The (Alleged) Villainess' Dad 5 - (Original Otome, VillainessDad!Reincarnator)

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When Princess Elena arrived, the crown made a move to prevent anyone of the council to be granted a meeting with the girl.

I wasn't sure if this was an attempt from the Queen to try and sway her only daughter to her side in 'rejecting our demands', but I doubt that the King would allow the meddling with his recent appeasement. And I had confirmation that things were not going to get weird as I received an invitation from the princess herself.

I was puzzled when she promised it would be a private meeting, devoid of her parents, but I could tell right as I stepped into the palace's inner grounds that the servants had a tense air to their steps - Princess Elena had brought in some unease within those people that further lulled my notions of her being a wicked person. Maybe it wasn't the case, but I had already seen how Gert and Felicia ignored one of their children's many flaws, and I could see how this may have been implemented with the other one.

Hence why I felt a bit stiff myself as I knocked by her room's door, waiting for her soft permission to step inside and deal with the tense air all around. Upon opening the door, I was introduced to a room that was hardly used. The walls were painted a dark red, the floor a wood of similar shade, yet not mixing with the other surfaces. A bed, a desk, two chairs and... empty shelves.

I could tell that those wardrobes were also mostly naked of clothes, but there was indeed someone waiting there, the princess I heard much about and... I could see why she was deemed by her parents a non-eligible candidate.

Gert and Felicia both had black and brown hair respectively - Elena had short white hair with some black locks. That wouldn't be much of a surprising coloration due to how this can be altered by magic but... her unique red and black eyes stunned me on the spot. I could sense a strong 'tainted' influence within her lifeforce, one that was visible by her pitch-black skin by her arms.

Sitting on her worn chair, the girl looked up at me after tending to a white bunny plushy that looked akin to her. She wore a full-sleeved buttoned black shirt, white shorts, and dark boots. There was a pause, then I bowed to her as I would with any member of the royal family.

"Princess Elena."

She bowed her head curtly, stiff herself at the interaction. "Prime Minister Fiall. Thank you for coming her as punctually as possible."

"I would have not turned up late for this meeting. If I may ask... how are you feeling being back... home?"

She blinked, patting her plushy. "Odd. I expected to feel at ease but- but this doesn't feel much familiar."

"You have lived for many years out of these walls. And I was told you found some peace in Mabbinis - as much as possible with the constant troubles, that is."

"That's... a fair assessment."

...

"I suppose you have questions. Especially since you should have been told I had enforced the request for your return-"

"And making me the heiress to the throne, yes," She interrupted, then paused once more. "I am... sorry. I should have not jumped in so suddenly."

"No reason to apologize. You sound a bit upset about it, and let me say that the council and I didn't make such request because we wanted to cause you problems, Princess-"

"E-Elena is fine," She mumbled and I smiled.

"Sure thing then, and then I wish for you to address me as Fiall in private."

A nod, and I was off to what I was saying.

"Alas, the matters that forced our hands are tied to some actions taken by your brother."

Elena hummed thoughtfully, looking down to her bunny. "Mother told me that he found love. And that you all... did not approve it."

"I assume she also told you that he found 'love' together with three other boys, also heirs to their families, with a single girl that has seen fit to antagonize and hurt my daughter, your brother's former betrothed."

...

"She did not."

I sighed. "I had a hunch that may have been the case. How about... you ask me questions, and I will do my best to answer those?"

Elena nodded.

"What made the betrothal fall apart?"

"My daughter was accosted by your brother in the cafeteria of the Royal Academy. He tried to first strike her and then accused her of having ruined a dress of his 'beloved'."

Elena leaned back on her chair, frowning at me. "In the open, in public and... with someone stronger than him?"

"I believe he acted under the notion he could use his title to push aside any physical differences between them."

"A foolish idea," Elena assured. "Ranks have rights and duties."

"Correct-"

"And he broke rules by behaving like a fool in public and... trying to attack your daughter. How did she react?"

"A kick between his legs."

For the briefest moment, I saw a ghost of a smile on her face.

"I see... Is your daughter still studying at the Royal Academy?" The girl asked, then paused at my grin. "Hm? She is not?"

"I decided it was best to not involve her any further with the politics of the Academy. The core concept of an academy is to learn, but it is clear that is not the point by the standards of the Royal Academy. As of now, I have fitted her to start her education as an adventurer."

I saw something flash from her eyes at that last bit.

"Adventurer? Oh- you were one in the past, is that right... Fiall?"

Noticing her soft enthusiasm, I smiled and nodded. "That's the case, Elena."

"Is it truly a viable way to learn?" The princess asked.

"I wouldn't say it is something all nobles should consider, but I know my daughter and I have taught her the basic steps to be self-sufficient at this point. Hence why I know she will only be able to improve through this experience."

"...If I may be blunt with this question... do you think I would be better suited as a queen than my brother as a king?"

That was an interesting question. "From this conversation, I know you are not that enthused by the situation, and I will admit that this decision is less about your qualities and more about your brother's behavior and flaws. I can't tell just now if you will be a good queen, not until I have a chance to see more of what you can do and... who you are."

"I am a cursed child. You can already sense that, can't you?" Elena blurted out. "Shouldn't- shouldn't that automatically disqualify me?"

I could truly sense her tainted lifeforce, but her behavior was a sign that it wasn't as worrisome as one would think. No, there was indeed something off with her magic, but it wasn't enough to damage her soul or even influence her personality to any extent.

"Do you wish to destroy this kingdom?"

The sudden question stunned the girl, her mask slipping as she revealed some confusion. "N-No."

"Would you die for Malica if it came down to only you being the sole defensive line between its foes and its innocent folks?"

"Yes!"

This was a determined response, and I chuckled much to her growing confusion.

"W-What is this all about?"

"I can already vouch for you, Elena, that you are on a good path. I am not sure if this will be enough to make you queen, but no- you are not to be disqualified by such a chance. You show good traits that a ruler should have... that your parents are keen to show. So no, I will not lie and say you are unfit. You just need time to learn the basics."

"That's-" Elena paused mid-response. "That's the same things I was told when I started learning how to fight with a sword... is this the same thing?"

"How good are you with a sword?" I asked back, and she offered a thin smile.

"Well enough to know how to kill."

"Then, if you put the same effort, you will be able to command authority with ease. If you wish to then use that to fuel fear or inspire others as their role models, it will be all up to you."

She nodded, clearly pleased by this response.

"I am glad to hear that, Fiall."

Meryall felt her eyes struggling to keep track of her own words as she finished penning the last few lines.

She had been writing a letter to her father for a while now, making sure to get all important bits of the last few days so he wouldn't be shocked by any 'surprises'.

The first of those being that Mery and Skali had done around fifty slime-hunting missions within those few days. Despite the best efforts from the guild, the slimes were a constant issue due to their rapid breeding process. Thus, even though both Skali and Mery had gone on a rampage against the bluish blobs to recover ingredients off their goo, there wasn't a risk for the guild to run out of more missions for beginner adventurers.

This in turn made them stand out to other 'rookies' as they were told they were on a steady path to advance their Adventurer Rank from Copper to Bronze. There were seven ranks in total for Adventurers: Copper, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Legendary.

There are a handful of people that have ever achieved the Legendary Rank in the past, and even her father had failed in gaining it. Not because he was 'weaker', but rather because the title was bestowed to Adventurers that had faced a 'Calamity' and saved the kingdom. It was more of an honorary upper title that was more symbolic than the more practical Diamond Level.

"Still, we gonna make it up there!" Skali had promised to herself and Mery as they were busy with the umpteenth Slime-related extermination.

It was a foolish idea, but Mery had decided she would work hard to get to Diamond to prove her father she was indeed capable. She owed her only living parent this much, so she was hellbent in making sure that she was prepared for the tasks up ahead. They couldn't remain in Andolir for more than a month, so Meryall had a plan: they would get a big bag made by twenty Silver coins, and then they would leave the Beginning Town. At this point, they had succeeded in getting roughly twelve Silver coins, so they were going to get out of there quite soon.

Skali was ecstatic about it, but the dwarf girl was also very nervous on the notion of leaving her hometown. Mery had met her mother, Huvani, and the dwarf woman, despite her no-nonsense attitude about 'sad goodbyes' seemed equally upset at having to see her daughter leave in such a sudden way. Yursatin was fully supportive as this would make his daughter 'as tough as her papa!', something the blonde was sure was a feeling her own father had towards her.

While swordsmanship was her talent, Meryall had always wanted to be as powerful of a magician like her dad, which was why she had taken a book on magic with her before leaving home and she had taken extra steps to buy any good books on spellcraft she could get her hands on during the journey.

Finishing detailing the last few 'brawls' Skali had with the receptionist over the dwarf girl's 'loud and annoying attitude', Meryall folded the paper into the envelope she had prepared by the bedside. She would have it sent home tomorrow before starting their usual questing.

The days here in Andolir were surprisingly tame- Yursatin mentioned that there were colonies of wolves too once, but that those had been forced to migrate deeper in the untouched forest areas north of the city as to prevent troubles between random attacks on merchants and the fur business that came from the limited hunting of this species. So, Andolir just had a constant slime issue and nothing else.

A bit disappointing, but she took all the simplicity that she could get as adventuring wasn't just all about hacking and slashing. No matter how Skali seemed geared into that sort of attitude.

Instead, Meryall was taken off-guard by the need of budgeting for almost... everything. Budgeting money was basic common sense, but she had to also budget their resources like water and food, but also their camping tools as those were not going to be everlasting with how troubling some weather can get at times.

So, the girl found her main concerns lingering on this core concept of 'making a trip around the kingdom'. It wasn't simple on their own, but the guild should be able to supply them with the needed money and the shops with the needed items to make it through without ever worrying about poverty.

That being said, Meryall was actually surprised that she couldn't find much about their next stop - Barendal, the Town of the Wood.

AN

Everyone do be talking about 'Tanya-Expy', but I hit you all with an Arlecchino!Expy. She is functionally headpattable, reliable, and apprentice-makeable. Hence why she will provide the MC with a padawan and... allow him to have a new perspective as new problems arise in regard to Delilah.

As if expelling her would have solved all issues around this huge mess and a half.