Sako wandered down the hallway and found Princess Vanescka’s room. As she approached the room, she heard two familiar voices.

  “On your hands and knees.”

  “But…”

  “Do it.”

  “Yes… princess.”

  She poked her head into the room and found Princess Vanescka sitting with legs crossed on Enya’s back, who was down on the floor on all fours like an animal.

  “But… I’m not a chair…” Enya protested.

  “You are now.” Princess Vanescka flipped the page of a book she was reading.

  “Hey, excuse me.” Sako grinned and waved as she stepped into the room.

  Princess Vanescka looked up from her book. “Hey.”

  Enya looked up at her with pleading eyes.

  “Any idea where I could find your father?” Sako eyed Enya apologetically. She couldn’t rescue her from Princess Vanescka’s intimidating authority.

  “The throne room. Go back the way you came and follow the hallway to the next wing.”

  “Thanks.” She nodded. That was the way Le Francia had gone.

  “Come back later. I’m not done with you.” She got back to reading.

  “Right.” Sako bowed, stepped out, and headed for the next wing.

  Eventually, the hallway guided her into the throne room where King Lancester was sitting on his throne.

  Chelsea was down on one knee in front of him in the center of the room.

  Le Francia was sitting in her own chair on another side of the room, staring at Chelsea as Chelsea gave her report. Apparently, she had no obligation to kneel to anyone in the whole kingdom. In fact, Sako couldn’t picture it in her head. Like the king, she had a regal presence. Even on just a chair, rather than a fancy throne, she gave off a sense of royalty equal to the king. The difference between the two was that she seemed aloof and unconcerned, like she was too good to be here and had better things to do, —maybe daydreaming too—while King Lancester listened intently to Chelsea, hanging on to every word that came from her lips. His ears craved information. As the current monarch, he had a kingdom to protect.

  “...I think they used a Chiming Bell,” Chelsea continued.

  King Lancester’s face lit up with surprise.

  Sako was lost.

  Le Francia was unfazed.

  The king spotted Sako coming in.

  Chelsea followed his eyes and turned her head to the side of the room where Sako stood.

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  Le Francia’s eyes followed.

  Sako froze as all eyes fell on her. She bowed stiffly and looked to Chelsea for help. What was the proper procedure?

  Chelsea patted a spot on the floor next to her.

  Sako went over and kneeled beside her.

  “That’s alright, both of you may rise.”

  They rose to their feet.

  “So, a Chiming Bell?” King Lancestor asked.

  “Yes,” Chelsea answered.

  “Where was the caster?”

  “Um…”

  “What did they look like?”

  “Well…”

  “Any idea where they fled to?”

  “...I’m not sure…”

  “Anything at all?”

  “I’m sorry…”

  “Hm…” That wasn’t the answer he wanted. His interest in her dropped.

  The room fell quiet. Chelsea hung her head in shame. She definitely had her shortcomings but was trying her best. Poor girl.

  “Here is my surmise, people.” Le Francia cut in.

  All eyes went on her.

  She was bored at this point. Her floating sword rocked back and forth idly by her side. After polishing her glasses in her hands with a piece of cloth, she put them back on and tossed the cloth aside. Before the cloth hit the floor, a portal opened below it, caught it, and shut. “The miscreant was in hiding nearby, likely cloaked by a particularly advanced spell that not even I could detect. He rang the bell, which caused a widespread mana outage, drank a mana potion to restore his own mana, and then fled the scene. Presumably, he used a sort of transportation spell. While everyone was empty on mana—enemies and allies alike—I spotted a mage on my way to Lamentine’s capital soaring high in the sky over everything at high speed, full of magical energy. A normal mage would’ve missed him. He was a non-combatant.”

  “Where is he now?” King Lancester asked.

  “My sword cut him to pieces.”

  He frowned. “I would’ve preferred to capture him, especially since he had no combat prowess.”

  “Hmm…” She thought about her own error. “Yes, we should’ve captured him for interrogation and torture then killed him.”

  A sweatdrop ran down his worried face. “No… just capture…”

  “Then kill him? What would be the point of that?”

  “...Never mind…” He gave up.

  “The enemy is retreating,” Chelsea said.

  “Good.” He smiled at her. Finally, some good news. “And Ascalon?” His gaze went back to Le Francia.

  “Gone.”

  “You killed him, didn’t you…”

  “Indeed, I did. The queen also met her end.”

  Lancaster and Chelsea simultaneously sighed in grief. That was no surprise. Le Francia was brutal.

  “And the heirs?” he continued.

  “By the time I arrived, they had already departed. I don’t know of their whereabouts now.”

  “There will likely be a power vacuum then,” Chelsea picked up.

  King Lancestor nodded thoughtfully.

  “However, that has nothing to do with our kingdom’s affairs, so we shall not concern ourselves.” Le Francia wouldn’t be weighed down by irrelevant matters.

  So cold…

  “I can’t argue with that...” King Lancestor accepted it, though was still a bit displeased. “Unlike Lamentine who has faltered in its traditional political system, we fortunately have a failsafe for the kingdom.” He reassured Chelsea and Sako. “...Albeit questionable sometimes…” He shot a concerned glance at Le Francia.

  Yeah, I’d be a bit concerned too.

  Chelsea nodded.

  “Now, what of the prisoner?”

  “In the dungeon,” Chelsea replied.

  “Go and see how she fares. Have our guest accompany you.”

  “Sire.” Chelsea bowed.

  Sako bowed too then followed her out of the room toward the dungeon.

  They went down the hallway then down a long staircase. The further down they went, the dimmer it became. Once they got to the base of the staircase, they made their way down the cobblestone corridor.