It was only three days after the report that Gaia had been overthrown that I got a new report. The king would be coming to our territory to keep a closer eye on the activity at the border. It was so sudden, and with no warning, that I could not believe King Dalton would do this. I would have to ask him when he came.

The issue was that the report did not specify which territory, so we had to prepare both just in case. The dye territory would probably be safer, but if the king was coming for information the trading hub was the place to go. However, they weren’t that far apart so the dye territory might be a better bet as for where to prepare a room.

On the other hand, most of the security was in the trading hub territory since it was more dangerous… and why did none of the territories have names?! That would make things so much easier for everyone! I should bring that up with the king too.

I was working while increased panicked thoughts swept through my mind. Luckily, with all the experience I had preparing for the Feast of Maidens last minute I was able to get most of the necessities done. Rena was helping out with the other territory so it was probably fine over there, right? I sent her a message.

“Is everything all right over there?” I asked through my communication charm.

“Y-yes. I think we got it ready mostly,” Rena panted, “Do you know when he is coming?”

“It still shouldn’t be for a couple of days at least-”

“Cassandra, a carriage with the royal emblem is heading you way,” Maximus reported.

“Already?!” I demanded. Wasn’t this too soon? Did the king leave right after the messenger? Or maybe he left before the messenger if they were using communication charms like us.

“It was moving ridiculously fast before it reached town,” Maximus said, “I didn’t expect the king to be in such a hurry.”

I quickly went to the front of the mansion to greet them. There was no time to change, but luckily the clothes I was wearing were presentable.

The royal carriage that stopped at the mansion’s gates was a magic carriage. I had seen it in paperwork, but as far as I knew it had not been implemented yet. It was something more like a car than a carriage traditionally pulled by horses, but the design still looked like a carriage.

First out of the carriage was a man dressed like a butler. Next out of the carriage was a.. Duck? After the duck, the king stepped out of the carriage. It was not King Dalton like I had been inspecting, but a black haired man in his early twenties. He wasn’t even wearing the crown properly!

The butler presented the duck to the king, and he started walking towards me. “Thanks for letting me stay here,” he said in a tired voice, “The capital is a drag and I couldn’t get anything useful done.”

“Ah, yes,” I managed, “Your room and office have been set up. This way.”

The king followed me and looked around with appreciation. “You are managing two territories, right?”

“Our group is,” I corrected.

“Well, this one seems nice enough. I was doing research on the way over and it seems you just busted a kidnapping ring,”

How was I supposed to answer? My mind was still blank from the shock of this complete stranger coming instead of King Dalton.

“I’m sorry, but can you tell me what happened to King Dalton?” I asked.

“He retired,” the king explained, “There was a bit of a scandal in the castle and it ended with me being selected as the next king.”

A scandal? Had it been going on before we left or was it recent? It was hard to tell for sure.

We continued with small talk until I led the king to his office and showed the butler to the king’s bedroom before leaving the rest to the service students.

It was only after I got back to my own office that I got the report about the retirement of King Dalton. How long had it been here? Did it just arrive? No, I should focus on reading it first. As it stood I didn’t even know the new king’s name.

The file on the new king was long and surprising. He was the ninth prince before this, but had all the skills and specialties of a head magician candidate.There were even records of magic he had invented, especially magic tools. How did someone like him even end up as a king candidate in the first place? He was clearly better suited for other positions.

I called up another meeting. 

“The king is staying at the border territory,” I told them, “but that isn’t why I called you here. King Dalton retired.”

“What?!”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. The king that arrived here is the newly appointed King Nero,” I informed everyone.

Autumn furrowed his eyebrows. “King Nero? Why does that sound so familiar?” he muttered.

“Do you know something?” Alois asked.

“I can’t remember for sure,” Autumn confessed.

“I went to check on him earlier,” Maximus admitted, “He has this vicious pet duck. I think someone cast some kind of magic on it, because it doesn’t quack. It barks like a dog and then cackles maniacally.”

“Wait, a cackling duck?” Autumn asked, “I think I figured it out! Nero was a hidden capture target in the game! I heard he was hard to capture because you have to win his duck over first.”

“The duck?”

“Is it alright for the king to care so much about a duck?” Caleb asked.

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Keane pointed out.

This was getting way off track. “Autumn, if he is a capture target that means he is not an enemy, right?”

“Yes, but he is the ‘dark side’ character so we should be careful,” Autumn warned. 

Just what we needed right now, a king with a mysterious dark side watching our every move. His silent butler was already unnerving enough. Hopefully he was at least on Tethia’s side or the Heart of Tethia was in danger.