While news of Seventh Prince Ron André's imminent return to the Royal Capital was stirring up waves across the eastern region of the Empire, new developments emerged on the northern front.
Outside Twilight Snow Pass, the beastfolk army launched a suicidal full-scale charge under the cover of heavy nighttime snowfall.
The battle began at ten o'clock in the evening and raged until dawn broke the next day, continuing until the sun hung high in the sky before finally ending.
The beastfolk paid a devastating price, leaving behind piles of corpses stacked halfway up the pass before ultimately retreating.
The human forces at Twilight Snow Pass also suffered heavy losses.
Especially around three in the morning, when a section of the eastern wall collapsed under the assault, allowing the beastfolk army to surge through in a frenzy.
In the end, it was the formation of fire-element mages—nearly exhausting their entire stock of new explosive reagents—that finally halted the beastfolk's desperate charge.
After this battle, the beastfolk army at Twilight Snow Pass was effectively crippled.
Morale was shattered, hearts filled with fear. It would likely be difficult for them to organize another proper offensive.
Just last night alone, there had been at least three or four incidents of desertion within their ranks.
If not for the beastfolk's innate ferocity and their tendency to lose rational thought after activating their bloodline talents, yesterday's mutiny might have caused their forces to collapse without further fighting.
Aside from Twilight Snow Pass, some events also occurred at Zhenbei Pass, located between the three major strongholds.
Compared to the fierce overnight battle at Twilight Snow Pass, however, they were less significant.
The most morale-boosting incident was undoubtedly when the young chieftain of the Tiger Roar Tribe challenged at the gates—only to have his tiger head severed by the First Prince.
This provoked a Red Fang of the Beastfolk Royal Court to make a move, but he was forced back by one of the Empire's Three Great Generals.
So far, this had been the first—and only—Legendary-tier confrontation of this winter war.
Both sides stopped short of escalation, each harboring its own concerns.
In the end, the young chieftain's body was retrieved, but his tiger head was confiscated by the First Prince as a trophy of war.
When this news reached the Royal Capital, it briefly overshadowed the buzz about Ron's six wives.
But after one or two days of heated discussion, the focus of public opinion shifted back to Ron.
Clearly, someone was manipulating things from behind the scenes.
"Sigh… my seventh wife has made her debut…" Puppet Ron sat inside the carriage, holding the letter Sylvie had just handed him, at a loss for words.
"Let's see… The Untold Story Between Miss Betty of Viscount Karl's Family and His Highness Ron…"
"…As is widely known, the elemental cards were invented by the Seventh Prince. According to reliable sources, Miss Betty of Viscount Karl's family once purchased a box of commoner-edition elemental cards at a roadside shop during a snowy day…"
"…Subsequent investigations reveal that when the Seventh Prince still lived in the palace, the two had already shared a romantic history…"
"What the hell is this?" Ron rolled his eyes. "Their standards are getting lower and lower. Before, it was granddaughters of dukes or daughters of generals. Now it's a viscount's daughter?"
"Mm… Miss Betty did indeed purchase a commoner-edition elemental card set," Sylvie explained from across the carriage.
"…." Ron smacked his lips, speechless. "Why would she buy the commoner edition? Was she bored out of her mind?"
"Apparently, she has a collecting hobby."
"…Oh. Then that's fine." Ron lost interest and skimmed the rest of the letter. "We're almost there, right?"
"Yes," Sylvie replied. "About two more hours."
"Finally." Ron tossed the letter back to her and leaned against the carriage wall with a long sigh. "I'm exhausted from walking."
Sylvie, of course, understood what he meant and smiled faintly.
In the entire convoy, she was the only one who knew that the "His Highness Ron" comfortably seated in the carriage was merely a puppet.
The real Ron had been hidden among the guards the entire time, under the alias Buffett, without even the luxury of riding in the carriage.
Fortunately, the Royal Capital was now within sight.
The "His Highness Ron," who had already been running rampant through rumor in the capital for days, was finally about to truly arrive.
Behind the carriage, within the escort ranks, "Buffett" walked steadily along the official road. He lifted his flask for a sip of water and glanced at the snowy scenery beside him.
Deep winter had arrived. Snow blanketed the land.
The farther north they traveled, the thicker the snow along the roadside became.
This region was full of rolling hills, the official road winding through them.
Occasionally, small snow-covered mounds appeared, their peaks exposing patches of red rock. When seen together, they could easily stir certain imaginative associations.
Soon, they could glimpse the distant outline of the Royal Capital.
City walls dozens of meters high stretched across the horizon. Even from afar, a sense of vast grandeur surged into view.
Because of the snowfall, the details remained blurred—only a massive silhouette could be traced by the eye.
Like a colossal beast crouched upon the earth, resting peacefully amid the wind and snow.
Another half hour passed.
The city's outline grew clearer.
The distant gates stood wide open, with numerous carriages and pedestrians moving in and out.
Even in heavy snowfall, there was still bustling traffic.
Puppet Ron's carriage rolled onto the gravel-paved main road, heading straight toward the city gates.
At this point, there was little chance for any further incidents.
The convoy arrived smoothly and underwent inspection by the city guards.
An accompanying nun handed over the entry documents. The convoy waited at the gates for clearance.
"So it's His Highness the Seventh Prince!"
The city guard holding the document spoke loudly, almost as if deliberately ensuring everyone nearby could hear.
Instead of immediately returning the papers, he stepped toward the carriage and bowed toward Ron inside.
"Welcome back to the Royal Capital, Your Highness the Seventh Prince!"
"I am a devout believer of the Goddess of Harvest. To behold the legendary Chosen One in person is truly an honor!"
Ron frowned slightly as he looked at the guard through the carriage window, then let his gaze drift toward the surrounding crowd.
Sure enough, many heads had turned at the guard's voice, curiously sizing up the subject of so many recent rumors.
With Ron's hearing, he could easily catch the whispers around him.
"So that's him? The womanizing radish?"
"Looks decent enough, but there's beastfolk blood in him."
"With that kind of background, even if he's a Chosen One, what right does he have to contend for the throne?"
"The First Prince chopped off a tiger's head and used it as a chamber pot. Compared to that—tsk tsk."
"Maybe the Goddess went blind picking a Chosen One like this."