Princess – Part 14
“Miss Firobisher,” Housman broke the silence. “I can’t say for certain whether your claim is true or not. The Empire denies it, but I’m not so naive as to take their word as absolute. However, what is clear is that they’re demanding you and your companions be handed over. I must comply. Is that acceptable?”
“If that…” Charlotte’s voice sounded hollow. “If that is the Emperor’s will…”
Regardless of the fate that awaited them.
“This is insane!” Cecily shouted and rushed toward Charlotte. “How can you just accept this? Charlotte, the Empire abandoned you—twice! First, they send you the sword only to call it a fake. They won’t protect you, and you still want to submit? You want to be treated like a criminal?”
Charlotte’s usually fiery eyes flickered with uncertainty. Her face was pale as a ghost.
“But… what else can I do? What other choice do I have?”
“Mayor!” Cecily turned to Housman. “Isn’t there anything we can do?”
“Stand down, Cecily Campbell.”
A large shadow loomed over her. Hannibal grabbed her arm, but she refused to back down.
“Captain Quasar, you can’t seriously believe this is fair. They’re accusing her of impersonating royalty and stealing Infernal Blades. Who in their right mind would steal from the Empire and then beg them for help? The Empire is trying to erase Charlotte’s very existence—”
“Enough.”
Hannibal’s deep voice hit her like a blow. Cecily almost shriveled under his stern gaze.
“I’ve told you before. The balance of power on this continent is delicate. We can’t afford unnecessary conflict. Refusing the Empire’s demands will undoubtedly strain our relations with them.”
“But—”
“Do not speak when you have no power to act, Cecily Campbell.”
Cecily pressed her lips together tightly.
“You are merely a member of the Guard. You lack the authority or means to help these girls. Step aside.”
“Are you really okay with that, Captain?”
“That’s politics.”
Hannibal turned his face away, an unusual gesture for someone so calm and outspoken. Cecily knew then. Hannibal, too, was frustrated. But for the sake of the continent, he had convinced himself this was the right decision.
But that didn’t mean she could just look away. Did they really expect her to tolerate this absurdity? No way. No matter what the politics dictated, Cecily Campbell refused to back down.
“Do you remember, Aria?”
Though she was speaking to her partner behind her, Cecily’s gaze was fixed directly on Hannibal. He looked down at her with an air of calm, like a mountain towering over a child. The mountain was Hannibal, and the child was her. Even as his gaze threatened to consume her, she pushed herself forward to confront him.
A mountain against a child. Just fine. She would fight back even if it meant battering herself against the rock.
“Do you remember what I said when I faced Jack Strader?”
Jack Strader was a veteran of the Valbanill War, manipulated by a person known as the Merchant. During their battle, Cecily had sworn one thing.
“I do,” Aria replied. “You said, ‘I will save all.’”
She had declared her intention to save everything that was within her sight. It didn’t matter if she seemed hypocritical or powerless. She chose not to think of the consequences. It was her responsibility to save and protect.
“I won’t give up.”
“Cecily.”
“There must be a way. Can’t we talk about it?
The confrontation felt both brief and extended. A towering mountain and the gazing child. She was indeed acting like a child throwing a tantrum, but she didn’t care. The people around them held their breath, watching the standoff unfold.
Hannibal sighed deeply. “Can’t you do something about that tendency to think with your emotions? Like father, like daughter.”
Cecily caught the slight softening of his expression. “Unfortunately, I can’t.”
The girls looked at her, astonished.
“Why? We tried to take your Infernal Blade,” Doris said. “Why are you defending us?”
“Doris is right,” Charlotte agreed. “What do you gain from this? For all we know, I could be lying. The Empire denied my claim to royalty. Why take my side against the words of a nation?”
Everyone echoed the same question—one that felt utterly foolish.
“I made the choice to believe you. If I were deceived, then it would simply mean my eyes were blind to the truth. That’s not a problem. It has not nothing to do with gains or logic. It’s just who I am.”
Charlotte stood there, stunned, completely at a loss for words.
“Mayor, please,” Cecily leaned toward Housman. “Give us time to discuss this.”
He let out a weary sigh. “It’s not that we don’t have options,” he relented. “I’m just not entirely keen on it.”
“Hugo!” Hannibal snapped sharply.
“Please bring him here, Hannibal.”
The giant man grimaced, but at Cecily’s steady gaze, he dropped his shoulders and exited the room. The sight of his massive back drooping was somewhat comical.
“Mayor, what exactly do you have in mind?”
“It’s a deal,” Housman said with a forced smile. “Campbell’s daughter made such a bold statement. The city will bear some risk.”
Cecily exchanged perplexed glances with Aria.
“I’ve heard about the situation.”
After a while, Hannibal returned with a man. His bangs were neatly trimmed just above his eyebrows, and his silver-framed glasses gleamed, reflecting his serious demeanor. The way he adjusted his collar hinted at a high-strung disposition.
Cecily couldn’t help but voice her surprise. “That uniform…”
The man was in a military outfit. His lapel displayed a badge indicating his rank.
He hailed from the Militant Nation, a country that had strictly enforced conscription long before the Valbanill War, and he held a considerably high rank.
“Arvie Irving. He serves as a strategist for the Militant Nation,” Housman introduced him curtly. “He happened to be in the city, so we called him over.”
“Pleased to meet you, yes.” Arvie saluted with stiff precision, his movements almost mechanical.
Cecily’s mind reeled. Why was someone from the Militant Nation—let alone a strategist—here in the city?
“Are you Charlotte E. Firobisher?”
“Y-Yes,” Charlotte stammered.
“I’ve been briefed on your situation by Mr. Quasar, yes. It’s a difficult predicament you are in. You have my sympathy. So, I’m here to make you an offer, yes.”
“An offer?” Charlotte echoed.
“Asylum in our country, yes.”
The room seemed to freeze as everyone’s breath caught in their throats.
Asylum in the Militant Nation. This was Housman’s plan.
They would return the four Infernal Blades to the Empire but report falsely that Charlotte and her companions had escaped. With their whereabouts unknown, they could seek refuge in the Militant Nation. The Empire might resent the city for letting criminals slip away, but in reality, they wouldn’t lose anything. Of all the possible options, this carried the least risk.
“On one condition,” Arvie continued. “You must provide all the information you have about the Empire, yes.”
Following the Valbanill War, the Continental Law Commission was established by the leaders of various nations. One of the laws they created strictly prohibited the publication of maps of the continent.
The three powers dividing the continent—the Empire, the Militant Nation, and the Crowd Powers—kept their borders, population, and military forces closely guarded. By keeping the balance of power unclear, they hoped to prevent conflict. However, the underlying rationale for this was rather flimsy. Most believed this policy served only the interests of the ruling class.
Intelligence about nations was highly coveted. Population, distribution of land, location of cities, the size of the capital, military composition, total number of forces. Even in times of peace, tensions simmered beneath the surface, making information about other countries extremely valuable.
Trading intel about the Empire for asylum in the Militant Nation.
“This is the best offer the city can make. What will you do, Miss Firobisher?” Housman asked.
All eyes turned to Charlotte.
“I… um…”
Her eyes quivered. She lowered her gaze, overwhelmed by the pressure. Doris and the girls quickly closed in around her, their glares fixed on Housman and Arvie.
After what felt like an eternity, Charlotte said softly, “Please… give me some time.”
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