Building a Kingdom and Conquering the World

That same night, Henry stood by the window of his study, his sharp gaze following the twelve shadowy figures as they moved through the darkness. Like whispers in the wind, they darted across the castle grounds, their forms blending seamlessly with the night. One by one, they scaled the towering walls, slipping over the battlements with ease.

One figure paused.

Even from a distance, she seemed to feel his gaze. Though the darkness veiled her features, Henry knew it was Leier. She turned her head slightly toward his window, lingering for a moment. She could not see him, yet she knew the king was there, watching. A silent acknowledgment passed between them. Then, with a small bow, she disappeared into the night.

Henry remained at the window for a moment longer, his expression calm - "Soon, we will climb out of this well." He muttered to himself before turning away. There was still much to do, and the first step was understanding what exactly Eleanor was after. "I need to find out why she needs this fire."

-x-

The next morning.

Henry was up early, already on his all black clothes, which made his gray eyes even more apparent. As always, cold permeated the walls of Hidden Stone Castle perched atop the chain of mountains. Torches lined on every hall and room, trying to create a warm and comfort environment.

As he entered the dining hall, he found Inacia, the former queen of Aritreia, already overseeing the preparations. She moved with quiet efficiency, directing the maids as they arranged the long wooden table, ensuring every dish and detail was in place. Again, a lavish spread covered the surface, sumptuous meats, fresh bread, steaming stew.

"Good morning. I see you have been busy." Henry greeted as he stepped inside. At once, Inacia and the maids bowed their heads in deep respect.

"Good work. You may raise your heads." He offered them a small nod before turning his gaze to the blonde woman before him. "Where are your children?"

At his words, Inacia immediately reached for the small notepad she always carried, but before she could scribble a response, Henry waved a hand to stop her.

"No need to explain. Send them to me later." His tone softened slightly. "I will arrange for them to be sent to the capital for a proper education. Perhaps, in time, they might even earn the ranks of generals under my command."

He remembered well the pitiful state of her children, the scars left by the mad self-made king. Despite her suffering, Inacia had thrown herself into her work, proving her worth through diligence and quiet determination. Thanks to her, Henry had found skilled farmers capable of compiling agricultural records that would benefit the entire kingdom. Her efforts had not gone unnoticed.

For a moment, Inacia simply looked at him, her lips parted as if she wished to say something. But, of course, she couldn't. Instead, she hastily scribbled something on her notepad before holding it up. "Thank you."

Henry glanced at the words, then at her face. She didn't need to write those words, he could see them in her eyes, in the relieved smile on her lips.

"Go have some time with your children." His voice was firm but kind. "Your work here is done."

She took a brief look at the room. The preparations here were done. She bowed once again to the king and left the hall.

Henry exhaled softly, then turned to one of the remaining maids. "Go and invite our guests for breakfast. Today will be a long day."

-x-

It didn't take long for Eleanor and Zolun to enter the dining hall.

It was as if they had been waiting, fully prepared, long before the invitation arrived. Eleanor stepped through the doors first, her red hair cascading over her shoulders, her golden eyes sharp yet laced with quiet curiosity. Behind her, Zolun followed like a guardian, his gaze scanning the room as if always expecting an ambush.

Henry studied him carefully.

Despite spending the night standing guard, the Sixth Stage Warrior showed no signs of fatigue. Not even the faintest stiffness in his shoulders. That was the power of someone at their level, capable of fighting for days without food, without sleep, without rest.

Henry smirked slightly. He will be a tough one to deal with.

But for now, breakfast awaited.

As they settled at the table, the initial pleasantries faded quickly, giving way to the real conversation.

Henry leaned forward, his fingers tapping lightly against the wooden surface. "So, Princess," he began, his voice calm - "I spent the entire night reviewing what we know, and I had my subordinates gather more information. I have some suggestions."

He cast a brief glance toward the maids standing obediently along the walls. Understanding the unspoken command, they moved in unison, clearing the plates with practiced efficiency. Soon, the grand table was empty of food and plates.

Then, Henry unfurled a large parchment, rolling it open across the table's surface.

A detailed map of Stahl and the newly annexed territories stretched before them. The Frozen Forest lay to the far north, an expanse of untouched ice and deathly cold. To the south, the Obex Forest, a vast woodland forming the natural border between Stahl and the unknown realms. The sight of it reminded Henry of the Iberian Peninsula back on Earth, similar in shape, though Stahl's lands were at least twice the size, with chain of mountains dominating the whole West.

He tapped his fingers on the western region of his kingdom, where iron mining was most concentrated.

"According to your book," Henry said, his tone measured, "this Fire is hidden where the cold never changes. If that's the case, we should start here, in the western part of my kingdom. It's densely populated, and if there are any clues about this so-called Fire, someone there may have knowledge of it."

His suggestion was strategic. A deliberate attempt to stall for time.

Eleanor, however, was not convinced.

Without a word, she stood from her seat and stepped closer to the map. Zolun followed immediately, his body moving in perfect synchronization with hers, always within reach.

Eleanor raised a delicate hand and pointed directly at the Frozen Forest.

"Shouldn't we start here?" she asked, her voice calm yet firm. "This is the most frozen region in these lands, far colder than anywhere else. The book clearly states that the Fire is hidden in a place of eternal cold."

Henry didn't react immediately. Instead, he exhaled through his nose, leaning back slightly.

"It's not that simple, Princess," he countered. "As I told you before, the Frozen Forest is not safe right now. There are… complications."

A brief flicker of something crossed Eleanor's eyes, doubt? Suspicion? But she didn't voice it. Instead, she studied the map once more, then turned her full attention to Henry, her golden gaze locking onto his.

For a long moment, neither spoke.

Then, finally, she relented. "Very well. I will trust you."

That was easier than expected. Henry had anticipated more resistance, more arguments. He had prepared words upon words to delay her departure to the Frozen Forest. But in the end, it wasn't necessary.

At least, not yet.

Then, Eleanor extended her hand - "Now, may I have my book back?" she asked, with a polite tone.

-x-

Two weeks later.

Unlike the Frozen Forest, the Obex Forest held no secrets, no mysteries, no whispers of the unknown. It was just a forest. A normal stretch of northern woodland, gray and lifeless, like all others in the region. The trees were bare skeletons, their twisted branches reaching toward the sky like grasping hands. The ground was a dull carpet of fallen leaves and frozen dirt.

Leier and her twelve Shadow Guards moved in silence, their black-cloaked figures weaving through the trees like shadows cast by the flickering torchlight. A map rested in Leier's hands For weeks, they had been traveling through the wilderness, pushing further south toward the kingdoms beyond Stahl.

Yet the journey had been… uneventful.

Too uneventful.

No signs of enemy movement. Not even bandits. She didn't expect her tip down South to be like this. She was about to signal for a brief rest when she stopped abruptly.

"…Green."

The word slipped from her lips, barely above a whisper.

It was as if they had stepped through a portal. One moment, they were in the gray wasteland of the northern woods. Then, in the span of a single step, the world changed.

The trees were green.

Lush, alive, pulsing with vibrant color. The air felt different, warmer, filled with the faint scent of moss and blooming flowers. Leaves rustled above them, not from the harsh northern winds, but from a gentle, humid breeze.

Leier tightened her grip on her torch. "We crossed"