LOUSY OLD MAN

OUT OF BREATHE. That's what I observe about her. The sword she's holding might be heavy enough for her. That's why she's using powerful amount of force, making her hands to lift the sword in a forceful motion.

She's observing a hole to strike my vitals. The neck, chest, and stomach. She's paying attention to those areas. The rage she wanted to ease, the sufferings she wants to avenge, and the respect she wanted to earn. Those are her MOTIVATION to win against me.

'Shall I go easy on her?' That's exactly what I asked to myself as she appeared to be tired of striking while I continued to go for defense.

"Enough with the play Princess!" Guessing how much I gain calluses to my training when I was in the palace, does she think she could beat me with her current level?

Her techniques are average for me. But perhaps better than the obnoxious general. As she raised her sword, I swiftly slid to my left as she fell into the ground.

She halts for a while as I can feel the anger on those clenched fists. I pointed out my sword at her neck as she wanted to stand up.

"How can they respect you if you lose to a Princess who has never fought a battle?" I turn to face the general, who is now sweating profusely.

"And how could you lose a fight against your junior when she's just a beginner? Does it mean that I'm the strongest among you all? You're all a failure in this KINGDOM. ALL OF YOU. YOU ARE ALL FIRED FROM BEING A KNIGHT EXCEPT FOR VIEN." My voice must be too loud for them to hear. They aren't deaf enough to turn a silent ear.

"OR THOSE KNIGHTS WHO ARE STRONG ENOUGH, COME FORWARD AND WIELD YOUR SWORD. I WILL BE THE ONE WHO WILL DECIDE ON WHO WILL PASS ON THE TEST. I DON'T NEED A MAN WITH JUST ABS AND MUSCLES; I NEED A FIGHTER THAT HAS THE WILL TO DIE FOR THIS KINGDOM!"

The knights are one of the kingdom's cards. Where the palace is determined by a game of chess.

In other words, you'll be respected by commoners if you became a knight in the palace. "What's with all of this ruckus, Helvetica?!"

Father looks at the bench where my maid is sleeping. He was about to wake her up, but I stop him as I laid my sword on his shoulders. "I know no boundaries, father. Touch her and I'll make sure you'll be crumpled." How can I not be scared of dying? You asked?

It's because all people in the palace, favors me. While Lithia is just the image of the family. Father is a complete moron for placing too much faith in me. Well, he made the right choice.

"I know why you ordered the knights to guard the palace, father. You're too childish and scheming for an old man." Mother, who looks at his husband, just watched him as he was stunned in his position.

I'm glad that his daughter is not here or she might get dramatic and cry in front of me with her stupid shits.

"Do you actually dispatch the knights to guard the palace? Or are you simply keeping an eye on my maid and my room?" He turns his back slowly as I can see the fear in his eyes.

"How dare you slander me—"

"I'm not slandering you, father. I know your plan." He's not scared to die. He's scared of dying in my hands.

Serina opens her eyes slowly as she stretches her arms. "I'm curious as to why your daughter Lithia can sleep soundly and mother doesn't complain about the knights. She looks more confused as I mentioned their footsteps a little while ago."

"Your outside is ugly and so is your inside, father. YOU'RE PLANNING TO KILL MY MAID AND KILL ME AFTER and made it seem that you're innocent."

"The one you sent was going to kill my maid. But I witnessed his death."

"Do you know how?"

"Because I killed him myself." He fell into the ground as soon as I gave him a glare. I heard him a little while ago. He said he was going to attend a meeting. But I wonder why he's here.

It may be to look for the knights who were guarding the palace yesterday. He will asked for what happened last night. "You should've just lair the killer into my room instead." To think that he would involve my maid in his scheme.

What a lousy old man.

Serina's eyes were filled with fear as she stared at us. My eyes, on the other hand, beseech her not to cause any problems for me as I'm not yet finished.

"Now choose between death and life father. Point out those knights." I can see the doubt in his eyes. But he wouldn't choose to die as I will be the Empress in no time.

He wouldn't want that. Well, I used to be his favorite. Until I grew up, disobeying him. Maybe he never wants to kill me, but only scare me enough to make me behave.

Unfortunately, I'm not Lithia.

"THEM." He pointed out many knights as they all beg in their knees, asking for my forgiveness.

"I am not my sister. Chop their heads in front of the citizens tomorrow. SPREAD THE WORDS! THIS IS WHAT THEY'LL GET IF THEY DARE TO HURT ME!"

"THIS IS AN ORDER FROM YOUR PRINCESS!"

"ANYONE WHO WILL DARE TO DISOBEY ME, WILL DIE." I look at the General as he was a part of my father's scheme. "I don't need muscles in the palace. Kill him."

I return my gaze to my father, as he was just frozen in the ground. Maybe he lost a few screws already. "Look at you, being a model of soil. You're supposed to rule this Kingdom and not to scheme a lousy gameplay." I grin as I want him to know that I FEAR NO ONE.

"This would teach you a lesson, father. I am not a joke. I will not go easy on you, Your Majesty. It'll be the end of your daughter's life the next time you try to kill me." Kill the annoying and kill the asshole later on. Makes my mother's life and mine much easier.

"You're a monster." But I just laugh as it's really funny that he addresses me as a monster.

"No father. I AM A VILLAIN. And the next time you tried to kill my maid, It'll be the end of your life." I'd sooner see him drenched in blood in a bathtub than lose a devoted subject.

He's just a jerk. Trying to escape into my arms. And that's maybe, because my existence was a threat to the Kingdom.

EMPRESS HELVETICA. Hmm~ lame. Emperor suited well. If I could just kill him right now, I would be happy.