r18novel Chapter 148: Contradiction [3]
Chapter 148: Contradiction [3]
"You, a member of the delegation, did not even address my name properly. Is that truly ignorance, or is it blatant disrespect?"
Princess Luna’s words contained no trace of mercy. Her voice was calm, but each syllable landed like a hammer on an anvil.
One thing to note was that the kingdom was weaker than the empire. Yet she, a princess, was provoking the empire itself.
The messenger, who had been silent until now, suddenly raised his voice and started shouting and arguing with the knight. His face was red. His hands trembled.
Spittle flew from his lips as he gestured wildly at the princess.
Princess Luna frowned,
"You are asking my kingdom to bow down to your empire?"
The knight quickly interjected,
"No, Princess. There is a misunderstanding. The Viscount is not in his right mind. How about we pause the meeting and discuss at a later date?"
His voice was smooth and diplomatic, but there was a crack in it. A nervous edge.
Princess Luna let out a chuckle and started walking toward the messenger and the knight.
Her steps contained a trace of rhythm that made everyone nervous.
Click. Pause. Click. Pause.
Each footfall echoed through the silent hall like a countdown to something terrible.
As if sensing the princess’s intentions, the knight stepped forward and covered the messenger.
No matter how much of a mess the messenger had made, he still held the token of the emperor.
If the messenger was killed, it would be nothing short of a declaration of war. And the knight did not want that.
The knight said,
"Princess, do not do anything reckless."
Hearing his words, Princess Luna paused her steps.
"Very well."
As she said those words, she lifted her hand and swiped the air.
The motion was casual. Effortless. Like brushing dust off a sleeve.
Then she turned away and walked toward the king.
The knight sighed in relief and was about to say something when he noticed Lord Valeria’s eyes widen.
An ominous feeling crept into the knight. He turned back.
A detached head was falling to the floor.
The headless corpse stood straight for a moment before collapsing. Blood pooled beneath it, dark red against the gray floor.
The knight’s eyes widened. His fists clenched tightly.
"You have gone too far, Princess. No matter what, he held the emperor’s token. Do you know what that means? Do you really want to go to war?"
Princess Luna looked at the king, who was sitting on the throne in silence. His face was pale. His hands gripped the armrests so tightly his knuckles were white.
Then she said,
"I have gone too far? Really? Are you sure?"
The knight did not hesitate.
"Yes. You have gone too far."
His words no longer held respect for hierarchy. After all, the moment the messenger died, war had been decided.
There was no need to speak with respect to an enemy.
Princess Luna said nothing in defense. She began ascending the stairs toward the king.
Her dress dragged across the stone steps. The fabric whispered with each movement.
On the fourth step, she passed Lord Valeria.
The Monarch did not move. Did not speak. Her eyes were fixed on the princess.
The princess continued, stopping two steps below the throne.
She looked up at her brother. The king looked down at his sister. For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Princess Luna said,
"I am sorry, royal brother."
The king smiled faintly. A sad smile. A knowing smile. As if he had expected this moment for years.
Before he could say anything, the princess swiped the air again.
The king died. The throne was cut in two. Blood dyed the golden seat, dripping down the cracked metal throne onto the steps below.
The hall fell silent. No one dared to speak.
Even Lord Valeria only stared, taking no action.
The princess’s expression was cold and unreadable. Her face was stone. Her eyes were ice.
But a single tear ran down her cheek, tracing a path through the blood spray on her skin.
She looked back at the knight.
"Tell me. Have I gone too far?"
The knight’s words stuck in his throat. He wanted to say "Yes". But reason told him "No".
The princess was not stupid.
Yet she had killed the messenger and her own brother. It was nothing short of rebellion within the kingdom and war with the empire.
Inside and outside, the princess had made a mess.
Yet the knight felt she had a reason. A reason he did not yet know. But it didn’t matter. The reason and truth no longer mattered.
He said nothing. He turned and left the hall.
His boots echoed against the stone floor. Faster than before. He was not walking. He was fleeing.
When he reached the doors, he paused. His hand rested on the iron handle. He did not turn around.
"I hope you do not regret this."
Then he left. The doors closed behind him with a heavy thud.
...
Meanwhile, Cael silently watched without distraction. His arms were crossed. He had not moved since the princess entered.
When he heard the knight call the lady "Princess," Cael sighed in relief.
His thoughts were cleared. The lady was not Elowyn. She was a princess of the kingdom. A different person.
Then Cael was shocked when he saw the princess using the space element so easily.
Yes, the princess had used a space slash to kill the messenger and her brother. The same element he was struggling to master.
But when he saw the princess kill the king, Cael’s understanding of the situation was completely overturned.
’What is going on? Why did the Monarch not step in to stop the princess?’
He looked at Lord Valeria. The Monarch stood still as a statue.
Her hand had not moved toward her sword. Her expression had not changed. She had watched her king die and done nothing.
Cael turned his gaze to the princess, who was watching the departing figure of the knight.
She muttered, her voice barely audible,
"Regret? Heh. I regret many things in my life. But I never regret the decisions I made today."
"I wonder... will things be different if I never loved him--"
Cael could not fully hear the princess’s words. The world around him started to spin. Colors blurred.
The throne hall dissolved into streaks of gold and gray.
When Cael opened his eyes again, he was no longer in the hall.
And what he saw next terrified him.