After Princess Griffine and Brand left the Wood Mansion, most of what happened could already be anticipated.
The Crown Prince reassuming the position of Duke Xifah seemed like another compromise by the Royal Family towards the local powers, a repeated theme in the kingdom’s history. Ever since the Thunder Year, as local strength grew increasingly powerful, it formed a vicious cycle.
History seemed to be repeating itself. However, at least for the moment, under the intervention of the Flame Temple and the appeasement from the Crown Prince himself, the restless northern tide was temporarily calmed again, turning to tranquillity.
Privately, it was said that some nobles celebrated a rare victory after the Battle of Ambeser, as if the kingdom had returned to the days around the astrologer’s time. Thieves ran rampant in the regions again, causing merchants to lament, but beneath all these surface phenomena, subtle changes were underway quietly.
Brand understood that Her Highness, the Princess, couldn’t allow Prince Levin to grow powerful in the north, even if there was a secret agreement between them, even if he was officially her brother. In politics, there is no room for personal emotions, let alone the fact that the Flame Temple would not want to see signs of division reemerging in Erune between the north and south—at least until the Holy War was over, the Cruz people hoped the ancient kingdom could maintain at least a veneer of stability.
But only on the surface.
Besides these overt reasons, more directly competing interests determined this reality. In the north, besides the inherent Territory of the Xifah family, there were also territories of the Kerkova Royal Family, as well as Yan Castle and multiple areas of Yanilasu. Regarding these complex spheres of influence, the Princess Faction was unlikely to relinquish control without a fight.
As part of the exchange, Her Highness, the Princess, as expected, regained control over the White Lion Legion. Perhaps the Crown Prince himself was unwilling to control an army not loyal to him. Since the resurfacing of the Lion Heart Sword, a significant faction within the White Lion Legion shifted allegiance toward the princess.
This was slightly different from history. In another timeline, until Frey fully controlled the White Lion Legion, they were not truly aligned with the Royalists.
But this time, having lost two Commanders, the old White Lion had evidently lost its original sharpness.
Breson, Joco, and Enrock, who narrowly escaped death in the Battle of Ambeser, were ordered to the Northern Territory to take over this legion. The new Commander was the eldest grandson of the kingdom’s lion who sacrificed himself in the Ambeser battle. However, Brand knew that this unfortunate person probably wouldn’t hold his position for long.
Everyone understood that only one person could lead this legion. That was Frey, the wielder of the Lion Heart Sword.
But now was not the time. Nemesia also removed Frey’s name from the original list—the reason being that this girl from Buqi countryside needed more experience.
This was also Brand’s opinion. Perhaps in the future, she would have the capability to command a legion, but now she was still far from it. From his perspective, the White Lion Legion would have a long period of dormancy until the Officer Team under Kagris formed, allowing the revival of the White Lion Infantry that could truly rekindle the glory of that era.
Then it would be the moment for the Valkyrie to play her role.
Before then, an even more important task awaited this future Valkyrie to complete.
But compared to these things, some major events on the surface attracted the public’s attention more. Especially when the Silver Elf finally intervened in the investigation of the Battle of Ambeser. Under the demands of the Bujia people and the Silver People, the Flame Temple had to relinquish control over Ambeser.
The unseen force behind these events was naturally Brand and a certain Elf Lady.
A human and an elf pushed for what was viewed as the most significant event in the Sword Year between Erune and Cruz among ordinary people. In mid-Flower Moon, from this day onward, this port city would no longer bear the name of autonomy but instead exist as a trade port of Erune.
This news, once released, shook the entire southern region of the Vornede Continent.
However, no matter how the news spread, one truth would never change. That after centuries, this Holy White port finally returned to the embrace of its ancient mother.