I gazed ahead of me. There existed nothing but tall grasses, wild plants and rows, no, a sea of trees.
I was in a forest and I walked as if guided by something.
The forest was odd, though. It lacked the presence of other living beings. Even though it was lush, the forest seemed empty. Not even wind shook the leaves and it felt like time had stopped here.
However, I continued to pave my own path. I walked through a tunnel made from crawling vegetation, passing through a river using a fallen log which was nothing short than a tree's carapace, and finding my way in the maze made from nature.
‘How odd... am I not there yet?’
I questioned myself but I started to feel confused. What am I doing here? Where am I going? Why am I here?
So many questions were left unanswered as I stumbled upon a clearing. Right at that moment, a breeze greeted me and the rustling leaves waved together. I felt the cold wind caressing my cheeks and I felt... relieved.
I looked ahead of me. Overshadowing all trees in the forest, there existed a colossal tree incomparable to anything I have ever seen. I can't even help myself from having my breath taken away and I realized.
‘I'm here... I'm finally here.’
My body slowly moved, breaking a small run before I dashed to the tree. I don't know why I'm so excited. I don't understand why I wanted to go here. When I arrived in front of the tree, I raised my head and curved my lips upwards.
In front of me. Ahead of me. Right before my eyes...
"I am right here… My……"
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When I came to, I was inside a narrow room with stone walls, ceiling, floor, and bed. Yes, I know that it's tough and rough and not comfy at all but fuck, there's the chamber pot too...!!
What the hell is going on!? I looked ahead of me and I found iron bars acting as a separator between the room and the corridor. There were two figures with armors and lances standing firm at both sides of the iron bars. Mh... they have absurd Aura packed up in dozens of layers.
Well, from the environment alone, I could tell for certain.
"I'm being held captive!" I stated with an expression similar to a certain famous detective.
The ears of the guards twitched. Oh no, they noticed! I was nervous but a small chuckle was left out. That... sounded pretty old. And dandy
"Why, obviously! Yer in the age-old prison of course!" The old faced guard answered.
Seriously, he's like one jolly guard to have... Err. Warden maybe. But the other was stern...
"Damn, brat! Don't sleep while standing!!"
*SLAP!* The young guard made a sound as he fell with his lance. Ouch, that sounded really hard. And violent. Eh, so he’s asleep…?
"That… seriously isn’t what I needed." The 2nd warden snarled.
"We've got a lady as company! Why not entertain her with your tall tales?" The 1st warden suggested.
The second warden scoffed and shouted ‘They are no tall tales... They are turning points! The moment history is carved upon the world!!' with incredible vigor. Uwah, must be a nerd. Although he paled in comparison with Haru...
"…but… uh… does that mean I’m still in the Monarch's domain?" I asked, which was replied by a hearty nod. Gaaah… why is this happening…?
Umh…? My body felt sore all over. The wounds weren't serious but... they're healed? How? Why? I sensed a different throb coming from my chest and I realized.
"...the Crest. I see, it can be used in this way." I said as I touched the black Crest.
Mh... so my life is saved by him again. How many times do this make up? The third time? Remembering only made me dejected so I sighed and expelled all those trivial thoughts out. As a matter of fact, I am now a prisoner (or a captive) and one oddity left me wondering.
"...Why didn't the Emperor kill me?" I tilted my head.
I'm pretty sure he intended to kill me. With his ability to petrify Elliot and Seina, silencing me for good could never go wrong and we're in his territory. Why can't he kill us all?
"...hm... he said 'three of us' so that means... I have no position in the peace gathering."
Considering how prideful he was, he might have seen me as a nuisance or something else. But yet again, why didn't he kill me? I think he even compared me with someone else...
"...I don't get it." I sighed and leaned my back against the wall.
I lacked information. If I knew nothing, even escaping is not a good choice but my movement is restricted. Too restricted. Inside a four tatami wide room, I have nothing to do and all I could do is to chat with the wardens or waiting for food to arrive. By the way, it's two meals a day.
I looked at the wardens and they seemed bored. I wonder if I really need to be guarded by two experts... Am I dangerous? But I was defeated easily by their ruler...
Hmh... oh well. Let's ask again.
"Hey." I called out. "Why are you all so serious in keeping watch of me?"
The one who answered was not the youth but the jolly old man.
"Rather than keeping watch of you, we are guarding you with all of our lives!" He stated.
"...Why? Am I not your enemy?" I asked.
After all, I rarely heard of prisoners being treated kindly in medieval time. Akashi and Fukaki also sometime lectured Haru about this whenever he stated he wanted to go to another world. Other than that... well, I got the hunch coming from my first impression of the Emperor.
"Well... His majesty instructed us to. Although personally, I think it's because you resembled his long dead sister to a certain degree." The youth complemented.
Huh? Sister...? The two wardens were showing grim and solemn faces when this 'Emperor's dead sister' came up. Did I just step on a landmine? ...maybe I shouldn't pursue this matter so let's change the subject.
"By the way... how is the peace gathering?"
"Oh, that. Lad, it's your turn. I know nothing nor cared about it."
"You senile old man... fine, then. Currently, there is no progress and each side seemed intent to maintain their standing and self-interest rather than giving ways for solution. The elven side demanded soldiers while the human side wished for a widespread trade relationship. Though our Emperor desired nothing except cutting ties if there's nothing that is within his interests."
Hoh... so politics are playing hard. I don't think I can keep up with it. Did the Emperor noticed my low intelligence? Somehow... I can imagine him saying 'Idiots have no permission to say anything in the court!!' with arrogance at full display.
...that made it even more painful. I hung my head dejectedly and heard a small gasp.
"Lad! Can't you be a bit more sensitive!?"
"It's my fault now?!"
"Shut it, you foolish greenhorn...!!"
With a swift movement, the old man sent out a powerful uppercut which connected with the youth's jaw, sending him up, spinning before his head smashed into the stone ceiling. Now the youth is hanging like a chandelier!!
I stared blankly at the scene, unable to understand anything and suddenly... everything snapped together.
"What... what was that! Is he okay!?"
"Hmph! This ain't enough to kill a beastman, miss! How about I demonstrate the 64 trigrams next?"
Are you a character from N*ruto or is it St*eet F*ghter?! Make up your mind already!!
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Huff... how many days have passed, I wonder? This stone prison is a hell for me and the ventilation is small, high and barred. From the looks of it, the prison is located underground and the only way out is through one path.
The only other thing I could do other than sleeping and talking with the wardens (whose names were Kata and Lance,) I spent my time to learn my lessons.
Learning my lesson meant exactly that. The Emperor's attacks were scary since he swung his scimitar slowly but the after slash was devastating. He had no set fighting style but his ferocity and agility made up the base solid. In other words, he used his racial traits to the limits which made him a terrible foe to go against with.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
"Well, I didn't even able to put a scratch on him." I laughed weakly.
Considering his abilities aside, I haven't seen enough of him fighting. With my eyes, I could capture his fighting style but I could never hope to implement it all in my own style. Since we're from different species, our specs differed to the extreme and his movements would strain my muscles in a short time if I copied them.
“Even though there is the chance to improve, I can’t use the skillset…”
I groaned in disappointment, a finger tracing a circle on the floor.
"Ugh... now it feels chilly." I let out a snort. After a while, I gave up trying to think about the Emperor's strength. "It's no use to know either way... I doubt I can do it the same way he did even if I learned it. As if ordinary humans could do that."
I rested my head against the cold wall and gazed up. Then I saw white flakes floating down from the ventilation.
"Oh, it's snowing." I muttered. "Speaking of snows..."
Isn't my birthday in winter? I rarely remembered due to the fact that birthday is celebrated only every five years. With low mortality and luxury reserved only for the rich, as if everyone would waste their money to make a party for it.
I asked Lance about the current date and he answered it's already the 23rd of Frozen Snow month.
"My birthday is next weekend. Hm... so I'm going to be 13 this year."
I sighed. It doesn't sound pleasing with me being a prisoner at the moment. Also, bad things usually happened and I already dreamed of something incomprehensible for a while.
"Honestly, am I really cursed...?" I looked over the white dress draping over my body.
No weapon was present and nothing fancy or odd about it. This must be the uniform used for prisoners but unlike most people put in here, my movement isn't restricted.
The wardens did say it's related with my appearance but I couldn't trust that notion fully. I mean... did the Emperor give me mercy all because I looked like someone important to him? Why is he looking at me with hateful gaze then?
As my mind wandered, I heard approaching footsteps and the wardens became rigid. All chatters stopped and the moment the source of the footstep arrived in front of my cell, my eyes widened.
"Your majesty...!" Kata saluted, humility and admiration could be sensed from his gestures as well as words.
The young man dressed with gaudy robe and wearing a crown moved his hand. Following in suite, the two wardens took a step to the sides and knelt while the Emperor...
"It has been a while. How do you feel living in this cage, Charlotte Augmund?" He asked with a hint of sarcasm and sneer.
"I did not know the Emperor of feline beastmen has a wonderful hobby by holding captive of young maiden." I curved my lips upward and challenged him.
But the youth who looked like he's older than Fei for two to three years laughed like a child. I was surprised that he could laugh so care freely but I noticed the subtle arrogance increasing in it.
"Such a shame. Here I thought you have chosen to behave yourself." He said.
"Am I supposed to submit to you just because I lost to you?" I asked.
If I remembered correctly, the law here stated that 'The strong makes right' so there must be some form of discrimination.
"That is an iron rule in this place. Unfortunately, I already have wives and concubines to play with so I have no need of undeveloped one such as you. Invite me again once five years passed."
Ugh! So if I were here when I became adult he would take me in!? No way! No no no! I don't want to sleep with him of all people!!
"What will you choose? I dare say that my country possess enough to facilitate your needs. There is nothing better and all you have to do is to simply cut off your ties with Raumia."
"......I'd love to hear more but you seemed to know more than I do. Tell me, your majesty. What do you think will happen once I did all you ordered me to do?"
The man shrugged, "You will be safe here. Safer than inside that den of evils."
Hmm... Looks like he's not going to tell me anything. However... if he played it like this, then...
"Kill me if you want. Do you think I will trade away this bond of mine so easily? If you truly wished for my consent, then tell me what you know."
"....ho? Then if I am capable of dispelling your Crest... what will you do?"
Hearing that, I grinned and swallowed my saliva. Even though the menacing pressure returned, I've endured it once. The second time becomes easier for me to resist it. Also... I expected such answer and I do have one thing to reply back.
"I will die. Do you know what that means?" I put a hand on my chest and stared hard at the Emperor.
But... unlike what I expected. He exasperated, jaw hanging wide open and his eyes flickered while rounding up like a pair of saucers. Then his expression turned fierce, even fiercer than when I battled him. I thought I was going to be killed but the man turned his back on me and walked away.
"Keep an eye on her... do not fail me again, Kata. Lance" He muttered.
“ "Yes, your majesty.” " The wardens said.
Like that, the first visit of the Emperor ended, and I exhaled both in relief... and disappointment.
"Really. If you have something to say then say it already. Why are all men so dishonest in this world?"
So many people close to me liked to hide something behind my back. I knew that they put an act every time I poked the bush but I guess they were too reluctant... if not thinking of me lowly.
Who do they think I am? Although I am reborn as a frail girl, that doesn't mean I can't help. If troubled, I will definitely fly over and lend a hand as long as it's within my capability. Of course, I have recognized my limits and tried to do it right.
Still... even my childhood friend never tried to say what's in his mind. His eyes always wandered into the distance, and he always felt guilty about something whenever he spoke to me. Why does he want to do self-condemnation?
I shifted my position on the stone bed and hugged my knees. Gradually, sleepiness caught up with my mental strain. It seemed that night had arrived. As I leaned my head against the cold wall...
It felt as if I was sleeping on someone's laps, for warmth was the first and the last thing I could tell before the world turned dark for sure.
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-???'s POV-
Arara, she's fast asleep. Hm... now this makes it even harder to call out to her. I don't like being hunted down for a treason and I somehow am irritated by the lack of beautiful women in this Monarchy.
Well, it's not like there's none... but most of them already wed off while the remaining ones were... Slaves, huh?
Since disputes are solved with fights, slavery for the defeated is only temporarily but that's more than enough time to crack open a woman's mind into another world. Honestly, there are so much spices and dramas I'm fed up of them all.
"Oh well. Let's wait for another time... hm?"
I tilted my head as I stared at northwest horizon.
"Looks like that empire has set its eyes here. How many this time...? Hm... maybe I should hurry?"
I flapped my wings and flew to the sky, embracing the stars and melding with the darkness.
"Well, a hundred elites. With their speed... Looks like things will get awry."
The timing is too good to be true so someone from 'this side' pulled them in, huh?
Oh. I pounded a fist on my palm. If I remember correctly, next weekend is the Anniversary right? What nice timing! I can just use the chance and flee without being discovered in the middle of the chaos.
But should I inform anyone? I don't like men and the monarchs seemed to have deep grudges against other pure blooded races. Hm... if I tell one person then it should be fine.
I stood up and skipped along the watchtower's roof. Dancing and humming, my figure basked by the Irnia's light and I laughed.
"It's beginning~ Chaos is starting prematurely once again...!"