Footprints were left behind on the snow that was piled up on the fortress walls.

Hela looked around at the snow-covered fortress with complicated emotions in her eyes. At this moment only about a hundred soldiers remained inside the fortress, preparing to vacate the fortress. The fortress of Beldeve had played an important role in the war against the dragons as well as the war against the rebels from Arbalde until now, but now its job was done.

Now, the duty left for Hela was to stabilize the Eastern territory—she didn’t have to fight any more battles.

“I heard you are planning to move to the south, Your Grace,” Walter, one of the knights from the Order of Fenrir, said as he approached Hela.

“Yes. I’m planning to move to Orsk. Though I am a bit worried that my people won’t be able to adapt there, since they’re not used to getting the attention of the lord. I should take care of everything before spring comes, since there must be a lot of damage that has accumulated over time,” Hela answered.

“They might not welcome you, but it would still be better than letting the seat of the Lord remain vacant. Your Grace is a good ruler, after all.”

Hela took a glance at Walter.

The Eastern territory was about to welcome the return of their ruler, while the northern territory had lost its ruler. Walter felt that this was quite heartbreaking. Majority of the Northern Army had returned, but a small number of them remained, forming search teams to look for traces of General Nienna.

And Walter, who was the commander of the Northern Army, remained here. Hela had a hunch that Walter would continue to stay here even if Nienna didn’t end up returning.

“I heard that the Northern territory is always occupied by a set of rulers,” Hela said.

“You are talking about the legend of the winter duke? Yes, it is said that the descendants of other winter dukes appear to inherit the position of the lord whenever the current lord dies. I am not sure if it’s because of the fact that General Nienna...