Year 2: Prelude to War - Chapter 8

Hey guys, TheGrompFather here!

If you guys like The Children of Eris, please do check out my entry for this year's Honeyfeed x MAL contest, The Comfy Life of Retired Heroes. It's a completely different tone and genre to Eris, but I hope you guys will like it nonetheless.

Thank you!

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An hour before dinner, maids had arrived to dress the princess and dame in elegant evening gowns. Aeila’s was a pale blue dress that highlighted her curves, while Dame Chelsea’s was crimson red that was much more revealing, leaving her cleavage and neckline on full display.

No doubt the Demon Emperor is trying to unnerve us with these, Princess Aeila concluded. Aeila stared at her reflection as the maids tied her hair in a braid and painted her face with light makeup. He’s trying to make us uncomfortable while pretending to treat us kindly.

Though Aeila and Chelsea didn’t share a word to one another, they both understood the Demon Emperor’s intention and weren’t going to fall for obvious provocations.

Once they were dressed, the head maid, Eva, entered, bowing respectfully before leading them to the dining room.

Despite dinner being served in a hall large enough to seat forty guests, there were only five.

At the head of the table was the Demon Emperor, out of his armour and in a fancy suit, with his wife, the Empress Lilith, sat beside him. She was dressed in a sexy black dress and wearing many fineries and jewels, and her smile revealed the fangs hiding among her teeth. Sat at the side of the table close to the head was Lady Rebecca in clothes befitting that of the Lady of Dread.

Aeila and Chelsea seats were across from Rebecca, far too close for comfort to the Demon Emperor.

“Princess Aeila, welcome.” The Demon Emperor rose from his seat with a grin. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you for the kind words, your majesty,” Aeila politely replied with a cheery expression. “I must say that you have quite the wonderful taste in clothes.”

“I’m glad you approve. Please, be seated.”

The two did so without hesitation, or without a change in their body language.

Once Dame Chelsea sat, she noticed there were the five Dread Knights who had escorted them across the border stood throughout the room, and the Satyr Knight a few metres behind David, her spear resting in her hands.

…I doubt it’d be easy to kill him even without them here. Chelsea stared at their host as he conversed with Aeila. His hair was as black as night, his body was muscular and he was quite tall, but it was his eyes that unsettled Chelsea more than anything.

Blood red with a shape that no human being could ever possess; those eyes, that tried to show compassion and a gentle tone, couldn’t hide the Demon Emperor’s true nature.

Chelsea remembered the screams, the scenes of blood and violence, and the frustrations she felt fighting against the demons of the east.

Would it even be possible, from this distance, to cut his throat? She curled her toes into her shoes. No.

Once the food arrived, the only two who remained talking were the princess and the emperor; the empress and Rebecca stayed silent as they ate, though the former’s smile never left her face.

“How do your new quarters suit you?”

“They’re perfect, your majesty. I must thank you for your generosity.”

“It’s only fitting that a princess like you receives such a royal treatment. You should consider yourselves lucky, Princess Aeila, Dame Chelsea, for few outside of my inner council are treated so well. Take Hilda for instance.” He gestured behind him at the Satyr Knight. “My loyal knight has a palace to call her own.”

“...So you’ve said, your majesty.”

The Demon Emperor smiled. “When I toured the Azurite Palace, I couldn’t help but take in all of the portraits your family had commissioned over the years for you and your siblings. Truly, you have grown into a beautiful, young woman, someone your parents would be proud of.”

“...Thank you very much for your kind words, your majesty.”

“Lord Allaric.” The empress spoke up for the first time. “Lady Aeila might be one of the finest women in the whole empire, on par with our Rebecca here.”

“Thank you very much,” Rebecca said softly.

“A cute voice, delicate expressions, a perfect, noble woman whose every move screams excellence and perfection. Say, Lady Aeila, have you ever been with a man before?”

Instinctively, Chelsea scowled and went to move but caught herself before jumping out of her chair. Aeila also reacted negatively, but she managed to recover her smile much quicker than Chelsea did.

“...Sadly, I never had a fiancé for my parents were quite protective of me.”

“Not even a kiss?”

“...No, your majesty.”

The empress purred and gently stroked Aeila’s arm. “Every time women are brought as tributes to the Dread Keep, the Awoken search for women that fits my husband’s taste, yet we’ve yet to find one who meets his standards. Until now.”

Aeila couldn’t hide her discomfort any longer.

She felt the Demon Emperor’s gaze much more intensely now, the way he stared at her face, the glances at her body, and her imagination ran wild with the horrible things that the Demon Emperor could inflict upon her.

Sweat dripped down her back.

Her eyes started to swell as tears began to form.

She had to dig her nails into her palms to keep herself somewhat calm.

I know that’s he’s only doing this to mess with me, to try and break me, but. Aeila closed her eyes. Mother, father…Julius, Augustus!

“You’re right, your majesties, Lady Aeila has grown into a strong, beautiful woman, someone whom I know her parents would be proud off.”

“...Chel…sea?”

With a proud smile, the knight continued. “I’m sure you’re unaware, your majesties, but I have been Lady Aeila’s sworn knight since she was a little girl. I have watched her grow, helped her when she fell down or fought with her family, and I was there when she spoke at length about her hopes and dreams for the future.

“She dreamt of a peaceful, united Holy Empire which would endure for many years after her death, where no one would have to suffer, where no one would have to be sad and.” Chelsea laughed gently. “Where everyone could have pet unicorns to ride, even the peasants.

“Lady Aeila is someone who is deeply loved by her family and I know that they would always want her to fulfil her dreams, no matter what obstacles may stand in her way. They would feel even happier knowing that I’m still by her side, guiding her gently whenever she strays away from the path she wants to follow in life.”

Then, Dame Chelsea turned to her liege lady and placed her hands on hers. “Don’t worry, my lady. I know that you’re a little scared right now, but there’s no need to worry - you still have your two big brothers who love you very much, and who are very possessive of their little sister, and they’ll be coming to get her soon.”

The Demon Emperor smirked and clapped them, slowly, sarcastically, as the two hostages looked warmly at one another.

“You speak as if the young princess has no other family left in this world,” he said, before snapping his fingers.

The doors behind Rebecca opened, making Aeila squeal and jump out of her seat.

“…Sister Aeila?”

“Hector! Hector!” Aeila ran towards her little brother and wrapped her arms around him, almost sending them both tumbling onto the floor. “Hector…Hector.”

“S-sister.” Her brother awkwardly embraced her back. “…I missed you.”

“Prince Hector and Princess Theodora are both alive and well, although the young princess is currently at my family’s home and not here,” the empress informed them. “Your brother has been quite the brave young man, hasn’t he? All on his own hundreds of miles away from you.”

Aeila wiped her tears and lovingly smiled at Hector. “I’m sorry I took so long, Hector.”

“Don’t be, sister.” He smiled back. “I’m happy to see a friendly face too. Ah, Dame Chelsea - I heard you were coming with sister, but-”

The knight stood up and knelt before the young prince. “Forgive me for my unsightly appearance, Lord Hector. Under better circumstances, I would have much preferred to greet you in more appropriate attire.”

“…I understand.” Hector broke away from his sister and bowed a little to the Demon Emperor and his ladies. “Good evening, your majesty.”

“…Good evening, Hector,” the Demon Emperor grinned. “Sorry, but I believe that we’ll be ending dinner here a little early. Hilda, escort those three to Aeila’s quarters and then return. Princess Aeila - take this is a token of good faith. Do not forget that while I am generous to those I wish to be, I can just as easily be merciless with them.

“Remember Themis before you act.”

“…I will, your majesty.”

“Then, I bid you all a good night. Lilith.”

“Yes!” The empress happily linked arms with her husband. “Good night, Princess Aeila and Prince Hector.”

“…Good night, your majesties.”

“Aw, such a polite young lad, isn’t he? Nothing like his big brother.”

Before she could see the anger in the siblings’ eyes, Lilith had already turned around and was leaving with the Demon Emperor in tow.

And so Aeila’s first night at the Dread Keep drew to a close.

***

“You haven’t seen Theodora since that day?”

Hector shook his head. “When I woke up, I was in the dungeons of the Dread Keep with some others, but I was blindfolded and they were gagged - I didn’t ever know who they were, or what happened to them.”

“…Hector.” Aeila gently brushed his hair, lifting his bangs out of his eyes. They’re not purple. She smiled somewhat bitterly. “I’m so sorry that you’ve had to endure this all on your own.”

“It’s not your fault, sister. You and brother Augustus had to escape first; I always knew that would happen if it came to it. I just didn’t expect them to kill mother and father like that.”

“Did you-?”

“Only when the gargoyles grabbed them; I heard the next part.”

“Oh, Lord Hector.”

“Please don’t look at me with such pitying eyes, Dame Chelsea,” the prince urged her. “I have done my duty and I know I will have made mother and father proud of how I’ve acted while here. I’ve never bowed down properly to anyone, not even the emperor, and I’ve constantly voiced my issues with the Demon Emperor’s plans and management of the empire.

“While I don’t know what sort of effect that might have had on the slaves, hostages or humans of the Dread Keep, I’d like to think it’s done something to them.” Hector chuckled. “Perhaps even some on the Demon Emperor’s inner council have considered my arguments and wondered if their master truly is that great.”

“Is it wise to speak of such things here in the heart of his madness?” Aeila asked.

“I’ve been doing it since I arrived, sister, and no one has dared touch a hair on my head. I imagine they must have some sort of plan for us, though I don’t know what.”

“…I have an idea of what my fate is to be.”

“I would rather plunge my sword into your chest than see you disgraced like that, Lady Aeila.”

“Thank you, Chelsea, but I will not need you to do that. I have no intention of being the Demon Emperor’s plaything. Hector.”

“Yes?”

“Do you know roughly how many of the humans in the Dread Keep are kept here against their will?”

“I’m not sure, but I bet it’s a few hundred, if not more. The dorms for the castle servants are heavily populated, and the castle town has some slaves working there to help build it. Wait.” Hector narrowed his eyes at her. “You aren’t thinking of staging a revolt?”

“…It’s just a possibility, nothing more,” Aeila reassured him. “Even at dinner, I considered taking my knife to the Demon Emperor’s heart.”

“I was thinking of going for his throat, Lady Aeila.”

“I’m guessing then we both realised how foolish that would be.”

“…Sadly so.”

“Sister, I don’t think this is wise,” Hector said. “Earlier, you told me that brother Julius and brother Augustus were in the Kingdom of Rhodes, working with the heroes or the leaders of the alliance to invade the east. Why should we risk our lives when rescue might already be on the way?”

“It’s better for us few to risk everything than to have the many risk it all,” Aeila answered. “No matter how desperate or fleeting our hope of killing the Demon Emperor is here, we have to look for a way to do it, before more innocent lives are lost for nothing. Dame Chelsea.”

“Yes?”

“While we’re guests here, see what you can find out about the inner workings of the Dread Keep. Whom controls what, who answers to whom and, more importantly, discretely see if anyone might be interested in joining our cause.”

“If I’m caught, we could all be executed - or worse.”

“I’m prepared to make that sacrifice. I thought you were too, Chelsea?”

“Of course.”

“What about you, Hector? Will you continue to sit here, waiting for someone else to come and save you, or will you try and save yourself?”

***

“The princess is now asking her brother if he’s with her,” Jorōgumo said.

Lilith giggled happily in David’s arms, swaying her head gently from side to side. “I can’t believe that after everything that’s happened, everything they’ve seen and heard, they’re still willing to throw their lives away for nothing?”

“What should we do, Master?”

David let out a small sigh. “Continue to monitor them and be careful, but let them fall on their own sword like the rest. No matter who it is that tries to stand before me, I’ll crush.”