The War God’s Favorite novel Chapter 102

#102 The Hostage
As soon as the green dragon landed, the three people got down. Princess Shareen, leading the little trio, almost ran inside the Diamond Palace, furious. She hadn’t heard the best news on her way there, and she was seriously hoping there was some sort of mistake. She ignored all the servants that ran to greet them.
“Mother! Mother!
The Diamond Palace was awfully quiet, even more than usual. She had noticed the little groups of soldiers stationed in the Diamond City on her flight there, but they were in such a small number that it didn’t seem that important. However, now that she was inside the Diamond Palace, Shareen felt restless. What the heck was going on there? She had only been absent for a few weeks! The journey to and inside the North Camp was almost like a holiday trip for her. After she was done putting Kairen’s men back to work, under her own criteria, Shareen had been almost bored. Truth was, Kairen’s army was well trained enough to be able to function perfectly with or . without their Commander. There had been a few attacks from the northern barbarians, but this wasn’t anything they could handle. Shareen herself had participated a few times, having more fun fighting than leading the men. She participated in a few gatherings, had listened to their reports, and made a few changes here and there, but really, she was not really worried about the North Army.
As it had been reported in the Imperial Palace, the northern barbarians had attacked more than usual, but this wasn’t as bad as it had been reported. She was even shocked at how easy it had been to get rid of them. After a few days on the battlefield, she had enough. The General also made sure to have her visit the Mountain Hospital, Cassandra’s doing. Shareen wasn’t too surprised to hear them praise the Lady of the Mountain endlessly, but she sure was impressed about her legacy there. It certainly would be worth implementing in all the Dragon Empire’s armies in the future.
After all of this, Shareen had decided to go back to the Onyx Castle to rest a bit. However, after spending so much of her time in the Imperial Palace, that place was incredibly boring. The Onyx Castle sure fell like a forgotten remnant of their Empire, with about nothing to do and nothing to see. Sure, she had found a servant fun enough to play with for a while, but her mother’s letters had come to end the fun time. 3
Imperial Concubine Kareen wasn’t one to ask for anyone’s help or even the type to worry over small things. That’s why Shareen had been even more alarmed by her mother’s letters. Once she had told Anour, her younger brother had become restless, too. The last one she had read before leaving was telling her about her mother’s spies going missing one by one, and no news coming from the Eastern Front. Though Shareen wouldn’t have been too worried about Kairen ignoring their mother in normal circumstances, it was highly unlikely that he would ignore his concubine. Cassandra was so close to her delivery date, and Shareen had witnessed how much Kairen loved her. If he hadn’t come back yet, it meant he wasn’t done fighting yet. If the war led by her brother, the Empire’s War God still wasn’t done, something was wrong.
Hence, Shareen had taken Anour and Roun and fled back to the Diamond Palace. She had also decided to bring that annoying guy with them. The poor Imperial servant was left outside to puke after he couldn’t handle the flight, but she could worry about him later.
“Mother!”
“Shareen!”
Finally hearing her mother’s voice, the Princess let out a long sigh of relief and ran to her. The Imperial Concubine was actually in one of the gardens, arms crossed. Sitting like a queen on one of the chairs, a young maid at her feet, she was completely still until her daughter appeared. Her little Dragon, Srai, was curled up at her feet, and continuously growling at the woman facing her.
“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” growled Shareen, taking out her sword.
Of all people, she had not expected to see Phetra there. However, the princess was seated in front of Lady Kareen and flanked by no less than six soldiers. She now longer had any injuries visible and was wearing her purple dress as if she was just relaxing there. Meanwhile, the Imperial Concubine, too, was flanked by two soldiers. None of
those men belonged to the Diamond Palace’s militia, either. Shareen immediately recognized more of Vrehan’s militia, with their red armors. From an external point of view, it may have seemed like the two women were hanging out in that garden with heavy security, but the atmosphere was icy. Phetra seemed in control, with a snicker on.
However, as soon as her eyes fell on Shareen, the snicker disappeared in a flash and she went extremely white, visibly terrified.
“Y… You… What are you doing here…?”
“That’s my line, you crazy bitch!” Retorted Shareen, heading right in her direction: 4
“Do not step further, Princess Shareen,” said one of the soldiers, taking out his sword and walking up to her. “We have orders to…”
Shareen grabbed his hair and brutally slammed the man’s face against her knee. It probably wouldn’t have made such an atrocious sound if she wasn’t wearing metal knee pads. The man fell at her feet, his face completely wrecked. All the others remained in a religious silence.
“Finally,” said Kareen, standing up. “How long did it take you to get there!”
“What the fuck is going on, mother?” Asked Shareen, still glaring at a petrified Phetra.
“Can’t you tell? I’m a hostage. In my own Palace, too!” 1
Shareen raised an eyebrow, turning to her mother. There were a lot of adjectives that could be used to qualify Lady Kareen, but she would never have thought to hear her mother call herself a hostage one day. Nothing even remotely close to a victim’s status, actually. That woman was probably the most influential one in this Empire, if not the most powerful.
However, glancing towards the petrified Phetra, Shareen already had a rough idea of what was going on.
“…Where is Cassandra? And the girls?”
Quickly, Lady Kareen hurried to explain everything. Anour arrived in the room just in time to listen to everything as well. The Imperial Concubine detailed all of Vrehan’s arrival in her City, and how he had barged into the Diamond Palace with his men and taken control of the City. Kareen had spent several hours, that night, agonizing over Cassandra’s crazy jump in the waterfall before one of the servants had managed to let her know the news from some of her people in the Diamond City. Not only confirming that the Concubine and her sister were alive and well, but also that she was hidden by their people and about to give birth. After that, Vrehan had spent two nights and two days crazy furious, looking for Cassandra everywhere, sending all his men left and right to interrogate the people and find her. Once they had found clues that the young concubine was headed north, and fearing Shareen’s arrival, he had left in a hurry, only leaving some of his men and Phetra there.
Shareen and Anour were both in shock over what had happened in such a short time. Not only there had been no news from the Capital or the Eastern front in weeks, but Vrehan had come here?
“What the hell was father thinking?” Said Shareen. “He is not stupid enough to send Vrehan here!”
“I don’t think so, either,” replied her mother, glaring at Phetra. “However, that little rat did come here and claim he was acting on behalf of the Emperor to arrest Cassandra. She had no choice but to flee.”
“Damn it! You think Sephir is really dead?” (3
“It seems so… The official news arrived here the next morning, your Father placed the entire Empire in mourning for the first Prince Sephir.”
Shareen shook her head. The Official news was validated by the Palace, this couldn’t be Vrehan’s lie. However, she didn’t believe one second Cassandra had anything to do with this murder. She glared even harder at Phetra.
“Where is that damn little rat now?”
“He left yesterday. Their annoying soldiers searched the entire City to find Cassandra, but they couldn’t. His original plan apparently was apparently to lock down my City and use me as a hostage. However, when he understood I had already sent a letter to have you come back before he killed all my couriers, he panicked and left like the coward he is.” 4
“I see he left his trash behind…” growled Shareen.
Phetra was absolutely petrified, and terrified. (2
“Oh, she was apparently supposed to watch their hostage, me. Needless to say, it was incredibly boring.”
“Your brother is the most horrendous scum to have ever lived,” said Shareen, slowly walking towards Phetra. “Not only does that fucker dare to barge here, to try to harm my brother’s concubine while he’s gone, but you even have the fucking guts to use my mother as a hostage?”
“Don’t touch me!” Screeched Phetra, retreating in utter fear.
Even the men who were supposed to guard her actually stepped back as Shareen came closer, worried. No one wanted to be the next to have all of their facial bones violently wrecked by the furious Princess’ knee. Phetra was left alone to face her, and she couldn’t even hide her fear.
“Y… You can’t touch me! The Emperor ordered you not to kill me!”
“If I remember it correctly, father’s exact words were, not while we’re eating, and not in the middle of the Imperial Chamber. Too bad for you this is not the right time and place,” hissed Shareen, slowly raising her sword. 3
“Stop! Stop! You can’t kill me! I… I know Vrehan’s secret! I’ll tell you everything!” 1
Shareen hesitated, tilting her head. Truth was, she had been dying to get rid of this vermin for a while, and even Kairen’s cruel punishment on her hadn’t been nearly enough in her eyes. It was almost too infuriating to see Phetra was able to walk so soon already. However, this wasn’t a normal situation either.
“Mother, what do you say?”
“I say I want my grandchild back!” Yelled the Imperial Concubine, exasperated. “This damn duo of siblings got rid of all of my soldiers and chased Cassandra away while locking me here. If Cassandra, her sister, and my grandson aren’t all alive, unharmed and well when we find them, I swear I’m going to peel every layer of that skin’s bitch and break every single one of her bones myself!”
“Oh, good idea, mother. We can get started on that right now,” said Shareen with a sadistic smile. “You, break one of her legs.”
The soldier she had pointed with her sword went livid. Phetra was his master’s sister, and, when the second Prince had left, he had told them to protect her or, in any case, make sure she didn’t die. The poor man hesitated for too long. Shareen got rid of him with one movement from her sword, making Phetra scream in horror. She then turned to another soldier.
“I can do this all day,” she said with a terrifying smile.
“Why the hell are you doing this!” Yelled Phetra. “Just do it yourself, you monster!”
Shareen turned to her.
“Oh, I would gladly do that, Phetra, but each one of those men had the fucking balls to trap my mother here and kill her militia. So, now, they are either going to learn to obey who rightfully rules this place, or die as should all of Vrehan’s damn dogs.”
Behind her, Kareen smiled, obviously proud of her daughter. Though she wasn’t a fighter, Kareen praised herself in raising those two children well. Phetra looked at the soldiers, realizing what Shareen was doing. This was simple and cruel torture. Vrehan had left those men behind to protect her, not for them to torture his sister!
“Mother?” Asked Shareen after a short silence.
“Yes, daughter of mine?”
“How tall is the highest place in the Diamond Palace?”
“About… seven or eight floors, I think.”
“Well, you see Phetra, we do have an option in case all of Vrehan’s men remain stupidly obedient to your scum brother. I mean, it’s only a few more floors than last time; You might die for real this time, but maybe not…”
Phetra was livid and so scared she was on the verge of passing out.
“B… Break it!” She screamed at the closest soldier. “Do it! P… Please, hurry!”
Shareen almost had a satisfied smile on, watching this. She knew Vrehan had actually done nothing but abandon his sister to her wrath, but she really didn’t care. Phetra had harmed Cassandra, killed Dahlia, and imprisoned their mother here. Shareen was too furious to let this go.