Chapter 878: Queen’s Residence, the Aertel Sisters

In front of the largest and most magnificent palace in the royal capital, a knight order remained stationed year-round, tasked with protecting the queen’s residence.

It was none other than the Queen Knight Order.

Every member was a Sword Master-level knight, and the order was divided into one hundred and eight divisions, each consisting of no fewer than seven members and as many as twelve. If the entire knight order gathered in one place, it would amount to roughly seven hundred to twelve hundred Sword Masters.

It was undoubtedly an enormous force with terrifying combat power.

Especially the first twenty-eight divisions.

All twenty-eight of them were fully staffed with twelve members each.

Both their captains and vice-captains were experts among Sword Masters. Judging by the world of Danmachi’s level system, they would all rank among the highest in Level 6, with some perhaps even standing at the very peak of Level 6.

A knight like Hugh, if placed among those twenty-eight divisions, could no longer be considered exceptional.

At best, he would rank above average.

As for the captains of the top three divisions, rumors claimed they were only a single step away from becoming Sword Saints. Compared to Albert Borley of Jinas, they likely would not have been much weaker.

While the knight order stationed at the queen’s residence rotated on duty, there was only one requirement: only one of the top twenty-eight divisions was qualified to guard this place.

In other words, the queen’s residence was constantly protected by at least twelve Sword Masters. Among them, both the captain and vice captain were veteran experts. Together with the knights under their command, the defenses were airtight. Even a Sword Saint attempting to force their way inside would be held back for quite some time.

And so, when the carriage pulled by three massive beasts arrived before the residence, the unit led by twelve knights reacted almost instinctively.

They raised their weapons, formed ranks, and prepared to stop it by force.

However, the moment the young woman with the face of an angel, the figure of a devil, and an icy, noble aura stepped down from the carriage and slowly walked toward them, everyone present froze in place, including the twelve powerful knights.

No one could move another inch.

*Tap-Tap-Tap-Tap—*

A consistent, clear sound of footsteps echoed through the air as the young woman advanced expressionlessly.

Yet with every step she took, an overwhelming pressure spread outward like an avalanche, crushing everyone present until they could barely breathe.

This was the advance of a monarch.

This was the descent of a sovereign.

She was neither forcing her way in nor paying a visit.

She was simply returning to her own residence, as though it were only natural.

She walked forward at an unhurried pace, yet no one could even conceive of standing in her way.

Because doing so would be the greatest disrespect.

’I am returning to my own bedchamber. Whoever stands in my way is a traitor to the crown.’

Yanivette never spoke those words aloud, yet everyone present felt as though they had echoed directly within their hearts, engraving themselves into their minds.

And so, everyone understood that the moment they stepped forward to block her path would also be the moment they died.

"..."

Right before everyone’s eyes, Yanivette calmly walked into the residence.

Throughout the entire process, no one dared to stop her, nor did anyone dare utter a sound. Everyone instinctively lowered their heads in submission and welcome. Even the twelve mighty knights felt as though their minds were on the verge of collapse, overcome by an almost irresistible urge to kneel before the young woman.

"Amazing..."

Among those who had stepped down from the carriage alongside Yanivette, Lizbeth muttered unconsciously.

"...Yeah, she really is."

Even Ivy had to admit that Yanivette’s presence had completely shaken her.

"Seriously, where the hell did this woman come from?"

Cold sweat ran down Leo’s forehead as his hands tightened around the twin swords at his waist.

"..."

Lilith silently followed behind Riezel with an indifferent expression. Only the seriousness in her eyes as she looked at Yanivette’s back betrayed her true feelings.

Only two people remained completely unaffected by Yanivette’s terrifying aura.

One was Euryale, who blinked curiously as she looked around, and the other was Riezel, who held Euryale’s hand while watching Yanivette with a meaningful gaze.

Just like that, the group followed Yanivette without encountering the slightest obstruction, walking all the way into the queen’s residence.

Only after they had entered did the avalanche-like pressure gradually fade away, allowing the knights to recover from their frozen state.

They immediately began gasping for breath.

"Quick... Notify the captain-commander!"

Among them, the captain gritted his teeth, his face deathly pale as he shouted.

Someone like that was far beyond what he could handle.

Even the vice captain-commander of the Queen Knight Order would be powerless against such a person. Only the captain-commander, only that Valkyrie who had risen like a meteor, could stand against someone like her.

Without delay, the vice captain beside the captain struggled to take out a communication magic crystal and establish contact.

Meanwhile, the noble-looking young man who wanted to meet Riezel’s group arrived under the escort of several knights and happened to witness the scene.

"That aura just now..."

Cold sweat also appeared on his forehead as uncertainty filled his eyes.

"That was... the doll, wasn’t it?"

"If that’s really the doll... has she awakened?"

"Which means... that woman just now was..."

Muttering in a tense voice, the young man clenched his fists as his heart shook violently.

Even though he had grown up listening to stories about that woman, he had never truly understood her abilities or grasped just how great and powerful she actually was.

But now, he knew, he knew that she was a being comparable to the gods themselves.

And he was supposed to become an enemy of someone like that?

As that thought crossed his mind, the young man’s heart could not help but tremble.

"Your Highness."

"Your Highness."

At the same time, the knights protecting him called out one after another, finally snapping the young man out of his daze. He instinctively looked toward the knights around him, only to see faces filled with terror and horror.

Clearly, the knights were in an even worse state than he was.

Some had collapsed onto the ground, while others were trembling uncontrollably.

"...Let’s go."

In the end, the young man still failed to gather the courage to enter the queen’s residence and confront Riezel’s group.

"We’ll have to think this through carefully..."

As he turned away, his face was clouded with gloom, while his heart felt unbearably heavy, filled with confusion.

After the young man left, the vice captain who had contacted that legendary figure through the communication magic crystal finally received a response.

"Leave them alone. I’ll meet them personally."

Those indifferent words were all that remained before the communication was cut off.

===

Compared to its exterior, the inside of the queen’s residence was even more lavish.

It had clearly been constructed using specially refined White Scorchstone, a material even rarer and more expensive than ordinary White Scorchstone. It made the entire place resemble a pure white castle while maintaining an exceptionally comfortable temperature inside.

Along the way, Riezel and the others saw enormous magic crystal chandeliers worth a fortune, luxurious carpets covering every inch of the floor, and countless expensive pieces of furniture and decorations.

Especially the paintings hanging on the walls, along with blades, spears, swords, halberds, and other weapons. Every single one of them was an antique work of art with immense historical value.

Needless to say, the entire palace radiated extravagant luxury.

Had Riezel and the others not been well-traveled, they probably would have been stunned by the sight.

Yet despite walking through such a lavish palace, Yanivette kept her brows tightly furrowed the entire time, looking distinctly displeased.

"It seems every generation of queens after me consisted of nothing but vulgar fools. No wonder they’ve managed to govern this country into such a pitiful state."

Yanivette openly criticized the successive queens of Theresis, and her words were especially merciless.

Of course, she had her reasons.

"In my era, I had no interest in filling this place with such meaningless decorations."

After casually offering that explanation—or perhaps not even an explanation at all—Yanivette continued deeper into the palace.

"Um... Ms. Yanivette?" Lizbeth asked cautiously. "Where are we going now?"

"To meet the current queen," Yanivette answered without hesitation. "Isn’t that why all of you came here? I also wish to meet her and see exactly why she has neglected the affairs of state."

Her voice was cold enough that Riezel and the others immediately understood.

If the current queen failed to satisfy Yanivette, she would undoubtedly ensure that she met a miserable end.

Naturally, no one objected.

Even the kind-hearted Lizbeth hesitated for a moment before quietly closing her mouth.

Truth be told, the current queen of Theresis truly left a poor impression.

With the nation in turmoil, as the ruler of the country, she should have stepped forward decisively and done everything in her power to stabilize the situation. Instead, she abandoned the government and remained secluded year after year.

As a result, the already unstable political climate eventually exploded, giving rise to the Prince Faction and the Princess Faction, splitting the queendom in two as their endless schemes against one another plunged the nation into a crisis of both internal and external threats.

Had the queen stepped forward at that critical moment, she might well have stabilized the queendom and prevented the government from splitting apart.

Yet she had done the opposite.

She shut herself away, refused all visitors, stopped handling state affairs, and completely abandoned her responsibilities.

Clearly, without an extremely convincing explanation, there was no chance Yanivette would accept such conduct.

And with Yanivette’s personality, if the queen failed to provide a satisfactory answer, she would likely resolve the nation’s problems in the most brutal way possible.

When that happened, the current queen would inevitably bear the responsibility, and if things truly came to that, she would have brought it upon herself.

As such, Lizbeth and the others had no reason to speak in her defense.

Riezel, meanwhile, paid little attention to the matter and quietly surveyed his surroundings instead.

’This place...’

Muttering internally, his eyes narrowed slightly as a transparent glow flashed across them.

With Transparent World activated, he noticed numerous gazes directed toward them and also discovered many people concealed in the shadows.

’Hidden guards?’

’No... doesn’t feel like it.’

’They’re... monitoring us?’

After pondering for a moment, Riezel deactivated Transparent World.

Just like that, more than ten minutes later, the group finally reached the deepest part of the grand residence, and their destination was an enormous bedchamber located there.

Even before entering, the massive double doors—standing at least four meters tall and three meters wide—made it obvious that the room beyond was extraordinarily spacious.

Standing before those doors were two people, and they were the first to dare block the group’s path.

"Oh..."

Before anyone else could react, however, Leo’s eyes widened in amazement because the two people standing before them were an identical pair of twin sisters.

""Welcome, honored guests.""

Speaking in perfect unison, the twins performed a solemn bow.

Both of them wore elegant white palace dresses, and their delicate features and tall, graceful figures were striking. Either one alone might not rival women like Lizbeth, Euryale, or Yanivette, whose beauty ranked among the finest on the continent.

Yet together, they created an irresistible presence that was no less captivating than theirs.

"I am Anna."

"I am Lenna."

""We are Her Majesty’s personal guards and attendants. Once again, welcome.""

Both swordswomen, whose appearances, attire, voices, expressions, and even gazes were completely identical, spoke as one, causing Leo to sigh in amazement once more.

Only Yanivette narrowed her eyes as she looked at the identical twins.

"Girls of Aertel?"

At those words, the twins paused briefly before nodding.

"Yes, Your Excellency."

"My sister and I are indeed from the Aertel family."

As they responded, their attitude toward Yanivette could only be described as respectful.

No.

It bordered on reverence.

They did not appear to be welcoming an honored guest.

Rather, they looked as though they were worshipping a supreme goddess.

"So the Aertels remain the same as ever. To serve the royal family, they have always managed to cultivate attendants as pleasing to the eye as the two of you..." Yanivette said with a hint of nostalgia. "Since the Aertel family still serves the royal family, then... summon the one you serve."

If those words had been spoken anywhere else, they would have caused an uproar, considering she was effectively ordering the queen herself to come out and pay her respects.

Such arrogance would have led to conflict—or even punishment—if spoken by anyone else.

Yet the twin sisters clearly knew exactly who stood before them.

However, after exchanging a glance, they shook their heads together.

"Our deepest apologies. Her Majesty is unable to come out and meet you."

As soon as those words were spoken, Yanivette’s expression visibly turned cold, making the twins immediately feel their breathing stop.

An overwhelming pressure immediately descended upon them, making their bodies unbearably heavy as though they were about to collapse to their knees.

"For the sake of thy ancestors, who once served me, I shall overlook thy first act of disrespect."

Yanivette spoke coldly.

"Have the current queen come and see me at once."

===

[A bonus Chapter for reaching 400 Power Stones]

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