Royal Princess of Blood

With the enemy’s attempt to sabotage Wisteria’s supply chains having been thwarted, it was time to find the one behind hiring these adventurers. For the time being though, more guards were stationed, including some knights, to protect the warehouses near the capital city, the most vital spots. Just in case anyone else tried to attack them. They couldn’t keep their guard down. However, Wisteria wanted to keep that from happening at all. It was the best case for everyone.

Before they announced the enemy’s attempts and the adventurers’ betrayal to the public, they first sent a team to hunt down the empire’s agent in the capital city. The adventurer Wisteria hired to be a double agent had personally met the person when taking up the job, along with the other hired adventurers, who were now dead. It was not that surprising to have an agent from the empire here in the capital city, though. This was within their expectations.

From what they learned, the empire’s agent met with the adventurers at a particular poor corner of the capital city. It was also where shady deals usually took place as the authorities’ eyes rarely landed here. And also a place where people rarely speak out, where small groups of criminals had a great influence.

Furthermore, the adventurers were also supposed to meet with their client again once they have finished their job, to take their payment. Thus, the knights rushed to the location. It was in a shabby inn, in one of its rooms.

Knights rushed through the streets, heading straight to the inn. The civilians looked on with curiosity. And those that may be guilty of a crime or whatever quickly fled the scene, hiding from the knights. Upon arriving at the inn, they organized their formation, a small part of them split up and surrounded the building, and then the rest immediately barged in.

The receptionist was surprised to see a group of armed knights suddenly marching into the inn. “W-What is going on?! Why are you here?!”

“Don’t move! Stay where you are!” a knight commanded. There were also other people in the lobby. “Don’t let them leave!”

“Keep down! Sit down!”

“Don’t do anything stupid!”

The knights surrounded the lobby. They had no plan to let anyone leave just yet, as they might be involved. Once the lobby was secured, the leader of the knights gestured for the rest of the team to follow him, and they climbed up the stairs altogether. They searched for the room that was said to be where the adventurers were supposed to meet their employer.

A moment later, they found the room number. Once the knights lined up, the knight leader tried to open the door. It was locked. Left with no choice, the knight kicked the door open and rushed inside. However, the room was empty.

“He’s not here. Search the rest of the rooms. Get the keys from ‌reception, don’t want to cause any more unnecessary damage.”

When the knights left, the leader opened the window and looked down. Below were some of the knights tasked with surrounding the building.

“Anyone ran through here?” the leader asked.

“None, sir!”

So he didn’t try to escape? Or was he never here?

The leader rushed back down to the lobby. “Line them up,” he said as he pointed at the guests in the lobby. “Bring those who are in the rooms here.”

As they brought the guests, the leader walked over to the reception. “Was someone staying in room eight?”

“R-Room eight? T-There was. But he left last night, he’s not returned yet.”

The adventurers had a schedule of meeting up, and the knights arrived just in time. That meant he must have realized that the adventurers had failed, or he never intended to pay the adventurers. But he doubted the latter, to continue further business, as the empire would definitely need, they had to fulfill their end of the bargain. Therefore, this could only mean the agent realized that Wisteria was coming for him.

“Do you still remember his face?”

“Um, I can recognize him if I see him. But I see lots of faces everyday so…”

As the rest of the guests gathered, the leader pointed at them. “Is he one of them?”

The receptionist looked and shook her head. “No.”

The knight clicked his tongue.

***

In the king’s office, an air of grim tension loomed. In the room was the king himself, and his son, Eleden. On the desk was a map that they were studying, reflecting on the current situation of the war.

“So their agent in the capital city is still on the loose,” the king said. “We can expect trouble if they’ve not fully abandoned the idea.”

“What’s important is that we’ve driven away their attempts for now. They’ll hesitate to use the same method. If they were successful, it could have sped up our demise…”

“I’m so relieved that Estelia predicted some of their actions. But not everything is going as we wanted. We have reports that a new batch of their army has come into our territory, further increasing the empire’s forces.”

“How are they doing overall…?”

“They’re pushing through. They’re acting quickly, a particular legion of theirs is breaking through our defensive line like a spear.” He placed a hand on the map of the kingdom, halfway from the edge of the territory bordering the empire to the capital city of Wisteria. “They’re getting close. This particular force is overwhelming our army and defenses.”

“An elite team?”

“Perhaps, or they have with them something that’s not human.”

“... You mean the elves?” It wouldn’t be surprising if they decided to join the empire’s army now to end Wisteria. They fled after the attack on the palace after all, so they should still be alive.

“I’ve sent a team of church members there to help with the defense of a fortress.”

“... How long will it hold, I wonder...?”

“Long enough, I hope.”

Eleden lowered his head and let out a long, tired sigh. “Any news on the Holy Kingdom?”

“... They’re refusing to face the envoy we sent.”

In his anger, Eleden slammed his fist on the table. “What the hell?! What’s the point of the alliance if they aren’t helping?! Traitors!”

The king maintained his composure. “... There’s something going on beyond our knowledge. Myra, on the other hand, has their hands full fighting the empire on two fronts.”

“Their side of the territory, and from ours.”

“Wisteria is isolated. Without the help of the Holy Kingdom, we are on our own.”

Eleden placed a hand on his forehead. “Fuck…”

The king stood up and walked over to the window, staring outside. “... When the empire breaches through that fortress, if they get any closer… I will have to join the fight personally.”

“Father! You can’t do that!” Eleden sprang up from his seat. “You’re the king!”

“And among the best combatants in the kingdom. They need me out there. I have to stop them. The situation is dire, and we must do what we have to.”

“But…” Eleden clenched his fists. His father was right. But still, he couldn’t accept that the king would just risk himself out there. His own father.

“Eleden… if something happens to me, I’ll leave everything to you.”

Eleden lowered his head, closing his eyes. He didn’t want to hear those words.

***

Mera still felt quite exhausted from the previous battle. She was already healed with magic and had rested quite a bit, but those were not enough. Well, she had been having difficulty sleeping. What had happened was still haunting her. That moment still kept flashing before her eyes.

Therefore, she left the palace in the middle of the night and went to an open yard to get some fresh air. To clear her mind. She sat down on the grass and let out a long sigh. No matter how hard she tried to set it aside, that moment still kept coming back to her mind. Mera’s hands trembled, and she held them together tightly. Just to stop them from shaking. However, it was to no avail.

“Stop it… Stop… Don’t be so weak…” she said to herself, trying to convince herself of that.

She had always been willing to kill for the princess. She imagined it would be easy, for it was just right to do it. However, the actual thing was way harder than she had ever expected. More haunting than she had ever imagined. The face of the person, the bloodied corpse, she kept involuntarily recalling it.

Is this how it’s supposed to be?

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.

“Be strong… Be strong. I can do this…” she muttered.

At the very least, she succeeded. She had proved something. It meant a great deal to her. It was a major step forward. This internal turmoil was just temporary, she was certain that it would all stop. That she’d get used to it.

She stared up at the sky.

“I miss you, milady.”

Truly, she missed her. How long until she returns? No one knew. Therefore, she must hold on until her lady returns. And when she does, Mera would be a better person. A changed person. A person of great strong will. Someone with power, one that could be of help to her lady. Someone useful, not useless. Someone that can protect the princess.

Someone significant.

Someone that can keep up.

She clenched her fists tightly.

I’m waiting for you…

This longing‌ pained her heart very much. But she had to wait, no matter how long it would be.

I’ll become someone truly worthy to stand by your side.

***

A couple of days after the attack on the warehouse, and the merciless elimination of the traitorous adventurers, to the public their deeds were announced. And their fate was clearly pronounced. This served as a warning to those, especially the adventurers, that betrayal was unforgivable. That nothing was more important than the kingdom itself. They must be loyal.

Those who betrayed the kingdom for the offer of wealth shall be met with the blade. And in death, any wealth was worthless.

To make the message even more clear, the heads of those betrayers were impaled in front of the adventurer guild’s building. Available for all adventurers to see.

In times of war, extreme measures had to be taken. Even in giving warnings.