Esralda had just finished attending to Prince Vritra and was on her way back to check on the princess.
However, she was stopped by a guard who inford her that the king wanted to see her.
"I see… I'll head there now."
Knowing she had no choice, she agreed without hesitation.
Esralda already had a strong suspicion about why His Majesty was summoning her at this hour.
It was most likely about Princess Luciana.
She had done a good job keeping the princess's condition a secret, but she knew it was only a matter of ti before the king found out.
『I'd be lying if I said I wasn't expecting this to happen around today. But His Majesty found out a lot faster than I thought… it's only just past noon.』
With a sigh, the head maid nodded to the guard and went to answer the king's summons.
…
When His Majesty wasn't in the throne room attending to nobles and commoners who ca to share their concerns or challenges, he would spend his leisure ti in his private study.
Esralda had already gone to see him there.
She bowed her head in the traditional greeting.
"Greetings, Your Ma──!"
"Why didn't you tell about the princess?"
King Felmus didn't waste a second getting to the point, and the stone-hard expression on his bearded face made it clear that Esralda wouldn't easily escape this situation.
"I…"
The head maid struggled for words.
She could already feel the weight of her dilemma.
How could she explain to the king that Prince Vritra wasn't the one who hard the princess, even though he was the only one found with her blood on him? There was no way she could win this coming argunt without appearing more loyal to Vritra than to the king, who had given her the peaceful life she now enjoyed.
『Just watch your words, Esralda…』
That was what she told herself.
"Your Majesty, I wanted to te—"
Before Esralda could finish, King Felmus angrily rose from his chair and slamd his fist on the table.
"DON'T YOU DARE LIE TO , WOMAN!"
His sudden outburst terrified the head maid, and she imdiately took several timid steps back, doing her best not to scream out of shock.
This was the first ti His Majesty had ever shouted at her, and she didn't know how to respond other than with fear.
She couldn't even bring herself to look into his furious eyes, which burned with anger.
The king grunted like a beast and slamd his fist on the desk again, even louder and fiercer this ti.
"I already know it was that bloodsucking demon, Vritra, who did that to my daughter! She doesn't deserve to be in the state she's in, and you, who are supposed to be like a mother to her, dare try to hide the truth about her condition?"
King Felmus stord out from behind his desk and quickly unsheathed an antique magic sword hanging a few steps away.
"Esralda…"
He pointed the gleaming sword at her.
"Have you gone mad?"
His voice was cold.
"Please, Your Majesty… have rcy…"
Cold sweat ran down Esralda's neck as the tip of the sword inched closer and closer until it pressed lightly against her throat. She was certain that if she said anything more, King Felmus would lose his temper and cut off her head.
The re thought terrified her.
"Why should I show rcy to an ungrateful liar?"
The king snarled.
"I gave you a comfortable life in the palace and treated you almost like my own daughter, even when my wife despised the very idea of your presence. And yet here you stand, spouting nonsense…"
There was a crazed look in his eyes.
Even if Esralda tried to run now, she knew she'd be cut down before she could take a single step.
His Majesty was a Sword King, and their kind could move faster than the human eye could perceive.
There was no chance of escape!
…
Back in Vritra's Chambers…
The young lord sat in a chair with his legs crossed, watching the scene unfold through a small distortion in space. It was like a portal mirror that reflected the tense mont in the study room and transmitted it to him via quantum reflection, making it feel as if he were right there.
Butler Neron was standing behind the young lord.
He leaned in and said, "Young lord, this woman is important to you, isn't she? Wouldn't it be wise to help her? Who knows what that king might do…"
Vritra waved his hand dismissively and yawned.
"Don't worry, it's supposed to happen like this."
…
In the king's study…
Though only a few seconds had passed, it felt like an eternity for Esralda, who was at a loss for words.
『I agree that I'm a horrible and ungrateful person…
『King Felmus has been so kind to since I ca to this palace as a slave. There were tis he tried to get close to , but when he realized I was just a young lady back then, he controlled himself and beca like a father to .
『And yet, I can't stop my feelings for God Vritra or speak against him to protect His Majesty. I can't make myself believe that he's the one who left Prince Luciana in her current state, even though all the evidence points to him.
… sniff-sniff!
『Honestly… what's wrong with ?』
She stared at her neck, where the sword tip pressed closer like a syringe ready to inject.
All she could think about was Prince Vritra's gift to her.
She had just left his chambers and hadn't had a chance to wear the black diamond necklace he gave her one last ti.
"I… I accept my faults, Your Majesty. But I won't accept the idea that God Vritra was the one who hard the princess. Believe it or not, he has shown affection for her, and for too. I refuse to betray what my heart feels."
She knew her words were unfair and wrong.
But that didn't matter…
"Take my head; I accept death for my betrayal."
Esralda closed her eyes and braced herself.
There was no sign of rcy in the king's eyes. Every thought and decision he would make was with the sword in his hand.
"Affection? Don't make laugh! That monster doesn't have a heart. Look at your body; do you really think any man would love you for your personality?! Don't make laugh!"
King Felmus angled the sword back and then swung it furiously toward Esralda's neck.
Esralda squeezed her eyes shut and recoiled in fear.
"FATHER, STOP!"
A loud voice interrupted, and King Felmus's sword stopped just at the edge of Esralda's neck. He turned to see who had spoken… it was his daughter, Luciana!
The princess marched forward, protectively hugging Esralda and gently pushing her away from King Felmus.
"How dare you try to hurt Esralda?!"
Luciana's eyes were filled with tears.
At that mont, King Felmus didn't know how to feel, but seeing his daughter so healthy and alive made him relieved. The sword dropped from his hand, and he spread his arms with a look of relief, trying to hug his daughter.
"Lu-, Luciana, you're safe…"
Ignoring his words, Luciana hugged Esralda tighter and moved her even further away from Felmus. This irritated the king, who pointed angrily at the head maid.
"You protect an ungrateful woman who doesn't even care about your well-being!"
The princess sniffled and gently patted Esralda's back as she spoke.
"No, Father… you're wrong! Esralda was right about everything. I never said God Vritra tried to harm … I was the one who tried to kill myself!"
This revelation left the king stunned.
━ ━ ━ ━
(T/N): I think there's a great parallel between Esralda and Luciana here. Just like how a mother protects her child by hugging her when Lumis tried to harm her, Luciana is now doing the sa for Esralda. It's like the roles have reversed, with Luciana stepping in to protect Esralda now that she's the one who needs it.
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