"Daniel, why did you bother coming with us?"
In the carriage, Adam sat besides me, allowing me to lean my head on his shoulder. Barret was driving the carriage to the palace, and Daniel sat across from the both of us, staring at me wide-eyed because of my question.
"L-Lady Elodie! You are joking, yes? I saved your life!"
"When you had powers," I spoke lazily. "Now, what will you do?"
He pouted. "Lady Elodie... isn't that cruel?"
"I told you to use the sword to get your powers back; you decided to cry instead. What is cruel?"
"Y-You!"
"Elodie," Adam suddenly spoke. His hand moved to circle around my hip. "Daniel has stayed by your side for so long; shouldn't you treat him better?"
"Tch." I closed my eyes and crossed my arms. I was pleased enough with Adam's actions to forget about Daniel all together. "Just don't get killed during the fight."
"L-Lady Elodie, why would you say that?"
Adam let out a scoff. "Elodie, I did not know you held grudges for so long."
It was my turn to scoff. "Well, now you do."
Adam randomly pressed his lips to my temple. "You should be nicer to him."
I closed my eyes. "I'm going to sleep. Wake me when we arrive."
"Alright." Adam's hand on my waist patted me softly in a rhythmic pattern, as if he was codling a baby to sleep.
Weirdly, I relaxed against him enough to slip into sleep.
๏๏๏ꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉ๏๏๏
"Elodie, we are here." Adam woke me up softly. I opened my eyes.
"Already?"
He laughed lightly. "Why are you so tired?"
I shrugged. "Perhaps all the assassination attempts are catching up to me. I feel like an old woman."
Adam left the carriage after Daniel, turning around to hold my hand. "Who has tried to kill you?"
I accepted his hand and jumped down. "That's right, I haven't yet told you. Sir Shane came looking for me. He-"
"What?" Adam's eyes widened in shock. "He tried to do what?"
I batted my eyes. "Why? What is so surprising?"
"Elodie. Why didn't you tell me he-"
"-Don't move!!" Someone dared to cut off Adam. Their yell was annoyingly loud.
I looked away from Adam with a frown.
"Can you not see that we are having a conversation right now?". There happened to be multiple soldiers around us; at least an entire battalion of the army stood there. "Right, what were you saying, Adam?" I looked back at him.
He drew his sword with a sigh. "I didn't expect him to be so impulsive. We will deal with him when the time comes. For now, we should deal with what's in front of us."
"Soldiers! Do you get paid to just stand there?!" A different, loud voice spoke up. One that I recognized.
"Your majesty." I smiled and crossed my arms. "What do I owe the pleasure?"
"Did you believe we would allow you to simply ride into this palace without killing you?"
I shrugged. "I've come into the palace, and you have yet to kill me. So..."
"Tch!" The king scoffed. "Then I shall do so, right now! Attack!!"
The soldiers charged forward.
"How impudent of you." I smiled. My magic tickled between fingertips. Waving them lightly summoned a full storm of wind. The wind threw the solders to the ground. I lifted my hand, carrying their swords into the wind. "Adam," I said.
He stayed planted in front of me, holding his sword. "What is it?"
"Do you wish to play a game?"
Barrett cleared his throat. "Lady Elodie, I don't believe now is-"
I raised my other hand, and Barrett stopped talking. "Should we see how many of these guards Daniel can kill?"
"E-Eh?" Daniel coughed, instantly alarmed. "M-Miss!"
"Calm down. Here. I shall bring down the numbers for you." Dropping my hand, the swords fell. Soldiers pulled shields and covered their heads. I frowned. "Ah... sorry Daniel, It seems you will have a lot to kill. Would you like Barrett to help you?"
Daniel's head had imaginary alarm bells ringing over them. "L-Lady Elodie!"
"You think this is a joke?!" King Elicus stared at me, still sitting on his horse.
"I was wrongfully locked away for seven years." I stifled my laugh, rolling my eyes. "Don't I deserve a joke or two?"
"Elodie," Adam suddenly spoke. "We should quickly put an end to this."
I sighed, closing my eyes. "Is that the case?"
"Y-Yes! Sir Adam is right!" Daniel was quick to agree.
"...Alright then."
๏๏๏ꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉ๏๏๏
Elodie opened her eyes; they glowed brightly. "We shall do it your way. King, I will take you seriously."
"..." The soldiers standing in the frontlines wanted to cry.
They were currently standing right outside the palace gates, civilians in their homes watching as the Evil Witch approached the soldiers without breaking a sweat. It was a sight to see. It was then that the public got a good look at the infamous woman!
A small face with a cat-like smile, she was walking with good posture and wearing a simple green dress. Her long black hair made her look more mysterious. This witch was quite beautiful!!
The soldiers, on the other hand, felt more and more unprepared.
After all—this woman just stole all their weapons as a joke!
However, the King only glared harder at Elodie. "Attack!" He shouted. The soldiers stiffened, running towards her.
Elodie walked calmly towards the soldier with a raised hand. "Sleep."
A green glow emitted from her eyes. One by one, the guards felt the sudden urge to rest before falling to the ground.
Elodie smiled wider, holding her hand out. A sword appeared in it. "King Elicus. Now it is truly just us. Kill me if you can."
The public couldn't believe it. The evil witch waged war with the King!! Publicly!
However, the king only stared at her. "You enter my kingdom... and threaten my people?"
"Not your people." The evil witch raised her sword to the king. "Only you."
The villagers watching this were stunned. This Evil Witch was brave!
"Soldiers!"
The king's loud call was heard by everyone nearby. There was a marching sound that echoed on the street. The loud thundering sound erupted, and the large metal gates of the palace lifted. The marching sound was perhaps a thousand more soldiers coming forward, some with swords and arrows, others with guns.
The evil witch's eyes dimmed. "King, you really don't care for any of these men, do you?"
King Elicus' eyes narrowed in response. "How dare you! These soldiers train day and night for this country to take down enemies like you!"
"Alright." She raised her hand, and her eyes glowed. "All of you! Sleep for this country as well!!!"
The marching suddenly ceased. The civilians in their houses nearby held their breath. There were loud thuds that could be heard.
The public couldn't believe it.
The evil witch stared at the king; her expression had gotten so cold, it matched the blowing icy wind. "Get down from that horse of yours and fight me!!"
Ah... this kingdom was in danger.