The capital of the duchy was usually bustling: numerous military ships constantly flew around it, creating an impression of unshakable power and protection. But recently, their numbers had noticeably decreased. The majority of the fleet had been sent to an important island to discuss a secret plan for invading the Kingdom of Holfort.
On this island, many influential and important figures gathered, so the elite forces were concentrated there, tasked with protecting them in case of danger. Among these forces was Duchess Hertruda, who possessed not only authority but also the strategic mind necessary to command troops effectively.
However, the duchy essentially had two duchesses. One of them was Hertruda, as already mentioned, and the other was her sister, Hertraud. While waiting for her sister's return, Hertraud grew bored, wandering silently through the palace corridors.
> "She should be back tomorrow…" — she thought to herself, trying to dispel her boredom.
Suddenly, the silence was broken by strange, loud sounds of approaching footsteps echoing down the long corridor. Hertraud barely had time to react when an explosion thundered directly in front of her. The wall ahead of her was instantly destroyed, and a thick cloud of dust spread throughout the corridor. Hertraud began to cough, sobbing as the unpleasant debris choked her.
> "Cough, cough…" — waving her hands to disperse the dust, she also reached for her magical flute, ready to use it if danger arose.
But then, through the dusty cloud, a hand suddenly appeared and snatched the flute from her grasp with lightning speed.
> "No! No! The flute… it's not a toy!" — a voice said from within the dust.
As the dust began to settle, Hertraud could finally see the one who had taken the flute. Standing before her was a young man, roughly her age, with black hair, looking at her with a smile full of malice.
> "Want it?" — he said, holding the flute out. — "Take it," said Leon.
Hertraud looked at him, bewildered. She reached out to take the flute, but Leon skillfully lifted it higher, just out of reach.
> "Try harder, and then I'll give it to you," — he said, smiling.
Hertraud began jumping, trying desperately to grab the flute, but it was futile — she still couldn't reach it. Suddenly, she felt a strange sensation, as if her body were obeying Leon, putting her in a ridiculous stance. In a burst of frustration, she pouted and struck him on the leg.
Unexpectedly, she felt as if she had collided with the edge of a table, and losing her balance, she fell, clutching her leg and quietly crying.
Seeing this, Leon felt a pang of regret for his actions and extended the flute toward Hertraud.
> "Don't pity me!" — she suddenly exclaimed, striking the flute.
At that moment, she heard a familiar voice behind Leon:
> "Stop teasing my sister!" — shouted Hertruda, Hertraud's sister.
Seeing her sister, Hertraud suddenly smiled. Her heart beat faster, and she quickly ran to Hertruda, worried about her. Behind Hertruda, she noticed another familiar face — a slightly older man.
Hertruda and Hertraud embraced tightly. After a short pause, Hertraud began inspecting her sister carefully:
> "He didn't do anything to you, did he?" — she asked anxiously.
> "Well… you could say he destroyed me mentally," — Hertruda replied softly, — "and physically, he wiped out the entire duchy's fleet near the island. He's an enemy from Holfort."
> "I'm not an enemy!" — Leon interjected, as soon as Hertruda said that word.
> "Alright, let's forget what happened here," — Leon said, calming the situation. — "Now, come here."
Suddenly, Leon called the man he had brought with Hertruda from the island. This man looked almost like an old gentleman, trying to appear polite and composed.
> "Yes, Lord Leon…" — he began cautiously. — "May I ask why you captured me instead of Vandel? I'm merely a humble noble of the duchy," — he said, his hands tied.
> "Shut up before you ruin the mood," — Leon snapped, stepping closer.
> "Shut up, or I'll strike you," — he added threateningly.
> "Y-Yes!" — the man finally shouted, trembling slightly as he reached Leon.
> "Cleare!" — Leon called loudly.
Suddenly, Cleare appeared. A drone hovered next to her, carrying a syringe with a strange substance that glimmered in the dim light of the corridor.
> "Already, Master!" — said Cleare, and the drone immediately moved toward the old man, menacingly circling in the air.
> "Ah! Please, don't kill me!" — the elderly man screamed in terror, flailing his arms. The duchess sisters, Hertruda and Hertraud, froze, watching the scene with growing horror.
> "Don't worry," — said Cleare calmly, — "it's not poison, more like a truth serum. Common folk call it the serum of truth."
Hearing this, the old man began to sweat profusely.