Pearl woke up, feeling the worst ever. She clutched at her pillows, only to find thighs. A woman's thighs. She blindly felt with her hands and it indeed was a woman. The princess fought to dispell the drowsiness and looked around. She was in her room at the guest wing of Castle Yutis. Sleeping on Lola's lap. The maid's hand was even still on her head. She carefully detached herself from the other girl and arranged another pillow behind her head. Not the best position to sleep.
Pearl carefully slipped out of bed and looked around for the pitcher of water. With unsure steps, she poured herself a mug and used a spell out of caution and habit.
"Purify Water."
Just a few specs of whatever contaminant was in the water floated out. It was safe to drink even without the spell, but that was something hammered in her through years of life as a royal. She drank it, feeling her sore and parched throat give way to the slightly cool liquid. She was so thirsty she could feel the water going down inside her. And when it hit her stomach, she found herself quite hungry too. Fortunately, there was food on the table. Fruit and bread. Tea and pastries.
"Detect Poison."
No reaction. She went for the juicy fruits first and moaned in pleasure as the sweet taste finished her awakening. With her brain in full vigil state, she remembered. The hearty laughter of a gentle giant. A stupid princess that used the most dangerous spell ever out of spite. Adventuring with the two foreign boys and the feeling of freedom. Meeting a fellow princess in the frontier town. And everything else that happened after that.
She gagged and almost choked on a piece of fruit.
Pearl clutched her chest, fighting the pain. The sorrow. The image of a burning pyre, the scent of smoke still on her hair. And then she felt the warmth on her shoulders. Something soft covering her. Hands on her back, massaging.
"I understand that your Royal Highness is hungry, but please take your time." Deb's soft, caring voice came from behind.
She turned around and met her trusted maid's eyes, "Thank you, Deb. I really appreciate being in your care."
Deb gave her a big sister smile. Reassuring. Caring. "Your Highness should stop caring about lowly maids and look after yourself. Eat slowly. You need to. Or do you want me to feed your Highness?"
Pearl returned to her fruit. She ate in silence, slowly.
"Deb, please call me by my name when we are in private. You don't need to use titles," She reached for the maid's hand still on her shoulder and touched it. "And I have no lowly maids. My maids are superb, and I'll challenge anyone that says otherwise."
Deb giggled. "I see that your spirit is returning. Keep eating slowly, I'm going to prepare your bath, your Hi... Pearl."
"I'd like that, Deb. Thank you."
Pearl returned to her breakfast. She wasn't even sure if it was morning or not. Sated, she went to the dresser and looked at herself in the mirror. She looked away right after seeing her reflection. Disheveled hair. Swollen face. Red eyes. She not only felt bad but she looked the part as well. She returned to the bedside and looked at the sleeping figure of Lola. There were signs of grief on the girl, but Pearl only pulled the blanket over her. Then she undressed and went to the bath.
She allowed her mind to wander while Deb took care of washing her body. And she remembered.
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Kazuya barged into her room, drawing a frightened shriek from her and the maids. The knight charged with defending her moved to intercept, but he used a skill.
"
Another Kazuya, completely black appeared and started to viciously fight the woman in plate armor. Kazuya came straight for her.
"
"
He took her over the shoulder and broke the door to the balcony. Outside, she heard Aidan shouting to stop Kazuya. He kept going away. Aidan pursued. Kazuya seemed weak. Wounded. Maybe she could help, but she was paralyzed by her fear. Pearl felt so small. So fragile. Like a bag of grain, she could be picked up and carried away like that. She couldn't even scream for help.
And then it happened. If she had any hope of escaping, it all went away when a strange light pattern enveloped Kazuya and the familiar level up fanfare played out of nowhere. It always creeped her out. Why did it happen? Kazuya limping leg regained its spring. His wounds closed, his breathing recovered as if he had rested. Worse yet, Pearl knew that someone died. Otherworlder heroes feed on the death they cause, like jackals. But he didn't attack anyone after grabbing her.
She realized what happened, but she didn't want to believe. Kazuya leveled up, someone died. Who? He fought before barging into the room, and she knew his clone wouldn't give him EXP. Pearl retched and almost threw up on the castle walls Kazuya was currently crossing. Please, not Gurf.
He exchanged rude words with Aidan and dragged her into the shadow. Pearl would never forget the dread of being swallowed by the darkness. He went from roof to alley, alley to roof. She felt light-headed from being upside down for so long. Shaky. She knew they were going to the seedy part of town from the smell, but everything was a blur. They entered a building through a window and he placed her on a bed. She could feel the bugs crawling underneath the crude canvas covering the straw bedding.
"
"
"" He spoke looking at a particular corner of the room. He seemed delirious. Pearl wanted to run, to scream, but she was too scared. Her heart raced.
She mustered all her courage to just speak to him, "
"
"
"" He looked at the collar like a child looks at a new toy. Ran a finger through the inscriptions.
"
He burst when confronted, "
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Pearl remembered Aidan complaining about his stolen items. He didn't mention the collar, but at that time it was a sensible thing to do. Her maids wouldn't let him enact his escape plan if he did.
"
"
That was very strange. Pearl was a Crown Princess. She knew almost all Kingdoms had a detection system for otherworlders and the energy of the summoning ritual. Yet Yutis didn't react as much to Kazuya's incursion. In Yutis, Astromelicus was the one responsible for watching over that system. Grandpa merchant, right. More like Archmage in disguise. But it probably happened before he went 'murder hobo'. She doubted any merchant would survive an encounter with Kazuya after he snapped.
"
It startled her. She tried to back away, but the wall was already there. In her fright, she lashed out.
"Steam Blast!"
Kazuya recoiled and backed away to the other side of the room. Pearl wasn't reasoning. She only kept constructing her attack magic.
"Old Faithful's Wrath."
She had no idea why the spell was named that, only that it was an ancient and very efficient Steam element attack. A rush of boiling water came from under her target and gushed up, throwing Kazuya through the room's roof and splashing everywhere. A plume of steam covered the whole room. Pearl was unaffected by the heat. She only got wet.
She could hear Kazuya screaming. It was her chance. Pearl ran for the door but it was locked. She turned and went around the geyser to look out. She was on the second floor. Throwing caution out of the window, she threw herself out of the window. Pearl hit the dirt alley and felt a wincing pain on her ankle. Probably sprained.
She ran, ignoring the pain. Kazuya was angry and he would come for her once he was free from the geyser. That was her strongest attack spell. In the past, she killed a fifteen-meter-tall ravager bear with it, and that was before the month of harsh training the Headmaster put her through. But she had no doubt that he got away with only minor burns.
She crossed from alley to alley, blindly running. Some people ahead, drunk ruffians blocked her way.
"Hey, what do we have here? Is that a runaway princess?"
"Shut up, Fred. The girl is pretty but no way she is a princess."
"Hey, baby, want to have a swig? Best spirits in this side of Yutis, all I ask is a kiss."
Pearl backed away but she tripped and fell. A shadow descended on the scoundrels and when she came to her senses, they were all dead, sporting horrendous cuts. And there he was. Still steaming.
"
Kazuya took her on his shoulder like a bag of potatoes again. And he ran to another house. Only this time, he put her in the cellar. He covered her mouth.
"
He took pieces and sheets of metal and bound her. Kazuya sat there, contemplative for a long time, stealing an occasional glance.
"
He approached her. She feared for another thing than her life. She'd rather die.
Then they heard a man shouting outside the place they were at. "
"
Kazuya left. Pearl could hear him argue with the man and she remembered. The amulet with the bait. She forgot to give it to him.
And nothing happened. She remained there, in the dark, afraid. She had no idea how long. And she heard steps downstairs.
"Pearl, it is us!" Aidan's voice came from below. "Wake up."
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"Pearl. Wake up, Pearl. Your fingers are already wrinkled from soaking too much."
She opened her eyes and drove away her memories. "Thank you, Deb." Pearl left the bath and with a pulse of her own magic, she was dry. Wrapped only in her bathrobe she sat at the vanity to get her hair combed and fixed.
Someone knocked. Deb went to see who was. She came back excited. "Your Highness, Prince Lucien asked if you are well enough to accompany him on a walk through the gardens."
If there is one thing you can trust maids is to fantasize and gossip about the love lives of their masters. Either real of fictitious, it doesn't matter to them.
Pearl sighed. "Deb, do you think I am presentable enough to go outside?" She looked in the mirror. Her face was still a bit swollen.
"We can use some makeup. Let me."
"Please do, my darling."
An hour later she was finally going to the garden with Lucien. Pearl was using a colorful dress because she couldn't lose in splendor to the Spring flowers. She had a folding fan with flower motives on her hand.
"Princess Pearl. I'm overjoyed to see you well. Please, allow me." With a smile, Lucien offered his arm to her. She accepted and they started to stroll through the garden.
"I appreciate your gesture, Prince Lucien, taking time out of your busy schedule to worry about me." She had her mask on. Bright open eyes, a pleasant soft smile, cadence and grace in her step.
"The trade council meeting was adjourned. It was understandable, given the crisis we faced. But I must tell you, getting Lory, the daughter of Duke Glam to cosign the proposal was a stroke of genius. The minister of trade made a point to mock the vote. With father voting for, the rest of the council approved it without holding the meeting. Congratulations are in order. The tunnel will be a reality."
"It was all Claire and Dawn, actually," She humbly shifted the credit to the other princesses. "It was their idea to draft Lumina's ladies-in-waiting to help with the paperwork. I must say, they made an outstanding job. They would be delighted if you showed them your appreciation."
"Then allow me to begin with you. The realm is very thankful for your help with the financial reports. You are our guest of honor, Pearl. Can I call you Pearl?" He looked down at the petite girl, almost half a meter smaller than him. Pearl smiled and nodded. He continued. "I'm glad you weren't hurt. And even more now that the trouble is over. We can relax now."
So much in a single burst of sentences. They were worried Gohar would retaliate if she was hurt, even though it was her summoned hero. Lucien was trying to get more intimate, however, he missed the point that the trouble was not over, at least not for her. And Yutis would like to not get involved further in her troubles. That probably would include a move to put some distance between her and Dawn. She had to test this theory.
"I haven't seen your sister around. Do you know if she is doing well?"
"Aidan took her to the academy. They are trying to save Lady Cythrel."
His voice modulation spoke wonders about his mood. He was still angry at the intimacy between Aidan and Dawn, whom he believed to be Lumina. He granted the elf a title she doesn't have.
"Lady Cythrel?" She caught his slip and pressed further.
Lucien laughed. "Father wants to grant her the title of Lady for her bravery in the fight. She got hurt defending Lumina, after all."
"That is very generous, as one would expect of King Helios. Can I assume you didn't oppose the nomination?"
He straightened his back, "I was the one to propose it." Pearl giggled at his folly and fanned herself.
"I can see now why she was sure she didn't need to be afraid of you," Pearl commented to test his reaction.
"I beg your pardon?" They made eye contact and she showed a mysterious smile. "Please tell me."
"We tried to pressure her into giving you an apology regarding some incident involving... decorative lighting." She said, in a joking tone. "Lady Cythrel was adamant she had nothing to fear because you were too honorable to send an assassin after her. And it is my opinion she was right." Pearl completed in a low voice.
Lucien's face filled with mirth. "Do you think I'd not employ assassins?"
"I have absolute certainty of it. Lucien, of all men I've ever met, I'd rank you, King Helios and Lord Aidan among the four most honorable."
He stopped, looked at her and bowed. "Your kind words are like nectar to my heart, Pearl."
Pearl covered her face up to the nose with the fan, leaving only the smile in her eyes. Cythrel was right, Lucien was a hunk. She would never admit, but her heart skipped a beat. However, she would not oblige. The smile faded.
"But it is not over, Lucien. I will return home, and then I'll have to come to grips with the consequences of my deeds. I am almost certain I'll lose my position as the heir apparent, maybe even my rights of succession. I can only pray I won't lose much more than that."
Putting her worries in words hurt her more than she thought. Over her hung the deaths of thousands.
"I would not dare to fathom the politics of your nation, Pearl. But I know Aidan will escort you. He won't let anything happen. He will have Ambassador Sora with him, I'm sure they can negotiate."
Pearl also noticed how Lucien completely avoided mentioning Dawn. Or his desire to put as much distance between the God-Slayer and his sisters as possible. She let go of his arm. Taking a step forward, she turned and curtsied. She made sure to grab all her petticoats under her skirt.
"I'm afraid I am a bit winded, Lucien. I hope you don't mind cutting our lovely stroll short. I have to go."
She turned around and walked away, minding her step to be quick but graceful. That was not the time for flirting. Worse yet, she had no leverage in a relationship with Lucien now. She knew Helios purposefully left his heir without an engagement to use him as bait or a bargaining chip in some negotiation. As long as Lucien kept shining on the battlefield with that handsome angular face of his princesses everywhere would vie for his attention, forcing their countries to keep good or neutral relationships with Yutis. She would be a fool to let any feelings develop.
Pearl was alone and vulnerable. Kazuya's death marked the end of her value as a strategic piece. That the otherworlder took Gurf to the grave with him was no little trouble also. She had no escort now. If she took one wrong step, she could end in too much trouble.
"A knife in every shadow. A poison in every goblet." She recited. "I really wanted to believe in smiles with no enemies behind."