"Hmph, at least someone has the decency to welcome me. Move, sister; I wish to sit in that seat." Said Marley arrogantly as she tried forcing Sarah out of her seat.
"T-There is an open seat right there, sister. Can't you sit there instead?" Said Sarah rather meekly while pointing to a seat near Alf.
"Are you talking back to me? Do you think just because we are out in public, I won't punish you, Sarah? Move before I get angry!" Replied Marley with her usual arrogance and a hint of anger.
"Sarah, it's fine; let Marley sit there. You can sit next to me." Said Elif with a light smile as the manager quickly moved one of the thrones next to Elif before returning to his spot near the door.
"T-Thanks, your highness." Muttered Sarah, blushing from how close the seats were, though no one could see her expression since her head was down.
From Marley's reaction, I could tell she was slightly angry at my actions, but she didn't say anything and just sat down while propping her legs atop the table arrogantly, eliciting anger from pretty much everyone.
"So, what were you guys talking about before I arrived?" Asked Marley while ignoring the stares from everyone.
"First, how about fixing your etiquette and showing proper respect; you're dining with the Crown Prince and Princess." Stated Maga with slight hostility, though he was promptly ignored.
"I'll sit how I want to, and you can't force me to do anything, Maga, unless you're stronger than me. Besides, since Prince Elif and Princess Elaine haven't said anything, then I'm doing nothing wrong." Retorted Marley as she arrogantly looked at Maga before looking directly at Elif.
"No need to get so worked up, Maga; it's fine. Now, does someone wish to explain to her about the 'System' artifact, as I don't wish to explain it for a fourth time?" Said Elif as he patted Elaine's head to keep her quiet and content while speaking.
While they explained the system concept to Marley, Elaine and I had our own little conversation.
'Brother, why are you being so nice to Marley? Didn't you see how she treated Sarah?' Asked Elaine via divine sense while confused and angry at Elif's actions.
'Yes, of course, I did, and technically speaking, I'm not being nice; this is how I always act.' Replied Elif via divine sense while also rubbing Elaine's head, much to her satisfaction.
'Hmph, that's not what I mean, brother, and you know it.' Said Elaine via divine sense while pouting, though with Elif rubbing her head, that didn't last long.
'Haha, I know. With how unhappy Marley has made you in the past, of course, I'd punish her; I can't have the person who ruined my favorite little sister's fun not be punished; what kind of brother would I be if I didn't at least do that much?' Said Elif via divine sense while smiling.
'What do you mean by favorite little sister? I'm your only little sister, brother.' Said Elaine via divine sense as she pouted again, causing Elif to release an audible chuckle.
"Did you say something, Prince Elif?" Asked Felecia, having heard Elif's chuckle.
"No, I did not. So have you finished Explaining everything to Marley?" Asked Elif, focusing his attention back on reality.
"Yes, I've finished explaining the details to Marley." Said Osborn.
"Haha, no wonder I heard so much excitement leaking out of the room. You guys must've been fantasizing about gaining the power of that artifact; it only makes sense, considering how weak you guys are. Maybe if you acquired the artifact, you'd finally be able to defeat me in battle." Exclaimed Marley while mocking every one of the nobles, angering them once again.
"You make it seem like you're much stronger than us, Marley when in reality, you're not." Said Alf with a frown as she set down her utensils and eyed Marley.
"Do you think you're stronger than me, Alf!? Aren't you still just an early Divine?" Declared Marley arrogantly as she stared at Alf while revealing her middle Divine cultivation base.
"I may be just an early Divine, but that doesn't mean I'm scared of you, Marley!" Said Alf aggressively as she stood up, also revealing her cultivation base, though it was weaker than Marley's.
"You two, show some respect; you're before the Crown Prince and Princess!" Declared Kare angrily as she looked at them both, though she was mainly eyeing Marley.
"How about you mind your own business, Kare? I don't take orders from weaklings like you, so sit down and stay quiet, stupid whore!" Said Marley with an arrogant smile, successfully enraging Kare, Starlet, and Felecia with her comment.
"How about you calm down before things get out of hand, Marley? I'm sure you don't want to do something you'll regret later." Said Osborn as he and Maga stood up while eyeing Marley.
"To think you guys were so scared of me that all six of you would stand together against me! But I don't care; It doesn't matter how many of you weaklings there are, you still won't be able to beat me!" Declared Marley with an arrogant smile as her aura collided against the six of theirs, destroying the furniture while the building violently shook.
"Umm, are you sure it's okay to let them fight, your highness?" Asked Sarah while looking at the battle that was about to happen.
"Hmm, yeah, it should be fine. Besides, I'm sure watching the seven of them fight will be quite entertaining." Answered Elif with a slight smile while watching the battle that suddenly erupted.
With the power those seven were utilizing, if I hadn't surrounded the three of us in a protective barrier, Sarah and Elaine would've been sent flying out the glass wall behind us, which is no longer there now. It also didn't take long for the ceiling to be destroyed, allowing everyone near the Elven Cuisine Pagoda to witness the battle that was happening above the Pagoda.
"Your Highnesses, are you ok!?" Exclaimed Mandy worriedly as she and the guards instantly arrived near Elif once the roof was destroyed.
"Yes, we are safe. Also, there is no need to interrupt the battle above; just sit back and watch." Said Elif, smiling as he and Elaine snacked on lightning cherries.
As the intensity of the battle escalated, royal guards that wandered the streets of Yggdrasil to keep the city peaceful arrived and almost interfered with the fight; however, Mandy intercepted them first. The intensity of the battle up above got to the point where they even started indiscriminately radiating their killing intent, making it look like it was a battle to the death.
"I knew Marley wasn't well-liked among the nobles, but to think she was so loathed that they would even kill her, though I can't blame them; she is very irritating." Commented Elif with a chuckle as he and several other newly arrived royal guards watched the battle.
"Brother, their movements are too fast for me to follow; can you tell me what's happening?" Asked Elaine as she strained her senses just to follow the blurs they made in the sky from how fast they moved.
"Could you tell me too, please?" Asked Sarah
"Well, the battle is currently in a deadlock, and neither side can overwhelm the other. However, if the battle continues like this, I can't tell you who will win; both sides have advantages and disadvantages." Said Elif while watching the battle unfold with interest.
"Both sides are evenly matched? Isn't it one versus six? They should be winning, or at least they should have the upper hand. It looks like Marley was right about them being weaklings." Stated Elaine in shock and confusion before releasing a disappointed sigh.
"Yes, it is one versus six, but you must understand who is currently involved in the battle, and I know you can't properly witness the fight; however, even though one side has six people, they don't have good synergy, which in turn gives Marley just enough breathing room to face all six of them. Coupled with them all being weaker than Marley, it only makes sense they don't have the upper hand in the fight." Explained Elif with an amused smile before noticing Illumia approach them.
"Hmm, yes, Illumia?" Questioned Elif, taking his attention off the battle.
"Their Majesties have informed me to tell you to stop interfering with the Royal Guards and allow them to quell the battle as the aftershock of their attacks is starting to cause mass panic among the citizens." Said Illumia, relaying Maria's and Marcus's orders to Elif.
"Tch should've ordered to have their fighting isolated, and it was just starting to get good as well. Alright, stay here, Elaine; I will interfere with the battle." Said Elif, feeling slightly annoyed at the lack of foresight.
Once Elaine was sitting back on her throne, I stood up before vanishing from the spot and appearing high in the sky, right in the midst of the battle.
"Haha, Prince Elif, did you wish to join them in fighting me too? I wouldn't mind if you participated in the battle, but I don't think you're strong enough yet; you should wait until you've become a Divine." Stated Marley with a great deal of arrogance as she indirectly mocked Elif.
"That is not how you speak to Royalty, Marley!" Said Osborn while attacking her.
"Then how about you force me to speak politely!" Replied Marley as she destroyed the attack with one of her own.
"Ahh, it's fine, Osborn. She's right, after all; if I weren't a Divine, It would be quite dangerous for me to interfere with this fight." Said Elif with a slight smile as he finally stopped concealing his cultivation base, shocking the seven spectators.
"Now then, Mother and Father have told me to stop this fight, so kneel." Ordered Elif with authority as he pressured all seven of them to the ground, forcing every one of them to their knees.