Chapter 200 Feast Day Pt.III
OSVETA POV
The feast hall, the biggest part of the royal palace that went unused for many years till there was an important ceremony taking place. It was so large it could take in half the number of royal family members that lived. And that was saying much given the fact that there were over a thousand of them with each being at least three times as big as the average merman.
The hall was a space next to the palace grounds shrouded in hardened Atlantean styled glass to prevent any peaking or breaking. Due to the occasion, the styled glass had been removed, revealing a large beautiful platform with a marble table in a U-shape set down. The table was big enough to occupy at the very least 20 members of the Royal family.
However, today, only four members sat on opposite ends, with two extra, grander seats, being reserved for the most important guests. The King of Atlantis and the Chief Priestess of the Sea Goddess Temple.
The current members were Rondel, the eldest son of the King, representative of the first generation of children with a couple of servants from the first generation behind him. He was the lowest in terms of ranks, but none-the-less still a member in the running for kingship.
Seating across him was Darius Tox Den Anon Yorul. The 113th child, representative of the third generation of children with servants from the third generation standing behind him. Third in the rankings.
To his side, sitting with the greatest number of servants behind him was Nanek Tox Den Anon Yorul, 620th child, representative of the fourth generation and the second in the rankings with the entire second and fourth generation backing him up.
Seated opposite him with a mere two servants at her side, the most influential candidate in the room, Elriek Sox Den Anon Yorul III, the 621st child, refusing to represent any generation and the highest in the rankings.
Of all the four mentioned, she was the only one smiling. A feat that made Osveta, who was at her side, feel a sort of comfort.
However, in his moment of peace, he received a message that prompted him to make a brief exit. Once he had gotten to a place he was sure no one would see him, he finally spoke.
“What is it?”
The undine, Yokino, appeared before him.
“According to the chicken there’s civilians planting bombs. He neutralised them, but wants to know what to do next.”
“He? Neutralise?”
“Don’t think too much about it.”
Osveta put his hand to his chin in contemplation having received the report from Yokino. This was problematic in all sorts of ways. Their intel on the time the invaders would get to the capital was severely wrong.
It also didn’t make sense that the invaders were already in Atlantis. Under normal circumstances, travel from other domes was strictly monitored since it wasn’t often, so coming before this day was impossible.
In that case, they had an inside man. A mole that had successfully infiltrated Yorul long before the actual unit was coming. This meant, this invasion of theirs had been a long running scheme. This was alarming news.
At least, it would have been alarming news if Osveta was not already aware of this.
“Tell Hinotori to get all her shadows to scour the city for more people about to plant bombs. They should be dealt with quickly, but no fatalities and no noise.”
“Is that all?”
“For now, yes.”
Yokino disappeared immediately, in a fashion so normal, Osveta wondered how he didn’t see her leave. He felt like he saw her going away, but deep down, he knew she simply ghosted. It was a weird phenomenon to him.
‘What kind of ability is that?’
He was intrigued by it, but not enough to waste time thinking about it. Quickly, he delivered the news to the princess.
“Huh? A mole, you say?”
For the second time since he had come here, Osveta had seen a genuinely shocked expression on the princess’ face. The first was when she was about to die at the hands of the slime Kawaii and this was the second.
‘So, for someone who plans everything out, the moment something unplanned for happens, she immediately goes into panic mode, huh? Interesting.’
He noted one thing about the princess. It was always a pleasure to find out more about the person he was supposed to be pledging his fealty to.
“To be honest, I scratched out the possibilities of that happening due to the tight security the city domes have on average days.”
She made a sort of “hmm” sound while processing this information. She was most likely thinking up all sorts of ideas involving the mole. How the mole infiltrated, how she could utilise the mole to her advantage.
Osveta should know. He’s met someone exactly like the princess. However, of the two, if he had to pick who was scarier, he’d give it to the princess for sure. That moment in the room where she and Hinotori were having their conversation. The tension and mood she created with a mere smirk was beyond terrifying.
Purely by instinct, he knew it was best to not inquire on what that was.
“Well, if the mole is in here and civilians are planting bombs at random locations we hadn’t calculated for, I will have to assume that the invaders…”
“Are plotting to go after the pillars with their full force.”
“Simply don’t exist.”
They both spoke at the same time, but their ideas were completely out of sync.
“Excuse me?”
Osveta couldn’t help but ask what exactly she meant by that.
“Or rather, they aren’t existing now. They could exist at a completely different time though. A time we aren’t thinking they will.”
“P-Princess?”
“Sunalla. Go make the final preparations.”
The princess gave orders to Sunalla who had been quietly observing everything. She bowed and left the scene quietly. Osveta, completely confused remained standing attentive.
“You can rest a bit easy, Osveta. Our job is only to make sure there are no explosions in the city where all my precious civilians are. My brother will handle the rest.”
“Your brother?”
Osveta looked beyond to the other table where Elriek’s older brother sat with his aides behind him. He instantly felt the prince’s sharp gaze on him and felt a sense of caution. The prince whispered something to his aide while glaring at them.
“Yes, my brother. My very reliable brother who has never failed me even once.”
The sea god grabbed his head. In all his years, he was now starting to feel light-hearted. Trying to think up exactly what the princess was doing was beyond his capabilities. Maybe that person he knew would be able to figure it out, but he would simply have to wait and see.
Loud trumpets sounded heavily, finally filling the tense mood in the room with life. With the trumpets, the sound of several people swimming quickly resounded, like a thunderous march by an army. The civilians quickly gathered up around the feast hall, maintaining a certain distance so as not to impose, but close enough so they could see everything that was happening.
A chariot made its way towards the feast hall quickly, being pulled by wale dogs each bearing the Royal Brooch on the foreheads, proof that they were the king’s personal beasts. His dazzling chariot came to a stop in front of the hall and all the candidates stood up immediately at the sight.
Slowly, a large arm opened up the pearly curtains. The huge figure, that was easily twice as large as all the princes descended from the clam chariot.
In his right hairy hand, he held a golden trident with a red gem fixed into it. The [Royal Trident], that only the rulers of the nation were permitted to use. Crafted by the founder of Atlantis himself, with the promise that whoever wielded it would lead the nation to a brighter future than the last wielder.
The man’s cherry red hair danced lifelessly in the water. His emerald green eyes gazed over the sight with cold, heartless jade-green glow. He was bare chested, not wrapped in any official outfits, his large white tail that had a random assortment of brown, black, red and golden on it was more than enough to attract the attention of those who gazed. His skin was fair, though it was harder than steel, a benefit from his lineage.
He carried no truly extraordinary features, but there was an aura around him that made any awe when they laid eyes on him. A powerful amount of charisma that no regular person could ever hope to radiate.
He approached his seat regally, not addressing anyone.
“Welcome back, your majesty!”
All the candidates bowed and apologised, feeling very tense. All the candidates with the exception of the forerunner. She was staring at the king and he approached her.
Osveta was not sure how to react to the rudeness Elriek was blatantly displaying, in front of the city folk no-less.
The king stopped in front of her and his once gold gaze turned into sparkling eyes. He grabbed her in a hug.
“Elri dear! How have you been?”
The king’s broad voice came clearly with a gentle touch to it, showing deep affection.
“Excellently father. Nanek has been taking great care of me.”
She responded, making the king glance at her brother. His gaze, once it settled on the prince, became cold and distanced. He returned to Elriek with a warm smile and let her go.
The sea god noticed all the tensed expressions on the others and he could almost read their minds from the faces they were making.
“That’s good to hear. At least you and your brother get along as great as ever. Also, how do you like the gift I got you.”
“Osveta? He’s been excellent! Clearly the best gift you’ve gotten me so far, father.”
“Is that so? I’m glad you like him so much. It was truly arduous settling on the right soldier who would meet your tastes.”
“Oh, if it was father choosing, obviously I would love it!”
The two had their conversation, ignoring Osveta’s presence next to them.
It was inaccurate to say they were ignoring his presence. It was more like they didn’t consider him a being of proper intelligence. Like how one would talk about their pet or toy.
‘This… is as unnerving as ever.’
He thought while being overwhelmed by the two’s combined aura. Absolutely terrifying beings. He could tell that they were two peas in a pod.
‘Like father like daughter, it would seem.’
<A/N: Hey guys, sorry about the issue with the Feast Day pt.I. If I knew something like that would happen, I wouldn\'t have even switched the chapters. If you want to read the chapter, you can message me on discord here: Rados47#5271 . I will forward the document to you. That is, if the chapter still hasn\'t mirrored here. And if it has, you can just message me for a link to the discord.
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