Chapter two: Not what I expected.
Within the Seventh Fortress, also known as the White Citadel, Celestine stood at a podium surrounded by numerous Bishops of the Church with her loyal bodyguard Claudia at her side. The High Elf had a sorrowful look as the shouts of many people echoed throughout the cathedral.
Soldiers, Civilians, Nobles, even the other Princesses were clamoring over one another, desperate for their voices to be heard. Recently, a messenger hawk was received at the Second Fortress headed by Princess Prim; the contents of the letter she received bore grim news. The Legion had invaded.
Worse yet, scouts had confirmed that the First Fortress had been taken. It was too dangerous for the scouts to proceed any further so it was currently unknown what exactly happened to Alicia or the residents of her Fortress.
Between the news that Alicia had passed along in her letter, ranging from Vult having failed, and even worse that he was planning to betray the Alliance, the fact that Queen Olga had a Forgemaster at her command and the Legion army was more powerful than ever… people were scared.
"Everyone! Please! Remain calm! Fear and panic will make the enemy stronger!" Celestine pleaded, trying to calm the frightened people. Some of the battle-hardened soldiers settled down and even some Civilians regained a little composure, but the Nobles were still shouting in fear and anger.
"Calm?! The First Fortress has fallen! The Legion has taken our very doorstep and will keep clawing away at us! Our people are undoubtedly being raped and eaten! The Princess Alicia is a prisoner and beyond all doubt being used by the enemy general for his own pleasure!" A rather fat nobleman shouted, his words earning a horrified look from Prim who seemed to be on the verge of crying.
"We may have suffered a defeat, but we haven't yet lost the war!" Claudia shouted out in a booming voice, her words finally silencing the room as she continued "We now know the true nature of Olga's weapon! If we defeat her general, then the war is ours! We shall convene and form a plan to counter this invasion!"
Celestine nodded in gratitude and then spoke with more confidence "Indeed. We must not give in to fear. Everyone, please return to your homes and pray. Put your faith in your protectors. I assure you, we will not stop fighting for you until this threat is ended."
The various Soldiers, Civilians and Nobles looked at each other uneasily but they quietly departed, leaving the Elf goddess and the princesses alone to convene and discuss a plan. "Alicia…" Prim muttered with tears forming around her eyes, trying not to imagine all of the horrible things that may be happening to her.
"Fear not dear Prim. My God tells me that she will be alright and that she is in no danger." Kaguya spoke, her words seemingly calming the pinkette who was now wiping away the moisture from her eyes with a handkerchief.
"You really think so?" She asked for confirmation, receiving a firm nod from the priestess.
"Of course. My God tells no lies." The black haired woman spoke bluntly. There were no false assurances to be found in her tone. She truly and genuinely believed it.
The other princesses always found Kaguya's faith in her strange and obscure God to be quite… odd. Nevertheless, her beliefs and religion were her own business and her words helped calm Prim, so that was a positive.
"Grrrr. Those Legion bastards! I will fight them all! I will find the enemy leader! I will bite him and he will hate it! I'll send out the entire Halfling Army to rescue Princess Alicia!" Ruu-Ruu loudly proclaimed as she brandished her large battle-axe.
"Do not be so quick to charge into battle. Forgemaster's are very powerful. Worse, they can create more and more demonic soldiers from the bodies of the dead or raw material. Any careless attacks will only feed his army and make it stronger." Celestine spoke, her warning making the little dog-girl pout and stomp her little foot.
"But we gotta save Alicia! She's our friend! We don't leave friends behind!" The Halfling shouted, emphasizing each sentence with another stomp of her foot.
Maya sighed as she scratched the back of her head and spoke "Man. Talk about a pain in the ass. Bad enough that the big boss Olga has a goddamn Forgemaster, there's no telling what sort of creepy crawlies he's made for her or how many he's made."
"I fear that even consolidating our forces into a single fighting force may not be enough." Claudia muttered while running a hand through her hair.
"That is true… however, if we get the enemy to fight on our terms, we may be able to snatch the final victory." Spoke an aged voice that was familiar to the princesses, most especially Claudia as they all turned towards a pair of men.
"Klaus! Father!" She greeted the newcomers warmly. One was dressed as a scholar and the other was an aging and grizzled man dressed in armor. The former is Klaus Levant Levantine, Claudia's husband. The latter was Graves Levantine, a highly renowned warrior and a former bodyguard to Celestine. While Graves was retired from the Frontlines, his experience and input was still invaluable.
"We're in a bit of a spot, aren't we?" Klaus muttered as he adjusted his glasses, his father nodding in agreement with a stern expression.
"Ah. Olga pulled a fast one on us and gave us all a bloody nose with this stunt. However, me and Klaus have come up with a plan. Consolidating our forces won't be enough. The plan is that we'll have all armed forces converge here at the White Citadel, dig in and shore up the defenses so that we can prepare and be ready for the enemy. In this battle, we do our damned hardest to cut down the enemy General and finally win this war." Graves spoke as he crossed his arms over his chest, a small smirk on his face.
"The Civilians will evacuate the fortresses and hide in a designated location until the battle is finished." Klaus added as he adjusted his glasses once again. While the father and son duo seemed confident in their plan, the princesses didn't seem so certain.
"That's your big plan? Hunker down in the Citadel and wait for the enemy to besiege us? May as well hang a big sign out at the gates that says 'All you can eat buffet here!'. Sorry, but hell-to-the-fucking NO! I'm not down for becoming a sitting duck." Maya spoke out with a sneer.
"We could try spreading out their forces. Thin their numbers. That would give us a better chance at directly targeting the leader." Claudia muttered thoughtfully, while she didn't wish to go against the suggestion of her husband and her father-in-law, she too didn't like the idea of having all of their armed forces in one place.
If they were placed under a siege, then it would be possible for the Legion to whittle and wear them down over time, which would be a losing battle. Graves frowned deeply as he spoke "The White Citadel is the most defensible position, we can lay out traps and armaments to help dwindle the enemy numbers. We would have the home field advantage."
A tense silence fell over the room, both plans had advantages and disadvantages, however, both plans had tremendous risks if they failed. Kaguya closed her eyes and then began to speak "There were once two brothers who owned a farm. One brother tended the crops, fields, and animals. The other brought the goods to market and sold them for profit. Eventually the two brothers began to disagree and argue over who should receive the greater share of the profits.
The farmer argued that he should get the greater share, for it was by his own hands and efforts that his brother had goods to sell. The merchant argued that he should get the greater share, for it was his silver tongue and negotiating skills that earned them so much coin. On and on they argued, day and night, by the time they finally stopped to catch their breath, the fields were barren and the animals had fled the incessant noise of their arguing… and then the brothers had nothing."
Everyone blinked at the Priestess and exchanged looks as an awkward silence filled the area. The silence was broken when Ruu-Ruu asked "Ummm…. What the hell was that all about? Ruu-Ruu is confused."
At the Halfling's question, Prim piped in "Erm… I think what Kaguya-san is trying to say is that if we don't decide soon, then we'll lose the war."
"WHY DIDN'T SHE SAY SO THEN?!" Ruu-Ruu shouted in frustration, her brain hurting from too much thinking and talking. Her blood was boiling and she felt a powerful urge to fight someone or something. In her mind, all this talk wasn't going to save their friend Alicia.
"A decision MUST be made. Celestine-sama… you will have to make an executive decision, and soon before it is too late." Claudia pointed out, earning a reluctant nod from the High Elf. The goddess knew this wasn't a decision to be made lightly, her choice would affect countless lives and determine the course of the war. Their success or failure could hinge on this one choice.
"Indeed… everyone. Return to your Fortresses and await my decision. Make whatever preparations you need in the meantime. I will make my decision known soon." Celestine spoke, earning nods from the other princesses. They would need to marshall their forces and prepare the Civilians for potential evacuation anyway. The High elf then retreated to her private sanctum with her loyal bodyguard in tow.
The father and son duo also departed, with the former having a thoughtful expression on his face. The other princesses departed to return to their respective Fortresses… however Kaguya eyed the gentle princess, Prim, and then gently took her by the shoulder as she whispered "Come with me."
The pinkette made no resistance as they ducked into an alcove as Prim asked "Yes Kaguya-san? Is there something you need from me?" Instead of answering directly, the Priestess reached inside her sleeve and pulled out a small pearl. She then delicately placed it in the palm of the pink haired girl's hand, confusing the princess.
"My god has foretold me that you will go to your cousin's Fortress. You will attempt to negotiate for Alicia's release and will offer great wealth and riches for her freedom. However, your attempts at negotiation will fail, for the enemy general cares not for material wealth." The priestess spoke, her words making the pink haired priestess stiffen up… she feared deeply for Alicia's life and was indeed planning to try and free her. She didn't care about money, she just wanted her cousin back and was willing to part with any amount of coin to have her safely returned.
"My god told me to carry this poison with me, and give it to an ally in need. I see now that it is you that needs this poison. My god tells me that it is the key to your liberation." The black haired priestess muttered, her eyes glancing down to the little pearl that Prim now held. The princess closed her fist around the pear and pocketed it, as she realized that if all else failed… it may be up to her to kill the enemy. She didn't like the idea of taking a life, but if it meant the safety and happiness of her cousin, her friends, and the people of Eos… it was a necessary evil.
"The poison you carry is known as the Strangler. Crush the pearl and pour the powder into a drink, it will instantly dissolve on contact with the liquid. The effects will be almost immediate upon consumption. The enemy's throat will tighten, and he will suffocate to death. A truly deadly and sadistic form of poison." The priestess explained, making Prim pale a bit. That sounded like a horrible way to die.
"Kaguya… why would…" The pinkette tried to speak, but was silenced when the priestess placed two fingers to her lips. The black haired girl slowly blinked her eyes as she spoke in an eerie tone "Do not question. I am only following the will of my god." With that said, the priestess departed without another word.
Prim was confused by this, but decided not to question any further. She doubted she would get a straight answer from her friend anyway. No matter what… she would rescue Alicia.
Days later. First Fortress.
Alicia sat quietly in a local hospital as her wounds from her duel mended. She glanced off to the side as a pair of powerful looking demons stood at the doorway, ever-vigilant and ensuring that she didn't try to escape. The only people that were allowed to see her were the doctors and nurses that came to inspect her wounds and provide meals for her. However, they were given strict orders not to speak more than necessary, leaving the blonde princess in the dark about the state of her people.
Though on a positive note… she didn't hear any blood curdling screams of terror and anguish during her stay at the hospital. Though if she were honest, if she had to spend another day in here, she was the one that was going to scream. She hated sitting still, and it was killing her not knowing the state of things in the fortress. She couldn't even see out the window since it faced towards a neighboring building which didn't reveal anything about how her people were faring.
"You look bored." Spoke a familiar voice, making her jump slightly and see that the form of Naruto was sitting right next to her. Gone was his black Samurai armor and Hannya mask, instead he seemed to be wearing a crimson custom-tailored suit that seemed soft and comfortable to wear. Just… how and when did he arrive?! She didn't even sense his presence. Ugh. Rotting in this hospital must have dulled her senses.
"That obvious?" She asked in a somewhat bitter tone, her pride still bruised from her loss, and wondering why he was here. To gloat maybe? To rub his victory in her face?
"Pretty obvious. How's the arm?" He asked casually as he pointed to her sword arm. For a moment, Alicia quirked up an eyebrow, finding it a little strange that he was asking about her well-being. Nevertheless, she indulged him and answered "Much better. It wasn't actually broken as I originally believed. Still a little sore though."
He nodded with a little smile and produced a paper bag and dropped it into her lap. She peered inside and found a change of clothes, her usual outfit as a matter of fact. "In that case, time for a jailbreak. Get dressed. I think you need some real food in you." He spoke in a friendly manner before leaving the area, as he passed the two demons, he snapped his fingers, making them leave with him, giving the Princess Knight some much needed privacy as she changed out of her hospital clothes.
Once she was finished changing, she stepped outside into the hallway where her fellow blonde was waiting, a strange look on his face that seemed to reflect both nostalgia and some measure of discomfort. Without even looking at her he spoke "I never liked hospitals. Not since the last time I was admitted to one."
"When was the last time you were admitted to a hospital?" Alicia asked, at her question, the whiskered teen turned towards her as he replied "Not a long enough time ago." She blinked her eyes at him in confusion… what an odd response. Was that meant to be deliberately evasive? Sounded like a personal subject.
Clearing her throat, she then asked "What have you done with my subjects?"
"Hmm? Oh, them? My demons have already killed them, eaten their hearts and drank the fluids from their spleens." The whiskered teen replied, his words making the princess gape in horror. He then laughed in her face and added "Just kidding. Your people are all fine. Scared stiff of my demons, but all alive and well."
Alicia breathed a sigh of relief at this. Celestine preserve her, the way he said it with such a straight face, she was fooled into thinking that her subjects had all been eaten. "That wasn't funny." She grumbled angrily, which seemed to amuse the Forgemaster.
"No, it wasn't. The look on your face was funny." He quipped in a snarky tone, making Alicia bristle a bit as she glared at him. He was obviously teasing and tormenting her for his own twisted amusement.
"Like jokes do you? Well you've had your fun now." She grumbled, but was then surprised when she saw him reach inside of his pocket and pull out a strip of leather… it appeared to be some kind of collar.
She felt heat rise to her cheeks, her face flushing in anger, embarrassment and outrage as she growled out "You intend to collar and leash me like an animal and parade me in front of my own people, like I'm your pet?! I'd sooner be eaten by one of your monsters!" The whiskered teen stared at her, his eyes unblinking as he glanced between her and the collar, which confused the Princess Knight.
He then seemed to regain his composure as he replied "Oh this? I could put it around your neck if you're into that sort of thing. Would be kinda kinky. However, I intended to put it on your wrist or your ankle. There's a tracking seal in this, so I'll know where you are at all times. Can't have you wandering off where you're not supposed to be."
She blushed deeply, now realizing that she had put her own foot in her mouth and had jumped the gun. Big time. She cleared her throat and regained her composure as she asked "And if I refuse to wear it?"
"What makes you think you have a choice on that front?" He fired back, which quickly reminded the princess that the lives of her people were hanging in the balance. Without another word, she offered her hand, allowing the Uzumaki to place the tracker on her wrist, as soon as it made contact with her skin, it seemed to briefly come to life as it coiled tightly around her wrist and snapped itself into place with a click.
She tugged and pulled on it experimentally to see if it would budge, but it refused to move. Now he would be able to keep tabs on her at all times, still, this suggested that he didn't intend to confine her to one place. Keyword 'suggested', not confirmed.
"Shall we get going then? I'm sure you must be tired of hospital food. I think something more hearty will speed up your recovery." Naruto spoke and gestured for her to follow him. She silently obeyed as she stayed close behind him and followed him out of the hospital.
Once they stepped outside, Alicia was briefly blinded when the sunlight hit her eyes. Her vision quickly readjusted as she took in the sight of her Fortress… former Fortress, she should say. She saw numerous demons standing guard or patrolling around, as the Uzumaki stated, the people were visibly scared of the demonic soldiers.
Some Civilians seemed to be trying to pretend that the monsters weren't present, others were trying to hurry about their business and shutting themselves within their homes, others seemed to be simply waiting for whatever came next. "We helped ourselves to your armory and stripped your troops of their weapons and gear. Thanks for your generous donation, Princess." The Hannya stated with a beaming smile, making Alicia scoff.
"Donation? Don't make me laugh. You stole them." She muttered bitterly, making the whiskered teen wave dismissively as he quipped "To the victor goes the spoils."
As they continued on towards the main keep, the princess took notice of strange looks from some of her subjects. They seemed to be staring at her with anger and resentment, almost as if they were blaming her for their current predicament. While she could understand their anger and disappointment since she had failed them, she had truly fought her hardest. That aside, help was soon to come. They just needed to hold on for a little while.
She also took notice that numerous men were leering at her openly, their eyes ogling her body. While she was no stranger to such looks… for some reason they were far more numerous and open than usual. It almost felt like she was now a piece of meat being eyed by a pack of hungry dogs. She chose to ignore this and continued on following behind her captor as they entered the keep.
Not much had changed, the various servants went about their daily chores, but there was a sense of dread in the air, largely because the servants couldn't stop fearfully glancing at the Demon soldiers posted almost everywhere. The poor people. They were undoubtedly terrified that they would either be raped and/or butchered… which reminded her…
"Naruto? Can I ask you a question?" Alicia asked, making the whiskered teen turn around with a broad smile, his hands clasped behind his back as he gave a slow nod. From the look in his eyes, it appeared as if he had already guessed what she was going to ask.
"You had the opportunity to forgo the duel and have Beardsley lead you to the secret passage. Why did you turn him down?" She asked, which made her fellow blonde chuckle a bit, almost as if there was some hidden joke involved.
"Well, simply put, I had already agreed to the duel. Copping out would have been cheating. I am a man of my word after all, and I had no intention of making any promises to that old creep regardless of our promised duel. I cannot stand liars, cheats, and rapists." He answered, as if it were the most simple thing in the world.
"You also haven't slaughtered the populace. Why? You could add them to your horde." She pointed out, earning a roll of the eyes from the whiskered teen.
"Didn't I say it before? I have no desire to slaughter people who can't fight back or murder innocents. That aside, there's not much point in ruling over a dead empire as my mother previously stated." He answered, slowly shaking his head with an amused grin.
"Why did Olga adopt you? Why did she adopt a human? She is supposed to hate humans." Alicia spoke, trying to pry more information from the Forgemaster. Instead of answering, he just gave a little wink and continued on, making the Princess Knight puff out her cheeks and huff in annoyance.
"By the by, your Beardsley is in the dungeons. I figured you'd want to deal with him yourself for his attempted betrayal." Naruto stated, and for a brief moment, an almost sadistic smile flashed across the Princess' face.
"Later. I think he needs to stew down there for a while longer before I cast judgment." She said as a mental image of a bloodied axe entering her mind. They passed through a set of doors and into a dining room, with only one small table and a pair of chairs awaiting them.
Naruto approached one of the chairs and pulled it out for her, allowing the princess to smoothly slide into it, feeling a little touched by the gentlemanly gesture. It almost made her feel like a regular woman instead of a princess or a knight. However, she couldn't allow herself to be charmed by this man. He was the enemy! No matter what, she was still a loyal knight of Eos. Even if she was a prisoner, she would still resist him. No doubt he will try to gain information from her. Well, two can play at that game. She would just have to keep digging while giving him nothing worthwhile.
He clapped his hands, causing a set of serving carts to begin wheeling themselves towards the table,undoubtedly guided by magic. "I didn't know what you liked, so I made a bit of everything. I tried asking your servants about your taste, but was lucky enough to only get some blubbering noises." The Uzumaki spoke as he lifted a dish cover, revealing a steam dish of lobster, the scent making Alicia's mouth water.
"You… made this? You cook?" She asked, surprised by this. She never would have figured him to be good in the kitchen. Even though she could only see his back at the moment, she could tell that he was trying to suppress some laughter. He placed various pieces of food on a plate, lobster, steak, chicken, a variety of fruits and veggies, and some other things that she didn't immediately recognize and placed the full plate in front of her.
"What? You think that I had various slaves cook for me day and night?" He asked, which made the blonde knight give a long 'uhhh' as she found herself unable to reply or form a coherent sentence without sounding rude.
"Heh. The answer is no. I didn't. The dark arts weren't the only thing I learned in my mother's citadel. Cooking, in itself, is a form of magic. Good food has a way to bring happiness to people and bring smiles. Now, would you care for water or wine? Ah, never mind. Don't answer. I'll just serve you both." He spoke as he placed two goblets in front of her, and with a wave of his finger, the goblets seemingly filled themselves. Water in one goblet and wine in the other.
She stared at the two goblets in suspicion, not trusting the liquid contents. He might have mixed some sort of drugs in there to loosen her tongue or mess with her senses. Sensing her suspicions as she stared at the beverages he picked up each cup and took a sip from each one, showing that they weren't tainted. "Come now, no need for suspicions. We're just having lunch together." He spoke casually as he went and prepared his own plate of food, he then snapped his fingers resulting in the conjuring of the necessary eating utensils on the table.
Seriously, what the hell was this guy's game? Whatever it was, she wouldn't fall for it! "Right. Lunch. Do you think I am stupid? You're going to try and get information out of me." She snapped, glaring daggers at him.
"Pot and Kettle. You were and still are trying to do the same to me. Also, I don't think you're stupid. I think you're a stubborn but lovely young woman. I also know that you earned your position based on your own skills and merits and didn't coast off your family name. I like that in a person." He responded calmly as he placed his own plate on the table and sat across from her, picking up a fork and knife to begin cutting through a piece of steak.
The two blondes stared at each other directly in the eyes, both sizing the other up in a tense silence. Alicia was the first to speak as her expression softened "You're not what I expected. You honorably fought me when you could have cheated, you are treating me more like a guest than a prisoner, and thus far, aside from the widespread fear, no harm has come to my people."
"Mmm. You must be thinking about what the Legion was before I took control. The monsters my mother employed were brutes and savages through and through. Kami, the things I heard them fantasize. Made me want to jab out my eardrums. All they could think about was raping girls or destroying things. Well, I guess you can train an animal to follow certain commands, but at the end of the day they're still animals. Unless of course one is well-versed in magic." He spoke with a chuckle.
Alicia pursed her lips, her stomach starting to grumble loudly as the scent of delicious food tickled her nostrils and her mouth watered. She picked up her own utensils and jabbed her fork into a piece of lobster and placed it in her mouth, trying not to wolf down the meal. Goddess, hospital food always tasted so bland to her.
She chewed a few moments before swallowing, then took a sip of water, the atmosphere relaxing a little. "What was it like? Being raised by the Dark Queen?" She asked out of curiosity since Eos had been at war with Queen Olga for so, so long. It was impossible for her to imagine Olga as a maternal figure, especially given her well-known hatred for humans.
Naruto was silent for a few moments, a nostalgic smile on his face as he replied "My mother was as kind and caring as a mother could be. She constantly spoiled me and would let me get away with virtually anything. However, she was also firm and strict when necessary and was a diligent teacher. Thanks to her, I was able to cultivate a wide array of skills and abilities to serve as her general."
"Why did she take you in? Where did she even find you?" The Princess Knight questioned further. The Uzumaki popped a strawberry into his mouth before taking a sip of wine, an easy smile on his face that didn't quite reach his eyes. His eyes flashed with an emotion that she could only identify as… hatred.
He inhaled sharply and then replied "Far east. I'm from the Far East. The Shinobi Nations." The Princess Knight raised an eyebrow, name striking a familiar chord in her memory, she remembered her friend Kaguya talking about it, but she couldn't recall the necessary information. She would need to consult her library later to learn more. Still, he didn't explain why he was adopted by the Dark Queen.
She was about to ask him again, but was interrupted when he spoke "I admire your skills Princess. You truly earned your position. A shame we have to be enemies. Still… not much to be done about that, eh? In a few days time, we'll be marching on the Second Fortress. To my knowledge, it is the least defended, yes? And it's the home of your cousin, Princess Prim?"
Alicia snarled as she pointed her knife at him and growled out "You touch my cousin, and I'll kill you. I swear on the Goddess' name that I will." As soon as the words left her mouth, a hand came over her mouth, silencing her and a sharp object was pressed into her side. From the corner of her eye, she saw the form of Chloe, the Half-elf scowling deeply and silently threatening to gut her if she made any moves against the Forgemaster.
Naruto didn't seem intimidated in the slightest as he rolled a berry between his fingers and stated "Come now, we've been down that road before. You lost. Is there any point in repeated history? I find it rather pitiable how humans always fail to learn from their past mistakes. Oh, and Chloe? Kindly release her."
The blonde half-elf silently obliged and let go of the princess, sheathing her hidden dagger. She then stood beside the Uzumaki, her arms crossed beneath her bust as she glared at the princess, silently daring her to try anything further. "You know, that reminded me, speaking of past mistakes… you ever wonder why we're at war to begin with?" Naruto asked as he leaned back in his seat.
"Your beloved mother hates humans and has been waging war on us because of her grudge." Alicia answered… then she did a brief double-take as she realized that she sounded almost like a broken record.
"Ah, you just realized… that doesn't really answer the question, does it? What started this grudge to begin with? Hmm?" The whiskered teen questioned, all Alicia could do in response was stare blankly at him. Just what was he getting at?
Before she could ask him, they were interrupted when a small girl with short black hair, dark skin and pointed ears appeared. Another Dark Elf? That was certainly a surprise. "Ah, Princess, allow me to introduce Luca, my personal retainer. Technically speaking, she's still in training. Found her in a slave market during one of my excursions around Eos to learn about the Fortresses and the people. Poor thing was all bones barely held together by her own skin." Naruto spoke with a grin, introducing the new girl.
Ah, so he traveled around Eos? That would explain how he knew so much. He did his research, additionally, no one would find a traveling human suspicious. They had spent so long fearing the monsters of the Legion that they never imagined a human would be their foe. "Slavery is illegal. Celestine-sama expressly forbade it and outlawed it." The princess spoke matter-of-factly, not believing that slavery was still alive in Eos.
"Just because something is forbidden or illegal, doesn't mean people aren't doing it. Luca here is half-human and half Dark Elf, in case you were wondering. I digress though, is there something you needed, Luca?" The whiskered teen asked his young retainer.
The black haired Half-elf wrapped her arms around his neck, puffed out her cheeks and then spoke towards the princess "You! Human wench! You are not worthy to join Naruto-sama's bed!"
There was a pregnant pause in the air as Alicia blinked her eyes, the only intelligent words that could escape her mouth was "I… what?"
Luca smoothly slid into her master's lap and straddled him, possessively embracing him as she continued to shout at the princess "You heard me! Harpy! Lecher! Witch!" At this Naruto almost burst into laughter, and in the background, Chloe had clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her giggles, tears streaming down her cheeks as she tried to contain herself.
"Forgive me, I think that Luca has it in her head that you're trying to seduce me. Not sure where she got that from." The Uzumaki sincerely apologized and then continued "Far as I know, she spent most of her life in a cage. She still doesn't understand certain topics and social cues or taboos."
"Hmph! It is all clear to me! She is attempting the ritual of 'wining and dining'. This fiendish woman is trying to use her wicked wiles to tempt you Naruto-sama." Luca snarled out, hissing like a cat which only made both Naruto and Chloe snicker.
The Forgemaster then sighed as he took on a more serious expression and stated bluntly "Luca? Stop. Now. You're embarrassing me and you're bothering Alicia. Do not make me punish you for your misconduct." He gently pushed his young retainer off of his lap, his words making her deflate and began profusely apologizing for causing him embarrassment.
"Now, was there something you actually needed?" He asked sternly, prompting his retainer to give a quick salute and reply back "Yes. My apologies! A caravan has been seen approaching the Fortress! It carries both a white flag and the standard of the Second Fortress!"
"Prim!" Alicia muttered beneath her breath, quickly coming to the conclusion that her cousin had come for her. If she was leading a caravan, then she had come with the intention of buying her freedom. Her captor came to the same conclusion, a little smirk on his face as he whispered orders to his retainer, no doubt telling her to show Prim inside.
"... And be sure to extend every courtesy." He added at the end, prompting the lithe Half-elf to nod before departing. The Forgemaster and Chloe exchanged looks and he gave her a dismissive wave, likely telling her that she can leave. "I will be nearby should you need me."
Alicia smirked confidently, certain that her beloved cousin was prepared to offer any ransom for her freedom. Within a matter of minutes, Luca returned with the pink haired princess herself in tow. "Alicia!" Prim shouted in delight and rushed forward, the two cousins lovingly embracing one another.
The pinkette then inspected her cousin and asked in a rapid-fire manner "Are you all right? Did they hurt you? What have they done to you?"
"I'm fine Prim, I'm fine. I was injured from my duel, but I am just fine. They haven't done anything to me." Alicia spoke reassuringly, quickly calming her cousin down.
Naruto stood up and approached the pink haired princess who turned to face him, he then gently took her by the hand and kissed the top of it as he spoke "Princess Prim, my name is Naruto Uzumaki-Discordia. General of the Legion and Devil Forgemaster. It's an honor and a privilege to meet you. Your cousin and I were just enjoying a meal, care to join us?"
The pinkette gave a graceful curtsy and replied back "I'm afraid I must politely decline since I am not hungry, though if it is not too much trouble, a cup of tea would be splendid." In response to her request, the Uzumaki snapped his fingers, conjuring a tray with a teapot with a teacup with some cream and sugar on the side, followed by a third seat for Prim as he pulled it out for her and poured her a cup.
"I will not waste your time. It doesn't take a military genius or a savant to figure out that you're here to negotiate for your cousin." Naruto stated matter-of-factly, earning a nod from the pinkette as she took her seat with her cousin taking her own seat once again.
The pink haired Princess nodded in confirmation as she spoke calmly and gently "Correct. It is my hope that we can come to an agreement. I have great wealth, a vast collection of rare and valuable antiquities and artifacts, and a considerable library of arcane tomes and magic. I am ready and willing to pay any price you deem fair for my cousin's safe return."
The Forgemaster leaned back in his seat, lacing his fingers together as slowly shook his head negatively and then spoke in an even tone "Again. I don't want to waste your time since you came all this way here. However, I am not interested in coin or material possessions. That aside, everything that you have, I can simply take. Sorry to say, but you aren't in a good position to negotiate, especially since your Fortress will be my next stop and I am certain that your military is tripping over themselves as they try to figure out whether to adopt an offensive or defensive strategy."
The pinkette blinked her eyes a few times, briefly wondering if he had spies planted in the White Citadel as she blurted out without thinking "How did you know that?"
In response, he smirked as he answered her "Educated guesswork, and thank you for confirming it for me."
'I messed up!' Prim mentally screamed in her own mind, a horrified expression on her face as she realized her blunder. She then took a deep breath to collect herself, and her mortified expression was replaced by one of steely resolve. She removed one of her silk gloves and then threw it at the Uzumaki with all her might.
He caught the thrown glove in his hand and inspected it, a knowing smile on his face as he muttered "Going down that road eh? I see." From the background, his loyal retainer appeared from the shadows with a confused expression, not understanding the gesture.
"Ever heard the phrase 'throwing down the gauntlet'? Same basic principle. When a member of nobility or aristocracy throws their glove at someone, it means they are challenging them to a duel. If one refuses it without justifiable reason, then they are considered untrustworthy and without honor." Naruto explained, his hand clenching around the glove.
He then continued to speak as he pocketed the silk glove "Your challenge is accepted Princess Prim. Though, please forgive me as I do not mean to insult or belittle you, but from what I have heard… you're not exactly a fighter like your cousin."
"You are correct. I am not a warrior… but nevertheless, I will put my life on the line for my people and more importantly for my friends and family." Prim stated as she produced a small pearl from her pocket and then continued "This is my weapon! It is a poison called the Strangler. Naruto-san… I request at least sixteen cups of tea for this game."
At the mentioning of the name, Alicia paled until she was white as a sheet, one could almost assume that she had died right there from a heart attack. "The… the…. The Strangler?! That poison is illegal in Eos! Where did you get that?! Prim! Please! Don't do this! If you drink that… then…" the blonde princess blubbered, a mental image of her cousin dying from the poison entering her mind.
"It will be fine, Alicia. You have always protected me from harm. It's time that I tried to protect you now. I'll save you!" Prim stated with confidence, having full belief that she could take the win.
"A game of chance, eh? This sort of game is known as Russian Roulette. Not a traditional duel but I won't refuse you." Naruto spoke as he snapped his fingers, conjuring exactly sixteen cups of tea.
"The game ends when one of us dies from the poison, or surrenders. Now then, I must ask you and your servant to turn around so that I may deposit the poison without you seeing. Once that is done, me and Alicia will turn around so you may shuffle the teacups. Then neither of us will know where the poison is. Agreed?" Prim spoke in a clear voice, which earned a nod from her foe as he turned around and gestured for his retainer to do the same.
Once their backs were turned and she ensured they were not peeking, Prim crushed the pearl in her fist then dumped the powder in a random cup of tea. "It is done. Shuffle them." She ordered as she turned around. Alicia was hesitant to do so, forcing Prim to grab her by the shoulder and make her face away from the cups. "Take as long as you need."
The Uzumaki didn't verbally answer, however they could hear the cups sliding around on the table in various directions. The shuffling went on for almost a full minute until the whiskered teen was satisfied. With that done, both parties faced each other once again. "Prim, let me drink in your stead. I cannot bear…" Alicia tried to speak but was shushed by her cousin who was shaking her head negatively. Her mind was made up and she was going to see this through.
"Naruto-sama, I should…" Luca tried to speak, but was silenced as her master gave her a scathing glare, cutting her off. It seemed she was going to extend the same offer of drinking in his place, but he shot her down flat.
"Mind if I take the first cup?" Naruto asked while picking up one of the teacups. The pinkette gestured for him to continue, silently hoping that perhaps the first cup may be the one to kill him and put an end to this nightmare.
He sipped the liquid contents of the cup before setting it down, and after a few moments of waiting… nothing happened. The princess frowned as she glanced down at the cups… it was her turn now and any one of them could have the deadly poison in it.
Prim was neither a strong fighter or a valiant knight, but her heart was strong and her love for her cousin and her friends pushed her forward. She took a cup with all the grace and poise of someone of her station and sipped her tea before setting the cup down. She felt moisture forming on her body and her heart was pounding… but nothing happened. It would seem both their lives had been spared this round.
Naruto picked up his second cup and drank the tea down, followed by Prim as she chose her own. Cup after cup, round after round, they continued on. The number of full cups dwindled and the stakes were rising.
Prim felt as though her heart was about to pop inside of her own chest as they were now down to three cups. One of them contained the deadly poison. Her body was now soaked in sweat and in the background both Alicia and Luca seemed almost ready to wet themselves in anticipation. Swallowing dryly, the pinkette dabbed her damp forehead with a handkerchief and then snatched it up and gulped down the beverage, some droplets falling from her lips as she set the cup back down… only to feel relief when nothing happened.
Now, it was down to the final two cups. It was now a 50/50 chance for her opponent to perish or succeed. This was the moment of truth. Naruto's hand hovered over a cup for a few moments, then he switched to the second one, then back again, undoubtedly he was unsure which one to choose. Finally, he made his selection and picked up a cup and downed the potentially fatal liquid.
The cousins silently waited, their hearts beating rapidly inside their chests, each second feeling like a year as they waited to see whether or not the Forgemaster would meet his end… but still nothing happened. "He's… he's not dead. He's not dead." Alicia muttered, her eyes widening as she and her cousin looked down at the last cup of tea.
Prim began to tear up and sniffle, realizing that she had failed. There was no point in continuing further or dying a pointless death. She knew that there was a likelihood that either she or her foe would drink of the poison and perish, but she had never considered the possibility of what may happen if neither of them took the poison. "I… I concede. I have failed. I'm so sorry Alicia… I'm so… so useless." The pink haired princess muttered.
"So you admit that you've lost then?" Naruto asked, earning a reluctant nod from Prim, he then continued in an even tone "Well, as the victor then, I hereby decree that you'll be staying here as an… extended guest. Your entourage too. Can't have them leaving and potentially giving your sisters-in-arms vital information."
Alicia wanted to protest, but remained quiet. Her cousin had lost the duel, and as the victor it was Naruto's right to claim the spoils. The blonde knight embraced her cousin in a comforting hug and spoke to her soothingly "You're not useless Prim. You were very brave. Brave as any knight could ever be." Her words brought a little smile to her beloved cousin, who stifled her tears and wiped them away.
Naruto smiled at the two princesses and then picked up the final cup of tea and stated "To your health ladies." And in a shocking move… he drank down the tea. The two cousins gaped and stared at him, their minds unable to process what had just happened. Had he just committed suicide? For what reason? What drove him to drink the poison?
Their mouths opened and closed, unsure of what to say or do except wait for the poison to do its work… but then Luca began to snicker, which alerted the cousins that something was amiss… which was proven further by the fact that Naruto still didn't die. "Apologies ladies, but… there's something you didn't know. I already drank the poison in the first cup."
"You…. what?!" Was the only reply that the two princesses could mutter, completely flummoxed by this revelation. Just how in the hell was he not dead?!
"Due to my unique circumstances, poison doesn't affect me. My body burns out any poison that enters me. I also possessed enhanced senses and I noticed that one of the tea cups had a slightly different smell than the rest, which made it easy for me to identify which one was the poisoned cup. I didn't want to run the risk of poor Prim-hime drinking the poison, which is why I took the initiative and drank first." He explained as he set down the last cup.
"Hahaha! Stupid humans! That's what you get for betting against Naruto-sama! He never loses a bet! You accidentally rigged the game in his favor!" Luca shouted mockingly and then began making obscene faces and insulting gestures to the princesses.
"Why… why… why keep going then? Why keep going if you had already won?" Prim muttered almost brokenly. Thus far, everything that Kaguya said had held true… up until now when the poison was proven worthless against the Legion's General. Now she was his prisoner. Still, it didn't make any sense for him to continue the duel.
He chuckled a bit as he replied to her question "Simple, I wanted to see just how far you'd go to save your cousin. You didn't disappoint. You held on till the final cup. A lesser person would have given up long before that. You've got heart Prim-hime. A lot of heart. Much respect to you, my lady."
"That's still horrible! Poor Prim was scared to death! I was scared to death for Prim!" Alicia snapped out, snarling at the Uzumaki. She seemed ready to lunge at him, but was stopped when Prim raised a hand which made her cousin pause and quietly ask "Prim?"
"Do not be angry with him. I issued the challenge and unknowingly stacked the deck against myself. This is all my fault. Also, as Naruto-san stated, I was in no danger. He… he was protecting me, and because of this… I feel stronger and braver now." The pink haired girl spoke to her cousin before turning towards the Legion General.
"As for you Naruto-san… as a Princess and a gentlewoman, I graciously accept my defeat. You may do with me as you wish. However, if you think that you'll be taking my Fortress… I made arrangements in the event that I failed to kill you." Prim boldly announced, standing defiantly towards the Uzumaki.
He simply smiled and replied in a confident tone "That's good. That's very good… I enjoy a good fight and a challenge. Whatever arrangements you made… I hope they're entertaining." Both princesses stood tall and glared at him, refusing to back down. He may have two of the Seven Alliance Princesses now… but the war wasn't over yet.
End chapter two.