Morning in Dreisburg had passed with an unnatural calm.
Villagers slowly returned to their routines.
The well was working.
Kitchens sent up plumes of smoke.
Children played in the streets.
But something was different.
Something that made veteran soldiers uneasy.
The church.
The small stone temple that had been abandoned for years—its roof half-collapsed and its pews rotten—now… shone.
The windows were clean.
The doors were open.
And from inside, a voice emerged.
Soft. Melodic.
Singing.
---
Adelheid was walking across the square with a firm stride when she heard it.
A chant.
Ancient Latin.
Beautiful… and disturbing.
She frowned and headed toward the church.
When she entered, she stopped dead in her tracks.
The interior had been… transformed.
The pews were neatly arranged. The altar was clean. Candles burned everywhere, casting dancing shadows along the walls.
And at the center, before the altar, was Lilith.
Kneeling.
Hands clasped in prayer.
Chains stretched across the floor in perfect patterns.
An inverted crucifix resting beside her.
She sang softly, as if in communion with something no one else could see.
A chill ran down Adelheid's spine.
—What are you doing here? —she asked sharply.
Lilith did not turn immediately.
She finished her chant.
Then, slowly, she rose to her feet.
She turned with infinite grace.
—Good morning, Commander Adelheid —she said with a gentle smile—. Have you come to pray?
Adelheid narrowed her eyes.
—This place is not yours.
Lilith tilted her head.
—Isn't it? —she looked around—. It was abandoned. Filthy. Forgotten.
She walked toward the altar, caressing the stone with reverence.
—I restored its purpose. Isn't that noble?
Adelheid clenched her fists.
—You don't need a temple. You need—
—Orders? —Lilith interrupted, turning to her—. A barracks?
She smiled.
—Oh, my dear. I am not a soldier.
She took a step forward.
—I am a queen.
The air grew tense.
Adelheid did not retreat.
—There is only one leader here. Commander Kaito.
—Exactly —Lilith replied calmly—. The commander. Our king.
Adelheid frowned.
—He is not a king. He is—
—What? —Lilith interrupted—. A failed summon? A frightened boy?
She walked in circles around Adelheid.
—Perhaps he was. But he is not anymore.
She stopped in front of her.
—Now he is the man who will conquer this kingdom. And when he does… he will need a queen at his side.
Adelheid stared at her.
—And you think that queen will be you?
Lilith smiled.
—I don't think so. I know it.
She extended her hands, gesturing to the church.
—Look at this place. A temple. A symbol of legitimacy. Of divine power.
Her golden eyes gleamed.
—When Kaito sits upon the throne of Avernor, he will do so with the blessing of faith. And I… will be at his side.
Adelheid clenched her jaw.
—You are a poisoner. An assassin. Not a queen.
Lilith laughed softly.
—Oh, my dear. Don't you know? The best queens always were both.
She stepped closer.
—Lucrezia Borgia. Isabella of Castile. Catherine de Medici.
She whispered:
—All of them ruled with poison and faith. And all of them were… unforgettable.
Adelheid did not move.
—Kaito doesn't need you.
Lilith tilted her head.
—Are you sure?
She stepped back.
—He needs you for war. For discipline. For order.
She paused.
—But I… give him something you never can.
—What? —Adelheid growled.
Lilith smiled.
—Legitimacy.
Silence fell between them.
—A king without a queen is a conqueror —Lilith continued—. But a king with a queen… is the founder of dynasties.
She turned toward the altar.
—You are his sword, Adelheid. His commander. His weapon.
She looked back over her shoulder.
—But I… am his crown.
Something burned in Adelheid's chest.
It wasn't just anger.
It was… fear.
Fear that Lilith might be right.
---
That very afternoon, Lilith made her move.
She sent one of the villagers with a message for Kaito.
"Your Majesty. I invite you to inspect your new home. The church has been prepared for you. Affectionately, Lilith."
Kaito read the message in silence.
Adelheid stood beside him, arms crossed.
—Commander… this is unacceptable.
Kaito folded the message.
—Why?
Adelheid blinked.
—Why? Because she's… she's taking control. Declaring herself your queen without your permission.
Kaito looked at her.
—And does that bother you?
Adelheid opened her mouth… but didn't answer right away.
Kaito sighed.
—I'll go see her.
—Commander!
—Come with me —Kaito said—. I want to see this with my own eyes.
---
When they arrived at the church, Lilith was waiting at the entrance.
She wore a different dress.
More elaborate.
Black and gold, as always, but with a translucent veil falling over her hair.
She looked… like a bride.
Or a widow.
—Welcome, my king —she said with an elegant bow.
Kaito did not correct the title.
Adelheid noticed.
Lilith gestured for them to enter.
The interior had been transformed even further.
There were now carpets. Cushions. A long table with food and wine.
And at the back, near the altar…
A bed.
Large. Covered in black silk sheets.
Adelheid tensed.
—What is this? —she demanded.
Lilith smiled.
—A home worthy of a king.
She walked toward Kaito, completely ignoring Adelheid.
—Commander… forgive me, my king. You cannot continue living in a tent.
She extended a hand toward the church.
—This place has history. Symbolism. It has… power.
She stepped closer.
—And it has room for two.
Kaito looked at her silently.
—Are you suggesting I live here with you?
Lilith inclined her head.
—It is not a suggestion. It is an invitation.
Her golden eyes gleamed.
—A king needs a queen at his side, Kaito. Someone who understands power. Someone who knows how to rule not only with the sword… but with words.
She glanced at Adelheid.
—I'm not saying the commander isn't valuable. She is. But her place… is on the battlefield.
Adelheid stepped forward.
—My place is wherever the commander needs me.
Lilith smiled.
—Exactly. As his commander.
She turned fully toward Adelheid.
—But when Kaito becomes king of Dreisburg… and then king of Avernor… he will need more than a commander.
She walked toward her.
—He will need a queen. Someone who sits beside him on the throne. Someone who speaks with diplomats, negotiates with nobles, blesses his decisions with divine authority.
She stopped in front of Adelheid.
—You can conquer kingdoms, my dear. But I… can legitimize them.
Adelheid clenched her fists.
—You're a manipulator.
Lilith laughed softly.
—And you're an idealist. You believe loyalty and strength are enough.
She stepped closer.
—But we both know true power… is not taken. It is accepted.
Her eyes locked onto Adelheid's.
—And the people will only accept a king… if he has a queen.
Adelheid felt rage surge in her chest.
—Commander —she said without looking away from Lilith—. Give me permission to remove her from here.
Kaito did not answer immediately.
He observed both women in silence.
Lilith waited calmly.
Adelheid trembled with restrained fury.
Finally, Kaito spoke.
—Adelheid.
She turned.
—Commander?
Kaito looked at her directly.
—Why does this bother you so much?
Adelheid blinked.
—Because she's… she's trying to—
—Trying to what? —Kaito interrupted—. Offer me a better place? Suggest that I need legitimacy?
He paused.
—Or does it bother you because she's right?
Adelheid was left speechless.
Kaito turned to Lilith.
—I appreciate the offer. But I'm not going to live here.
Lilith blinked, surprised.
—Why not?
Kaito smiled faintly.
—Because a king who lives in a church… becomes a priest.
He walked toward the exit.
—And I didn't come here to pray. I came to conquer.
He stopped at the door.
—But you're right about one thing, Lilith.
He looked back at her.
—I will need legitimacy. I will need symbols. I will need… a queen.
Lilith smiled broadly.
But Kaito continued.
—But not now. And not here.
He left the church.
Adelheid followed him, but before leaving, she looked back at Lilith.
—You are not his queen.
Lilith smiled.
—Not yet.
---
Outside, Adelheid walked stiffly beside Kaito.
—Commander… you can't seriously consider—
—I'm not —Kaito interrupted.
Adelheid stopped.
Kaito looked at her.
—But I'm not going to ignore what she said either.
He paused.
—She's right, Adelheid. When I take Avernor… when I become king… I'll need more than strength.
Adelheid lowered her gaze.
—Then… will she be…?
—I don't know —Kaito answered honestly.
He walked a few more steps.
—But what I do know… is that I can't let the two of you kill each other.
He stopped.
—So here is my order: you are both my queens. Adelheid, you are my Queen of War. Lilith, you are my Queen of Faith.
He looked back.
—And both of you… obey me.
Adelheid swallowed.
—Understood, commander.
Kaito nodded.
—Good. Now… we have work to do.
---
Meanwhile — Capital of Avernor
Eldric passed through the city gates at dusk.
The guards recognized him immediately.
—It's the hero! He's returned!
But when they saw the soldiers behind him…
The enthusiasm faded.
They walked like the dead.
No formation.
No banners.
No… life.
—What… what happened to them? —one of the guards whispered.
Eldric did not answer.
He simply kept walking.
Toward the castle.
Toward the answers he knew… no one would want to hear.