Chapter 31 The Princess of a Fallen Kingdom？
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Princess, are you all right?”
Misia, the young attendant at Leticia’s side, asked with a worried expression, unable to hide her concern.
”I’m fine. After all, we have this many guards with us,” Leticia said brightly, as if trying to blow away any lingering fear.
At this moment, Leticia and her retinue had come to negotiate with the notorious bandit group that now controlled this region. What had started as a minor dispute—a street raid by the bandits—had escalated because the local lord dismissed it as routine. Before anyone realized, the area had effectively been sealed off by the large gang.
Florence Kingdom, Leticia’s homeland, was a small kingdom sandwiched between powerful neighbors. Though minor, it was unique: sixty percent of its citizens were beastmen, and including dwarves and Elphs, nine-tenths were demi-humans. Thanks to a peace treaty after the last demi-human war, along with the benefits of their knowledge and technology, the kingdom had maintained a fragile peace. However, due to its reliance on imported necessities, blocking the roads that connected to other lands would leave Florence in a dire situation.
That was why Leticia had gone herself—to negotiate the bandits’ withdrawal. In some cases, minor concessions might be necessary, and as Regent, it was her duty to make on-the-spot judgments. Though the real purpose of her mission was only to buy time for the kingdom’s subjugation force to prepare, Leticia, unaware of this, was determined to succeed in order to save her people.
Misia, partially calmed by Leticia’s bright tone, still stayed close, her eyes darting to every shadow as if expecting an ambush. The faint clang of armored guards felt unusually loud amid the dense forest around them. Light filtered weakly through the treetops, and the sky was already a dull gray. Every moment seemed ripe for an attack.
Even Leticia, maintaining her cheerful front, struggled to suppress the anxiety inside. But if she showed fear, morale would collapse. So she smiled and spoke lightly.
”The forest smells so strong… It feels almost like an adventure.” She winked at Misia, who, surprised, giggled softly. The guards gave small nods, loosening the tension slightly.
”And with all these guards, we’re like a hundred strong. That’s reassuring,” Leticia added, standing tall and walking with firm determination. Her posture radiated unwavering confidence.
Soon, a group of rough-looking men appeared ahead. Their faces were a mix of curiosity and hostility. At their center stood a broad-shouldered man—the leader of the bandits, Bargas.
”Well, well… for such a delicate princess to come in person for negotiations,” he said, smirking as he approached with heavy steps.
Leticia fought to steady her heartbeat and stepped forward.
”I am Leticia El of Florence Kingdom, here to negotiate on behalf of my realm.” Her voice did not waver.
Misia prayed silently, her gaze fixed on the princess.
—May the divine protection of the goddess watch over her!
Bargas cast a glance at Leticia’s resolute stance, snorted, and waved a hand dismissively.
”Follow me.”
They followed him along a narrow path, eventually reaching a cave with a mouth barely wide enough for one person. Inside, however, a vast space opened up. Torches flickered along the walls, and bandits gathered around a fire, drinking and laughing. Misia flinched, but Leticia faced forward resolutely.
—So this is their stronghold.
Bargas plopped down on a crude wooden throne, crossing his legs. When Leticia stepped forward to speak, he raised a hand to stop her and grinned.
”First, how much can I trust your words? I don’t want to hear later that it was just a little girl talking.”
”I speak as the kingdom’s regent. My words carry the weight of the king’s authority,” Leticia replied calmly.
”Hmm… can you swear on the goddess? No, that’s not enough. Can you swear with Contract Magic?”
”I swear. ‘My words shall not differ from the king’s will… Contract!’”
A faint light enveloped her, activating the Contract Magic.
—Now my words are effectively the king’s… I must be careful not to give them leverage.
Leticia braced herself, gathering her courage.
”Very well. Then the conditions are these: one hundred gold coins each month, food and women regularly, pass laws favorable to us, and…” Bargas smirked and pointed at her. “You’ll be our hostage to ensure obedience.”
A heavy silence fell. Misia trembled, her gaze locked on Leticia. The guards’ hands rested on their swords, faces red with restrained anger. But Leticia took a breath and spoke, her voice cold and clear.
”You are incredibly greedy. Those conditions are unacceptable.”
No anger, no fear—only calm, resolute authority. Bargas laughed, shrugging.
”Oh? Refusing, huh?” He repeated his demands—gold, women, changes to law, and taking Leticia as hostage—over and over, like a broken record, while the bandits jeered. Misia’s face paled, but she held her ground.
Leticia frowned.
—Strange. If they never intended to negotiate, why summon us? And Bargas’ eyes… they mock, yet seem to be testing us.
Then, without warning:
”Gyahahahaha!”
Bargas suddenly doubled over with laughter, the cave erupting in boisterous sound.
”Hahaha! How entertaining! You’re not just decoration, princess!” He leaned back in his chair, grinning, and pointed at her.
”Fine, I’ll negotiate—but the real story starts now.”
Leticia narrowed her eyes, waiting calmly. Inside, she felt a spark of alertness, a small sense of anticipation.
Bargas, still grinning, continued:
”The conditions from before? I’m raising the stakes. Two hundred gold coins, double the women, laws entirely our way, and the throne for me.”
Leticia was speechless.
”What… what absurd—”
Bargas’ laughter drowned out her words.
”Still don’t understand, princess?”
She gasped and stepped back. And then she noticed: the guards—her loyal protectors—were nowhere to be seen. They had vanished.
Bargas roared with laughter once more.
Cold sweat slid down Leticia’s back, chilling her skin.
Bargas sneered, his voice sharp with mockery. “Negotiations? Never planned on that. I’m here for your surrender.”
Leticia’s heart pounded, his words slicing through the damp cave air.
”Your escorts?” he went on, grinning wide. “They’ve been mine all along. Even King Miyako’s court is full of my people. Once I have you, it’s over. I’ll say you begged for surrender, and the kingdom’s mine.”
Bargas stood, arms spread, his voice echoing.
”Got it? This country belongs to me!”
Thieves roared and laughed, their voices bouncing off the cave walls.
Leticia’s fists tightened, but she was helpless. No guards. No allies. Only her. Misia and the other maids were already captured. She stood alone.
For the first time, true despair gripped Leticia.
”Now, princess,” Bargas said, holding up a glowing crystal orb. “Time for the show. This is a Tōmi no Sugatami—a seeing artifact [T/N: Tōmi no Sugatami, a magical device that projects images to a chosen place]. It’s broadcasting your every move to the sky above the capital. Everyone’s watching you now. Understand?”
His smug grin twisted Leticia’s stomach.
”Declare it,” he demanded. “Say Flora Kingdom is mine.”
”No way!” Leticia snapped, her voice sharp with defiance.
”Oh?” Bargas smirked, leaning closer. “If you’re my wife, the king and prince might… step aside. Or meet misfortune. Either way, I’ll be the rightful king. Say you’ll marry me.”
”Never!” she cried, her fists clenched.
”Fine,” he growled, his eyes glinting with malice. “I’ll entertain myself elsewhere.”
A maid was dragged forward, her face pale with fear. Leticia’s heart stopped.
”Leticia-sama! Help—” The maid’s plea was cut off as a thief seized her arm, his grip menacing.
The maid struggled, her breaths ragged. Others closed in, their presence threatening, tugging at her tattered dress.
”No! Stop! Leticia-sama, save me!” the maid sobbed, her voice breaking.
”Stop it!” Leticia screamed, but her words drowned in the maid’s desperate cries.
”Agree to be my wife, and I’ll spare her,” Bargas taunted, his voice dripping with cruelty.
”I…” Leticia’s voice faltered, her resolve wavering.
”Well?”
”I can’t be your wife,” she whispered, trembling.
”Really?” Bargas grinned, his eyes cold. “You’ll change your mind.”
He signaled, and Misia was dragged in, her clothes torn, her face ashen from prior torment.
”Not my usual game,” Bargas said, snatching a whip meant for horses.
Snap! Crack!
Misia’s body flinched with each strike, her gasps sharp with pain.
”Beg your princess,” Bargas sneered.
”No! I’m Leticia-sama’s maid!” Misia gasped. “Don’t worry about me—argh!”
Snap! Crack! The whip lashed again.
Misia’s cries grew faint, but her defiance held.
”Still stubborn?” Bargas growled. He nodded to a thief, who stepped behind Misia, his shadow looming with intent.
”No! Please, not that!” Misia sobbed, tears streaming.
”Beg your princess!” Bargas roared, raising the whip again.
”Leticia-sama… don’t… worry…” Misia whispered, her voice trembling but resolute.
Leticia stood frozen, her heart pounding.
”Fine,” Bargas said. “Break her.”
The thieves swarmed Misia, her cries echoing through the hall.
”Stop! No! Please!”
Her voice broke into pained gasps, then faint whimpers.
Leticia’s tears stung her eyes, her body rigid with horror.
”Well?” Bargas mocked. “What’s it going to be?”
”I…” Leticia’s voice shook, torn between duty and despair.
She couldn’t surrender her kingdom. But Misia’s next scream shattered her resolve.
”Aaagh!”
”Misia!” Leticia cried, her voice raw.
”I’m fine, Princess… don’t… worry…” Misia’s voice trembled, her strength fading.
Misia endured, never blaming Leticia, even as the torment continued.
When another cruel act pushed Misia to the edge, Leticia’s will crumbled.
”…I’ll be your wife…”
”What? Louder!” Bargas teased, his grin wicked.
”…I said, I’ll be your wife!” Leticia shouted, tears streaming down her face.
Bargas cut her off. “Not yet. The people are watching. Prove your loyalty.”
His vile gaze pinned her, heavy with expectation.
”What… do I do?”
”Submit. Kneel before me. Declare to all, ‘I am yours. Make me your servant and claim Flora Kingdom.’ Then prove it.”
”That’s… impossible…” Leticia whispered, her voice breaking.
Misia’s pain was thrust in her face, a cruel reminder.
”I… understand…”
Leticia, broken, began to kneel.
”Look! The high-and-mighty princess bows before me!” Bargas crowed.
Cheers rose from the thieves and the crowd above, their voices a deafening roar.
Leticia sank to her knees, her hands trembling.
”Hurry up!” Bargas barked.
Tears spilled as she forced the words. “I am… yours! Make me your servant and… claim Flora Kingdom!”
Her voice shook, her body tense with shame.
”What? That’s it?” Bargas laughed, mocking her.
”I’m… trying…” Leticia sobbed, her strength fading.
”Fine,” he said. “Bring it!”
A thief handed him a small vial.
”This is a potion [T/N: A will-sapping elixir, common in Flora Kingdom’s black market]. One dose, and you’ll obey without question.”
He uncorked it, stepping closer.
”No! Please, stop!” Leticia begged.
She’d heard of the potion before. It was too strong, they said. It could shatter a person’s spirit.
”Talking back?” Bargas sneered, glancing at Misia. “Want me to break her arm?”
”No… please…” Leticia pleaded, tears streaming.
”Then what’ll it be?”
”…Fine… give it to me…”
Bargas held out the vial. Leticia took it, hesitating, then drank it down. A strange heat surged through her, clouding her mind.
”Ah… aah…”
”What’s that? Feeling it already?” Bargas mocked. “Hurry up!”
”Ugh… uuh…”
Leticia’s hands shook, her body betraying her as the potion took hold.
”Aaah!”
The sensation overwhelmed her, her thoughts spiraling.
”Whoa, slow down there!” Bargas laughed, his voice grating.
”Hah… hah…”
His words barely reached her.
”Ah… nn…! No…!”
Leticia fought the potion’s grip, but it dulled her resistance. Still, she couldn’t fully surrender.
A thief whispered to Bargas. Suddenly, one seized Leticia’s arms, another’s grip tightening with menace.
”Hii! It hurts! It hurts!”
Leticia screamed, pain cutting through the haze. The potion twisted her senses, blending fear with confusion.
”Aaah! No! I’m…!”
Her body trembled, overwhelmed, as she collapsed under the strain.
Bargas laughed. “Hey! No giving in without my command!”
He pressed his boot against her shoulder, hard.
”Igii! Ah… aah!”
Tears poured from Leticia’s eyes, pain searing through her.
”Now, put this on,” Bargas said, tossing her a Collar of Subjugation [T/N: A magical collar that binds the wearer to obey its master]. “Tell the people: I’m Master’s servant. This country is Master’s.”
If she wore it, she’d be his forever.
”Hurry up!” Bargas growled, yanking her hair.
”It… hurts… fine…”
Slowly, Leticia took the collar. She fastened it around her neck. Kneeling before Bargas, she faced the crowd.
”I… I’m Master’s servant! This country… is Master’s!”
With that collar, she’d never escape him.
”Now,” Bargas grinned, stepping closer. “Let’s seal the deal.”
”No! Please, no more!” Leticia cried.
”Too late!” Bargas laughed. “Your submission has me eager to claim my prize!”
His presence loomed, terrifying her.
”No… please…”
”Get to it!”
Bargas grabbed her shoulders, pulling her close with a cruel grip.
”Nbu!? Nn—!”
”Don’t resist!”
He held her firmly, his strength unyielding. Her chest tightened, fear choking her.
”Hah! Good! More!”
He pressed closer, his dominance suffocating.
”Nbo! Nbu!”
(It’s too much… I can’t breathe…!)
Tears streamed as Leticia fought to endure. Bargas only grew more forceful.
”Take it all!”
A wave of dread overwhelmed her, heavy and suffocating.
”Nnnnn!”
(It’s awful… crushing…!)
She struggled, but Bargas held her firm, forcing her to bear it.
She gasped, nearly collapsing.
”Geh! Cough!”
Finally free, Leticia fought for breath, her body shaking.
Bargas smirked, pleased. “Now for the final act.”
He pushed her down, looming over her with a predatory grin.
”No! Stop!”
She fought, but the potion drained her strength. Her struggles only seemed to fuel his amusement.
”Quit squirming!”
Bargas pulled her close, his grip iron-tight, ready to claim his victory.
Leticia squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the worst.
But it never came.
Why?
She opened her eyes, trembling.
A figure in black… a prince?
Confusion swirled, but one thing was clear: she was saved. Relief flooded her, and the tension snapped. Leticia’s vision faded, and she collapsed, unconscious.
Notes:
• May – Blonde, soft-eyed shrine girl. ch14–15. Gentle and pleading (“Please… just let us go…”), timid but loyal, relies on Mina’s strength. Came with Mina to save Sara, but was disarmed and bound by Kanata as his captive maid.
• Miyako – Quiet library girl with golden hair, intelligent and book-savvy, occasional silent companion to Kanata.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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