Chapter 304: The Advent of the Princess Saints Part Three

Damn, thinks Zuzia to herself as she and the two gatonines are led into the mayoral estate of the mining town by the noble assigned to watch over them. Where’s our rescue, Daniel? Two of these women are your harem-wives, aren’t they Daniel? Are they the expendable ones? Is this where your priorities are?

She knows she’s just frustrated because she’s not seeing the whole picture at present. If Jeavana is actually neglecting to watch over them, then Daniel should handle that side of things appropriately. The problem is that Zuzia is cut off, and Treia and Veiranoei are not invincible the way Zuzia is.

“It’ll be alright,” replies Treia, seeming to sense that either Zuzia or Veiranoei are noticeably nervous. “His Majesty said he’ll help our family, so we just need to be patient, right, my Lord? Um, f-forgive me, if it’s not my place…”

“Nooo,” coos the human aristocrat with his feigned gentleness. All three ladies that he’s escorting are absolutely filthy with mud, soot, and the stink of smoke. He couldn’t be moving much faster if he were sprinting to try to get them to a bath. “It’s perfectly fine, Miss. As his Majesty said, you are precious existences to the Kingdom of Ahmpur. He ordered that you be given the utmost hospitality while the rescue operations move forward, now that you’ve given us hope. So, please go with Monalphia. Monalphia, please escort these ladies and treat them to a bath. They are his Majesty’s personal guests, so I shouldn’t need to explain how you should treat them.”

The young maid curtsies, saying, “Yes, my Lord. Please leave it to me. My Ladies, if you’ll please follow me.” The maid gestures and leads the way.

Since it gets them away from the greaseball, the three ladies follow, and several more slightly younger maids follow them to assist.

Zuzia does her best to stay calm.

Alright… Think. Do we just smash our way out of here? But then, where do we go? If we run straight to Daniel and Sundenelle, this whole farce will be for naught. And, I’ll be damned if I did all of this for nothing. So, what’s our options.

While they’re walking, Veiranoei speaks up a little nervously, “Um… What should we do about our clothes? We’re quite filthy.”

When Zuzia and Treia look at her, the gatonine is drawing an idle circle on her left breast. She adds, “I don’t have the money to pay, and I don’t want to become a debt slave.” She looks at Zuzia as she finishes the sentence, and the Polish woman twitches.

The contract mark.

Daniel’s name, though basically written in cursive English, is emblazoned on Zuzia’s chest. It’s a magic tattoo of sorts, and although hers is rather subtle, if these ladies are tasked with helping the three of them bathe, they’ll see it. Though maids might not know what it is off hand, if they describe it to the aristocrats or King, they might realize Zuzia is under a magic contract with someone, and it’ll bring up further questions.

She’s right… What do I do about that? Tell them I’m too ashamed to be seen in the nude?

Monalphia reassures them gently, “Don’t worry, my Lady! We’ll take care of everything! You are guests of his Majesty, so it will be no trouble at all.”

“Oh! Really?” asks Veiranoei, feigning gratitude.

Yep. I’m going to have to do something… Alright, I’ll bide my time for a little longer.

“If I may, my Lady, you have really pretty hair,” says a strangely familiar voice. Zuzia looks in surprise, but she has to do a brief doubletake. A short maid with black hair and golden eyes is walking in step with them.

Zuzia would think she’s hallucinating, but she quickly reminds herself in her mind.

No! Maleńka? How!?

That said, the young ‘maid’ is swiftly reprimanded by Monalphia. “Serving Maids are to be seen, not heard. Actually, I don’t recognize you.”

“Oh! Um, this is actually my first day. And, I just thought… The tall lady is really pretty, and I wanted to make her feel better.”

“That is not your place. Go on ahead, Jettaered. It seems this young maid requires further discipline.”

Zuzia worries, but Hekate doesn’t seem to be worried. Somehow, she also doesn’t have a pair of giant triangular ears and a humongous black tail, but the honey-haired brunette is just about to move when a voice reaches her in her mind.

“{I got this, Big Sis! Don’t worry.}”

Hekate glances at her briefly, but quickly bows to Monalphia as the senior maid drags her off by the bicep. Zuzia feels a little bit of worry, glancing at Treia and Veiranoei as well.

Jettaered says as gently as she can, “Please forgive the rudeness of that maid. I don’t recognize her either. I wonder who hired her?”

“I heard the Imperial convoy just arrived,” murmurs one of the others. “Maybe she’s supposed to be with them…”

“I-It’s no trouble,” replies Zuzia. “I hope Miss Monalphia won’t be too hard on her… She seemed like a nice girl.”

“Even so, my Lady, it was rude of her to speak out of turn. We are representatives of the house we serve, and if even a young maid is allowed to show such a lack of discipline, the house will fall into chaos.”

I wonder if they know exactly how dangerous that little bundle of chaos is. I’m one to talk, of course, but…

***

Hekate stumbles after the senior maid Monalphia with a scared expression. She’s doing her best to keep track of the mansion’s layout, but she’s probably going to get lost trying to find Zuzia again. She got lucky that she was able to slip in as a maid so easily, only to give herself away to try to tell Zuzia that she was there.

Guess I should’ve waited a little longer. Also, how far is this lady going to drag me? Am I being taken to the dungeon?

It’s not the dungeon, but the senior maid flings a door open and throws Hekate in by the arm. It’s such a forceful movement, that the young teen tumbles to her hands and knees in the room while Monalphia closes the door, snarling, “You fool! Even if it’s your first day, to think you would be so-Grk!”

Without warning, and as she’s turning to take a crop off of a hook just inside the door, Monalphia is pinned to the wall by the neck with her feet dangling off of the ground. She gasps and kicks. A human male wearing black clothes and a mask caught her off guard, and he hisses at a whisper, but with eagerness, “You’ll never believe our luck. The Empress arrived with the Fievegal. If we can get the Saints out of the mansion, they’ll be the ones to get blamed.”

Hekate rubs her face, watching the woman slowly try to gasp for air as the strength leaves her. The teen is completely fearless, since the ‘assassin/kidnapper’ isn’t here for her.

“Make sure you don’t kill her,” whispers Hekate. “I was hoping we wouldn’t have to go with this plan, but thanks for covering for me.”

The man nods, and he holds the woman only a moment longer before tossing her to the floor past Hekate. She gasps in a breath, but she doesn’t move right away.

Hekate cries out, “Please! Please have mercy! I was just trying to be polite!” She nods, and her accomplice smacks her in the face. Hekate won’t bruise from anything a human can do, but it might redden her cheek enough when she tries to put the mask back on and resume her stealth mission.

The man then moves over to Monalphia again, and he ties her hands behind her back and loops a rope over her thighs to tie her ankles into a seated position, leaving her tucked into a corner of the room out of immediate sight. Since the room is pretty clean, they should find her in a timely manner.

“Alright, I’m going back in.”

The man nods, and he uses magic to turn invisible once more.

Hekate jogs back up the hallway, carrying her skirt, which is much longer than she’s used to.

Alright, where’d they go? This place isn’t that big. Hardly like the Citadel. Not that I get lost there or anything…

Fortunately, the ‘advanced illusion’ magic that Hekate is using, as taught to her by Doephluev in their collusion to eventually try to fool Daniel, doesn’t actually erase her ears from her head. It just successfully ‘transforms’ them, similar to taking the human form in the first place.

Even if Hekate will abide by Daniel’s rule, it doesn’t mean she can’t try to restore her wounded pride that he so easily discovered her and Doephluev’s scheme. And, though she’s in hot water right now, it’s clear that Daniel still cares about Doephluev, so he’ll eventually forgive her. She, too, wishes to defeat Daniel at this game of magic mastery versus a tricky human who shouldn’t be good at magic at all.

Hekate focuses on her hearing, listening for voices that she recognizes.

Wait… Is that… Bare feet? Ah! Zuzia was barefoot! I wonder why… But, that’ll help! No one else should be barefoot here.

Hekate follows the hallways towards the sound of bare feet mixed into the taps of shoes and small boots.

“No running!” calls out someone’s voice.

“Sorry, I have to! Please forgive me!”

I probably should have changed my hair color… Oh well. Wait! I can! Just turn a corner and…

Hekate waits until she’s out of sight of whoever just called out to her, having shouted again once more, and she casts the spell again to change her hair color to a light green. The other maids had a few different hair colors, as if chosen for their slightly colorful and exotic cuteness.

Hekate carefully makes the approach this time, doing her best to keep from giving herself away so readily like before.

That said, if she’s not recognized by the other maids, they’ll call her out so soon after her first blunder. Especially because they might recognize her face and eyes.

“Let’s get you undressed,” comes a voice from inside the room ahead of Hekate.

Wait! If they see the contract mark on Zuzia or Veira’s scars… Won’t that give them away?

Hekate cracks the door open cautiously, and the maids are just starting to take their outfits apart.

No! I need to move…

Hekate bites her lip, but a hand lands on her shoulder. She gasps, but when she looks, no one is visible.

“Shh,” whispers the voice of her accomplice, and she can hear him mumble quietly before all of the color around her dissolves away, leaving only shades of black, white, and grey.

When she looks, she can see the black-cloaked man with his finger to his lips, and he nods.

Muindis, you’re getting another promotion after this! Or money! I don’t know! Maybe a new gun. Something. Thank you!

Hekate’s eyes water a little, but she needs to act. She moves into the room carefully and as quietly as she can.

“Hey, the door just opened.”

Hekate’s heart stops, but Muindis pushes her inside and off to the side quickly, crouching out of the way.

“I was sure I latched it,” replies another maid as she moves to the door to check. No one is visible, so she closes it and latches it properly. “Strange.”

One of the other maids teases, “Perhaps it was a ghost!”

The servants giggle together, while Zuzia, Treia, and Veiranoei are still nervous.

Hekate takes a breath and focuses. She relaxes the magic on herself, since Muindis is keeping her hidden now, and she focuses on Zuzia first. She casts the simpler illusion magic on the Earthling, focused on her chest. All Hekate has to do is hide the contract mark, which is just a small spot.

Veiranoei will be the tricky one. Casting illusion magic on someone else can be tricky if Hekate doesn’t stay focused. But, she has plenty of magic and there’s no reason not to focus.

So, she casts the spell, holding both with her magic to keep them active and making sure to make adjustments if it feels like she’s losing her grip on the specific illusions.

As the maids remove the Fievegal ladies’s dresses, Hekate notices that she got scolded for almost no reason. It’s possible her cover was blown instantly, and Monalphia was just making an excuse. Or, maybe it’s bullying of new maids.

Either way, she doesn’t feel bad about tying up that woman. Though, maybe they should free her.

Nope. If I made a mistake, I need to own it. I shouldn’t go around trying to undo every single one while there’s still danger afoot.

Thankfully, Hekate has the needed marks hidden, and the maids proceed to bathe them with wash buckets and rags. Because of how dirty the three are, it’s likely, if they even get a soaking bath, that the maids were instructed to wash off the filth first.

Okay. Now, how to kidnap them?

Hekate glances towards Muindis without taking her eyes entirely off of her ladies. The newest Dragonslayer is shielding his eyes to protect the modesty of the ladies, but he is also keeping watch over them while the maids clean them. Another one brings clothes out of a nearby wardrobe, though these seem to be simple innerwear so they can be taken to another room to get dressed.

Zuzia keeps glancing around a little curiously, but she seems a little worried that she can’t find Hekate.

“{Zuzia, I’m watching over you. Sorry about that. Just stay calm.}”

“{Did you hide my mark and Veira’s scars?}”

“{Yeah! Oh, but don’t look too happy or anything. Or something. I…}”

“Emergency!” yells a woman as she bursts in, startling the maids and the trio, as well as Hekate. Muindis reacts instantly, cupping his hand over Hekate’s mouth to keep her silent. He was ready for anything, and he’s the only reason Hekate didn’t break their stealth. The newcomer says, “Someone attacked Monalphia!”

“What!?” yelp several of the maids as the others start gossiping.

Hekate trembles. She didn’t expect to alert the mansion this quickly. She understands now why Cheshyret had so much trouble, even with all of the abilities a golem should have, even remotely. Hekate doesn’t have the experience to handle something like this, but she arrogantly thought she could handle it.

She can, of course, teleport everyone out at any time, but, if she’s caught doing so,...

She tries to look at Muindis, and the Captain calmly puts his free hand index finger to his masked mouth, shaking his head gently. He then gives her a thumbs up.

She is nervous, but he seems to be adapting, so she’ll just have to go along with it.

“What should we do?” asks one of the panicked maids.

“Butler Vaytan has ordered us to escort the saints to the upper floor guest bedroom, and then to the secure room behind. We need to wait for the knights to gather and find the attacker!”

“Right! This way, ladies! I’m so sorry. Please, we need to get you to safety!”

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Zuzia, Treia, and Veiranoei are hastily dressed in the temporary dresses and whisked away by the maids. Muindis and Hekate follow a few yards behind, carefully remaining alert.

Thankfully, Hekate can relax her illusions on the ladies for now, but they need to stay close.

The maids all rush towards the stairs, and at the highest floor of the three-story mansion, they usher the three ‘saints’ into a bedroom, as well as themselves.

Hekate uses short-range teleportation to move herself and Muindis inside, and they move to a corner out of the way as they observe.

The women all chatter in a panicked state, with one of the eldest doing her best to calm everyone down.

Zuzia, Treia, and Veiranoei huddle together nervously, while another maid opens the back room.

The ‘back room’ is some kind of very clandestine room, and it is not decorated for comfort.

“W-Wait, you want us to go in there!?” asks Zuzia fearfully. Veiranoei and Treia shake their heads as well, seemingly terrified.

“Please, you’ll be safe in there. We simply must make sure that the intruders don’t find you. Please, Lady Saints. I promise you’ll be safe.”

It can’t be this easy, can it?

It’s not.

While Hekate easily gets herself and Muindis inside the secure room with the three they’re meant to rescue, all of the maids huddle inside as well, and they close the door, all hiding together in fear.

It seems the maids are afraid they’ll be the targets as well.

Hekate is panicking. She could teleport the three out when the maids look away, but it’ll be difficult with Zuzia, and if she’s caught doing it, then, as with all other complications with this mission, the Fievegal will be caught in the act.

What do I do?

Ah! Neith!

“{Neith! I need help! I messed up, and now the whole mansion is on alert! What do I do?}”

“{Please stay calm, your Greatness. Is Captain Muindis with you?}”

“{Yes. We’re hidden in the secret room that they moved Treia, Veira, and Zuzia to, but I’m afraid to try to teleport Zuzia. I think I can move her, but a bunch of maids are here with us, so I’ll be caught if they look at us while I’m trying to move her.}”

“{Yes… That is a complication. Stay calm, and don’t lose track of the ladies. I’ll find a moment to ask for advice. But, it looks like we’re about to receive the report here. It may be some time, but while they’re looking for an intruder, they won’t do anything to those three. So, the best thing to do right now is have patience. How are you on stealth?}”

Hekate has no idea how long Muindis can use stealth magic. She wonders if telepathy will work on him, or if he has to stay focused. “{Muindis, can you hear this? Don’t speak, it’s telepathy.}”

“{I’m familiar with telepathy, your Greatness. I’m not able to cast it very well while I’m holding stealth though. We’re not lost yet, so please stay calm. An opportunity will present itself.}”

“{Yes, I was talking to Neith. He said the same thing.}”

“{I am still connected, your Greatness. That makes things easy. Sir Muindis, how long can you maintain the stealth spell?}”

“{I’m hiding both of us at present, so I can probably sustain this for another hour. I’ll be nearly exhausted by then, though.}”

“{Understood. I’ll make contact with Jeavana and Serrentuk. When the divine light hits again, teleport out without revealing yourselves. Can you do that?}”

“{Do I have a choice?}” asks Hekate via telepathy.

“{I have faith in your abilities, your Greatness. Focus on your task. Doephluev is standing in for you, so you won’t be suspected. We’ll have you guys out of there in no time.}”

“{Please hurry, Neith. I think they’re going to tear this place apart to look for us because I had a run-in with a mean maid lady.}”

“{Understood. We’ll move as fast as we can.}”

Hekate takes a quiet breath and exhales carefully, and Muindis pats her shoulder. The two of them can see each other because of the way the Stalvaltan stealth spell works. And, it’s still a closely guarded secret that only the Citadel has coaxed out of them under threat of torture and death of the entire Stalvaltan territory. He could probably be right in front of a skilled mage searching for them and not be detected, but it’s a risk she’s not willing to take.

As for what’s happening on Daniel’s end, Hekate will have to hope she doesn’t end up in Doephluev’s position.

She would rather die than lose Daniel’s affection, even for a little while.

***

Daniel is helping Magnir and Neith unload the water jet cutters while Sundenelle and King Harnavock observe. The cutters are massive compared to any kind of tool a person would normally use. They weigh about four hundred pounds each with the lead shielding built around them to help reduce the chances of radiation stalling them out, if they encounter any. The soldiers quickly gather other tools, including wheelbarrows, shovels, and lumber to hastily strip and reinforce the hasty shaft the dragons will be digging.

‘Hekate’ walks up, having been introduced as Sundenelle’s close friend, rather than Daniel’s ‘wife’, since Hekate is the true sovereign of the Fievegal, but her presence is one of protection, rather than ‘sharing Daniel’. Her presence could also be said to be ‘curiosity as a fellow sovereign learning the ropes’, since she’s so young.

Of course, the one wearing Hekate’s face right now couldn’t care less about learning how to be a sovereign. She just wants to earn Daniel’s trust back.

“Daniel, I’m sure I can do all of this myself,” offers the fox-eared Empress.

“I’d like you to use your magic to help support the tunnel they dig. The lumber will be more stable once we leave, but while we’re trying to get the men out…”

Hekate sighs with her hands up. “Fine.” She walks over to Sundenelle and Harnavock, asking, “Isn’t it less fun when we just have to watch?”

The other two sovereigns chuckle uneasily, and Harnavock offers, “Forgive me, your… Greatness, but not all of us have the rumored power you hold.”

“That’s fair, I suppose. And, Daniel’s probably right. I might make things worse…”

“Your Majesty!” calls out a voice that draws everyone’s attention.

Neith whispers to Daniel, “They’re safe for now.”

Daniel nods subtly as he jogs over, and one of the Ahmpur soldiers rides up. “Your Majesty, forgive me for the rush!” He drops off of the steed to approach quickly before kneeling.

“What is it!?” asks the mature King urgently.

“There’s an emergency in the mansion.”

“What!?” booms the King. He glances briefly at the other three near him. He growls, “What is it? Are my guests safe?”

“Yes, your Majesty, but the intruder hasn’t been found.”

“Intruder!?”

“Yes, a maid was attacked in the staff dressing room.”

“Attacked?” asks the King as he absorbs this information. He momentarily narrows his eyes, and his gaze tilts briefly to the Fievegal. Hekate scowls at him in return, and he lets out a sigh.

“If there is an attacker, we can offer aid in securing a perimeter,” offers Hekate. “I’ll send Sir Magnir to,...”

“No, that won’t be necessary, your Greatness.” Harnavock faces them and bows respectfully. “Forgive me, but it seems I need to find out what’s going on.”

“Her Greatness Hekate and I will join you,” states Sundenelle.

“Your Grace,...” starts to object the King, but she narrows her ruby-red eyes coldly, and her tone becomes one of severity that will take no alternative.

“The timing of this attack is extraordinarily suspicious, King Harnavock. To think it would conveniently occur exactly when we have arrived with proprietary equipment. You seem quite hasty to refuse our aid all of a sudden after specifically requesting that I come here. I hate to feel like my aid is seen as a burden, or even worse, an opportunity.”

Harnavock flinches, and Daniel is impressed. ‘Hekate’ maintains her own icy expression as she looks at Sundenelle, and then to the King who doesn’t have an immediate answer.

Both sides have a double-edged sword in front of them. If he refuses and later makes accusations against the Fievegal or the Empire, then it looks, at least to Sundenelle, like he’s framing them. If he accepts, and they are attacked by a false-flag of their own, they can use it against Ahmpur.

“I could say something similar, your Grace,” replies Harnavock with a coldness to his voice. “This timing is quite convenient. Mere hours after Ahmpur receives a divine blessing from the goddess, you appear alongside the Fievegal, and now, the place that I am staying in has been broken into.”

“It takes a great deal of nerve to invite my aid, and when I go out of my way to come myself, bringing with me unprecedented means of saving your miners, you suggest that I had something to do with this?”

“I made no suggestions,” retorts the King. “But, you did not come alone.” His eyes drift momentarily to Hekate, and he sneers slightly. Hekate is a ‘demon-kin’ in many senses, especially because she proudly leads a nation mostly populated by demon-kin.

There’s a tense moment, Daniel rubs his right hand fingers together to flex and loosen up his hand.

And then…

“Pfft! Hahahahahahaha! Ahahahahahahahaha!”

Everyone, including Daniel, looks in stupefaction at ‘Hekate’ as she bursts into laughter. This laughter horrifies Sundenelle, irritates Daniel, and seems to incense King Harnavock as she laughs for a long time.

‘Hekate’ asks as she rubs her eyes, “What a pathetically stupid thing to suggest. What in the world do you think you have in this little town that I don’t have in the Fievegal? If we held you to the debt that would be accrued for all of the relief supplies we’ve provided, I would already own this entire Kingdom. You have nothing I want.” She grins, showing off almost every single one of her sharp, shark-like teeth. “Or, do you have something that you’re trying to not only hide, but to frame me for trying to steal? Your people keep mentioning some divine light and a holy lance.” ‘Hekate’ cleans her ears to remind everyone that she has biological satellite dishes on her head. “So, should I be trying to steal it? Because I wasn’t interested until you tried to suggest that I would send an intruder into your… palace?” She turns a gaze of pity on the mansion, continuing as the King’s face turns red, and Sundenelle watches with her mouth agape, horrified by ‘Hekate’ unleashing on him. “Daniel! Isn’t it supposed to be extremely rude to accuse another sovereign of something without any evidence?”

Daniel wants to smack Doephluev in the head right now, but he has to play along. He has to, because the worst part about Doephluev’s little rant in her disguise as Hekate is that Hekate would say and act exactly like that if her buttons were pushed enough. She is not secretive about how much she hates being Empress, and she only really does it because Daniel encourages her to do so. He hopes having the Fievegal to support her will last even when he has grown old and moved on. And, if she’s the sovereign, and like this, little would be accomplished by assassinating Daniel, only to have their entire country nuked off the face of Zenkon by Hekate singlehandedly.

It’s not good for making friends.

But, it’s particularly bad for the enemies being kept at bay.

“He didn’t actually accuse you, your Greatness. He was testing your response by suggesting that it would be possible. Doing it that way means he can deny accusing you, while also getting a response out of you.”

“R-Really?” asks ‘Hekate’ with a big, slightly confused, but smug grin of amusement on her face. She looks at Harnavock, studying him for a moment.

He is utterly seething, but he keeps it bottled up impressively well. He straightens his posture, and though his face is one of disgust, she said very little that wasn’t explicitly true. The Fievegal spared no expense whipping up supplies to help with the fastest recovery possible following the ‘Vile Blaze’. Urflasdat is pretty much undeniably their more important city over the capital itself. Losing it could and would irrevocably cripple Ahmpur’s economy as the other nations around it scramble to insulate and stabilize their own economies from being dragged down with it. These defensive actions on their part would almost certainly be a rapid stake in the heart of Ahmpur, regardless of how much wealth they may have accumulated over the decades from trade taxes.

“Being a royal in the east must be exhausting.” Hekate starts walking towards the mansion. “Well then, King Harnavock, either we can go together to look for this intruder, or I can make myself a new intruder to go find what goodies you think I was already trying to steal.”

“Hekate…” warns Daniel.

She pouts, her ears convincingly drooping down to the sides. “Daniel! We didn’t do anything! I agree with Sundenelle! This whole thing is suspicious, and if everyone’s going to try to be suspicious of us, then we should prove our innocence, right? Or, at least benefit from being suspected.”

“You have a lot of power, Empress Hekate fell Lawson, and I am grateful to the Fievegal for your aid.” It sounds like he’s trying to hold a couple of marbles between his molars as he speaks, because he definitely isn’t saying it very sincerely. “But, I will not have my honor as a King of Ahmpur, which has stood for generations before your ancestors were even born…”

The air suddenly wavers, and almost everyone is driven back at least a step on instinct, with some of the aristocrats and the knight that rode up falling backwards as they scramble away.

A surge of mana just came off of Hekate that is so powerful, even Daniel can feel it wash across his skin, and it seems to suck the air out of Harnavock’s lungs before he can continue his thought.

Hekate growls coldly, “My ancestors have been exterminated by traitorous backstabbers, King Harnavock. I had to claw my way up from slavery to become what I am today. Unlike you, who were born into generations of Royal power, I had to fight, and starve, and face terrors you could never, ever withstand to earn my place as Empress Hekate fell Lawson, Empress of Ruin, the last of the Soulwyrms, and the Invincible Savior of the Weak. Do not dare, ever speak of my ancestors again, or the ‘Kingdom of Ahmpur’ will become the ‘Distant memory of Ahmpur’.”

Hekate maintains her dangerous mana discharge, and Daniel is surprised. He’s a little worried, because now he’s not as certain that it really is Doephluev. Only Hekate should be this powerful, truly, yet Doephluev is managing to do it as well.

‘Hekate’ releases her powerful, oppressive mana bombardment, and everyone other than Daniel gasp to catch their breath, having been so afraid, they couldn’t even breathe.

Harnavock chokes out with a suddenly-raspy voice. “You’re… a monster.”

“That’s right,” replies Hekate. “I would rather be an honest monster than a deceitful person. So, the next time you want to suspect me of something I haven’t done, or my people, you should carefully consider whether antagonizing me is worth it. At least people are smart enough to avoid angering a-...”

Suddenly, ‘Hekate’ is cut off by a crackling sound that comes from the mansion, and the sky fills with golden light as townsfolk, miners, soldiers, nobles, and the Fievegal members gasp in surprise.

Hekate shouts, “What is this!? What are you doing!?”

The King’s eyes have gone wide as he watches the column of light beam down on the mansion. It’s the same thing that happened to give the mysterious girl the divine lance that let her carve through the rock. He seems to have forgotten his anger for a moment, believing that another divine blessing has befallen his Kingdom.

Daniel closes his eye to try to keep up with this reckless whirlwind of events.

What have you all done? There’s no way we’re getting out of this without suspicion…

Hekate starts to shout, “Prepare to defend! Larven! Magnir! Stay with Daniel and Sundenelle! If this is some sort of attack…!”

“No! It’s not an attack!” shouts Harnavock. “It’s a blessing! A sign that Herith’s light still shines upon us!” He starts laughing, and he briskly starts towards the mansion.

‘Hekate’ glances at Daniel and Sundenelle, and she starts following him, since everyone starts to rush towards the mansion.

However, when they reach the mansion, the staff has all gathered out front, panicking about the light that came down and filled the mansion, apparently.

“What’s going on!?” shouts King Harnavock. “Who’s watching the Saints!?”

He has dropped all pretense, it seems, since the whole staff has evacuated.

“Your Majesty!?” cries out one of the maids. She drops to a balled up bow on the ground, crying out, “Your majesty, the Saints… They’re… gone!”

“What!?” shouts the King, even more loudly than before. “Those women are the future princesses of Ahmpur! How could you allow them to be kidnapped!?”

“Not kidnapped, your Majesty!” exclaims the maid on the ground. Others near her also have dropped to the same low position, as if they are pebbles to be stepped on.

“She speaks the truth, your Majesty!”

“Speak!” booms one of his noble retainers. “Where are they!?”

The maids all look straight up, pointing up. Their hands are trembling.

The King is stunned by this.

“Then, what of the intruder?” asks the King sharply. “Did he attack the Princess Saints? Tell me! They are to be royalty, so if anyone is trying to deceive me…”

The startled maids shake like leaves as they drop their foreheads back down to the ground.

“Th-That’s her!” exclaims a different woman. “That’s the girl! She was with the intruder!”

Everyone looks at the maid in question, and then to the person she’s pointing at.

An awkward silence befalls the whole group as the maid steps closer, pointing directly at the last person in the world anyone should be accusing.

Even though the real one is likely exactly who she saw.

‘Hekate’, who is now officially accused, this time by a maid, simply blinks her eyes dramatically before turning her golden gaze to Harnavock once more. The disgust is radiating off of her.

“Do you have anything to say, your Majesty?”

“When did this happen?” asks the King, looking at the maid.

Hekate also looks at her calmly, completely unfazed. Fortunately, the person being pointed at and accused isn’t lying when she denies any involvement. She never entered the mansion.

“Just a few minutes ago!” exclaims the maid. “She was pretending to be a maid, and she had an accomplice hiding in the dressing room! They were planning to use the Fievegal’s arrival to direct the suspicion towards them!”

Hekate laughs again, this time more subdued, since it’s a laughter of disbelief, rather than genuine humor. “This Kingdom is such a farce.” She immediately starts to walk calmly away, saying coldly, “I’m genuinely regretting helping this kingdom now.” She stops at Sundenelle’s side, looking up at the albino Empress, who is as stunned as Daniel and everyone else. “Sundenelle, because we are friends, and you properly paid for our support, I won’t withdraw our teams. But, do something about these fools.” Hekate looks over her shoulder, growling, “Do you have more accusations to make, King Harnavock, or may I have your permission to complete what we were hired to do so I can leave this reprehensible land behind?”

Harnavock is silent for a long time, and Hekate lifts her head as she faces the mine to continue back the way they just came. “Very well. I’ll take your silence as permission.” She scoffs and chuckles as she shakes her head, grumbling, “Glorious bloodlines indeed…”

Everyone is still for a long time, with people making room for Hekate to walk back to the mine. It’s a decent jaunt, but she gives no evidence that it’s troublesome.

Even though Daniel notices her rubbing her abdomen with a slightly pained look.

Sundenelle asks seriously, “Is there any evidence to back up this claim? Because, while I… do not agree with what she said or how she said it, the fact remains… I invited Hekate and Daniel here to help me, and this is what my friend is met with.”

Harnavock looks utterly defeated, and he remains speechless for a long time.

“King Harnavock,” growls Sundenelle.

He finally lets out a sigh, like a vent valve giving way to empty a pressure vessel entirely. It’s far from relief he’s feeling. At present, he is crushed.

“Y-your Majesty, I swear… That girl…”

“That ‘girl’ is Empress Hekate fell Lawson,” retorts Sundenelle sharply. “So, perhaps you’d like to describe this supposed intruder girl you allegedly saw, because I expect the other maids will corroborate your story, won’t they?”

The maid in question, whose name Daniel learns shortly is Monalphia, looks around in horror as the other maids avert their gazes from her.

Daniel feels a tiny bit of relief. Whatever Hekate did to get caught, it appears that she didn’t have her ears and tail on full display, or that would be the first thing mentioned.

And, depending on what actually happened with the Divine Light, they might actually make it through this.

That would be the most real miracle to happen in the last few hours.

***