sally is extremely beautiful, and add her elven looks, and you have someone who couldn't possibly know the type of damage she can do to a man with one look. Look at what she's done to me, and I consider myself resilient. "I'm not sure if you're allowed to look this good..." She chuckles at my words, but I give a serious look. "If you draw too much attention... It could be bad..." I have a smile as I say this.

The reason I have a smile is cause I never thought I'd be with a woman who's capable of something like this. To take my breath away... "I really like it... Are you sure that it's a bad idea to wear it to the festival?" As badly as I want her to have fun and feel beautiful while doing it. This is just too eye-catching. I slowly nod my head, and I can see her disappointment. I'm glad that I bought her multiple gowns to choose from. I'm a little hesitant to see the rest of this is the first one she's trying on. I don't know anything about women and clothes.

She turns around to the bathroom, and I want to stop her and tell her to wear it. I can't risk us getting discovered. I walk back over to the bed to sit down and take a load off. I lean back and sigh as I run my hands through my hair. "My pride is a little hurt at my reaction... Thought I had better control over myself than that... I looked like some boy who saw his first pair of panties..." Sally is the only person to ever do this to me, and I think that says something. I rub my face and stare up at the ceiling. I'm not looking forward to trying on my new clothes after her show.

While Cera and Sally prepare for the festival, there is an interesting development on the war in Bellvia. Jackson has just received a letter from Bellvia's Crown Price stating that the King has been assassinated and their fully surrendering. There are literally thousands who are happy with this outcome. The main reason being that no more lives will be lost. Jackson is currently marching towards the Capital of Bellvia with his army. However, it's going to be for the talks over surrender. Not for the siege of the capital city. That has been avoided.

To say I was shocked to learn that Bellvia's King has been assassinated is an understatement. When the report was handed to me as I road by my wife's side, I nearly fell off. While this is fantastic news, it does worry me. Someone was definitely in league with Bellvia's King. I'm feeling that whoever that someone is, it's the true orchestrator of this war. The silencing of the King speaks volumes. Secrets that didn't want to be shared. "I think this is the best way the war could've ended." Tesse speaks as we ride next to each other. She's been so strong through this.

I know seeing our soldiers die in our names has hit her. Hit her as hard as they hit me. I shouldn't take this for granted for my kingdom. Many families have been spared with this, and so much blood in the name of my kingdom doesn't need to be spilled. "I'm glad that this war has ended too... But I'm worried..." Tessa looks at me, and I see my other Generals look towards me too. All are waiting for me to elaborate. "Whoever assassinated the King in Bellvia is our true enemy. Once they knew this war was over, they got rid of the only person who knew their secrets." My words dawn on them.

This war is over, but I fear another one is coming from whoever orchestrated this one. Who knows what kind of reach they have. My gut is telling me it's Gregory, but I can't accuse him of anything without proof and knowing him. There is nothing to find, the only one that knew anything would've been Bellvia's King. Gregory is my strongest possibility, but there are unseen enemies out there. So I should go jumping to conclusions. This is going to require investigating of my own. This jeopardizes my entire kingdom and my future as King.

I hear the sighs of the many military leaders around me. They know what I'm thinking based on my looks and mood. "Let us fight one war at a time, My King. We'll begin all of that once we're done talking to the Crown Prince of Bellvia. Once all of this settles down, that Crown Prince is going to be the new King." Aaron brings up a good point. I've made another new enemy in the man, having been one of the reasons his father is now dead, and the kingdom is in turmoil. I can't imagine what must be going through that kid's head.

While the journey towards the Bellvian capital continues, said Crown Price is in his chambers trying to figure all of this out. The young man's name is Cyril Regar the III, and he's going to be one of the only rulers to come into power because of an assassination of his father. It's a rare thing in Gaia. Rulers are usually never assassinated during times of war simply because the security is too high. That is why Cyril's situation is unique. This is going to be a rough transition for the young prince, but it's just the beginning of his journey.

I sit in my chair in my chambers, going over the many papers, and a realization dawns on me. Father never prepared any of us children for the reigns of the kingdom. Now even me, and I'm his oldest. My little sister was the light of his life, and if given a choice. He'd have given the kingdom to her. In a way, I'm grateful for the assassination. In another way, I'll find out who did this and take them out myself. My suspicions are immediately on Jackson, but there were many nights my father had meetings with a clocked man in a hood via hologram.

This is enough to open my eyes and not completely jump on the thought that this is Jackson's doing. "My Prince, much of the nobility wishes to call a meeting to discuss the next proceedings regarding the state of the throne." Our palaces head butler notifies me of the coming shit storm. One that I don't wish to deal with. All the kingdom's nobles are going to use this as an opportunity for claims that shouldn't be dealt with right now. I hate politics, and I hate the fact that I have to clean up my father's mess.

I loved my father, and I love my kingdom. However, he didn't know how to rule it, and he didn't teach me the little he knew about ruling a kingdom. "Tell them to wait at their estates until the peace talks are over. They're all wanting to have cockfights on whos land is whos. I'm not in the mood to deal with that." The butler lowers his head in a bow and leaves the room. I sigh and set the reports down. The sheer amount of debt the kingdoms are in is absolutely insane. Not to mention the fact that our treasure vault is practically emtpy.

Ever since the day Slayer Zern paid the palace a visit and threatened my father, everything for our kingdom has gone downhill. I wouldn't put the chance that The Almighty Father made sure all this happened. The choices of Gods are above me, especially the top Almighty Father. I'm not blind, though. My father was too deluded to believe he'd have all this shit happen... That this was going to be the downfall of our kingdom. I have one thing my father didn't have. Wisdom, and that's because I watched every one of his mistakes and learned from them. So maybe I am better off.