Vol. 3 Chapter 40: The Wicked Princess (Part 1) (Patreon)

I stood by a far corner of the palace entrance, watching important figures coming in, namely the capital nobles. With what happened to the city yesterday, it was essential for the nobles to assemble and discuss what happened and how they should proceed. Downside, they did not know what exactly just happened and what led to it.

Father would need to inform them of the context, while also holding some information back. Especially those that had something to do with me.

Speaking of which, I really did some damage to my study room, haaaah. When I regained my calm, it was even made clearer just how I almost wrecked the room. Was the floor even gonna hold? From what I heard, legit the entire palace shook, much worse than what happened last time — that time when I first lost control of my mana.

I may have almost crushed the entire place into dust. But of course that wouldn’t happen, even with the amount of power I have…I think…maybe.

Another noble entered.

As I was hiding somewhat, they didn't notice me. However, when my uncle Meril arrived, as if sensing me, he turned in my direction. What the hell’s up with this guy dude, almost like he had a sixth sense or something.

When he arrived before me, he asked. “What are you lurking around for?” he glanced at my servants for a moment that were behind me.

“Nothing, just to watch the people arriving. It’s rare to have this many visitors.”

“A shame we are not here for a casual visit. Will you be joining this time? Just like the last?”

“... I am.”

“Is that right? You have never joined before, nor shown any interest. But now, and like the general assembly before this, you are now willing to take part.”

“This involves me, uncle. I’m sure you know that.”

“I suppose but…” he narrowed his eyes. “What are you planning, Estelia?”

“Planning?” I tilted my head with a puzzled expression.

“It just doesn’t feel right you are joining for any simple reason.”

“Don’t always rely on gut feeling, uncle. They will often mislead you.”

“Believe me, niece, my gut feeling is very, very reliable. And my guts tell me you have a hidden agenda this time.”

I smiled slightly. “What’s your progress on your task, uncle?”

He furrowed his brows at the switch of the topic and nodded mildly. “We have collected plenty of intel as you wanted. But after your operation, it will take more time. The city is in disarray for the moment.”

“That is fine. We’ll get there once I am done on my side.”

“Done with your side?”

“We are finished here, uncle. I will need to meet with Father before everyone else arrives.”

“Hm… Very well. Just don’t be late like last time. Ah, yes, about your rampage yesterday.”

“...”

“You were keeping quite the feelings, my niece. If you wish to let some out, feel free to speak with me. I may be able to provide you with a couple of pieces of advice.”

Without waiting for my reply, he walked onward. Yes, he was there shortly after my parents and siblings arrived.

I turned around and faced my servants. They were stiff when they met my gaze. I did kind of hurt them yesterday, especially Mera. But it was not of anger or grudge, it was more along the lines of fear, I think. So in short, they were being wary of their actions, lest they incur my wrath or something like that. It was pretty obvious from how swift and quiet Mera was when serving me earlier.

But indeed, I am easily irritated today.

“Tie my hair, Mera…”

“Y-Yes! M-Milady…”

I made my way to a reception room, which I was free to use. After the door closed, I sat down on a chair and Mera promptly began tying my hair into a braid. I closed my eyes, trying to gain some cool.

Mera was more gentle and careful than usual.

I took a subtle, deep breath.

“I…” I paused. It was a bit… um, embarrassing. “I apologize for what I did to you three yesterday. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Mera paused. “... All is forgiven, milady. Besides, we understand you cannot completely hold your mana sometimes… and we understand that you are enraged after all that you went through. It is hard.” And she continued tying my hair.

“Is that so…?”

“That is so.”

I turned my head to look at all of them, and they gave me small smiles. I returned to face forward and nodded. “... Thank you…”

Some time passed, and Mera had finished tying my extraordinarily long hair. A few minutes after that, knocks came to the door. Vernon opened it and entered my father.

“Daughter, you are finished, good. Let’s go, everyone has arrived.”

I followed my father to the assembly chamber entrance, where the rest of the family was waiting. No need to idle, we entered inside the room, the nobles stood in our presence. They only returned sitting once we sat down on our thrones.

Rogan alone entered with me, and he stood guard by the wall adjacent to me.

I felt most of the gazes of the nobles directed at me, but I kept my face neutral. They were baffled by my presence here.

“I thank you all for coming here.” My father loudly said to everyone while standing. “Discord ensued in our beloved city yesterday, and I am certain you are keen on learning the circumstances.”

The nobles intently listened.

“This was a royal related operation headed by the second prince.”

Everyone shifted their gazes to point towards Estevan, with the exception of my uncle, who looked at me first for a moment.

“We received intel that there are enemies hiding in the capital and ever since have been seeking them. In fact, as you may have perhaps heard of a battle here in the palace months ago, the former assistant of the second prince was a mole planted by the same enemies.”

The nobles looked at each other in surprise.

Father continued. “The mole was sent to spy in the palace and to carry out tasks sent by those on the outside. This includes the attempted assassination of a royal. And thus after that attempt, we started hunting them down, but we deemed it best to keep it confidential outside of the palace until the matter was resolved.

“You perhaps have seen the damage in the wake of our confrontation with them, and indeed they were enemies of great threat. In fact, our enemies are not humans.”

“Not humans?”

“What does that mean?”

“Demons?”

“Demons are here?”

“If that’s the case, then what’s the Holy Kingdom been doing?”

Gasps and frantic murmurs spread throughout the nobles in the chamber. Guess demons were really big of a deal. Well, from what I heard from the bishop, these demons were quite powerful themselves — where we needed the holy element to effectively fight one.

Good thing there were no demons here, though!

My father raised his hand to stop the unrest. “They are not demons.”

“...?”

“They’re different, ones we do not know. We encountered two different types. One referred to as an Elf, and the other a Beastman.”

The nobles looked at each other with puzzlement — they had never heard of them.

“The elves are potent in magic, and agile. They have long, pointy ears, and a light complexion. The beastmen, on the other hand, have animal ears on their heads, and more than that, they can morph into beasts. All in all, they are dangerous and hard to defeat. It took a squad of elites just to restrain one. At the moment, we have three in the dungeon, secured strictly. We have interrogated them, asked a few essential questions.

“First, their purpose here. It took a while to obtain the answer, but, in the end, we have it. They threaten the royal family, further supported by their previous actions. Next, if they still have allies in the city, hiding, those that we missed. There are none left, their total number is also supported by an intel from another source.”

A noble raised a hand. “...I’m curious about another source. Who are they? How do they know the enemy?”

“I’m afraid I can’t tell you that. Their identity is classified.”

“... I see. Thank you, your majesty.”

“Alright, the next important question is, where they came from… This in particular, they are so secretive about… They are not saying anything at all, no matter how much we intensify the… interrogation.”

“They’re so eager to keep the location of their homeland a secret? Is it to prevent us from taking revenge?”

“Likely so…” my father glanced at me with his eyes for a moment before looking forward again.

Perhaps the reason they wanted to hide it was because it was foretold that I would destroy them. So stupid. Well, now, I don’t care about where they came from anyway. I’m hard-pressed to beat one, what hope have I to destroy their entire race? Like, what the fuck?

“Are they perhaps from the Empire?”

“That’s what we’re speculating, but nothing is certain. We asked who they’re working for amongst the nations in the continent, but surprisingly, one sounded offended that we would imply they work for any humans.”

“... Are they perhaps independent?” a noble asked, but there was no answer to it.

“Are they perhaps behind the death of the late Marquis Vekenas? I imagine they would want to eliminate those that are close to the royal family. This means the capital nobles.”

The nobles looked at each other, realizing the severity of the situation, especially if they might be in danger.

My father then spoke. “We speculate this as well. Same of their kind was found in the forest close to the area of death of the Marquis. But we have no concrete evidence. Two beastmen we interrogated rejected the notion of them killing the Marquis. But we can’t be sure if that is really true, or if a group in their ranks went rogue or had other purposes.”

“Their leader then? Did you get their leader?”

“We did. But… he is the one that we couldn’t get an answer from at all… no matter how much suffering we inflict upon him. He had not said one word. But at least we have information from the other two.”

“Then what do you plan to do with them?”

“Well, we have exhausted the essentials that we need, aside from those they refuse to answer no matter what.”

“They have to be punished!” said a noble.

“They’re not humans though, and the information… how should we go about this?”

To be honest, I have the information I need already. They have no use for me anymore. And I just reeeeeally want to kiiiill them — oops no, rather, I want them dead.

“This is the first time we had something like this… what should be done?” muttered a noble.

“What are you all so confused about?” While sitting down, I said out loud, and they all turned towards me in surprise. Everyone in the room. I felt a little pressure from everyone looking at me.

“Follow our rules, our guidelines, policies. Our laws.”

Or whatever.

“Daughter? What are you doing…?”

“I would like to speak my mind, father.”

He stared at me for a couple of seconds before nodding and placed both his hands on his back to listen to me.

I straightened my sitting posture and faced the crowd. “We have rules already to help guide us when we do not know what to do. Therefore, we must only use it. Otherwise, those would be useless, don’t you think?”

The nobles looked at each other.

I continued. “They refuse to cooperate, and we have more or less learned what we need. They are also too dangerous to be kept forever, and imagine how easily they could escape once they are well rested. And what are their crimes? A threat to national security, masterminds of espionage, attempted assassination of royalty, such that I can recall at the top of my head. With those alone, what is the punishment that must be delivered, as is in our law?”

It was silent, until one noble gave an answer, my uncle. “A death sentence.”

I smiled slightly. “And there it is, you now know where to go. So, let us follow the laws we set ourselves.”

“Daughter, are you saying we should execute them?” my father asked.

“Father, I am merely helping everyone recall our laws and punishments for such terrible crimes. The choice of that is in your hands, and yours alone. I have no power over what you want to do.”

“Hmm…” he put a finger on his chin.

“In any case, that is all I have to say.”

There was silence as everyone seemed to ponder, while others stared at me in a daze.

My father audibly cleared his throat. “Then we shall base our decisions on our laws. However, I will need assistance on what should be decided. I call for a vote.”

All the nobles straightened themselves.

“Raise the hands of those who want to deliver the death sentence to the culprits, those that are guilty of the highest of crimes. While those that are against it, do not.”

The nobles slowly raised their hands, while a few kept them down. One of those that raised his hand is my uncle.

I resisted the urge to smile in delight.

More than half raised their hands in agreement to the death sentence for the enemies. A majority vote.

“Then we have come to a decision. All those that are involved in the crimes, especially those who threatened the lives of royals, shall be sent to death. Let this be an example to our enemies that may be out there, watching.”

Aaaah, what a relief.

The important matter was done.

And the meeting continued to discuss the damages to the city and some others.

***

“That was a surprise, my daughter.” my father said to me as he sat down on the chair by his desk.

At the moment, it was me and him in his office, he brought me here the moment the meeting was over. I know my action was a bit odd and out of the blue, but that was it.

He then continued. “Did they anger you so much that you would be willing to speak in front of the nobles?”

“I was merely bothered why they, and you, were confused or were thinking twice about what to do with the prisoners.”

“But you know the punishment for their crimes is death, right?”

“That much is obvious, isn’t it? Still, in the end, you are still in charge of everything, Father. Your words will determine our enemies’ fate.”

He took in a sharp breath. “Indeed…”

“Do you doubt your decision?”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, daughter. I am merely surprised…” he lowered his gaze. “... I am furious for what they have done, or what they intend to do. I want everyone that threatened you to pay. I too want them gone… But…”

“But what…?”

He closed his eyes for a moment while taking a deep breath. Once he opened his eyes, he rose from his seat and walked around his desk to sit down beside me. He placed his hands on both my cheeks and stared into my eyes.

“I don’t want this, Estelia.”

“To execute them…?”

“No… no.” he shook his head. “I don’t want… I don’t like this change happening to you.”

“C-Change…? To me?” I don’t understand.

“You might think I don’t notice, but I saw at that moment in that assembly the change in you. I admire your wits, and that is good… But I realized, I don’t want you to end up like what I imagined you would if this goes on… I want those bright and colorful eyes back… Seeing you this way… makes me think that I, we may lose who you are. And that for me, in truth, is what I am afraid of… Maintain your heart, my daughter.”

“Father… I…” I didn’t know what to say.

How did I appear in the assembly? What caused my father to be… afraid?

He slowly let go. “Once this is over… please, let’s have a good relaxing break. You can go visit your cousin, socialize and make friends with other noble young ladies. Maybe take a walk outside. Isn’t that what you want?”

My eyes widened a little. That’s… that’s what I want.

I mildly nodded.

“Then, you shall have it. I will talk with your mother about this…”

He patted my head gently before going back to his chair. “That’s what I only want to say… But there is another matter…”

“...And that is?”

“The other prisoner… your former chef.”

“Ah.”

“Estelia, despite what she did for the operation, she is still a prisoner and criminal in the end. What she committed is unforgivable. She is not pardoned whatsoever. And her allegiance is still in question… Remember what I said, daughter? All that threatened royalty will be given death, this of course, includes her.”

“I know…”

“You will not defend her?”

“I don’t want to influence your decision by defending her, father. It’s up to you. Just bear in mind her crimes, not just trying to kill me, but also things like espionage and treason. And because of her former position, she could have had a great advantage in killing us through the food if she was not exposed.”

Besides, after my fit yesterday, I relinquished my rights over her, and back to my father the king — as what was discussed beforehand, now that my operation was over.

“Yes, her crime… is too great for me to tolerate… In truth, I do not want her near our family… But are you sure you don’t want to share your thoughts?”

“No… I would prefer not to influence your decision through my opinions.”

“I see… then, what I declared, nothing will change.”

I nodded. “I will accept whatever you decide on this matter, father.”

“Alright then…” he lowered his gaze with a sigh. “As I said, maintain your heart, daughter.” After muttering that quietly, he raised his gaze.

“Father…?”

He shook his head. “That is all, daughter.”

“Right…. Oh, I want to ask permission for something. Please, allow me to visit the enemy leader in his cell.”

“Huh?” he was surprised. “No. That’s too dangerous, I will not allow that.”

“Please, father. I want to talk to him, just briefly.”

“Why?”

“Before you execute them, I want to ascertain something.”

“What is it?”

“Something of great importance that will determine our future course of action.”

“Can you not just send one of your subordinates?”

“No, I want to look him in the eyes.”

He pondered for a moment before sighing. “Alright, but not too long, and keep your distance. I will notify the guards immediately.”

“When will the execution be?”

“Tomorrow noon. Preparations are still needed to make sure they won’t do anything.”

“Then I will get straight to it.” I stood up. “Thank you for the time, father.”