Chapter 115 - 42: Taking Over Command

Chapter 115: Chapter 42: Taking Over Command

BANG!

Lilia slammed the reception room door shut.

She strode directly to the head seat and sat down under the dumbfounded gazes of the assembled group.

Behind the girl, two Knights stood like sentinels, one on each side of her chair.

The wooden chair scraped backward with a piercing screech, violently yanking everyone from their stunned silence.

Just a moment ago, the girl’s forceful words had rung with undeniable authority.

To Belmont and the others, who were consumed with thoughts of escape, it was like a sudden clap of thunder, nearly shattering their composure.

’Not a single step back...?’

’Does this Little Princess, who’s been pampered her whole life, even know what she’s saying?!’

"Princess!"

Belmont took a step forward. "Do you think this is a game? That we’re playing house?"

"You said yourself that a Lord bears responsibility, so you should understand that every order you give now affects thousands upon thousands of lives!"

"Are you going to make all of us die with you because of your willfulness?!"

Belmont’s outburst was met with a chorus of support.

"The Viscount is right!"

"She’s just a child who doesn’t understand anything! She has no right to boss us around!"

"Exactly! Viscount Belmont, let’s just ignore her. The situation is urgent; we can’t afford to waste a single moment!"

Everyone urged him on.

But not a single one of them dared to walk out the door. They all watched Lilia’s Knights warily, their eyes fixed on the gleaming, silver-white long swords in their hands.

They talked tough, saying Lilia was just a child and they should ignore her. But her earlier declaration—"Deserters will be executed"—was like a noose tightening around their necks, stifling any thought of defiance.

Their only hope was that Viscount Belmont, the highest-ranking and typically most assertive man here, would be the first to raise the banner of rebellion.

If he just gave the word, they would all swarm forward!

But they didn’t dare to resist, and neither did Belmont.

Belmont looked at the head of the table, at the girl’s delicate, expressionless face.

He didn’t understand Magic and had no idea of Lilia’s true strength.

But he could recognize the quality of the equipment worn by the two Knights behind her.

That plate-like armor, those long swords that could cut through iron like mud...

’If we try to defy her... we’ll die a horrible death.’

Belmont softened his tone, trying to reason with her. "Princess Lilia, you heard what was said just now..."

"Mm."

Lilia nodded. "I heard."

Under the tense and slightly hopeful gazes of the crowd, she spoke. "But so what?"

"Whether we flee or stay, the people of Navia will die."

Her tone was still composed, as if she weren’t discussing a critical decision involving tens of thousands of lives, but rather what to have for breakfast tomorrow.

Seeing the astonished expressions on their faces, she even offered a naive yet cruel smile. "So, my decision doesn’t concern the lives of thousands."

"It only concerns the lives of you few."

Lilia leaned back in her chair. "The lives of a few deserters are a burden I think I can bear."

Belmont’s pupils contracted.

The nobles behind him erupted in an uproar.

This blatant disregard for their lives was making them antsy.

Usually, they were the ones who treated other people’s lives as worthless. When had they ever been on the receiving end of such humiliating treatment?

Lilia didn’t care what these men were thinking, and she couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words on them. "Right now, I’m giving you two choices."

"Either stay."

"Or die."

The moment she finished speaking, two Knight’s Long Swords were drawn with a flourish, radiating killing intent.

In the reflection of the cold steel, the girl added with a smile, "Those who choose the second option are free to leave now."

Everyone: "..."

After a long silence, someone muttered a curse.

’She’s already laid it out like that... Who would dare choose the second option now?!’

"Very good."

The girl pushed her advantage, a brilliant smile on her face. "It seems you are all very dedicated, willing to sacrifice your own interests to protect the people. I must have misunderstood you before."

"Since we’ve reached a consensus, please, be seated."

Frustrated, Belmont and the others sat down.

Watching the two Knights sheathe their swords, their hearts, which had been lodged in their throats, finally settled back into their chests.

At this point, someone finally couldn’t hold back anymore and spoke with the passive-aggressive tone of a man with nothing left to lose. "The Princess is so confident about staying. It seems you must have a way to deal with the Demons already?"

"That’s right, Princess. You’re not making us stay just to send us to our deaths, are you?"

"Strictly speaking, you are the Lord of Navia. You did say just now that a Lord must protect their people. As your subjects, shouldn’t we fall under your protection as well?"

"..."

Lilia ignored their taunts.

With their target refusing to respond, their sarcasm started to feel flat and pointless.

Once they had all fallen silent, Lilia finally spoke, beckoning the Knight who had made the initial report to come forward.

"You said earlier that you saw a Demon Army near the Valgipps Mountain Range?" Lilia asked.

"Yes, Princess!"

"How many, specifically?"

"About a hundred of them. At the time... I was a bit too scared to get a clear look."

"How far is the Demon force from the Valgipps Mountain Range?"

"About a few kilometers! Damian, who was with me, is a Low-level Knight. He definitely wouldn’t have misjudged the distance!"

Lilia nodded.

Like Mages, Knights were a type of Extraordinary Profession.

Lilia didn’t know much about them, but she understood the basics: depending on their rank, a Knight’s five senses were enhanced to varying degrees. Seeing a marching army at the foot of the mountains from several kilometers away was not a difficult feat for them.

She continued her questions. "Are you certain that force is headed for Navia Town? What is their approximate marching speed? How long until they arrive nearby?"

The Knight answered her questions one by one.

Listening to their back-and-forth, Belmont and the others, sitting to the side, couldn’t help but wipe the cold sweat from their brows.

Only then did it dawn on them... In their panic, they hadn’t even thought to ask these most basic questions.

They had simply heard the Knight say Demons were coming and had scrambled to flee without a second thought.

It hadn’t seemed so bad before Lilia brought it to light, but now, by comparison...

...they seemed utterly cowardly and incompetent.

Especially since some of them had just been mocking Lilia, thinking a young girl like her was completely incapable of handling this crisis.

But looking at it now...

...whether she could solve the problem or not, the composure she was showing already made her far superior to them.

As he heard the Knight’s response, Belmont, who had been wallowing in his own inadequacy, snapped his head up. "Wait... what did you just say?"

"The Demons’ destination isn’t Navia?!"