Chapter 69 - Unfeeling

Chapter 69: Chapter 69 - Unfeeling

"Better?"

"You’re free, Vinny. You’re free from that new world. You’re free from the dangerous political games and the hatred that follows that girl. You don’t have to bother yourself with a world you don’t belong to. When Nat and Dee finish their mission and return, you can go back home to Earth with peace of mind that you’ll live a normal life."

Vincent’s eyes widened as his mother laid out the possibility. The offer of freedom sat right in front of him.

A long silence stretched between them as his mind wandered until finally, he came to his answer. His shoulders squared, and when he looked back into his mother’s eyes, his expression was unwavering, filled with resolve.

"I can’t do that."

"And why’s that?"

"Because... Pristina isn’t just some random world to me anymore. I had fun there. I made friends. I met the elves, Ava, Gwen, and Toby... But more than that... I can’t just abandon Maelle."

He looked at his fists, clenching them tight. "Her own family hates her so much they literally paid an assassin to murder her. The entire city treats her like a monster just because of whose blood runs in her veins. She looks so alone... yet despite all of that, she still fights. She still stands tall with her chin up.

"She trusted me. And albeit forcefully, she let me into her life. I promised myself I’d protect her, and I meant it. I’m not going to leave her alone in the dark."

Maribelle stared at her son for three long seconds. Then, an incredibly smug, teasing grin spread across her face.

"My, my~ It sounds to me like somebody is in love~"

"H-HAH?!" Vincent’s face flushed bright red. He stumbled back into the cushions, waving his hands frantically. "W-What are you talking about, Mama?! Stop! It’s not like that! I’m just being responsible! W-With great power comes great–!"

"Oh, please! Don’t try to deny it to your own Mama!" Maribelle giggled as she poked his burning cheek playfully. "I know that exact look, Vinny! It’s the same look your father used to make whenever he talked about me! You’ve got feelings for her!"

"Mama, please–!" Vincent groaned while burying his red face in his hands, before suddenly snapping upright as a sharp memory struck him like lightning. "Wait. Oh, crap!"

"What is it?"

"Maelle is expecting retaliation from House Elsa! That noble family! The girl we captured is a duke’s daughter!"

"Elsa...? Ohhh, House Elsa! I remember that name! Rachel Elsa was one of the humans who fought alongside your father and me during our adventures! Together, we founded the Imperial City. Wait... the brat you kidnapped is from her bloodline?"

"Who?! I mean, y-yes! Yes! And her family is out to get Maelle right now! I have to find a way back to Pristina immediately! Mama, let’s go to the Golden Gates!"

"Slow down, baby. As divine beings, we cannot just cross over into mortal realms without Her Majesty’s permission."

"Huh? But when I was about to leave for Earth, I never got permission from her."

"That’s because Earth is your home world and Pristina is a separate mortal plane. Just like before, we have to submit an official request to Her Majesty."

Vincent bit his lip as his chest tightened with worry. "How long will that take? Maelle might be in danger today!"

"We’ll push it through as an emergency request," Maribelle assured him. "Come on. If she won’t summon you from her end, we’ll force an entry from ours."

Nodding, Vincent transformed, and together they burst through the estate balcony, soaring at blinding speed toward the grand palace inside the Divine City.

.

..

...

Meanwhile, on the world of Pristina, night had fallen over the Imperial Academy grounds.

Ava walked cheerfully up the carpeted stairs of the dormitories, humming a sweet tune while carefully balancing a plate of freshly baked chocolate cookies in her hands.

’Eheh~ Nothing heals a broken heart like sweet treats!’ Ava giggled to herself as she reached the top floor. ’Once the princess eats these, her good mood will spike, and she’ll be able to forgive Vincent easily if she hasn’t already~’

Reaching Maelle’s room, Ava knocked gently on the door.

Knock, knock, knock.

"....."

Silence.

"Hmm... Is she asleep? I know it’s night, but it’s not that late..."

Ava knocked a second time, but before her knuckles touched the wood, the door opened.

Standing in the doorway was Maelle.

"Prin–! cess..."

Her smile faltered. Maelle looked terrifying. Her long silver hair was slightly unkempt, and her violet eyes were dead, hollow, and shadowed by exhaustion. She looked like a ghost standing in her own room.

Maelle looked down at Ava, then onto the plate of cookies. "What do you want?"

She offered the plate with a nervous smile. "Um! I baked these for you! I thought... you know, maybe you were feeling down, and–"

"I do not want them," Maelle cut her off, her voice devoid of a single drop of warmth. Right as she began pulling the door shut, Ava planted her foot into the doorframe to block it.

"Wait! Princess... How did it go with Vincent? Where is he?"

"Vincent is gone. And he will not be returning. Ever."

Ava’s heart dropped. "W-What...? Prin– M-Maelle, no! What happened–?!"

Without answering, Maelle coldly kicked Ava’s boot out of the doorframe and slammed the door shut.

BANG!

The lock clicked from the inside.

Ava stood alone in the corridor, staring at the closed door. The plate of cookies trembled in her hands as an overwhelming look of worry washed over her.

.....

The next morning, confused whispers swept across the Academy campus.

During morning lectures, practical drills, and hallway walk-throughs, students immediately noticed a change: Princess Maelle’s Familiar was nowhere to be seen. Not only that, but it seemed like the old Maelle Ebony had returned as she let out an aura that screamed ’don’t come near me’.

"... Hey... where’s her Familiar? Ever since she summoned him, he’s always been with her. He hasn’t been behind her all day."

"... Didn’t you hear? They were screaming at each other in the courtyard yesterday afternoon during break. She commanded him to stay. She probably got rid of him."

"... Good riddance! Someone like him had no right walking around acting so high and mighty after he beat our Prince!"

Throughout the entire day, Ava desperately tried to speak to Maelle. She sat near her in class, followed her down the hallways, and tried to hand her notes again, but Maelle completely ignored her presence, stepping past her as if she were made of glass.

As Maelle walked away down the corridor, the student turned their whispers onto Ava this time.

"... Ha! Look at that," a smug girl snickered loud enough for her to hear. "She’s pushing the plain girl away now too. As expected of the cursed Princess. She just uses everyone who gets close to her and then immediately ditches them when they are no longer useful to her."

Ava snapped.

She spun around and screamed, "SHUT YOUR UGLY MOUTHS!"

The girls flinched, startled by her sudden, unhinged fury, before scurrying off down the hall.

...

At the end of the school day, near the academy gates, Gwen met and bowed her head toward Maelle.

"Princess. It’s ready. The transfer arrangements have been finalized."

"Good. First, we go to the sewer shack to retrieve our captive."

Gwen brought two horses from the academy’s stable master, handing the reins of a sleek black mare to Maelle. As they mounted their steeds, she looked around the quiet courtyard in confusion.

"Princess... where is Vincent? Is he meeting us at the location?"

"Vincent has been dismissed. Indefinitely. He is no longer part of my service."

"W-What?! Princess, what do you mean–?!"

"Hyah!"

Snap!

Maelle violently whipped her horse’s reins, cutting Gwen off completely as her steed burst into a full gallop down the cobblestone road, leaving her attendant to hurriedly ride after her.

.

..

...

Meanwhile, miles away in the opulent estate of House Elsa...

In a high-ceilinged study, the house butler stood bowing low with his hands trembling at his sides as he waited for the man sitting behind a massive desk to speak.

The man was the Duke of Elsa – a middle-aged noble with sharp, cruel features, fiery red hair, and an aura of immense aristocratic pressure.

"So... My daughter, Lucianne... is being held in a filth-ridden sewer by that pariah Princess... while the Student Council President turns a blind eye?"

"Y-Yes, Your Grace! And her human-looking Familiar threatened to destroy our entire house if we interfered!"

"Excuse me? A human Familiar threatening House Elsa... how utterly laughable," the duke sneered as his eyes glowed with ruthless malice.

"Send the shadow squad. We will not only rescue my daughter tonight... we will ensure that ’Disgraced Princess’ meets a very quiet, very permanent end."

.

..

...

Inside the shack, Gwen moved with practiced efficiency. Stepping behind the chair, she drew a small paring knife and sliced through the rope bindings holding Lucianne’s ankles to the chair legs. She deliberately left the magic-suppression cuffs tightly secured around the noble girl’s wrists.

Maelle stood before her, looking down with cold, hollow eyes. "Change of plans Lucianne. I’m sure you saw this coming since you saw your butler, but we’re moving you to a new cell."