Chapter 452
Intimidation.

For the first time in her life, Eriphoni felt an overwhelming sense of intimidation.

She was a queen who had ruled above all others, a noble born of a royal bloodline stretching back centuries—no, even longer. The legitimate heir of a dynasty that had endured for generations.

No one, not even her own parents, dared treat her lightly. Everyone knew Eriphoni was destined to become the queen of Luswena.

Yet here was this small child, merely by virtue of being crown prince, ordering Eriphoni herself to kneel. A humiliation she had never faced, not even on the battlefield, right in the heart of the Bariel palace, with representatives from three nations watching.

“…This is going too far.”

“Is this the kind of joke you exchange in Luswena?”

Eriphoni’s smile twisted bitterly.

The boy was resolute. There was no hint of jest in his threat to cut off her legs if she refused to kneel.

How could he speak so cruelly? The officials swallowed hard, watching the situation unfold, while the mages stiffened, clearly uncomfortable.

This was a clash between rulers—the crown prince and the queen—each holding firm. Eventually, one would have to yield, but the way Jin expressed himself was far too harsh to predict the outcome.

To order her, Eriphoni, to kneel? From her lofty position as queen, even if she wished to comply, she could not.

“Shall I repeat myself? The one who brought the teacup was that young mage from the Magic Department. Though from Luswena, he is a traitor who incited rebellion and shattered the royal palace. Lord Ian said he is now under his command. So naturally, bringing the tea falls under the Magic Department’s jurisdiction. Is that all?”

Eriphoni stepped closer to Jin, her voice low and growling. She wanted nothing more than to tap that round forehead and teach the brat some manners.

“The one who brewed the tea was the envoy from Burgos. Luswena had no involvement in this process. And yet you order me to kneel? Even as a defeated nation, is it truly the mark of a wise ruler of Bariel to wield power over matters unrelated to you?”

If this had been after a lost war, if she had been told to kneel and kiss the ground then, she would have done so gladly. As the leader of a defeated country, carrying the souls of fallen soldiers on her back, bowing would not have been difficult.

But now? If she bowed, the lives of the surviving people of Luswena would collapse with her. The nation’s dignity would be utterly trampled. She would rather die than lower herself, not even with the slightest nod.

“Very well. So Burgos was involved as well, wasn’t it? Vania, representative of Burgos.”

“…Yes.”

“You will kneel too.”

Vania, watching from the side, flinched and glanced around nervously. She felt every gaze piercing through her. Eventually, urged by the urgent signals from the Burgos delegation, she slowly smoothed her clothes and knelt.

Though of royal blood, she had spent half her life under Rutherford’s rule. She knew what it meant to be subordinate, and sometimes felt her own position heavier than that of a slave running free. So what was the big deal about kneeling?

As Vania bowed her head before Jin, Eriphoni sighed deeply, as if on the verge of madness.

“Haah, damn it.”

“Well, Eriphoni? Burgos, standing before Ian’s death, knelt and submitted to Bariel’s authority. Yet your gaze… still looks down on me.”

If Vania had refused and resisted, Eriphoni might have found a way to save face. But with her compliance, there was no room for retreat. The Luswena delegation seemed to have decided it was better not to watch at all, turning their heads away completely.

Meanwhile, others focused their attention even more, curious to see if and when Eriphoni would finally bow before the crown prince.

“I apologize, Your Highness. Unless you grow taller, my gaze will remain fixed here.”

Eriphoni made her decision. She would rather die than have her honor sullied and her dignity trampled. If it meant preserving her life by crawling on the ground, she would rather face a broken skull and confront him head-on.

Objectively, the crown prince’s order was unreasonable. The Magic Minister had suddenly collapsed and died, yet without any investigation, the queen of a nation was ordered to kneel? It made no sense.

Jin slowly nodded, acknowledging this.

“Very well. But I have no time. Before Lord Ian’s body grows colder, I will place you below and question you. From below, one cannot see above, but from above, one can see below. This applies to truth as well.”

Swish.

“Eek!”

“Your Highness!”

“This cannot be! We are envoys here to negotiate! Please uphold the Empire’s dignity!”

“Everyone, step back!”

At Jin’s gesture, Xiaosi drew his sword. The startled attendants silently retreated, while the Luswena delegation stood barehanded to block the way.

“Tolerance has ended, Eriphoni. Everyone here will witness the blood you shed. You’d better get your wits about you.”

“Hah!”

So she was going all the way. Jin’s patience was gone, and Eriphoni’s as well. She shouted for all to hear.

“You arrogant shadow of fate, the lowest of the five princes, puffed up with pride! You did not earn your place through achievement, but through the death of your brother. Do you think that is your true strength? Foolish and ignorant! You have risen far beyond your abilities, and that is why you act so arrogantly!”

“……!”

“Your handling of a defeated nation is laughable. As long as you hold your position, Bariel and other nations will never unite. Will you kill and kill again, dragging the defeated nation soaked in blood? Gaia will one day be filled with those who curse Bariel’s name!”

“Shut your mouth!”

Clang!

Xiaosi swung his sword to cut off Eriphoni’s words, but Eldert stepped in front of him. Xiaosi’s blow struck Eldert’s arm, tearing the cloth and revealing gray iron armor beneath.

Was he wearing protective gear? Xiaosi narrowed his eyes, and through Eldert’s flowing hair, a fist flew toward him.

Thwack!

In that moment, Eriphoni snatched up her golden bow from the wall. Though she had no arrows, the bow itself was sturdy enough to wield as a weapon.

“Drop your weapons!”

“Everyone, calm down, calm down!”

“Argh!”

“Subdue Luswena! Bind all those from Luswena!”

“Your Highness, please move this way!”

“Queen Eriphoni! Drop your weapon! Or else—! Aaaah!”

Eriphoni struck down a guard who lunged at her with the bow. Blood spurted like a fountain, staining the white wall with red.

The mages formed a protective circle around Ian, awaiting Jin’s orders. With the minister gone, only the royal head could command them.

“Your Highness, what shall we do?”

This was the heart of the palace. The Luswena people, poorly armed, had almost no chance of doing anything. It felt like watching a small beast trapped in a cage, struggling in vain. Jin glared at Eriphoni, flanked by the mages.

“Capture her alive. As long as she breathes, it’s enough.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Queen Eriphoni! Be careful!”

“Damn it, damn it!”

The Luswena delegation resisted fiercely, but their limits were clear. One by one, they were forced to their knees, faces crushed and bound, as if their masters’ unfinished business was being completed. Eriphoni, seeing her subordinates fall, quickly averted her gaze.

“Eldert! Who is it?”

Among the traitorous Luswena mages, there was one in contact with Eldert. Though not fully committed, they had made contact. For now, that was the only trustworthy lead.

If necessary, they could expose the traitor’s collusion with Eldert, pressuring them. They would have no choice but to aid Luswena, as they could no longer survive in Bariel’s palace.

“Speak quickly!”

But Eldert scanned the mages and frowned. None were familiar.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. It seems they are not here.”

“Impossible!”

Besides Bariel’s mages, there were many Luswena mages gathered with Zaira. Yet none could be found?

Frustrated, Eriphoni swung her bow repeatedly, keeping the guards at bay.

Shhhk!

“Don’t even think about coming closer. If possible, at least shoot an arrow.”

If only she had one arrow… just one. She could pierce that arrogant brat’s heart in an instant.

As the standoff dragged on, Jin spoke.

“Eriphoni, you are truly foolish. If you had knelt earlier, you would have saved yourself some disgrace. Your pride has put your subordinates in danger. Not only them, but the people of Luswena as well.”

“If they learn I was humiliated here, the proud people of Luswena will not stand idly by. They will fight to the end. They will rise. And all will aim their arrows at the heart of Bariel!”

Swish!

Eriphony once again drove her arrow through the guard’s throat, barking out orders. But even she knew the truth—there was nowhere left to go.

All that remained was to die as intact as possible, though judging by the situation, even that seemed unlikely.

“Eldert!”

“Y-Your Majesty, my apologies!”

“Damn it!”

As Eriphony muttered a curse, a sharp whistle cut through the air—

Swish!

An arrow zipped past her neck, embedding itself in a nearby wooden ornament.

In the chaos, no one knew who had fired it. The Bariel guards looked around in confusion, exchanging bewildered glances.

Crack!

It didn’t matter who shot it. Reflexively, Eriphony yanked the arrow from her side and nocked another with practiced ease. The bowstring drew back smoothly, as natural and quick as a blink.

Her arrow aimed squarely at Jin’s head. Like the scar that split half his face, this arrow would carve through his life.

Fiiing!

The bowstring snapped. In that split second, Eriphony summoned the instincts honed through countless hunts—the distance, the unguarded target, the perfect feel at her fingertips. The sensation she’d only ever known when piercing a beast’s throat.

Suddenly, a path opened behind her, where she had been cornered. If she could just take down Jin and Ian and return safely, all the glory of Bariel would fall into the hands of Ruswena—her hands.

Clifpord lay shattered by the rift. Burgos, with its king’s tongue cut out, was crippled. The only force left to rise above them all was Ruswena, ruled by Eriphony herself.

“Your Majesty!”

Shiiik!

Thud!

Cries of shock and fear erupted all around. Eriphony gasped, heart pounding with exhilaration, eyes fixed on Jin.

But then—

“Huh?”

The arrow she’d fired had vanished without a trace. Only Jin’s bewildered face remained vivid. Eriphony’s gaze faltered, searching for the missing mark—

Thud!

A sudden, searing pain blossomed in her chest. Her head slowly drooped, and there it was: a familiar arrow, piercing her heart with deadly precision.

“What… is this…?”

It was the golden arrow she herself had shot on the battlefield. Her hands trembled as she tried to pull it free, but the magic entwined around the shaft sapped her strength.

“…Your Majesty!”

Only then did Eriphony realize the call had come from her own men.