Individual Conflict (1)

POV (Olivia)

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My name is Olivia Gracia, I am the sole Princess of the Evandel kingdom. As a princess, of course, the treatment I receive is different from ordinary people. Living well, getting an education, and having magic talent is a gift that cannot be possessed by people with ordinary bloodlines.

Being a Royal Princess, I live with full of expectations from the people around me. Following various education to become a noblewoman, political knowledge and control of magic. Being a role model and face of the Evandel kingdom is a heavy burden for me. Even if I will not inherit the throne line directly, but seeing the nature of my two brothers who quarreling each other over the throne made me think the choice that I would one day replace my father was not impossible.

Acting that I am a neutral and harmless person, I plan various strategies to strengthen my position. If I am in an advantageous position, it will be easier for me to rise to become the Queen.

Like I did before, I collaborated with commoner faction included merchant and adventurer. Having a place in the hearts of the people and creating a good image makes me would be able to stabilize my position in the kingdom. But when I returned, I was kidnapped. I didn't think there were bandits come and mingling within my people.

They kidnapped me with sleep drugs, but I woke up on the way and recognized that this area still within my Kingdom teritory because I had been here once in the past.

I was taken to the outside of town, crossing the forest and come to a small house with wooden floors. Various scenarios crossed my head.

Will I be held hostage and used as a tool to blackmail the Kingdom?

What is the future that awaits me, if they intend to mess with my body?

Am I not strong enough?

Is my effort in vain?

I feel helpless. I have to try to get out of here, but what can I do. My body is still small, my physical power is very weak and my troublesome magic is an obstacle. Not long after, a man came in and brought a boy in. Same condition like me, his freedom was snatched away with ropes in his hands and feet. He seemed to have fainted.

The man put him on the floor like he was a piece of baggage. Then the man came out and locked the door. I watched the boy next to me. He has black hair, with the same age as me. What bad luck had made him experience something like this.

Suddenly his body jerked and he woke up as if he had a nightmare. His expression with his mouth open looking around made me think he was a freak. But I saw it.

His eyes.

It has a different color, the same as the previous Demon King.

The Demon King who is a creature carrying disasters, and destroys everything that gets in his way. His ambition to conquer and dominate the world makes the Gods panic. In the midst of panic, God tells humanity magic to summoning a hero. Hero is a counter-part of Demon King itself. Then comes 3 Heroes to eradicate the Demon King. The Demon King was sealed, but it cost the heroes's life. Many have asked why the Demon King was not killed. But when they found out that the Demon King could reincarnate, then sealing it was the best choice. With the sealed Demon King, making the world least able to take a break from such a dangerous existence. Because the threats from the Devils were not as aggressive as before. But that doesn't mean that there's no possibility that they will attack us when we let our guard down. Besides the Demon race, our enemy is between our self. As I am experiencing right now between my brother.

He looked confused and remained silent for a moment. And when he opened his mouth I thought he would ask what happened why he was here. But he asked a strange thing. He asked if it was night now? As if something will happen if it's not night. I doubt my hearing, but it seems I'm not wrong. I answer it.

"Yes, I think it's night now."

He paused again, who knows what he was thinking.

The vulgar bandit's laughter came all the way here, they said unpleasant things about this child. About those eyes. Certainly the heavy burden he had to bear all this time. He was silent as if he were absorbing the bandit's words.

What does he think?

Was his life full of suffering all this time?

Suddenly he raised his face, and looked at me with conviction, and asked.

"Hey, do you want to get out of here?"

His words seemed to offer a solution to this problem. But seeing his weak body, I did not expect much from him.

He asked the same question a second time. And I answered

"Of course I want to go back."

He told me about his plan, of course, I could not immediately believe it. Moreover, I have an important position in the kingdom. Each of my actions can affect the kingdom itself, so I will act cautiously.

And from his odd request, he told me to act and play with them.

"Huh ?!"

Unconsciously, I raised my voice. It was obvious, after all, that it was impossible for a princess like me to serve those bandits.

Uhh. If only I were stronger.

He said that he would save me. To be honest, I just thought it was just a joke that was not funny. He told me to turn around. I also asked what he was going to do. Turns out he just wanted to untie me. To be honest with our hands tied behind our backs his back feels impossible to untie this tie. But I still do it. I want to see to what extent his abilities are. And he has unexpectedly freed me from being bound, I opened the boy knot too. Even with my free hands, I was still having trouble, how did this boy open my rope when his hands were tied like this. I could use the excuse that I am a noblewoman because I have never done anything like make hard labor like this..

But what about him?

Why can he do something even with he was bounded?

Hmm, it seems I underestimated him. Okay, I decided to believe it. After he was free from that bound, he taught me how to make strange knots. The knot he taught looked very complicated, but he could open it easily without excessive force. he's quite cunning too. After I tie him as he told. He ties me back exactly as before.

I'm speechless, I think we will work together against the bandits, and to be honest I still think his words about play with the bandit was a joke. But it seems like he is serious huh. I glared at him in despair. Well, I entrust my destiny to this child. what will happen to me later, but one thing is certain. Our destiny is connected to each other. He depends on me, and so do I. One mistake then we both will die. I prepare my mentals and ask his plan once more.

He asked me to act as a fragile girl who was afraid of death. Leaving my pride as a Royal Princess and bear this humiliation. I placed my hopes on this boy. But I didn't understand how he would overcome the bandits. He might be smart and cunning but what I saw he did not have a physical body like a guard, even I doubt how he would confidently handle the bandit alone. He asked me to play the bandit because he could not fight while protecting me.

He is not trying to make a move on me right?

The current condition is not the right thing to do such a thing. But he has a serious eye when he says it. That means only one possibility.

"You are a burden"

A burden. I will hinder him. I don't know why my chest hurts when I think about it. I want to cry. My life depends on others is against my principles. I am determined to be independent. I want to make this kingdom better. I cannot continue - continue to be a "princess" that can only be spoiled. I study all the time, forging myself to be more beautiful both physically and in my personality. I practice my magic every day.

But even my magic was strong, it has a very severe problem. Chanting my magic spell was long. When I do then I will be in danger of being attacked. In other words, even though my magic is strong, there is no point if I cannot activate it. Being beautiful and smart, having a good image in the hearts of my people, and having good magic will strengthen my position. If I have profile like that, I could be a queen and marry a king from another kingdom that is more prosperous and improve my kingdom. Politic marriage is common among nobles. Not the exception of the royal family. From expanding the kingdom, gaining cooperation in any field, even stopping the war. Political marriage has a strong influence on the nobility. That's why I tried so hard that I could be the best. And got the best too.

However, in his eyes. I just a burden.

I want to argue, that I am a strong person, I am not a weak girl.

I am not alone, I have a royal family who will look for me. I offer my proposal to wait

But he denied my plan.

Yeah, I know he has a complicated situation after all.

But just as a guarantee, I asked if the plan would work.

He answered me with confidence. 80% he said. I never heard word % before.He explain that was like when we tried to do his plan 5 times,It will succeed 4 times,and and 1 failure.In this condition,I can act like spoiled child.I only have a choice to believe him. Maybe I should burn this house with my magic. Fuu. Not good, I started to have a strange delusion, if I set this house on fire, we wouldn't be safe.

"Hah"

I took a breath to clear my mind. Judging by his words I understood my condition and he was not much different, we could only rely on each other. The results were in the hands of gods. Whether luck was on our side or not.

"OK"

I agreed with his plan.

I tried to cry,even though i was never crying again over few past year.

He told a story to help me. He realized I could not cry like a baby anymore. This boy said to remember what my parents had done to raise me.

"Imagining their abundant affection that ordinary people might not get. If you are in the position of ordinary people you will not get things like that, he said. Imagine the lives of orphaned ordinary people.

How is their fate after not having parents?

How their find the food?

If they could only drink water for one day, that was a gift, then how could the nobles who were picky about food?

Don't you have to be grateful for the life you have?

How they survive day by day?

Even if they begs, of course not everyone wants to give, right?

If no one gives them money, how they survive?

Have you ever seen orphans commit crimes like stealing?

Why do you think they do that?

That's because of circumstances that force them you know?

If circumstances force, they can even become criminals.

Where I came from, most criminals were born from a teribble background.

They are forced to become criminals to survive, you know?

In their eyes killing humans can be done like breathing, without any hesitation

If circumstances can force good people to become criminals, then can humans turn into demons?

Selling his soul for strength, isn't that impossible right?

And just imagine. When a powerful criminal comes to come to your kingdom, and attack all your citizen. They don't hesitate to kill your family. Because of the revenge in their heart, because of the difference in fate that you have received, can you imagine their suffering?"

He repeatedly gave me a suggestion. I felt when he said that, there was a little soft emotion in each of his words. Like it was part of his past.

If it's not his past, then how can he tell such a story?

I cried loudly, I never cried again since I was 6 years old, I wiped out all my unstoppable emotions by remembering my parents' love. I was surprised I could cry like this. Previously I only cried for a while, but this time I cried sobbing.

I cried uncontrollably. It never crossed my mind that my kingdom would be destroyed.

I can't imagine,my life without my parent.But when he told his story, I seemed to be able to see the picture in my head. Seeing my city destroyed, and my people being killed. Seeing my family destroyed leave me nauseated.

I almost lost control of my emotions. I saw him nod and begin to understand. He helped me to live up to my acting. This kid, what he had experienced to be able to tell such terrible stories like he was used to doing it.

Soon a man came here. He took me away from the room. I looked back to see the boy. He gave me a smile. From his eyes I felt that he said.

"Leave the rest to me."

I entrusted my destiny to him. That was my choice.