The Solitude of an Emperor [TO BE UNPUBLISHED]

16 : I Will Be By Your Side

"Your highness?"

Baron Ciguil was surprised to see the First Princess coming to the port of Hiague. He was so frustrated that the group of knights he was with were not able to show their skills to defeat the pirates. Why did the First Princess only arrive after the pirate ship retreated?! How can he prove that the one who defeated the pirates were his knights now that the pirates are gone?!

Sweating, he approached Princess Darya when she jumped off the horse with the help of the knight she is with. "I g-greet the First Princess!" An idea then popped out of his mind. Right, she is just a girl. I can fool her.

So then, he showed a fake smile and started babbling nonsense thinking that the Princess is just thirteen years old and is still illiterate about this kind of problem. "A pirate ship has docked in the Hiague port, your highness. They have invaded the Empire's coastal property as they have also stolen belongings from the Hiague people. I, Baron Andrew Ciguil, came to rescue the town from the pirates! The town is now safe and pirates free, your highness." Baron Ciguil had a wide smile after the lies he had told. He is even chuckling inside his head thinking that he will be rewarded by his 'heroic' act and that he will be given a bigger title after the Princess recognizes his 'achievement'.

"Is that so?"

Baron Ciguil's eyes went wide upon seeing an unimpressed expression from Princess Darya. As soon as his eyes landed on her calculating morganite eyes, he felt like she was looking right through his eyes.

"I... I swear to the lord that I have done my duty as a noble who protects the Empire, your highness!" He purposely made his voice louder to sound convincing. However he started sweating in intimidation of her eyes. He could not even look at it now.

"What specific weapons have you used to defeat the invading pirates?"

The Baron's eyes expanded upon hearing her sophisticated question and without thinking, he could only answer what was on his mind as he felt like he needed to answer right away.

"B-Boats? S-Swords?-"

"What strategies did you implement in order to have them retreat?"

That question made the Baron petrified as he had done nothing but put on a show that his knights were attacking the pirate ship. However, when his knights 'came to rescue', the pirate ship's deck suddenly exploded and there was a bloody fight. He even had no idea who the pirates were fighting against. He clearly told the captain of the pirates to put on a show that his knights will be defeating his gals! But then, before his knights could even climb up to the pirate ship, numerous arrows were coming towards the ship and he had to withdraw because he was going to die!

With the silent reply of Baron Ciguil, a group of Imperial knights came. The Baron was shocked to see an unexpected person.

"Captain Billion?"

Captain Billion did not even look at Baron Ciguil. He stopped before Princess Darya as he bent his right knee to the ground and lowered his head as his subordinates did the same.

"We have successfully succeeded in defeating the invading pirates, your highness." He reported, calmly.

"Any injured knights?" Princess Darya turned to face them.

"No casualties, your highness."

"Good. Now go back to your positions."

"As you wish, your highness!"

She watched the Billion Team leave the Hiague town before looking back at Baron Ciguil who was too shocked to speak. So then, two Imperial ships docked at the port and another two captains came to greet her and reported their success. She told the teams to go back to their positions and send the injured ones to the infirmary. Until then she was left with Baron Ciguil and his small number of knights.