Galaxy's First Ruler

'The Dukes were from the Kingdom of Swordless?!!'

Aldrich repeated Boudicca's absurd claim in his mind more than once. The only issue was that he could feel no hint of doubt in Boudicca's tone. That didn't mean that she was absolutely right about it, but Dreamers of her Rank were more careful about their words than the common crowd. For her to show such expression and emotion explained many things to Aldrich.

"But why?" Aldrich asked.

Boudicca smirked and looked at Aldrich.

"By now you must have found out that there is a deep animosity between the Kingdom of Divine Beast and the Kingdom of Swordless."

Aldrich remembered the memories of the three Viscounts from House Firebird. His mind went to the sheer hate he had felt through those memories, and the little things Earl Drago had told him. He looked at the rain outside through the window, getting denser and denser, and slowly muttered.

"Yes, the bloodshed that has continued since time immemorial. Bloodshed whose cause is forgotten. And bloodshed that doesn't have an end."

Boudicca nodded and continued.

"Yes. I couldn't have put it better myself. I believe this was one of the factors. But even if it wasn't, there is no doubt about the identities of those Dukes."

Aldrich could accept this for now. Yet, he couldn't help but ask.

"If you are so sure of their identities, why didn't you ask the Queen to help you out. Surely she can confront King Hagen regarding this, can't she?"

"This…"

Aldrich could see Boudicca's hesitation as if she had encountered the tallest hurdle. Even though it was clear she didn't want to say anything about it, Boudicca finally took a deep breath and carried on.

"… The Kings and Queen can't directly fight among themselves in normal circumstances."

"Why?"

Aldrich snappingly asked. The hurdle that Boudicca had just crossed seemed to have become beyond her capabilities. Aldrich could feel an immense struggle on her face. She turned her face away and muttered out.

"I don't know."

Aldrich sensed Boudicca was hiding something. A secret, deep enough for a Duchess to lie about it. But there wasn't anything Aldrich could do if she didn't want to share this secret with him. Aldrich was shameless, but he wasn't completely unreasonable. He had already asked the questions, and so he wouldn't force her to add one more answer.

Sigh!

'Some answers are best to find out by myself.'

Aldrich changed the topic and brought Boudicca to the topic at hand.

"So the task you mentioned is related to this General Eydis?"

Boudicca faced Aldrich and nodded.

"Yes. I don't know how they got their hands on those, but the three Dukes had an Item from Hallowed Phantoms that can even make all the Dukes of the Kingdoms stand on their toes. If General Eydis wasn't outnumbered and caught off-guard, she would have never fallen for this trickery."

Aldrich felt curious about this Item's nature. Surely an Item that could make Dukes fear it couldn't be so simple.

"What is so special about this Item?"

Aldrich saw Boudicca's eyes dilating as if he made her remember something very unpleasant and intimidating. There was even a trace of fear and extreme vigilance on her face. Boudicca took a deep breath as if it was time to let out the main issue for which she was here.

"Tell me, Aldrich, do you know the structure of our Galaxy?"

How could Aldrich have not updated himself with this knowledge after coming to House Venomous Rose? It's true that he had found out general knowledge among the people of the Galaxy was beyond even the thinking capabilities of humans of Barren Earth.

Like reading from pages of a book, Aldrich spoke out.

"Yes, I know. The Milky Way Galaxy is divided into four kingdoms, separated by four Separations. And at the center of the Galaxy is HIM, THE OLDEST ONE. In all the Kingdoms, except the Kingdom of Life-Authority, it is believed that HE is the origin of all that is alive and dead. HE is the reason for all that is real and illusory. And HE is Darker…"

"ENOUGH!.."

Aldrich noticed how Boudicca was almost fuming, but deep within her heart, an emotion of facing a huge calamity seeped out. Aldrich was purposely riling her up by saying all these things to get her an idea about her views. Depending on them, he would need to be careful if she were to ever find out that he could be considered a Blessed of the Being called The Oldest One.

Boudicca, surprised by her reaction, coughed and explained.

"… Cough! I mean, that would be enough. Many believe that the Kingdoms and Separations culminated in the center of the Galaxy. But from my research, I have found out that there is a region surrounding the center of the Galaxy and before any hint of life could be seen. This region is older than the oldest tales and myths. In the Ancient Scroll of my House, its name could be read as…"

Aldrich waited with bated breath to finish. The silence in the room and the occasional pitter-patter of the rain had vanished. Aldrich's white eyes and Boudicca's blues were like two gems staring at each other. Boudicca's mouth parted and words as heavy as the Pillar of Footprints came out.

"… Its name is PRISON OF GODS!"

Aldrich's heart thumped as he heard the word Prison. Sha's memories related to the Devil came running to him. In those memories, the Devil had gone to the same dark space where once Aldrich had been forced to go. But the Banished Golden Devil had vanished from there, leaving only an Archaic Altar with two pillars and two iron-like chains. Aldrich had lost his trust in the word God by now, but it seemed Boudicca had yet to bring up this word one more time.

Not caring at all for the heaviness of the name she had just uttered, Boudicca leaned towards Aldrich and spoke out.

"And the name of that Item is GOD BINDING HAND."