Tatiana's Perspective
Part 1: Dining Room (Evening)
The golden hues of the setting sun painted the dining room in warm, tranquil shades. Gathered around the table were Lord Vicker Sunaria, the esteemed military minister, and a handful of his men. Laughter and the clinking of cutlery echoed through the air as we indulged in a delightful evening.
"Wahaha… your highness, this dinner was truly exquisite," Lord Vicker exclaimed, a satisfied grin on his face, dressed in his imposing military top uniform.
"I appreciate the compliment, but the credit goes to Lily, our extraordinary chef," I replied, lifting a crystal glass filled with rich grape juice and taking a confident sip. I nodded toward Lily, who responded with a respectful bow, her eyes gleaming with pride.
"Say, Princess, I couldn't help but wonder if your talented servant here is available for purchase. I could use such skills in my estate," Lord Vicker remarked, his gaze fixed on Lily's form, a hint of possessiveness in his eyes.
The audacity! My initial reaction was a surge of anger, but I bit it back, choosing to keep my composure. "My apologies, but Lily is a dear friend, not an item for sale."
"Heh, just a friend? I suppose the makeshift princess has her amusements," Lord Vicker muttered to his right-hand man, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Instead of whispering, why not address me directly? It's quite impolite for a guest to engage in such behavior. I hope my presence isn't causing displeasure, unlike the delightful evening I'm having," I retorted, recalling Blanc's advice on handling rudeness, my tone laced with a polite yet assertive charm.
"Ugh… Well, we actually have a warrant for your arrest, Princess Tatiana Tremaine," Lord Vicker's right-hand man declared, producing a folded document. Lily passed it to Blanc, who unfolded it with a calm expression.
"On what grounds?" I inquired, maintaining a calm demeanor, though well aware of the gravity of the charges.
"For trespassing and breaking into private property. The cave in question belongs to the Verdantia," he explained, presenting the charges with a stoic expression.
"Do you have any evidence?" I pressed, taking a measured breath, my eyes locked onto his, demanding clarity.
"Not yet, but we have witnesses who testified to the trespassing," he replied, a hint of hesitation in his voice, perhaps realizing the thin ice he stood upon.
Witnesses can be manipulated. "That hardly constitutes solid evidence for an arrest. The law requires more than hearsay to detain someone," I asserted, a small smile playing on my lips, reveling in this small victory.
"What kind of royal are you, knowing about the law? It doesn't matter; you're a suspect," Lord Vicker scoffed, sipping his wine and attempting to bluff his way through.
"There's a legal principle, Article 42, that grants the accused the right to defend themselves before the presentation of evidence. It exists to protect the innocent," I countered, my voice steady, recalling Blanc's teachings.
"Urgh!" Lord Vicker grumbled, clearly unaccustomed to facing a royal with a deep understanding of the law.
"Remember this: even as a fallen royalty, I possess knowledge and rights," I asserted, putting him in his place and ensuring he recognized my royal status. The tension in the air crackled as the dining room transformed from a place of warmth to a battleground of legal wits.
"T…then I will force you to comply by force," Lord Vicker declared, his tone edged with frustration as if he had no other choice.
"Are you seriously threatening me in my presence?" I countered, unyielding to mere threats.
"Hah… if I may, your highness," Blanc interjected, looking slightly bored and sighed. She sought my permission to speak.
"You may speak, Blanc," I affirmed, giving her the go-ahead.
"Who are you?" Lord Vicker's right-hand man asked, clearly feeling threatened.
"She is my trusted advisor and will speak on my behalf," I assured, radiating confidence in Blanc's ability to handle the situation.
"We actually have solid evidence and wish to hand it to the proper party. But we need more information, as the destruction of this town and other attacks seem to lead back to the Minister of Military of Verdantia," Blanc explained after bowing to me, unfolding a stack of papers containing reports from the guild.
"Huh? Are you saying we're responsible for the monster attacks? Preposterous!" Lord Vicker retorted, clearly on the defensive after his man confirmed the truth about the reports.
"What monster attack? If I remember correctly, I never mentioned such a thing," Blanc cleverly pointed out, skillfully catching them in a verbal slip-up.
"It just slipped my mind," Lord Vicker stammered, not willing to concede, attempting to make excuses.
"How do you think we should solve this, Lady Blanc?" I asked, seeking Blanc's guidance on resolving the situation.
"I would suggest that as both parties, we search all of our manors and report any misconduct," Blanc proposed, offering a solution to the issue at hand by checking both parties involved.
"You can't do that; it's a breach of privacy!" Lord Vicker protested, projecting his reluctance to be searched.
"Well said, Lady Blanc. I agree with this, as I have faith in my aide that it's the best way to resolve this petty argument. You can have your men search our manor, and we can search yours," I declared, wholeheartedly requesting Lord Vicker to comply.
"You won't get to do that," one of Lord Vicker's men scoffed, attempting to hide something.
"Well, of course, if that said party wishes to hide something," Blanc warned, leaving them with no choice.
"I'll be back with the evidence, you hear me?" Lord Vicker stood up, eager to leave.
"Good, I believe you can find the door on your own," I retorted, angered by his rude behavior, just wanting him to leave.
The dinner ended, and all of us headed to bed that day.
The next day, in the study room, Tatiana, Blanc, Sakuya, and Lily gathered to discuss the next step over tea.
"What a rude guy," I muttered, still frustrated, not wanting to dwell on the encounter.
"I say that was perfect; we got him cornered," Blanc grinned, finding amusement in the situation.
"What about the thing with the evidence at his place? How did you know about it?" I inquired, seeking confirmation, genuinely impressed.
"Of course not, it was just a bluff. I didn't think it would go that well," Blanc admitted, revealing the bluff.
"Are you serious? I truly believed you back then," I confessed, a tinge of disappointment evident in my tone.
"Even if that's not the truth, I can present the evidence to further pressure him," Blanc assured, revealing that it wasn't her final plan.
"So what do we do now?" I asked, looking for the next plan.
"We just wait for his next action," Blanc replied, anticipating the next move in this strategic chess game and sipping her tea, thoroughly enjoying the unfolding battle.
*Bang*
The echoing sound of Lord Vicker's frustration reverberates through the dimly lit room in our residence.
"That wench thinks she can play tough?" I seethe back in our residence, frustration boiling within me.
"She should be begging for mercy instead. Luckily, I have my trusted device," I mutter, eyeing a crystal ball with a hint of sinister satisfaction.
"Hey, what are you planning?" A mysterious figure in the shadows questions Lord Vicker, not revealing her identity.
"It doesn't concern you; just sit back and watch," he retorts, displaying the ominous crystal ball, deep in scheming.
"This is the end for you…" Lord Vicker mumbles, his gaze fixed on me and my forces.
"Sigh… I'm just too bored," the mysterious figure emerges from the shadows, walking out of the house.
Next morning.
*Clink clink*
The ominous clinking sound fills the air, signaling an impending confrontation. Sakuya senses a strange tension in the town, realizing that the time has come.
"Your highness, there are a hundred Verdantia soldiers stationed outside the town," Nathalia rushes into the study room, panting and exhausted, delivering an urgent warning.
"Oh, Nathalia, good for you to join us," Lily greets Nathalia with a warm smile, seemingly unfazed by the impending turmoil.
"What?" Nathalia appears confused, taking in the strangely calm atmosphere of the room.
"We're about to go there. In the meantime, can I ask you to take care of this manor?" Lily requests, seeking Nathalia's assistance after helping me with my preparations.
Arriving by carriage, we stop on one side of the fields opposite the formidable army of three hundred Verdantia soldiers.
"Truly, such a gathering, isn't it, Lady Sakuya?" Lily remarks, a playful glint in her eyes as she observes the unfolding scenario.
"Still too small in number. Aya, you will remember your training," Sakuya instructs, her eyes locked on the approaching conflict.
"I will, Master," Aya responds with determination, bowing down to signify her commitment.
"Seriously, didn't think they would resort to violence this fast. I guess it doesn't matter which world; in the end, violence is the answer," Blanc comments, taking a seat on her makeshift ice chair with an air of indifference.
"How do you know they're going to attack?" I inquire, perplexed by Blanc's seemingly preternatural understanding.
"After yesterday, we got a report of him going back to Verdantia. Figures, he's trying to spread lies and fraud to gather support for this," Blanc casually explains, unveiling her awareness of the enemy's every move.
"He's already ready to do this as a last resort by his actions," Sakuya adds, sipping her tea calmly, seemingly prepared for the storm that approaches.
"All of you were amazing to see this kind of thing," Lily commends, acknowledging the collective strength we've displayed.
I feel the weight of the impending conflict; there's no longer room to consider the safe path.
"The soldiers of Verdantia, I urge you to lay down your weapons. If you do not comply, you will meet with a force you can't comprehend!" I warn, my voice projecting a mix of authority and desperation, aware of the strength that Blanc and Sakuya possess.
"Be that as it may, as the First Daughter of Tremaine, I had only one mission: to protect the innocent," I add, attempting to appeal to their sense of reason.
*
Hehe, what does she think of this? A playtime?
Such bravery not seen in your meager number.
It doesn't even fit two-digit numbers to have that kind of guts.
"She should just surrender and beg for forgiveness."
*
They don't seem to heed my warning.
"I don't know what to do anymore," I sigh, grappling with the weight of potential violence, a path I never wished to tread.
"Well, this is a real war. It's not like the usual situation when they have higher positions controlling them; of course, it's harder," Blanc remarks, explaining the grim reality of our outnumbered situation.
"Why don't we ask how the other Tatiana handles this?" Blanc suggests, injecting an unusual sense of mystery into the situation, looking at me for an understanding I'm not quite grasping.
"Huh? What do you mean, Blanc?" I ask, my confusion apparent.
"Really? After all that, you still won't come out?" Blanc questions, a hint of boredom in her tone.
"Who are you speaking of, Blanc? You're scaring me!" I step back, my fear evident as I grapple with the unknown.
"I'm sorry, Lady Tatiana. Please don't think badly of me," Lily steps in front of me, her actions betraying a hidden agenda as she abruptly stabs me in the stomach.
*Stab*
"Lily?" I'm shocked, pain searing through me as I reel from the betrayal.
"Forgive me, Lady Tatiana," Lily requests forgiveness with a smile, withdrawing the blade.
"Sakuya…" I turn to Sakuya, strangely unfazed by the unexpected act.
*Shing*
Once again, I died. My health fades away, and the world slips into darkness.
Chapter 53 End