Chapter 110: A Secret in the Envelope
“Your Highness, Miss Haina requests an audience,” a guard announced, entering Givia’s room. She was finishing her simple breakfast, writing a letter to her guerrilla units.
“Haina?” Givia looked up, smiling. “Let her in.”
The guard left to relay the message, and soon, Haina entered, a sealed envelope in her hand.
Haina looked refreshed and energetic this morning. After discussing her concerns with Flora and Leona the previous night, and enjoying a restful sleep thanks to Flora’s calming spell, her usual uncertainty and hesitation had vanished. Givia was pleased to see her in such high spirits.
“You seem to be in a good mood since your mother’s arrival,” Givia said, choosing to engage in casual conversation first.
“Yes, Your Highness,” Haina replied, nodding. She had made her decision, her loyalty to Givia unwavering, her heart now free from doubt.
“Good. I hope you can maintain this positive attitude,” Givia said, her gaze warm and affectionate, as she looked at the youngest member of her Royal Guard. “What brings you here? Do you have something to report?”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Haina said. “My mother came here not just to see me, but also to deliver some information to you. She’s physically disabled and couldn’t make the journey herself, so she asked me to deliver this envelope. She also has some news from within the kingdom. Would you like to hear it?”
Givia had her own intelligence network, but due to various obstacles, their reports weren’t always timely. She was curious about the information Cassandra had brought. “Yes, tell me everything.”
“First…” Haina looked at the ceiling, recalling her mother’s words, then said, her voice slightly hesitant, “My mother said that Kevin is spreading rumors about your death.”
“Hmph, typical tactics of a deceitful villain. He’s been claiming I was exiled for misconduct, and now this?” Givia said, her voice cold. “Tell me the details.”
“Prince Kevin is claiming that you committed suicide, unable to bear the torment of the nightmares. He says the Restoration Army is being led by impostors who are using your name to usurp the throne. He claims that if the Restoration Army succeeds, it will lead to a civil war, countless deaths. Most people don’t believe him, but they’re still worried. They’re afraid you’re truly dead.”
Givia felt a surge of warmth, knowing her people cared about her. Her expression softened.
“And Kevin has gained the support of many nobles. Some have already abandoned your cause, seduced by his promises. Some lords are even willing to lend him their troops… But most nobles remain neutral. They’re willing to accept Kevin’s bribes, but they haven’t pledged their loyalty to him yet,” Haina continued.
“Those who have sided with Kevin must be punished. They would betray their kingdom again in a heartbeat if it benefited them,” Givia said, her voice firm. “But those who remain neutral… We can offer them a chance to redeem themselves.”
“And Prince Kevin recently enacted a new law, implementing cruel punishments. He’s forbidden any form of support for the Restoration Army and has arrested and executed several of our supporters throughout the kingdom,” Haina said, her voice trembling. “He publicly ripped out their hearts, then hanged their bodies with their own intestines. He even sent their hearts and eyes, preserved in salt, to their families… People are terrified. His punishments are too cruel. No one dares support us anymore…”
“That monster!” Givia exclaimed, her voice filled with anger. “If he continues to rule, our kingdom is doomed!”
“That’s all the information my mother brought,” Haina said, glancing at the two guards standing by the door. “Your Highness, I apologize for the intrusion, but my mother said this envelope must be kept secret. We need to dismiss the guards before you open it.”
“Hmm? Of course,” Givia said, taking the envelope, then nodded, agreeing to Haina’s request. She addressed the guards. “Eleanor, Marcy, please wait outside. Don’t enter without my permission.”
The two guards bowed respectfully and left.
Once they were alone, Givia carefully opened the envelope, retrieving several folded pieces of paper.
The paper was covered in graphite smudges, clearly a rubbing of a stone inscription, divided into smaller pieces to fit inside the envelope.
“What is this?” Givia asked, confused. What kind of intelligence came from a stone inscription?
“I don’t know. My mother didn’t tell me. She just told me to deliver it to you personally,” Haina whispered.
“It’s alright. Let’s piece these together,” Givia said, standing up and approaching a larger table, spreading out the papers.
They were arranged in order. Working together, they quickly assembled the inscription, its message now clear.
The inscription, from a stone slab about one and a half meters tall, was written in both Ossi and an ancient language, each line of Ossi corresponding to a line in the ancient language, making it easy to decipher.
“Born of the storm, embracing the west,” Givia read aloud.
“Wise and valiant from a tender age, a worthy king.”
“But fate is fickle, and life is fleeting.”
“His ambitions unfulfilled, a young life cut short.”
A sense of unease filled her. She had a hunch about the nature of this inscription…
“Is this… a tombstone?” she asked, glancing at Haina, her voice filled with disbelief. But the evidence was undeniable. Haina was equally shocked.
They continued reading.
“Here lies Kevin Ludiélos Ban Halsati, firstborn son of the King of Ossi, aged six.”
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