[Vorn's POV]
Dressed in an orange shirt and handcuffed, I left the detention area accompanied by a warden. Once in the visiting room, the warden removed my handcuffs, and I sat down against the glass wall.
There was a skinny man in his 50s with thin hair behind that glass wall. He took the telephone receiver-like object hanging from his side, and I did the sa.
"Your mother is in the hospital." His voice sounded as soon as I put the thing to my ear.
"Ah…. How is she doing, dad?" I asked.
His expression grew firr. "Why don't you show any concern? She got sick because of you. She insisted on coming along, but her condition was terrible."
"Trust , dad." I sighed. "I'm worried about her."
And I speak the truth. But my mind is focused on my empire in that other world.
Besides that, I'm also used to hiding my feelings. I don't want to show my weakness to my people.
"What happened to you, son?" My dad's eyes started watering. "Your friend said you rarely go to class and shut yourself up. This isn't the usual you. You wouldn't suddenly attack people. You wouldn't beat up a prisoner just because you're pissed off. You always…."
"If you want to give a lecture, forget it." I cut him off. "I don't need that. Sorry."
"Hey! You…"
I put the communication receiver back in place, then got up from the chair, ignoring my father, who was screaming outside.
I haven't said sorry like that in a long ti.
When I held out both hands, the warden raised an eyebrow.
"Is that all?" He glanced at my father. "It seems he still wants to talk to you."
"It's enough."
"As you wish." The warden handcuffed my hands, then took back to the cell area.
***
Jude tapped a hamr on the table. "Oliviax Ashford, we are sentencing you to fifty lashes and one year in prison for aiding Fergus Algrave."
The blonde woman, kneeling on the floor with her hands tied and facing the judges, widened her eyes. "This isn't right! I did that because I was forced!"
"We've given you the lightest possible punishnt, Miss." Szur, sitting next to Jude, replied. "You should be grateful. You have beco Lord Vorn's enemy subordinate."
Olivia had tears in her eyes and started screaming. "This is wrong! I am royalty! I shouldn't be punished like this!!!"
"In lord Vorn's empire, there is no difference in status. All are considered equal." A blue-skinned Bwister judge added. "Your royalty is nothing."
"You guys can't do this!!!" Olivia's crying got louder, like a child throwing a tantrum. "I'm a victim!!! I don't want to be Fergus's servant myself!!! My parents are dead!!!"
"Shut up!!!" Xenora pounded on the table, making Olivia silent in an instant. "You want my punishnt increased, huh!?"
Garthur sighed. "Enough. We've already given her enough punishnt. No need for more."
"I beg your attention, please." Jude tapped the table with his hamr. "Olivia Ashford, you will be publicly whipped the day after tomorrow and enter the prison straight after that."please visit
"Please take her outside," Szur added.
Two guard shapeshifters took the woman away. She could only remain silent with her mouth agape.
"The trial we stopped temporarily to rest," Jude told his colleagues. "We'll be back in an hour."
Szur leaned back in the chair. "This work is so hard. We have to think a lot."
"This is only the first day of judgnt. We still have hundreds of suspects to deal with." Jude chuckled. "And this is actually fun for . Usually, I pray, preach, and listen to people's wishes. Now I determine their fate."
"Yeah, you're the only one who doesn't look tired, Jude." Garthur rested his head on the table.
"I will go." Xenora took off her black judge robe and placed it on the back of the chair. "I need to refresh for a mont."
"Yeah, we better not be here during our break." Jude stood up and also took off his robe.
The judges dispersed. Xenora imdiately flew towards the research area and landed in front of Ayre's research room.
The succubus knocked on that door. "Ayre, you said you wanted to see , right?"
"Just co in, Xen." Ayre's voice, sounding hoarse, erged from within the room.
When Xenora opened the door, she didn't find Ayre, only tables with various papers scattered.
"Where are you, Ayre?" Xenora looked around but still couldn't find the shapeshifter general.
"I am here."
Xenora flinched when she found sothing like human skin-colored goo under one of the tables.
"Ayre?" Xenora crouched near that thing. "What happened to you?"
"Because I'm too tired. I have a hard ti maintaining my form." Ayre explained, still in his goo form, but her eyes and mouth had appeared. "Being in charge of this empire, refining interdinsional magic, setting up underwater devices, and forming a police force. All of that is driving crazy. So, I decided to rest in this form. I feel comfortable like this."
Xenora grimaced at Ayre's uncanny form. "I won't be long. I don't want to disturb your rest ti. So, why did you call here?"
"You will be the interim leader of this empire in my stead."
It took a mont for Xenora to respond. "What!?"
"You already have good experience in leading." Ayre continued. "So, you are the right choice. After this, Karl will contact you. I have also contacted Phisovia to find a temporary replacent for you at the judiciary."
"But…"
"Please, don't argue." The shapeshifter general interrupted the succubus. "I really can't take on the task anymore, and the other generals have agreed to appoint you. This is for the sake of what lord Vorn built, Xenora."
Xenora was about to argue back, but Ayre's last words left her speechless. While massaging her forehead, she complained. "Why are you like lord Vorn? He also just pointed at without discussing it with . Twice even."
"You are the best among us." Finally, Ayre changed her form to its original state. "We know you can do these tasks."
Xenora paused again, narrowed her eyes, then looked at Ayre's hands. "You have too many fingers."
"Ah." Ayre studied her hands, which each had six fingers and were all shaped like thumbs. "I'm still too tired, apparently."
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