Chapter 176: The Witch Behind the Mask 3

‘Dammit! What is this incessant string of misfortunes?’

Queen inwardly cursed as she strode down the corridor following the council’s adjournment, her mind utterly beset by gloomy despondency.

‘I had simply come to serve as the princess’s escort – why must I now be dragged along on this expedition?’

Though Queen could discern Caseross’s underlying motives, that understanding did little to alleviate her vexation.

Despite her Dragonian imperial backing, Caseross currently held scant influence within Bohemia as its future matriarch.

To solidify her standing, she needed to exhibit her presence during challenging circumstances, demonstrating her capabilities – a political performance for which Queen’s formidable talents rendered her an ideal instrument.

Yet regardless of such pragmatic rationales, Queen could not reconcile herself to this predicament.

‘Of all people, why Baiken? That perspicacious girl could potentially see through my disguise…’

Of all her familial relations, the ever-astute Baiken presented the greatest potential complication regarding Queen’s covert return.

Likely the individual most intimately acquainted with the vanished Queen Andreas beyond even their parents, Queen recognized that she could never let her guard down throughout this undertaking.

‘But I shall persevere, no matter what. This hard-earned, satisfying life is mine – I cannot relinquish it over this trifling reconnaissance errand.’

“Take care and return safely, Sister.”

“You as well – I entrust Mother to your care in my absence.”

“Of course, Sister.”

Though not departing for outright combat, the inherent perils could not be discounted.

Thus, Baiken and Desth parted with solemn resignation before the elder sibling turned to address her assembled escorts with decisive firmness:

“Very well, let us depart.”

“Yes, milady!”

And so Baiken and her modest troop set forth from Bohemia’s royal palace, heading northwest, as Desth observed their departure with palpable trepidation etched upon her features.

‘She must return unharmed… Yet surely Baiken would not encounter undue peril…?’

Though not directly engaging the enemy, merely observing their movements, the possibility of averting extreme danger remained tenuous if circumstances devolved.

For the grim reality was that Baiken led this small party into the epicenter of a raging conflict zone – a ruthless battlefield where bombardments and blades reigned, littered with innumerable casualties.

No absolute assurances could be provided regarding their safety amidst such unrelenting carnage.

This sobering truth, compounded by Desth’s lingering trauma over their elder sister’s disappearance, manifested as profound anxiety gnawing at her core.

‘Still, Baiken is formidable… A superior 6th-rank mage, and that ‘Freddie Mars’ the princess assigned accompanies her as well…’

Among Baiken’s entourage was the purportedly potent witch “Freddie Mars,” whose prowess supposedly even surpassed their prodigiously talented father, Count Tuahn.

An ostensibly reliable safeguard, yet Desth could not entirely assuage her disquietude as she silently implored:

‘Please return safely, Sister Baiken… With our elder sister Queen already lost, I could never forgive if you vanished as well…’

“Sigh…”

“Very well, let us take a brief respite here.”

“Understood.”

Having departed Bohemia’s boundaries, Baiken and her party paused for a momentary rest.

Though still at a distance from Chris IV’s marching Marck armies, excessive exertion would prove unwise given the mission’s length and myriad potential hazards awaiting them.

With their campsite established, Baiken indulged in this rare interlude of repose, her gaze unconsciously drifting towards the witch “Freddie Mars” – maintaining a discernible distance from the others.

‘Come to think of it, that woman has scarcely uttered a word since our departure. She did not initially strike me as quite so taciturn in our first encounter.’

Indeed, their initial interaction had revealed Freddie as somewhat socially awkward, if not overtly timid.

Yet her prolonged silence now prompted Baiken to reevaluate her initial impression.

‘Perhaps she is simply tight-lipped or genuinely taciturn by nature… Quite unlike our sister in that regard.’

Ever since that fateful incident, Desth had frequently drawn comparisons between others and their vanished elder sibling.

Though none truly resembled Queen, certain mannerisms would unconsciously evoke her memory within Baiken’s mind – whether similarities or contrasts.

To that extent, the figure of Queen Andreas held a singularly profound significance for her younger sister Baiken.

Queen had been her constant companion from the moment of Baiken’s birth – an irreplaceable friend, family member, aspiration, and paragon all combined.

The anguish of Queen’s abrupt disappearance had been indescribably devastating, rendering Baiken hollow – as if her entire world had abandoned her.

Only through the gradual passage of time had Baiken regained her drive to persevere, albeit a fundamentally altered motivation from before.

From the moment she had recomposed herself and taken up arms anew, a singular conviction had sustained Baiken to this day:

An unwavering determination to uncover Queen’s precise fate…

And if some misfortune had indeed befallen her beloved sister, to exact vengeance by her own hand without fail.

‘If Queen truly met her demise… I shall never forgive the perpetrator. Even if it was that Sisyphus Emperor himself… I will sever his head without mercy, by my own blade.’

This unyielding resolution had prompted Baiken to volunteer for this perilous reconnaissance mission.

Circumstantial evidence strongly suggested Queen had likely been abducted to the Holy Imperium itself.

Though restricted to collating second-hand intelligence as a sovereign’s daughter, this covert expedition beyond Bohemia’s borders presented an opportunity to actively pursue leads regarding her sister’s whereabouts.

Especially given their objective of monitoring the Holy Imperium’s movements, the prospects seemed auspicious.

Silently renewing her solemn vow, Baiken allowed herself a glimmer of personal anticipation amidst her outward stoicism.

‘I will find you, Sister Queen… Wherever you may be, please hold on…’