The king placed his hand on the armrest as he leaned back, "Azure, I have sent you to Red Dawn to escort Sheira and make sure she gets us the help we need. And what do you do? You return here, without the royal guard, my daughter's hair painted black, and a peasant girl!"
Azure stared at the floor, and a small bead of sweat rushed down her forehead. "I…"
"I won't have a word out of you unless asked. You are our martial champion. How in the world do you lose an entire guard and let Sheira get kidnapped?!" He exhaled loudly, "I can't… I am too exhausted, so I will allow you to speak. Explain how it happened!"
"Father! Please let me explain everything!" Sheira shouted.
The king brought his hand to his nose bridge and pinched it. "Speak…"
"It is correct that Azure's guard had died in an ambush, which allowed me to get kidnapped! However, she was able to capture them all and even rescue me with the help of Aqua!"
"And I assume Aqua is that red-haired girl you brought with you?" The King stared at the kneeling redheaded elf. In his eyes, she was far too beautiful to be a mere peasant, and if she had played a role in rescuing his daughter, it demanded a reward.
Yet he had his doubts.
"Yes! We hired her as the attendant near the border of Red Dawn to guide us. When I was kidnapped, she had guided Azure deep within to get me out safely." Sheira forced a smile.
"Why in the world would you hire a random peasant to be your attendant, you stupid… stupid daughter of mine! What if she is an assassin? Do you realise we have protocols to vet the attendants?!" The king snapped his gaze back to Aqua.
Sheira reeled back as her sweat rolled down her forehead. She slowly turned to her mom, who was now staring at Aqua. Yet instead of Anger and shock, she had when she learned of Azure's failure, she stared at Aqua as if she had just seen death itself.
"You! Tell me your side of the story! If I feel like you are lying, you are going to the dungeons until the end of your days!"
Before Aqua could even speak, the queen tapped his shoulder, "Dear, I know that girl. She is no assassin."
"Are you sure? I have never seen her before." While doubtful, he would not dare go against his wife.
"Yes, she used to serve me personally when I did my personal tour of the kingdom. You can trust me, dear." The queen smiled as she leaned back on her throne. She caressed her sapphire scepter as she turned to Sheira, "But… I am rather disappointed, Sheira. You didn't know that Aqua served me before, and yet you hired her. I thought I taught you better than that." She shook her head slowly.
Sheira's eyes widened. Did Mom just cover my lie?! Yet she wanted to cry when she said that she was disappointed.
She couldn't believe it. And she had said it with such a straight face that her Dad did not even question it, yet the way she looked at Aqua scared her. She had never seen Mom scared before.
"However! Azure! You absolute moron! HOW DARE YOU LOSE MY DARLING SHEI! You are lucky I am not standing up and sticking this sceptre through your ass!" Her voice startled everyone present, including King and the remaining guards.
"Dear… control yourself, Sheira is safe!" The King tried to reel in his wife, yet with a single glare, he was forced to back down.
Azure pushed her head down, "I have no excuse. If it wasn't for Aqua, Sheira would have been enslaved."
"Is the kidnapping the reason her hair is black?"
"Yes…Mom… they said they wanted to make sure I can't be recognized as the princess." Sheira's hands trembled as the Queen raised her brow. "Is that so…"
She doesn't trust me at all…
The Queen tapped her fingers against the throne's armrest as she scanned everyone present, "Dear, I think Sheira and Aqua are fine… However, Azure."
As she heard her name being said, she winced back, "Yes, Ma'am?"
The sheer anger she felt coming from the Queen threatened to strangle her.
"That's enough, dear. Azure has failed and will be punished. However, she did bring the culprits to us." The king let out an audible sigh, "Azure, report to the dungeons and wait until the council gathers. We will decide on your punishment then."
Azure bowed deeply, "I understand, Sir."
She turned to Aqua, who wore a neutral expression, yet she could see a slight twitching in her ears. Please, Aqua. Do not kill them. I am sure I will be safe!
The king chewed on nothing for a moment as he turned to Aqua, "And you, girl, since my wife had vouched for you. I have no reason to distrust you; you are allowed to continue working for Sheira."
Aqua bowed, "Thank you, sir. I will not disappoint." That Queen knows something is wrong… I need to be careful.
She had to be ready to kill the queen if needed, even if she had promised Sheira, even if she would leave such a drastic option for last desperate measures.
Before they entered, Azure begged her to stash away [Mortal's Hope] in her spatial pocket in case she was arrested and to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands; thus, the current situation was rather expected.
She had placed [Heart of the Phoenix] on both Azure and Sheira in case of a terrible event.
Her brow furrowed as she met the Queen's eyes. Instantly, her cold demeanour changed into one of fear.
"Dear… I think we can wait for her judgment… Let me handle it, if that is fine?" Her body trembled as she tapped her husband's shoulder, "I have a good reason for it."
"Soleah… what are you planning to do to her? She is still a champion, and even if she got Sheira kidnapped, you can't dismember her." The king sighed, "I understand, due to the Queen's demand. The punishment of Azure Hallowshield is left to Queen Soleah of the Elven Kingdom."
Azure held the shock within herself as best as she could. The royal couple was talking about dismembering her in front of her. Just throw me into dungeons… I don't wanna be alone with that woman.
Yet as she stared at the queen, she could sense the unease every time she looked at Aqua. Is that Soleah's legendary perception, huh? She recognized that Aqua isn't one to be angered under any circumstances.
Aqua's lips curled into a small smile. The rulers were rather smart not to push for Azure's punishment. The moment the king mentioned that she would be thrown into the dungeons, Aqua's anger boiled.
What a surprising reaction, Aqua. She smiled wryly. Her gaze wandered to Sun God, who quietly observed everything.
"Rise." The King ordered. "Aqua, you will be assigned as Sheira's attendant together with Azure. You can discuss your pay with Sheira. Soleah will dispense the punishment for your failure, Azure. Dismissed." He pushed himself off the throne and wobbled off as he held his head.
The Queen threw a glare at Azure before she quickly rushed to help her husband up.
The trio got back on their feet, "Mom is always scary… But Aqua and Azure are safe!" Sheira giggled.
"I don't think I am safe… she threatened to push that sceptre inside my ass… And she did not look like she was joking."
"Hah! She is just jesting. She was just mad you lost me, but since I am alive and apparently Aqua is rather scary, she decided to be nice."
"Still…"
"Also, have you noticed they only had 2 guards in this entire throne room? They did not wish to make a spectacle of this by bringing the council. I am sure they never intended to be too rough; you are the champion after all."
Aqua crossed her arms as the trio headed out of the throne room. "Sheira is right. They are merely performing their duty, yet they do not wish to do anything too rash to Azure. I know how real tyrants act after all, and your parents are far from it."
Aqua sighed, "Though your father seems to be near death by exhaustion. I would recommend him resting for a while."
"I know… but ever since the war with beastmen started at our southern border, he had worked himself to the bone." Sheira slumped down.
"A war…" Aqua groaned, "Of course… always a war." Aqua shook her head.
"Well, it's fine for now, Aqua. Let me show you your room. It will be right next to Azure's!" Sheira eagerly rushed ahead as she motioned for Aqua and Azure to follow her.
They passed the elaborate marble corridors before Sheira pointed at the large mahogany door. "Sorry, Aqua, these are attendant rooms, so they aren't the most elegant, but it should work for now!"
Aqua shook her head, "Thank you, Sheira. I appreciate it, I was never one for luxury anyway."
"Could have tricked me." Sheira tapped Aqua's nose before she pushed the door open.
The room was rather spacious, yet it was rather spartan in its decoration. A large window, a simple white bed, and a wardrobe.
Aqua nodded.
"Mommy, feel free to decorate it as you wish. Consider it yours!"
"Thank you." Aqua blushed slightly
"Get comfy, I and Azure will go get changed. Even if the dress you gave me is amazing, I can smell my sweat in it." She giggled as the doors closed. "And maybe I'll bring you naked Azure soon."
"Sheira, come on!" Azure sighed as they made their way out of Aqua's new room.
Adorable.