"It's time to present the gifts! Please adhere to the white line order!" A guard yelled as I sat beside Camilla. Some of the gifts were placed on the cage while the others are simply wearing handcuffs. It was a nice sight to see, but did anyone brought at least one headless person?
They are indeed too many to count. As if the Imperial had been purified on this day. I don't even know if they are criminals or just a commoner, so I decided to ask them individually about the crime they committed.
Unfortunately, I'm not that dumb. "Put this man in prison for attempting to defraud the Empire. This young man he brought with him wasn't even a criminal; he was just a juvenile who steals some food." He's must've been asking for death. How dare he pick a homeless youngster and call it a criminal in front of me. THE AUDACITY.
"Give this boy a home and a title. He will be known as Elysian Crimson. The Duke of the Northville. Anyone who will differ and attempt to deceive this adolescent will be sentenced to death immediately." The crowd falls in silence as I return my gaze to the young man once again. 'Train yourself'. I whispered to him before I continue to examine the gifts. Until I stopped in front of the Grand Duke's daughter.
She curtsied gracefully as her maid drew the blanket down. And there I see, an old chained man with a fine structure of body. I'll make certain that he'll be beneficial to me. "Aedion is the only one I can present to Her Majesty."
"I hope you're not deceiving me Lady Devourah," She chuckles.
"Your Majesty, this man is the kingpin of the black market and has a track record of embezzlement and illegal trades." It was quite a show as I looked at her father who seemed to be calm in this situation.
"And of course, he's not alone, am I right?" She gives a slight nod as she extends her hand. "He was working for my father, Your Majesty. I don't know if it counts, perhaps, I'm presenting two criminals at a time." My father, who's sitting on his throne doesn't seem to be surprised. Perhaps he's already aware of it. He's just a knucklehead for not doing anything about it.
"DEVOURAH!" But, before the Grand Duke could seize her daughter's arms, Vien stepped in. It appears that I have a keen eye for a true criminal. That explains why I despise his entire being.
"Can you prove your statement?" I asked Devourah in a calm way. "Then, Your Majesty, allow me to explain." They must have had a strained relationship for her to betray her father.
"Aedion has been working with my father for a long time, and the taxes that have been transferred to our manor will be used to fund his gambling addiction, with the remainder going to the brothel. When I told the Emperor about my father's transgression, he advised me to use this as an opportunity to expose my father's wrongdoings. He might be the one who took care of me, but he's an abusive guardian, Your Majesty."
"I can barely eat because of those useless servants in the manor who regards me as a nuisance. As the Grand Duke's daughter, I can't stand the guts of those people and decided to reveal it in this day, Your Majesty. As it goes along the theme." I cast a glance at the other two maids who appears to be terrified. I'm glad that I'm intimidating.
"Those two, along with Sir Aedion, were the ones who actually supported me in this plan. So I hope you will spare his life, Princess Helvetica." She wants me to spare the old man's life, but letting me to punish her own father. Take a look at that.
An unexpected turn around of events, I see.
"I'm not in a position to punish someone of high status, so I'll leave it up to my father to decide." The Emperor rises from his throne, signalling me to follow him.
"I haven't given my present yet, have I?" Really? He will talk about gift in the middle of this interrogation? "Father—" He cuts me off as he gets down. "Princess Helvetica Ethereal," The crowd stays in silence as he states my full name.
"In this day forward, I will descent from my throne." My pupils dilate as I look at him. His gaze was directing me to kneel. I don't have a choice, but to obey and get down on my knees for the first time.
"As the eldest daughter of Ethereal family, I will now declare you as the Emperor of this Empire." I felt a sudden chill when the crown was placed on my head. It wasn't too heavy, nor light and It was constructed of diamond with ruby gem stones encrusted on the outside.
"You must preserve the Empire's tranquility and promise not to betray your own race. I will now give you the authority and power that Athena and Ares bestowed upon this Empire. You are now officially the ruler of these people, Helvetica." So the gift he was referring to, was actually his throne.
"You may now rise." I open my eyes as I stand up gracefully, looking at the crowd who's kneeling in front of me. "From this day forward, I, Helvetica Ethereal, will be your new Emperor. Swearing to heaven and earth to protect my people and to restore this crumbled dominion to its former glory. As the new ruler of this Empire, I hope no one will hold a grudge towards my father's decision."
"For fresh start, you only have two things to keep in mind. Obey me and you'll be rewarded. Opposed me and you'll be beheaded." All I can hear was my footsteps as I walk straight ahead to the Grand Duke's position. I step into his head as I chuckle.
"My father must've been afraid to give you punishment since you had such a close bond with each other, but unfortunately, your luck ends here." I gaze at his daughter, who is calmly kneeling next to me.
"Tell me, what kind of punishment would you like me to give? You may decide as you're the one who brings him in." This man was her father after all. She'll get to decide whether she wants him dead or not.
I could see her devilish grin as she bows to the extent of touching her forehead to the floor. "It's entirely up to Her Highness' to make the final decisions. I'm unable to impose such heavy penalty as he is my father." This woman is smarter than I thought.
"Your father is kind enough. I acknowledged his bravery for volunteering to be the first person to taste death." Look at him; he's dripping wet. DISGUSTING. I rolled my eyes as I signaled Vien to come in my place.
"Yes, Your Highness?" I yawned as I glance at the frightened Grand Duke. "It's not very human to torture a person," I draw her sword as I raised it with my own hands.
"So I'll make sure to help you sleep forever. Thank you for your hard work, Grand Duke; I'll make sure that you'll be remembered." In the most traumatic way, that is. And without hesitation, I swing the sword to instantly cut his neck. He should be grateful. At the very least, he died painlessly.
"All Hail, THE NEW EMPEROR!" Vien yelled to break the silence in the room. "All Hail Emperor Helvetica!" Screamed the crowd as they rose to their feet.
I've often wondered why I was born this way. I've become a person who kills people without hesitation. Until I suddenly remember that my nickname, 'Hel' actually stands for the Goddess of Death.