Chapter 525: Chapter 525- Diana’s Resolve

"Your Highness, this is called a meat skewer. It is quite famous among the commoners."

As royalty, it was quite rare for her to eat dishes of such low standards. Nevertheless, there was no helping it. Of course, he made sure that his voice was low enough so that only she could hear him. This caused the gap between them to close even further, and the blush in Diana’s face deepened.

To escape her embarrassment and weird thoughts, she picked up the skewer and slowly brought it to her mouth. The moment she bit in, her eyes opened wide as the rich flavour of spice, meat, and oil flooded her mouth.

Meanwhile, the conversation at the other table continued.

"I am telling you, it’s politics. Now that the first prince is out of the way, the second prince, to solidify his claim to the throne, must have sent assassins to kill the princess. The rumours about her running away are just nonsense."

As it turns out, the news about the princess running away on her wedding day had blown quite out of proportion. Because of a lack of any clue or information, the people had started creating their own theories.

Having listened to their conversation enough, Reinhardt placed his attention somewhere else. In another table, a different, fascinating conversation was going on.

"Hey, did you hear about how Hero Caelum really died?"

At that instant, Diana’s fingers tightened around the skewer. Reinhardt’s posture did not change, but his attention sharpened like a drawn blade.

"Everyone in Aetherion knows that he died in some skirmish beyond the human realms. It happened deep inside the Tainted Lands, a place that isn’t even on the maps anymore."

Another joined in, "I heard it was a Heavenly King who killed him. They are said to be the most powerful among the demons and even difficult to face, even for the heroes."

"Yeah. Yeah... Heavenly King and all that nonsense. Wasn’t one killed by the Dark Knight three months ago? I say it’s all bullshit. Sir Caelum wasn’t reckless. Even if the opponent was a Heavenly King, he wouldn’t have died."

The words of the man managed to pique not only the interest of his friends but also Reinhardt and Diana, who were sitting nearby.

"I heard it from someone who is acquainted with one of the knights of the Heavenly Order. Sir Caelum died inside a dungeon. What’s more, the one to kill him wasn’t a demon."

Murmurs of agreement spread around the table. Diana lowered her head, her veil trembling as she listened intently.

"What do you mean?"

"They say Sir Caelum and Sir Gawain, along with their knight orders, were exploring a labyrinth. However, this labyrinth turned out to be far from normal. There were no treasures, nor any records or inheritance left behind from the ancient times. What’s more, the enemies they faced inside were not monsters or demons either, but something else."

"What then?" someone asked.

"...Hybrids." While mysterious, the word did not evoke as much surprise within them as it did to Reinhardt. The latter’s eyes narrowed for a second.

The man continued, "What the knights fought there were creatures stitched together from different races. Some looked human, spoke, walked, and used skills like one. Others were... wrong. They had limbs where there shouldn’t be any. Magic fused straight into flesh. Knights said cutting them down felt like killing something that was never meant to exist."

A shudder spread through the listeners. Though the next second, under the influence of the ale, they shrugged it off.

"Bullshit, sounds like drunken fear talk than anything else."

"Maybe. But explain this then. Only one of the two heroes came back. Sir Gawain Valecrest, Bearer of the Holy Sword Durandal barely managed to retrieve Sir Caelum’s body before beating a hasty retreat. They say Sir Gawain is in critical condition. Although he managed to bring Sir Caelum’s body back, he was heavily injured in the process. His armour was almost shattered; he was missing an arm and had severe wounds all around his body."

"Oh, what happened later?"

"I don’t know much either. The knight said that the royal family sent scouts to survey the labyrinth. Sir Vaerion and his Black Gryffin Legion were among the scouts who responded to the call and immediately set out. However, by the time he arrived, the labyrinth had already disappeared as if it was never there."

Silence descended once the man finished. Even the ones who had been denying his words had nothing to remark. After this, it was just baseless speculation. Reinhardt had no interest in these exaggerated or false rumours; as such, he made his way out with Diana.

.

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"Do you think what those people said was true?" Following behind him, the princess asked after a while.

"There is no way of telling if everything we heard today is true or not. However, rumours don’t just pop out of nowhere. There has to be some kind of basis for it. What’s more, given the way that guy was speaking, it is highly likely that the source from where he got his information can be trusted."

The man’s facts were pretty solid, and he used terms that an ordinary citizen shouldn’t be aware of. Most of all, that man spoke of something that triggered a memory from within Reinhardt. It was not his own, but rather a vision that was shown to him.

Minerva’s dream realm. He still remembered being inside some mad laboratory too advanced for its time.

All around him were rows of glass cylinders with mysterious liquid within. Suspended in those liquids were bodies reshaped and modified. Some still bore human appearances, while others had already lost any trace of what they once were.

He had witnessed all races there, even the ones that had gone extinct on the continent. He didn’t know why, but back in the tavern, when the man said ’hybrid,’ this memory was the first thing that popped up in his mind.

"If you want to learn the truth, there is only one option. Ask it directly from the person with the most authority here." Saying that, Reinhardt stopped near the edge of a water canal.

Evening had settled over the capital, dyeing the sky in amber and bruised violet. The water carried the reflection of bridges, towers, and the distant palace... beautiful and serene.

"As you wanted, I brought you here, and we even went around collecting information about your city. Now it all depends on what you want to do, Princess. Do you want to go back to your family?"

Whether it be in that fruit stall, tavern, or any other place they went, people never ceased to talk about their missing princess. Diana was quite loved by the populace, who were devastated by her absence.

"I..." Her hands clenched near her heart, causing the fabric of her dress to curl. "I am not yet ready to go back. But I still want to see my father and mother... Sniff... sniff... what should I do, Sir Reinhardt?"

At the end of her words, her voice cracked. Tears slid down her cheeks, dripping onto the stone below. She tried to wipe them away, but they kept coming.

Despite everything she had to endure, despite resisting and fleeing to Solaris, the truth was cruelly simple.

She missed them. She remembered her father’s awkward smiles, the way he never quite knew how to comfort her but always tried. Her mother’s gentle hands, brushing her hair at night, humming old lullabies meant for children, but never once stoppin,g even when Diana grew older.

And yet... That same father had insisted on her marriage to Vaerion. The palace, which used to be her home, had become a cage. On that day, three months ago, she ran away not because she hated them, but because staying meant losing herself.

"If I go back..." Diana whispered, voice trembling, "I won’t be able to leave again. I know it. The moment I see them, I’ll soften. I’ll give in. And if I see him again... I don’t think... I don’t think I can endure that."

Her body stiffened; her breath froze in her lungs. The memory of that wedding day, of the scene she witnessed that night, still plunged an icy dagger into her heart. It was painful and unforgettable.

Reinhardt stood beside her in silence, unable to comfort her. All he could do was stand there, like a pillar made of ice. After a long moment, he sighed.

"Your Highness does not have to rush to make a decision today."

"There is a way for you to speak to them without returning. A way to let your voice reach them. You can let them know you still live. There is no need to force yourself to face what you are not ready to face."

At those words, Diana looked at him with red, teary eyes. "You... can do that?"

"Yes."

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Royal Palace, innermost chambers...