Conspiracy on the Bed

A week has passed since that day.

The fact that her own parents yet replied to the assassins at the heir’s birthday brought to mind many scenarios for her to play with.

Maybe a response was in the making, or had already began rushing toward their enemies without her knowing.

Zayobi sat atop her bed, the approaching sunset tinted her room through gaps in the curtains.

Those are the thoughts of a civilian. How am I in a position of obliviousness? Why am I speculating about the shadows of a kingdom beyond the Hallowed Forest?

Her hand waved to flick away the thoughts, and the same action opened a portal in front of her. She materialized her chakram, left it on the bed, and rose to enter the gate.

The room she found herself in was covered in an ocean-blue.

“They’re still in a planning phase?” She asked upon sitting down on a bed.

“’Planning phase,’ ‘no need to utilize our unfinished experiments yet.’ I’ve also gotten different versions from different people of ‘not enough statistical difference in the material listings to warrant a review of the inventory’ in regards to what is used to create and maintain the teleportation gear.”

The tail of the blue wolf next to her brushed against her thigh in hastening speed throughout his report.

“There are many times when the answer feels worse than not getting a reply at all I suppose.”Added Zayobi. “The vagueness is what truly annoys me.”

She tilted her head to meet his eyes. “I thought of something, something that might stand beyond my newly awakened capabilities.”

At that his tail halted to a rest on her thigh.

“Do you know if Zevesh had their own ‘assault-and-escape’ incident already?”

Zevesh, the kingdom of a race that at least the Flame Souls referred to as Hellhounds.

“Why would such a thing happen? No, before that, I doubt whichever group that accessed our most advanced technology would stand a chance against whom they may target there.”

He continued.

“It’s true that stealing the most confined products of my nation is an unheard of achievement, yet to invade a public space filled with Zeveshes…”

“Yeah-yeah, I know how powerful they are even without unleashing Spiritual Arts because of their complex biology. I get enough of that from my sister who’s addicted to races of notable might, and also it’s not strictly relevant.”

She calmly stated as if she’d gone over the conversation’s possibilities in her mind beforehand.

“Strictly?” Now was Agmon’s turn to tilt his head.

“The strength laying in the Hellhounds’ bodies is not a cause of concern for their plan. The opposite in fact, it’s relevant to achieving it.”

We’re going up a level in conspiracies, yet as someone who was taught to create, refine, and then spread to achieve my desired outcomes when I’ll reach queenhood, I prefer to believe I know what I’m talking about.

“Agmon, your kingdom is fully aware of the strength and grand potential of my sisters. I would at least imagine, even if you’re far from enemies with Zevesh, the single offspring of the queen has her tales chanted in songs throughout your nation?”

“Ah.” He let out as naturally as possible.

“You mean Sylvesta? I’ve known her since I was six.”

“Huuuuh?” Let out Zayobi.

Well, yeah, should’ve guessed royals of one nation would at least once in their lifetime met those of their allies. So he met her face to face ten years ago?

“I can say our meetings have become more frequent as time went on as well. The Zeveshes’ enduring bodies allows them the privilege of not worrying for the heir’s growth, or specifically the speed of, and thus her tasks as a princess might be closer to being a symbol than of a ruler.”

I’m not sure if I’m interested in her more than the newly discovered concept of him actually interacting with…

His monologue continued: “I know how much it might mean to you when symbolism of the next ruler could be argued based on the public’s opinions because you have three sisters they might constantly compare you to. So Sylvesta’s rule as a figure is clear by being The Kingdom’s Daughter and Princess of the People so-”

“Agmon.”

While the touch muted him, Zayobi simply put her palm on his cheek.

“The princess of Zevesh being an irregularity within a race that feels dangerous and fearsome even when put next to Flame Souls is the heart of my theory.”

She followed with: “Sylvesta’s revered strength is what those assassins will risk their lives to face.”

“I can’t comprehend such an assault. They’ll go on a mission with the intent on capturing her using the teleportation gear? From all I know of the army I was raised to commend, our most elite, say twenty units, won’t be enough to kill her. And that’s factoring in her current more indolent lifestyle.”

His statements weren’t a rebuke, contrary to his eager tone.

“Agmon, I could’ve noted down a more intricate theory for her assassination if I wanted to using what I just learned of her frequent visits to Mizrakah.”

“So it’s not that complex?”

“The fact that some group knows and has accessed your most confidential technology proves their capabilities, so I could’ve given a safe theory that they’ll try to kill her during a meeting here instead of invading Zevesh.”

She cut her own sentence by wagging a finger left and right.

“Her death is not their plan at all. They want one of their own to die by her hands.”

Agmon’s eyes widened, and with them came a space for Zayobi to continue.

“Before we even get to such a story of a Mizrakah personal, whether their role is official in the army or not, trying to kill the heir of a friendly nation, think of the way it could spread out.”

“The way the news spread, not its results?”

“That’s their end goal. What they must desire most however is how princess Sylvesta herself will react.”

She began.

“And without taking into account how or if it will affect her trust in Mizrakah, hearing the story from her own mouth will surely give more weight to the news, not to mention the spark it will light in some by knowing she slayed the invader or invaders with her own hands.”

Such a tiring and long speculative discussion is something I should be facing after taking the throne, not at the innocent age of sixteen.

“It makes sense if the Zevesh royal family was loathed by Mizrakah and thus a failed assassination attempt, by anyone, could’ve reminded them of their contempt.” Said Agmon.

“And if even all of Mizrakah respects Zevesh, who knows if the citizens of Zevesh will say the same upon hearing their deity of a princess’ life was arrogantly threatened.” Added Zayobi.

Having all this logic doesn’t mean we’re near their true goal. I might lose sleep if I’ll try to assess the reasons and ideologies of this group.

“Phew…” Her tension emerged with the sigh. “I would love to just fall asleep here and tell myself this conversation was just fiction I dreamed. Sadly dinner has the power to shackle and pull me away from even your comfy bed across the whole forest.”

At that she rose to her feet.

“If you want your own secret operation, then listen up.”

And Agmon rose next to her.

“It’s not a lie to not tell all of the truth, saying you came upon intelligence that your parents are yet to discover is also accurate.”

The princess pointed at the prince.

“I want you to tell Sylvesta about this group, or at least the chance of people enacting what we discussed to achieve those goals. Be blunt and brave, tell her that even if a failed attack at her life does happen, she must keep it a secret somehow.”

The fiery gate awaited in place throughout all of their conspiracies, it twisted Agmon’s pale skin as Zayobi looked him in the eyes.

“You’re sadly not the kind with the desire for her to stay inside your castle’s walls for eternity, right?”

“Uh… right?”

“We’re making up fictional scenarios at this point, but if she were the kind who’d agree to not leave your bedroom for a full week if asked by you, then depending on the circumstances I would’ve told you to request that of her.”

Zayobi wore a grin through every word spoken in the last minute. Would it be accurate to say the charisma of this princess shines brighter in romance than politics, or were her priorities just this unordered?

Maybe Agmon was raised differently as expected with a different kingdom, yet for some Zayobi’s desire to obtain everything her mind wondered to would be the most natural thing one would imagine a future queen to proudly display.

Only time would tell if Zayobi believed in the same pure love of fairy tales, only time would tell if she would act upon it, and only time would tell if she even knew the difference between passion and love.

With that they said their goodbyes as Zayobi entered the portal, leaving Agmon to dwell on the imaginative solution.