DISCLAIMER

The following is a fan-based

FICTION

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation and other products set in the same universe are all owned by Rifujin na Magonote, Shirotaka, Shosetsuka ni Naro, Media Factory, and Studio Bind.

Please support the official releases.

Chapter 22: Law & Disorder

Something I forgot to mention when it comes to the Asura Kingdom is the fact that the government is quite absolute when it comes to the king's power.

That's a good reason why many nobles were vying to get specific characters in the spotlight for the future succession, and why Ariel was sheltered so much. Her claim, albeit ridiculously diluted by the presence of older and more 'fitting' heirs, gave her the form of legitimacy some people may try to use for their advantages. And as it was right now, the current situation about Lilia offered ground for another skirmish.

This time around, it wasn't a 'fair' competition. Ariel wanted Lilia to be reinstated as her dismissal had been pushed on 'baseless grounds', while her opponent, the one that would represent the relatives of those nobles that were killed off, was none other than the First Prince Grabell Zafin Asura. In a normal situation, that would be an uneven match. Grabell, despite his known abrasive nature, was a seasoned player of politics. He was not expecting to struggle against his little sister, and yet he was quite tense as soon as I entered the throne room.

Being summoned by the king was a big deal, and one could say that I was quite lucky that I wasn't given a group of guards. Why? Well, the chances of some assassin being smuggled among them would just cause me issues in the long-run, I believe. It was just me, and Lilia. But the redhead was already there when I reached my destination. She was standing up as no chair was given to her, her clothes being the uniform she used to wear while working at the palace.

I walked forward, stopping right about where she was and then kneeling before the king. "My Liege, I have received your summon."

A nod, and I glanced at the king himself. Blond of hair, gray of eyes, and with quite the unkempt facial hair. The man looked how a normal king should by outfit, yet his body displayed signs of weariness and fragility. He was quite old as some of the gold mane had turned to silver and gray, with his eyes missing any attentive light anyone would have at a younger age.

"And I accept you," He muttered back. "Ser John Bukharin. Stand."

I nodded and complied to the request, the air in the throne room tense as Grabell was aiming his gaze at me, studying me as if I was an unknown entity in his little chessboard. Meanwhile, the relatives of those that died that day, the assassins' families, were all packing a small section of the large room. Ariel was there too, and she almost waved at me before remembering where we were and the situation we were dealing with.

"Are you familiar with why you were summoned, Ser Bukharin?"

I nodded respectfully. "An inquiry on a potentially mistaken judgement on the assassination attempt against a member of the royal family."

The king nodded, but I saw those trying to push for Lilia's sacking frown heavily at this. I had just put my stakes on a side and they knew it from the way I phrased that response. They knew I was going to not be their friend.

"Ser Bukharin, that I believe is an extremely vague use of the circumstance. Father, I believe that this may be an overblown accident."

The weary king eyed his son quizzically. "How so, Grabell?"

"The attack on the maid-guards was instigated by prior provocation," Grabell explained, smiling as he thought he had me on this. "We have servants that have witnessed deplorable rebuttals from the maid towards the nobles."

The king nodded and... turned to me. He wanted me to rebuke, and I bowed my head at that.

"Such a statement lacks context, my liege. The maids, just like my party, had been assigned with the primary focus to defend Princess Ariel from any approaches that weren't authorized to claim closeness with her. There were efforts to entertain the guards with potential pleasure as it would usually occur on a normal basis within the palace and, while it was made clear quite abundantly that such role was bypassed by the duty bestowed on the maid-guards by the King himself, the men persisted and became belligerent. In fact, I had to personally intervene a few times, same for the rest of my party, to prevent potential attempts through distracting interactions."

"Which is righteous due to the fact I personally gave you and the guards that order," The monarch confirmed, glancing strongly at his firstborn. "Explain to me why I should even entertain the notion that such a move is respectable within my own rule, Grabell."

The outburst was unexpected and it made Grabell falter for a moment. The nobles were growing irked, and while some looked ready to protest at this turn of events, the killing blow was delivered by a most unexpected character.

"Daddy?"

Ariel's voice cut the silence with ease, drawing the ruler's eyes to her.

"Yes, Ariel?"

"I would like to ask a few questions to Lilia," The girl answered. "I think those are importants."

There was a lot of confusion at that comment, but the girl looked and sounded confident. I could tell Grabell had picked up something else as he looked ready to say something about it, but the King seemed intrigued enough to let her try, nodding at her request.

"Sure."

Her smile widened and her gaze was aimed at Lilia.

"Lilia, did you know that the blades used by the mean men that tried to hurt me were poisoned?"

The redhead blinked. "I was not."

"If you had been aware, would you have still stood between me and the mean man that tried to kill me?"

"I would have guarded you regardless of the circumstance, my lady," Lilia proclaimed and that was enough to throw a whole new perspective on the matter.

It was a small and seemingly insignificant development, but it was something which created an issue with the nobles' argument: why would the head of the maid-guards be punished for doing her job so valiantly?

The king, albeit a bit conservative and aware of what this new judgment would imply for the next few months with the nobles (between the whining and the pestering), decided to revoke the decision which fired Lilia and gave her the chance to be once more Ariel's guard. Even as she hesitated over it, the redhead accepted the offer. I was confused by the reluctance since it was clear she wanted to be back but... maybe something happened which made her consider another option?

It didn't matter at the moment, and I just took this chance to leave. I was no longer mandated to remain in the throne room and I had to give the news to the girls when-

"S-Ser Bukharin, a moment."

I looked behind my shoulder and saw Lilia. I paused. "Yes?"

"I... I wanted to thank you. You stood up for me and... and I am grateful."

"You should have not been punished to begin with," I replied calmly. "Do you need something else?"

"I wanted to offer you some tea, if possible. I don't wish to force it but-"

"Heh, I can spare some time. Just... I can't linger for long."

She smiled. "Thank you."

Now, I could have said no and not caused any issue to the redhead, but I had this gut feeling that I had to do this. Either a gut feeling or I was curious about a few things about the woman which drew me interested to see what her story was. Specifically the bit with Paul to give reason on why she was so reluctant to meet him. And, much to my surprise, the entire dialogue allowed me to understand a few things from Lilia's background.

Her father was a swordsman master and she had plans to follow his steps before something happened that made her quit. She didn't explain what it was until a bit later, and I have to admit that I was caught blindsided when she ultimately confirmed that Paul had been behind that mess. In fact, the way she delivered it, so nervously and yet so certain that it wasn't a horrible thing to bring but rather an embarrassing topic... I just couldn't cope with it.

Paul forcing himself on a girl? It wasn't a surprise- the fact he did so and he expected the woman to be fine now after years of not talking about it? That was just sick and it just clawed at my heart that this actually happened. I wanted to have suspected it before now, but I just wasn't the kind of guy that expected the worst of people. I knew Paul was a bastard, but this was... bad. No, it was utterly dreadful.

I had heard of rape victims trying to minimize the events of the accident if it hadn't been traumatic. I remember listening to some TV programs which explained how it was possible it was something like the Stockholm Syndrome, but layered by numerous factors which led the victim to lessen the severity of the crime. Especially when they endured much worse after that and said bad things were seen as 'normal'.

But I just couldn't accept it.

"He... He what?"

"It wasn't that bad-" Lilia tried to justify, but I couldn't just accept it.

"Lilia, I am sorry to say this but- it is bad," I replied, my anger delayed by the sheer shock at this news. "Why didn't you... why?"

She tensed up a bit. "I don't think I understand."

"Why didn't you tell anyone? How... How are you?"

This only confused her a bit more. "I-I am fine now. I... I think I am fine."

I took a moment to think about it. This girl, despite appearing fine, was not. Her view on the situation is warped in an effort to normalize it. And the only way I could see this changing into something healthier was-

"Let's make a deal here, then," I muttered as I finished drinking my third cupful of tea, my mind far from calm at this mess. "Nothing big, I just want to talk from time to time."

She frowned. "Only talk?"

I nodded. "Only talk. I want you to let out how you feel about these days. I don't need you to bring up topics of the palace if they are private. I want you to find some relief in talking with someone."

Lilia seemed to struggle a bit with that concept, but seemed to get it from my glance alone that I was trying to help. She fidgeted nervously for a few seconds and then nodded.

"I wouldn't mind it. I should... be free to visit the bar from time to time, around lunch."

"I will keep an eye on it, then," I confirmed. "And... I want you to know that despite what back-and-forth you were subjected to today, you were an admirable protector to Ariel. You didn't deserve this mess on your lap."

She welcomed these last words with a smile, and yet I could say that was just the first of many genuine reactions I would have to get out of her through some therapy. I didn't expect to succeed in this within little time as I could tell there was a massive load of traumas just waiting to get yanked out of her brain and memories but...

Lilia didn't deserve to be forgotten like that.

AN

The maid-guard needs some head pat, hugs, a pillow and maybe some plushies to play it. Care packages are needed!

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c