Annouhank you so much for reading and supp this story! If you’re enjoying it, I’d be incredibly grateful if you could leave a quick review with your thoughts. Your feedback means the world to me and helps keep this journey going.Jessica tapped a spot on the map—the isnd of Jo. “Why don’t we attack Jo?”

  Edward’s brows furrowed, and his voice carried a mixture of fusion and apprehension. “What are you saying, Jessica? Attack the dukedom of an Imperial Princess? That’s madness!”

  Jessica sighed, leaning ba her chair with a frustrated look. “Father, think logically. How else do you propose we dispose of 2,000 sves without attrag attention? If we move them innd using carriages, it would be far too spicuous. The Imperial Court would sniff us out before we got halfway to our destination.”

  Edward shook his head, his fingers curling into fists. “You’re suggesting we provoke an Imperial dukedom. Ravenna may be exiled, but she’s still an Imperial Princess. If we marto her nds, she’ll inform the capital. Her word carries enough weight to have us arrested and executed for treason.”

  Jessica’s eyes gleamed with cold determination. “Not if it looks like the work of pirates,” she tered, leaning forward to tap the map again. “Jo is isoted, far removed from the Empire’s core territories. She’s statiohere with only 300 knights for prote, hardly enough to fend off a rge assault. We could send 500 of our knights along with 300 of Hericules’ meraries, posing as a pirate raid. They attack, dump the sves: dead or alive on the isnd, and capture Princess Ravenna. Once she’s in our custody, we stage a ransom exge at Ronin’s port. It will appear as though pirates attacked her, aestimony would support that narrative.”

  Edward’s face paled at the audacity of her pn. “Jessica… are you hearing yourself? You want to atta Imperial Princess’s territory, dump thousands of sves there, and kidnap the Imperial Princess? Do you have any idea how dangerous this is? Even if we succeed in capturing her, if she figures out it’s us, her testimony could still expose us ter.”

  Jessica’s expression hardened, her voice dropping to a sharper tone. “Father, listen carefully. You said it yourself—her testimony carries signifit weight. That’s exactly why we need her to firm the pirate’s involvement. If anyone accuses us of being tied to the sve aus, her word that it irate attack will outweigh any other evidence. She’s the perfect solution for our problems right now.”

  Edward hesitated, his doubt still lingering. “But the Emperor and the court won’t just let Jo fall to pirates, Jessica. The isnd has strategic importahey’d respond swiftly to any attack.”

  “I’m not suggesting we occupy the isnd,” Jessica replied calmly. “Our objective isn’t quest—it’s disposal and distra. The knights and meraries won’t stay to hold Jo; their task is to ehe sves are left on the isnd and Ravenna is taken. Once she’s in our hands, we’ll stage the ransom exge. By the time the court realizes what’s happened, it will already be too te for them to pin anything on us.”

  Edward rubbed his temples, his unease growing. “And what if Ravenna sends an emergency magical message to the Imperial Pace? The court would dispatch reinforts immediately.”

  Jessica waved her hand dismissively. “We’ll cut off access to Ronin Town. It’s the most logical port for ung an expedition to Jo, and we trol it. We fabricate a reason, say, a natural disaster like a fire or severe flooding—to blotry for a few days. By the time they start to ehe town, the operation will already be plete.”

  Edaced the room, his boots g against the polished wooden floor. “This is far too risky, Jessica. If anything goes wrong, it will mean the end of our house. Yambling with everything.”

  Jessica stood, her voiwavering. “Father, keeping 2,000 sves here while Prince William dismahe bck markets is far more dangerous. Every moment we dey increases the risk of exposure. This is our only viable option. If we don’t aow, When Prince William is away, we’ll be the ones he uses as scapegoats to build his so-called ‘heroic reputation.’ Are you really willing to sit and wait for that to happen?”

  Edward stopped pag and turo face his daughter. He could see the resolute determination in her eyes, the same fire that had driveo rise as the head of the family. She was right—there was no other option.

  “Fine,” he said with a heavy sigh. “But uand this, Jessica: if we fail, there won’t be a sed ce. The Ronin family’s survival rests on your shoulders now.”

  Jessiodded, her smirk returning. “The’s make sure we don’t fail.”

  Herptian Church, Jo City, Jo Isnd

  Sunlight filtered through the stained-gss windows, casting vibrant patterns of red and gold on the polished wooden table between two figures. High Priest James and Princess Ravenna sat across from each other in the modest yet dignified meeting of the Herptian Church. Ravenna leaned back slightly in her chair, her expression posed yet anding. Today’s discussion was critical—she had e to address two pressing issues: the city's urban development and its current crime rate.

  James folded his hands oable, listening attentively as she spoke. “And your proposed solution involves public executions bined with Herptian ceremonial rituals?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “Yes,” Ravenna replied firmly. “The ceremony will add a divi to the punishment, making it clear that the ned are being judged by the Goddess Herptian herself, not just the ws of men.”

  James frowned, shaking his head slightly. “I uand the i, Yhness, but I fear it may not have the impact you hope foddess Herptian, while revered by her followers, is ly known for being a virtuous deity like Solious or the ods. Her myths speak of her disdain for evildoers, yes, but...”

  “...but Herptian’s definition of ‘evildoers’ is quite different from other faiths,” Ravenna finished for him, her lips curving into a small, knowing smile.

  James nodded gravely. This was the crux of the issue. Uhe more universally respected deities, Herptian was a plex and often troversial figure. The Goddess of Indulgence was known for her lustful nature, her pent for theft, and her willio kill on a whim—all as glorified in her legends. ving the public that such a goddess would judge criminals with divihority was no simple task.

  “That’s not the only plication,” James tinued hesitantly, his voice dropping. “There’s also... the matter of your lineage. As an Imperial Princess, you are a direct desdant of Goddess Solious. For you to speak on behalf of the Herptian Church... well, it might be seen as... flig.”

  Ravenna chuckled softly, her golden eyes glinting with amusement. “Ah, yes. The Imperial Daughter, blessed by the virtuous Solious, preag the will of Herptian, the goddess of indulgence. Quite the paradox, isn’t it?”

  James shifted unfortably in his seat, unsure how to respond. The silence lingered for a moment before Ravenna leaned forward slightly, her smile widening. “But what if...” she begaoeasi deliberate.

  Before James could process her words, Ravenna stood gracefully, the long slit in her dark maxi dress parting as she lifted its edge slightly to reveal her thigh. James averted his eyes immediately, his cheeks flushing as he muttered something i about de.

  But something caught his attention—a symbol etched into her skin, glowing faintly with a deep crimson hue. His gaze returned despite himself, widening in shock as realization dawned.

  Ravenna smirked, her voice smooth as silk. “What if I told you, your holiness, that I am not just a princess of Soliou's bloodline... but an Apostle of Goddess Herptian herself?”

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