One would think the majority of rebellions are caused by those trampled under the weight of nobility, but in actuality, it’s those with money who can bring the most damage to a royal family. Swords, armour, and men don’t come cheap. Especially when the weight of the world is thrown out of balance.
So today, the insulted nobles meet in secret. When a wolf fears it’s being backed into a corner, does it beg? Whine? Plead for mercy?
No. It bares its fangs…
Pop! A champagne cork brings noise into the gloomy-quiet room, then the chiming of a glass brings all those in attention to focus on the man responsible for this meeting.
Today, a parlay must be made, a wager on whether the nobility can continue as such.
“Right, it’s time to address the point of this get-together. Today, we’re to discuss our future. As you all know, the Princess is completely insa—”
“Tell us something we don’t know!”
“Yeah! One slip up, and we’ll face the executioner’s block! Just look what’s happening to the Amsterdam boys! Any day now, she’ll place their decapitated heads on a pike!”
The lesser minds always have a way of fearing the unpredictable, but I find a certain joy in dealing with a challenge. In our business, we always face issues. Losing five members of nobility in a single week has been a great problem for our cause.
The Amsterdam boys were a loss for sure, only because it’s hard to find advisors who know about the law extensively and where to find the loopholes. We figured they might hold some use to the Princess, but it’s clear the idea we had was insulting.
The three Davidson cousins dying inside the forest causes a bigger problem, as they were big contributors to transport and distribution. Without their backing, we’re finding it harder to keep the “goods” hidden from public eye. When the cuts were so clean and precise, like the Princess herself personally struck them down, this is a huge concern.
“Her insanity is one thing, but we’re to focus on the message she’s sending us. One would take this as an insult, no?”
“An insult? She had a foreigner handle internal politics! What’s next? She recruits a pig to decide on who the next minister shall be!?”
On that, I wholeheartedly agree. Using a barbarian of all people to decide their fate is illogical. Their capture is bad enough, but keeping them alive is insulting. If it’s to garner knowledge through torture, how can one spill our secrets when they don’t know our secrets to begin with?
‘She’s weak, and that weakness will spread to the Princess like a disease.’
“What more, everyone knows women shouldn’t hold any power—”
“Don’t start on that, we’ve already discussed that extensively. The Queen herself is an insult to the nobility, but the pros outweigh the cons. For now, we need to focus on our future.”
My right-hand man causes many of our associates to grumble since this has been a topic of discussion for years. Many a man wishes a return to the old ways, but this isn’t the time for discussion when the Princess herself is next in line for the throne.
‘As long as she can be moulded to our desires, who cares if she’s a member of the lesser gender?’
“Look, we all agree something must be done. But what do we do? The King won’t listen to our concerns anymore. As he grows older, he loses interest in our pleas!”
“Is it too early for treason? Is that what we’re speaking about here?”
“It’s never too early for treason when our livelihoods are at stake! The Princess is being too hostile!”
For those whose entire wealth is built upon acquiring and transporting “goods”, the Princess’s treatment of the Amsterdam boys is the final nail in the coffin.
But some of us still believe she can be reasoned with.
“Patience. For now, we send a warning. On the surface, she had a legitimate reason to act the way she did. If there’s any sense of sanity left within her, she’ll know when to back off.”
The King has overlooked our endeavours for decades; all she has to do is turn a blind eye, and everyone with power profits. It’s not like the entire kingdom is backed by blood and chains. Oh wait, it is!
‘Considering the huge weakness she has, it’s the best for everyone to remain nice and friendly…’
“Remember, we’re only to send a message. She isn’t stupid enough to realise how ill-advised making an enemy out of us will be. If she continues this pursuit, then we’ll consider it an insult.”
“How might you suggest we send the message? One of our agents has already gone missing. That palace is watertight. Getting in won’t be easy.”
Morri Lumigan, a fickle and vindictive maid with a hatred of the royals far greater than our own. Once devoted to her job, she remains an ember of her past self after a certain incident caused her to lose her sense of worth.
After hearing what happened to her family’s vineyard, she was tainted forever. All it took was a group of “knights” pillaging her childhood home for that hatred to fester. That idiot didn’t even realise they were bandits WE hired!
But I digress… she’s disappeared. Maybe the Princess found out who she is? Or she went rogue, and that hatred grew too strong? Maybe she left to find her sister? Although the bandits didn’t leave more than a few pieces once they had “chewed” through both mother and daughter.
“What makes you think she’s the only card we hold? We have people in all four palaces. This is the easy part.”
But this time, my right hand man isn’t as agreeable. If anything, he seems concerned.
“About that… she’s been making action. There has been a huge reshuffle in palace personnel in recent weeks.”
“That’s concerning. Does this mean we’ve lost the option?”
“No actually, it works out better for us. Many of the new servants inside the palace are corruptible. Some have already been corrupted.”
“Doesn’t that seem suspicious though? A reshuffle with no reason for it?”
It is, but when opportunity strikes, only a fool would turn it down.
“Regardless, we act. We’ve always had an uneasy relationship with the King, but as long as gold continues to flow, he lets us be. If his daughter has any sense, she’ll do the same…”
This is my egg; there are many like it, but this one is mine. Without me, my egg is useless. Without my egg, I am useless—
“Do you really plan on sleeping with it again? Heh, you’re going to wake up with yolk on your face soon.”
I had wished to spend some time getting to know my baby, but alas, a jealous Princess enters my room, desperate for attention.
“Why? You jealous? You had the chance to sleep with me on our marriage night. Yet, work was far more important!”
My attempt at teasing appears to get through to her, only I think it’s genuinely struck a nerve.
“Heh, that’s cruel, Frost. I’ll regret that mistake longer than just this lifetime…”
‘Haw haw. I’m not allowing the regressor to turn this into a means of flirting.’
“You know… I feel actual jealousy towards your egg. I’m sure Anna can help me with that tonight.”
What is she talking about? She and Anna don’t hold any type of romantic relationship, right? Right!?
Of course I’m right. But for a very brief second, I completely misinterpret what the Princess is implying.
“Eh? What do you mean?”
“Heh, I’m talking about dinner. Diced with some ham, mushroom and onion, your friend would make a rather nice omelette—”
“You stay away from my child!”
I get that she’s making a joke, but my blood is boiling! You don’t mess with another person’s egg!
“Heh, relax Frost. We’ve got to let it ferment first; it’ll only taste better!”
…
Now to the point where I’m clenching my teeth, I’m either going to stomp out of here or break something!
“What. Do. You. Want?”
[MIND'S EYE][First Name: Ashia][Family Name: Koenig][Affection: 50/100][Traits] [»][Gender: Female][Class: Royalty][Age: 25][Trait Rarity] [»][Swordsman] [†][Cursed] [Þ][Pyromaniac] [ℑ]
Spoiler
[TIER][Legendary] [5*][Excellent] [4*][Great] [3*] [Good] [2*] [Average] [1*] [TYPE][Combat: †][Magical: ℑ][Passive: Þ] [collapse]
Her affection for me may continue to grow, but mine will dwindle if she doesn’t realise when to stop. Deep down, I can see why it’s funny, but not at the expense of my egg! I already feel guilty enough about wanting to scramble him… or her. I don’t even know if it’s alive yet.
But thankfully, she knows when enough is enough.
“Sorry… I overstepped. You’re always welcome to curse, or even spit when I overstep the line, Frost.”
“We don’t need to go that far… it’s my fault for starting it. That joke about working late was a little mean.”
“But hey, if this counts as us arguing, then we’re already far healthier than most relationships, right?”
Getting the problem sorted straight away, why should we drag this on? If you have a problem, communicate! It’s so unbelievably easy! Now, both of us feel better.
“Heh, true. I am curious why you went to great effort carrying it back. Holding it all this way, I’m surprised you didn’t hurt your back.”
She offered to carry it as well as many of the knights, but I don’t trust anyone enough to hold it yet. It’s nagging me, as if the egg is crying out to my very soul to protect it. I don’t get why either.
“Eh, just felt like I had to. I mean, it improved one of my traits by touch. With that sort of power, it has to be something good, right?”
“Or something that could destroy the entire kingdom.”
…
A moment ago, I’d have done far too much for this egg…
“Wait, do you know what’s inside it!? Do we need to scramble it!?”
But now, I think destroying it is the safer bet! I’m not having anyone stand to fuck with us, even my own child!
“Heh, calm down, Frost. If it was bad, I’m sure it would’ve come up in a previous life. But it is suspicious, no? An egg that size in the middle of the forest? It’s like a gift from the heavens.”
Now staring where it lies with her emotionless face, I can tell she’s deep in thought. Whatever it is, this egg must be something important, right?
“Any clue what it might be?”
“A wyvern? Maybe a gryphon? It could even be a lesser species of dragon. Although, you’d think the egg would be bigger…”
I do remember the Saintess and Bastard having an encounter with a magical beast at some point in the story. These sorts of encounters are extremely rare though.
“It gives me a question, Frost. Only if you’re willing to answer.”
“Of course. Ask anything.”
With the Princess’s mind focused this heavily on the egg, whatever she says has to be something of huge importance. Whatever this hatches into, it must have a massive impact on our future.
“You refuse to ride a horse, but if given the chance, would you react the same to a magical beast?”
…
“Out of everything in this entire world you could’ve asked… you ask that?”
“Heh, it’s a very important question. There’s method to my madness. Perhaps, you’ll see it fully blossom someday.”
Hopefully I will. But when she looks so hollow inside, only to flick a switch and appear happy again, I’m like a moth to a flame.
“And how might I go about doing that?”
“Heh. You’ll have to get closer to me first.”
She opens out her arms just a touch, to show that the “insane” Princess wants a hug of all things.
I get that she’s usually flirtatious, but isn’t this too forward? Is it because she feels guilty about the egg? I was over that the second she apologised.
I can’t help but close the distance between us though. Now, I’m just out of arm's reach.
“I’m asking for a hug, Frost. You worried I’ll bite?”
‘Yes actually… and I’ll enjoy it.’
How far can I allow myself to go? What is the limit? I’m still unwavering in my duty to never cause this Princess duress, at least intentionally. But how far can I hold myself back?
Before I know it, she’s approaching me, and I’m being dragged by my waist. Instead of always holding myself back, just this one time I’ll allow myself some freedom…
[a/n] - I can provide a hug, just an imperfect one at this time (Wrong outfits). When there's a kiss or a hug involved, I have to build backwards from that sole image, else trying to get the height-hairstyles-colours to line up is notoriously difficult.
Using AI is a lot of tedious trial and error, I'm not replacing all the others just to fix 1 image...
Spoiler
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‘A hug, it’s just a hug. Nothing more, nothing less. Two friends can hug all the time; it’s meaningless. We can survive this, Frost. Just have faith…’
There’s no need to get excited. As we are right now, we’re just hugging. It doesn’t matter that I can feel her breath on my cheek, notice both our pounding hearts through my chest, smell that flowery perfume that causes all other scents to vanish.
All that combined, I’m on the edge of the cliff looking down into the vast ocean. All it would take is a whisper to push me off…
“You smell nice—”
“M-Must you always g-go too far!?”
I can’t handle this! She has no idea how close I was to acting on my instincts...
“Heh, it’s a blessing and a curse, Frost. Take all the time you need, we’ve still got years left before our “contract” comes to an end.”
‘We haven’t even made it past the first spring yet! This novel is going to be the death of me…’
[Saintess]
Spoiler
Several days after the charitable event…
“*Sigh*. It’s exactly as I feared. Divine punishment is a joke, you know he deserved it!”
All by herself in the vast green forest, an adventurer kneels with dirt on her clothes and an anger that could pierce the heavens. And believe me, the heathens are currently receiving said wrath…
“Fine, fine. I’ll apologise AGAIN if I get the chance. But what do you mean you have no control over the weather? Of course you can change it!”
For the past few days and nights, the clouds have flooded this very forest every chance they get. What this means for the lost adventurer, navigation is near impossible when one can’t see the direction the sun rises and sets. What’s more, even the stars remain hidden behind the clouds! An astronomer couldn’t find their way home like this!
‘God works in mysterious ways. If only the church knew how lazy he is, they’d stop kissing his laughable ass…’
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