The Crimson Magister Chapter 40: V2-C21: The Audience with the Rulers

Read chapter 40 of The Crimson Magister by Okram on NovelPedia.

V2-C21: The Audience with the Rulers The king placed his hand on the armrest as he leaned back, “Azure, I have sent you to Red Dawn to escort Sheira and make sure she gets us the help we need. And what do you do? You return here, without the royal guard, my daughter’s hair painted black, and a peasant girl!” Azure stared at the floor, and a small bead of sweat rushed down her forehead. “I…” “I won’t have a word out of you unless asked. You are our martial champion. How in the world do you lose an entire guard and let Sheira get kidnapped?!” He exhaled loudly, “I can’t… I am too exhausted, so I will allow you to speak. Explain how it happened!” “Father! Please let me explain everything!” Sheira shouted. The king brought his hand to his nose bridge and pinched it. “Speak…” “It is correct that Azure’s guard had died in an ambush, which allowed me to get kidnapped! However, she was able to capture them all and even rescue me with the help of Aqua!” “And I assume Aqua is that red-haired girl you brought with you?” The King stared at the kneeling redheaded elf. In his eyes, she was far too beautiful to be a mere peasant, and if she had played a role in rescuing his daughter, it demanded a reward. Yet he had his doubts. “Yes! We hired her as the attendant near the border of Red Dawn to guide us. When I was kidnapped, she had guided Azure deep within to get me out safely.” Sheira forced a smile. “Why in the world would you hire a random peasant to be your attendant, you stupid… stupid daughter of mine! What if she is an assassin? Do you realise we have protocols to vet the attendants?!” The king snapped his gaze back to Aqua. Sheira reeled back as her sweat rolled down her forehead. She slowly turned to her mom, who was now staring at Aqua. Yet instead of Anger and shock, she had when she learned of Azure’s failure, she stared at Aqua as if she had just seen death itself. “You! Tell me your side of the story! If I feel like you are lying, you are going to the dungeons until the end of your days!” Before Aqua could even speak, the queen tapped his shoulder, “Dear, I know that girl. She is no assassin.” “Are you sure? I have never seen her before.” “Yes, she used to serve me personally when I did my personal tour of the kingdom. You can trust me, dear.” The queen smiled as she leaned back on her throne. She caressed her sapphire scepter as she turned to Sheira, “But… I am rather disappointed, Sheira. You didn’t know that Aqua served me before, and yet you hired her. I thought I taught you better than that.” She shook her head slowly. Sheira’s eyes widened. Did Mom just cover my lie?! Yet she wanted to cry when she said that she was disappointed. She couldn’t believe it. And she had said it with such a straight face that her Dad did not even question it, yet the way she looked at Aqua scared her. She had never seen Mom scared before. “However! Azure! You disappointed me! You are our nation’s pride, are you not!?” Her voice startled everyone present, including King and the remaining guards. “Dear… control yourself, Sheira is safe!” The King tried to reel in his wife, yet with a single glare, he was forced to back down. Azure pushed her head down, “I have no excuse. If it wasn’t for Aqua, Sheira would have been enslaved.” “Is the kidnapping the reason her hair is black?” “Yes…Mom… they said they wanted to make sure I can't be recognized as the princess.” Sheira’s hands trembled as the Queen raised her brow. “Is that so…” She doesn’t trust me at all… The Queen tapped her fingers against the throne’s armrest as she scanned everyone present, “Dear, I think Sheira and Aqua are fine… However, Azure.” As she heard her name being said, she winced back, “Yes, Ma’am?” The sheer anger she felt coming from the Queen threatened to strangle her. “That’s enough, dear. Azure has failed and will be punished. However, she did bring the culprits to us.” The king let out an audible sigh, “Azure, report to the dungeons and wait until the council gathers. We w