Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 687: 321: King and King_2

Chapter 687: Chapter 321: King and King_2

Though the shaded areas in the wilderness are unclaimed, an unwritten rule among travelers is that first come, first served for campsites. Strangers, if encountered, would keep a safe distance unless absolutely necessary.

Thus, the merchants had to lower themselves to make a request.

Leon could see that this merchant father and son posed no threat to him, especially since they willingly parked their valuable goods and carts near him and his companion, a gesture of goodwill, so he didn’t make things difficult for them.

Upon receiving permission, Basank thanked repeatedly and promptly drove the cart over.

He yelled at his son, who had been careless with drinking, to find a place to start a fire nearby. Meanwhile, as he untied the horses from the cart, he turned back and chatted casually, “Are you heading to the Orland Kingdom too? Perhaps we might be on the same route and can look after each other.”

Leon scooped up some meat porridge and handed it to Ines, whose stomach had long been growling. Hearing the merchant’s words, he asked in confusion, “Heading west leads to Mamor County. Why do you think I’m going to the Northern Kingdom, and not Kantadar?”

Being aware that from the border of Holy Eagle County, circling the Garak Mountains to the Deyatuk border at Dragon Claw Fortress, there’s still a small stretch of ambiguous borderlands at the junction of three kingdoms.

Basank tied the horse reins securely, shrugged and replied, “Mamor County has been occupied by the Orland Kingdom for over two years. If you want to go to Kantadar, isn’t taking this route just making an unnecessary detour? You didn’t know?”

Ines paused her sipping of the wheat porridge, and perked up her ears.

Leon was slightly startled upon hearing this, realizing that this world’s Orland had also launched a southern campaign against the Kantadar Kingdom!

“We come from a county much further east and truly ignorant of the border affairs in recent years. But indeed, I am taking my sister to the Northern Kingdom to seek refuge with relatives; perhaps this makes the journey safer.” Leon, calmly, replied while indulging in the soup-dipped bread.

Upon hearing the word ‘sister’, Ines couldn’t help but glance at Leon.

“You two are lucky not to have started your journey two years earlier; otherwise, you might have encountered the Orland’s ‘Golden Lion Queen’ assaulting Mamor County when times were turbulent, and even merchants couldn’t cross the border. If you had come earlier, it would’ve been a wasted trip,” Basank chuckled while feeding the horses.

“Pff—… cough, cough…” Leon suddenly sprayed out a mouthful of barley.

After wiping his mouth and swallowing the food, he turned with shock towards the merchant to inquire further, his voice involuntarily raised a few notches, “What?….. What Queen?”

“Golden Lion Queen,” Basank, who was feeding the horses, turned back. Though puzzled by the tall young man’s strange reaction and tone, he couldn’t suppress his impulse to boast from a life of crossing lands, proudly flaunting his insight:

“Oh, I forgot, you come from the east, so definitely haven’t heard that the Northern Kingdom changed drastically a few years back. The Orland people fought an internal war three years ago. It’s said many died. Ultimately, some alleged survivor of the previous Northern King slew the usurper King Lydwen and reclaimed the throne… Most peculiarly, she’s a woman. In this era, women can be kings; isn’t that curious?”

Stunned, Leon didn’t respond, merely turned quickly to look at Ines, who froze like a statue, staring at her wooden bowl.

Leon opened his mouth, and a mess of chaotic thoughts flashed through his mind, rapidly pondering how to deceive his way out.

However, the conclusion is… it’s impossible to deceive her any longer.

The title of Golden Lion, a young girl, slain usurper, golden hair and blue eyes… With Ines’ clever little mind, she surely cannot fail to realize who this actually connects to.

Ines raised her eyes to look at the border merchant and calmly asked, “Mr. Basank, the Orland’s ‘Golden Lion Queen’….. is her name Olivia?”

…

……

Night falls over the wilderness of the Seryan border.

Moonlit night weaves through the clouds; distant mountains occasionally echo with vague wolf howls.

Under the gigantic branches of the oak, the burning campfire crackles, with only sparse insect chirps among the surrounding grass.

Ines, wrapped in a blanket, curls beneath the trunk, seemingly asleep with closed eyes.

Sitting by the campfire keeping watch, Leon looked at the girl, judging from Ines’ breathing pattern that she was not truly asleep.

He glanced again at the merchant father and son resting near the oak, sighed helplessly.

Is there blame to be placed on that Uncle Basank? Of course, there’s no need.

Events like these, even without encountering this merchant uncle, once they enter the Orland territory, Ines would eventually know.

If there’s any miscalculation, Leon admits it’s that he never anticipated his little lion to be so fierce in this world.

She’d actually launched an internal war, overthrowing Lydwen III and reclaiming her father’s throne, becoming the Queen of Orland.

If he knew such a thing, he’d certainly have kept Ines in Holy Land City, or sent her further east away from Orland to avoid her knowing the truth.

You only need to find a way back to the original timeline on your own.

No… thinking of this, Leon shook his head again, as this still wouldn’t work.

Even doing that, Ines would still have a chance to learn about the title of Golden Lion Queen.

Besides, if their way home truly involves activating Ancient Magic in the Oran Palace again.

Then unless you leave Ines in this timeline without care, otherwise she’ll end up knowing everything in Oran City of this world.

Thinking more troubled Leon. Difficult as it was, with Kovis’ identity as a cover, he managed to hide Olivia’s heritage flawlessly, never allowing people to connect it.

And now….

….. Olivia, Olivia.

Always thought you were impressive enough, but girl, you… are still… far too… impressive….

Turns out there’s no need for your concern at all. Even without you, her life’s trajectory wouldn’t require hiding or disguising her identity.

Thinking this, Leon strangely felt as if Azeryan and Olivia, both seemed to be dragged down by him?

Could Lokhak also have become some king? And Kovis, could in this time, Villania not be destroyed and Acro became Villania’s King?

Great, out of a wife and pals, among the few, I’m the most disgraceful?

Putting down the cluttered thoughts, Leon gazed at the flickering campfire, troubled for the moment.

If one could return to the original timeline, how should matters of Avalon Castle and his relationship with Ines be handled?

…He was pondering that, unknown to him, when Ines slowly opened her eyes.

Her emerald eyes sparkled with the fire’s dim light, the girl looked at that previously incredibly trusted figure, suddenly feeling a tinge of unfamiliarity.

She unconsciously tightened the blanket around her, seeming to want to dispel the helplessness within.

“…Leon…”

Upon hearing the call, Leon turned his head to meet the gaze from Ines.

“…I am here, Your Highness, is there something?” He asked calmly.

Ines’ lips curled into a bitter smile under her veil.

“….Would you….. kill me?

…Or, would you abandon me? Leaving me forever in this ‘Parallel World’….”

…