249. The God of Secrets
Chapter 249 of "The Villainess's Reputation [Kingdom Building]" kicks off with thrilling moments: “I simply can’t believe Father really went through with his rebellion plan,” Gracie confessed, setting... Read more!
“I simply can’t believe Father really went through with his rebellion plan,” Gracie confessed, setting her cup down with a delicate clink. The political magnitude of Landon’s treason cast a long shadow, even here.The sun was high and bright over the Lord’s Castle, pouring warmth onto the stone balcony. Gracie Solarius sat elegantly, taking a thoughtful sip of her rose tea as she wrestled with the crushing reality of her father's rebellion.
“It’s both a blessing and a curse that you are here now,” Marie replied, sitting opposite her. Her light brown hair reflected the dazzling midday sun, giving it an angelic shimmer.
“Can we please talk about something else?” Benric interjected from the sofa behind them, staring moodily out at the sprawling city. “I don’t want to think about Father and Mother going up against the Imperial Army right now.”
A sympathetic silence settled for a few seconds before Gracie, with practiced ease, forced a change of topic. “On a completely different note, I still can’t believe you are the Saintess, Lady Marie! What's more, the ‘newspapers’ that are becoming so popular in the capital recently didn’t lie about Kim City! It’s truly like an entire new world here, full of magnificent surprises.”
Marie took another sip of her tea, a faint, proud smile touching her lips as she recalled Ravenna mentioning the successful mainland expansion of the Raven Casino and the ubiquitous reach of the Dukedom's propaganda sheets now. “You haven’t seen half of it yet. I know you two are worried, but truly, try to relax and enjoy your time here in Kim City.”
“We will try to,” Gracie smiled genuinely. Just then, a palace maid arrived discreetly and delivered a quick, whispered message to Marie. Marie listened, then sighed, instructing the maid: “Ah! Tell him I’ve made no progress.” The maid bowed deeply and promptly departed.
“What was that about?” Benric asked, curiosity replacing his gloom as he watched the maid leave.
“High Priest James has been meticulously helping me try to figure out all my Saintess blessings,” Marie replied, finishing her tea and slumping slightly onto the table with an exaggerated groan of frustration. “He occasionally sends someone to check if I’ve spontaneously figured out a new ability or something.”
“Those divine blessings are why I lost our duel, aren’t they!” Benric retorted, a playful resentment in his voice as he recalled their draw in the sparring ring. Marie just chuckled nervously in response.
Gracie sighed, returning to the core mystery. “So you still can’t figure out all of your blessings, or which god each one is from?”
“No,” Marie stretched out the word. “I was only able to logically identify two of my blessings: one being from Goddess Solious and another from God Gilnto.”
Gracie pondered this, tapping her finger lightly on the teacup's rim. “If the logical approach has failed, perhaps a more intuitive one is required. Why haven’t you just tried praying to God Umbra?”
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“Huh?” Marie asked, genuinely confused.
Gracie patiently explained the reasoning behind her idea to pray to the abstract deity. “As the Saintess, you are the divine figurehead of every religion and effectively an Apostle of all twelve gods, aren't you? So, logically, if you pray specifically to a god whose blessing you don't understand, they might offer guidance.”
Benric nodded, looking out at the glittering sea with a sage-like expression. “I mean, if anyone has answers hidden beneath layers of confusion, it would be the God of Secrets, Misfortune, and Shadow. It's the most obvious solution when clarity is lacking.” He finished, turning to Marie. “The problem is a secret, and the solution must reside with the master of secrets.”
Northern Shore, Kim City, Kim Dukedom, Ancorna Empire
The wind at the Northern Shore was brisk, carrying the fresh scent of sea salt and the faint, metallic tang of new oil. The desert had fallen away completely, replaced by the chaotic industry of the newly expanded harbor. The newly retrofitted fleet of steam-powered ships churned impatiently, plumes of black smoke billowing from their stacks, ready for the mainland offensive.
Aurora, her face grim yet resolute, stood by the gangplank, flanked by David, Emma, and Ben. Her departure was a tangible declaration of the war's shift to the offensive. "The ships are ready huh, Ravy" she stated, looking toward the open water. "So well then, We sail immediately for the mainland. We'll secure the bridgeheads and reclaim Flask County."
Ravenna stood at the pier, her gaze sharp, watching the last of the armament crates, containing the first batch of the revolutionary smokeless powder firearms extracted from the Origin Domain, being hauled aboard. "Go, Aurora," Ravenna instructed, her voice low and commanding. "Crush them swiftly. Do not allow them the time to negotiate or regroup."
The officials who had accompanied the grand journey, Alice, Hughes, Nille, John, were boarding the waiting Iron Beast locomotive for the return trip.
Hughes, already positioned near the train, gave a final, sharp salute to Aurora. “We expect swift victories, Lady Aurora. Our intelligence confirms the Empire will be paralyzed by Prince Landon’s treason and the Conley’s invasion. You have a decisive edge."
User: Ravenna Solarius / Joy Cha Kim
Reputation Level: 79 — (131,010 / 390,900 EXP)↑
Current Reputation Points: 100 RP↓
Titles Unlocked: Raven of the Sun Palace, Unruly Princess, Beast Slayer
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Ravenna stepped toward the train’s platform checking the panel in the side of her eyes, her expression turning hard. “Let there be no doubt among your men, Aurora. While the final, mass-produced arsenal was only acquired today, our soldiers have not been idle. We’ve had a limited number of the new firearms, the prototypes and early production models, in constant, rotating training for nearly a month now. Our forces are accustomed to the weapons' weight, feel, and recoil. They are already drilled and prepared for the missions ahead.”
She had spent the whole one million points to get these weapons on time with a deep breath. She paused, ensuring her next words were heard by everyone on the platform. "Your mission is not a gamble. It is an execution. Every soldier knows their target and their duty. The initial phase of the offensive will be completed before the Imperial Court can even send a reliable spy unit to investigate."
Aurora gave a decisive nod, ascending the gangplank. "We will not fail, Ravy. Flask County will be back in the Flask Family."
With a final blast of its whistle, the first half of the newly formed Kim Dukedom fleet pulled away, turning south toward the mainland. As the ships vanished into the horizon, Ravenna boarded the waiting Iron Beast, leaving the vast, empty docks to the lingering scent of smoke and ambition. The return journey to the city was already beginning.