Evening had begun to fall since their journey commenced. It was best for the entire caravan to find a place to rest soon, for it would be far too dangerous to persist into the veil of night. For merchants, this hour is the most vulnerable—when bands of brigands tend to strike in numbers, plundering all in sight without leaving a trace.

  To that end, the leader of this trade caravan had hired several knights of Firmus to ensure their safety along the road—unaware that those very same men also served as a covert guard unit assigned to protect the child of the king.

  After traveling a fair distance, the group finally found a suitable place to pitch their tents. The commanding officer divided them into two groups: one tasked with setting up camp and preparing the evening meal, the other sent to gather firewood.

  In this arrangement, the Vorwister siblings found themselves in different teams—Aden joined those collecting firewood, while Edelweiss worked alongside several other women, preparing a meal from the ingredients at hand. To the elder brother, such duties were nothing more than mundane tasks, once routine during his military education. But for Edelweiss, this was her first foray into such circumstances.

  It seemed a fitting time for the young princess to demonstrate the bits of culinary knowledge she had picked up—after all, she often practiced cooking with Sophia during leisurely hours.

  "Hey, you! The bright-blond one. What should we do with these mushrooms and vegetables?" asked a stern-faced woman, her expression showing signs of fatigue from the long journey.

  “If you don’t mind, may I suggest we make a soup?” Edelweiss replied softly. “It’s perfect for the outdoors—it warms the body, especially with spices like cinnamon or ginger.”

  “Smart girl! I like your thinking,” the woman said, clearly impressed. “What about this chicken? Got any ideas?”

  Edelweiss took a moment to consider—given the limited time and supplies, no dish seemed more fitting than soup. She suggested they dice the chicken and add it to the broth, so everyone could partake.

  Upon receiving advice from the "blond girl," the woman chuckled and praised Edelweiss. Surely, she thought, this young lady must have traveled extensively to know how to feed such a crowd.

  She then confessed it was her first time joining a trade journey with her husband, having recently married just weeks prior. Her husband, the leader of the caravan, had invited her to come along so she might glimpse the world beyond their homestead.

  “From now on, I think I can rely on you for the rest of this trip,” she said with a small laugh.

  Edelweiss responded with a quiet laugh of her own. Yet in her demeanor, there was an air of unease. “No one suspects me, do they?”

  She was troubled by the need to conceal her royal identity. As per her father's orders, she was not to behave in any way that might betray her station, lest suspicion arise.

  Of course, this proved a trial for someone long bound to the protocols of palace decorum—rules she followed from waking to sleep. Her only reference now was drawn from observing the palace servants day by day.

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  For over ten minutes, the women of the caravan diligently prepared the meal. When one among them tasted the soup and offered an approving thumbs-up, they called everyone to gather by the fire.

  The fragrance of mushroom soup filled with vegetables and tender chicken wafted through the air, inviting all to draw near. With the first spoonful, the group not only tasted flavor, but felt a warmth and calm spreading within, courtesy of the well-placed spices. In her heart, Edelweiss was overjoyed—Sophia’s lessons had served her well.

  Everyone appeared to relish the meal; the once-full pot was soon scraped clean. Now it was time for the caravan leader to assign the night’s watch.

  A man in his thirties announced that at least three men must stand guard each night, so shifts would be manageable in length. To determine the order, all the men stood in line and called out their numbers. Aden, standing furthest to the right, was the first to call “one,” thus taking the first watch.

  A biting wind began to blow, its chill cutting through the air, reaching even those huddled near the fire or nestled in their tents.

  In the quiet of night, Aden shut his eyes, sharpening his hearing as he meditated briefly. He would not allow himself even a moment’s negligence—raised from boyhood to shoulder responsibility, especially as heir to the throne.

  From the direction of the women’s tents, a faint noise and a slight shaking stirred his senses. Sword in hand, he stood to investigate.

  “Turns out reading in a tent isn’t such a good idea.”

  To his mild surprise, the source of the disturbance was none other than Edelweiss herself—who had merely wanted to enjoy her books under the stars.

  Aden thrust his sword into the ground.

  “Why aren’t you asleep yet? We leave early tomorrow morning.”

  “I’ve been waiting for the right time to speak with you, Brother.”

  Ah, so that was it. Well then—perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to spare a moment for his little sister under this quiet night sky. Aden turned, raising his right arm to the height of his head, a silent gesture beckoning her to join him by the fire.

  Beneath the vast canopy of stars, the two spoke of how long the day had felt. Edelweiss confessed her unease about failing to blend in with the group, but her brother quickly countered her doubt, pointing out her contribution to tonight’s delightful meal.

  “I heard that until now, you’ve only ever cooked for Mother and Father. Isn’t this a big step forward?” he said, hoping to give her a small push of encouragement.

  Indeed, every step toward growth deserves recognition, no matter how small.

  Yet even so, it seemed such progress held little weight in Edelweiss’s heart. Her thoughts remained clouded with a persistent feeling of inadequacy on this journey.

  “This is my first time so far from the palace… and I’m not sure I can manage. I’m so poor at everything—unlike you…”

  “That’s not true!” Aden’s protest came swift and firm. He turned to her, gaze steady and sincere.

  “Listen to me. I’m no more gifted or capable than you are. Instead of comparing, wouldn’t it be better if we supported each other?”

  Edelweiss remained silent for a moment. Her brother’s words rang true—this journey wasn’t only about strength or skill. It was about covering each other’s weaknesses as siblings walking the same path.

  “You’re right… but still—knowing that in the future, Firmus will need you far more than it will ever need me… I have to learn to stand on my own.”

  Now it was Aden’s turn to fall quiet, unable to form a reply. He could feel it—the weight of his sister’s greatest fear: to become too dependent on others, unable to live independently.

  The lives they led were riddled with questions awaiting answers. Among them, the looming one: the future. Aden, soon to be crowned heir of Firmus. Edelweiss, perhaps entrusted with new lands as part of a noble branch—or even sent to live in a foreign kingdom.

  And somehow, this night sky made both their thoughts wander far and wide, until sleep crept gently upon Edelweiss. Her head came to rest softly upon her brother’s shoulder.

  Aden flinched, surprised by her sudden gesture. His gaze, once fixed on the stars, now drifted to the book lying near her feet.

  Thanks to the fire’s glow, he could clearly make out the weighty writings within—tales of Chronos, the Heart of Time, and the Seven Legendary Artifacts.

  “Legendary artifacts…,” he whispered to himself, voice barely audible, “...something that could erase all conflict in this world.”