Chapter 6: The Flaming General's Fury
Stefan was impressed to see Lene's appearance and gave sarcastic remarks on her group.
"What are you wearing some poor clothes and you were sided with your compatriots? And who's this guy around with you. He maybe handsome like me, but he has lacking of social graces."
"What did you say!?"
"I had some important letter to be given, Stefan. If you excuse us..." Lene said as she and her group enter the city and smirks to see them.
As they enter the city, Seed was angrily mad at Stefan's remarks which Sean was surprised to see him mad.
"Lene, is that the prince of Falena you were about to marry at your arrangement marriage! Who does he think he is!?"
"..."
"Grrr... he's got some nerve to remark us like this! Aren't you accept that he called you something so bad even our clothes we wear?!"
"It's part of the arrangement." Lene said as Seed angrily scolds her.
"That's not the point! He can't treat you something like that!"
"Lady Lene... good heavens you're here. The mayor of Muse wants to see you." Clemont arrives on time as he accompanies Lene and the others to the mayor's office.
Here when they enter the mayor's office, they were met by the current mayor of Muse Daniel Bergman who is the descendant of the Muse Family.
"Welcome to Muse City, your highness. It appears that you resemble your mother Renee Ashitare."
"This is the letter from my father... and he needs an alliance in battling against my half-uncle Doug Ashitare for taking over our kingdom."
"I see..." Daniel said finally accepts the letter and he looked at Seed who became familiar to his appearance. "This guy with you, I feel familiar about him and he's the same people who gives hostility to the country."
"No, mayor... Seed is different." Lene said defending him which he finally tells Seed about the Ashitares.
"Since you were guarding the princess of Silveria. Perhaps, it's about time that I will tell you about her family, the Ashitares. The royal family was established since the end of the second Fire Bringer War and the Holy Kingdom of Harmonia had given the land to the Ashitares that borders between the Dunan Republic and their kingdom which is now named as Silveria. They also named Jenova as the royal capital of Silveria. Despite it was a peaceful kingdom, it cause a disarray between the members of the Ashitare Family that causes a power struggle in whoever sits the throne to become King. Baron Ashitare had witnessed these family conflicts until he passed on to his son Lars as King in order to maintain the kingdom. After Lars' ascension to the throne, Lars himself was the one who witnessed the murder of their father at the hands of his half-brother Doug Ashitare and the royal family conflict had started since."
After learning of what happened to Lene's family, Seed recalls in how Jowy assassinates Anabelle in order to gain Luca Blight's loyalty and trust before they took over Muse as he thought.
So that's explains it, that old fool assassinated the previous King because he was highly jealous over Lene's father who is now crowned as King. Unlike Lord Jowy did to the Mayor of Muse at my time, he did killed her by cold blood and that is why he rejoins us in the Highland Army.
"All right. I accept your father's letter, your highness... I will give you 10,000 men to your cause. Lars was very potential in needing more alliance." Daniel said and he informs her about the conference of the state leaders in Dunan. "Your highness, you were invited at the state leaders conference at Jowston Hill and we need to discuss about this war that your half-uncle have been made."
"Yes..." Lene simply agrees.
After the discussion, they explore the entire town as they watched a butou dance which was played by the same androgynous man they encountered at Toto Village and everyone is dazzling on their dance performance.
"It was a nice performance..." Lene commented on the man's performance.
"This is the first time I've seen these dance performance." Asher replies as Seed walks away.
"Hey! where are you going, red head?!" Sean tried to stop him which he replies.
"You go on ahead and watch that dance. I have to explore this town on my own..."
"That's guy's a total jerk." Sean commented badly on Seed's actions which Asher tells him.
"Don't feel bad about him. This time-displacement man needs some time. Because of his experience at his time, he would think that he was the enemy of the state. Because the fallen Highland Kingdom were responsible in taking over this capital and the country of Muse."
"You mean Seed was involved on the capital's takeover."
"It was already seen in the history books, your highness." Asher said knowing of his faults. "I shouldn't crafted this dimensional portal device and the Rune on your hand. I wouldn't expected that he would cause trouble around in our country."
As Seed explores around the entire city of Muse, he discovers Stefan who is talking to one of the Silverian Army regarding about the arrange marriage between him and Lene as he hides to overhear their conversation.
"Are you saying that we're going to take the princess?"
"She hasn't signed our contract within our arrangement in marriage and I wanted to marry her in order to take over Silveria Kingdom." Stefan said which the latter replies.
"But sir... is it illegal to do this process?"
Stefan slaps the soldier into the ground and berates him.
"Don't say that in front of me. I know the princess is a rich heiress on that kingdom and now I see her in a poor clothes like most of the commoners. I wanted to deal with her, myself .
After hearing of this, Seed realizes about the arrange marriage with Lene is nothing more but a personal gain and angrily clenches his fists as he thought.
What kind of a prince is he! He forces to marry Lene just to get the power to rule. Lene's father is still the King... He doesn't deserve this! I know Lene would never listen to me if I told her about this.
After watching the performance, the androgynous man was amused to see Lene, Sean and Asher.
"This young lady was pretty amusing. My name is Amane and me and my troupe were a travelling dance group. It's nice to become an acquaintance with you."
"Sure, you can stay at Higheast City. I'm glad to join in our group." Lene smiled nicely as Amane noticed something is missing.
"I'm curious... where is the handsome guy around with you? He was a fiery person or something and even disgusts me because of my appearance."
"That was Seed... he's exploring this city for quite a while." Lene said telling him.
That night, they stay at the tavern which was owned by Sasha and alongside with her is Leila. They decided to spend the evening for the tomorrow's Dunan conference.
"Mmm... this is so good. I really missed this stew." Sean smiled as he looked to see Seed is eating any dish. "What are you eating, red head? You tried to clobber some food or something?"
"The tempura is delicious... Nobody cooks this dish at the Highland Kingdom."
"Bretzels, please..." Zefer asks the cook the Bretzels which he knows and Sasha informs them about their cook.
"You boys didn't know that our chef is named Genkai and he was the master chef."
"Wow... really?"
"Lene, it looks like the three of them wants to join at our side." Seed said while looking at her who is eating teriyaki.
"Oh, yes..."
"Oooh... the princess of Silveria was here. I would glad to join at your side and I can't wait to show off my cooking skills to everybody." Genkai said became impressed to Lene's presence.
As everyone falls asleep, Lene goes out to see Daniel until Stefan arrives along with the Silverian Army.
"Stefan... what are you doing and why is the Silverian Army doing here too?"
"I was given these soldiers to escort you and you have to sign the contract to marry me." Stefan sadistically smirks on her.
"I already told you that I need some time, you have no right for me to sign the contract by force. I know my father accepts you because of your potential to marry me. And now when I look at you, you're completely obsessed." Lene said and rejects his advances and Stefan orders the men to seize her.
"The father was so naive to accept me, Lene. I guess it's about time for you to be saved by your commoners and once I marry you, I'll become the King of Silveria Kingdom."
Lene was soon taken away as one of men from Muse immediately goes to the Mayor's office while Sean goes back to the tavern to take wink and noticed something was wrong. At the private room, Daniel finally made up his decision for the Dunan Conference because of the war as Seed arrives to see him.
"So you do know that I was the enemy of the state."
"..."
"...how did you guess that?" Seed said wanted to know from Daniel as he tells him.
"It was a very long time ago. When the previous mayor was assassinated at the hands of a minor who literally works as a spy for the Highland Kingdom and that's why this city was being overrun. But the Dunan Army manage to reclaimed the city once the Highland Kingdom is already fallen. I read everything about this entire history."
"..."
That's right... Lord Jowy did assassinated the mayor of Muse to gain Luca Blight's trust which allow all of us to occupy the entire country by a surprise attack.
"I know... I forgave that young man because we can't imprisoned and executing minors who made their crimes of murder."
"Lord Daniel... the princess of Silveria was taken away by a group of men and it was led by the Prince of Falena."
"Lene!" Seed said calling her name.
"That man is truly delusional." Daniel commented about the situation.
"What do you mean? Delusional? You mean the prince!" Seed said while raising his brow.
"Stefan is the prince from the different Kingdom within the country of Falena. The king of Silveria choose him to marry his daughter within the marriage arrangement because he was potential. I wouldn't expect he would come to get the princess by force."
"Damn that bastard! I have to save Lene!" Seed said angrily clenches his fist upon learning of his actions as Daniel informs him.
"He may act like an upper class society, he was suffering from narcissism. I'd say that he became possessive with the princess."
Seed immediately leaves to rescue Lene due to him being her bodyguard. As he gets out, he met up by Sean who also wants to save Lene.
"Sean... you too."
"Yeah, I saw what he had done to Lene. The truth is, Lene doesn't like that guy and he tries to marry her by force." Sean replied and he looked at Seed which he became a little jealous. "You know what, red head. Lene keeps talking about you when you tried to battle the martial artist in arm wrestling and she keeps saying to me earlier that you were better than that guy."
Seed smiles when he noticed Lene's liking to him and he tells him.
"We have to rescue her and fast! I'm going to put that jackass down!"
Both men noticed the Silverian Army are trying to guard the prison cell which Seed casts his Flowing Rune in a form of mist, allowing Sean to take the soldier down with a Tokkosho.
Inside, both Lene and Stefan are inside the cell which he forces her to sign the contract. Lene refuses to sign when he was trying to hurt her. Suddenly, Seed and Sean faces him.
"What!"
Sean then destroys the lock with his Tokkosho and Lene decided to stay with both.
"You commoners... what are you doing here?"
Seed angrily gets his sword from his sheath and both clashed in a sword fight. In which he knocks Stefan down. Seed looked to see the contract inside the cell and he rips it to pieces, much to the latter shock.
"No! The contract!"
"Lene does not deserve for a man like you. You're a disgrace!" Seed angrily remarks over Stefan which makes him infuriated.
"How dare you!"
Seed then escapes with Lene and Sean who soon followed them. With that, all of the men from Muse are fighting against the Silverian Army which they were given to Stefan by Adelbert.
"It was a surprise attack!" Lene said and she remembers what Seed had told her about she can't marry the person who don't like her very much as she cries. "It's all my father's fault... he shouldn't choose Stefan. I would never expect that he was far too dangerous for me..."
"It's all right, Lene... at least you're safe. one of the Muse guards just alarmed at what happened and I also found Seed who is already done talking to the mayor." Sean said trying to cheer her up as Seed comforts her in a hug.
"I'm right here, Lene... don't worry."
"I made up a surprise attack so that I would marry her and you rip the contract on purpose." Stefan confronts them in a sadistic tone which angers Seed even further.
"I just had enough of you! You jackass!" Seed then casts Fire Rune and unleashing Flaming Arrows at Stefan. Not just to incinerate his enemies, he severely burns Stefan's royal clothes to show off his underwear in humiliation.
"GAHHH!" Stefan then immediately covers himself in shame which causes one of the Silverian Army to cover himself which makes Sean laugh in excitement.
"Haha... Now that leaves him humiliated, that's in-genius."
"Hahaha! That serves him right...!" Seed also laughs at his own strategy which causes Stefan and the rest of the Silverian Army retreated.
The Muse soldiers were relieved to see them in retreat and it was done by the mayor's assistant Clemont who commands them and he looked at Seed who is no longer an enemy in their country.
"The mayor was right, this guy is no longer a threat after all."
The next day, Lene appears in a beautiful sleeveless white dress and her hair is tied in a bun knowing about the invitation of the Dunan Conference and she was met by Asher and Daniel. Sean watches to see them leave for the conference at Jowston Hill and he goes upstairs to see Seed as he mumbles.
"After what happened last night, we rescued Lene from that disgruntled Prince and what I saw from red head, he hugged her comfortably as he tried to comfort her. It was awkward to meet him at first until now... he enjoys it."
When Sean is about to go to his room, Seed was still asleep after the battles that he went through and it was enough to rescue Lene from Stefan.