Enciodes had never liked the elderly figures of the Vine-Bear Court. To him, they were remnants of a bygone era. Though he was a believer in Kjeragandr himself, faith was one matter; his opinion of their political competence was another.
In his eyes, Kjerag was like an innocent girl from a remote mountain valley, repeatedly taken advantage of by the nobles of Victoria. To outsiders, it might seem as though those Victorian nobles were overwhelmingly powerful. In truth, the Court had made a series of foolish decisions in the past. Attempting to cooperate with Victorian aristocrats had been nothing short of courting disaster.
Enciodes disliked them, yet he had no choice but to acknowledge its existence and its interference in his governance. Fortunately, his own strength and his leadership in guiding Kjerag forward kept the Court relatively restrained. The old figures remained behind the scenes, and an uneasy balance was maintained.
But now, with his younger sister Enya appearing in the welcoming convoy for his ally, Enciodes could no longer suppress his irritation.
"This guest was invited by me, Enciodes, and he is my ally. What is the Vine-Bear Court doing here? Trying to curry favor?"
What troubled him most was Enya's demeanor. He was well aware that his ally was exceptionally attractive to women, but that was no reason for her to behave like an infatuated school girl at first sight.
Felix, however, paid no attention to Enciodes's inner turmoil. He simply shook hands with the woman who introduced herself as Enya, Saintess of Karlan, nodded politely, and moved forward. When he noticed Enciodes had not followed, he turned back with a puzzled glance.
Enciodes coughed lightly. As he passed, he shot Enya a sharp look, then cast a cold gaze over the elderly members of the Vine-Bear Court before quickly catching up with Felix. He began introducing the newly constructed facilities of Turicum as though nothing had happened.
"They've left… Let's not linger here and delay Tomorrow's Development. We should go," Enya said softly, nodding to the remaining Court members as she watched Felix and Enciodes depart. "Now, Enya, you've finally met him. Are you satisfied?"
"I am very satisfied, Miss."
Behind her, an inconspicuous maid responded with a faint smile.
Tomorrow's Development followed Enciodes to Turicum's transport caravan. Many of them were seeing such creatures for the first time. The beasts native to Kjerag were fluffy and surprisingly adorable, prompting several of the higher-ups to consider buying one as a pet.
Turicum was a city built for tourism. From food and attractions to lodging, it provided everything a traveler might need. Tomorrow's Development were not the only faction vacationing there. Along the way, some of their higher-ranking members spotted personnel from Blacksteel International enjoying a barbecue at a street-side restaurant.
After checking into their hotel, the higher-ups scattered in small groups to enjoy their winter holiday. Only Ines remained at Felix's side. A few of the others quietly regretted submitting their leave requests so early. Who could have predicted that His Highness would insist on Loughshinny taking time off? Had they known, they would have remained by his side instead of Ines.
Enciodes invited Felix to lunch, and Felix accepted with an easy smile. Over the meal, they continued discussing matters of intent and cooperation. For now, they were merely confirming each other's positions and capabilities. The true decisions would come at the signing.
The luncheon was pleasant for both host and guest. Afterward, Enciodes continued to guide Felix through Turicum. He was fully aware that Tomorrow's Development, like Felix himself, had come to relax. As host, it was his duty to ensure their comfort.
He had just risen to continue their tour when he saw Enya standing at the hotel entrance. The corner of his mouth twitched once more.
"Miss Enya… what brings you here?"
Felix had an excellent memory. In his previous life, she had been an operative of Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals, codenamed Pramanix. Besides serving as Saintess of Karlan, she was also the biological younger sister of the Enciodes standing beside him.
He held little interest in the organization behind her. From the intelligence he had gathered, the Vine-Bear Court was deeply traditional, conservative to the point of stagnation. Such rigidity would not help Kjerag progress. That conviction had never shaken his resolve to cooperate with Enciodes.
"Your Highness, I have received guidance from Kjeragandr," Enya said calmly, a faint and shy smile touching her lips. "As the current Saintess of Karlan, it is both my duty and my honor to entertain a distinguished guest such as yourself. This, too, is Kjeragandr's inspiration."
Hearing this from behind Felix, Enciodes nearly ground his teeth to dust. Kjeragandr's guidance? Where was Kjeragandr? Was He even still present? To him, it sounded like nothing more than a convenient excuse to accompany His Highness. When he caught the provocative, almost mocking glance his sister shot in his direction, his fists tightened. Yet after a brief pause, he hesitated. Perhaps this situation could be turned to his advantage.
To Enciodes, Enya's invocation of Kjeragandr rang hollow. Still, she had already taken the initiative to approach him, and her evident interest in His Highness sparked a thought. In the end, regardless of her status as the Saintess of Karlan and a member of the Vine-Bear Court, and despite her constant political opposition to him, she was undeniably his biological sister.
If his ally were interested, he could allow Enya to draw closer. He understood clearly that such a decision would not insult her. On the contrary, it might even secure her happiness. But if he could think of this, would the old figures of the Vine-Bear Court not think of it as well?
Enciodes narrowed his eyes. He did not object to the idea of a marriage. Though his sister could be vexing, he genuinely cared for her. He believed Felix would treat her well.
However, he also knew that the elders of the Vine-Bear Court would likely attempt to use Enya's identity to establish contact with Felix under the Court's banner.
Enciodes had always valued efficiency, and so had Karlan Trade. Under his leadership, Kjerag had advanced rapidly. He could say with confidence that no one within Karlan Trade idled away their days. No one wasted time. No one shirked their duties.
To strengthen Kjerag, Enciodes led by example, working tirelessly each day.
It was precisely for this reason that he increasingly viewed the Vine-Bear Court as a burden. He would not go so far as to call it a malignancy, for he still held reverence for Kjeragandr. Yet he deeply resented those elders who relied on seniority to interfere in political affairs.
Within the Court were those who genuinely wished to see Kjerag prosper, those content with preserving the status quo, and those who resisted change altogether.
Negotiating with them felt like dealing with pests. The moment he asked them to concede even a fraction of land for development, they erupted in protest. Even when compensation was offered, they insisted their interests had been violated and responded with even greater resistance.
Time and again, Enciodes stressed the importance of factories and industry to Kjerag's future. Yet these individuals clung stubbornly to their narrow holdings, at times leaving him exhausted.
Kjerag was small, yet it could still harbor so many obstacles. If Victoria was vast, then surely it harbored far more.
With that comparison in mind, Enciodes found his mood improving slightly.
Felix hesitated briefly when he heard Enya attribute her actions to Kjeragandr's guidance, but only for a moment. The existence of Kjeragandr was ambiguous. One could say it existed, yet perhaps it no longer did. But if it truly did not exist, then what was the source of the "Kjeragandr's Blessing" manifested in his abilities?
After considering this, Felix chose not to refuse. Just as he was about to step forward, Enciodes moved up beside him. Standing shoulder to shoulder with Felix, he said calmly, "If this is Kjeragandr's guidance, then the presence of one more person should make no difference."
Enya's gaze met Enciodes's, sparks flying as though Mars had collided with Earth. They both snorted softly, one positioning herself at Felix's left, the other at his right.
What an unusual pair of siblings, Felix thought, though he kept the observation to himself. When it came to trust, he remained more inclined toward Enciodes. Enciodes governed with unwavering rationality, seeking to guide Kjerag toward progress through pragmatic means. Inevitably, this approach created friction, which he attempted to resolve with a firm yet somewhat conciliatory stance, though not always successfully.
He could not be called incompetent. He had done all that he could.
As for Enya, Felix did not know her well. In his previous life, she had not suffered significant loss, making it difficult to judge her. From Enciodes's earlier words, however, Felix inferred that the title of Saintess implied someone capable of communicating directly with Kjeragandr. Yet once stripped of that sacred mantle, she had inevitably become entangled with the interests of the Vine-Bear Court, serving at times as its voice.
When Ines changed into winter attire and stepped outside, her long legs still bare despite the cold, she was surprised to find Felix already flanked on both sides.
Not entirely women, of course. Enciodes and Enya were conversing with Felix, their tone light, almost playful. From Ines's perspective, it looked suspiciously like competition for his attention.
But Ines was merely a secretary. She understood the stature of those present and chose not to speak. Silently, she followed a few steps behind the trio.
She had not traveled alone in a long time. Most of the time, she moved in small groups within Tomorrow's Development. Having spent so much time in Kazdel, and bearing the identity of a Sarkaz, she naturally received respect and admiration from other Sarkaz. Operators would often stop her in the corridors to ask questions. On top of that, she usually went on missions with Mudrock, Qalaiša, Shining, and the others, leaving her with little opportunity to be by herself.
She had also shared a high-rise suite with W. In the past, that meant constantly looking after her. But ever since W had gained His Highness's favor, she had matured and begun paying much more attention to her image, which spared Ines a great deal of trouble.
"What are you looking at?"
Felix, dressed in a coat, walked over. He removed his gloves and handed her a slice of cheese. "I heard this is a specialty of Kjerag."
Ines accepted it and took a bite. A peculiar flavor spread across her tongue. "The taste is a bit strange."
"I can't quite get used to it either."
Felix gave a small shrug.
Seeing that, Ines smiled. "Where are our two hosts?"
"Enciodes and Enya booked different hotels… and now they're arguing about which one we should stay at." Felix sighed, though there was amusement in his voice. He did not find it troublesome, only entertaining. Everything important had already been discussed on the train. Only the formal contract remained. The rest of the trip was little more than leisure.
The siblings' quarrel made the journey feel less desolate. At least to Felix, the icy air seemed livelier because of it. For a fleeting moment, he even found himself longing for such a sibling bond.
"Aren't you cold dressed like that?"
He glanced at Ines. Her upper body was wrapped in a winter coat, yet her legs were boldly exposed, revealing smooth thighs and calves. It was the biting chill of December. Wouldn't she suffer for it in the future?
Ines rolled her eyes at him, though the expression carried a subtle charm. "I've been teaching foundational classes on the Venus recently. Lisa happened to attend one, and I spoke with her mother, Vulpisfoglia. We talked about Siracusa and the Higashi Kingdom. She told me this is the fashion there. Some Originium Arts users who want to gain attention dress like this. They care about looking good, not about the cold."
"But, Aren't you cold?"
"I'm wearing flesh-colored thermal stockings. Touch them if you don't believe me."
Felix remained skeptical. Though this type of clothing was produced as standard equipment, he had never worn it himself. He reached out to feel the fabric. It was thin, almost deceptively so. Whether it truly blocked the wind was questionable, but Ines appeared completely at ease. In the end, he accepted her word.
"My ally, we've decided. We'll be staying at the hotel I booked."
Enciodes's cheerful voice sounded from behind them, accompanied by Enya's soft complaints. Felix turned and responded with a smile.
After he faced away, Ines bit her lower lip, warmth rising to her cheeks.