Chapter 115: A Nation-Wide Broadcast
The midday sun shone brightly on the Ossi Kingdom’s palace, but an eerie silence hung in the air. King Kevin disliked any noise or disturbance during his midday and evening rests, so the palace staff moved about in hushed whispers, fearing for their lives.
Their fear was justified. Several corpses, their bodies swaying gently in the breeze, hung from wooden scaffolds near the palace gates. They were soldiers, recently executed by Kevin for failing to protect the palace, allowing several trees to be stolen. These were just a few of Kevin’s victims. Executions were a daily occurrence, the king’s temper easily triggered, his punishments swift and brutal.
Some of the former palace staff, those who had chosen not to follow Givia into exile, now regretted their decision, wishing they had followed a sane leader. Some had attempted to flee, but Kevin had responded by executing their families, sending knights to their hometowns to carry out his sentence. Those who had escaped returned to find their loved ones murdered.
Since ascending to the throne, Kevin had killed thousands. His cruelty and ruthlessness had cast a shadow over the entire kingdom, and the recent rumors of Princess Givia’s death had further fueled the people’s fear. Nightmares were becoming increasingly common, the demand for calming potions outstripping supply. Those who couldn’t afford potions turned to alcohol, seeking oblivion from their nightly terrors.
A few new recruits, having finished their lunch, were about to return to their posts when a strange phenomenon in the sky caught their attention.
“What is that? A mirage?” one of them asked, staring at the sky, his voice barely a whisper.
His companions, equally bewildered, stared in silence, their mouths agape.
A giant stage had appeared in the sky, populated by translucent figures. On one side stood a crowd of people, on the other, Princess Givia and a few others. And it wasn’t just an image. Their voices, amplified by magic, were clearly audible.
“What is the princess doing?”
“Who’s that woman with the scarf covering her face? Why is she standing with the princess?”
“What’s going on? I was about to take a nap when they summoned us to the town square.”
The voices, although just whispers, were incredibly loud, as if someone were using a giant megaphone in the sky.
Kevin, hearing the commotion, peered out of his bedroom window, his gaze cold and calculating, as he observed the scene unfolding in the sky.
This phenomenon wasn’t limited to the palace. It appeared above every settlement in the Ossi Kingdom, in towns and villages, the voices echoing through the streets, waking those who were sleeping, drawing them out of their homes, their faces filled with awe and confusion.
The palace mages, witnessing this spectacle, quickly realized its nature—a magically projected image and amplified sound. Such powerful magic, beyond their comprehension, filled them with fear. Only a mage of unimaginable power, a mage beyond their understanding, could achieve this feat. The mana required would likely drain several Supreme Mages completely.
They didn’t dare inform Kevin, who had forbidden any disturbances during his rest. They valued their lives.
One of the mages, his voice trembling, whispered to his colleague, “Gene, let’s escape. Take our families and join Princess Givia…”
“Why? Aren’t you afraid of Kevin’s wrath?” his colleague asked, confused.
“What do we have to fear? Didn’t you see? This magic is broadcasting Princess Givia’s activities in real-time! This means she has a powerful mage on her side, a mage whose power is beyond our comprehension. With such an ally, the Restoration Army will surely win. We’ll soon be free from that tyrant’s rule, free from this constant fear!”
“But where did she find such a powerful mage? Did she make a deal with Emperor Camper of the Eastern Empire?”
“Who cares! I’m packing my bags and leaving! I’ve had enough of that monster Kevin!”
…
In Shodo Town, after the townspeople had gathered in the square, Givia finally raised her hand, silencing the murmuring crowd. She was ready to speak.
The people loved and respected her. Silence fell instantly, their attention focused on their leader, their faces filled with anticipation.
“My dear people, I am your princess, Givia Ludiélia Ban Halsati!”
Her voice, clear and strong, didn’t require Abyss’s amplification magic.
“I have summoned you here today to share something very important. I want you to know that I have made a grave mistake!” she declared, stepping aside to reveal Cassandra, who stood behind her. “This is Cassandra, a former palace steward, responsible for my well-being and my safety. You might be wondering why she’s missing an arm. I’m here to tell you that she suffered those injuries because of me!”
The crowd gasped. Givia had summoned them to confess her mistakes? What kind of mistake required such a public apology?
“Unlike the princess you see before you today, I was a reckless and mischievous child. I often caused trouble, and Cassandra was always there to clean up my messes. One day, I took an unstable potion from the palace alchemy laboratory and accidentally spilled it in my room. It caused a fire. Cassandra, to protect me, locked me inside a fire-resistant wardrobe. But it was too small for both of us. She chose to stay outside.”
“Although help arrived quickly, she was severely burned. People said her screams could be heard from hundreds of meters away.”
“I was protected by the wardrobe, only fainting from the heat. But Cassandra suffered terrible burns. The right side of her body was consumed by the flames, her right arm charred, her beautiful face disfigured forever.”
Givia clapped her hands, and a few soldiers hesitantly carried a portable furnace onto the stage. It contained a potion that generated intense heat, blue smoke billowing from its vents.
The crowd, still reeling from Givia’s revelation, looked at the furnace, confused.
What was she doing? Was this furnace a reward for Cassandra?
Leave a Reply