Chapter 31
(Isabelle's POV)
The meeting then continued afterwards. We mostly tackled which part of the kingdom should we prioritizes first to be defended, while giving the other side a bit of resistance
"As peer the information I have gathered, we should send some of the adventurers towards the south area. That area already received a considerable damage as of now, so I suggest that we should try to lessen that damage it might cause as soon as possible, your majesty"
Duke Albert muttered, as he pointed the area that was first attacked and invaded. The other nobles and his majesty was then staring towards the map that was placed at the table, detailed with all the kingdom's layout
"Then we can just send some of the adventurers and our soldiers towards the east and west part. The north should be safe, so I suggest that we can make that as our main recon station for our soldiers and adventurers"
Tap Tap Tap
As he said that, he then pointed unto the west and east, then the north as the last place he pointed, while tapping on it.
"May I suggest your majesty?"
The one who spoke this time was the Count. The King then nodded, giving him the permission to speak
"I think we should prioritize saving as many civilians as we could, so that there will be less casualty to be counted, and hindrance during the cleanup your majesty. If we do so, I think we should lessen the amount of people we shall send towards the east part, and assign them to rescue as many individuals, before a huge fight may take place"
His finger then pointed at first towards the west part, before he then made a giant circle towards the center of the map, covering the [Centre Square]
"..... Count Manchet, take command of the Knights and some of the adventurers you seem useful, to secure as many people as you must. The citizens will be our top most priority"
"By your command, your majesty"
The Count the bowed as he gestured the Knight's salute
"After the civilians are secured, Duke Albert, command the adventurers to prioritize a full control over the south and east part. Take some of our Knight Legion to fasten our approach, the more we let this situation go, the more we suffer"
"By your command, your majesty"
"Lord Lae and Lord Mary, take my decree and fortify the north area. Make sure the north gate is highly guarded, we shall make it as a recon station for our soldiers and adventurers, during or before the combat"
"By your command, your majesty"
Both then replied as they bow. Lord Lae de Manty, is the [Baron of the Barony Manty], and Viscount Mart mon de Cartel. (Note: Barony is the land a Baron owned, while Viscount doesn't own any)
"Both the Mangrave and Marquess shall assist Duke Albert, command our unit to secure our perimeter as early as much as possible"
" May I suggest your majesty"
"Hmmmm? What is it your highness, Prince Pierre?"
"I only shall asked your majesty, to give me the rights to take 2 of our Knight Legion with me to secure the south part, along with our men"
"I object!"
"I second his lordship!"
As the Prince spoke a very reckless and daring move, all the nobles in the room then objected his words, while her majesty frowned along with her highness, that was confused with a baffled look.
"Your highness, the situation in the kingdom may not be Grim, but we need to be alert for any unusual schemes behind this charade. If anything happens to his highness, it might take a huge toll to the kingdom, and the people"
"Don't be foolish your highness. As the next heir of the family, I suggest that you shall not take any drastic, and unthoughtful action"
The Duke then hurriedly spoke his reason of his denial, then her highness, Princess Aurelie reconfirms his highness standing, letting him know who he is. The Prince then frowned but didn't talk back. He then turned his head to the side as he gaze at his father, the King.
"Then your majesty, please allow me to join Duke Albert in this fray. As a prince of this kingdom, I wish to lend my aid"
"Your highness...."
"Brother....."
With how the Prince seems to be stubborn about his conviction, the King then closed his eyes and muttered, as he opened them
"..... Call the [Knight General], and one of the [Knight Legion Captain]"
"As you wish, your majesty"
As the king ordered the 2 of the 4 Knights behind the chamber's door, they then answered. With such command, the Prince seems to be somewhat delighted. A few second till minute pass, 2 Knights then entered the chamber, after 1 of the Knight that was guarding the door knocked, and inform his majesty about their arrival.
Among the Knights who came in was Lord Roland, the Knight who we meet first when we came here, along with his daughter and son. The other was someone I never meet. He was wearing a full greyish-black scale mail armor, with a frog-mouth helm. He has a small build compared to Lord Roland.
"We greet his majesty"
"We greet his majesty"
The 2 then kneeled and bowed just a distance from the door, and greeted his majesty, the King.
"You may rise"
The King spoke
"[Knight General] Lord Roland, and [Knight Legion Captain] Lord Fredrick, I summoned the 2 of you to assist his highness, Prince Pierre, to defend the south area of the kingdom. You will be assisting the Duke's assault in the securing the south part, while making sure that no harm shall come towards the Prince"
As the King spoke, his words sounded with a cold hint of pressure
"By your command, your majesty"
Both then answered with great pride
"But do remember, any mortal wound his highness receive, none of you family will go unpunished"
Botht then shudders as their body flinched
"Yes, your majesty!"
'I pity them. Their family is unknowingly hanging by a single thread, because of a child who wanted to show-off'
I then sigh as I show my sympathy to them. After that, I then spoke
"May I speak your majesty?"
".... Granted"
The King replied, as he slightly nod
"Many thanks your majesty"
I then bow. As I raised my head up, all the nobles in the table then turned their eyes on me
"Your majesty, I would like to oppose to the Duke Albert's advice of using the north area, as a recon station"
As I said that, all the nobles - including the Knights inside the room - were greatly surprised, especially the Duke and the Prince
"..... I beg your pardon, but for what cause, Lady Isabelle?"
"It's just merely a hunch, your majesty"
"A... Hunch?"
The King then stared at me with a puzzled look
"Yes. As you may know your majesty, I was a daughter of a well-known adventurer, both to be precise, with such essence running through me, I became one of them. I may still be a cub, but I at least knew how sharp my claws were"
I then pointed my finger towards the north gate, and gaze at his majesty
"I assume the next place to be attacked by our unknown enemy will be the north area, your majesty"
"..... Evidence"
"None, for now. During the time we are fleeing here, only the north area seems to be less crowded, and peaceful. One of d-Creeper's companions saw nothing towards the north area. No monster, and less people populating that place"
"Just assumptions?"
"Might be. But your majesty, if you were the enemy, would you rather attack the place where a crowned armed adventurers, that will welcome you with an open arm, or a center of a less populated area?"
"...."
"I disagree, your majesty"
Duke Albert said, which made me and his majesty looked at his direction
"Lady Isabelle, for now, I shall deny your assumptions"
"..... For what reason?"
I asked. He then pointed the castle and the north gate, before he muttered
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"Distance"
"Distance?"
He then nodded
"Yes, the distance between the castle and the north gate is quite far, which will take the enemy some time to attack us, and give us enough time for us to counter, and which will make their surprise assault, fail. If we did place some of our men in the north area to guard, and secure a recon station on that place, that would not cause any of our side, except for losing a couple of our men, and some supply"
'Couple?'
I snickered in my mind
"So if the enemy will dare to attack us in the north gate, I can't seem to find for what purpose will they take to do so, except for suicidal attempt"
Silence then came and engulfed the room, as everyone stared at me
"Forgive me, but neither do I know. But if I may, what if the enemy was causing us to lose our grip, not just our stand?"
The room was then filled with confusion after I spoke my remark, but none disagrees, as everyone respectfully awaited the words I shall speak. I then pointed at the north gate, then encircled my finger around the kingdom's wall
"I have heard that a resounding loud cry of a beast was first heard, before a sudden loud bang came, as I wasn't here during the attack. Monsters after monsters then intrude the kingdom using the broken wall. From early gold rank monster till the peak rank, there's even some early platinum rank monsters roaming the vicinity, and some of them were spotted when I was fleeing here. So I assume that the enemy isn't trying to attack us frontally, but rather-"
I then stared at them with stoic blunt look, and said
"They are trying to lessen our numbers, little by little"
Everyone then murmured among each other, as they whispers their inner thought - denial, and agreement. While the Duke looked towards the map, and was in his deep thought. The King was silent, while both her highness and his highness was quiet as they observed, and the Queen just narrowed her vision
"I can't assure you that what I spoke were true or not, but your majesty, as an adventurer myself, it's much better to assume the worst than waiting for it to come"
The room then once again became silent
"Duke Albert"
The King then broke the silence as he called the Duke. As the Duke was called, he was momentarily quiet, before he sighed and looked at ne
"For now, I shall place my trust towards her Lady Isabelle's words"
The King then looked at me, which I gave a nod as a reply
"Very well then, reposition the recon station towards the east area"
" By your command, your majesty"
"As expected of Lady Isabelle"
"Fufufufu~, indeed"
The Prince then gave his praise as he smiled at me, with a gaze I wanted him to stop giving me, while the Princess giggles with compliment. I then sigh as I took a glimpse of darling, who was quietly observing and listening to the situation, with Natsumi and Sheryl, who were trying to control their boredom.
'Give me a break. I will ask about my compensation later on'
I thought. The meeting then ended with the plan we have discussed, and with the King's command, we then went to our respective positions.
"Lady Isabelle"
After the meeting, we then leave the room after the other nobles. As we are walking down the corridor, his highness, Prince Pierre then out of nowhere called out to me. I then turn my gaze towards him with a bit of a sigh, and wishes that we should have leave sooner. As I look back, I then saw his highness coming at me with strive and anticipation
"Your highness, is something the matter?"
"Forgive me if I called you out, without any prior notice"
He then bowed at me with a respect, and etiquette gesture
"His highness shouldn't be, I was just merely asking if his highness needed somehting of me, is there any?"
I stated in a nonchalant tone, but also with a respectful manner. His highness then raised his head up and looked at me, and shyly turned his head away before he made a fake coughed, and strengthen his posture, and muttered with pride as he gaze back at me. His highness is just a bit taller than me, a couple of centimeter or inches I suppose, so I have to raise my gaze a bit to look at him.
"Lady Isabelle Fall, may I ask if you could spare some time with me?"
Stunned to his words, I was standing there baffled, and could only let out an aghast tone
"... H-huh?"
"Just a couple of minute will shall suffice, my lady. I shall await your presence in the [Courtyard Garden]"
He then grab my right hand with his left, bow his head down as he raised my hand up, and kissed it, a gesture indicating his sincere invitation. He then looked at me with a charming eyes, and a youthful smile
" If I may allow, I wish to talk to you my lady. Even just a mere seconds will greatly please me with abundant pleasure"
He then smiled at me, before he turned his back and leaves
"....."
I was now alone standing in the corridor, as I keep my expressionless face, gazing at the corridor. Before he was about to kiss my hand, I tried my best not to react, as we are in the situation that denying, or trying to reject such proposal from a Prince himself, will cause a massive backstab on me, and especially for darling, so I didn't even, neither tried to slap him with all my might, as it will affect our coordination during this battle.
'Being a noble and a beauty is truly a pain in the ass'
I silently muttered, as I brushed the hand the Prince kissed with my dress with disgust. I then turned my back and walked forward, towards darling who was waiting at me just a couple of distance from us.
'A confession or a proposal, either one will be greatly affect us if I can't bring it into a fruitful discussion, what a headache'
With a sigh as I walked, I then closed my eyes and tought
'This I why I hate insensitive idiots who only think about themselves, and not the situation'
I then stopped as I opened my eyes, and continued again as I closely close the distance between me and darling. As I was near him, I then saw him looking behind me, so I did the same, and saw no one behind us, beside the corridor where his highness once stood before he leaves. I then turn my head back as I felt a sudden touch on my right hand, and saw darling bowing on me, and smiled as he kissed my hand. He then spoke
"Is something the matter, my lady?"
Which made my cheeks burn like a boiled tomato, and smiled as I give him a kiss. As I depart my lips from him, I then gaze him with a vexing look, and spoke in a coaxing tone
"I can't seem to wait until this all settle down"
And licked my lips
"Wait for me okay. I shall only begone for a couple of minutes"
I then lean my body to his, and sweep open his clothes - near his neck - and took a nimble as I leave a mark. I then detached myself before I lost control over my emotion, and sniff him as I muttered
"I only need to take care some matter in hand"
And kissed him on his neck
'I just can't get enough 🤍'
And before I could slip my hand towards his abdomen
"AHEM!"
I was then surprised to the sudden loud voice, and saw Natsumi and Sheryl, who was staring at me with ominous look, and jealousy
"I think you charming prince is waiting for his beloved princess, so why not take your leave and go, my lady"
With a sarcastic tone, Sheryl then muttered with a shrug, and a smug look on her, and grin. I was a bit annoyed, but to tease her further as a payback, I then rest my head towards darling's alluring nape, sniff him, as I closely raised my nose to his sweet, alluring naked nape, and slip my hand towards his shirt and caress his abdomen, and said as I look at her with a devilish smile
"Dare me"
Which made the flat Assassin puffed her cheeks, which made me giggled. Darling then, without me anticipating, caress my hair and kissed my head, and spoke
"Take your time, but be sure to make it cleanly and unnoticeable as much as possible"
I then raised my head up, which made our vision aligned, as our faces were closely close to each other - just further away and my lips could peck his - and asked him with a questionable tone.
"Darling?"
"I mean, if he did try something funny, make sure you do it moderately as much as possible. Hitting his face is off limit, neither his crotch, so I suggest a peaceful and favorable approach will be good"
I then chuckled, as I realized what he meant. He then kissed me as he brought his lips down towards mine
"Hey! Hello!? Your other wives are here!"
Without caring about the other nuisances, we indulge ourselves with each other's loving touch
(Pierre's POV)
As I was walking down back to the [Courtyard Garden], along the white corridor, at the center of the castle, between the outer walls, I was looking at my hand, specifically my left hand that touched her Lady Isabelle. And everytime I remembered the touch my hand felt, I couldn't help but felt that warmness, and loud thumping my heart make. It's like a noted note composed with a melodic format, and I just can't help but be sway by its rhythm
I then clenched my hand into a fist, as I remembered that pest that was standing behind her, during the time I kissed her slender, delicate hand's, and saw the man I mostly will hate in this life of mine. I then looked forward, called out one of my trusted servants
"..." (Note: He utters her name in a whisper)
"You have called, your highness?"
And behind the dark curtain of the wall, a feminine voice then spoke, as she hid between the shades of the castle wall
"Stay hidden and observe that annoying pest that keeps roaming her Lady Isabelle. Report everything you find about him, his likes and dislikes, no matter how trivial the matter is, I need everything of it"
"As you command, your highness"
The woman then vanished, as her voice suddenly sweep away as she disappear
"I'm really quite naive on what reason does a lady like Isabelle, would gain to have such close relationship with a barbarian. It seems I'm quite still green in this area,
I mutter to myself, as I walked towards the [Courtyard Garden]
(Isabelle's POV)
After some few hot exchange with darling and I did - only kisses though - I then departed on him as I went towards the [Courtyard Garden], where his highness, Prince Pierre asked me to go.
As I went there, few Knights that was guarding the castle inner walls roam, with their weapon on hand, and a stoic expression. There were some maids who were cleaning the castle, busily went to thier jobs, as if nothing of the outside could make them stop.
After I went down and headed at the back of the castle, I was then greeted with 2 female servants - maids - that were guarding the [Courtyard Garden] gate. The two then bowed at me, after they saw me heading towards them
"His highness is waiting for your arrival, Lady Isabelle"
'They are strong'
With that word they spoke, they then opened the gate which was locked with a [Magic Seal] - an enhanced locked with magic that could hinder any physical or magical attack, equal to the one who placed the seal, magic power.
The seal then glows a bluish light, which 6 smooth, rich blend of blue and black spheres appear. A mix of pink and violet star then glowed that overlapped the 5 spheres. The spheres from 6, 3, and 2 rotated from the right, while the spheres from 5, 4, and 1 rotated from the left. The garden's gate then opened with the rotating spheres detached from the left gate, while being attached to the right gate.
The 2 maids then gestured me to come in. I then walked towards the gate, and entered the castle garden.
As I stride forward, leisurely, I was mesmerized on how beautiful the garden was. The garden was symmetrically aligned with a fountain at the center, a tiered fountain with a {Griffon} statue at the center.
The fountain was surrounded with round bush at each side, a Illez Glabra bush - evergreen shrub that is slow-growing with broadleaf, and rounded-to-upright growth. There were 4 rectangular shaped bushes that were placed at west side of the fountain, just a distance from the center with an elegant Obelisk, coated in grayish-light paint. The Obelisk was designed with an elegant pale, shades, yellow-off white with green undertone coat, with a point top and 'J' shape bottom. The bottom part has a diamond shape without its pointy tip.
At my right, a see through grayish-black glass with blackened gray steel could be seen. It has a 2 towers like shaped at front with a rectangular box, that was attached behind it - just a couple meters below the tower's tip. With birds from any kind, the unharmful ones, and some colorful {Pygmy Butterfly} - a Butterfly with a size of 1 and a half Fireflies' - were caged inside of it, an [Aviary]. Inside the cage was enclosed with a mini garden that was field with flowers, ferns, and other oriental, and beautiful plants.
'I'll take a closer look next time'
Then at my left, as I turn myself, I then saw a stunning slinky silver-gray tint, with blue marble terraces, with an oval shaped top. And at the end of it, was an elegant semicircle top with tube attached, and a pointy cone tip with 4 grayish-white stands at each side - 4 - an [Arbour]. Inside of it was a lovely, creamy warm white single legged dining table, and 2 chairs - coated with the same color with the table, with a dash of blue paint.
And as I walked towards the [Arbour], as I pass through the beautiful terrace, I then saw 1 maid standing outside the shelter, as she closed her eyes and without flinching, guarding the place where the person I was about to meet, waited. With his unchanged clothe, his highness was sitting on the shed, with a cup of tea or coffee on his tea cup, with an elegant posture and etiquette
As I closed the distance between me and the shed - just a couple more - his highness then placed his tea cup on its plate, and muttered as he closed his eyes
"Leave us alone"
The maid then bowed and didn't asked, as she leaves the place which her master ordered. As the maid pass by me, I could feel an aura of a prideful race
'An Elf, or a shifter type Beastkin. But nevertheless, she's strong'
As I was standing near his highness, I then bowed to pay my respect, and spoke
"I hope I didn't made his highness, the Crown Prince, wait for too long"
"You don't have to be so formal with me, Lady Isabelle. And waiting for a beauty is a pleasure of mine to take"
I then seated opposite of him, after he gestured me to do so
"Tea or coffee, which does my lady prefer?"
"For such surprising afternoon, I'll take a coffee for a delighted discussion"
He then slightly nodded and stood up, as he brewed me a cup of coffee. His action was quite smooth like an elegant dance, as he raised the tea pot up, and poured the brewed coffee on my tea cup
"I hope the taste is to your liking, my lady"
He then smiled at me, and placed the tea pot back.
"I only asked my father, his majesty the King, for a simple chat. So please do forgive me if my approach will be abrupt, Lady Isabelle"
He then bowed at me with a sincere tone
"So what does his highness needed of me, if I may ask?"
I questioned as I look up to him. He then looked at me a bit before he smiled, and spoke a word that greatly stunned me, as he then kneeled near me, rest his left hand on his left lap, and placed his right hand on his chest, and gaze at me with determination, and unwavering desire
"Lady Isabelle, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
And proposed on me
'What!?!'