Seventh Day: Eternal Peace and Eternal War

Lily walked around the hotel and soon came into it’s restaurant with Tiana beside her. Surprisingly, Tiana allowed her to wander around the hotel as much as she liked as long as she with her. Before her was the cuisine of her hometown, Bluebox nation. A pasta bolognise with several steamed chestnuts.

An old man then came into the restaurant. He dressed formally. His white hair complemented his buff body as he walk confidently to Lily and he sat there as if he owned the place. Lily looked at him while raising an eyebrow but she continued to eat nevertheless. The food before her was more important than mere strangers trying to dine with her. She was weirded out a little because the restaurant was not especially full but ignored it nevertheless. She was no longer a princess, but a prisoner. Besides, she was known as indolent princess in her hometown. Few people paid her any attention if any at all. And the one that did ever paid her any respect.

“Greetings, Are you Lily, the last princess of Bluebox Nation?” the man before her dropped the bombshell question immediately. Lily and tiana snapped their attention immediately. Tiana in particular summoned her dagger from her [item box] and took battle stance.

“Who are you?” Tiana growled.

“I am Osborn Regalia. Duke of Osborn. It is located just north of here.”

“Rebels!” Tiana shouted as she quickly armed herself with a dagger from her [item box]. Osborn merely smiled at the futile endeavor.

“Filthy invaders dared talk big in my homeland! Know your place!” He spat out. Malice filled his word as he shut her with his [intimidate].

Tiana shuddered, almost dropping her dagger. She knew she couldn’t win with a foe before her. She was merely level 54 combat maid while the enemy before her must have been at least level 100. She didn’t know how Duke Osborn was able to pinpoint Lily’s Location.

“Did they followed us from the airport? Does it mean there was a mole somewhere in this hotel or airport employee?” She thought While scanning her surrounding, searching for backups, the duke smirked mockingly as he spoke out in glee,” Hahaha, you have no power here. Your king is at the castle while my forces are already here.”

“Now, let us get down to business, princess Lily. Ignore that small fry.” Duke Osborn said with disdain. “Princess Lily, I asked you to marry my son and become the future queen of Bluebox Nation. Will yo become a queen of bluebox and lead its people?”

Lily tilted her head in confusion with his proposal. She didn’t even know duke osborn nor did she ever met him. Why did he make such a suggestion? “Duke Osborn, did you know the rumors about me, and that my sister, Jeanne Scheherazade is still alive? I just met her yesterday and —”

The duke cut her with a reply as he scoffed. “Jeanne was drugged. She is James’s lapdog now. We can’t trust any of her words. You however are different. There is still a light of sanity in your eyes. I know about you. The indolent princess whom despite being a royalty was so indolent that they said you are below level 10. If only we can find other royalties, we would not even considered using you. But it can’t be helped. Moreover, I think you would be the perfect candidate since you have no diplomatic obligation. You just need to do what I said and everything will be fine.”

Lily was irked at the old man's frenzy speech. His words hold no sway to her indolent nature. She said weakly, “Duke Osborn. We have already lost.”

The duke was appalled at Lily’s reply. A royal was supposed to never show such a defeated look. Passion surged within his words, “Don’t give up just yet. We will surely prevail! Well, I guess I understand that you were threatened. Let us go to somewhere more secure.”

He smiled and stood up. He then glared at Tiana as if signaling something which Lily couldn’t see. The truth is he activated his aura. Aura is a reflection of user stats. When a person actvated his aura, it usually meant that he was going to fight. Tiana perceived this and quickly charged at him only to be knocked aside with a punch. He then brandished his greatsword which he took from his [item box]. several more men in blue suit rushed into the building and the pittance of guards were subdued.

“Wait. Don’t kill her!” Lily screamed when the duke pointed his sword at Tiana.

The duke glanced at her as he spoke out. “Well, she is just a small fry. Let’s leave, gentlemen. no blood shall be spilled on this airport.” Airport was often thought as a neutral zone in both country. However, such rule was only implicitly spoken. Osborn lifted Lily like a bag of wheat and strode of to a prepared car outside. Then he throw her inside the car before getting himself in.

“So, dad? Is this the lazy princess?” A haughty man dressed in leather jeans and jacket said as he munched on his lunch in passenger seat. He sneered at Lily as if looking at goods in store. Lily felt a shiver as he seemed to size her up. “She got the looks at least. But she is such a low levels. My [Rivalry sense] turned nil. It means she must be below 20. I don’t really like dumb weak women.”

“Yes. She is Lily, the fourth princess of Bluebox. Your opinion is irrelevant. Now, get going.” He ordered the driver to drive.

On the way, even without stats nor skill to enhance her perception, she can’t help but notice the duke’s son leering at her even until they reach the hideout. The hideout was a plain office building in the middle of the city, with Osborn and his son, several other nobles and commoners alike were in attendance. The duke said that it was a ‘temporary’ hideout because his real headquarters was faraway in the dukedom. There, Lily was pressed again to marry his haughty son.

“So, Princess Lily. Now that we are safe, how about we talk the future of the country.” Duke osborn started the conversation. He felt that Lily was merely being passive due to the threat James and his cohorts apply to her. However, unbeknownst to him, Lily already had negative impression on his son. Moreover, she had no desire to marry and become the queen of bluebox.

“Then, may I ask how are you going to beat James? Even with support from the commercial nation such as yellow box or the theocracy whiteboxes. It will only be a Pyrrhic victory at best.” Lily answered firm. She believed that bluebox has lost and thus to reduce the casualties and suffering, she should obeyed James and redboxes for the time being. Never mind about other people, she needed to prioritized herself first and foremost. it has been engraved in her subconsciousness that if she betrayed James, she would suffer the consequences by drinking that pink liquid and become like her sister, Jeanne.

“We should not give up Princess Lily! Together, we will surely prevail!” one of Osborn’s henchmen shouted. His shout echoed and followed by others.Lily almost facepalmed her face. She then suddenly got an idea, an idea born from her endeavor these several days.

“Have you heard about the tale of eternal wars and eternal peace?” she started her tale.”Once upon a time, there were two city who stood side by side these cities were lush and rich with its people live in harmony let’s call them a peaceful city an the rebellious city. Then, an army led by a tyrant king tried to subjugate them. An army marched on these two city.

“The first resist until the very end. And, at the end, the city was razed and burned to the ground. Its remnant become bandits that plagued the land. The second, gave up without a fight. The tyrant king, who was pleased that the city capitulated without more bloodshed decided to annex the city.

“At first, their life in the city was harsh, however, after a few years, they were finally annexed and when a girl from the city was married as a king’s concubine, the city was treated the same as others except a higher taxes. But they still accept it without complain, many mocked them for becoming loyal dogs of the tyrant king so easily, in return for their fealty, the king took hold of their security.

“then, much, much later, the king died on a battlefield. When the king died, his servants immediately planned a civil war the country was split. There was this faction, and that faction. The peaceful city which has grown exponentially during the king’s era, become the centerpiece of this faction and that faction. Then, the peaceful city simply said, “ye, who respected us the most shall earned our fealty.” And thus, that faction won the civil war.

“the peaceful city was never harmed and although their incurred much jealousy, their opponents simply couldn’t oppose them lest they incurred the wrath of this and that faction. And soon enough they no longer hold the title of concubines but queens and dukes. All without shedding a single bloodshed.

“Meanwhile, the rebellious city was no longer lush and rich. All of its remaining citizens became bandits. And throughout history, they were reviled and their lands were decayed due to the flame of wars.“ Lily finished her story and the audience turned silent. She looked at her surroundings and their voice no longer screamed for rebellion.

“Your thoughtfulness were impressive, but naive, Bluebox has history and secrets which we must keep.” Duke Osborn said.

“There are no secrets. If you were talking about halls of mana, then King James already had access to it.” Lily said as her expression grew dim.

“WHAT?!” Osborn screamed. His calmness was gone. Osborn thought Lily was a mere obscured princess. Ignored by society due to her indolence. Never he would have thought Lily knew about such a secret.

“How? Who? YoOu?” Osborn turned from confusion, then to anger. Directed at Lily. Uncontrolled,he brandished his sword at her. But he stopped himself as he thought things through. It was impossible for Lily to leaked such important information to Redbox.

“I was there for mere 5 days Lord Osborn. You see, Redbox was Kingdom but its king was not hereditary. It was chosen in contest and by parliament. Nobody knew who james was before becoming a king.”

“Yes. You are right. Very well. I accept your condition. I will return you back to the palace tomorrow. You may rest, princess Lily. Hopefully you may become a queen one day.” Duke Osborn smiled and cheers ran through his officers.

Lily cared not for them. She only breathed a sigh of relief as she dodged a marriage with a rude and violent Duke’s son and possible execution by James.