"Princess, if you please." The lead knight stepped aside, gesturing toward the door with a cold efficiency.
"Hmph!" Lucy let out a sharp, disdainful snort and marched out of the room.
Clatter, clatter, clatter...
Euphy followed immediately, sprinting down the stairs only to find her father, Durin, lying on the floor, his face a mess of bruises and swelling.
"Father! Father, wake up!" Euphy cried out in distress, her eyes shimmering with tears.
To her, her father was the strongest man in the world, the one who had protected her from every storm since she was a child. Seeing him lying there motionless sent her into a complete panic.
"Cough, cough... stop it, you brat. Quit your crying," Durin croaked, opening his eyes. His voice was still full of vigor. "Any more tears and you'll drown me."
"Father! You're okay?" Euphy blinked away her tears in surprise, wiping her face with the back of her hand.
"I'm fine. This lot doesn't have nearly enough strength to do me in." Durin stood up, immediately pulling Euphy behind him.
Years of blacksmithing had made his body as hard as iron. Had he not been outnumbered, he wouldn't have feared any of them in a fair fight.
"Uncle Durin, I'm just glad you're safe," Lucy said, letting out a breath of relief. If anything had happened to him, she would have lived with the guilt for the rest of her life.
Clomp, clomp...
The two knights who had pursued Jones out of the window returned. They looked at the lead knight and shook their heads.
Watching this, Lucy's tense posture finally relaxed. Jones had successfully escaped. That knowledge brought her a great deal of peace.
"Princess, come with us. The First Prince wishes to see you," The lead knight said, his expression darkening. He wasn't pleased that even with their numbers, one had managed to slip away.
"Fine," Lucy snapped. She turned back to Euphy and Durin. "I will go alone. There is no need for Euphy or Uncle Durin to be dragged into this."
Sensing the knight's hesitation, she added coldly, "If you don't want the bounty hunters of this city breathing down your necks, I suggest you don't push your luck."
There were very few dwarves in the capital, and because Durin's weapons were of such high quality, his order book was reportedly filled for a year in advance. He held significant influence among the city's mercenaries. If those orders went unfulfilled, the lawless bounty hunters might actually be bold enough to storm the palace.
"Very well. Princess, please follow us." The lead knight conceded, realizing she was right. After all, the First Prince only required the Princess.
"Euphy, Uncle Durin, thank you for everything these past few days." Lucy gave them a formal bow and a forced, fragile smile before turning to follow the guards.
"Your Highness..." Euphy started to call out, her eyes welling up again as she looked to her father for help.
"Sigh..." Durin shook his head helplessly. There was nothing he could do. He could take on two or three knights, but against a dozen, he couldn't risk his daughter's life in a suicide mission.
The knights escorted Lucy through the dark, quiet streets toward the palace. As they moved, more figures emerged from the shadows—over thirty white-armored knights in total. The fact that more than a dozen had been lying in ambush showed just how much importance they placed on capturing her.
The sound of iron boots on stone echoed sharply through the silent night.
Under the eaves of a nearby house, a shadow landed lightly on the ground. Red eyes remained fixed on the departing procession. Jones followed them stealthily from the darkness, looking for a window of opportunity. Even if the chances were slim, she had to find out exactly where Lucy would be held.
Creak—
The palace gates swung open. Lucy was brought directly into the main hall—the place where the High Council usually met.
As she stepped inside, she saw Lucia sitting high on the throne. Standing beside him was an old man in red robes: the Third Deacon of the Luminous Creed.
"Hahaha... My dear sister, we met again." Lucia laughed manically, his eyes mocking Lucy.
"Who are you calling sister?" Lucy spat, her golden eyes filled with unfiltered loathing.
"If you had just listened to me back then, you could have gone on writing your little novels. Why did you feel the need to defy me?" Lucia's face soured. He hadn't forgotten the lowly beastkin who had broken into his room at night to threaten him.
"Hmph!" Lucy turned her head away, refusing to waste another word.
"Now that you're back, no one is coming to take you away again," Lucia sneered.
Lucy remained silent. Once inside the palace walls, a rescue became nearly impossible.
"Take her away. Guard her well. She is not to leave her room without my express command," Lucia said, waving a hand dismissively. He was keeping her alive solely as a political pawn.
The Kingdom of Siacan had three Great Dukes. Duke Kerrac was already marrying his daughter to him, securing that alliance. But there were two other families, and Lucy was the perfect merchandise to win them over.
He wanted no surprises before his coronation. Once he was officially King, he could slowly seize control of the Knight Orders. Then, no one would dare oppose him.
After Lucy was led away to her house arrest, Lucia glanced at the aged Third Deacon.
"What about the beastkin?"
"We will send men to hunt her down," The Deacon replied calmly. A knight had already whispered the report into his ear.
"I want her alive," Lucia said with a twisted grin. He wanted that woman to beg for death.
"Your Highness, regarding what you promised us... can we begin now?" The Deacon asked.
Lucia's eyes narrowed. He looked at the old man, his pupils flickering with calculation.
"Your Highness, everything has a price," The Deacon said, meeting Lucia's gaze without a hint of emotion. "Do not forget that the Second and Fourth Princes still have their own factions."
"Hahaha... I was just thinking things through," Lucia offered a fake smile and nodded. "The matter regarding the cathedrals... I will have the orders sent down."
"Excellent. I am sure our Archbishop will be very pleased," The Deacon said heartily.
"As long as you continue to support me, you shall have your rewards," Lucia said, though a flicker of wariness crossed his eyes.
He had set up countless spies and hadn't found a trace of Lucy. Yet, the Luminous Creed had found her within two days of him asking. Their reach was unsettling.
.
.
.
.
You can read advance chapters and view R-18 images of the characters on pat reon page.
pat reon.com/GreenBlue17
300 Power Stones for 1 extra chapter.
5 New reviews for 1 extra chapter.