On the trial of the prince

Erika waited until next day to initiate the trials. All this time the prince and Weilding were confined inside the prince's room.

Soon Paul and his father were brought in as well to join them.

Eugen complained about having trouble taking care of not only the wounded from the Wehrmacht, but also the enemy.

He exhausted his magic and was very tired himself. So he asked Erika to bring Maruschka here as well.

Erika swiftly called the OKW and asked them to send her as fast as possible.

When informed, Maruschka leapt in joy. She was excited to see Erika and her.

But when she heard that she'd be flown in, she was a little afraid. She has never flown before after all.

Stiegler concocted a plan to solve this problem: to tow Maruschka in a glider with two other gliders.

Accordingly, two gliders were placed on the ballistas while a third one was attached to them with two cords.

A pilot explained Maruschka how to control the thing. She was in her Wehrmacht uniform and was not issued a flight suit.

"You don't have to do anything. Stay still and let the other two gliders take you to the capital." 

Maruschka listened to him attentively. Afraid she'd miss any important information.

"Once you are in the capital, push the handle in front of you down and you'll land. However, don't push too much or you'll die." He said.

"Remember to keep the glider levelled with the ground." He said.

The pilot gestured his hands to show the glider and the ground and the position she needed to remain.

"Understood, I'll try my best." Maruschka said.

She got into the glider and closed the door. Soon the gliders in front of her were launched.

These two pulled Maruschka's one as well. In the glider she felt excited and nervous.

This was her first time flying and she looked at the clouds and birds flying beside her.

"Wow, the sky is so beautiful! I would have never seen it if it weren't for my lady Erika." She screamed inside her glider.

After just two hours of flight she reached the capital. Over the skies of the city, her tow gliders release the cables.

Now she pushed the handle in front of her and landed in the palace safely.

But she vomited after getting out of the aircraft.

"Eww the landing was too hard! How does lady Erika handle this thing." She cried.

The Wehrmacht soldiers nearby, laughed. One brought her a bowl of water to wash her face.

"Kommandant Erika is waiting for you inside the palace." He spoke.

Maruschka gargled her mouth and washed her face.

"Thank you very much for the help." She said to the soldier.

Once inside the palace Maruschka was led to the throne room by the troops on duty.

There were some senior officers along with many soldiers inside the room. The officers were sitting in the chairs that were used by the ministers.

The soldiers on the other hand were standing guard throughout the room.

As soon as she saw Erika sitting in the throne beside Bauer, she did her antic again.

She rushed to Erika and held her tightly. She also settled her head inside Erika's bosom.

Everyone who was present there blushed and turned their head away, Bauer laughed at the scene while Erika felt awkward.

Even as Erika tried to push her away, she refused to let go.

"I am not going anywhere until I have refilled with lady Erika's scent and sweetness." She said without letting go.

"Listen Maruschka I have work for you. You have to help Eugen to treat the wounded soldiers or else many will die." Erika explained to her.

Erika's face was pink and she was feeling very shy especially in front of all the soldiers present there.

"Fine, but I'll come back after finishing the task." Maruschka said as she let go of Erika.

She went outside along with Eugen. And got busy with healing the injured men that were wailing from pain.

Soon the royal family healer was brought in. He was shocked to see that in the throne an unfamiliar girl was sitting instead of the prince.

"Do you know what happened to the king?" Erika asked him.

The previous blush and awkwardness in her face was removed with a stern and cold look.

All those who saw the previous scene wondered about the contrast of the both side of their leader.

"Umm, who might you be? And why are you sitting in the throne?" The old man asked.

"Don't ask unnecessary questions and answer honestly. Do you or do you not know about the king's condition?" Erika stopped him.

Afraid of what might happen if he lied, the healer told her the truth.

"Go wake him up at once. And bring him here. Now we must end this farce." Erika ordered him coldly.

The healer walked as fast as he could to the king's chambers. All throughout the place, he saw soldiers in similar clothing as the girl before.

The only contrast was that these men had a weird shaped metal pot in their heads instead of the cap that Erika wore.

He dared not to talk to them and just silently entered the king's room.

Meanwhile, Theodore, Weilding, Paul and his father were all brought inside the throne room. All of them were restrained by Erika's troops.

"Well, seems like my dear fiancée and his friends are all here." Erika said looking at the people brought in.

"Now the only people absent are my future in laws." She said bluntly.

Theodore was horrified to hear this. He has already failed in all his ambitions and what's more, he had even poisoned him.

Now having to face his father Theodore turned pale.

All those liveliness he got back at night was lost, first thing in the morning.

Soon, supported by the queen, the middle aged king appeared in the throne room.

"Oh, welcome my future father in law. I see you are in a not so good shape." Erika mocked looking at him.

All those days of being in sleep has not only cost him his kingdom but also his health.

His hands and legs were stiff and he was having trouble walking properly.

"What kind of monster are you?! You are mocking a sick old man who is not well." The queen retorted.

"The kind your husband and son created mother in law." Erika replied coldly.

"I don't think you are in a condition to scold me, since now you'll be the ones to be put on trial." She said.

"Sit my father in law in one of the chairs." She added.

"Why would he sit in any chair, his rightful seat is the throne. How dare you sitting there?! And don't call us your in laws." The queen replied in anger.

"Haven't you learn to respect elders?!" She said.

"Oh, you should say that to your son here. He poisoned his own father, forcefully conscripted people for war, forged evidences against me and my family." Erika said.

"Oh, not to mention harming my and my friend's father and withholding all the charity works of the kingdom for war preparations." She laid out.

"He also waged war against my duchy with other nobles." She added

"WAR! T-t-theodore, what is she talking about?!" The queen asked her son.

She now noticed that her son was restrained and was closely guarded by some people in grey clothings.

Theodore was trembling in fear and couldn't speak anything. He averted his mother's gaze and looked at the mosaic floor of the throne room.

"Come on dear, why don't you answer what mother in law just asked." Erika mocked him.

"Weren't you boldly condemning me during the ball at the academy. You showed such integrity and devotion then, why are you silent now." She mocked again.

"Oh, no worries I have all the time in the world. So say things slowly my dear."

"Grrr.... you witch." Theodore mumbled gathering some strength.

"Tsk, tsk, you shouldn't hold such grudges dear. You're not in a position to." Erika shook her head.

His friends Paul and Weilding were listening to what the other parties were saying. Erika looked at them.

"Weren't you guys accomplices as well?" She said.

None of them answered. They felt guilt. Both Weilding and Paul were having the thought.

"If I knew this would happen, I'd have never helped the prince."

Even Weildings anger and rage was gone after the long night. He accepted his helpless situation.

Looking at them staying silent, Erika spoke again.

"Anyways, since none of you are speaking, I think we should end our little trial here." Erika stood up from the throne and said.

"I won't be making any change in any position. My dear prince Theodore will remain as the prince to rule the country, while the king and queen will come with me."

"Huh, What does that mean?!" The queen asked.

Everyone in the room was surprised.

Even Erika's soldiers thought that the prince at least would be severely punished for leaving the kingdom in chaos.

"Exactly what I said. Basically mother and father-in-law will be my hostage and my dear future husband will rule as a puppet monarch." She explained.

"But wouldn't that just allow prince Theodore to take up arms against you again?!" Asked Bauer.

"Oh, don't worry, if he does that I won't be able to ensure the safety of my in-laws." She warned coldly.

"But didn't he poison his father? What makes you think he won't just ignore any threat to them?" Bauer said again.

"About that, I think a little remainder from the Luftwaffe that who's actually in charge of things might just do the trick." She smiled.

Looking at the pale and trembling prince she said,

"My dear you do know about the Luftwaffe right? The giant birds that destroyed your armies twice and also got your father-in-law out?" 

Theodore shrunk in fear, he had speculated that these giant birds were actually working for Erika. 

However, having those speculations confirmed set more fear in him.

"So even if you try to hide inside the palace or under the ground, my troops will find you and kill you." She threatened with a stern face.

"So my dear, please don't do anything too reckless." She said with a slight smile.

"As for how you rule, your first job would be to stabilize the kingdom and bring peace to the people." She ordered.

"Rest I shall tell you through letters. For now I have been outside for too long and must return home." Saying so, she left along with Bauer.

Some soldiers escorted the king and queen with her, outside the palace where a carriage was ready to take Erika and the others home.

On the way they picked up Maruschka. Her magic was very powerful and she was able to heal everyone in a very short time.

"That's the heroine of an otome game for you." Erika thought to herself.

Inside the carriage, Maruschka held Erika tightly to the embarrassment of Erika, Bauer, the queen and the weak king as well.

Though Erika tried to push her over, she refused to let go and Erika had no other option but to accept it.