For the first time in his life, Etien set foot in the Southeast. Unlike Glen, who had arrived with a full escort of royal guards and a grand procession, Etien did nothing of the sort. He brought only a handful of his most loyal soldiers and a few of the strongest among them, like Kenny. No parade. No spectacle. Just a slow-moving carriage that made it obvious this trip wasn't something he was thrilled about, especially with Ophelia in tow.
She'd insisted on coming along, curious to finally see what the Southeast was like. It was one of the few major regions she'd never visited in her life. And when their carriage pulled up to Ukiteran's main gate, the welcome they received was nearly identical to Glen's. The streets were bursting with cheer, the air thick with celebration.
"This is incredible, the people of Ukiteran really know how to throw a festival, huh? Look at them, everyone's just radiating joy!" Ophelia gushed, staring out the window with wonder.
