“You don’t need to shoulder so much! We don’t want to see you become a demon for our sake. Ever since Luna’s death, you’ve completely changed. Do you still remember the first time we went out together? You wanted to shake me off at the brothel but ended up getting mugged. I went to kill one of them, but you stopped me. You weren’t this way back then. Do you still remember what you did in the North? You stomped the anthropoids that were frozen in ice and defenceless to death. You used the anthropoids as materials for your bets. You’ve changed. Your Majesty, you initially despised blood and death, yet you’re now covered in blood!”
“It’s for your sakes!! Had I bared my fangs and demonstrated brutality from the very start, my Luna wouldn’t have died. If I could’ve control the church beforehand, you wouldn’t have been kidnapped. If I sent the church a head, you wouldn’t have been chained up!”
“That’s why I’m saying that you’ve already gone too far!! Your Majesty, we are all aware that you are doing that for us; nevertheless, is it worth you becoming a demon slaughtering everything in sight and shouldering so much? You care about us, but what about us? Have you considered us? I, personally, saw you change because of me. Do you know how much that hurts me?”
Nier pushed me away with one hand. She held back her tears sitting on the edges of her eyelids. Her lips trembled as she tried to control her emotions: “Your Majesty, you have done enough… It must be enough now… Not only are you our family, but also the King of the North. They don’t respect us. They merely fear us due to you flying into a rage because of you. Even the maids around us are afraid of us!”
I grabbed Nier’s arms and anxiously explained, “I already said that it doesn’t matter! Nier! As long as I can ensure that you’re safe. If they’re scared, they won’t dare to hurt you. Look, Nier, look. Look, everyone respects Mommy Elizabeth. Everyone is in awe of her, but this incident still happened. Luna was killed. And now, there’s somebody trying to sow discord between us. That will never happen in the North, though. There’s nobody there who won’t fear me. Not one person will dare oppose me. That’s what I need. That way, your safety is guaranteed! Have you forgotten the time you were captured?”
I pressed Nier down onto the bed. She caressed my face. I took in a deep breath. Voice quiet, I expressed, “You have no idea how much I love you, Nier. You have no idea how afraid I am of you being in trouble. If I must be a demon to protect you all, then so be it. As long as you’re all safe, I can stand all of the hostility, violence and evil. Nier…”
“But have you considered us?” asked Nier. She went on in a sorrowful tone: “Have you considered us? We are not villagers you are protecting, and we are not your citizens. I am your wife who loves you. I’ll always love you!! I love you the same way you love me! Therefore, I do not want to see you as a murderous demon!! Please, Your Majesty, there is no need for you to do that, and don’t become a demon for my sake…”
Before I could finish, an explosion that shook the ground went off outside. Nier and I both froze. We rushed to the window to look outside. We couldn’t see what happened in the city from the inner court; however, my elven vision allowed me to see black smoke rising into the sky from the city. Nier tensely grabbed my arm. In a soft voice, she asked, “What exactly happened…? What happened to Hilles City?”
Before I could reply, a Valkyrie pushed the door to the room open. The leader of the group that entered bowed to us: “An explosion went off in the city. The initial prediction is that it is a team of rioters from the old church killing members of the new church. Our military has begun their march. The conflict does not look as though it will reach the Royal Palace; therefore, you need not worry, Your Majesties.”
I went to the door and pulled my cloak down. In a stern tone, I asked, “How can I not worry when something happens at Hilles City? Where is Her Majesty?”
“Her Majesty has already personally set out to quell the riot. You should just stay here; there is no need to worry.”
“She’s my mom.”
I shoved the Valkyrie aside and headed toward the stable, which was where the White Deer King was. I intended to head over and see what the situation was.
Nier glanced at the Valkyrie in front of her. Out of nowhere, she pressed the Valkyrie up against the wall. The Valkyrie reacted with surprise. In a baffled voice, the Valkyrie questioned, “Royal Princess, what are you trying to do?! Wh-Why are you trying to strip me..? Wh-What are you doing?”
“Hand me your clothes and gear. I’m changing into it to head out.”
“But… but Her Majesty wants you to stay here…”
“He’s my husband.”
Nier stripped the Valkyrie nude then undressed and tossed her clothes to the Valkyrie. She wore on the Valkyrie uniform and headed out. The Valkyries watched Nier with dumbfounded looks. The Valkyrie who was stripped picked up the clothes Nier gave her. She trembled as she held the clothes that still had Nier’s scent on it up to the tip of her nose for a whiff. She looked besotted after one sniff: “Instructor Nier is as cool as she was in the past… Aaahh… Senior Nier… Senior Nier… I received a present from Instructor Nier…”
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Current time on the street.
The street that looked perfectly normal was engulfed in an inferno. Broken glass littered the ground reflected the storefronts. The stores with the flags hung out were fortunate enough to avoid the fire. The individuals in black robes, who were armed with fire torches and guns, marched down the street. The blaze wiped out wails and cries of despair. Burnt corpses were strewn on the ground. In fact, it was no longer possible to tell if the dead were humans before their death or not.
The people in black robes loudly recited their religious teachings. They recited the chapter illustrating the beauty of things in the world, yet at the same time, they desecrated the land on which God’s reputation was staked.
Elizabeth tugged on her horse reins to bring her horse to a halt. She approached the individuals in black robes. She had her hand on her sword handle, but she hadn’t yet drawn her sword. She was wearing her usual military uniform without any armour. The wind buffeted her cape. A few of the individuals in black robes noticed Elizabeth. Flabbergasted, they raised the weapons in their hands. The maniacal sensation the powdered drug induced helped them overcome their panic and terror. They pulled the trigger.
Elizabeth parted the air and flames. The black bullet she split down the centre was still emitting smoke from the ground. She sheathed her sword. She then violently slammed her sword onto the ground and beamed her intense killing intent from her eyes. Every word she enunciated was a command their bodies couldn’t defy: “On your knees!”
That was the order of a sovereign. No one could oppose it…
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