On the road to the north of the Etna Kingdom, a group of chariots was driving north along the road with armored soldiers following them on horseback. There were people in this carriage who would talk to Vartica and discuss the terms of the possible deal.

As the sun was about to set, the soldiers accompanying the delegation found a suitable place to camp. Since they could not enter a city or town, this had happened to them several times since the beginning of their journey.

Their journey, which began on Terras, had lasted for about a week. This tire journey was almost over. Normally a trip from Terras to Vartica would take at least a month. But the horses driving the delegation's carriages almost never stopped. Only when it was dark and they could not proceed further, they had stopped and continued on their way in the first light of the morning.

When the campsite was determined, the soldiers immediately lit a fire and began to prepare food. The leading diplomats of the kingdom of Leon, who were traveling in the carriage, began to dismount from the carriages, tensing their muscles numb from sitting for a long time.

Among them was Ashley, whose fate was sealed by the King's edict. Ashley was a blue-eyed girl with fair skin that could be mistaken for an ill-person, straight blond hair that went down to her waist.

"You're finally doing something useful, huh bitch?" said Roland when he saw Ashley. Roland was the only brother of the current King Edmund's mother. Although he was 26 years old, he had no tangible qualities. He was an arrogant person who likes insulting other people.

Seeing that Ashley wasn't responding, he shook his head and walked away.

Ashley had gotten so used to these rude words that it didn't hurt her anymore. She lost her mother when she was 8 years old. When his father Old King died in the war 10 years ago, she had no one left in this world. Her mother was a palace maid. The former king had been with his mother one night when he was drunk, and from this union Ashley was born.

Because of her mother's identity, her other siblings did not hesitate to humiliate her whenever they could. Although his father did not give them the opportunity to humiliate and hurt her while he was alive, her life became almost unbearable after her father died. Because of this, she was used to staying as far away from people as possible.

But King Edmund's decision had changed everything.

After Ashley found a quiet spot on the campsite, she sat down and waited for dinner to be prepared. This place was the furthest point from where Roland had walked.

Ashley thought about the past week. His life was changing beyond her control, and she was n't sure if she wanted to prevent it. She was a little overjoyed when she first heard the news. She was finally getting out of this place where she was constantly humiliated and even beaten by her sisters.

But the unknown is always scarier. Therefore, this joy turned into curiosity and then fear. There were many rumors circulating in the palace about how some nobles treated concubines. She could n't help but think what if her husband, whose name she did n't even know, would turn out to be such a man.

"Dinner is ready"

People at the campsite started walking towards the campfire to get food. Of course, as in all parts of this world, the nobles did not wait in line.

As Ashley got closer to the fire, she saw Lord Ethan. This gigantic man was the man in charge of the negotiations. Ashley knew he was a seventh-tier cultivator. But she didn't know why a cultivator was managing a deal. It was clear from Ethan's demeanor that he didn't want to be in this position.

After Ethan took the food, he left and went to the place where he had stayed before. Roland took it right after. He grimaced when he saw Ashley behind him. It was like looking at an insect.

When Roland left with the food, Ashley took the bowl offered to her.

“Thanks,” she said to the soldier who handed her the meal.

The soldier was surprised that he had not expected such a response. "My duty, princess," said the soldier when he had gathered himself.

The soldier's words came to mind as Asley picked up the food and walked to her place. 'Princess huh', however, she felt more like a maid than a princess. Of course, this was only true for the royal family. Sometimes she forgot how normal people saw her.

When the meals were finished, the food containers were gathered in one place. And the soldiers began to wash the dishes. Ashley, on the other hand, entered the tent that was set up for her and sat down. He didn't want to be subjected to Roland's insulting words any longer. She planned to sleep early for this.

But as she laid her head on the pillow, the fear of the uncertain future and what might happen began to take over her mind. Ever since Vartica had gotten closer, these thoughts had kept her awake until late at night. After turning around a little more in the tent, lastly, she fell asleep.

She slept well, apart from a few nightmares. But that sleep was interrupted by a shout heard by the first rays of the morning sun.

"We're leaving in 10 minutes."

The source of the sound was obvious. This is how Ethan had been waking everyone up with the first rays of the morning for the past week. Although many people in the delegation were disturbed by this situation, no one had gone and said anything to Ethan. Who could say anything to a tier 7 cultivator?

Tents and other supplies were quickly collected and loaded into Horse-drawn carriages. And the journeys of the horse-drawn carriages and the soldiers on the Horse began once again. As they continued on the road, the sky had cleared.

When the sun was just overhead, they came to some army headquarters. The headquarters was quite large. But after Ethan spoke to a few people, they continued on their way without stopping.

The carriages had traveled for a few more hours when they came to the passage between the two cliffs. This was the only point where Vartica could be entered by land.

Ashley was watching from the carriage window.

It was clear that an army was camped on the Vartica side of the pass. Thousands of tents were set up. There was also a group of soldiers constantly patrolling around the pass. When one of these patrols saw the carriages, her rode his horse near these carriages.

“Who are you and what is your business in the Vartica kingdom?” yell.

Ethan got out of the carriage and began to speak.

“We came from the kingdom of Leon. We are the delegation that came to discuss and celebrate both the accession of King Albert to the throne and the possibility of a possible agreement,” he replied.

Even though the soldier hesitated a bit from the half-giant Ethan who was speaking, the conversation began.

“Lord Albert told us you were coming. Please proceed, a team is waiting to accompany you to Ivarta.” said the Soldier.

“Oh,” Ethan muttered. So Lord Albert already knew they were coming.

The carriages continued to advance as Ethan got in.

Ashley was nearing the end of her fateful journey. And this situation both frightened her and she was curious about this Doran that he would marry. She had learned the name of her future husband from the soldiers' conversation.