Great Land of Nestrada
Nestrada’s Fateful Decision
Lord Nestrada sat in the grand hall of the palace. He was well past sixty, yet the harshness carved into his features and the authority surrounding him were enough to silence any man who dared to meet his gaze.
He did not need to raise his voice; his presence alone was a command.
With a brief gesture of his hand, his aide stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
In a calm tone that allowed no argument, Lord Nestrada said:
“Travel to Mount Master Raoni. I want my middle daughter brought to Nestrada Palace the moment she turns eighteen.”
The aide did not ask why.
He knew his lord had already made his decision: to gather his daughters in the palace… slowly, each at a carefully calculated time.
Rama’s Acceptance of Returning
High on Mount Master Raoni, a young woman sat reading a carefully sealed letter.
Her hair was dark brown, almost black, and her eyes carried a rare, surreal color—an inheritance unique to Rama Nestrada.
She appeared calm on the surface, but anger stirred behind her cold gaze.
Returning to Nestrada…
The palace she had been sent away from at the age of eight, following an accusation that was never proven.
Her memories drifted back to her first days on the mountain:
Master Raoni’s cruelty,
the harsh punishments,
and the loneliness that had sharpened her instead of breaking her.
The aide’s voice interrupted her thoughts:
“We hope you won’t make your return difficult, my lady. We would prefer not to use force.”
She lifted her head and replied with steady coldness:
“I will return… but on my terms.
“First, I leave with my only friend—Nirvana.
Second, I need a full week to complete my training.
And finally, I want professional weapons trainers of all kinds in the palace.”
Nirvana was merely an alias.
Her real name was Mary—the only surviving princess of the Lily Kingdom, whose entire bloodline had been wiped out by her own uncle.
No one knew her true identity except Rama… and if it were ever revealed, her life would end instantly.
After a moment of silence, the aide said:
“I have informed Lord Nestrada of your conditions… and he has agreed.
On the condition that you manage palace affairs and study everything related to the nobility.”
Rama nodded calmly.
“Agreed.”
Rama and Mary’s Agreement
As soon as the aide left, Rama said sharply:
“Will you ever stop this habit?”
From behind the cabin appeared a blond young man with blue eyes, laughing openly.
It was Liren—cheerful as always, incapable of silence.
Jokingly, he said:
“We were just making sure you wouldn’t start a war before leaving.”
Beside him stood Mary, smiling less, worry clear in her eyes.
“This decision is dangerous, Rama. The palace is full of watching eyes.”
Rama answered with cold confidence:
“That’s exactly why we’re leaving the mountain.
Your presence here is more dangerous… especially with the ruler of the Lily Kingdom approaching the area.”
Mary sighed sadly.
“I’ll never forget his face… the face of the one who destroyed everything.”
Rama placed a hand on her shoulder.
“And we won’t forget. But everything has its time.”
Liren and Brian’s Plan
Deep in the Willow Forest, far from the cabin, stood a young man with black hair and gray-blue eyes.
It was Brian, silent as ever, watching the surroundings carefully.
In a tense voice, he said:
“Her return to Nestrada will make her a target.”
Liren replied, his usual cheer dimmed:
“That’s why we’ll move ahead of her.
Lynx informed me everything is ready for your return to the Bolant family palace.”
Brian shot him a sharp look.
“Don’t tell Rama. Or Mary.”
Liren smiled lightly.
“Don’t worry.”
Brian added:
“We must be in our kingdoms before they arrive.
The palace isn’t safe… especially with a mind like Rama’s—one that never retreats.”
The Beginning of the Journey to Nestrada
The week ended.
Rama and Mary left the mountain accompanied by the aide, while Liren and Brian had departed days earlier, according to the plan.
Rama said irritably:
“I’ll make Liren pay for this secrecy.”
Mary smiled faintly.
“What matters is that we reached what we wanted.”
Rama said seriously:
“This is only the beginning. From now on, every step must be calculated carefully, so we don’t destroy everything we’ve built in Lord Nestrada’s mind.”
As she finished speaking, the aide entered and said:
“It’s time to depart, Miss Nestrada. The aircraft is waiting.”
The Road to Great Nestrada
During the flight, Mary whispered to Rama in their coded language.
What she heard made Rama’s expression harden.
Lord Nestrada intends to gather all his daughters at once.
She thought silently:
So… the movements have begun.
The aide approached, announcing:
“We will land in the courtyard of Nestrada Palace in a few minutes.”
Rama looked out the window, a calm yet dangerous smile forming on her lips.
“It seems the game has truly begun.”
