Chapter 158: Chapter 19. The last battle

The meeting between the commanders of the two warring empires has finally come to an end.

In the end, the outcome of these peace talks was that Gael Hanston asked for some more time.

«Your Highness, I’m sorry, but this decision will be very important for our nation. Can you give me some time to think about your suggestion? I’ll only need two days.»

Kaena de Ronan chuckled.

«As you wish, Commander Hunston.»

They shook hands, and the meeting officially came to an end.

Meanwhile, as he watched the Crown Princess leave his tent, the commander of the Ruberon Empire army froze with a strange expression on his face. At this moment, one of his army’s subordinate commanders quietly approached him.

«Master,» he said softly, «according to Her Majesty’s orders, all the preparations have already been completed.

After hearing his subordinate’s report, Gael only chuckled softly.

«Okay, I get it.»

Meanwhile, the man’s mind was filled with triumph.

«It looks like everything is going exactly as planned.» He grinned.

***

After these negotiations, Kaena de Ronan and the two soldiers accompanying her left the Ruberon Empire military camp. They were going to return back along the same route, but in the end, an unexpected surprise awaited them in the middle of the way.

— Stop it! You can’t get through here.

One of the guards suddenly blocked their way.

«And why is that?» The princess asked calmly.

— You see, there was a rockfall in this area not so long ago, so the main road is now blocked, — the soldier explained awkwardly, — We are already clearing it, but it will take some time. So please use a different path instead.

«A rockfall? Why did it happen so suddenly?»

When they were driving here, the weather was quite peaceful, and there was also silence in the mountains. Nothing foreshadowed the occurrence of any natural disaster. And yet...

Even though she had some suspicions at that moment, the Crown Princess still smiled as she turned her horse around.

«Well, whatever you say.»

«.....»

After her words, the soldier sighed with visible relief, although he tried to hide it immediately. However, Kaena noticed it anyway, and the grin on her face only widened.

«Ah, this is getting really interesting.»

Thus, the Crown Princess and her companions had to urgently change their original route in order to take a different route instead.

And this second way of crossing the neutral border between the two empires was something else...

The misty forest, which justified its name by the fact that there was always a thick curtain of fog in this place. Since this place wasn’t very well known, people usually avoided it. Nevertheless, Kaena didn’t hesitate to steer her horse in that direction.

However, before they entered the forest, one of her subordinates cautiously addressed the princess.

«Your Highness...» A soldier of the Dark Host spoke uncertainly, «Are you really sure we should go there?»

Kaena frowned.

«What do you mean?» she asked.

«I...» he stammered awkwardly, «I just mean, doesn’t this all look too suspicious? Maybe we should look for another way instead.

However, despite her soldier’s voiced concerns, the Crown Princess only grunted and shrugged her shoulder.

«There’s no need,» she said, «we’ll use this route.»

— .....

«What’s the matter? Are you unhappy about something else?»

As the woman’s tone began to grow more dangerous, the soldier hurriedly shook his head.

«N-no, I wouldn’t dare, Your Highness!»

«That’s great.»

Thus, they still entered this forest.

A thick veil of fog, as it followed from eyewitness accounts and numerous rumors about this place, immediately greeted the Crown Princess and her companions. This alone was a significant obstacle to continuing to move forward freely. And among other things...

Of course, Kaena de Ronan could sense it right away.

In addition to the usual fog, there were also fumes of poisonous smoke in the air.

At one point, the princess heard her subordinates faint from behind and fall off their horses. The woman just grinned.

«It looks like they were affected by the poisonous smoke.»

Even without additional investigation, Kaena was immediately able to recognize that it was an extremely strong and dangerous substance. An ordinary person would definitely not have a chance to stand up to him, having inhaled these fumes just once. It was no wonder that even the soldiers of the Dark Host, who were considered the strongest army in the empire, were powerless against this.

However, due to the fact that Kaena developed a powerful immunity to various poisons throughout her life, she managed to avoid this influence.

Even without resorting to magic, a woman could calmly gain resistance to the toxic effects of this smoke. Only the slight fatigue that appeared made it clear that the air here was still poisoned.

The Crown Princess continued on her way forward, waiting with interest to see what else could be waiting for her ahead.

And then at the same time...

— Kaena. I finally found you.

The girl who suddenly appeared in front of her with a drawn sword at that moment made the Crown Princess smile ironically.

«Sister,» she chuckled, «what an unexpected meeting, though.»

***

Even though this encounter in the middle of the forest happened all of a sudden, the Crown Princess didn’t look too surprised, as if she might have already expected it.

Her younger sister, the second princess, was right in front of her right now.

Kaena de Ronan grinned at her.

«Sister, what are you doing here? Really... Have you been following me all this time?» she asked mockingly.

Nevertheless, after her words, not a single muscle twitched on Jericho’s face.

«Kaena,» the second princess said threateningly, «there’s no need for you to pretend anymore. Now I know everything.

— hm. What are you talking about?

Jerica de Ronan, still clutching the hilt of the sword in her hand, began to step on it.

«These ’peace talks’ were nothing more than another ploy on your part,» she chuckled coldly, «I can’t believe that I was actually able to almost believe you this time.»

— .....

Kaena frowned as she also dismounted from her horse. In the end, the sisters found themselves face to face with each other.

«Could you be clearer?» Kaena asked.

«Clearer? I can’t believe you’re still playing this game.»

— .....

— It’s really hard to believe, — Jerika spat venomously, — By these «peace negotiations» you meant that you actually wanted to divide our empire into parts and sell it to the enemy state?!

— what? What the hell are you talking about?

It was actually difficult for the Crown Princess to understand exactly what her younger sister meant. However...

— You can’t fool me again this time! — said Jerica, — Because I saw everything with my own eyes!

Kaena de Ronan frowned. She couldn’t help but notice something strange in her younger sister’s behavior, and she could even guess what exactly it was. It was as if her vision was covered with a kind of veil.

«It looks like it wasn’t without Mother’s intervention this time either...» she chuckled to herself.

Meanwhile, the second princess was clearly determined, and she wasn’t going to let her go just like that. Kaena decided to just play along with her in this game.

«Well, since you say you know everything, there’s no point in continuing this conversation anymore,» she chuckled.

«You...!» out of anger, Jerica tightened her grip on the sword in her hand.

«Sister, do you have anything else to add?»

Even though the Crown Princess had just been exposed red-handed, but she still continued to behave in the same defiant and defiant manner. This time, Jerica de Ronan felt that the last drop of her patience had finally run out.

The girl dangerously thrust the tip of her sword right in front of her.

— Kaena, you won’t get mercy from me this time! — said Jerica, — I definitely won’t let you go!

«Haha, in that case, try to stop me.»

«Tch!»

At that moment, when the blades of the two women touched in the air, the shockwave from that blow swept through the entire forest. This battle was going to be tough on both sides, but no one was going to give in to the other.

For a while, only the sounds of blows could be heard in the forest, and this continued for some time.

The second princess thought that it was really difficult for her to stand up to her older sister, and the further this battle went on, the more clearly she felt it. Even despite Jericho’s many training sessions, the difference in their strength was still more than noticeable.

«Anyway, even if I lose, there’s no way I’m going to give in to her!» The princess thought resolutely, intending to hold the punch until the very end.

Until suddenly, no...

At that moment, when Jerica raised her sword for another blow, she assumed that Kaena would be able to easily dodge or deflect it. However... Unexpectedly, the blade of her sword hit her right in the chest.

The scarlet blood immediately seeped through his clothes and dripped onto the grass.

Looking at this, Jerica couldn’t believe her eyes.

«What... This can’t be happening...»

At that moment, when the second princess was somewhat stunned by what had happened, she suddenly saw that her older sister immediately lost her balance from this blow and fell right in front of her.

«It looks like it’s finally over now.»

Meanwhile, lying on the cold ground, at that moment, only a faint smile touched Kaena de Ronan’s lips.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read