Chapter 18 - The Council Meeting
3 days after Haliel was brought back from the subjugation.
After reading the report on what happened inside Vlirim Cave and the written stats of both the Shade and his mount, I truly am glad they managed to win with just that amount of people and at such levels.
This also opened my eyes to how important Haliel was in the whole operation and my stupidity the first time we met.
‘To think such a child could do so much for this empire in just the couple of days that she had been here.’
‘My first impression was not good at all, I need to make our relations better somehow.’ [Rinor]
Two hours passed before I came to a conclusion.
Though it would upset many nobles, I will adopt her into the Royal Family.
‘Though I was strongly against this at first, as most nobles would also be.’
‘With her achievements thus far, it may not be as hard to convince them so I’ll announce it in today’s Council Meeting’ [Rinor]
___________________________________________________
Opening my eyes and getting up I felt light headed.
When I was in a sitting position all the memories of what happened rushed back to me.
Ah! Right. We somehow managed to defeat Zeph and the Earth Dragon then I just suddenly black out.
Wait, I’m in mom’s room right now. Then that means we made it safely back, so that’s good but how long was I out?
Just as I was holding my head thinking this, Gelion came into the room with a maid.
Seeing me up, he told the maid to go get mom.
“Ok Prince Gelion, I’ll go fetch her highness right now. Please excuse me.” [Maid]
“Thank you Jenna.” [Gelion]
“Hey there Gelion. How long was I out?”
“Huh? I think 3 days? Anyways mom will be so happy to see you up after so long.” [Gelion]
“I...I see. I must’ve made mom worry a lot about me.”
After a little bit of just me and Gelion talking, mom and Blaze came rushing in with the maid.
When they both saw me up they had looks of great relief.
“Haliel you’re finally awake, I’m so happy.” [Eril]
“I was beginning to worry about you never waking up again.” [Blaze]
“Mom, Blaze. I’m sorry I made you worried.”
“It’s alright now that you’re up.” [Both]
“What happened to me after I fainted?”
“You were [Tainted] by the corrupted mana but we were able to purify you and kept your fever down. All that’s left is for you to heal.” [Blaze]
“I see, that’s why I don’t feel so well….”
“Ah right Jena it’s time for her medicine.” [Eril]
“Right away your highness.” [Jenna]
Following mom’s instruction, the maid Jenna made the medicine and handed it to me.
I took it from her and drank it.
“Thank you….uh Jenna right?”
“It’s not a problem at all. Hehe.” [Jenna]
After I placed down the cup, I got off the bed and tried to stand up.
I fell to the ground immediately but was caught by Jenna.
“A...are you alright?” [Jenna]
“You shouldn’t be up and walking just yet honey.” [Eril]
“Yeah, you need the rest. Especially after that fight with Zeph.” [Blaze]
“No it’s fine, I’m okay.”
Now standing up, I feel weaker than I was before.
Am I really still this exhausted after so long?
Looking down I just noticed that I wasn’t wearing what I had on the day we left for the subjugation.
Instead I was wearing some sort of white dress.
“Huh? Why am I wearing a dress?”
“We had to get you out of those dirty clothes you had on when they brought you back. So after I washed your body, I put it on you. Cute isn’t it?” [Jenna]
“Cute!? Well yes I suppose it is but I don’t wanted to wear something so girly!”
“You’re a girl right? So isn’t it fine to wear something girly?” [Jenna]
“Yeah Haliel, you look adorable in it” [Eril]
“I don’t want to look adorable, I don’t need to.”
“Hahaha. It seems she isn’t used to it. I mean she hadn’t wore one since she was three.” [Blaze]
“That’s it. I’m going to go train now.”
“But you haven't even healed yet. And you’re going to train in those clothing?” [Eril]
*Knock Knock*
“Who is it?” [Eril]
“His Majesty had asked me to escort Haliel to him after he heard that she woke up.” [Guard]
“What does he need with her? Isn’t he in a meeting right now?” [Eril]
“That is why he needs her. It has something to do with her.” [Guard]
“Alright then, I guess we better go Haliel.” [Eril]
Saying so mom let him in and we began walking towards the Council room.
___________________________________________________
With the other issues dealt with in the meeting, it’s time for the discussion of the Shades’ activity.
Not long ago I was informed that Haliel was up so I asked for one of my guards to go escort her here.
In the Council are representatives from the eight sections of the empire; the Northwest, North, Northeast, East, Southeast, South, Southwest, and West.
As always the Eastern and Southern parts were where most [Darkening] occurs along with sightings of Shades though only a few were defeated this past decade.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
“Most of you may not have been aware of it but we found a [Darkened] Monster Den near Llyn a few days ago. When Hero Yoichi went there to subjugate them, he encountered another Shade and his mount. This one is probably the strongest one defeated so far, at a level of 93 and the mount level 85. The ones who fought this battle were Yoichi and his men along with a young girl.” [Yoichi]
“Level 93 you say? That is the highest level defeated so far. So how was it that just Yoichi, who is only level 70, able to defeat it with his men ranging only around level 60s?” [NW Representative]
“Sir Dolon, though I did defeat it, I couldn’t have done so without the help of an extremely powerful person. She has enough strength to rival, and quite possibly even surpass a [Hero].” [Yoichi]
‘So where is this ‘powerful person’ that you speak of? If she was that important then why isn’t she here?” [Representatives]
“She couldn’t be here right now because she sustained quite a bit of injury in the fight and is currently healing right now. Also you may not even believe it if you saw her.” [Yoichi]
*Knock Knock*
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
“Sir I have brought Haliel as you had instructed.” [Guard]
“Yes, please enter.” [Rinor]
Finally the guard opened the door and brought Haliel up to me.
“Thank you you may go now.” [Rinor]
“Your Majesty, why have you summoned me?”
Haliel was talking to me in a manner that I never thought she would use.
Yoichi at this time just looked at me confused, probably not knowing why I had called for Haliel.
“Well, as you all just heard, the victory was due to the assistance of a ‘powerful person’ and this is that person. Her name is Haliel and I have brought her here for a reason. That is to announce that I will be adopting her into the Royal Family.” [Rinor]
In response to that were faces of disbelief and it is understandable.
“That is the ‘powerful person’ that you were talking about? A mere child and not just that, a half blood too? What is this?” [Representatives]
“Have you even thought of the consequences of adopting a half blood into the Royal Family? And how could such a child ‘rival and surpass’ a [Hero] huh?” [Dolon]
“She does posses the title of [Prodigy] and started her training at age three. Not to mention the arrays of spells in her arsenal and is skilled with the blade and bow.” [Rinor]
“Ha? So? My son has the title [Genius Child] and also started his training at such age. And unlike here in the South, the Northwest is a harsh place where we are fighting both the [Darkening] and the Demons.” [Dolon]
“Father, allow me to fight the girl. No one’s even a challenge at home anyways and to see if she really is strong how about a match with me?” [Dolon’s Son]
“Haha. How about it Emporer? If my son Kiirion wins then you will throw away that thing, trying to steal away the throne and give us a good explanation on your actions today.” [Dolon]
“We also agree with this Emperor, we can’t simply sit back as a half blood enters the Royal Family.” [Reps]
“I’m sorry but she has yet to fully recover so…” [Rinor]
I am worried about her condition right now, since she may not be able to fight, so I tried to oppose it but I didn’t even finish talking when Haliel cut into the conversation.
“Ha? You think I’m interested in the throne? I myself just heard of this.”
“Oh how rude? I suppose this means a yes to the fight?” [Kiirion]
“Aren’t you also a bit rude? Talking out of turn like that in front of the Emperor.”
“Oh really? Who was the one who cut off the Emperor just now then?” [Kiirion]
“ Kiirion! You are in the presence of the Emperor right now so stop that arguing, and girl I will take those responses as a yes to the fight?” [Dolon]
“Interpret it as you wish and I apologize for cutting you off your Majesty.”
“It’s fine. So are you sure about this Haliel, I mean you just woke up right?” [Rinor]
“No problem.”
‘I...I can’t refuse it now that she said that… Well this didn’t go as planned.’
‘If this doesn’t end well, Eril’s going to flip out at me….’ [Rinor]
“Then the battle will begin once we conclude this Council meeting.” [Rinor]
For the rest of the meeting, a tense atmosphere was present.
This was especially true with Haliel and Kiirion.
___________________________________________________
I came to the Council meeting with my dad because he wanted me to know more about politics and to meet Emperor Rinor.
It was better than staying at home anyways since no one there could help me cure my boredom.
When we were just about to finish the meeting, Emperor Rinor had his guards bring in a girl with white hair.
When he said that he was going to adopt the Half-Elf, everyone in the room got mad about it.
‘Why does dad and everyone hate the Half-Elves so much anyways…. Not like they wanted to be born that way.’ [Kiirion]
I didn’t really care but when I heard that she has the title [Prodigy] and could supposedly match the [Hero], she instantly caught my attention.
‘I want to fight someone more challenging! I hope she can live up to her reputation.’ [Kiirion]