I roamed my eyes around when a knight opened the wooden door of the basement. Broher Dae asked Themis to prepare my bath and bed, but I also asked her for midnight snacks as well.
After the door is opened, a long stair welcomed us. There are also torches attaches to the wall which gives us enough light to see the staircase.
This kind of ambiance makes me remember the dream where I met Dearil.
"Be careful, Ali. And don't let go of my hand," Brother Dae said. I nod my head and intertwined my hand with his as we continue walking down the stairs.
It's so quiet, and the only thing I can hear are the sound of our footsteps and Eri's cute little snore while sleeping peacefully on my head--
"ARRGGGHHHHHH!" I flinched and I also felt Eri moving on my head. It looks like she was awaken by that scream.
"M-Master! I feel a scary magic!" What does she mean by that?
"Focus your senses, Master. And you'll be able to detect it!" Focus my senses?
I stared at the darkness ahead of us and relaxed my senses, and alas--I feel a powerful mana coming from the bottom of this long stairs.
"Don't worry, Ali. It's Brother Heli's," Well, I'm not worried at all. More like amazed.
Brother Dae raised his right arm and then poked on the air, a small bubble appeared quickly floating down the stairs. What the--I'm pretty sure he used magic, but what's the purpose of that?
"Hmm, looks like he received my message," What?
Oh.
All of a sudden, the powerful magic coming from below has started to fade away. Did Brother Dae told Brother Heli that we're heading there?
"Oh, it's gone now. The scary magic!" Eri spoke cheerfully as she fly in front of me while facing me.
"Scary magic?" I asked, and she nod her head. I can't tell if it's 'scary' or not at all. All I felt was how powerful it was, maybe Brother Heli is really really mad to the people downstairs?
"Yes! It's like it's choking someone," A magic, choking someone? What does she mean by that?
"Silly Eri. How can you tell if it's choking or not?" I giggled as I reply. This should be a normal conversation for kids, right? Both Eri and I are considered as kids, right?
Wait a minute---I feel like I forgot that I am a kid these past few weeks because of everything that happened.
"Like, like, it's a powerful magic that sensing it can make you feel out of breath, Masteeer," Eri said, pouting while explaining. Okay, I think I get what she's trying to say now.
"Oooh! I see!" It was the same two years ago everytime I experiences a nightmare, is that what she was trying to say?
"We're here," Brother Dae said.
We took our last step to the groud and I can now see cages. The smell is...not really good. It's full of rusty smell of dried blood.
"Use this," Brother Dae covered my nose with a handkerchief gently. He's prepared, huh?
I pressed my left hand on it that makes Brother Dae let go of the hankie.
"How about Brother?" He chuckled at me as he ruffle my hair. Why is he laughing at me? Did I say something wrong? I was just concern though?!
"I'm already used to this kind of smell, Ali," Ah, makes sense! He has been to war before, so of course he's used to this smell!
"Ahh...okay," I replied.
The first cage here, there's someone inside. He's tied up by the wrist with...cuffs? But those cuffs are attached to the two opposite corners of the cage. He even have a gag on his mouth, and his clothes are tattered, he has bruises and wounds on his body too. And he's kneeling on the floor.
I-is he alive?
"Master, are you not sleepy?" I was surprised when Eri suddenly blocked my vision and smiled at me widely, asking such nonsense question.
"Nope ~" I replied, facing ahead. I can see from my peripheral vision that the second and third cage have people tied up as well, in the same way with the first guy. I don't know the faces of these people, but I know for sure that they are the traitors who tried to commit treason against the empire, colluding with an enemy.
I have yet to be informed by the texts written on the papers that Morias stole. I wasn't given the chance to read it as per my Dad's order. But, I can ask Asher about it later—if he's going to visit my room.
Ever since I got Eri, he barely stays in my room now. It's not like I want him to stay there...well, maybe I do, because I don't feel bored when he's there. However, it looks like he finally had a time to focus on his so-called duty of looking for the holy crystal in order to remove my curse.
"Ali, Zain...and Eri too," Brother Heli turned to us with such smile on his face.
Brother, smiling softly like that to us with blood splatters on your face is not very convincing. His handsome face is ruined by those filthy fluid coming from a traitor.
"Ali...why are you looking at me like that?" Why? Why is his face suddenly turned to that expression, as if he's worried, concerned...no, scared about something?
"Brother Heli...can you kneel down?" I asked, his eyes widened, but did it anyways.
Then I stopped covering my nose with the handkerchief and start wiping the blood on his face.
"Your face is full of blood splatters...you shouldn't ruin you pretty face like that," I spoke while cleaning his face. I got used to the smell, so there's no need to cover my nose now.
Ah, wait. This is Brother Dae's handkerchief!
"Ohh, I'm sorry, brother Dae. I'll make sure to replace this handkerchief!" I said, after I cleaned my eldest brother's face. I grinned playfully at my third brother but he just chuckled at me.
"I'll look forward to that,"
We both laughed together for a moment before I faced the guy being interrogated.
"Are you already done interrogating the other three, Brother?" I asked, and Brother Heli nod his head.
"Yes. They confessed many things, such as how the Duke Acacius is planning to commit treason against us, they are planning to sell monsters to save enough funds for their weapons and equipments for a war. Earl or Count Hernon was helping him prepare enough food for their knights, while Count Morris handed over some knights and servants to the dukedom. Viscount Elois were the ones that provides him with the information of the Aethereia Forest, a huge amount of reports that we confiscated from his office were enough evidences. I don't even know how he can enter that forest--that's another crime for him. On the other hand, this Baron...hasn't confessed anything yet," So, this is the Baron. Yes, Carlix Florian's father. I'm pretty sure that what happened to Carlix Florian during the competition had something to do with the Western Dukedom.
"Poor thing..." I spoke, looking at the Baron. The Baron slowly lift his head, and his eyes widened when he saw me, a little girl in front of her.
"Y-Your Highnessh...jhe Prinshesh..." Wow, he can't even talk properly because of his exploded mouth and the gag he's biting. It looks like my brother did quite a damage, yet he still refused to answer?
"Help...me..." He's asking me for help? What a funny guy! Haha!
I smiled at him and walk towards him. Fortunately, none of my brothers tried to stop me. Maybe they're looking forward to how I am going to perform right now?
Hehe ~
"Okay, I will help you!" I replied and the Baron's face lightened up.
"You will...?" I nod my head while smiling at the poor Baron. I chuckled and touched his face as I make a face that will make him think that I pity him.
Well, I am not as merciless as my brothers...
So, maybe I can do this.
"Poor Baron Florian. You are already beaten so much...yet why won't you talk? It looks like you're really loyal to your benefactors," I spoke, gently cupping the chub's face. He smells like a rotten dish.
"Ali, don't touch him!" Brother Heli held my wrist and gently pushed me away
"Why are you still thinking of them, when they haven't even tried to rescue you?" I asked, with a really really sad expression on my face.
"I can tell my Dad to spare you if you can tell us honestly your connection with the Western Dukedom," he looks surprised, but then glared at me. Wow, I can't believe how loyal this dog is.
"You don't believe me? What makes you so faithful to the dukedom? I don't understand. They can't even get you out of this cell," I spoke. There's no way he'll believe the words of a little kid, huh? I'm only seven after all.
"You only have to choose, you know? If you keep siding with those in the Western Dukedom, you will die—your family, too will be punished. I heard Dad is planning to take all of your possessions and remove your family's title," Woah ~ he didn't even reacted to that. He doesn't really care about his family, did he?
"If you don't tell us anything, I'll still tell my Dad to spare you," I smiled, and finally his glare disappeared.
"But, of course since you will be stripped off of your title and your possessions will be confiscated. You will have to live as a commoner," then, I bend my knees with my heels flat on the ground. I lean forward, and placed my elbows on my knees and my chin on my palms.
And dang, now his expression changed again. He looks really terrified by the fact that he will be spared but have to live as a commoner.
"Wow, you didn't reacted at all when I said that your family's possessions will be confiscated with title removed. You probably didn't care because you thought you're going to die and only your family will experience it, huh?" I asked.
"N-no...no!" Oh, this means he'd rather die than tell us anything, huh? To the point that he didn't care about his family because he thought he's already dead when the punishment is laid.
"But if you tell us about your connection with the Duke, you can be spared! I'd even tell Dad to not strip your title off!" I said, cheerfully. I even smiled at him.
•
Helios and Diellzain stared at each other as they listen to their little sister. With a proud look of their faces.
'I can't believe Ali can threat people like this,' Diellzain told his brother through telepathy. Helios scoffed silently and nod his head.
'She's a Ciera after all. Rather than using force like we do, she uses words instead,' Helios replied, looking at their sister in front of them.
'She's pretty good with words, huh?' Helios nod his again.
"You know how my Dad dotes on me, if I beg on my knees, he will definitely release you! I will even ask him to give you a lesser punishment and don't take your possessions as well!" Alina said. The Baron's beaten eyes widened even more, even though it's full of black eyes and bruises, his eyes still lit up after hearing the words of the Princess.
He is still having a second thought whether to believe the Princess or not, but he knew how much the Emperor spoils his daughter, and how her brothers pamper her.
"Brother Heli, can we remove the gag on his mouth?" Alina stood up and faced his brother, winking at him to signal him to leave the interrogation to her.
"Ali..." Alina smiled and nod her head, so Helios sighed before walking towards the Baron and harshly removed the gag on his mouth.
It looks like he had finally gain some hope now.
"Y-Your Highness the Princess...you will do that for me?" The Baron asked.
"Of course! I don't want to see people getting hurt..." Alina said, looking sad. But it was all an act.
"And people make mistakes! Everyone deserves a second chance! And with everything you've done for our Empire before you colluded with the Western Dukedom, we can ask Dad to consider it, you know? I'm sure Dad will listen to me!" Alina proudly said. The Baron turned to the Brothers, and he saw them smiling at their little sister, and thus he formed a conclusion after seeing the reactions of the princes.
"I see. Even the Princes didn't want me to be stripped off of my title...why else would they make such face? That means they are also against of it. This also means that what the Princess is saying is true," The Baron smirked behind his mind and faced the Child.
"I will talk, Your High--"
"Great! So, you have three lives! Whenever we detect lie in your words, your lives will decrease! If all lives are used up, I won't help you with Dad and you will end up living as a commoner with your family," the Baron was surprised, but he immediately nod his head.
"All I need is to tell the truth...and the Princess will get on her knees in front of the Emperor for me. I will make sure to brag about it once I am released..."
"Okay! Eri, can you activate a lie detector?" Alina asked, and her guardian nod her head as she raise her arms and points her index finger to the Baron. A small lightning-like magic strike his forehead and his eyes started glowing.
"Done, Master! If his eyes turned red, that means he's lying! If he left out even a small details, his eyes will also change color," The Baron felt nervous when he realized that there is no way he can play with his words.
"Dang it...what is that little fairy anyway? How did she made my eye glow like this? I can even see the surroundings glowing gold...that means there really is a lie detector,"
"Now that the Baron agreed, let's start!"
Helios and Diellzain smirked at the Baron.
"Ali's amazing," Diellzain muttered, while their eldest brother just chuckled.
"I didn't know Ali have a side like this," Helios whispered as he smile genuinely while looking at his sister.
***