She stood before me, not taking his eyes off after our eyes met. There was no sound in the palace hall. Everyone is still listening to the reality that is hard to accept, including me.
"Your Majesty, can you explain this phenomenon?!" Marquess Matheo broke the silence. "If other countries find out, the Adenium Empire's dignity might collapse at any moment! This is about the future of Adenium!"
"Marquess Matheo!" Duke Costello glanced sharply. "Please watch your word."
He clucked angrily and then pulled the little girl closer to him. "Hey, kid! Show me who your father is so that the adults here will know the truth," he said, glancing at Duke Costello sarcastically.
Her mouth was open; she groaned softly before gritting her teeth against the pain. The legs were shaking from being gripped so tightly. She winced as she tried to break free, but Marquess Matheo's hand on the boy's upper arm gave her more strength. Without having time to calm down, his hand slowly raised, pointing at me.
"...Papa."
I was taken aback, but Leocadio and Duke Costello seemed more surprised than everyone present. Until a few seconds, all was silent, trying to digest what had just happened. Leocadio was the first to speak up. He walked over, trying to grab the little girl's thin hand.
"Little miss, let's talk in a more comfortable room."
But Marquess Matheo immediately shook off his hand and then turned to look at me. "Your Majesty, you have seen and heard firsthand. We'd better call a meeting now to discuss this matter."
I gripped the arm of the chair tightly. If there were no resemblance to me, people would have heard the child's claim as a passing wind even though she claimed to be my daughter thousands of times. Unfortunately, the physical evidence on the little girl's body made things complicated.
They had already speculated, and rumors had spread throughout the palace. It's only a matter of time before this news comes out and shocks the entire Adenium that, for the first time, a girl who has Emperor blood lives to the age of 5.
News of the Emperor having children out of wedlock was not uncommon. Likewise, about the information of the emperor's sons and daughters who suddenly died, whether it was intentional or not. So far, everything has been going according to the scenario I had drawn up a long time ago; although sometimes there are obstacles, I can solve them. This problem should be relatively easy to overcome.
I could have just finished it in the usual way. It's the quickest and easiest way out. I was manipulating people's minds and killing the kid. However, my current situation is not so good. Our first meeting in the forest at that time impacted my body. The headache that started to attack since meeting her was a strong reason that made me unable to let go of that child just like that.
Take a deep breath; I said quietly, "Other than Leocadio and Duke Costello, all came out."
"YOUR EXCELLENCY!"
"I SAID GET OUT!" Throwing a fierce glare at Marquess Matheo, he continued, "Don't make me repeat the same order."
Before turning around, he bit his lip, did not accept it then bowed respectfully by force. The fat man stepped over with a proud heart that was dissatisfied. Meanwhile, I turned to the Little Miss, who was standing stiffly. She still didn't take his eyes off me, but the kid looked down while playing with his fingers when I stared at her longer.
"Duke Costello, take that child away. I'll see her later."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After making sure the little girl was out, I glanced at Leocadio. "Separate those Petunia residents who are seriously ill and those who aren't. Those who are in a crisis stage have little chance of survival. Gather such people in one room and don't let anyone in."
He looked at me worried. "Your Majesty—"
"Later." While holding his temple, he continued, "I have to get rid of this headache first."
***
An ivory-white painted building with several muds and soil stains stands firm not far but not close enough to the refugee camp. Around it is trees and two guards standing on the right and left of the entrance. The building is one of the buildings that survived the Petunia flood disaster. From a distance, several people dressed in white walked in and out with something in hand. There is also a group of soldiers who move patients on stretchers.
I slowed down when I arrived at the entrance. Two soldiers immediately got ready and bowed respectfully. Dismounting, I glanced around the building before turning to the guard.
"I will immediately notify His Majesty the Emperor of the arrival."
Shortly after, Hamon was followed by several people who lined up behind him. He bowed respectfully before saying, "Preparations are complete, Your Highness."
"Clear this area until I'm done."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The people immediately withdrew from the building after Hamon gave the order. Slowly, I stepped into the building used as a temporary room for critical patients. Moans were faintly heard when I pushed the door. Along with the footsteps getting closer, I summoned the Dragon Sword that appeared from the palm.
The first bed was filled by an older man who had difficulty breathing. There were no visible external injuries, but it seemed he had an internal disease. Floods may make it relapse and invite other diseases. It was clear he wouldn't be able to last long, considering the older man's age, even though his condition had improved.
Then I pulled the corners of my lips up. I raised the ready sword in my right hand and floated in the air, just above his left chest. He glanced at me briefly before the sword's tip lodged in his heart. A muffled groan sounded heartbreaking, loud enough to make some other bedridden people glance up. When they realized what was happening, the older man was dead.
"No... I don't want to die—"
"... help me."
A pleading voice that couldn't be heard clearly because other agents covered it. The more I stepped, their eyes moved restlessly. Some tried to get up, while others begged to be spared. Unfortunately, they have no other choice but to die.
The grandfather's blood kept dripping from the blade and making irregular lines on the tiles. Since the darkness breathed the essence of the blood of the first person I killed, this headache continued to go crazy, and I whispered, "Again. Give me a lot of blood...."
The lower part of the ivory-white painted wall has been decorated with a red, rancid-smelling abstract painting that almost covers the entire room. Several beds for critical patients were out of shape: dented, one of its legs was broken, and even split in two. Meanwhile, my situation was not much different from the condition of the walls of this room: covered in blood.
"NO!"
The man fell forward as blood came out of his mouth. Then turned to the sound source; a woman in her 30 years old stood trembling in the corner of the room while covering her ears and eyes. Only that woman was left after everyone had died. Raised, hand wiping the blood stuck to the left cheek, I stepped closer. The head of a man blocking my path was immediately kicked toward the woman.
He held his chest and seemed to catch his breath. His body slumped down along with the roar of his breath that was getting shorter. In the next second, his head hit the tile. He kept trying to breathe while I smiled crookedly, watching him struggle. He didn't say anything else other than the one before.
Too bad that woman died without even touching my Dragon sword. Nonetheless, I was kind enough to cut off his head.
After the darkness sucked the last essence of blood, My headache finally disappeared. At least for now. I can breathe easily in the middle of a bloody, rancid-smelling room with many corpses lying around.
The right hand holding the Dragon sword looked up. Blue fiery light then came out and surrounded the blade, making it float. In the next second, the sword disappeared.
Now all that's left is the little girl, the cause of this damn headache.[]