I Will Protect You This Time

Episode 51

(To Do)

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A Few Moments Ago…

The Main Tent of the Royals Of Loire…

Emperor Mathias, Empress Helena, Daniel and Rubena were conversing about something. 

"I still don't understand why we had to come here a week late!"

Daniel asked with a frown.

"Why are you angry, dear? We made a grand entrance, didn't we?"

Helena said with a gentle tone to alleviate his anger.

"Grand entrance?!"

Daniel scoffed upon hearing such words.

"Oh, dear! Was it not?"

Helena said with a sad expression.

"Seriously? You know, that's not what I am talking about. No matter which day we arrived, it would have been a grand entrance, Mother. So don't spout that nonsense to me."

Daniel said with a voice that screamed of annoyance.

"Fufu. Well, that is true."

Helena said with a smile.

"Seriously?!"

Daniel clamoured with an expression that said he couldn't believe the Empress.

"Stop grumbling! We have arrived and that is all."

Mathias said to shut his mouth. 

"Oh. Dear brother! Why are you so aggrieved? Calm down. We are here anyway, right? Before the start of the competition."

Rubena tried to soothe him with an innocent smile.

'Two-faced snake!'

Daniel thought, feeling disgusted at Rubena's smile.

"I am going out. It's suffocating here!"

Saying that Daniel left the tent.

"You better tell him to not do anything stupid, Helena."

Mathias warned Helena with a glare.

"Don't worry. He won't."

Helena assured with a smile. 

"You can excuse yourself now. Go get some rest. It has been a long journey."

Mathias said to Helena.

"Yes. I should. Then, excuse me."

Saying then Helena slightly bowed and left for the resting tent.

"Everything is going perfectly. Even God is on our side."

Mathias said while grinning. 

"You are right, father."

Rubena replied with a smile.

"The plan will be conducted before the last day of the competition."

"Yes. I know, Father."

"So make sure to keep that 'THING' safe and hidden. It will be impossible to leave this place without that. You know that, right?"

Mathias said in a serious tone.

"Don't worry, father. It's safe. And no one will suspect that that 'THING' is with her. She came here before us and stayed here more than half a year after all."

"Right… But where is she?"

"She will be here somewhere. Don't worry though. No matter where she is, she will be here soon..."

"Her Majesty, the Empress Alicia Cedric Carados Fellmirr and Her Highness, the Crown Princess Isabella Albus Carados Fellmirr are entering the tent."

A knight announced from outside. 

Hearing the announcement, a smile was visible on both Rubena and Mathias's faces.

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I slowly took steps into the tent.

I am afraid! I am afraid! I am afraid!

I feel so suffocated. I don't want to be here. Their upsetting presence... I can feel their disgusted gaze towards me.

"Sister~!"

Huh?

Rubena hugged me tightly after running towards me.

"I missed you so much! So much!"

Huh? What's going on?

"My dear daughter~! Dear Isabella~"

His Majesty also came towards me in a hurry with a sad voice.

What the… Why is he behaving this way? Oh. It must be because mother is here.

Ah! Right, Mother!

How can they ignore her?! I looked at the Empress. She was frowning… She must be angry at their behaviour.

But soon she composed her expression and said in an elegant manner,

"Greetings, the Emperor of Loire. Welcome to Fellmirr."

"Ah-"

His Majesty looked at the Empress. He seemed flustered for some reason. The same goes for Rubena. She also looked quite shocked. Did they not notice her?

"Ah… Greetings the Empress of Fellmirr. I apologize. I saw my dear daughter Isabella after a long time, so I didn't notice you."

"Is that so?"

Empress Alicia asked with a look of disapproval.

"Ah. Yes. Anyways this is my younger daughter, Rubena Estelle Von Loire."

"Ah. G-Greetings Your Majesty, the Empress. It's an honour to meet you!"

Rubena said with a smile but was thinking something totally different.

'What the f*ck! How can a beast lady be so pretty?! Aren't they supposed to be ugly and stinky?! And that wh*re Isabella… Did they do something to her face? Why is she glowing?!'

"Hmm. Why aren't you bowing to her?"

Empress Alicia asked in a cold manner.

"Huh?"

Rubena had a confused look hearing her. It was as if she could believe what the Empress just said.

"I understand that she is your sister and you probably missed her. But now she is the Crown Princess of Fellmirr Empire."

"Her Majesty. It's Alright."

I don't want her to be angry because of me. 

"It's not alright. Disrespecting a Royal of Fellmirr means being disrespectful towards the Fellmirr Empire. Are you looking down on our Empire?"

"What? How dare I?"

Rubena became flustered hearing that.

"Then bow now. Give your greetings to her."

"That-"

'What? Bow to her?! That b*tch!'

"I apologize for her behaviour! She is still young."

Mathias said with an awkward smile.

"What are you waiting for? Bow!"

Mathias whispered to Rubena.

"Y-Yes. Greetings Her Highness, the Crown Princess."

Rubena said while bowing.

'D*mn it! I will never forget this humiliation! Just you wait, you wh*re!'

Rubena cursed inwardly.

"Anyways, we just came to greet you as a guest. You were supposed to arrive a few days ago. We could've had so much time to talk then. But you have arrived quite late… Well, it can't be helped. We have a tight schedule today. As it is the Inauguration Day of the Hunting Festival. It was quite hard to make time to greet you. Anyways, please excuse us. And don't forget to enjoy yourselves. Let's go, Crown Princess."

"Ah. Yes, Her Majesty. Enjoy, Your Majesty, the Emperor of Loire and the Second Princess"

After that, both Isabella and Alicia walked out of the tent.

Aagh*

"D*mn that b*tch!"

Rubena screamed with annoyance.

Mathias: "Arrogant s*it! Look at her guts! That- Hah!"

"Father! Sob* You have to do something! That b*tch! Did you see how she humiliated me?!"

Rubena sobbed while grabbing Mathias's coat.

"Don't worry, Ruby. She will die after 5 days anyway. Let her do what she wants for her last week."

Mathias said with a demonic smile while patting her head.

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There is a five minutes walking distance from one tent to another. Each Aristocrat family has several tents. For example, one for dining, one was like a parlour room, one as a bedroom and many others.

Anyways, Daniel, who left the tent a moment ago, was now walking in a hurry to go somewhere quiet. The part of plain land near the forest was empty as everyone was busy socializing near the centre. So he stopped under a big tree there.

"D*mn it!"

Daniel cursed inwardly while punching a fist in the tree trunk. 

I know they are scheming something. But what?... 

What he said in the Loire keeps coming back to my mind.

<

Mathias was sitting in his study. He summoned Daniel there a minute ago.

"You've been fooling around a lot lately."

"..."

Daniel stayed silent without saying anything with a poker face. 

"Are you ignoring me?!"

Mathias got up from his seat and slammed the table with anger.

"How dare I, Your Majesty."

"Y-You- "

Mathias stuttered with anger seeing Daniel's unaffected cold voice.

"Can you kindly tell me why you summoned me, Your Highness?"

Woosh~

Mathias threw the quill that was on the table towards Daniel's face. The tip of the quill scratched his pale-white cheek from where drops of shiny red liquid started flowing out. But in all that ruckus he didn't even flinch. It was as if he was used to it.

"How dare you speak to me that way?!"

'How dare this arrogant piece of sh*t!'

Mathias rumbled.

"Your Majesty, Emperor Mathias Von Goldrudder Loire. Would you kindly inform me the reason of your summon?"

Daniel asked with a usual cold voice but his eyes were glaring.

Mathias flinched at his glare but gulped his fear down. In reality, Mathias was nothing but a coward. 

He loved weak people. As he could do whatever he wanted with them. And they wouldn't do anything. More like they were unable to do anything. It made him feel superior. 

But like that, he was afraid of many things. 

And the thing he was afraid of the most was… Power. People who were more powerful than him… Who were stronger than him... He was afraid of them… Detested them… He knew deep down he was weaker than them and could never actually win against them. 

But how can HE be weaker than them?! He never admitted it. So whenever he felt threatened or was angered by people who were stronger than him, he would scream

like an animal and hurt that person. 

And among many who were stronger than him were his sons… Yes. In reality, he was afraid of them… 

Both Daniel and William...

"Forget it! There's no use talking to an animal."

Mathias said while sitting in the chair. Even though he looked calm, he was actually trembling.

Daniel: "..."

"You will have to come along to the Fellmirr Hunting Festival with us."

A slight crack was visible on Daniel's cold face for the first time after a long time hearing about Fellmirr. Although Mathias was too blind to notice that.

'Fellmirr?! It's where she is…'

Daniel thought about her. His heartbeat accelerated thinking about that place. 

Mathias: "You can't say 'No'! You will-"

Daniel: "I will go."

Mathias: "What? You son of a b*tch! How dare y-"

Daniel: "I said, I will go."

"Wh- Alright."

Mathias said in a dumbfounded expression.

Mathias: "Ahem! Anyways, You have to behave well with that w*nch there."

'What? What is he talking about? Behave well with her?'

Daniel thought in disbelief. The Mathias he knows will never do that. 

"Even if there's no one around. She must trust us. Considering what a fool she is, she will be wagging her tail like that of a b*tch she is after some pat and smile."

Mathias scoffed thinking about the scenario.

"Now what are you waiting for? Get out of my sight."

Saying that Mathias dismissed Daniel. 

>

Behave well with her?

Scoff*

It's obvious he wants something from her. He is going to use her again…

But for what? Shit! I couldn't find out even after a week. But one thing is for sure, Rubena knows what he is doing. 

She is his dog after all. 

"D*mn it! I hate this feeling. This feeling of being so helpless and useless..."

Daniel thought while looking at his palm.

"No. I am stronger now. I have to protect her this time."

Daniel vowed while clenching his fist.

"Yes. First thing first. I have to warn her about them"

Thinking that Daniel turned around to the Campsite and started walking.