episode_0132

Episode 132

“Protect the princess!”

“Yep! Sister!”

Under Rika’s command, the mercenaries came out and surrounded the wounded knights. The enemy soldiers seemed very agitated as a person suddenly rose from the ground.

Of course, it was nothing compared to Carmel’s agitation.

“…Why…?”

Unlike Carmel, Rika was not shaken at all when she saw Carmel’s face. I simply commanded the mercenaries while firmly standing in front of me.

“Retreat, retreat! Retreat!”

In the end, someone who appeared to be an Imperial Army officer gave the order to retreat. Even as her allies hurriedly ran away, Carmel just stood there, devastated.

Carmel was drenched in rain, and its previous triumph was completely shabby. I approached Carmel like that. While being escorted by Rika.

“This is turning the tide, mother.”

Looking at me standing side by side with Rika, Carmel spat out venomous words.

“You, you…! What did you do to Rika! You broke your promise! He clearly promised to let Rika go!”

“All I promised was to release Rika outside of Luli. I don’t remember promising anything more than that?”

“What!”

Perhaps Rika may be the most precious person in Carmel’s life. So much so that he tried to save his life in exchange for his own humiliation.

How would it feel to see such a being on the enemy’s side?

Although this was not the intention, Rika was able to be used for its original purpose. As a card that breaks Carmel’s heart.

I want to defeat me right before my eyes. He wants to return the humiliation he suffered to me. If I hadn’t thought that way, if Carmel hadn’t come here in person, this situation wouldn’t have happened.

I approached Carmel and whispered.

“Well, it wasn’t all smooth sailing from the beginning. As you can see, Rika was quite rough. I got a little help from Hypnosis. Now Rika is my faithful dog.”

“You… Sarah…!”

Rika overpowered Carmel, who was trembling with anger and trying to rush at me. Carmel, who was grabbed by the arm from behind, spoke in a truly sorrowful voice.

“Rika…! Come to your senses… you are being deceived by this evil princess…!”

That’s touching. That Carmel is like this…

But Rika just responded calmly.

“Sorry, Carmel. I am completely normal now. Of my own will… I decided to stay by the princess’s side.”

“What…”

Carmel opened her mouth wide in shock and looked like she was going to collapse at any moment. That expression was so unbearable. So much so that I want to give it a kiss right now.

But that will have to be postponed until later. I ordered Rika.

“Arrest your mother. Now is the time to hurry to Lurie.”

Capturing Carmel is something to be happy about, but considering the situation at Senain Castle, there is no time to delay.

We quickly settled down and started riding toward Lurie again.

* * *

When I personally reported what had happened in Laurentia, Fehat became furious in a way he had never seen before.

An army was immediately formed to suppress the weightlifters. The vanguard, mainly cavalry, set off first to save Senain Castle.

The size of the main force that followed was enough to erase Laurentia from the map. This may mean that the king’s anger was great, but it also meant that the intervention of the empire was in mind.

However, there was no opportunity for the military to take action. Only a few days after the main force departed, the head of the family, Reid Laurencia, came to the palace in person.

Holding the head of his eldest son, Elrond Laurencia.

The aged Duke Reid Laurentia walked to the royal palace with difficulty, holding on to his cane. He put down the unadorned wooden box from his arms, knelt down with difficulty, and bowed his head.

“Open.”

A soldier opened the box. Inside was the head of a man with a heavy beard and sideburns like a lion’s mane.

“It’s definitely Elrond Laurencia. Reid, tell me.”

“Pehhat, the wise and great King of Lustier. Please forgive me. As the head of the family, I deeply feel the sin of trying to lay hands on the princess and the sin of bringing in foreign powers and disrupting the country. I will dedicate the money to the pervert who committed that terrible act, so please let go of my anger.”

“It’s not me who decides that.”

I was listening to Reid’s story from the seat just below the king. After taking over the baton from the king, I spoke to Reid, who was trembling in fear.

“Reid Laurencia. Did you really know nothing about Elrond’s treason?”

“Truly, truly, I did not know. If I had known, I would have been the first to question the traitor. Please forgive me for being a blind person.”

“But it was you who nominated that person as your successor. You are the one who gave me the authority to manage most of the territory. If you don’t have eyes to see like that, wouldn’t it be better to just take out both eyes?”

The tone of voice was calm, but the content was like a cold knife. Reid barely spoke, his whole body shaking.

“I’m just asking for mercy… please…”

“Yes. That doesn’t mean there aren’t things to consider. Because not all Laurentians agreed with Elrond. Just look at Luna Laurencia, who spared no effort in helping me escape from there.”

Reid was paying full attention to my every word. The sound of labored breathing seemed to be heard from the old man’s earnest expression.

“Although it was too late, we must take into account that he came to offer his supplies directly and that we have maintained a good relationship with the royal family so far. I will not take away your titles that have been part of Lustier’s history. However, the royal family will confiscate all the territories ruled by Elrond Laurentia. Also, please transfer the position of head of the household to Luna Laurencia immediately.”

“Princess, is that really enough?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Laurentia is one of the pillars that supports Lustier as one of the six great families. I think it is reasonable to give yourself a chance to make up for your mistakes.”

“As expected, you are generous. Reid, what do you think about the princess’ disposition?”

“I am simply overwhelmed by the extremely generous treatment…”

“As soon as you return to the territory, proceed as the princess says. The deployed troops will be stationed there for the time being. If there is even the slightest deviation… you will pay the price for trampling on the princess’s generosity.”

“I will definitely do so, risking the lives of all our blood relatives and vassals…”

“It’s okay to step down. Please leave immediately.”

Reid Laurencia staggered and left the palace. Fehat looked at his back, sighed deeply, and ordered him to clean up his messy hair.

Then Fehat’s face changed from that of the stern king to that of his father. Fehat said, looking down at me.

“Are you really okay with this? Sera. Even though they are the ones who threatened your life…”

“I think this would have been enough of an example. If you push yourself into a corner too much, you might end up making extreme choices. Moreover, I need to let people know that those who help me will be rewarded accordingly.”

“Hmm… I understand. If you were wise and decided that way.”

It seemed like the conversation would end like that, but Fehat suddenly started talking about something else.

“But Sarah, the queen didn’t come back together? I definitely said I was going to Laurencia to check on you… I wonder if I might have gotten caught up in this incident…”

“If it’s your mother, don’t worry, father. Mother said she would stay there to stabilize the public sentiment in Laurentia. He said he would be indebted to Senain Castle for the time being.”

“Huh, indeed. That’s great. You are a role model for the queen.”

Fehat nodded as if satisfied. Well, I wasn’t completely lying. Carmel is obviously staying at Senain Castle.

In the basement of Senain Castle, in a place that no one knows except Luna, the castle owner.

“I also have to go to Laurencia again. To monitor whether Reid keeps his promise, and to discuss the future with Luna Laurencia.”

“Hmm… Isn’t that too much of an effort? Besides, I would go back to a place with bad memories…”

“Don’t worry, father. Bad memories have to be replaced with happy memories.”

Obviously so. In the basement of Senain Castle, my greatest joy is still eagerly waiting for me.

* * *

A dark and damp space.

The hallway here seems to have particularly loud footsteps. Maybe it was done that way on purpose. To cause the sinners imprisoned here to be overcome with intense anxiety.

I opened the tightly closed iron door in the innermost part of the place. Inside, Rika and Carmel were waiting for me.

Clap, clap!

There is the sound of chains crashing violently. It’s probably because it heard me coming in and reacted.

Carmel is hanging on chains whose height can be adjusted mechanically. It is an uncomfortable position, with only one leg raised high, both arms behind the back, and the other leg also fixed by a chain on the floor.

However, from the viewer’s point of view, it is also so beautiful that it is heartbreaking. The contrast between the queen’s pure white skin and the black painted chains further emphasized the exquisite beauty of the female body.

In addition, Carmel’s eyes are covered with blindfolds, and a device is inserted into her mouth to steal people’s speech. Right now, all Carmel can hear is sound. So it must have reacted more sensitively to the sound of my footsteps.

I approached Carmel and removed her blindfold. When she checked my face, Carmel shook her whole body and entertained my eyes.

While I came all the way from Lurier to here, Carmel was left in this state the whole time. They may not have even been aware that it was Rika who was in charge of management.

Carmel’s eyes were filled with tears, whether from pain or anger.

“Hehe, how are you feeling, Mother?”

When I whispered that into Carmel’s ear, Carmel shook her body violently again.