Charlie sighed as he sat on his throne. Two days had passed since that light boom he had witnessed. Turns out, that one attack destroyed all of the kingdom's laboratories in the Velsaber District.
There was no clear answer for where the attack came from, but the king's eyes narrowed. He was almost positive that the rebels had used Karsawa's energy to unleash that attack. They took over the Aldreach Laboratory to use it, after all.
Still, attacking in the daylight like this... what exactly was their objective here? To assert authority and dominance over the kingdom? To warn the kingdom of their true prowess? In any case, the answer seemed unclear.
Discreet action seemed more viable in Charlie's mind, yet this open action seemed to deter him further. His jaw clenched at the thought that the rebels were threatening him.
Other than that, he still needed to manage the chaos that this destruction had caused. Over ten districts of Dimrath were engulfed in the light boom, showcasing the massive magnitude of the attack.
Moreover, that attack on the laboratories also affected nearby buildings and other infrastructure, such as roads, stalls, and other establishments. Massive debris has covered the entire region and has also taken several lives.
The king's pupils shrank to the size of a needle as he thought of the casualties of this attack alone. He knew that if the rebels were to unleash their full power, they would cause much more death and destruction than this.
The loss of innocent lives was already an issue for him, and such a massive scale of casualties was something he absolutely couldn't afford.
He sighed as he stood up. He already had so much left in mind.
The mystery of the assassin who nearly killed Sofamy, the reason for launching such an open-scale attack on those laboratories, the grandmaster running this entire rebellion, the corrupt ministers and officials he needed to deal with; it was all a huge mess.
He had yet to compensate the families of those martyred during the battle against the kingdom of Broshasa. His oathweight fluctuated as his mind rattled about what to do. It was as if he was trapped between a rock and a hard place, and the distance between them continued to grow shorter.
Closing his eyes, Charlie calmed his mind, and his oathweight stabilised once more. He couldn't lose control like this. His composure was one of the main things he needed during this difficult crisis. Losing control would mean admitting defeat.
He slowly walked towards the door, thinking of taking a rest before deciding anything else.
***
Cronos stood in the garden with an expressionless face... except that there was a faint, soft smile that could easily be missed if one didn't look carefully enough.
His pinkish-grey eyes tracked Sofamy, who was sitting while kneeling on the garden ground with her legs folded beneath her body, sitting on her heels. Her back was straight as she stared at the lake just a breath before her.
She had a soft smile on her face, her ocean-blue eyes carrying a gentleness that could melt the heart of any rough man. Her pale, porcelain skin shone in the sunlight that seeped into the garden.
Her long, blonde hair was neatly arranged in a tight bun alongside a hairpin, the rest flowing down to her waist in an elegant fashion. Her black, shoulderless clothes cling to her curves in the right places without revealing a lot.
A gentle breeze blew through the garden, further adding to the soothing atmosphere. Her hair swayed gently as she spotted a reflection on the lake before her, tilting her head to observe it better.
She held a lily flower in her hands, bringing it close to her chest as she inhaled its scent. Cronos observed the scene as his own orange hair swayed due to the wind. His left hand rested at the hilt of his sword, while his right hand hung near his side.
"Sir Cronos?"
Hearing his name being called, the headguard turned to find a woman near the garden entrance. She was dressed plainly as she was a maid of the palace. Her clear, white skin was visible despite the shadow on her face.
"Prince Marcus asks for your presence," she told him with an expressionless face.
Cronos frowned. What exactly did Marcus need him for? Wasn't he tending to the child he recently found? The headguard frowned as he turned to Sofamy, observing how she still seemed to stare at the lake.
"My lady, may I answer his summons?" Cronos asked, his lips pursed.
"Hmm?" She turned to him. "Ah, of course. Don't keep my brother waiting. He can be cranky at times."
Observing her gentle smile, Cronos sighed. He didn't want to leave her alone like this, but duty wouldn't allow him to do as he pleased.
With a bow, he turned and asked the maid to lead him away, which she did.
The two walked into the palace corridor. As she led him, Cronos began to rattle his mind for what exactly Marcus could want from him.
Had he made a mistake? Did Marcus want a report on Sofamy? He couldn't seem to understand in the slightest. After all, Cronos's main duty was to protect Sofamy at all times. That is all.
The maid then opened the door to an empty room and turned to him. "Please enter."
Cronos narrowed his eyes, gripping the hilt of his sword as he entered the room.
The room was neither too small nor too big. It was neither too extravagant nor too simple. A small bed, some chairs and tables, and some other accessories were there. There wasn't much to say about it.
Sunlight seeped through the windows, illuminating the room in a soothing light.
The maid entered as well, closing the door behind him. A small smile curled up her lips as she turned her brown eyes to meet his pinkish-grey ones.
"Where is Prince Marcus?" Cronos asked, his grip on his sword tightening slightly as he fully turned to the maid.
"You may relax, Sir Cronos. Prince Marcus is in his study alongside Sir Dolfordo," she replied in a soft voice.
She took a step forward. "However, I had lied about one thing. Prince Marcus didn't summon you. That was just an excuse I needed to talk to you in private."
"Huh? And what could that be?" Revan's eyes sharpened as his pupils shrank, his gaze emitting clear hostility.
"Hehehe, no need to get so worked up. Please, I implore you to take a seat on the bed." She giggled, gesturing to the bed behind him.
Cronos furrowed his brows in response. He didn't bother moving to the bed, instead continuing to glare at her with animosity and suspicion. What could this maid possibly want from him?
Could it be confessing affection? The headguard's gut was telling him otherwise. Cold sweat trickled down his cheek as he saw the maid take a seat on the chair in front of him.
"I assure you that I mean no harm. I merely wish to ask you about something." The maid's voice was smooth, unbothered, and held an edge of amusement, as if she found his demeanour humorous.
Cronos looked down at her face, observing her white skin, her black hair, her brown eyes, and her simple maid outfit. "Who are you?"
The maid blinked before a giggle burst from her mouth. "Hehehehe, how rude of me not to have introduced myself. My name is Shelsy. I have been a maid here for about 3 years."
She pivoted her elbow on her thigh, resting her chin on her palm. "As for what I wish to ask, what do you think about Aethelgard in recent years?"
Cronos's jaws clenched immediately at the question. "I am extremely fond of Aethelgard. Serving this nation is my only wish and purpose."
He took a step forward, his muscles tensed. "My loyalty cannot waver, no matter what happens."
"Hehehehe, I never said anything about loyalty, though." Her smile widened as she tilted her head slightly.
"Let's be more honest. Don't you see the internal decline Aethelgard is facing? The political instability? The treasury depletion? The military weakness? The lack of scientific advancement? I am sure that an esteemed man such as yourself would be well aware of all this."
Her gaze was sharp yet light. The man sighed, a vein popping from his forehead. He knew that she was testing his loyalty, and he was already beginning to theorise why she was doing this.
"I shall admit that Aethelgard is declining, but so what? A nation prospers thanks to its people. If I don't support my nation regardless, then how will its flaws be repaired? My nation's having flaws means that it needs me, and I fully plan on standing by its side."
Shelsy's eyes widened slightly as she heard his words. She hadn't expected him to be this devoted, to the point that he considered Aethelgard's flaws as more of a reason to be loyal to the kingdom.
She recovered quickly, her smile remaining unfazed. She shifted her weight on the chair she sat on, leaning forward slightly. Her eyes held an ominous light that made Cronos stiffen.
"I see... your loyalty is quite admirable, Sir Cronos. Yes, supporting a nation when it needs most is truly a wise decision. However, you do realise that to truly fix Aethelgard, it needs to be thoroughly reformed, correct?" She asked, her lips forming a soft grin that revealed her pure, white teeth.
"The damage done to this nation is far greater than normal. If one were to truly look at the corruption, military damage, financial damage, academic damage, and so forth, then it would be clear that the damage is too severe to repair while keeping the nation the same as ever. I'd even say that the higher-ups are well aware of this predicament, yet they choose to hide it so that the system they have created doesn't falter."
As for the reasoning for such a theory, even Cronos could tell. It was to preserve the benefits they gained from a faulty system. He knew that most nobles — mainly the corrupt ones — didn't care much about the civilian masses, so they didn't feel any shame in taking all the benefits for themselves.
Of course, he wasn't particularly surprised by such behaviour. It's only natural for people in the upper echelons of a hierarchy to care only about themselves and no one else. Such behaviour was present in the entirety of Varkana, not just Aethelgard.
"... his majesty, King Charlie, has already started preparations to fix the kingdom, so if you're worried about it, don't bother. Just a few days ago, he killed off three rebels who had displayed concrete proof of corruption, and I doubt this is where he shall stop. Reports suggest that an increase in military budget and a decrease in taxes have already begun. The reformation has already begun."
His words were delivered in a serious tone that was neither too sharp nor too soft. His gaze remained fierce as he studied her, trying to predict what she would say next.
"Of course, I am well aware of these changes that transpired over these last few days, Sir Cronos." She sighed, though her smile didn't waver.
"Yet, it would be foolish to assume that these changes will last forever. Have you forgotten that over millions of years, Aethelgard's policies and political system underwent countless changes like this one? They all withered away over time, and so will this. We need a permanent solution to fix this damage. After all, as the founder of Aethelgard once said, fixing a problem is harder than creating said problem," she continued, tilting her head slightly as she gazed up at him.
"Then what exactly would you suggest, dear maid?" Cronos asked, his tone cold as ice.
Shelsy remained unfazed by his gaze. "Isn't it obvious? The problem lies in the monarchical system, so I would just dissolve this system and turn the kingdom into a republic."
"A republic?"
"Yes. A republic would keep the ruling class in check and wouldn't give them as much authority. It would be a system that allows even civilians to have a say in important decisions. Then, everyone would feel true liberty and justice. Don't you think it's euphoria?" she asked, her grin widening as she stood up.
She spread her arms wide, her brown eyes fixated on his pinkish-grey ones. "I come to you with a proposal, Sir Cronos. Join me, and with the Grand Rebellion that is held by our grandmaster, we shall liberate Aethelgard from its monarchical system and transform it—"
Before she could even finish her sentence, the floor shifted as huge pillars rose around her from all sides, slamming onto her and crushing her body, some of her flesh, blood, bones, and even organs spilling everywhere.
She was dead.
"Damn rebel, trying to sway me to join her. How outrageous."