Villainess and Grimoire - Chapter 113 – General Aurora Arc

Year 5009 after the system day 85 of the sun season at Lumen kingdom capital.

Inside a fancy expensive dining hall large enough to host 50 humans there was a long wooden table with two layers of wood and one made of glass between them. 40 wooden chairs surrounded it sculpted beautifully, having a sword carved on their backs aiming upward. Above the table one could see four big chandeliers going across the entire hall, since electricity wasn’t a thing, they used slow-burning candles that could last for hours, very rarely lighting up more than necessary as the glass shards would amplify their light. Around the table and the chairs where the queen was seated along with one of the king advisors, lots of shelves holding all kinds of things from glass cups, plates, cutlery, and tea sets could be found for the maid’s use. This hall was often used to talk after a long party or to end the night with some calm tea, sometimes a more interesting type of fruit liquor to subdue the drinkers to an enjoyable and relaxing mood, finding themselves in the need of sleeping. Despite the long table extending in the center through the hall, along with the chairs, there was plenty of space to walk around freely, and if necessary a room next to it which could serve for dancing.

“Queen Lily, it seems everything is going towards your older son Prince Julius’s successorship, despite the fake will you made to give a chance for Marty to rise to the throne,” the late king advisor Baptiste said while bowing deeply.

“What do you mean by that? Pretty sure that between the two, Marty has the best generals, Charles and Francis are with him, no?”

“Well, my queen… you see… your son Julius, he is using a peasant with 9 years old, a little girl truly as a general. That one he ascended to the nobility Not that long ago which we thought wouldn’t be a problem, however, she has recently slain 300 thousand goblins in the most recent war. Losing about 20 thousand humans due to her irregular tactics on the battlefield, so on that alone, she’s already worth receiving the tactician title bestowed in the past to Lord Ryu. In fact, general Aurora, as everyone calls her has proved to be so peerless that a new title must be awarded to her, otherwise, the masses won’t be happy. Not to forget that her fame has grown wide enough to reach the entire kingdom, perhaps even more than compared to the first hero, and since the Saintess blessed her and the goddess Aria acknowledged the girl… I’m afraid that even the religion is starting to be influenced by her existence, the fanatics are starting to call her the daughter of the goddess. Not to forget she’s even using the black robes, that criminal organization formed of cursed classes who were once exiled from the kingdom are now fighting alongside the white robes.”

Baptiste explained thoroughly delicately and as eloquently as possible revealing everything he knew so that the queen could think on the next step while feeling anxious and worried.

The queen upon digesting everything he said, dropped the drink she was holding in shock spilling it on the table, and stood silent for a while, making the maids around clean everything with old brown and black cloths, drenching them turning into a different color a little redder and vivid looking.

She started hitting the finger on the table making a clicking sound with the nail on the glass searching for a solution, and then after some minutes an idea surged, a very simple one at that which caused her to smile.

“There… there is still a way out of this, if we make the king advisors personally gather the reports of each army then, we’ll be able to choose the outcome!”

“That’s certainly possible but that would require some of the king advisors who support the other siblings to die your highness,” he declared while frowning and feeling the heavyweight of his words, afraid that they could turn real, and that he would be ordered to execute them.

“That’s the simplest part, pay Isabella for an assassination mission, you’ll only need money, and we have plenty, this way we can allow this Aurora girl to live while increasing our kingdom territories, reducing our enemies, and she can even be used by Marty in the future once he’s declared king.”

“That’s… truly smart my queen, I’ll make the arrangements and notify the different successors while also seeing who needs to be disposed of, I’ll have everything achieved before the moon season.”

“Good, you may go, maid a new drink.”

“Yes, your highness, at once,” Baptiste left while his hands trembled as he would need to kill some dear friends and family of his unless they joined Marty’s side.

As he closed the door the queen said,” but seriously how does a young girl like that appears out of nowhere and starts changing everything as she sees fits? Who the fuck does that brat thinks she is?”

She regained some air then took a sip of the red wine, continuing her rumbling,” maid go bring me some paper and ink, so I can discuss some things with my son.”

“Of course your highness,” the poor maid rushed to a different room to gather the requested materials.

“To think there would still exist a low-class human-like that peasant hero from the past… humans potential truly does never cease to surprise me, but I need to procure more information about this matter. Otherwise, I don’t know if she’s worth keeping alive, since the brat might not listen to my dear Marty,” the queen takes a sip from the new drink and then sighs.

“This son of mine what would he do without my support…”

“Here it is, your highness,” she replies expressionless for the third time like a doll that is already dead.

“Well then, what should I write to convince him to use the girl…”

Year 5009 after the system day 90 of the sun season at Aurora outpost.

“Good morning Aurora,” she looks at the source of the voice,” Prince Julius? Didn’t expect you to come here today.”

“Honestly me neither, but I’ve received an invitation and also a letter from the queen, so I’ll have to take you back to the capital for a certain ceremony.”

“What? Don’t they know I’m necessary here? What if they assault is while I’m not here?”

“As much as I agree and am discontented, it’s not something we can refuse.”

“Even the Prince can’t?” She tilts her head confused as to what could be so important that would require both of them.

“It’ll be a good surprise for you, also I’ve been sending your payment to your father for all the work you have been doing, you sure you don’t need anything?”

“I’m fine your highness, as long, as my family is doing good that’s all it matters to me.”

“You’ve grown up kinder lately, soon you’ll be 10 years old, truly young, you and that girl Momo and lady Alicia, it’s quite the trio we have in this army, and all are outstanding in different things.”

“How are the rest of the summoned doing?”

“From what I know they were only expected to join the war when the goblin king invaded, however, with the changes and you taking care of blocking the way, it has become quite different than what the Saintess foresaw, seeing as she hasn’t been having any weird ill-fated dreams, we can assume that you’re successfully changing such destiny.”

“I’ve actually never thought of it like that, since if it was predestined for us to fall, then wouldn’t that mean that no matter what we did, we would ultimately lose?”

“Unless you have someone like the Saintess who possesses the skill that is said was used by Aria herself, which enabled her to foresee the future so far, that a system creation was necessary, but if you ask me, she did a bad job at leading us to victory, in a way, even though this is blasphemy, I feel like she could learn a few things with you.”

“That’s… truly a godly compliment your grace,” the Prince starter laughing at the unintentional pun she made.

“You’ve sure changed, you can even make funny jokes now.”

“Maybe I’ll retire and become a jester!”

The prince laughed some more and then added,” please don’t, you’re doing an amazing job as it is, losing you would surely hurt the army, from the morale to the great tactics and ideas you have.”

“If that ever happens you should put Momo in the command, she’ll surely surpass me one day.”

“You think the girl is that good?”

“Yes, she has everything necessary to become truly peerless one day.”

“If you say it with that much confidence I can only believe it, and accept your advice, which I’m truly grateful for, if someday there’s anything you want, do let me know.”

“Perhaps a shop license, my sister wants to open one in the future, she’s interested in alchemy.”

“You two really do have a lot of interesting things going on, but I’ll send her father a permit signed by me, so she’ll be able to open one anywhere she wants.”

“Thank you, Prince Julius, she’ll be delighted.”

“Now then,” he looked at the entrance of the tent and shouted startling Aurora,” maids!”

10 maids entered the tent while the Prince left, after winking at her.

Together with them came two men dressed in black and grey with expensive clothes, who started taking measures of her body.

With a confused expression, she said,” what’s all this?”

“Didn’t his royal highness tell you?” One of the tailors asked while measuring her.

“Not really no…”

“Don’t worry lady Aurora, you’ll be sure to have a great time at the ceremony, just be still it won’t take long, and stretch your arm my way.