Lilia's Tale

Chapter 38: Pressure

The next morning, as I woke up, I noticed my wings had wrapped themselves around me. I found it oddly comfortable, especially due to the fact that their added size wasn't an issue when in that position. However, I knew I had to get out of the bath, so I stood up, stretched, and dressed myself before going to prepare breakfast. I also made sure to put my pendant back on, as well as resizing my wings, as I had decided to try and put on a dress which back wasn't open.

As I left the bathroom, I heard voices. I found it unusual, but figured it was probably Kyo and Father talking, and that I simply overslept, despite how uncharacteristic it was of me. I stepped forward, and noticed not two but three people.

"Ah, there you are Lilia," Father said as I stepped into the main room.

I glared at the third person, finding them oddly recognizable, despite my inability to put a name or anything of the sort on them. A tall and muscular man with an oddly scary face. For reasons I couldn't grasp, my eyes were latched onto him.

"Lilia, huh," the man said. "The famous full-S-ranker."

"Ah, yes, that's me," I replied, snapping back to reality from the mention of that embarrassing nickname.

"I am Malkov Yegor, general of the Imperial Guards. I have come from His Majesty the Emperor Von Glaucia with a demand to follow us to an audition."

"The Emperor...?" I repeated, unsure of what to do or think

"We were talking about it with your adoptive father, the Great Summoner. His vehemence to allow you to meet His Majesty has been apparent. However, he also decided to allow you to have the last word, as he believes your judgement to be sound despite your young age."

"I..."

I was a little overwhelmed by the turn of events, especially with what happened yesterday.

Remembering yesterday made me realize who the person in front of me was the same knight captain that yesterday nearly attacked me after refusing to believe Father's words.

The situation looked dire to me. If I go, I wouldn't know what would happen to me at the capital. I can't even properly hide my wings anyway. If I don't go, it could be seen as treason, as the emperor himself sent the general of an official military group to seek me.

Wait, if the person in front of me was the same as the one who saw me yesterday, and they were here for the sake of checking for father's damage, why would they do it instead of the town's own military?

I wasn't in any position to ask such a question, and I was painfully aware of it. I had to take a decision on what to do with what the Emperor demanded.

"J-Just to be sure, what would happen to me if I were to refuse?" I asked.

"It would be seen as an act of treason by denying His Majesty's orders, and would be met with arrest, or even execution," the general replied.

"Hold on a second, I was never told this!" Father suddenly shouted.

"You never requested for such information."

"Are you really planning to kill a ten-year-old girl just because she refuses to follow one of the Emperor's orders?"

"There is no place for traitors in this Empire. If she wishes to disobey, she should be seen as a traitor."

"That's way too harsh!" Father shouted.

"Father, calm down."

"Lilia, don't tell me you're planning on..."