Chapter 18: The Party (I).

Chapter 18: The Party (I).

Elizabeth's POV

It was time we'd left to get to my Uncle's land.

The Dukedom of Erhenzig.

I couldn't sleep despite the dull ride we'd had, the worries of how long the carriage will last with the door being missing, it leaves us in a vulnerable state.

Victoria kept me in check as our talk from before only bonded our hearts.

"I don't think it would be safe in Duke Damien's territory, we should be on our guard and refuse any drink or food that they may offer- just... in case." (Victoria) warns me and I intend to follow it.

I wouldn't like to be caught dead in poison.

Slowly, I've begun to think of her as my mother figure.

Clack... Clack... Clack...

"Mrrrph..." The horses stopped their trotting, and Tobias who was up the front gets off the front seat looking out into the carriage's missing door entrance.

"Your highness and General Crumwell-" (Tobias) was stopped with Victoria raising her hand.

"Former... general. I would prefer going by Miss Crumwell now." (Victoria) she tells Tobias who corrects his mistake.

"Yes, apologies... Miss Crumwell. We've arrived at our destination. It's safe to come down, the guards at the gate have already been notified of your presence." (Tobias) tells us both and we nodded in reply.

"Thank you, Sir Tobias." I tell him, giving a smile. I have to say, he did a really good job.

He gave a smile back and went off quickly with the other guards.

'Sir', is a form of title for knights. One should know her manners in addressing someone of importance and Sir Tobias showed much strength and loyalty today he has earned my respect.

"We're a dozen elite nights, half of us will stick with the prisoner and the other will join me in guarding the princess." (Tobias) was already assigning the guards roles.

He made sure of their condition, checking up on their state, and assigned the guards who had the most injuries on rest, they will be the ones keeping watch of our mercenary hostage.

"Sir, yes sir." The guards saluted and went to different two stations.

I could hear parts of their conversation where they needed to keep the only prisoner we have under tight watch.

"The gift that I have brought... Is it with you still, Victoria?" I ask in worry, while I wanted nothing more but to slam my Uncle's face down into the ground-

I was not sure about my cousin's personality. If she was the same as Uncle Damien I will not hesitate to take back my gift, even if it may ruin a bit of my reputation.

"Yes your highness, you need not worry. The [Storage Ring] is a private space of the wearer that will not be easily tampered with, your gift is inside and perhaps it's still warm." (Victoria) shows me her golden ring right by her middle finger. It was a magical item called [Storage Ring].

By the name, it's a ring that was enhanced to store things- a very expensive item only nobility would possess. However, Victoria being a legend of her tale possesses such an item.

It would suck the wearer's mana to power the source inside of the ring, to activate the spatial enchantment inside.

I stare at my blue dress, ruined and stained with blood.

"Hmm... I suppose my dress no longer fits the theme." I chuckle, grabbing the part of the dress that had a huge blood stain. "The crowd would certainly be in a frenzy if they saw me in this state."

"We could get you changed first before attending the ball." (Victoria) suggests and I was about to agree- but perhaps I can use this horrible state of mine to an advantage once we get there.

"...No."

Victoria blinks, hearing my disagreement. "N-No? But you'll be seen in filth- dirty, nothing proper- what would the nobles say?"

"The nobles would say the princess bravely survived an attack unfazed. She still came, just to see her little cousin's celebration- came with her dress stained in blood to show proof of her strength." I smiled looking out the broken window, the glass pieces that were beneath my heels almost cut me. "Imagine... Uncle Damien expects me dead- but then shows up with what they would expect, a bloodied dress."

"I don't understand what's your goal of not changing your clothes, princess."

The guards ask us to move and enter the estate.

They saw my bloodied dress, eyes filled with horror and I smiled, showing Victoria my point across.

"It is to send a message to my uncle, no matter what he throws at me, even if I'm covered in blood- may it be the enemies or my allies I will prevail," I tell her, really the guard's reaction is all the explanation I needed.

Were they surprised to see me alive? To have a dress stained in blood? To question why I'm not shaking in fear?

I cried for Victoria's safety, not for my Uncle's attack.

I couldn't care less for any of it, may mercenaries from all over the world take me but not her.

"I think I understand, you're trying to throw off the Duke to get a reaction out of him once he sees you alive and unscathed and unharmed." (Victoria) seems to approve of my plan and decided that she will be going along with me, she will not change her uniform but attend the way that she is.

Bloodied and unfazed.

"I must apologize in advance for my cousin, it may seem a bit rude but- I'll most likely be taking all the attention in her birthday celebration today." I scoffed, holding my heavy dress as I walked out of the carriage.

But I suppose she should blame her father for his behavior and a horrible attempt to assassinate me.

"The other guests may feel uncomfortable but surely... the others would understand and even praise you for living through the experience, taking that chance to get close to you, your highness." (Victoria) follows behind keeping her guard as half of the knights I have brought guarded me.

I nodded expecting it all from the guests, they may make or break my image inside that room- even I'm aware. I would have to play a little game, who will persuade the audience, my Uncle or me?

"Guess, we'll see."

...

Once I've gotten in contact with the Erhenzig knights, they were all perplexed looking at our bloodied state. They all started in worry, kneeling beneath me knowing their place.

"Y-Your highness! Welcome to the estate we've been waiting for your arrival-!" One of them lowers their head further and I respond.

"Indeed, I must send my apologies to the Duke... for my late arrival you see it seems we've come across a small problem," I motioned to look at my guards, all covered in blood including my maid.

"A small problem, but easily solved. An ambush by bandits over by the road we've made sure to kill all that we can." I kept my voice firm giving them the reason, I'm sure they would report their findings to the Duke.

If Uncle would take the bait, he would think of me as naïve with my words. We have one of the mercenaries as a captive, to interrogate and get any information he may have.

It would be risky if I told him I knew that those were no ordinary bandits.

The weapons they carried, the way they were dressed, and their skills were matched with my elite guards. Uncle Damien paid no expense on having me dead before I even reached my coronation day.

"It's not too far from here, I would like for you to request a clean-up and scout the area. It would be utterly disappointing if the Duke's territory has been infested with bandits- oh how would the other nobles react to this information?" I cover the grin forming on my face, making the guard flinch looking up to meet my eyes.

"It would make my lovely cousin's birthday party become full of unwanted attention and rumors of how the Duke is not caring for his property properly when they prepare their carriage for departure." We didn't bother cleaning up the dead bodies of those mercenaries, and they were in the main route of the place- meaning expect each one of the noble families taking that and seeing dead bodies everywhere.

Is it my responsibility to clean it?

Why, no!

"What a shame, it seems that the military power in this area is not competent to keep their guests safe, the princess… of all people too."

I poked around a sensitive area and subtly insulted them, well they're not one to snitch on their master's plan of assassination I'm not even sure they know it's not bandits.

"W-We will need to consult with one of your knights to make a report- we've been guarding the Dukedom for weeks and there has been no sign of bandits in the area." One of them dares to look up, stuttering, not believing my words.

"Huh?" I glare at them, further breaking their spirits. Do they think the blood and wounds on my subject and guards were for a show?

Thankfully my maid was there to give them what my huh meant.

"Are you calling the princess a liar, your princess the future queen of our kingdom? Look at the state of us, would we be a fool to hurt ourselves?" (Victoria) walks over, prepared to give the guard a massive beat down and I was proud of her but that was enough, they won't be easily swayed with our words without much proof.

"N-No! I didn't mean it that way! Please spare my life, your highness! Apologies for doubting your words- it's just that we really haven't gotten any words or bandit sightings for weeks! It is very hard to believe."

I don't want them to have the only hostage we have just to prove we're right.

Their loyalty to the Duke was clear.

I sigh, snapping my finger and motioning for Tobias to bear one of my orders.

"Tobias, lead them to the bodies," I said casually and he saluted in my direction following my order. "And make sure, they never doubt my words."

"Yes, your highness." (Tobias) went with the Erhenzig Knights and we were left with the little underlings of the place.

Victoria stood her guard and kept being by my side as I gave the sweetest smile I could muster. "So..."

"Hiiii! Yes- your highness, what can we offer our service?!" They all seemed afraid of my presence, eyes refusing to look at me- their legs shaking. How nimble, the guards of this place were all young.

Young... and inexperienced.

"Would you please escort me to where the ball is being held? I have a birthday party to attend, but being late is already a shame. I hope my beloved cousin... likes my present."

The last one was a genuine hope.