The king asked,

"Great nobles of Castall. I want to propose a hypothetical. If we surrender to Hezri Kingdom and let them put our nobles on trial. Would our nobles survive?"

"The conclusion is obvious, your majesty. The nobles had committed something that would make the villagers outraged. Furthermore, the judge would be Hezri Kingdom. It's one way to hell." Jovan Nenad answered fiercely. He no longer had respect towards the king.

“—My king. As I had expected, we would only have the slimmest chance of victory if we were to go to war. If that is the case, should we not try our best to avoid that outcome, by sacrificing a little?”

Moriham repeated his stance.

 Demia stared at him.

The king said, "We surrender, and make a better plan."

“A better plan…? What is it?” Behl scolded the king.

The king fell silent and shook his head.

The king responded, 

"Then, we would pretend to surrender. Once we got my daughter, we would ambush them. This decision is final!"

After witnessing that, Moriham concluded that the king was probably lying. If there really was a better plan then he should say it out loud. If there wasn’t, he was probably lying to cover for the fact that he had not thought of a good reason on why they should spare the princess.

The nobles felt disappointed by the king and contemplated what they should do next.

"No matter how I look at it, the future of the Kingdom seems grim…Looks like I will have to do it by force." Moriham thought.

Jovan Nenad cursed in his heart. The nobles looked at each other.

***

Throne room of Halstatt Palace.

Demia Harviala and King Charlemagne were facing each other. The king sat on the throne while Demia stood before him.

"Demia. Do you know what happened when we annexed the land to our north?"

"Yes. We killed the dukes, nobles and dark elves living there. We also chased away the dalish tribe in our south."

"I had committed a lot of atrocities. I only realized when I was bedridden for a long time. But you and Scarlet are innocent. Karna of our sins should only befall us, not you girls."

Demia only looks down.

"Even your father conspired against saving my daughter. Marquis and him had taken our seals. We have no way of answering to that kingdom now. But I am not going to give up. Scarlet must survive even at the cost of this sinful kingdom!"

"Your majesty. What did you intend to do?" 

"I had planned things beforehand but in case my plan is disrupted, you are my last resort." 

"Demia. You take your horse. Go to the invader's garrison. Beg them to spare Scarlet at any cost. Even by betraying the kingdom!" 

Hearing that, Demia bit her lip. Frankly, she had the same thinking since the heated arguments in the meeting.

"I am willing to do anything for the princess." She vowed loudly.

Just as the king meekly smiled, a commotion could be heard outside.

“What’s going on? Did the Hezri Kingdom make their move?”

“No…” The king raised his ear and laughed, “not at all.”

He hit a pole beside the throne and soon the wall behind him sluggishly opened.

Demia was shocked, "A secret door?"

The king said, "A passage. It led you to the royal stable unknown even to your father. Escape from there."

"What do you mean?"

A group of impassioned people stormed the throne room.

Moriham Obilic, Behl Harviala, Jovan Nenad, and many nobles entered with sheathed swords.

There were five knights who ran to the position between them and the king. 

“What do you intend to do with your drawn swords in His Highness’ throne room! Fall back!”

None of the nobles answered the chief knight’ roar. They all looked towards the King like cornered rats.

The king wanted to hold his belly in a hearty laugh.

"Father. What are you doing?" Demia looked at her father, Behl in disbelief.

"Demia. You stay out of it. This is for your own good."

"I will not let you do as please!" Demia yelled.

"Men. Capture my daughter alive!"

Several men approached Demia.

The king smiled at the men. Their actions in a sense, were correct. They were simply trying their darndest for a chance at survival.

He could only have himself to blame. He was not able to empathize with them, he was not able to quench their qualms, he was not able to unite them under the same banner.

He almost ruined the serious face he had put on with his best efforts by laughing out loud.

"Your majesty.." Demia looked at him in confusion.

"Demia. Remember my final command to you?"

“Fall back! You imbeciles!”

“…Please stop! Minister!”

“But! Your Highness!”

“I said stop! You should fall back.”

“I cannot take that order.”

“Knight—”

“—end of the line, Your Highness. There’s no use buying time now.”

“…Hmph. I was planning no such thing”

Although he was wearing the armour that was a national treasure, Charlemagne was old and weak.

If it was her daughter Scarlet instead, this would have been a different story, but it was impossible for Charlemagne alone to slay every hostile here.

If their treachery was not the spur of the moment but instead had been well-planned from the start, he would have no chance at salvation at all.

He focused his gaze on them and saw that they were terrified.

How disgraceful. If they truly believed in themselves, they would have held their heads up high. That was why the king held his head up high, to convey his grit.

“So, what was so important that you must come to my throne to talk to me about? Do you not understand what it means to draw your swords here in my presence?”

“—of course, Your Highness. Forfeit the princess!"

He smiled.

“It is a waste of time to persuade me. I will not surrender my beloved daughter."

"Let me say one thing, it is useless for you to persuade me. I, as a member of the royalty, have made up my mind to battle to the end. Those of you who wish to die here, do try!”

“Those who wish to claim my head, come if you dare!!”

The king pulled his sword out and stood shoulder to shoulder with the knights while giving cue to Demia to flee.

He stared at the noblemen, frozen in their tracks.

“What!? Weren’t you all out for blood!? Shouldn’t you have at least prepared to dirty your own hands even if you were to force poison down my throat!? Aren’t you supposed to have made your resolve?!”

The nobles looked at each other.

He had committed a lot of atrocities along with these noblemen and their fate were to be buried here with him. 

Then, one of the nobles called to people outside of the tent and multiple tough-looking men entered.

Charlemagne swirled his tongue around and recalled the silhouette of his daughter swinging a sword. He mimicked his daughter’s movements. 

He glanced at Demia. His daughter's best friend ran into the secret door. 

"Chase after my daughter!" Behl shouted.

Before they could run, Charlemagne charged at the men.

***

Somewhere in the border of southern Castall and central region.

A girl with flaxen coloured shoulder-length straight hair was riding a horse while sobbing. Her  hair with face-framing was being blown by the wind. 

"Princess Scarlet. I will do anything for you."