Chapter 26: Victoria’s Rage (I).

Chapter 26: Victoria's Rage (I).

Elizabeth's POV

My morning was different from any other days that I've been confined in this lonely brick of a castle.

"Yawn… Victoria, why didn't you wake me up?"

I wiped the stars in my eyes, seeing the blurry view of my room and then my window that had the sun already up in the sky. That's weird… by this time I would have Victoria calling me to get out of bed.

"She couldn't have forgotten that I still have etiquette lessons right?"

Not that I mind preparing everything myself this morning, taking a bath and picking out a dress without Victoria- something without her just doesn't feel the same.

"Humph."

I had forgotten how some of the closet racks here are way up too high. I tried reaching for a white formal dress to wear because today should be the day that my father, the king, will be coming back to do his duties in the kingdom.

I had no choice but to grab a chair and try reaching for it again.

"It really is hard getting myself ready without Victoria by my side."

Could she have gotten out to settle some of the war business? After all father sent that letter to her personally. I'm surprised to hear that none of the council members have received any news of the King coming back- 'so soon' by their own words.

They were not ready.

…

I may not understand some of the matters after war when it came to it politically.

Through the study from my past life. War takes some of its mentality effects on the soldiers, rebuilding some parts of the kingdom that have been damaged and people being… lost after hearing the news of their loved one passing.

"What in the-"

As soon as I got out of my room I was able to see the commotion outside.

"Excuse me, passing through!" One maid exclaimed, holding a vase, running in the middle of the hallway. "How many of his highness' knights is to be expected to visit the castle?"

"I want a dozen rooms to be ready for their quarters, and get the infirmary staff to have their medicine, bandages and healers on stand by."

"Food! We have to prepare food! Get the head chef making a menu for the king! Hurry, we don't have much time! He'll arrive in a matter of hours!"

The whole castle was in a deep state of rush and panic. Maids, servants, and the knights are keeping the whole place tidier than it usually was.

"My father's return caused such a stir."

King Alastor Izden Nevemayr.

My father, someone who I haven't seen in years ever since I've gained consciousness of this body. The King whom they have spoken of with pride, fear and respect in their eyes granted he is an important figure.

Victoria has the highest regard and seems to be in good relationships with my father as a friend or what they would call in the military a good 'comrade'.

Speaking of which, I haven't seen Victoria all day.

Where could she have gone? She didn't show up to give me my usual morning greeting, a pat on the head and a kiss on the forehead.

"Good Morning your highness, where should we go today?" (Tobias) the head guard that's been tasked to guard me with his companions, waiting for a command.

I looked around to see if maybe Victoria was in their crowd but she seems nowhere to be found. My stomach churned not being used to her presence being absent even for just one morning with no word to me.

"Where's Victoria?" I asked Tobias who straightened his posture, looking back at his comrades before turning back to me.

"I have no idea, your highness. She hasn't visited your quarters all morning. We've been guarding the door for a while waiting for her as well but she hasn't come in like usual." He scratches the back of his head, looking confused like I am.

"I see, thank you."

I'll be getting my answers elsewhere.

"You there." I stopped one of the rushing servants, his head immediately bowing low when he saw me.

"Princess-! H-How can I be of service to you today…?"

"Have you seen Victoria around? I can't seem to find her anywhere and I am in need of her presence." I tell him while crossing my arms, not trying to look like I was missing her so soon.

"Oh…" He stops lowering his head and points into the direction of the council room.

"Miss Victoria Crumwell has been summoned into the Council room. We've only gotten a letter of the king's visit through her and um… I hear she's being investigated on why she was the only one that was notified of his highness' return."

How ludicrous! Do they think of her as a traitor because of this? Or they suspect her of forging that document?! Victoria is not capable of such a thing and I was there to witness her opening the letter.

"Investigated for such a simple thing! How long have they kept her in there?" I asked the servant who stiffened in place but soon told me the answer I needed.

"S-She's been in there all morning. I don't think they'll be letting her out of that room soon." He tells me, and I couldn't help but show how frustrated I was in hearing that.

I'm sure Victoria hasn't even eaten and they dare to keep her inside of the council room since this morning?!

"You're excused, thank you for telling me about this." I wave the servant off and he nods, lowering his head again doing a bow before leaving with haste away from me.

"The council room, I never thought I'd be coming back there so soon and on my own." I walked towards the council room, Tobias and my other guards that've been tasked to guard me followed behind.

"Excuse me, your highness. Did something happen to General- I mean Miss Crumwell?" (Tobias) asked, looking worried and I shrug, unable to meet his eyes.

"That's what I'm trying to figure out, Sir Tobias. I don't know what's happening all I know it must be because of the King's return." I answered and his face turned serious, accompanying me into the council room that was being guarded by two elite knights.

"!!!"

"No! You dare mock me and my-!!!"

My ears perked up from all the muffled yelling that was going on inside of that room. An argument must've been happening inside, and who knows for long it's been like that.

"Your highness, what are you doing here?" One of the guards stationed outside noticed me and motioned for the other guard to come close.

"I have heard that my maid has been kept inside of the council room, granted I know my limits. I am not allowed inside." I told the guard and he blinked in shock hearing that the way I spoke was not how a little sheltered girl should have. "If you tell the council members that the princess is in need of her service, I will be on my way."

"There is an important meeting that I… am instructed not to disturb or let anyone inside. The maid that you speak of is the former general, yes?"

"Yes, that is my maid."

"Then it won't be long, your highness. She should be finishing up inside soon. The general is someone who prioritizes her duties after all."

The guard smiles warmly, and I wondered if Victoria was such a popular person among the military personnel that she's being relied on and admired like this.

"We will wait outside then." I tell him and the knights let us settle into the corner where I could still hear a few of the muffled shouting becoming clear. It took a couple more minutes of silence before Tobias broke the awkward silence.

"Nice… weather we're having." (Tobias) whispers over to me and I wanted to run because I had no idea what to respond back.

"Yes… it's snowing faintly outside. I like the weather." I responded and he went back to his straight serious posture.

"Would you like to continue our talk about um… agriculture?" He tried conversing with me again and seeing him doing his best to make sure I wasn't feeling lonely or anything like that won me over.

Victoria… I hope you're doing alright inside.

…

Crash!

…

"What was that?!" (Tobias) was ready to draw his sword thinking that the noise came elsewhere but it was from the inside.

An argument into a brawl- what are they doing?!

"Did someone just throw a chair inside?" Another knight asked, "Tobias lower your sword. Things must just be heating up inside- you know how they are."

I could hear their faint conversation and noticed water leaking out under the door. "Wait! Is that water?!"

"Who's a fool enough to use water magic inside a room?!" I yelled out, huffing as I walked towards the door. "I'll go talk to everyone and give them a good scolding on how horrible it is to use magic inside the castle!"

"That would be your maid-!" I could hear Tobias groaning and running towards me.

"Hey! Ow!" He yanked me by the waist, I noticed the water was overflowing. "Victoria is doing this?!"

Right! She's an earth and water magic user! But she's not dumb enough to use magic inside a castle!

Well not unless someone made her really mad.

Oh no.

The Knights formed a barrier using their own body to shield me. "Earth magic users, you know what to do!"

A few knights placed their hands down onto the ground, soon a faint yellow glow appeared with the symbol of the earth sigil. "[Earth Magic: Earth Wall]!"

Bricks started to cover all of us in a circular shape, engulfing us in darkness. I could hear the knight's breath in fear and I couldn't help but get a little scared too.

They're all a bunch of elite knights and they needed to form an earth barrier from Victoria's attack?! How can I not be scared like that?!

Tobias snaps his finger, summoning a small flame that became enough for us as a light source. "Hah… so troublesome that woman."

"Apologies for holding you like that, your highness. I will accept any punishment that will come with it." He gave me a guilty expression seeing that he just yanked me with not much as a proper warning.

"No need to apologize- you were clearly getting me into safety but-" I stare at his flame, then hearing the rushing flow of water outside the earth barrier. "Is Victoria's magic really that scary that you needed to form an earth barrier?"

"Not just any barrier, your highness… My knights have made sure to make several more layers for safety. I'm afraid we won't get out of this unscathed." (Tobias) told me, leaving me shocked.

Several barriers just to be safe from Victoria's attack?!

"Surely she won't attack! She's inside of the castle with many civilians inside Victoria's not a fool!" I tell Tobias who breathes a sigh of relief hearing my reasoning.

"You're right- apologies this is not the same General Victoria Crumwell slayer of thousands, maybe she's changed."

Slayer of what now?

"You guys are overreacting-"

BOOM!

"..."

"Apologies again, your highness, that was the door being blown into pieces. We should be safe here for a few more minutes." (Tobias) gave me a thumbs up trying to keep things in a light mood.

I'm just really worried.

What could have made Victoria that mad?