“Fuck do you want? Come to gloat on how much you love seeing me in a cage?” I asked the king who stood on the other side of my cell a thick grin plastered on his face from ear to ear. As he decided to give me the silent treatment, I just resumed to looking out the barred window of my cell at the people outside demanding my release which was never gonna happen to me, no matter how much they screamed.

“Why did you kill him?” The king’s tone was soft with an air of discomfort.

“Are you blind as well as deaf, moron?” I paused turning my head slightly to face him. “He ordered your sons or son to rape your future daughter-in-law and your assassin! Your own brother has more power than you do which I find fucking hilarious!” I laughed stepping towards the cold iron bars keeping us separate. “I’ve sat in this cell for days being beaten a few times even raped on one occasion whilst you sit in a pearly white castle getting blowjobs from a council that is using you. Don’t ask why I killed him… shouldn’t you know already?” I had to admit I did go slightly overboard with what I said but my answer wasn’t wrong.

“Hahaha! Look at you don’t pull that face when you’re the reason I’m in this situation. I won't entirely blame you for what’s happened to me but nevertheless, you are partly to blame!” I laughed gripping the king by the shirt. Pulling him into breathing distance I spoke calmly to his ears. “Do even know what it’s like?”

“What?”

“To be used against your will whilst having complete knowledge of what’s happening? Even if you struggle and fight back it’s all for nothing. I know what it’s like. I’d enjoy being hung from a fucking tree while on mushrooms more than feeling that again.” I spoke with no emotion in my voice just that lingering sensation of overburnt depression.

His face twisted and conjoined to that of horror. “What happened to you?” He asked with genuine concern slipping through the words he spoke.

“Oh, you’d love to know, wouldn’t you?!…” I laughed trying to force myself to not think about anything. “Maybe this is all an act who fucking knows.” I sighed

“You turned them on didn’t you?” He looked at me seeming to know my answer. “Your emotions. You turned them on after eleven years.” The king stepped back looking at me with guilt not just pity, I couldn’t tell if it was a defense mechanism of my mind or his genuine reaction. The king turned away with his head bowed low. He didn’t dare look back when he spoke to me again also ordering the guards to never take a step near me or let anyone close to me. “Let no one enter unless it’s her lover accompanied by her mother or Corvus Alexander.” The king deep in thought soon after left the room retreating to wherever he came from.

…

A week more would pass of me being stuck inside a cell, I could feel myself descend into the maw of insanity by the second, after two days I was already drawing on the walls with chalk now I was using my pillow as a piece of comfort because of the guards not listening to the king and raping me whenever they felt like it but today I finally had enough.

“Get up it's time for another session.” The guard said taking off his shirt. ‘Another session huh? Fucking twice in one day.’ I thought watching him get close to me, close enough that I could strike him. A guard outside my cell was scared for his life. He looked away from both of us expecting to hear screaming or shouts, probably not knowing I felt dead inside. However, all the guard heard was the gargled noise of a man grasping for air, while placing pressure on his neck wound. I didn’t even bother to speak as I sat down on my bed using the guard’s body as a footrest.

“Why are you surprised?” Just sitting still, twirling a curved poison knife in my hands whilst my feet sat perched on the dying guard beneath me. Soon after the guard outside called for help, his speaking voice was uneven and rapid. Fear was evident. Instead of one knight coming three high-ranking officials came. They wore those familiar colours, the crimson ruby of the king’s guard. All eyes wide, mouths agape seeing my rugged appearance plus the dipshit under me. The three high-ranking knights were the lord commander of the king’s guard, the mistress the commander of the queen’s guard, and someone I didn’t recognize he was pale in complexion but seasoned well on his last legs.

The room was silent.

The cell door swung back and forth the creaking of the rusted metal the only noise which would break the silence. The lord commander was the first to move, assessing the man at my bare blistered feet. He didn’t care for my rugged appearance paying me no mind, only for his subordinate now lying on the floor deadly pale. All life was gone from him. The commander of the queen's guard the mistress looked me over, her eyes shaking with both anger and sorrow.

I needn’t speak as she knew what exactly I was about to say looking how my clothes were torn and the guard under me was without a shirt. Without warning she ripped off her cape covering me entirely. She waited until the lord commander and all the guards left before she removed the cape or had me remove my clothes.

Without any words exchanged between us, turning away slowly, making the effort to remove the rugged shirt tightly pressed against my bruised and scarred back. Grunting, I pulled the shirt as hard as possible with my limited strength. The mistress of the queen’s guard seeing me struggle so much opted into cutting off the shirt with the knife she had on hand. This act exposed my upper body to a completely nude state. Even from having my back to her, I could feel something akin to grief.

“I never imagined this would happen to you. I should have killed them not you…” She trailed off dropping her knife to the floor, with her now free hands she pressed a calloused hand against my bare back. Pressing her fire mana into my body the comfortable feeling of burning warmth sunk in, with the constant flow of fire mana into my useless core healed my wounds. The only wounds that couldn’t be healed were the mental and aged scars.

“You said the same thing long ago. Do you think I'll become artura again? A ruthless tyrant who uses everyone for war and nothing else?”

“As Percival your loyal knight, I wouldn’t put it past you. Nevertheless, living as Anne not needing to hide my Sex, and well seeing you fight the way you do. I'd be amiss if I hadn’t thought of it. however, I don’t see someone who’ll become a tyrant… I see a girl who’ll become a being who does everything to help her people. A god who understands what it means to be human.”

Turning to the mistress I spoke with my eyes downcast, head bowed. “Th- Thank you, Anne.”

“Rias… unlike Corvus who only sees you as Artura. Valentina and I see you as your own person. Never let go of who you are… show those idiotic nobles who you want to be not who they think you are.” she smiled placing her hand against my chest. “Out of those left from your old life as artura, we await the return of our queen. Not the tyrant. I know how this may sound but you are my Goddess.” Her words all but confirmed that many of my knights were still around as reincarnation potentially yet I didn’t focus on that particular part.

“… ‘My Goddess’?” I repeated her words just under my breath staring into her deep amber eyes inherited from her ancestors.

“From now on don’t call me Mistress… either call me Renee, Anne or Renesha.”

“You will always be my Goddess, in a way I'm your first follower. In a way like a disciple or priestly figure.” She laughed sitting on my bed legs crossed. I couldn’t help but watch her black, amber hair bellow from the wind draft of the barred cell window.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

…

The throne room where the procession was held was nothing short of being loud. Shouts could be heard from pretty much everyone. I rolled my eyes dismissively as the doors opened ever so slowly. These large doors were slow to move and somehow no one had a quick effective way of opening them which could be produced by magic of all things. “Fuck me sideways. I’ll die of old age before these doors open.” I groaned receiving a stifled laugh from Anne who looked away embarrassingly.

When the doors eventually opened the crowd hushed. I was startled by the sudden silence as every set of eyes watched me pretty much limp through the centre aisle toward the king Even though I was mostly healed, a limp had begun to plague me due to my core being almost useless for about a month.

From the corner of my peripheral, I noticed Sir Wayne and Corvus. Corvus was more at ease when he saw Anne nod toward me which she had a habit of doing instead of talking. Nevertheless, I felt an uneven shift of angst wash over him mixed with short bursts of anger pointed at me and Anne directly. My mother was less calm than Corvus and Sir Wayne even, so she was keeping her mind level with simple thoughts and not overflowing hate. The more I walked through the centre aisle, the feeling of unease became ever so clearer. When I reached the podium, I took one final look around given the go-ahead by the king himself sat beside his wife and above his children. Three figures stuck out to me, them being Duke Leonhart and his wife, the parents of Talia and Talia was also present.

I’m not well versed in their family history, but I could tell one thing was clear, they didn’t like the rest of their family seeing as they sat away from everyone else.

Standing before the dais I looked back at the king. This would be the first time I’d ever greet the royal family using my emotions, my emotions had leaked out a few times over the years through certain events. Now the floodgates were open, and I’d use my emotions to the fullest. After the king rose from his throne then the entire room fell silent not even a whisper or a murmur. Though his brother had more power in terms of allies, lyron was able to exercise more fear and pure essence of strength before my peers. The current mood of the court shifted to that of a church procession which didn’t feel surprising as Riel was a heavenly religious kingdom.

“We will now start the court proceedings. Rias Pendragon daughter and heir to archduchess Pendragon you are here in the count of regicide how do you plead?” The king's voice boomed in my ears no artifacts were needed to heighten the volume coming directly from the chest.

“Guilty. Your majesty. I will not deny what I’ve done.” I replied. No one in the room spoke for a moment as they came to terms with what I had said, they knew I was guilty and so did I. I wasn’t sorry nor did I regret it. Some nobles shook their heads in disgust not to mention their feelings were quite noticeable. The common folk on the other hand nodded in agreement like they believed what I had done was right.

“We have testimonies of each side they now speak of what they heard.” Only acknowledging what I said he continued to testimonies.

One by one six people came into my view that being two guards from the estate I chose not to kill. The maid whom I forced to show where the archduke was. The Duke’s daughter who stood scared beside, one of the sex slaves. The other two I don’t recognise no doubt put there by mordid or the brothers. The first person to give their testimony was one of the guards who explained what they saw. A summary of events no sugarcoating, the second guard said the same slightly less briefly.

“She marched into the manor demanding she see our master… we tried to stop her. In the end, she killed them all every single one without taking any sort of injury. Even the legendary sword master who battled a leviathan was killed by her.” He paused a moment before continuing her story. “When I came to after she knocked me unconscious, I saw her blood eagle the duke’s body and display it like it was a decoration on a Christmas tree. I couldn’t believe the sight.” The guard covered his mouth no doubt to stop himself from being sick.

The third testimony was similar but added how I dragged one of their fellows into the manor and used it in a way to threaten the maids and servants. He wasn’t exactly wrong but it was more to instil fear into them so they wouldn’t try anything stupid like get themselves killed. The king hearing them speak then spoke to me directly asking if what they said was true.

“Yes. What they say is… although they did leave something out, didn’t they? Like the fact they enjoyed watching everyone suffer at your brother’s hands.” I said calmly taking a step forward to the dais making Imra and Harmon shuffled in their seats feeling the slight weight of my aura crash onto them like a pinprick. The king paying me no mind carried on with the trial, the next one to give their testimony was the maid who saw everything I did.

“She was emotionless. Demanding I show her to the archduke and fearing for my life I complied. After he wouldn’t open the door. Sh-she busted it open… soon after she killed… a young boy, your nephew my king. The nobles missing today were there enjoying the depravity. When they tried to run, they were blocked by a barrier made of fire and lightning.” She paused looking towards me. “Then after some time, she tortured each member of the family in front of the paralysed archduke even going so far as to rip out the arch-duchess’s heart while she begged.”

“She even said to the archduchess ‘Forgiveness? Haha… did you stop when they all begged did the princes stop when Talia and Samantha begged- No! so why should you get the same treatment?’ After this, she killed the cousins then the archduke himself.” The testimony sent waves throughout the court some calling bullshit and others saying it was real as some saw especially some maids and servants came to see potentially me go to execution. The maid in response shouted out that it wasn’t lies.

“Settle down.” The king banged his fist on his throne making everyone quieten down as he called upon his niece still badly injured after a month of supposed care which I called bullshit on right away.

“Everything the maid said was true. It all happened but I do remember a detail that was misheard. My father said this was all ordered by a man called mordid and my cousin Harmon.” She pointed to Harmon who sprang up from his chair calling bullshit. This didn’t help his case calling out her name, his words exactly were along the lines of just broad slurs. which I only figured his cousin was named aethna after my dragon bond from my life as artura. Luckily my dragon didn’t have to see all this.

“Uncle I would also like to add. Your brother enjoyed what he did and even admitted that your sons tried to rape Lady Talia and Lady Samantha.” The court became as quiet as a graveyard. No warmth permeated the air it was all cold frozen space. As everyone began to question it all, the queen tried to kill her niece with a barrage of ice spikes. Something then shot out from behind me near the closed doors, burning the ice completely out of the air.

“Sorry for my late Intrusion. I heard there was a court proceeding… how could I not be invited?” A familiar sexy voice spoke out from behind which I recognised quite well from my past life.

“Who are you?” Malonis and the royals spoke in unison seeing the figure walk down the centre aisle with her hands behind her back.

“Akron. What took you so long?” I asked the woman who knelt before me even going so far as to kiss my hand which shocked everyone more than me speaking her name.

“Complications. Though I have missed this smile, Your Majesty.” Akron whispered in my ear changing her appearance from human to a more draconian form. Two horns protruded from her head, her scarlet hair grew in length down to her slim draconic waist. Even her clothing changed from a nice tailored white suit to that of a white-laced sleeved dress with an open back. Akron greeted the king in the way a primordial would address a lower race.

“My name is Akron, first of her name. The primordial dragon of chaos heir to Vritra the first dragon. I greet the king of the lesser kingdom of Riel.” Akron’s words made the king feel inferior as she didn’t bow or kneel. “Humans, how does it feel to see a primordial in the flesh? Stunned silence is this usual?” Akron asked me all I did in response to her question was shrug my shoulders looking around.

“Oh, you can carry on with your court procession I’m just here to help out an old friend.” Akron quickly changed her tone which made the room return to normalcy. Both Anne and Corvus to my side buried their heads hiding their amusement from onlookers.

‘Thanks for reincarnating me old friend.’ I said in my head hoping Akron would hear me taking up a seat beside my mother offering greetings at the same time. ‘No problem. My queen.’ Akron replied.

“Everything the maid and your niece said was correct sire. I don’t hold allegiance to any foreign kingdom, nor do I hold allegiance to any shady organizations. I killed th-well tortured them because of what they did to Samantha, especially to what they did to Talia…” I paused looking at Talia so she could sense the feeling in my eyes as I spoke again. “And I’d do it all again if I could. I committed regicide of my own free will. Everyone tried to stop me to no avail. Your majesty, I have allegiance to those I trust and myself.” I stopped for a moment feeling the tension just ever so slightly raised in the room even hearing Akron in my head. ‘Say it if you brave enough.’

“Not even you have my allegiance anymore.” The words were clearer than a field of reeds in the morning sun. “You made that clear when you allowed all of this to be swept under the rug. Whether I get executed or not I will say this once more I renounce my allegiance to you and will not serve as a queen’s guard as long as you’re on that throne.” I spoke more determined than ever staring at the king directly in the eyes. “I’ll make my way in this world even if I have to form my own kingdom.” I didn’t bow my head, the tension rose even more, becoming utter chaos. Many of those allied with the king threw slurs, many common folk threw objects though none of the objects hit me.

The king laughed going so far as to get up from his throne to look at me at the same level even though I was slightly taller than him.

“I admit your show was interesting but be serious now rias. Choose wisely.”

“I’ve chosen your majesty… I offer you no allegiance and won’t serve you as long as you sit on that throne.” I even voiced my disappointment to everyone in the room. I just simply acted on what I’ve seen being a knight since I was twelve when I began my training in the war camps.

The outcome became clear now for those of the common folk, but nobles had already known that even if I was set free, one way or another the king would have me killed. Standing back I closed my eyes resigning myself to his choice whether I wanted it or not.

“Rias Pendragon for the count of regicide on six members of the royal line you are to be executed at dawn tomorrow in the coliseum for all to see.” The king shouted. My family asked the king to reconsider. Samantha voiced her protests that the king did the wrong thing by condemning me to execution. Corvus along with Anne kept quiet as the knights pushed me down the centre aisle.

“You’re a bastard lyron! That throne made you into a man no one should follow!” My mother shouted for everyone to hear making the shouts of anger, fits of rage and protests stop. ‘Akron tell Talia that I’m sorry I couldn’t show her the snow orchard of Nihon.’ I smiled internally as the knights led me out of the throne room in chains.

“Rias, I love you!” Talia shouted just barely over the commotion that rose once again. I wanted to say it back before my execution tomorrow, clenching my jaw in anger. Yet all I did was bite hard on my lip knowing I’d die tomorrow or so the king hopes I do.