The mansion was silent, with barely any movement, the kitchen was free of chefs, the halls with no maids moving through their duties, a few guards on patrol. I walked down the hallway, lit by mana stones, their constant buzz rhythmic with my footsteps.

I was dressed fresh with my sleeping robe overlay. I didn’t dress too much, since it was night.

The warm scent of the milk bath still lingered on my skin.

Leading to the waiting chamber, where Quinette was waiting.

I walked like a man of authority. Funny, I could remember my ugly days as a peasant very clearly a few weeks ago, now I held power.

I kept my shoulders straight, steps calculated, all my senses alert, I was still cautious.

I arrived at the room, pushing the door open, past. The chamber was luxurious, with comfortable furniture, paintings hanging on the wall which screamed of wealth.

Sculptures and some valuable vases filled with peasant blossoms were at the corner of the room.

This was my first time visiting this room.

I brushed off the interior.

Landing on Quinette, she got off her seat the moment I stepped into the room.

Keeping a poker face, Quinette greeted, "It’s a pleasure you tolerated my late unexpected visit."

She didn’t stutter or show signs of desperation, but unlike the others, I couldn’t tell any sign of pretence in the way she acted.

It seemed to be Quinette’s genuine personality. Compared to the way she looked, her attitude, her looks, and the way she dressed were opposite.

Blonde hair packed in messy buns.

Her face was smooth, delicate features that made her look cute rather than threatening. But a single scar drawn across her face told a different tale.

Her wings weren’t rather as wide as most dragons. Their pure white color.

Which matched her scaled tail, snaking in the air.

She clad in armor, calm silver, which gleamed under the light.

It gilded from her chest to her abdomen, hands were also shielded in guard.

But her armor was with a skirt, keeping the weight away from her legs.

A blade rested at her hips.

"It’s my pleasure," I said. I walked up to the seat opposite, her gracefully getting seated. Crossed my leg casually at the table set before me. My feet still in sandals, not the cheap ones.

"So why do I host such a visit?" I asked slyly, knowing the perfect reason.

"News of the great miracle you performed reached me."

"O-oh really."

"The Mana curse has ruined a lot of my warriors. Throughout the years, I have lost the ability to perform protection of our border. With your ability this would greatly help restore the numbers of the warriors."

Straight to the point, Quinette didn’t waste time. Immediately moving into business, and I liked that she didn’t try to intimidate. Or other tricks like Lilia.

"What else."

I dropped my leg off the table, seating properly. I picked a piece of grape, tossed it in my mouth.

Acting bored about the conversation.

Quinette relaxed her shoulders.

"I’m not asking for an heir. Just what is your price to heal the rest of the warriors who have been affected."

"Now you asked, I have two requests in exchange for healing the affected warriors."

"Which is?" She leaned in, keenly eager of my price. But neither desperate.

"You sign off the Gordon Mountains border pass. Also. Madel, one of your warriors, you’ll assign her as my personal guard."

"..." Madel stayed silent, she sighed, leaning back into the chair. "I’ll admit, I already suspected you’ll negotiate something high. But Gordon Mountains Border Pass is what I never planned for."

"Well that’s my price, nothing too much."

"I won’t have any problem assigning Madel as your personal guard, but..." Her voice then dropped, avoiding chances of being eavesdropped on. "What do you plan to do with the Gordon Mountains Pass? If you’re honest, it would give me some assurance. If your reasons are malicious, I’m afraid it wouldn’t work."

She was suspicious, of course. Reading my nerves. I couldn’t tell the truth, neither could I avoid the question leading to more suspicion.

What I needed was a lie.

And I was already prepared for this... using what I noticed about the kingdom just from Aria’s little excursion. I expertly cooked up a lie.

"I plan creating a militia group of refugee humans."

Quinette stood off her seat abruptly. "Don’t take it the wrong way, hear me out."

About to speak, I cut in.

She kept her words to herself, sealing her lips shut. Sitting back.

"If you’ve noticed, a lot of people are questioning the queen’s reign. From citizens even to nobles. In fact, a coup might be being planned. The kingdom army might also be compromised."

Quinette didn’t deny my claim, which meant it was true, her face was conflicted. She pondered deeply about it, getting more interested in what I planned out.

"So what’s your plan."

I cleared my throat. "It’s simple. A secret militia, independent from the kingdom’s original army. They are human refugees trained and prepared. For what might come and how to respond."

"Hmm. So you plan on using control of the pass to sneak in refugees discreetly to train them. It is an honorable plan. But I’ll ask..." A moment of silence stretched before. "What would you do? Assuming they strike and the army isn’t ready. They are fighting against magic."

She was putting the risk back on me. Avoiding stating her fear out loud.

"I plan to transfer magic to the military. Empowering them, trust me, by the time the opposing faction tries to strike, they would be prepared only if you hand over the pass in time."

I said, returning the weight of decision back to her shoulders.

"The earlier the better."

I crossed my legs, balanced back.

Letting the thoughts settle in.

Quinette weighed her options. This way my plans were still hidden.

The militia would serve the queen when established but under my loyalty, when time comes to strike it wouldn’t be expected.

Later on she stood up.

"Signing off the Gordon’s Pass over to you would take a bit of process. Not to worry, I’ll think about it. For now. I’ll send over Madel by sunset, to show my commitment."

Quinette took a bow before exiting, I remained in the room seated, leg resting on the stool.

As she exited, I remained in my spot. Then, the room dropped physical; I sensed the room like it plunged from a low thud to the ground.

I froze. Maybe it was something I had imagined, then the chandelier in the room clinked, its tiny decorative glass clinking together. The vase on pillars trembled; fortunately, none crashed to the ground.

Quinette also stopped by the door. Already gripping the door knob to exit when she felt it.

We traded confused glances. Quinette already reaching for her sword at her hips.

It stopped making sense when I felt a chilling gust hit my back. I was backing the window, didn’t see the cause of the chilling gust. But it wasn’t snowing; the night wasn’t this cold.

Else, we had been transported to a different destination.

By the look on Quinette’s face, her confusion as she fixed on the window, it wasn’t a wild guess.

Finally, when I turned around, what I predicted had happened. The curtains whipped from the howling wind, particles of snow swirled in.

The expanse beyond it was a frozen tundra.

"How the—" Slowly I rose off the seat, moving towards the mirror.

This was no illusion. I could sense no mana from the snow. It was real; we were transported to another realm entire.

I had an idea who could, but I’d never expected such.