CHAPTER XXI.
The Marquis left in a hurry a while ago to try to apprehend Count Offrey.
The nobles around her were all a mess of different sentiments.
Some were excited about such a masterful blow,
Others were booing the beheaded pirate.
Another group cursed Duke Redgrave.
A few here and there were furtively glancing at the Royals, no doubt calculating the odds of them knowing about the Offrey's champions true identity.
She could hear someone joking about the real Masked Knight being a pirate all along.
And a few looked calculating. She probably was among them, she knew she was forgetting something important, and this has refreshed her memories.
The Offreys are traitors that employed air pirates to do their dirty deeds!
It was one of her least favorite cutscenes, and she only watched it a couple of times so it was understandable she forgot!
She felt a drop of sweat go down her forehead and promptly dried it with a handkerchief.
This situation was getting absurd, no route in the game matched this series of events.
Maybe it was content added in a DLC after her death in one of those anniversary editions?
She had enough of that shit when her past life boyfriend bought TES V: Skyrim for microwaves!
All that aside she was certain that she triggered the hidden boss now, that duel was meant to be the cutscene that presented him as a threat, the question now is: When will he show himself next?
She was threading in unknown territory here and it was scary to not know what was going to happen. She got where she is now by relying on the foreknowledge that otome game provided her and now those shitty developers messed up with her once again!
She looked for the King and Queen with her eyes, both were whispering to one another, the queen looked distraught while the king was angry for the first time since she met him.
The Offreys had a pirate in employ, what if they have more?
The crown was in a pinch thanks to that stupid girl and her House!
The Royals are smart, even if the king is a little lazy, he must realize something must be done about this situation fast.
She doesn't have all the details because she was busy putting Jilk on his place… why are men such good friends with each other!?
In the end the other four advocated for the Marmoria Heir and she ended putting the boy on probation.
He better be on his best behavior from now on though, she won't hesitate curing all ties with him if he disobeys her one more time.
House Offrey was done for, the best thing to do right now is probably cutting ties with them, the Marquiss will probably be the first one to denounce them and be in so much despair over the fact that one of his own followers could stoop so low!
Even if he probably knew all along.
Her boys were still discussing the match, around her, all of them asking each other how they would defeat the Baron.
They were at least aware of the danger the elite mob represented, that was good because the optional boss' fight was all but confirmed now!
In the distance they could hear multiple gunshots, she fought to remain calm, she was in a suite with the royal family and other powerful nobles, there was no way anything could happen to her here.
The fight is going on inside the arena, probably the Count's family trying to escape.
The Queen had to force the King to sit down after he stood up and ordered the knights to follow him… did he pretend to join in the conflict?
She noticed her boys walking towards the door and she moved fast enough to block the door with her small body, she wouldn't allow them to join either, it was way too dangerous.
"Stay put Julius!" The Queen called out to her son with a stern expression, Julius and his friends looked rebellious for just a second before they returned to their previous spot.
Marie looked at the Queen and smiled in gratitude, and was surprised when she got another one in response.
Again the Royal suite was shaken, this time by the shouts of outrage of the public in the arena, an airship had taken off, and despite not having any insignia identifying it as such, no one doubted the traitors were inside that ship!
A group of knights entered the suit they occupied and whispered something to the rulers of the kingdom.
They were not pleased by the news, the Queen was furiously giving orders low enough to not be overheard.
That confirmed everyone's suspicions, the Count had fled.
She walked closer to them and the boys followed her, falling silent as they noticed where she was going.
Only recently Mylene had warmed up to her a little, the fact that she was a potential Saint starting to sink in on her.
She timed her arrival well, the knights just left to obey the Queen's orders when she was in speaking range, but she got closer, so what she had to say wouldn't be overheard either, if they wanted to keep the pretense that this was still a salvageable situation she would go along with it.
"Has Count Offrey fled already?" she asked with sarcasm, The Queen probably couldn't help but to smirk at the situation.
"Unfortunately yes" the Queen answered sourly.
"Is that so? Will he try to escape the kingdom or will he return to his territory and try to secede?" she asked, both were bad ideas in her opinion, even if he tries hiding the Royal Family will eventually find him, if he tries to dig in on his territory he will be overwhelmed.
Fleeing the country was probably his best option.
"I've been told that the Duke's ships are already preparing to sail towards his territory" the Queen told her with a faint smile, so it was neither, they would not be able to escape even if they tried.
Offrey House didn't stand a chance against the full might of the Redgrave fleet, but the Duke doesn't have his full fleet here, if she wasn't wrong the House redgrave has two or three ships not counting those of House Bartfort.
If they don't catch up to the Offreys before they get to their territory they would be in serious trouble.
"Mother, we should join them!" Julius said with enthusiasm, he and the rest got really excited when the chance to fight presented itself, but this is the Duke they are talking about, the man hates Julius.
"That's not a good Idea Julius" She told him with a light glare.
"What?! Why?!" The prince seemed conflicted, on one hand was his desire to please her and stand up among her lovers and on the other was the desire that all young men have to prove themselves.
"This is the House Redgrave we are talking about!" She hissed "Have you forgotten they hate us?" she asked rhetorically.
"Well said Marie" she was surprised to hear the Queen praise her, that had never happened before, Mylene only tolerated her because of the possibility she could be the Saintess "There is no need to fan the flames as it is, and don't some of you have to compete in the Tourney? Let the Redgrave deal with the rabble."
She smiled and curtsied to the Royals before going back to her seat, she may have triggered an optional boss but she may have also gained the backing of the Queen as well.
0x0
Angelica was tense, they were going after the Offreys.
Her father had recklessly ordered them to chase the scheming nobles that had defamed her family.
Luxion had discovered the identity of the Masked Knight and they formed a plan to expose House Offrey as the pirates swine they are. The plan involved Leon killing his opponent, something he hated doing…
She was worried all through the match, and relieved when it ended and Leon prevailed, he was still a little pale, it was a worrying and reassuring fact at the same time that her husband has yet to get used to killing.
The duel let her father know that her husband had kept his part of the deal and kept training, and judging by the smile on his face when Leon killed the pirate despite his inferior armor he was more than pleased.
Leon's first reaction to killing his enemy wasn't as severe as that time when they were attacked by pirates the first time, it was manageable now, but they have left consequences…
Sometimes Leon would wake up in the middle of the knight, the dead haunting him in his sleep.
Miss Joan told them it was normal for some knights to have nightmares years after a kill, but they'll be less and less frequent with time.
Their ship was ready to start the chase, this was not Partner, this was a completely new ship created by Luxion and Cleare, this was Einhorn a two hundred meter long class with an elegant design and a horn that could actually split another ship in two, and leaving aside how scary it was that the familiars could create a ship like this and with specs that put any other ship but Partner to shame.
They were just standing idle while the rest of the fleet was hastily getting ready to take off.
Leon had taken refuge in holding Gilbert and carrying him around their cabin, and singing to him.
Livia had fallen asleep in her bed but the songs were soft enough to not wake her up. Her sister wife was a little upset they wouldn't be having sex tonight but refrained from making any comment due to the circumstances.
Angelica was aware of what was about to happen in their tent before they were interrupted, it was the fantasy of every male, she was sure about it, but she found herself surprised about how much she was enjoying it herself… Maybe she was upset about being interrupted as well, but it took one look at her husband to know he was no longer in the mood for it.
Anyway… Her father had asked Leon to have her, Olivia and Gil on his ship for their protection
This was the calm before a coming storm. House Offrey was finished, the question was how many of their own they would lose in this conflict?
Her father did not come prepared for an all out war with another House.
And this isn't even the war they have been preparing for!
0x0
Stephanie was having a nightmare, there was not two ways about it!
First two of her new slaves were killed by that bartfort scum, then her father's secret fighter was defeated and exposed, they fled the Marquis territory in a filthy pirate ship that her dad had prepared since the day they had arrived to the Tourney.
Now after days of the most uncomfortable travel she ever had and after they loaded their ships with most of their family's fortune and themselves on their fleet of twenty ships was when the Duke arrived and they had to fight!
They had over a dozen extra ships and more armor, it was an easy victory.
But then why the hell were they losing so badly!
The Duke had sunk half of their fleet already and their armors were completely outmatched by the Duke's knights…
That damned black armor knocked their knights as if they were mere flies!
Her older brother was looking at her with reproachful eyes, as if blaming her for this!
How was she supposed to know that that damn Baron was that strong, or that their champions were pirates!
No one had told her anything about it!
And how was she supposed to know that the Duke would help Angelica!
She was supposed to be expelled from House Redgrave!
"Why!" her father asked using the outside speakers, "Why don't you ask for surrender Vince!?" she felt her blood turn to ice in her veins, she looked at her House's fleet, and they had only seven ships remaining! "WE HAVE LOST, WE SURRENDER!"
"What are you doing Papa?!" she asked in terror, they couldn't surrender, the Duke's fleet only had… she looked around and another one of their ships was just rammed by a black ship with a horn.
One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven!
How come the Duke hasn't lost a single ship yet?! The range of that horned airship was just unfair!
"Do you think we came here to arrest you Offrey!?" The Duke's voice had a cold rage to it that made her take a step back even if he was in another ship she could still feel the man's rage. She knew this was her fault, there was no need to antagonize Angelica, but there was nothing stopping her either, or that was what she thought!
"We can settle this Vince! Spare us and we will fight on your behalf when you go for the crown!" her father was trying to save them, but she couldn't believe her own ears, the Duke was planning a coup?
"You fucking hypocrite!?" she yelled hard enough that the speakers amplified her voice so their enemies could hear her.
"Do not misunderstand this, girl, we are not destroying you because of the kingdom, this is entirely because you attacked my daughter and my grandchild" the calm response of the man was enough to silence her.
All eyes on the ship's deck focused on her, she did this?
Did she open Pandora's Box by targeting Angelica's family?
Another two ships fell to the onslaught of the Duke's fleet, and the two Bartfort Ships, demonic things that they are, kept circling their remaining ships from opposing sides and they had claimed their lion's share of the killing already.
They and their cargo ships were now defenseless.
"I thought you abandoned her" she said this time in the mic directly, she had to do something to calm the irate, powerful man.
"I NEVER ABANDONED ANGIE, JUST DISCIPLINED HER AS A FATHER SHOULD. LIKE YOUR FATHER SHOULD HAVE DONE TO YOU!" This time the Duke's voice held nothing but rage.
"AND EVEN IF HE DID, SHE STILL HAS US!" a second Irate man, probably the Bartfort Head's voice boomed all across their territory. Their last escort was shot down at that moment.
Yes, she awakened the sleeping giant and probably stepped onto the lion's tail as well, but in her defense, how was she supposed to know, Baron's aren't supposed to have this much power! "I'm… I'm sorry, please let us go!" she tried apologizing.
The armors that had been staying at a distance after defeating their knights started closing on them from angles away from their cannon's reach. Thunderous strikes disabled the last of their defenses.
"I'LL GIVE HER TO YOU VINCE, JUST SPARE THE REST OF US!" her father cried with panic, her brother had come from behind her and restrained her in a way it could be confused with a hug, but the strength was strangling instead of comforting. She started crying, begging her papa not to hand her over, her mother had then come closer and slapped her, that had crushed the last of her hopes.
In their stead, a malicious wish had been born, she wished the Duke would not just take her and leave them be, she now wanted to bring them down with her, to have them be thrown into the same hell that awaited her!
"Not one drop of noble blood in the lot of you!" The disgusted voice of the Duke put a smile on her face again and made the rest of her family pale. "Loot the ship, and throw them to the skies!"
Then a red armor hacked its way inside the deck, the pilot unceremoniously picked and threw her father and mother out of the ship into the empty sky, using both hands carefully, as if to not crush her brother and her to death they were then thrown out of the ships themselves.
For some reason her brother never let go of her.
She knew it was not out of love, he was ready to hand her over to their enemies not five minutes ago… it doesn't matter now, for all intents and purposes they were just waiting for their deaths.