Guarding

The room is well under control when my father returns. He looks pissed off. "Can't believe Odin decided to do that."

"He was helpful."

"If he wasn't, why did I let him stay for years? I knew about the true love mark since you were six." The king scans the place. "Still haven't handled the body?"

"We're guarding it."

"They won't think you'll be easy to get one over on." Father rubs his head. "Can't believe we were such close friends and they only used it to commit treason."

"Regret using your influence?" I didn't suggest Priscilla or Ryan should keep their titles. If they prove themselves with the trial, they can't have Telligence back. "Do not look upon Ryan and Priscilla and think the same."

"I'm sorry I didn't give you a kind childhood." The king pulls me in for a hug. I wasn't expecting it.

"I'm fine." I break free of him. "We're guarding the dead body. Will we use it during the trial or will it be given burial?"

Father looks at the body. "To save it so we can make it answers certain questions..." He shakes his head. "No. We'll bury it. There's enough as you said. I refused to fully believe what they said about him when I was younger. And it's been a decade since anything seemed off."

"Traitors don't just become upstanding citizens." I grin at him. "They were waiting for the perfect moment." And they probably were going to use Ryan to access me. "I believe in Ryan enough. And I find it doubtful Priscilla will need special treatment."

Father focuses on me. "Please be more open to friendships."

"How? Why didn't Jessica visit me at the castle more?" I ask him. He doesn't answer. "Why was not inaccessible to the bulk of the nobles?"

"It's complicated."

"You didn't know who kidnapped me only that had to be a noble leading things. Why not assume it was Telligence?"

Father looks away. "Please assume the best of people before you assume the worst."

I sigh glancing to Jessica. She isn't interjecting. She's not royal even if she technically is. "In all honesty, I don't. I give people enough rope to hang themselves. That's it."

"Why do you know such idioms?" Father pulls me in for a hug again.

Jessica taps his arm to break us free. "We are guarding. Can you gain the correct team to help with this clean up?"

"You're right." Father looks at the body and sighs. "I thought we were friends."

"Have confidence, Your Majesty." Jessica salutes. The king nods and walks off. He'll handle things. We're on guard. "We'll need to boost his self worth so he doesn't pass down titles earlier."

I shiver at the idea. "I wasn't planning to join the knighthood until eighteen. For several reasons. But mostly I was holding off on being called an adult. It's not that I wouldn't step up if things turn for the worse, but I would rather watch my father act the proper king for another decade at least."

"Lord Odin was a huge piece to keep the castle safe."

"Yes."

"I can understand why the king never fought them before as well as why he signed that contract now. Odin is needed."

"Mom and Odin will keep their relationship secret if they have one at all. I wonder if I can help my parents have a romance again. It wasn't an arranged marriage like us."

"You know why ours was set up."

"All relationships require work. The true love mark only suggests things would be easier, not that everything will be perfect." I think it over watching the room as a whole. "And I wonder if it truly is true love. Maybe it's just the magics of the two are so in sync that it can act seemingly."

"Don't question the magic. It's a piece of the land here."

I glance at her. My true love. I'm not sure how to handle it. Having the knowledge helps though. Curses are best handled with a true love's kiss. I sigh. "Did you kiss me before? When I was unconscious?"

She fidgets looking away.

I rub my head. "I wonder if I lost any of my blessings from it."

Jessica doesn't look at me. It's not like we're in a real relationship. We know about our connection, but it doesn't just happen magically. "I won't kiss you again."

I chuckle hiding my mouth from anyone seeing. "If it was possible, it would've happened already."

"Then I won't kiss you because you're just not my type." Her face is flushed while saying the words.

I tug her head to face me. "Now, now, that sounds impossible."

She looks at me dead on now, her strength is there. "You murdered a head of house because you assumed certain things. I need to be wary of you. You seem more villain than future hero."

I flinch. She has a point. I release her and sigh. "Alright. That is true. Sorry. I look upon humans the same way I see all humanoids. We are just another monster in this world. I am another monster. We are in not capable of the kindness you find in certain animals. We are vicious creatures capable of monstrous actions. It is hard for me to deem humans as deserving just because they are my people."

"So... My job is to make you have humanity?"

I shake my head. "You have no real job. Not in reference to me. I told my father the truth. I look upon others with a questionable view. What they do with the allowance suggests if I should grow closer or keep up blocks." I think of those I have allowed in. "Do you trust Lucas?"

Jessica murmurs. She shakes her head. "He is hiding something. I can't say what, but I wouldn't say he is a real threat. I just won't trust him."

"Right. He's two face in some way, but I can't say how. When I find out which group he connects to, I'll be able to lean into him as a spy, but I must judge carefully."

Jessica moves to stare down at the corpse. I did that. "Your kill count is thousands. You started that count at four. Which I'm happy you did given you were the only one on your side during that battle."

"The blessing that blocks my full mana access gives me the allowance for the magic to be used. But it doesn't listen. I would've rather they were given a thousand year sleep." I sigh. "Instead it teleported their own weapons into their hearts." It was gruesome. "But it was also a warning to me. Everyone there had a weapon. The spell would've left a weaponless person alive."

"Assuming they weren't a threat."

I nod. "No one lived."

"And you did die."

I nod again. They had done so much damage to me on purpose that I died after my spell finished. But the resurrection blessing given to noble children acted up. I returned to life. They didn't. "Lord Telligence..." I look at the corpse lying there. "He didn't resurrect."

"He did not."

I sigh. He faced death before then. "Your only goal as crown princess is to live to reach queen. Got it?" I turn back to focusing on the room instead of the body.

"Okay. I got it. Live has always been a desire of mine."

"Consider it my desire for you as well. We'll figure out everything else another time."

"Yes, Thomas." Jessica is someone I do trust. That's a small group.

And it's something for her to say I'm not exactly who she wants at her side. She doesn't want a villain as a husband. I can't blame her. But I won't put the weight on her shoulders to stop me. I need to figure out how to be someone who people see as a hero. I'll figure it out.