Fumiko’s Lordship (3) (Revised) – Rising Up Arc (14)

At Fumiko's declaration of Lordship.

Hana and I are the declaration of Lordship that Fumiko has to go through to become Lord of both Welcia and Ikrel. We are at the royal palace again. The first time, we got kicked out. We disguised ourselves using my skills, but I have a bad feeling about this. If King Wieka is in a brainwashed state due to Infrit, I don't know what will happen, I heard rumours that he has a daughter who is not human, but I can't confirm or deny them yet.

"Hey, Hikaru, what are you thinking about?"- Hana started a conversation over the telepathic network.

"Well, we are at the royal palace. It feels like a trap, for me at least." I looked around the room we were in, the royal palace's guest room. Fumiko was against me, sleeping. Fumiko was exhausted; she had prepared the whole night for this.

"Ohhhh, you two must be Fumiko's guards, or so I heard. I am Princess Alma Wieka. " A girl shorter than me presented herself. She wore everything a princess would wear, and she looked beautiful. The rumours are correct, or at least a part of them; I need to see if Alma is human first. She doesn't even look brainwashed, but her appearance is 100% human.

"Sia, analyze her, please."

!It will take some minutes. Discuss with her until then!

"So, princess, why are you here? Why should you bother with a small Lord like Fumiko? I mean, don't you have more important things to attend to? Plus, I have a bad feeling about today, I suggest that you be on your guard; we already are. With the current events, I don't know how you can feel safe, your majesty,"- Hana began speaking to her; Alma was a bit taken aback by her words.

"How do you know something bad will happen?"- She looked a little bit uneasy.

"Well, I have the Legendary skill named Premonition that lets me anticipate a bad event, but the catch is I don't know to whom it will happen and how damaging that event is." Hana is creating a distraction for me. Come on, Sia, analyze faster, please!!!!!!!!!!! I am screaming internally at Sia to move faster. We can't risk anything.

!Analysis complete. The individual Alma Wieka isn't human. She is a crossbreed between an ice demon and a human. Before King Wieka was brainwashed, he made sure to cast a powerful spell to change her presence and appearance. It would be good if the two of you could take her away from here.!

"I do know what you mean Sia. I will do that after Fumiko is declared Lord. We need a lot more things to do if we want to take the King's Daughter."

"Is everything ok? You seem to space out"- Alma is up in Hana's face and smiling.

"Oh, nothing. I was just using Premonition again to see if the feeling was coming again," Hana smiled at her.

"Ok, now I will get going." She was not even halfway through the door when King Wieka appeared.

"What are you doing here? I told you to stay in your room!! It's too dangerous for you to be here. Monsters might lurk even in our ranks."- King Wieka, looking dazed and more like a zombie, tried to grab Alma by her shoulders, but I redirected his hand. I can't believe that a person like him became like this, that goddess will pay; this man loved this world so much that he was willing to sacrifice his own life for it. I need to do something about this soon.

"What the hell was that sharp pain in my arm just now?"- He looked around the room, his head moving slowly, still under the control of Ifrit

"It may be from old age if I may suggest Your Highness"- I bowed down to the king with my face down.

"Well, maybe you are right, kid. You, just go to your room!"- King Wieka left. Good, our disguise hasn't been blown out

!King Wieka, in his current state, doesn't like his daughter. Despite having the Legendary skill of Lust and being able to charm anyone, he managed to get married to an Ice Demon Woman who was Alma's mother. She was later executed by Goddess Ifrit a few years before the two of you arrived here. King Wieka was destroyed; he was a follower of Ifrit but didn't believe in her ideal of eradicating monsters; after his wife's death, he swore not to let this happen to anyone else. In his current state, it is suggested that you let me interfere and let me find a piece of him that is still clear-minded that you two can talk to. I will inform you when this is possible to do!

Fumiko woke up from her sleep and looked at a wooden clock on the wall. After a few seconds, she spoke.

"Guys, my ceremony is about to begin. Thanks for keeping me safe you 2"- Fumiko patted the 2 of us on the back.

"Fumiko, I have one request from you. If the king wants you to choose a retainer to do your job for you choose Princess Alma, I will explain everything later"- Fumiko looked at me confused.

"Ok, will try my best. I might have an idea of what you are talking about"

The ceremony:

Everyone is gathered in the ballroom of the castle. All the nobles of the kingdom are gathered there. I can hear whispers among them.

"What a lucky brat. Just because those 2 were idiots and killed each other now that little wench is having it all for herself."- One of the nobles closest to me commented.

"The death of Rei seems fishy to me. He was an accomplice, but why did he hang himself? It looked like someone set him up. Maybe it was that little bitch"- Now, I have another target to eliminate. A noble with silver hair dressed in a red cloak

"What is up with those 2 guards? They seem powerful, more powerful than us. Don't you think that will be a problem?"- Another noble commented.

"Everyone quiet down!"- King Wieka commanded in a slow voice. Everyone in that room is under Ifrit's control.

"We are gathered here now to declare a new Lord of the land in Welcia and Ikrel. We all know the tragedy that happened a week ago. It may be rushed but we need someone to lead over both lands. I, King Wieka, I declare Fumiko Welcia Lord over the lands of Welcia and Ikrel. That patch of land will be known as the united lands of Welcia and Ikrel."

"Thank you, my king"- Fumiko kneeled. The 2 of us are on our guard.

"Why aren't the 2 guards kneeling!"- A noble shouted at us.

"Hmmmm?"- King Wieka looked at us.

"We are sorry but we are on duty, can't kneel, it will be harder to draw my sword and fight any threats that may befall your majesty or Lady Fumiko. Our duty is to protect Fumiko, so if we kneel and get attacked we will be easy pickings for the attackers"- Hana was the first to talk, and I couldn't think what to say.

"That makes sense. Everyone, the guards stay up and guard. From now on don't kneel on duty, even in front of me. I want maximum security here"- The other guards got up and remained vigilant. It seems like the brainwashed King Wieka is easier to manipulate

"Is there any request that you have of me? I am willing to give almost anything"- King Wieka is standing near the stairs that lead to his throne.

"Well, I want a retainer that has no malice towards me. Someone from the nobility will be a mistake to ask for. If I may ask for your daughter to be my retainer. I can teach her everything about etiquette and make her a woman in the true sense of the word; you will be a proud father after that. I will make sure she receives all the training she needs. I beg you, Your Majesty"-There was a stir in the crowd, and King Wieka thought for a bit.

"Well, if you can transform her then yes. Make her a candidate for marriage, and maybe then the prince of a neighboring country will want to marry her. Yes, that's an excellent idea. I will raise your rank, you directly helping the kingdom with this. And make sure to pay those guards well. They seem pretty strong. And you 2, protect your lady at all cost"-

"My king, think again. Your daughter, why give her away like this?"- A familiar figure spoke from the crowd; it was Lord Garoda, the person we met when we first arrived here.

"It's the best option I have, we have to prepare for the war with the herectics that threaten Ifrit's word and scripture!"

!Now, it's time!

From what I can see, the scene around us changes; we are in some sort of mental space.

In the middle of a dark room, I can see a chained and sleeping King Wieka.

We got closer and did everything to break the chains.

After the chains were broken, King Wieka woke up.

"I didn't expect you two to find this place. I will let you know. You have 5 minutes. The chains breaking is just temporary. Thank you for saving my daughter and taking care of my request. I know I put a lot of hardships onto the two of you, but I am powerless to do anything myself." King Wieka gave us a warm smile as if we were part of his family.

"We will make sure that we will get rid of Ifrit, trust us on this. We will make sure that your sacrifice won't be in vein" – Hana spoke to King Wieka as fast as she could

"I have one more request. Ensure that Lord Garoda doesn't make it past a few more months. He is a devoted Ifrit follower. Make sure to eliminate him as well. He is a threat to everyone and everything we hold dear," King Wieka said before he collapsed in the room. Everything began to collapse, and we were back in the castle ballroom.

King Wieka clapped his hands and tried to return to the throne. Lord Garoda wanted to follow him, so I decided to trip him with my shadow Tendril. He fell, hitting his jaw on the wooden part of the stairs to the throne. Some of the nobles laughed. This happened when we exited from the throne room.

We need to make sure that this world doesn't fall into the wrong hands.