The salty breeze carried the st of the sea through the bustling mert district of Ronin Town, where harbor workers went about their usual routihe sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the wooden piers. Among the workers, a young boy wiped sweat from his brow as he noticed something unusual.

  "Whoa… did we have a rge ship scheduled to arrive today?" he asked, nudging his co-worker.

  The other boy, slightly older and more experienced, goward the ining vessel. "Not that I know of," he replied, scratg his head. "I remember the Mert Association’s ships set sail for Jo just yesterday… could be one of them returning early. Well, doesn’t really matter. We’re getting paid either way."

  The two boys straighteheir backs, eyeing the ining mert ship with anticipation.

  Unlike regur cargo shipments, which followed prearranged agreements, ued arrivals meaiations. Mert ships that arrived unannounced often needed extra hands to unload their goods quickly, and that meant the workers could bargain for a higher wage than usual. It was a rare opportunity to earn more .

  However, as the ship finally docked, something ued happened.

  A wooden bridge was lowered onto the pier, but instead of crates and barrels being unloaded, rows of knights in polished armor marched down onto the harbor. A caravan of carriages followed, their bd gold embellishments shimmering uhe midday sun.

  The gathered workers, eager to strike a deal just moments ago, froze in pce as their eyes locked onto a familiar sigil embzoned on the lead carriage.

  The imperial crest. Instantly, a wave of realization spread among the dods.

  Without hesitation, everyone dropped to their knees in a show of respeo one dared speak. No one dared move.

  This was not a mert vessel. This was an Imperial envoy.

  As the st of the carriages rolled away, breaking the eerie silence, a low murmur arose from the workers left behind.

  "I’d rather not iate wages with her ship," one boy muttered under his breath. His voice trembled slightly as he g the remaining knights stationed on the deck of the anchored vessel.

  "Why?" his panion whispered, eyes still fixed on the disappearing carriages.

  The boy shuddered. "I heard… she cuts off fingers for dropping something in front of her." His panion swallowed hard, nodding in silent agreement. No one wao test that rumor.

  Ihe grand halls of the Ronin Vist’s Mansion, the air was thick with tension.

  "What the hell do you mean, ‘Her Highness is ing to iate war reparations’?!" Jessica Ronin, smmed her hands onto the long table in front of her. Her pierg blue eyes burned with frustration as she gred at her father, Edward Ronin, who remained eerily calm despite the sudden crisis.

  Edward adjusted his colr a his daughter’s furious gaze with measured posure.

  "Exactly that," he said in a low, even tone. "She has just arrived at the harbor a us an official notice. She will be here shortly."

  Jessica exhaled sharply, pressing her fingers against her temple as if trying to will away a headache.

  "Damn it…" she cursed under her breath. "That moron or couldn’t eve 300 knights despite anding a force of over 800?! He was supposed to teach her a lesson, not give her leverage over us!"

  Edward didn’t react ter. His mind was already w through their limited options.

  "This isn’t the time for pointless frustration," he said, voice steady. "We barely have enough time to prepare a proper response before she arrives. Focus, Jessica."

  Jessica ched her fists, trying tain trol of her thoughts.

  "Fine," she muttered, f herself to think. "We o establish iation terms before she dictates them. We must minimize what she take from us. If we let her extort us bare, we won’t recover from this."

  Edward nodded approvingly. "Precisely. The Raven of the Sun Pace doesn’t e for petty sums—she es to take everything she . We must be ready."

  As Jessica bit her lip, already formuting a strategy, the sound of hoofbeats echoed from the streets outside.

  Inside her luxurious bd-gold carriage, Ravenna leaned against the window, her deep dark eyes glinting with amusement as she observed the Ronin Mansion growing rger in view.

  "Not too shabby," she murmured to herself, the fai smirk tugging at her lips. "They must be filthy rich."

  The mansion’s grand iron gates creaked open, allowing the Imperial carriages to roll into the courtyard, where rows of servants and knights stood stiffly ihe moment the lead carriage came to a halt, Edward Ronin stepped forward, dressed in his fi ire.

  With practiced grace, he extended a hand toward the carriage door, to escort his ued guest.

  The door swung open, and Ravenna emerged.

  She was adorned in a gown, crafted from fine, flowing silk in deep crimson, embroidered with golden ats. The dress was designed for both nobility and the swelteri of the northern province—a high slit ran along one side, revealioned leg with every step, while the low nee banced elegah temptation. The fabric g to her form just enough to hint at imperial arrogance, while the detached sleeves, draped loosely around her arms, gave her a carefree yet anding presence.

  Ravenna took Edward’s hand but didn’t let him guide her. Instead, she desded from the carriage with the poise of a predator stepping ontory.

  Her lips curled into a mog smile. "You have quite the manners, Lord Edward," she mused, her voice dripping with amusement. "For someone who tried to pull su embarrassing stunt."

  Edward, posed, bowed his head slightly. "We may not be effit in warfare, Yhness… but we do have our honor."

  Ravenna scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Honor? Is that what you call it?"

  With that, she stepped past him, leading the way ihe mansion without waiting for an invitation. Her knights, including Hughes, followed closely behind, their presence a silent reminder of her authority.

  The grand halls of the Ronin Mansion were decorated with rich panels, golden deliers, and opulent rugs that muffled the sound of their footsteps. However, it was not the wealth that caught Ravenna’s attention—it was the portraits.

  Along the t walls, rge oil paintings depicted geions of the Ronin family, eacestor staring down with solemn expressions.

  Ravenna smirked as she g them. Would they be proud of their desdants now?

  "So," she mused, gng sideways at Edward as they asded the main staircase toward his study, "was this entire debacle a family effort, or was it just a childish tantrum of an arrogant greenhorn?"

  Edward, walking beside her, did not falter."I would say… a bit of both, Yhness," he admitted smoothly.

  Though his expression remained calm, Ravenna could feel the tension lurkih his noble fa?ade.

  He khat today, he was esc a raven of death into the heart of his own home. And not just any raven—an uable one.

  Finally, they reached the study doors, which a butler swiftly pushed open.

  Ianding in perfect posture, was Jessica Ronin.

  She was dressed in a northern Ana noblewoman’s gown, suited for the region’s oppressive heat. The fabric was a light blend of silk and chiffon, dyed in shades of deep emerald green, atuating her golden-blonde hair. The dress, though modest in desigured a subtle slit along the side for ease of movement, and the off-shoulder cut left her colrbones exposed, bang formality with allure.

  The effect was simple yet undeniably regal.

  Jessica’s pierg blue eyes met Ravenna’s deep dark ones, and for a fleeting moment, the air between them crackled with unspoken tension.

  Then, Jessica bent her knee in a graceful curtsy and spoke in a clear, unwavering voice.

  "Greetings, Yhness."

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