Book 13: Chapter 36


    Nier. Lucia.


    My two moms returned to the ship to make preparations for the days battle. Nier and Lucia returned to the shrine after dealing with the corpses. I called them over after. Lucia sighed a breath of relief upon noticing I no longer had my shoulder bandaged. She inquired, Your Highness, has your injury healed?


    Yeah, its fine now. Mommy Vyvyan healed me. It wasnt a deep wound; it was akin to being stabbed by a piece of wood. There wasnt any venom, either. Dont worry, Lucia.


    I gave Lucia a hug, and she touched my shoulder as if it caused her heart to ache. She apologised again: Sorry, Your Highness I was right next to you, yet you got hurt Sorry Sorry


    I kissed Lucias lips then rubbed her head with a smile: Its all right. I dont me you. Lucia, go and have a rest.


    Lucia pouted and hugged me: Dont wanna. I want to always be by your side. Say whatever you want to say to Nier. I wont disturb you. I want to spend my time by your side so as to make up for my guilt. I promise I will train as I did before once we get back. I wont let you get hurt! I promise!


    Theres no need to, really. Youre my wife, not my bodyguard. I needed you two this time, for my guards werent here. You just need toy back and enjoy your status quo. Youre the mother of two girls. How would you have time to train? Just rx, and take care of the girls.


    Mm, you need to promise you wont go anywhere dangerous, then.


    I promise.


    Nier, who was on one side, pouted and looked at me to say, You say that every time, Your Majesty. In reality, you still go wherever its dangerous. We can leave already, yet you still want to help Ying, no?


    Isnt that your fault?! If you didnt suddenly lose it and kill so many people, His Highness wouldnt feel so guilty towards Ying!


    Wow, I dont want to hear that from you. You got violent sooner than I did!


    I only killed the person who hurt His Highness. I wasnt as cruel and brutal as you, killing everybody in sight!


    The two angrily looked at each other. Niers brutal way of dealing with the corpses got on Lucias nerves, since Lucia didnt like to witness murders. Lucia added, Moreover, His Highness had always nned to kill that w-w, whatever. His Highness has always been that kind. I, too, like His Highnesss kindness and gentleness. Hes different to you, you lunatic murderer! Always killing people over everything, youre basically demented!


    I noticed Niers hand reach for her long sword at her waist. Nier furiously gritted her teeth: Your Majesty, please allow me to cut this woman down. This useless piece of trash failed to protect you, yet she has the gall to criticise me!!


    I chuckled and grabbed Niers hand: Nier, Im a little worried about you right now. Those childrens minds were twisted, because they touched Yings sabre. Are you all right? Do you feel anything unusual at all?


    Nier looked at my hand with a tinge of puzzlement. She then checked out her body: No. I feel quite fine. Nothing feels out of the ordinary for me. The sabre is no different to any other sabre to me. Oh, wait. There was something different. Its a really nice sabre to wield. I want one like it when we get back.


    Nier ced the sabre aside. The de had been cleaned. It was a very ordinary sabre except that it was the straight de type, which was different to Niers curved de. The sabre was the type used in ancient times. However, this particr de appeared to be the very, very ordinary type. It didnt have any power or dark aura around it. Besides feeling heavy when picked up, nothing else could be felt.


    I pondered, So, is this an ordinary sabre? What about Yings sabre, then? Does Yingbat the wyrm with this sort of ordinary sabre? She uses her previous sabre? Ill have to ask Ying about that if shes willing to tell me, that is. Perhaps she didnt want to use her former sabre due to the past incident. That sabre was a weapon to protect the vigers in name, but it became a weapon that took the lives of five kids. I would assume she recalls those five kids when she takes it up.


    I nodded then hugged Nier. She followed along and leaned onto my chest. In a soft voice, she said, As long as you are by my side, my lover, I wont transform into anything else. Even if I did turn into what they did, I wont hurt you. I wont hurt you no matter what I be, as protecting you is in my nature.


    Thank you. Thank you. Nier, I love you. Im very reassured with you by my side. Really.


    Nier tightly hugged me. Suddenly, she grunted and looked up at the same time, because Lucia grabbed her hair from behind with an irate look. Nier managed to give me a peck despite Lucia tugging on her hair. Lucia coldly looked at her, and then yanked her ponytail. In an aggressive voice, she eximed, Youre covered in blood, yet youre getting so close to His Highness. Dont you think you reek of blood? Not even I said I wanted to kiss His Highness at this time, and you think you can take advantage of that to just waltz in? You should go and wash off your hostility. Not throw yourself at my kind Prince!!


    You best let go before I get mad!! Let go!!


    Nier released her hold on me. Lucia hopped a few steps away to avoid letting Nier catch her. Nier raged , Your Majesty, please allow me to amputate the hand she grabbed my hair with! Ill cut my hair short when we get back. Id love to see you grab my hair again! Ill rip all of your hair out!


    I grabbed Nier: Dont, dont, dont. I think that you look really good with long hair.


    Really? I wont cut it, then. However Mm, Your Majesty, I am going to wash off first.


    Nier minded the blood stains and smell on her. I nodded; then, I pointed to the well in the rear. I used the water from the well there for as long as I had been on the ind. There waske or river in the vige, and you couldnt bath in sea water. Nier whipped her hair, and then called for a few Valkyries toe over. She ordered them to heat up water as the Princess.


    I stood up: Lucia, you go wash up, too. I wont join you two. I want to go and see Ying. I wonder how the two of them are doing. Im slightly worried. After all, Nier massacred the entire vigest night, so


    Lucia grabbed my arm and, in an earnest tone, said, Ill go with you, Your Highness. That crazy murderer massacred an entire vigest night. If Ying has feelings for the people of the vige, she would surely hate Nier to the core by now. Nier isnt with you at this moment, so Ying may attack you if she holds ill-will toward you.


    I dont think she will


    No!


    Lucia looked at me with pleading eyes: Your Highness, just let me protect you for a while. I just made a mistake. If nothing happens this time, I wont feel so guilty anymore. Your Highness, look at Ying. Could you bear to let me end up the same way?


    I gave Lucia a smile and took hold of her hand: All right, then. Come and guard me, Lucia. I trust you.


    Sure.


    Lucia wrapped her arm around mine with a smile and snuggled up on my shoulder. She revealed a bright smile as though we werent going to Yings ce but heading out onto the streets of Duargana.


    My lover was still by my side while the sun overhead was the same. It wouldve been perfect if Lucia didnt have blood on her