"Fifty thousand…fifty thousand…fifty thousand…"
Vivia left the courtroom, dragging her quivering body along the wall. Her soul felt dangerously close to escaping into the void.
Isn't fifty thousand too much for compensation?
Hyper-aware of her surroundings now, her eyes constantly darted left and right.
Have I just become every burglar's new target?
She collapsed to her knees, holding her head in between her hands. Feeling a tap on her shoulder, she looked up. Suddenly, she found herself surrounded by three council members like a triad, staring at her quite intently.
Asmodea's eyes twinkled, amused. "Oh my why that despondent face, Princess? Just now, you were so very passionately defending my lord in the courtroom, fufu~"
"..."
Gressil added. "And that, too, very valiantly in front of His Majesty."
She gasped.
Doloros said, "Who has ever bulldozed a courtroom session like the Princess has?"
The wave of flashbacks hit her like a tsunami, and she felt like being swept away with the massive tides.
Did I seriously show that much disrespect in the courtroom!?
Vivia was so engrossed in indignation at the baseless accusations against Zerath that she didn't realize when her feet and voice already rose to defend him. Nobody had expected her to charge ahead at Astaroth with a fiery ire.
As the royal princess, who is also the Human Realm's representative, shouldn't I have displayed more poise and patience?
"You look even more dejected than before," Asmodea tilted her head curiously.
Vivia nervously laughed. "I didn't mean to be rude. Did I…really offend the King and Queen?"
"You surely surprised them."
Is that in a good way or a bad way?
"But I believe the most surprised demon in the courtroom was my lord," Her eyes squinted with a sly smile.
"I don't think I've ever seen my lord caught so off guard like that," Gressil tapped his chin, as if searching for a similar memory like this but found none.
Doloros chimed in. "It felt like the Princess was defending my lord as if he was a helpless rabbit in front of some ruthless predators."
"..."
Did I do something really unnecessary and most importantly…embarrassing?
"Princess."
She froze as Zerath's distant voice fell upon her ears. Fortunately for her, her back faced him, but unfortunately for him, she had no plans of turning around.
She whispered. "Is the Crown Prince coming this way?"
Gressil replied. "He called you out so naturally, yes."
Vivia sweated. Usually, she was always bold and upfront and rarely felt embarrassed by her actions. But listening to three Council members pointedly highlighting Zerath's reaction to her defense for him brought a strange sense of restlessness in her chest. At this moment, she wanted to see anybody but Zerath.
She turned to Doloros, panicked. "Eurus must be in your quarters I believe?"
"Karin and Tael are looking after him."
"Good. Can I see him?"
She heard his footsteps getting closer and louder.
"The child is sleep-"
She burst into dramatic, fake tears. "Ah, Eurus must be so lonely and missing me after such a terrible ordeal. I should be with him right now. Please lead the way, Sir Doloros!"
Before he could respond, Vivia grabbed Doloros's arm and zapped out of everybody's view at lightning speed.
Zerath, who had just arrived, blinked twice, seeing her vanish right before his eyes. He glanced at the other two, who looked equally perplexed.
"Did the Princess not hear me?"
Gressil said, "She heard your footsteps too."
Zerath raised his brow and murmured to himself. "So she escaped…"
Asmodea approached closer with a mischievous smile. "You must feel very happy now, my lord."
"Happy?"
"You've no thorn left in your path toward becoming the King, fufu~ Losing nobility was basically a death sentence for young lord Astaroth."
He returned her smile with his own but still laced with a hint of danger.
"I stood against him to give justice to Nethermoor's citizens and…" a perilous glint flickered in his gaze, "Princess Clairette."
His voice turned a few notches icier as he mentioned her name, which Gressil and Asmodea didn't fail to notice. Though he held a pleasant and amicable expression, Gressil could clearly feel the invisible dark fumes of his ferocity.
"Sir Gressil. We'll meet later to begin the investigation into Eurus's mother's disappearance. I'll take my leave now."
They bowed. "Yes, my lord."
His black overcoat fluttered in the air behind him as he left. Gressil watched his retreating figure for a moment and then glanced at Asmodea.
"Did you receive any word about the Emberlain convoy's arrival?"
"Not yet. Why do you ask?"
Gressil felt unable to frame his thoughts. "I believe it's in everybody's best interests if Princess Clairette leaves for her home as soon as possible. She…"
"She?"
"I think she is affecting my lord in a way where…" he pressed his lips, unable to articulate himself well. "Let's just say that it might jeopardize the peace between our realms which we're fighting so hard to preserve."
Asmodea peered into his tense eyes for a moment and let out a soft chuckle. She inched closer to him. Gressil stiffened, feeling the curve of her chest brushing against him.
The tip of her finger sultrily grazed along his cheek down till his jaw. "Ah, Sir Gressil. You've won the wars of the land but don't fathom the battles of the heart."
He met her playful gaze and hoarsely said, "Lady Asmodea, I think the distance between us is a little too…"
"Close?" She blinked innocently.
"Yes."
"Does that bother you in a good way or a bad way?"
"...I wouldn't call it bad."
"Fufu right answer~" She tapped his cheek once and merrily left, humming a tune to herself.
Gressil absent-mindedly touched his cheek where her fingers had been a moment ago.
"She still didn't answer my question. Lady Asmodea never gives straightforward answers…"
—
Astaroth remained still on his knees inside the now-empty royal courtroom, staring ahead vacantly. Balam and Xeraphine tried to shake him off his daze but not even a word had escaped his lips. Eventually they left him, while muttering how they would salvage the crisis and reputation.
In the unnerving silence of the courtroom, somebody's footsteps softly echoed. A dark figure stood shrouded behind the curtains.
Astaroth froze, recognizing that presence. "You…You're here? You've got to do something! You told me to burn that human princess to death and assured me that I'll be safe! But look at the mess that I got into because of you! It's all your fault and you have to get me out of it!"
Astaroth's chest heaved, his breaths ragged with fury and a fiery glow of red and orange emanating from his aura.
"His Majesty cannot send me to Nethermoor! He cannot strip me of my nobility! You said you wouldn't let any harm come to me so what is this!?"
The figure behind the veil of the curtain stood in silence for some time. Then he said in an unhurried voice, "You disappoint me, young lord. You failed in killing the human princess."