Taking a sip, Estelle stroked the silver wolf's head softly "as expected of your excellency whose coronation as the king has ended a day before my arrival, his excellency has shown the kindness of overseeing the situation of my kingdom while you were busy on the throne"
Her expression turned to blank with the void of emotions, she stroked the wolf's head a little hard to let the wolf bared its fangs open while giving a ferocious growl she spoke right at this time
"The more insignificant you look down the people the stronger they become, our little wolf here has the experience of countless battles and if any it has no sense of recognizing a royalty or common people, in his excellency terms in the eyes of a war veteran they don't care if it's a throne that is front of them or a ragged doll, the only priority that matters is to win or die"
In the beginning, the king mentioned how the people who are of no importance have to bow their heads to the people in power, Estelle counter-attacked him with the wolf fangs saying a scholar from the protection of dangers is nothing in front of a soldier who endured his life on a battlefield where the danger lurks around every second.
Her statement made the king rage in anger he griped the sidebar of his throne tightly, visible cracks formed on the wooden bar, the king glared at her was about to speak but the former king who was sitting to his right laughed loudly interrupting the tense atmosphere,
"Well said princess Estelle, a war veteran huh... you made me remember my old days on the battlefield, you are a quite strong one my child the silver wolf doesn't even let their contracted master touch their head unless the person is powerful than the wolf"
He chuckled softly at her, that soft chuckle of his sent a shiver down the spine of the king and the former queen they didn't even choose to consider the threat of the powerful familiar of a soldier, if the former hasn't spoken the king would have ordered the guards to kill the wolf for growling out loud in his presence it may cause a big blood bath in this very hall.
Sir Gilton and Estelle shared a look as they saw the former king praise the wolf and Estelle, shocking the crowd of nobles present, he stood and raised his glass saying "a dance without a celebration is too boring, so my dear child would you dance with this elderly old man"
Estelle stood rooted at his words, sir Gilton coughed in surprise, the former king's statement made the nobles and the king restless, the servants moved swiftly with the help of guards the grand Chamberlin of the former king came along with the guards who cuffed at the entrance,
The former queen narrowed her eyes in glare at Estelle the king's torn with anger expression is making the nobles even more restless the only person who reached her eyes is the Queen hiding her blooming smile of joy she enjoyed every movement of her husband and her mother-in-law getting attacked.
The former king came exactly when the cuffs were removed completely from her, unexpectedly the silver wolf stood up and wrapped itself around Estelle shocking sir Gilton and making the former king laugh, he reached out to touch its head but the wolf bared his fangs in a threatening manner.
Evelyn chooses this moment to speak with her "Master I found out I was able to converse with the wolf brother he said loves me and you very much and now he wrapped around you because he sensed danger from the old man in front of you"
Estelle tried hard not to change her expression she smiled a little apologetically at the former king before hugging the neck of the wolf with both hands she nuzzled her face a little to the wolf's face while stroking its head comforting it. Then she gave a signal to sir Gilton to recall his familiar but he gave her a pained expression.
She understood in an instant that the wolf is refusing his master's call this is neither a place nor a time to educate the wolf so sir Gilton remained silent while reminding himself to have a heart-to-heart conversation with his familiar later.
The former king raised his eyebrow in pure curiosity he extended his hand to Estelle when everything was inset and the performers were waiting to play at the right movement, Estelle assured the wolf while saying Evelyn to convince the wolf she accepted the former king's hand and went to the dance floor.
"Now that the handcuffs were removed are you feeling light" saying that he twirled her and continued dancing,
"Your excellency to answer you physically yes but the pain, pressure, and all the hope I was placed on is heavy"
The former king hummed in reply as they continued dancing, he glanced at his wife and his imbecile son he smirked but got surprised by Estelle's straightforward question "why did you pass on your throne when you are still in your prime"
The former king chuckled at her and spoke "I don't think neither my appearance nor my age speaks prime, I am as old as that war-veteran you showed off just now"
Estelle faked a cough and replied to him "and here I thought you are more majestic and handsome than the wolf"
The former king was amused he laughed gaining the attention of the crowd who were standing respectably waiting for their end of the dance. As they both bowed to each other at the end of the dance, the former king asked his grand Chamberlin, himself to show her the castle the former king arranged.
Estelle and her troupe made the way out of the banquet hall under the protection of the former king, assorted sounds of whisperings died down at once with Estelle's exit,
After coming out of the hall Estelle took a few big breaths of fresh air Silvia immediately caught her hand to support her, Grand Chamberlin "Princess Estelle I have ordered servants to arrange your meals at the castle, I also took on the note of you fastest journey your knights and you had on that account I made enough food arrangements, so please be assured"
He then turned to Sir Gilton to inform the rest of the arrangements along with guards that are appointed to protect them, they soon reached the castle, and although it was a deserted castle, still the castle looked as well maintained and cleaned frequently so they can rest assured,
Estelle tried hard to keep her focus since she can't look weak and dizzy in Infront of the king she used all her energy with that and know she is feeling dizzy and can fain any movement. Estelle fainted as soon as they entered the castle shocking the grand Chamberlin, he called upon the physician hurriedly,
Everything was done at the fastest pace the doctor examined Estelle and said she is malnutrition and has to eat a lot of food and has to do some regular exercise if not her Long-term numb muscles will spasm and explode, Silvia clutched Estelle's hand tightly while crying silently.
The grand Chamberlin turned to Sir Gilton and questioned him about their journey details but sir Gilton refused to answer unable to bear the animosity the grand Chamberlin is showing to their captain he started speaking accusingly
"When we started our journey, your people were still ongoing with the war and they didn't stop the princess woke up and we were ambushed by two kids who became forest bandits to survive and for food, the princess gave half of our food ration to them and said to split the remaining between us we traveled here without a break day and night"
The grand Chamberlin raised his eyebrows at sir Gilton as he asked "sir captain, how could you not even consider the condition of the princess"
Sir Gilton stood with a dark face not even bothering to answer him while his eyes were on Estelle who was now sleeping on the bed, the knight who spoke earlier got irritated at the grand Chamberlin accusing their captain he said quite annoyed "that's because the princess refused us to stop and ordered us to travel to reach here in the fastest"
Silvia who was listening to his banter silently until now got angry as she shouted
"The princess ordered because she said for every breath of leisure, we take countless people are hanging to death!! And for you people to have enough energy to travel the princess gave away the food rations left for her, remind you my lady woken up from coma not so long yet still strive for the sake of her people and you got complaints on it?!!"
The Grand Chamberlin's blood ran cold with shivers by Silvia's retort, his eyes darted towards Estelle who is unconscious on the bed,