Long live tyranny!

For the second time, I carefully counted the money I had managed to accumulate in just a few days. It was a real pile! I was in a great mood, but at the same time, it made my heart ache a little.

Ah, if only it weren’t for that debt, I could keep it all. Every last coin! Just you wait, you red-haired scum! I’ll make you pay!

But I was still aware the fact that I was still 98 glens short left to completely settle the debt. And I had no time left to get them, because tomorrow morning the inspector was supposed to come to check my earnings and behaviour, and if everything went smoothly, I would officially become an official clerk in the Lumir’s Chain of Stores.

Yay! What a delight! I can’t wait to slave away here for another two years. Yeah, that was definitely not something I was looking forward to. Still, I was in a good mood, because I believed that even though I still had some debt left, it wasn’t anything terrible anymore. I think I might have avoided the one-way ticket to Demon Castle. And who knows, maybe they won’t be happy with me and kick me out! Ah, finally things are starting to turn for good.

I was just starting to drift off into the land of dreams when suddenly the warning crystal by my bed lit up and started vibrating slightly. I was on my feet instantly. I grabbed the manual that served as my bedtime story and quickly flipped to the section on warning crystals. I skimmed the text and learned that a green glow meant an unauthorized attempt to enter the portal. It was recommended to wait, as the portal should be protected by a powerful magical barrier designed by Lumir himself, which was almost impossible for lower-level mages to break. If the warning persisted for a long time or if someone actually managed to enter, calling security was an option. I was tempted to call them right away, but the manual emphasized in bold that summoning security without cause was punishable, and the clerk would have to pay for the intervention himself.

They really want someone to rob them, don’t they? I’d bet not a single clerk in history has ever pressed that button. Who’d risk having to foot the bill? Curse you, Lumir!

With a sigh, I put on my vest and cautiously stepped out of my room to check the shop. I wanted to see if anything strange was going on, and besides, the security could only be called from there anyway.

I walked down the corridor, shivering from the cold. The interspace was a real damn chilly place.

I entered the shop and turned on the lights.

Standing before me was a tall figure in a black cloak and a pointed hat with a huge brim. In her hand, she held a staff.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

“Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!”

Without thinking, I dove toward the counter to call the security. But before I could hit the button, my limbs suddenly froze, and my head went fuzzy. It felt like thousands of tiny needles were stabbing my entire body.

Why does this kind of thing keep HAPPENING to me?! What did I ever do to deserve this?

As if from far away, a voice reached me.

“P-p-p-please forgive me, I-I… I’m sorry! Ahhhhhh, the princess is going to kill me for this!”

Princess? I perked up my ears, which were still buzzing unpleasantly, but in the next moment I started to relax, as if a block of ice around me was slowly melting.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it’ll pass in just a moment. I-I’ll warm you up right away!”

Suddenly, a wave of boiling air hit me. It slammed into me like a hammer. I couldn’t even breathe, or I would’ve probably scorched my lungs. But after a moment, it passed. All I could do was lie there on the ground, wheezing.

“Are you… alright?” came a weak voice from above.

“…No.”

“Ahhhh, I knew it! Y-you don’t look so good. What spell should I use on you now to make you feel better?”

“Nothing!” I shrieked and sat upright to demonstrate my excellent state of health. It was all an act, of course, but in that moment, I would’ve done anything to stop that woman from trying her magic on me again.

“Ah, so you’re alright. I-I’m glad. Wait, I’ll help you up.”

“No!” I’m telling you, don’t touch me, woman!

I did at least accept the chair she offered me.

“I’m really sorry.” The witch whimpered again, and I could finally see her face. She wasn’t exactly attractive. Her face was covered in freckles, and occasionally a pimple rose up like Uluru. She also looked a bit overweight, but otherwise, her face was kind of cute in her own way. The two brown braids helped with that.

“There, there,” I tried to calm her down. “It’s fine now. But could you finally explain what the hell this is about? You mumbled something about a princess, didn’t you?”

“Yes, yes, the princess ordered me to!” the girl defended herself.

“But what is it that she ordered you?! She told you to break into a store in the middle of the night?”

“Well… kind of.”

Hm, okay. I’m not even that surprised, to be honest.

“But why?” Don’t tell me she just wanted to piss me off?!

“I-I actually don’t even know exactly. She just told me to go see you. A-a-and she told me to do it right away. She was very specific about that and threatened me with the guillotine!” The girl burst into tears.

Wow, tyranny really rules this kingdom. I feel like it’s time for a revolution. Liberty, equality, fraternity, right? And most importantly, no brainless little princess brats.

“But why? I still don’t know what she wants from me,” I tried to pry the information from the sobbing girl.

“She just told me to ask if you needed anything. Looks like she’s taken quite a liking to you, so she wanted to show her appreciation somehow.”

“One hundred and fifty glens!” I blurted without thinking.

“Only that?” the witch asked, wiping her tears.

“Wait, what do you mean only that?”

“Well, alright, I’ll take care of it right away.” The girl announced and blew her nose into a handkerchief. Before I could stop her and ask for more, she disappeared into the portal.

For a moment, I just stood there, speechless.

All hail the bratty princesses! Hurray! Hurray! Hurray! Long live tyranny!