Chapter 3 the four surrounding kingdoms

Whosefors, Walker, Farsilles, and Qualia—these four kingdoms surrounded the very center of the main kingdom, and what’s connecting all four of them both politically and economically is the source of trade, which, due to the ongoing war, had lessened, making the lack of trade and crops very apparent.

And so, due to that, they had tried to enter a truce, but due to an accident, or rather a misfire, the truce ended horribly, and millions of lives were lost. They started issuing suicidal commands and stealing crops and money, all so they could get their dirty little hands on good land and crops.

The head of the main kingdom, Lauder Del Qualia Farsilles, Avon Walker, is the leading head and the one overseeing the ongoing war and politics.

Apparently some say he’s fallen half into depravity and is a cursed being not to be trifled with or approached whatsoever. Only a select few who are somehow resistant or longtime friends can resist his oozing darkness that can threaten to corrupt anyone who even smells only a little bit of it, almost like perfume. Once it’s inside you, it’s already over, huh?

I frowned at that man who simply can’t live a normal life due to being cursed with depravity and forced to take the lives of many without meaning to, but then again, no one really knows if he was born with it or had killed too many and drowned himself in darkness.

After all, killing without remorse or guilt is a quick one-way trip to depravity and darkness, as opposed to blessings, which come from healing and helping the weak and poor with empathy and sympathy and without expecting anything in return, merely wishing the best of all will lead you to a blessed life free of loss or suffering, and at the end you will die happy.

It’s not like I particularly cared about some man but rather it just felt wrong to live life through hurting others but then again it’s none of my business.

I explored the countless stores alongside my mother. Everything felt new, everything felt like a dream, and everything felt nice. Slowly and surely, I felt refreshed, like my worries were being dispelled, and soon enough, I was exhausted from everything as I sat on the bench next to the bakery store.

I looked towards my mother speaking with other people with a normal smile plastered on her gorgeous features yet again, and as always, I was reminded of how beautiful Mother truly is, and it put my heart at ease seeing Mother smile through her heart.

and after a few hours of resting I stood up and kept on walking and walking amongst the crowds of people I accidentally bumped into a man who’s really tall and somehow the only thing I could think of would be black and nothing more just pure darkness I shivered and trembled and yet I didn’t feel any fear whatsoever almost as if my trauma which caused me a lot of problems didn’t exist mother was with me so I was able to bear it of course but not when I had to face them like this I tried to talk but somehow my lips wouldn’t utter a single word almost as if speaking a single word would be a quick way to lose my life the man in black spiel first

“Oops Milady are you unhurt perhaps”

His voice sounded really soft and gentle almost as if I couldn’t believe it’s a man’s voice yet again I somehow felt even more fascinated by him yet again.

why am I fascinated by him I don’t like men I’m sure I do no I’m pretty sure I hate them so why do I felt different towards him? No no no no something’s wrong with me I trembled even more and despite how chilly and cold it is outside I felt warmth due to my sweating simply put I was scared of this man or rather how just how off or weird he is and yet I can’t seem to put this very thought to action why? Why? Is there something wrong with me? Shit shit shit shit was I wrong this whole time? No no no calm down the man in black spoke again with his gentle and soothing voice

“Milady are you alright? You seem pale”

Stop stop stop stop talking to me I feel even more and more drawn to him like he’s the sun like he’s the light found at the end of a long long tunnel I wanted to run away from that light just as much as I wanted to jump at it in joy finally free of burdens and trouble free of my fear and repulsion of men and finally from myself suddenly my heart felt heavy and quick I found it hard to breathe my heart kept on beating and beating faster and faster

Ba dump ba dump ba dump ba dump ba dump ba ba dump ba dump

It’s hard to breathe and I can’t calm my quickly beating heart I might just faint soon enough no im scared someone mother please help me anyone please it felt like a hand was gently caressing my beating heart playing with it teasing me ah just put me out of my misery already

I’m scared scared scared scared scared scared scared scared scared.

I felt a warm hand and body hug me to their chest and that hand stoked and carressed my hair I slowly calmed down and without recognizing whom it was quickly clung to their chest feeling warm and comfortable I let out very very deep breathe I was truly terrified of the man and really happy this person came to my rescue

“And what duty would the head like you want from my darling daughte?”

I recognized that tone of voice and way of speaking of course I do it wouldn’t be anyone else but mother apparently she came back from the bakery and saw me being somehow harrassed by a strange looking man and so she came to save me ah I’m so happy

“Oh apologizes M’am I wasn’t looking my way and accidentally bumped into your daughter do accept my apologizes she just seemed….lost to me”

“Lost you say? Sorry to say but she’s not clueless enough to get lost but I humbly accept your apology”

With this short exchange, Mother and the man in black parted ways, and I and Mother sat in a warm and cozy coffee shop, which was empty, and the nostalgic smell brought back old memories.

She still held me in the same position as when she saved me, and by now my breathing and heart had already returned to normal, but I was still shaken and scared, so I stayed buried in her warm chest. Mother stayed silent, but that was fine with me, for I didn’t have the energy to talk or even to do anything. Mother then put her hand on my chest and rubbed it as if I was sick or something.

Then suddenly I felt warmth inside my chest enough to make me teary-eyed and almost cry.

But soon enough I felt relaxed and fell asleep in her chest like a child would with their mother, and so I felt my mother kissing my forehead and whispering me goodnight in her usual sweet and warm voice, and so my consciousness fell deep into the darkness, and strangely I didn’t feel scared or lonely because it was warm there, and I was reminded that Mother was indeed here.

And thus ended my first outing alongside Mother.

Lauders POV

Ah, I certainly didn’t expect a random meeting with the current and soon-to-be future princesses of Whosefors.

It was worth coming out here; it was truly worth every effort, and with this, finally, the gears are turning for the better, and soon Whosefors itself will fall to my scheme.

and will surrender to me, but ah, Milady truly looked adorable trying to hide her fascination towards me.

If only the current princess didn’t interfere, I could have gotten her, and this would have spelled their doom, as by corrupting her and having her join my side of darkness and depravity, I could have created the perfect princess, and she would have eventually united all of the kingdoms into the main one, and with this, no one would have gotten pointlessly hurt.

If it’s for the important people, then I would sacrifice a hundred or more; however, if it’s simple day-to-day people, then I don’t see how they could be important.

I say as I recount my unexpected encounter with the Whosefors princesses to my trusted aide, Vanoe De Clemente, a social worker and chancellor and also my personal aide, whom I trust more than the world. He served me tea shortly after I headed home. He truly is extremely reliable and quick to work; even after I sneaked out of the mansion for fun, he still took care of the most pressing matter like it was nothing.

I’m truly happy he takes care of my needs like that. I would have never thought that Vanoe, out of everyone in the natural selection, would be capable, but here we are. I guess he’s mostly silent and mostly replies with harsh remarks, but his soft side is truly nice.

“So, master, about the two princesses, will you enact the reincarnation plan?”

Vanoe asked with a tone of certainty and wariness, Oh, was he worried about me, perhaps? I thought a bit harder at this. After all, the reincarnation plan has been a plan in development since the year 199, and now that 50 years have passed, the plan is almost entering its final stages, and so no matter the cost, I will definitely let the reincarnation plan come to fruition, even if I have to sacrifice an entire kingdom and perhaps two princesses.

Soon I will acquire all the needed tools, and Lia will come back and reign over the world like she is destined to.

“I will without fail enact that plan.”

“I see, Master, you have no hesitation whatsoever.”

“You should already know I threw away that useless thing when I learned of the treason my late parents and king had committed and when I beheaded them.”

Yes I had to decaptiate both my traitorous and rebellious parents so that I could be king and rule over as the current head that’s the payment and power needed to rule

“As always, Master, you sure are shrewd and evil.”

Vanoe has said with certainty that I’m a shrewd and evil man. Well, he’s not exactly wrong. It’s not like I decided to be evil, but rather that simply being evil wasn’t a choice but a need, an important need to satisfy the higher-ups and become the depraved human being capable of erasing the pure and kind light that is the blessings. As night drew, I had finished paperwork, and without eating dinner, I headed quickly to my room and flopped down on my bed, and perhaps due to the fatigue and stress, I instantly fell asleep.

and dreamed of a time when I and Lia lived a fairly normal life before all that madness and war crap took it all away, making us starving and soon poor and throwaway. Yet Lia smiled despite it all. I, for the longest time, wanted to follow that light to see where it would lead me, to see where she would shine the brightest, and to see where she would want to end up at the very last of her life.

Don’t worry, Lia; soon I will bring you back alongside that bright smile once again.

                                                       …….………………………

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It’s dark.

It’s really dark.

.…………………………

It’s dark. It’s dark. It’s dark. It’s dark. It’s

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“Ugh, it’s really dark. Someone please get me out of here or shine some light somewhere, please.”

I couldn’t move about in the darkness; no, to be exact, I was scared to move for the mistaken fact that I would be swallowed by a clad-in-darkness monster or, rather, an entity.

I couldn’t be sure why I believed it, but nonetheless it was dark here. Where’s the sun? The lamps? The magic-infused lamps? Anything, no matter how small, will really help, so please, someone, anyone, bring me a light, please, please, please. I can’t hold it anymore. Please, someone.

Before I could say anything, I found light at the end of the long, long tunnel of darkness and quickly ran towards that light, and I woke up in the comfort of my room and in the warm and comfortable bed.

“Just a dream.”

I woke up with cold sweat pouring on me. I looked around frantically, yet there was nothing more than my good old and comfortable room with a king-sized bed, a window and balcony next to me, and two shelves on either side of my bed. After confirming it’s my room, I shakily and slowly got up and walked to the bathroom and washed my face with some auto cold water magic that is available throughout every mansion.

And after taking another deep breath, I grabbed a towel, brushed myself off, and headed outside, just aimlessly walking. I didn’t want to just lie on my bed all day, so I walked around the always familiar hallway with a stretching red carpet with the logo of a horse and its rider heading to battle with a spear and shield in hand.

Soon enough I reached the end of the hallway and found the dining hall filled with food. My mother arrived, and with her usual gentle smile, she walked over to me and put her hand on my forehead, checking for a fever, and with a sigh of relief, she put her hand away and smiled a motherly smile.

“You’re all better now, Elly? Ah, I’m so glad. I’m sorry for that outing. I had wanted it to be a normal outing between mother and daughter, really, Elly. I’m sorry. It’s understandable if you’re still upset about what happened. I won’t hold it against you, really. I’m sorry.”

Mother spoke with distress and a deep sadness in her voice. I felt almost as guilty as her, but I remained resolute and tried to dispel those worries from her.

“Mother, I…had fun. Uh, I really had so much uh fun seeing new things. Really, Mother, thank you for that outing. I could…never hate or be angry at Mother for trying her best.”

I tried to string as many words as I could, but I was still a little nervous and wasn’t able to talk normally.

I hope my sincerity and gratitude got through to her. I’m not good at this sort of thing; after all, I never had much contact in my previous life, and so I just hope it really reached her.

I thought so to myself and before I knew I it mothers warm body was pressed against myself and I quickly realized she was hugging me with tears in her eyes

I thought so to myself, and before I knew it, Mother's warm body was pressed against me, and I quickly realized she was hugging me with tears in her eyes.

“Oh….Elly I really don’t deserve your kindness and nicety. I love you so much, my dearest darling, my baby and daughter, my dearest Elly.”

Mother showered me with her constant motherly affection, and I felt myself almost cry, so I hugged her back. And so, with this, I had reconciled with my mother, and soon after, we spent more time together. We went outside and to many other kingdoms and explored new places, so it’s safe to say my time with Mother was truly precious and important, one I would never replace or forget my entire life. And soon enough, it was time for the long-awaited ball of my life.