A Change of Plans and a Dangerous Warningl

"You can either meet my demands or a Rebellion will tear apart this entire nation!"

Utsumi immediately frowned before glancing at Shayde with a look of confusion plastering her expression.

'A Rebellion? Is that why everyone was being so hostile toward Shayde?'

Before Utsumi could dwell on that thought, Shayde tapped Utsumi on the shoulder.

"Utsumi, can you wait here? I'm going to have to speak with that person… okay?"

Shayde paused for a moment to gather herself before finishing. Utsumi was pretty good at reading other's expressions, so she was very capable of seeing the fear in her eyes. Utsumi clenched her palms into fists as she watched Shayde walk into the room where the voice was coming from.

'What is she trying so hard to hide from me? Wait here? When you're that scared!'

Utsumi wanted to start following Shayde, but when she took a step forward, she remembered a conversation she had with Shayde two days prior.

'That's right… I told Shayde it would be bothersome to get wrapped up in politics because of my power. That's why she did so much to help me hide it…'

As Utsumi watched her walk to the massive door where the voices joined in conversation, before entering, she looked back at Utsumi with a slight smile before opening and closing the door behind her.

Utsumi was left speechless as she watched multiple guards follow in behind her and afterward, a strange glowing symbol was cast onto the massive black door. After the symbol disappeared, Utsumi was no longer able to hear any voices coming from the room, adding more to her shock.

'Is she trying to purposefully keep me in the dark?! Was that symbol so kind of magic?'

"Shayde… why are you going so far for me?"

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After Shayde walked into the throne room, she was greeted by the sight of a burly black-haired Dragon-kin standing before her two parents, who were seated beside each other on two golden thrones.

The long silver-haired Ice Dragon Glissia le Dragovia frowned as she looked upon the Dragon-kin standing before her. Suddenly, as she noticed Shayde's entrance, her gray eyes flickered with worry and she quickly looked at the Dragon sitting beside her.

The Shadow Dragon Oxius le Dragovia sat aside Glissia and quickly made eye contact with Shayde as she walked down the red carpet accompanied by several Dragovian Knights.

The burly black-haired Dragon-kin quickly noticed that both the King and Queen's gaze had shifted behind him, and he quickly smirked upon watching Shayde walk toward him.

"Shayde, your entrance is a bit late. How was your trip to the southern forest? I heard the Oracle sent you there, but obviously you didn't end up finding anything since you still have no choice but to listen to our demands."

The man finished with a fit of laughter as Shayde walked to her mother's and father's side. Glissia had worried about Shayde going to the southern forest alone, but since the oracle itself instructed her to, she realized it must've been fine.

"Mother Father, the Oracle didn't give anything to me."

It pained Shayde to lie, but she wasn't willing to bring her dear friend into this conflict after she had expressed displeasure with it previously. Shayde was well aware she had to deal with the anti-noble Alliance on her own.

"That's perfectly okay Shayde; you did your best."

Glissia warmly smiled at Shayde before turning back toward back toward the Dragon-kin standing before her and her smile quickly shifted to a frown.

"Of course your Oracle failed! There is nothing you can find that would be able to deal with him!"

Oxius's jet-black eyes closed for a moment before glaring directly at the man as he spoke.

"Fellius, our position will not change. The Kingdom of Dragovia will not become a republic."

Fellius's mouth curled into a smirk as Oxius finished speaking. He took a step forward, which alerted all the surrounding Knights, and they quickly surrounded him.

"You think you can refuse him? Either agree with our demands or we will take over the nation by force. You're well aware that you can't beat him, right? The strongest Dragon-kin in the entire nation. Even your lousy daughter couldn't hope to defeat him… aren't I right?"

Shayde clenched her fists upon hearing her name mentioned. 'This is all my fault. If I was just strong enough to defeat Luna on my own, we wouldn't have to allow this disrespectful man to barge into my parents' castle say whatever he wants. Can we even fight off a rebellion led by him?'

"I'm just about tired of playing this game with you all, so I brought over the documents for you all to resign from your positions as King and Queen. Of course, you both will be executed afterward as well, but I can consider allowing your daughter to live if she is willing to marry Luna, of course."

Fellius unfolded a piece of paper and pulled out a pen from his pocket and walked past the surrounding Knights before handing them both to Oxius. Shayde's Mana spiked, and she grabbed the paper from Oxius before balling it up.

Shayde turned back to glare at Hellius as her Magical Presence grew, but the smirk on Hellius's face grew wider as he watched Shayde become further enraged.

"Oho, that was your only chance to avoid death, Shayde. Unfortunately, now it looks like you're going to have to die as well…"

However, before Fellius could continue, gleaming golden hair suddenly caught the attention of everyone present as the girl suddenly appeared out of seemingly nowhere.

"Shayde, I changed my mind."

Utsumi warmly smiled before taking the balled-up paper from Shayde. She then unraveled it and looked over the contents of the paper.

The surrounding Knights were shocked by the sudden presence of Utsumi and quickly approached her.

"Who are you?!"

Utsumi didn't bat a single eye at the knights and continued reading the paper until a fierce glare overtook her expression. Her gaze then became pointed to Fellius, and the surrounding air became murkier.

"Who is the wench, and why does she dare to interrupt my conversation?!"

Fellius shouted as Utsumi continued to stare at him with her face scrunched in anger.

Glissia and Oxius were speechless at the sight of Utsumi. She somehow appeared out of nowhere without leaving a trace of her being. Neither had ever seen anyone capable of doing such a thing, and the girl referred to their daughter by name.

"Dear daughter, who is this girl?"

Glissia quickly rose from her seat and approached Shayde frantically, smiling. Shayde motioned for the approaching Knights to stop before turning back to her mother with a slight smile.

"I think you should let her tell you…"

Utsumi closed her eyes briefly before opening them and suddenly an oppressive wave of Mana washed over the room. Everyone felt the Magic Power that radiated off Utsumi and Fellius quickly struggled to stay on his feet as sweat dripped down his face while he stared down Utsumi.

"Kneel."

After the words left Utsumi's mouth, the intense Magical Pressure grew and Fellius quickly dropped to his knees as blood started dripping out of his mouth.

Shayde, Glissia, Oxius, and the rest of the knights were spared from the full effects of Utsumi's Mana, but they still felt the oppressive Magical Energy that radiated off of her.

"Now that's more like it."

Utsumi smirked as the oppressive Magical Power continued to dominate the atmosphere and Fellius coughed up blood continuously before Utsumi finally suppressed the magical power, which allowed everyone to take a collective breath of relief.

"After hearing that disgusting drivel from your mouth, I finally decided on the first thing I will do here."

Utsumi walked over to Shayde and grabbed her hand with a warm smile. Shayde meekly blushed before turning her head in embarrassment before Utsumi turned back to release a fierce glare upon Fellius.

"I will protect this girl. Which means your petty coup attempt is also over. If you dare carry it out…"

Utsumi pulled out her Guild license and extended her hand forward, to which Fellius read before his eyes quickly locked in on a specific spot and he froze in terror.

"Then I, Utsunomiya Utsumi, will wipe you off the face of the nation. I will also personally wipe out your Anti-Noble Alliance by the time the moon is out. You can also go tell Luna that Shayde and the Royal family are under the protection of a human and that if he dares to attack, I will show him no mercy."

Fellius didn't dare to speak in Utsumi's presence after feeling her Magical Presence. Her Mana, in its raw state, was enough to make him suffer internal injuries.

"If I made myself clear… then get the hell out."

Utsumi's glowing golden eyes pierced through Fellius's very being and he didn't hesitate to sprint out of the throne room. Leaving the knights and Shayde, Glissia, and Oxius speechless.

Utsumi then happily skipped over to Shayde with a warm smile.

"Didn't I do good Shayde?"

Utsumi leaned forward as her face was inches away from Shayde's.

"How can I ever repay you for this?"

Shayde finally released her hardened expression, and tears filled her eyes as she met Utsumi's gaze.

"Friends don't need anything to help each other, Shayde. I won't let anyone hurt you going forward, and I don't mind people knowing I'm a human if it will make you safe."

Oxius could only watch in shock as a human consoled their daughter, but Glissia, especially, became extremely giddy.

"Excuse me, Miss Utsunomiya Utsumi."

Glissia walked over to Utsumi and Shayde with a bright smile as she flicked her long silver hair over her ear.

Utsumi quickly met her gaze and returned the smile before turning to face her along with Utsumi.

"You can just call me Utsumi."

Glissia grabbed both of Utsumi's shoulders, which startled her before shouting as her gray eyes lit up with a twinkle.

"I'm okay with same-sex marriage!"