Chaoter 45
(Author's POV)
As the sun goes down and illuminated the world with dimly colored cloud, the battle in the [Kingdom of Entel] has now cease, and leaved them with nothing but scar of longing, and untasteful victory.
There were no cheers of glory, nor merry band that drums thier victory. Their were also quietness and misery that clouded everyone in their state, lounging down on their back.
"Check if there are more injured!"
Said the fully armored Knight, ordering some of them to the north and east area of the kingdom.
"Those that aren't yet heal, please go to the tent at the west area to be aided!"
One of the Clerics in the kingdom yelled, as he gave instructions to the masses. People then slowly gather around and moved in coordination as they walked. Women, men, children slowly lined up, wearing upon them was the dream they wish they didn't saw.
Able men and young ones then came and go from the west, south, and north, carrying with then we're dead bodies of those who faced their demise in the battle they never expected to come.
Cry filed the kingdom, as tars for those who survived the onslaught of fate flooded the vicinity for their luck and fate. Those who mourns the death sob in silent, those who survived sang in melachony, and those who are in disbelief only sat down and remise.
"Shoul we dispatch another group of Knights in the south and north area to check if there are more monster lurking in the vicinity?"
A male Knight asked as he pointed the south and north section in the map he is currently holding.
"We lost a lot of Knights in this battle so we lack manpower. Just send a few for backup and support, while the others will help to clear the area in the kingdom"
The man spoke. The said person was a newly employed officer. His at the mid age of 30s with well cut beard. He wasn't wearing his helmet on, so seeing his face was easy. Right after the said {Wrym} attacked the kingdom, all the Knights that was stationed in the south gate, including the officers, we're struck down by the peak emerald rank beast. The death toll increased as most of them didn't have any items nor skills to defend themselves against its dreadful cry.
As the [Kingdom of Entel] is merely just a branch kingdom, they were only able to employ early to mid platinum rank Knights with the highest one being peak platinum, the [Knight Legion Commander], Lord Fredrick, and Lord Marsh. So with the defeat of one of their strongest Knight with the lost of their manpower, the Kingdom was in turmoil.
The lost they have today is like a ruined bridge that connected one cliff to another. There was nothing for them to cross towards the other part.
Sigh
Heaving a heavy sigh, the newly appointed Knight then looked upfront to the damage they have received in this assault. Grim expression painted his face as he imagined, what will happen if this battle prolonged? Chill run down his spine as he tried imagining such scenario
"Sir?"
Waking up from his thought as the Knight in front of him called, he then went back to his job and didn't cared further to something that didn't happened.
"Check each building for any potential survivor and monitor the surrounding area for any monster that might have been hiding in the vicinity"
"Yes, sir!"
.....
Further down the kingdom, inside the castle ground. A man stood in front as he observed the kingdom floor. Looking around the area at the balcony with discerning gaze, observing the very place he has grown with. Painted in blood and cries, he could only thanked fate for not ruining the place he was reigning.
And behind him was a man fully armored from his feet to his head, kneeling with respect as he muttered everything that had happened. The said man stood tall than any mighty wall with his hovering size, and broaden muscle. The armor fully engage the man's masculinity.
"We lost 45 of our Knights in the battle, your majesty, with 10 of them being a [Knight Commander]"
"..."
He spoke, but the King didn't respond neither speak as he continue watching the people below him.
"20 are still missing with 15 [Kingdom Guard] added to the death toll. Civilians was still uncountable for how many was lost. Cost of damage are yet to be counted, and-"
The man then raised his head and added
"Two of your personal guard was found headless in the south-east of the kingdom, your majesty"
"Headless?"
"Yes your majesty. It took an hour for them to be found, though they were really being searched. The Knights found them as they checked the surrounding area of the kingdom. They weren't that far out from the wall, telling us that they were killed right after they pass the north wall, your majesty"
"Any report to whom did it?"
"None. There were no clue nor any evidence justifying whatever happened to them"
"Nothing?"
Thr King asked in puzzlement
"Yes. No blood, no tracks, neither any indication that they fought in that spot. The body of those men were completely untouched, even the cut in their neck was clean, as if cut from a swift, sharp blade, and motionlessly being detached in their wake"
"Spell?"
"The ground was unmoved, and the vicinity behind and in front didn't further proclaim any spell being casted or invoke, your majesty"
"Strange"
The King spoke in his whisper
"How about the prince?"
"His highness received an injury in his head and being treated now. No further report of any life threatening wound, your majesty"
"Lady Isabelle?"
"She was with his highness when they came back, couple with the other adventurers. Other than some scratch and non-fatal wounds, Lady Isabelle is currently safe and sound"
"His escort?"
"....."
The Knight took a moment of silence before he respond
"The [Knight General] Lord Roland was unconscious at the moment as he received a fatal blow on his left arm, and a threatening wound in his left lung. The [Knight Legion Commander], Lord Fredrick was found dead with a hole in his chest, piercing through his thick armor"
"The prince's hidden guard?"
"She was found at the top of the rooftop, with her disfigured head. She received a powerful blow right on her face, causing it to rapture"
"....."
The King was silent upon hearing his report, being told about their lost in great number
"Not only we lost 45 Knights, with 10 of them being [Knight Commander], and 20 Knights currently missing, but we also lost 1 [Knight Legion Commander], who is a rare find in this place, with a heavily injured [Knight General]. Atop of that, we have an uncountable number of death with damage of unknown, and 3 heavily selected hidden guards also fell in this battle"
Sigh
Sighing in heavy felt, he then gaze up and spoke in a distance tone
"This kingdom will be facing hardship"
"Forgive my rudeness, your majesty"
The King and the Knight then swiftly turn thier sight to the voice that just barge in the throne room. Striding with prideful step, a man with a royal lineage then walked towards them. Wearing his elegant white suit, with his rapier on the side, the Prince fasten his approach towards the King.
He then kneeled before him.
"What is the matter, Prince Pierre?"
The King asked his son for what business he came in, uninvited and uncalled for
"I have something to report to you, your majesty"
"And what it is?"
"Not what, but who"
He then looked up and glinting smile of a whimsical expression, hiding beneath his unreasonable calculativeness
"... Speak"
"Your majesty, I bring forth an asset"
(Vince's POV)
"Are you really okay now darling? We can postpone their invitation just for you to rest"
Sheryl spoke in a worried tone as she looked at me while I as dressing up in nice vested suit, paired in black and white.
Smiling at her, I then stated
"I already rested enough, adding more will likely ending on me being treated as a cripple"
I said as I brush her cheeks with a gentle touch of my thumb. But my words seems to be not enough for her, as she worriedly looked at me
"Don't you feel any pain in your body? Any uneasiness? Complication? Unfamiliar sensation?"
Natsumi anxiously voice out as she checked my body by touching me, and some of it were quite sensual one.
"There are no backlash when HE took over my body, but it seems my sensation was quite buffed when he did so"
I said as I open and close my hands.
"My body also felt a little bit lighter than usual, so I guess my body did receive some benefits when HE took over me"
"Any other thing you are feeling now?"
Isabelle spoke as she stood there in front of me with concern hint on his eyes.
"Having such look will only waste such beautiful dress you are wearing"
I stated.
"I guess"
She shrug
"... They told you everything, isn't it?"
"... Not everything"
Silence then came as I asked that and she answered with a heavy voice. Feeling that the atmosphere seems to be heavy and passing, I then sigh and spoke
"I know you three have a lot of questions in mind but"
I then looked at Isabelle again as I patted Sheryl and added
"Can the three of you wait until we get back home?"
The three took a moment of silence before they nodded to my words.
Knock knock
A woman's voice came as she knocked to our room
"Forgive me for my rudeness but, if his excellency is ready, his majesty the king is awaiting for your presence"
I then looked at them and stated
"Let us not wait them for long, shall we"
Isabelle sighed in defeat while Sheryl merely pouted to my words. Natsumi was still quite anxious about it. Leaving them with no room for discussion nor objections, I then walked towards the door and opened it. The maid that knocked on our room to inform us, then greeted us as she respectfully bowed. The said maid has a stoic gaze, and has the same height as mine.
Right after I left in that dream like space or world, I then woke up with Natsumi and Sheryl worriedly looking at me, and happily welcomed me back as I rested on Isabelle's lap.
The prince of the [Kingdom of Entel] was there with us, though I have an excuse for not greeting him, I still strengthen myself up to speak with him. His mood suggested his unwelcoming behavior towards me, and the reason for that is him finding out the relationship between me and Isabelle. Isabelle didn't mind at all, and merely scolded me to suddenly pushing myself, so she place my head back to her lap for me to rest. The prince got more uglier with that face of jealousy written on his face, but as if he was an air, or like your typical normal day, the three didn't even cared for his presence.
After I have rested a bit, I then asked him all the things happened right after the fight.
"It is a shame to tell but, I only remembered how you shove me away from the battle with a hefty amount of strength, causing me to be unconscious throughout the whole battle. I woke up right after, but the end already came and the battle has cease"
Right after that, he then left us with a disdainful expression, and a heavy clutch of shame on him. Isabelle then told me that he was about to do something on me if she didn't woke up first. It seems that the prince's mind was clouded with shame and heartbreak, when he was about to commit such crime, which also resulted on Isabelle giving him a cold shoulder, though she was already been doing it, in not a straightforward manner of course
Right after that, Sheryl and Natsumi hugs me in a tight embrace, as they sob while Isabelle formally welcome me back, as she kissed my forehead with a gentle peck.
The king then announced all the remaining adventurers that heads his call for a celebration, but as the situation seems not on the mood of doing so, the king just rewarded them with twice the amount of gold that what was agreed on, which caused a great appreciation towards the adventurers.
He then asked them for an additional support regarding the restoration of the kingdom, with 3 gold coins as a reward, the adventurers took it without batting an eye, never realizing that the tedious work they will be doing isn't even worth a single gold coin. The contract stated that they will be compensated with 3 gold coins after the restoration of the kingdom was finished, and restoring a kingdom to its former glory will take months or even years to be finished. With that, those people who signed the contract will be aiding the kingdom as a replacement for the lost of the kingdom's manpower. So in short, the contract was merely a handcuff for those adventurers to protect the kingdom BY WILL, as per se the contract was concern. They will be staying in this kingdom until the contract was fulfilled, and they will also be tasked with different jobs in this place in the time being, so they will be on a break for being an adventurer, not until the contract was completed
How about leaving the kingdom to escape from their clutches? That would be a foolish move if they don't wish to be blacklisted. Being blacklisted by the king himself is a great concern for their mobility to visit one village, or even a town to another. Some kingdom might accept them, but those will be just few. So from the beginning when they accepted the double payment from the king, they already fell from his hands, poor them.
The kingdom then became busy, as all Knights then started mobilizing all their able group to assist all the civilians, and also in surveying the area of the kingdom, including its vicinity. The adventurers didn't yet realized that time that they were entering a dragon's mouth, not a normal cave.
Me and my group were then invited by the kingdom, or by the King himself, right after the report of all my teammates leading role in this battle, also due to how scared they were on me, or to say, on him. The King then asked us to have an audience with him, and tackle some matters for the future of the kingdom, and on us, though those were merely just a second connotation of the main reason why did they invited us. As we accepted it, which is something we can't possibly ignore, the King then gave us a room to stay in for the night. And it seems he could read the mood, seeing that he didn't mind Isabelle staying with us in the same room.
Though I was quite tired, we still did our daily nightly activity, as Isabelle deployed a sound barrier around our room, and did it until we all pass out.
The maid was leading us towards the [Council Chamber], where the meeting is about to be held. I as wearing a vested suit with white and black coat. Isabelle was wearing a stunning mermaid dress - thanks to be teaching me about dresses that I know what is it called - coated in a red velvet paint that enhanced her glamor of beauty and elegance. Sheryl was wearing a beautiful dark gray one shoulder dress that only reached till her knee, while Natsumi wore a stunning asymmetrical dress with a slit below her hips on the left, showing her glossy, long legs and thighs. (Note: asymmetrical dress is a slanted hemline or neckline, with the most common design featuring a one shoulder bodice)
As we walked towards the corridor and heading straight to the [Council Chamber]
"Darling"
Isabelle then called out to me. Slightly lowering my walking paste, I then closed the distance between us.
"I think the prince already told them about what happened, during the time where you were rampaging, what should we do?"
She concernly asked, but without hinting anything on her beautiful face. Lowering my head bit to whisper in her, I spoke
"Whatever decision I make, don't ever speak without being called"
(Isabelle's POV)
His words seems to be gentle but yet heavy for some reason.
Chu
He then kissed my forehead and added
"And please trust me in this meeting, I will take care of it"
As he strengthen himself up, he then pass me by as I stare his back in daze. Darling wasn't fast, I just unconsciously slowed myself down, shocked to his words that filled with confidence and determination.
'His.....different'
I thought, as I follow him from behind. Darling in every meeting, or any discussion, always stayed behind, as he let me handle everything. Without me by his side, he tend to pass the responsibility to the two while supporting from behind, but today seems to be different than usual, and I can't help but felt anxious about it
(Author's POV)
As they reached the room where the meeting is being held, the maid then went upfront and knocked, as she informed the people inside for their arrival.
Knock Knock
"His excellency, Sir Creeper and Her lady, Lady Isabelle has arrived"
"Let them come in"
As the King gave them permission, the maid then slowly opened the door.
Sitting beside the king was the same circle of nobles from the last, standing with high prided demeanor as they welcome their visitor, guest to be precise. Though they all seems to be stoic and unfaze, but most of them were on edge as they meet the man they thought was merely a leashed dog being tied to a giant wolf.
As Creeper and his companion came in with unfazed resolve, the prince silently cursed in his breath as he clenched his fist, looking at him in disdain. The princess and queen discern him with a devious look, while the king merely observe as they came in. The other nobles gaze at them with judgmental state and side note of disbelieve look.
Creeper then took a halt just a distance from the table and bowed in an elegant, and polish greeting
"I honorably greet his majesties, and delightedly thank for this invitation he gave. I am Creeper, the leader of my group, bow to your grace"