"Alright, I heard that the four of you formed an alliance with the Western Dukedom, and that you guys are helping them—to commit treason against us!" I spoke cheerfully. Pretending as if I did not know what those words are. However, the Baron seems surprised that I know all these, look at how he's staring at me with such amusement on his face. Did he think I'm merely a 7-year-old?
"I'm curious...it's not like Dad is treating you badly, in any case he's been nice to all of you. So, why betray him? Oh! I know! Greed!" I raise my right arm and my index finger, pretending as if I realized that just now. Even though Dad command them with authority and power, he's still someone who never tried to do them bad, I don't understand people like this.
Still, as a kid—I mean, as someone living in a body of a 7-year-old, I need to act like one, right? I know interrogating someone is not normal for a 7-year-old, but I should at least show him that I am still a kid! And well, I'm a Ciera after all, so this should be seen as normal, right? My third brother literally fought for war at the age of 8.
"Hah...greed really kills people," I shook my head my clicking my tongue three times. The Baron flinched when I said that and immediately replied.
"B-but...the Princess will forgive me, right?" He asked, I smiled at him and nod my head.
"Of course! Okay, shall I ask the first question now? Don't lie to me, okay? You only have three lives, and I have a lot of questions," I took a deep breath.
"So, a few days ago before you were arrested. Did someone from the Western Dukedom visited you?" Of course, this should be the first question. It all started when that guy talked to me after all.
"T-that's right," He answered. Well, good thing that he's not lying.
"And his purpose is?" It definitely has something to do with the baby monsters that my brother saw in the Forbidden Forest.
"He confirmed through me if the monsters have already been caught," okay, the glow on his eyes is not changing at all, that means he's telling the truth.
"Did you use Heazure Scrolls to capture the monsters?" I asked, and he nodded again. Let's ask some easy questions first, and I'll raise the difficulty of the questions later!
Mwahahaha!
"Hmm, did he personally captured them or asked his people to do it?" Because obviously, there's no way he can catch them all alone.
"We gave him some of our knights to help. They also used magic scrolls to capture them," Hmm. So it was their knights. They probably used magic scrolls that creates traps or something.
"How long has it been since this monster trafficking started?"
"Three years," Three years, huh?
"Have they been capturing monsters in Aethereia? Or do they catch monsters in other forests as well?" Because if that's the case, not only us but our Uncles and Auntie as well should be involved. After all, an enemy as able to come and go within our territory silently. That means they have other accomplices within the other dukedoms as well.
"Yes, forest and jungles," it looks like he isn't lying, huh?
He wants to live so bad.
Anyway, Uncle Clovis, Uncle Ran, and Aunt Chan needs to know about this.
There are total of 8 forests and jungles in the Empire and Aethereia Forest is the largest, located in the Central Empire. A Forbidden Forest. There are two more in the Central Empire, the Mistwood Jungle and the Starweaver Forest. Both are dangerous but, not as dangerous as the Aethereia Forest. There's Oakwood Jungle in the Eastern Dukedom. Moonfrost Forest and Frosthaven Jungle in the Northern Dukedom. Luminari Woods, a forest in the Southern Dukedom, and well, the Whispering Forest, in the Western Dukedom.
So they've been capturing monsters in all of those places for three years? Just how many monsters did they captured in the span of three years? Most wild monsters are in Aethereia, they'll probably sell them at a higher price. No, first of all how can they enter those places? I mean, true it's not forbidden like Aethereia, but those places still have wild monsters and animals.
It's highly likely that there are traitors winthin the other dukedoms as well if the enemies were able to enter their forests and jungles.
"They are planning a coup d'etat, right? When will this occur?" I just know that my brothers are curious as to where I hear such word.
"This won't occur yet sooner or later. They still need more manpower, money, equipments, and supplies," But, it's already been eight years since they cut ties with us, is that not enough time for them?
"But, it's been eight years,"
"They only started the monster trafficking three years ago. I don't know who gave them the idea, but before that...they did many illegal actions that they thought would help them with war funds. But, nothing worked successfully. The money they got from those were not enough to buy equipments for their knights," Ahh...so they wasted five years? Well, good for us, I think? Maybe this is the will of Moira!
Also, if you think about it, there's no way their knights can outnumber our knights. Plus, we have two Astras on our side. Just what the heck motivates them to do this thing? I don't think it's about my mother anymore.
"Are they colluding with the Hecate Kingdom?" We still need to confirm this. Even though there is no mention of the kingdom in all the papers that we confiscated, the matter of them being in cahoots with the dukedom remains unresolved.
"I have no idea, Your Highness,"
Hmm, he's not lying. He really have no idea. Well, at least he's answering me honestly.
"Alright, I believe you..."
I paused.
About the Heazure Scrolls, should I ask him about how the dukedom got them? I mean, it's obviously by purchasing, duh. But, if they are already using it to capture monsters even before, does that mean they took the risk of being bankrupt just to buy it for monster trafficking?
"When did they started using Heazure Scrolls?" I asked. I still have a lot of questions in my mind, but these needs priority.
"Ever since the monster trafficking began," so, I was right. Those guys are crazy...what if the monster trafficking didn't succeed? Are they planning to starve their people?
Or maybe the people are already starving--what the heck? I realized another issue.
"Hmm...does that mean they risked their funds just to get that?" Brother Heli asked. That's what I want to ask as well.
"I think so, Sir..."
He hasn't lied yet.
"When did you joined them?"
"Someone from the Western nobility visited me a year ago and convinced me to help them," I see. It hasn't been that long since he joined them.
"Well, seeing that you decided to join them, there must be something interesting that caught your attention, yeah?" It must be something that can help him with his status. After all, this guy is of low-ranking status.
"Yes..."
"Care to tell us what it is?"
He paused, and then look at us. Then turned his head away and took a deep breath.
"H-he said...he's going to let my son marry his foster daughter," Seriously...? As far as I remember, his son is only ten years old, right?
"His foster daughter?"
"Y-yes...he adopted a child six years ago..." It's already been that long since he took in a child? Well, Brother Aeli did mentioned that he did such thing.
It's strange...why would he adopt a child at that time? Six years ago...they already stopped contacting our family during that time. Is he simply bored that he decided to adopt a daughter? Oh wait, could it be that he doesn't have a child at all?
Well, it doesn't matter, I guess?
"Hmm..." I slowly nod my head and crossed my arms. This guy is unbelievably rapacious. His son is still young, yet he already arranged for his marriage.
"Alright, next question. Is there any reason why the Western Dukedom wants to overthrow the Imperial Family? And what could be the source of their confidence that they can actually defeat us?" This will be my last question, and I'll let my brothers take over. I feel sleepy now, and I want to sleep.
"The reason...power. They want to take the throne. They want to lead the Empire to be able to do whatever it is that they want. However, as for what gives them this much confidence...I have no idea, Your Highness. We've yet to gain the Duke's trust after all," of course, a mere Baron won't know the Duke's main plan except the coup d'etat.
For them to be this arrogant, it could be that someone is backing them, or they found a strange power or something.
It could also be that Dearil really is there, and he's being abused. My last dream about him confirmed that it's really the evil dragon. He didn't tell me exactly what's happening to him except from the fact that he is being used and is sealed.
I want to meet Dearil again, but I don't know how to. He stopped visiting me in my dream. I want to ask him for some hints, or how can I know his real name. However, I have no idea how to talk to him again.
I took a deep sigh. A lot of problems has arisen.
I got some useful and useless information, but dang...my mind can't sink in all of these.
Oh, wait...I have another question.
"Okay, so...give me the name of that noble who came here a few days ago," I smiled at him and tilt my head. He stared at me and I noticed the nervousness on his face.
"B-but..." I cocked a brow.
"No buts," Brother Dae spoke.
"Don't tell me you didn't know as well?" Brother Heli added. Ahh, I really feel sleepy now. He should just tell me.
"I...I will die if I utter their names..." Hmm, his eyes didn't changed color. He's not lying.
But...
"You're lying. Your eyes turned red," I spoke. His eyes widened and he seems to be really surprised.
"B-but they told me...I will die--"
"That means they lied to you too," Eri cut his words off. Pfft, looks like my fairy understands me well.
"T-then his name is--"
"Tell my brothers later once they're done with their interrogation. As for me, I'm already sleepy...yawn ~" I tapped my lips and rubbed my eyes as I smile at the Baron.
I don't want to see someone dying in front of me, but my brothers are used to it. So, I should leave it to them.
"Ali..." Brother Dae called when I turned around to face them. I grin playfully at them and winked my left eye.
'You can ask him the name once your done, Brothers! Or else he'll die without us knowing the other information,'
They exchanged looks and then smiled. I don't know what they're thinking and I don't want to know about it. I just want to sleep.
"Good night, Ali," both my brothers spoke, I nod my head at them and wave my hands as I walk pass by them.
This really is a 'good' night.
"Eri, can we teleport to my room?" Eri nod her head, and in just a moment we're already in my room---
With Asher sleeping on the couch.
Should I just give him a room in my palace? He looks pitiful sleeping on the couch. Yup, why didn't I think of that before?
I walk towards Asher and he's sleeping peacefully. I dunno where he went earlier, but he looks really tired.
"Let's go, Eri. Let's not bother His Divine Highness—" I was about to walk back towards my bed, by the great Astra grabbed my wrist so I quickly turned to his direction.
"Where were you?" He yawned and then lift his body to take a seat on my couch.
"Interrogation...uhm, torture chamber," his face turned sour as he heard my answer. The disbelief on his face is so obvious.
"By the way, Asher. I decided to give you a room in my palace, you look pitiful lying on my couch," I bluntly said. He cockes a brow and sighed.
"I don't need it—"
"Lies! Don't you want to have your own bed? Sleeping on the couch is not really good for the body. You won't be able to move properly," he stared at me for a moment, so I did the same! Why is he looking at me like that?
"And can you please let me go?" I asked, so he immediately remove his hand from my wrist and lean on the couch.
"Do whatever you want. So you went to the torture chamber? How was it?" I yawned and walk towards my bed with Eri following me.
"I asked him a few questions. Turned out this monster trafficking began three years ago, and we were right that they are doing it for money. They plan to attack the Central Empire, but it's not yet decided when since their supplies, equipment, manpower, and funds are still lacking. Oh, and they actually captured a lot of monsters from all the jungles and forests in Ciera Empire," I shook my head and sighed in disbelief. I can't believe how ambitious those people are.
"Actually, I can just destroy that barrier if you ask me to," Asher snapped his finger and all of a sudden, my clothes changed into nightgown.
"Thanks. And no, didn't you said you're still thinking of a way to get the people out of that place?" I asked. He nod his head.
"The people there are starving...they are being used as slave. I need to do something about it. But, the barrier used is made by dark magic and if I destroy that thing, the people inside the barrier will be affected. Also, I just found out from Abel a while ago that the barrier sucks out their life force as well to become sturdy and strong,"
What...?
"Suck out...the people's life force?!" He placed his index finger on his lips to shush me, and I immediately covered my mouth.
"What the heck—does Dad know about this?" He nod his head.
"I told him when I came back. He said we'll have another meeting tomorrow," A lot of complicated things has been happening lately. I guess I was too happy during the one-month celebration of my birthday, huh...?
"You should sleep now, so you can have the energy for tomorrow's meeting,"
How am I supposed to sleep, you jerk? You could've told me this tomorrow at the meeting but you decided to tell me right now.
I lay down on my bed.
"Help me sleep, Asher...I doubt I'll be able to," I mumbled as I close my eyes.
"You want me to sing you a lullaby?"
"No!"
"Then what?"
"Hmm...incense?" I heard him sigh, but a few seconds later I can already smell a sweet and floral scent.
Well, I guess I really need an energy for tomorrow, huh?
Goodness gracious.
***