A parent's guilt

“Hahahahaha! Did you see the look on that prick’s face!”

“Yeah, that crap was hilarious! Thank you Opal!”

After a long grueling without my usual amenities, I found myself sitting in a gorgeous bath alongside my new gal pals. Me and Penma laughed arm in arm as we thought about Stahn’s face when he got caught. You might be wondering, where the hell did this bathhouse even come from? Well, after realizing what I endured while they were busy dealing with matters, Victor told his men to immediately build me a bath house to wash the grime off my skin. The townsfolk even pitched in, the result was a large bathing facility. Me, Whitney, and Penma are the first users. We were even gifted wine, they must really be terrified of what I’ll do to them. Oh well, more wine and cheese for me, by the way.

“Hey Whitney, come drink with us. Come on, we bled together so sharing skinship is normal.”

“*Sigh* You really are strange, aren’t you Princess Ophelia.”

“I hate my name, please call me Opal.”

I had to explain fully to them after Stahn was arrested, Penma broke out in laughter. Whitney understood, but was irritated that I hid something like this from her. At least we’re all still friends here…

…friends, I wonder how she’s doing.

“Whitney, you went to talk to her right. How was Lena doing?”

“As well as we’d expect, her father was arrested right in front of her. Even though we had every right to do that, she didn’t want to see any of us. Especially you Opal, she said she never wants to see you again.”

I see, so she doesn’t want to be my friend anymore. Maybe that’s for the best, afterall I’m a royal and she’s a commoner. Still, all because I say this doesn’t mean it hurts less. I sighed realizing I lost my first friend from this town, then a ton of hot water poured on my head. It was Penma with a water basin.

“Penma, are you trying to drown me?”

“Just waking you up, sure Lena’s situation is sad. However, you saved us and you’re trying to save the others too. You aren’t trying to do wrong, eventually Lena will understand that.”

Penma, for a musclehead you sure are sweet. I thank her for her kind words, then realize I never asked them what they’d do now. Penma bit into an apple and went first.

“As much as I want to knock that bastard’s door down, my body’s still too weak. I’ll leave the fighting to you and Whitty.”

“As Penma said, I’ll be joining you. Even if I die in the process, I need to finish things for my family's sake.”

I nodded at their words, and remembered the next course of action. It was decided that tomorrow we’ll raid Twigo’s manor, we have a battalion of knights and the element of surprise. Adding the fact that I’m a royal and we might be able to scare him into compliance. All that’s left is one last crucial detail, I stood up from the bath and told the girls to relax. Time for me to pay my employer a visit.

****

With my barbarian gear confiscated(stupid knights!) I’m now forced to wear this tacky orange sherbet dress. At least the skirt’s short enough for me to walk with no trouble, as I moved down the prison halls I eventually reached my destination.

“Say something dirt-bag, our princess nearly died because of you!”

As I looked into the cell, I saw Stahn getting punched by a very pissed off Victor. He spat out a tooth and smirked at Victor, in response Victor began prepping another punch.

“Halt yourself, do not lay another finger on this man.”

Victor jolted and turned to me, he immediately kneeled down and apologized for the display. I asked him to give me some time with him alone, Victor twitched hearing my request, but I assured him I’d be safe. In the end he agreed, leaving me and Stahn in the cell alone.

“So, how does it feel being captured and in chains?”

“....”

Stahn avoided my eyes, and didn’t say a word. One would think this was due to hatred, but it was for another reason.

“Stahn, why did you save Whitney?”

“What the hell are you babbling about?”

“When Whitney was about to be executed or worse, you recommended she get sent to the Pewter mines where the bandits were. Why did you do that?”

Stahn hesitated for a moment, then he smiled and gave an answer.

“I knew a girl like her would be a treat for those morons, that’s why. Nothing else to it.”

“Okay, so tell me, why did you look sad when you saw the state of Kiara’s body?”

Stahn froze for a moment, he didn’t notice himself but when Penma revealed Kiara’s body, he looked like he was gonna cry. Unlike before, Stahn answered without a smile.

“W-well, she was a beauty before so of course I’d be sad.”

“Interesting, okay now tell me. How, why do you have this?”

I pulled out one of the magic stones Whitney found at the tavern, immediately Stahn tensed. The stone I took out had a light green hue, I also took out a second stone. However, the second stone glowed with a violet color. Stahn’s eyes were filled with panic, I walked up to him and kneeled down to his level.

“I understand why you’re doing this, Stahn, I love Lena too. However, things can’t go on like this. Please help us so we can help you.”

“Y-you, what the hell do you know? Lena is my precious daughter, I’d do anything for her, my precious baby was the last gift my wife left me. T-that’s why…why…*Sniff* Please don’t tell my daughter the truth. Please, it would break her heart.”

I nodded in agreement, Stahn told me whatever helpful information he could about lord Twigo. As promised, I won’t tell Lena anything. Afterall, the reason those girls got captured and the reason those stones glow like this is because of her strange magic.

****

After sharing information with the captain, I decided to grab a bite to eat and prepare for bed. Sadly, the chill done my spine gave me other ideas. I walked to an empty lot in town and turned to see that same female knight from before.

“Can I help you with something?”

The female knight glared at me, she then pulled her sword out and pointed it towards me.

“Princess, I need you to die for me.”

Sweat dropped from my brow as I realized my luck came with some karma as usual.