Chapter 16: Terms and Agreement
Lucius rented the store and no one was around the cafe except for them and he kept glaring outside as if waiting for them to enter on the other side Sir El is more confused but still had his stiff look 'what does his majesty mean,was he attack by an assassin at the forest but why is the princess involved' 'didn't he came here to look for the guardian of this kingdom why does he seems comfortable living here i thought he would cause bloodshed everywhere if he comes here so why is he acting like a benevolent emperor' his thoughts were circling around yet he could only observe the situation
When Astria entered and took a sit, the waiter was signaled by sir el to served what he ordered so the waiters hurriedly took the dessert and coffee to them "you may leave"Lucius ordered them after their foods were served they were frightened and hurriedly left after they bowed
"Now then isn't it time for you to confess your sins princess" he said with a serious tone and took a sip of the coffee so Ria stared and gulp then she spoke like surrending herself. "F-forgive me your majesty i was stupid and insolent to try and injure you, i deserve death but please spare me,i am very useful to be disposed" she said and Lucius gave a chilling smile
'hah isn't she being funny, knowing her worth she'll used it to be spared, she's very bold and brave but it would be useless if i find her unbearable and i don't care about her usefulness as long as she harmed me but surprisingly enough i don't feel the urge to kill her i find it amusing and rare for a mage to be wise and powerful and she's very lucky although her reasons irritated me'
'why is he smiling like a devil' she thought with fear "was it that easy for you to confess your sins to the emperor your even brave to trade for your life am i that merciful in your eyes" he asked and the atmosphere became dark and she felt like he's about to kill her....In the first time of her life the mana of the emperor had scared her to death she never felt the murderous mana before even when she fought him at the forest but now she already know how the people felt at the banquet
It makes you surrender and lose your will to respond nor look at him "why are you looking at the table,princess when I'm talking, you should face me"he said and it was an order ria slowly look up and was in relief when she saw the calm face of Lucius,she forgot how the murderous mana she felt and now was in daze for his calm look
"Good your quite obedient now then answer my question before i lose my patience he said and Ria was back to her senses "ah no no it's not easy to confess my sins to you your majesty but but what can i do when you already knew from the start" she said. "you are kind and merciful enough to give me some time so i thought you want something from me and I'm really sorry i didn't mean to fight you back i was only trying to spy in you but you"Ria lost her temper and even though she was scared she tried to explain things and remember all of it made her furious
'was it my fault that i protect myself from you' she thought but Lucius gave a suspicious look "hmm so your hobby is spying" he ask and she was quite shock not know how to respond.should she be glad that he's not angry or she should feel embarrassed
"that's not it" she said with flustered face and Lucius was enjoying the reaction she makes though he always get annoyed whenever a woman makes some annoying faces he was enjoying this one "hmm im glad that you see me as merciful and kind but on the contrary im very scary so why are you so sure that I'll take your offer now you better answer it princess" he said and took a sip of the coffee
Ria was in daze everytime she observe properly of his face, Lucius was wearing a white shirt and his pants were black,he looks like an ordinary men however his face is surely not ordinary and the way the aura he bears is really intimidating,she muster all of her courage and reply to his question "You should have killed me the moment you found me out but you didn't your majesty that's already merciful of you and thus i heard your recruiting mages to stabilize the magic tower,as you know mages are becoming rare due to extinct of mana so only few can wield magic and my power is qualified to be at your use your majesty so please just use me but leave my kingdom be" she plead and clench the hem of her dress
Lucius was now observing her,he knew that Ria was trying to observe him so now he thought it was his turn, 'Her Silver gray is long enough to reach below her waist and yet when she braided it like a ponytail it looks a bit short but suits her and her round blue tortoise eyes is attractive enough because of the confidence it wears,her face is the source for her to be a beauty cause even if she has normal appearance such as brown hair and eyes she'll still look beautiful and the way she dress herself when she's spying is also interesting, since she dress herself like any ordinary people,wearing a red plain dress to hide her royal image yet still look elegant hah
Lucius sigh from having his thoughts 'why do i have such comments' he thought and stared at this woman who was waiting for his reply "hahaha" he laugh like a mad man while covering his face with his left hand that scare ria as well as the two knights 'hah i must have gone mad for sparing the life of the assassin that had hurt me' he thought and took his hand and stare at ria,his eyes shone golden like a villain
"i never had a good laugh before princess and since you decided some things on your own you don't need to be instructed for you know what i want" he said and ria was delighted "that means-" her words were cut "yes I'll spare your life despite the blasphemy that you committed however you have to offer another trade for your kingdom to be spared" he coldly spoke that brokes ria's spirit
"ah that" "the offer that your father and brother gave was very tempting but it's not worthy of my Mercy what i need is power in exchange for the lives that I'll spare" he said and Ria had gritted her teeth 'lets see what you can offer to gain my mercy' he thought and Ria stare with her cold eyes,she was serious in saving her kingdom and Lucius was surprised to see how desperate she was
"since you want power i have another magic that you might like your Majesty" she said and Lucius was listening "i have water magic your highness and this ability is just not just about controlling water" "hmm then why is it different" he ask "i was blessed that my magic water can even heal any injuries and can heal any sickness as long as the water was formed by my magic, although you really don't need healing magic since you had someone to help you but i can used it whenever your in the battlefield i can heal your soldiers" she said
Lucius was already intrigued just mentioning the rarest elemental magic which was water and hearing her about water magic that can heal makes him more interested, "are you telling the truth princess" he ask "how dare i try to deceive you your majesty i never lied about my power" she replied and Lucius gave a winning smile
"hah what a rare gem you are princess, i think it's enough to spare your kingdom, you'll be coming with us back at the capital and since i already negotiated with you there's no need to prolong our stay in your kingdom, we'll prepare to return and i want you to bid your farewells at your people" she said and Astria who already knew about it was still feeling devastated hearing it from his mouth
"W-when will we leave" she ask "a day after tomorrow we'll go back to the empire" he said with excitement but ria was looking pale 'i only have two days to spend with my family' she thought and just lowered her head "then I'll take my leave and prepare my things your Majesty" she said "won't you eat your plate" he ask and ria decline "no i rather eat with my family please excuse me" she said and stood Lucius just nod and Ria bowed
"spend your remaining time with your family then princess"he said and Ria walks away while Lucius stared at her who was walking in dismay,Sir paul bowed at Lucius and followed Ria