Ah, it was such a magnificent sight to see. Sera guessed that losing 200 VP in the process was a fair price to see her father, trying to save her, while making Prince Adrian lose face. The way his face lost its color was enough for her to believe that he couldn't argue against her father. Prince Adrian might be the crown prince, but he could easily lose that title if Duke de Lys deemed him unworthy of the crown.
The de Lys family had been serving the royal family for generations. They had been protecting the crown from several rebellious attempts and assassinations. They were also the ones who took the front lines whenever they were facing wars against the demons and neighboring kingdoms.
Their family crest alone brings fear to the enemies of the Solmora kingdom and pride to its people. Their crest was a blood-red lily in full bloom, its petals edged in silver thorns, cradled between the jaws of a silver wolf on a black field. The motto "By Blood, We Bloom" is inscribed beneath in jagged script.
The members of the de Lys family were known for their ethereal elegance and political grace. The red color of the lily on their crest mimics dried blood, a symbol of their battlefield prowess. But some say their beauty was also a weapon, and their garden grows where their enemies rot.
However, because of this, the de Lys family had gained numerous enemies who wanted to remove them from the scene, and one of them was the family from which the current queen came.
The Argenthal family had been coveting the throne for decades, but the de Lys family primarily influenced the power dynamics within the kingdom. Although the de Lys family had control of the kingdom's military, they rarely participated in political affairs, and their scandalous affairs were a notable exception. It was the first time their family was put in the spotlight, all thanks to Sera.
"It's quite suspicious that you are rushing to have Lady Seraphine get executed, Your Highness. Saintess Lillian was saved on time, yet no proper investigation or trial was held for this case. You haven't even reached the master of the magic tower to see the surveillance recording during the banquet." Rowan chimed in, his words only adding fuel to the fire.
Saying these out loud, one might think that the Argenthal family and the church were colluding to attack the de Lys family while the duke was out of the capital. Prince Adrian's face flushed as he struggled to find words in defence. Under the oppressive gaze of the duke of Lysanthia, he felt exposed and vulnerable.
"Rowan, have you contacted the magic tower? I want to see who dared to frame my daughter and cause her so much pain." Duke Lysander asked, his eyes never leaving the crown prince.
"I have already informed my father about the situation. He and my sister should arrive anytime soon." Rowan answered.
The prince's right-hand man came rushing in, his expression turning nervous as soon as he saw the duke. He ran into Prince Adrian's side and delivered the message from the king.
"His Majesty, the king, wants everyone in the throne room, including Duke de Lys and Lady Seraphine," he said, trying to ignore the pointed look Duke Lysander was giving him.
Sera supposed that the news of her father's arrival had caused a stir within the noble council. They might have miscalculated his arrival to save her as soon as he received the news about her imprisonment.
The duke waved his hand, signalling Rowan and their troop to protect Sera. The mage-knights and the clergy had no other choice but to remove the barrier that was keeping Sera from escaping the Tower of Penance. It was only when she stepped out that they raised the barrier again, forbidding the other high-profile prisoners from escaping as well.
Rowan stood before Sera and gave her a good look. A frown appeared on his face as he saw the dry blood on her long skirt. Sera might have healed her injuries, but there were telltale signs that she had suffered before their arrival.
Sera arched a brow at him. They were not friends or close enough to be considered acquaintances in her past life. She never took him seriously as someone who would have an ounce of concern for her, given that every encounter they had only ended in arguments and fighting.
"Are you well?" Rowan asked, which sounded forced on Sera's ears. She couldn't tell whether he was concerned or if he was merely asking out of obligation towards her father.
"I'm fine. It's nothing for you to worry about." Sera walked past him, making the atmosphere feel awkward for the rest of the troop.
She didn't want to have anything to do with Rowan at that moment. Her last memory of him holding her dying body was something she still couldn't comprehend. Also, with her having an evil system directly affecting her soul and life, it might use Rowan to sabotage her success in her mission.
The Order of the Red Lilies served the de Lys family. Although they fought alongside Duke Lysander, they had minimal interactions with his daughter. They left with no other choice but to follow Sera outside as they brought her to the throne room, where the king and the rest of the nobles were waiting.
Sera was presented before the king. As she saw the king, the king's voice rang in her head again. She sighed inwardly, wondering how many times she would be subjected to the system's demands in a single day.
[THRONE ROOM DETECTED: HIGH-RISK ENVIRONMENT]
[OPTION 1: PLAY THE VICTIM]
- Cost: -100 VP (for "weakness")
- Effect: Nobles' grudge increases, the duke's persuasion increases.
[OPTION 2: DEFIANT SILENCE]
- Reward: +50 VP (for "unyielding pride")
- Risk: King's wrath increases, House arrest conditions harsher.
'I'll go with the second option.' Sera answered without hesitation. When it comes to the system, every single second matters.
[SELECTION CONFIRMED: DEFIANT SILENCE]
[REWARD: +50 VP]
[WARNING: HOSTILE ACT DETECTED. COUNTERMEASURES ENGAGED.]
[You'd rather kneel in silence than play their game? How… predictable.]
Sera inwardly snarled. The system was lucky that it didn't have any physical manifestations, because she would surely have stabbed it to death.
'You wanted me to grovel. To waste VP begging for mercy like Anna would. But I'm not her.'
[VP LOGGED: 400/10,000]
[A calculated risk. But remember: even silence has consequences.]
'Consequences are my specialty. You taught me that.'
"We can't have Lady Seraphine cause more trouble than she already has tonight." The king ordered the royal guards to put yet another mana cuff on Sera. They hesitated for a moment, but when they saw that Sera remained silent, they proceeded to put her wrists in cuffs.
"Those cuffs would forbid her to use her mana until we settle this problem." King Eldric continued, eyeing the duke of Lysanthia.
Duke Lysander's eyes narrowed, but he could only yield to the king's demand. However, when it comes to protecting his daughter, he would willingly play dirty against anyone, even if it meant defying the king himself.
"The northern garrisons are... restless, Your Majesty. They wonder why their commander's daughter was tortured without trial. This is an unprecedented case. How come I was never officially informed about my daughter's circumstances?" The duke asked, his gaze sweeping around the noble council with accusation.
The king was shaken in place upon hearing his words. Duke Lysander was reminding him that the army's loyalty was conditional.
"It's merely a miscommunication on our part, Your Grace." Marquis Argenthal answered calmly. He was an older man in his sixties. He was dressed regally, with his long white hair neatly tied below his nape.
"A miscommunication?" Duke Lysander chuckled darkly, "Strange how the Argenthal family donated 50,000 gold to the church after my daughter's arrest, almost like... gratitude. It seems someone couldn't wait to 'pluck' my house."
Murmurs filled the throne room as the atmosphere inside turned suffocating. All the royal guards and the members of the Order of the Red Lilies were on the edge, waiting for their masters' command.
The head of the pack of wolves lifted his head and met the king's gaze head-on.
"You'll find our patience has limits, Your Majesty."