Chapter 41

**Tzalmon Point of View**

"Are you not going to show yourself, Your Majesty?" Gyles question received a scowl from me.

Turning back, I noticed the carriage and the few horses come to a sudden halt. In front of them was a small army of bandits that belong to a gang that belong to Oudad boarders.

Although the imperial security team were disguised as ordinary merchants under the command of Eblilis, one could easily tell that they were not just any merchants.

Being a part of esteemed imperial security order, the team extruded the aura that could make others want to kneel before them and beg for mercy.

"My apologies, Majesty. But you have been following them secretly to keep them safe but that lady does not value your concern. Moreover, she said such hateful words to you. One command, Majesty and I shall take care of her."

I can detect unfathomable loyalty in his tone and as a first rank commander of the kingdom, I was proud of him. If it wasn't Eblilis but some other person, then I would've given him the orders to torture them to death.

But the person in question was Acacia Dawn Winters. She should be kept safe; no matter what.

"What she said the other day wasn't all wrong." I openly agreed.

Gyles face turned red with anger and hatred albeit not for me but for his future queen, "But -"

"But that doesn't mean I shall forgive her for that. This isn't something you should get involved with so make sure you guard her well; other things, I shall take care of." I ordered and continued to watch what was unfolding before us from the shadows.

"There is no need to hurry and save them." I said and thought that with something like this, Eblilis would learn how to act properly and would know how to bow down to me.

A small danger can set the records straight for her. As for Igses, I would anyhow not allow anything to happen to him.

One whole day, the day they set out from the castle after defying him, that whole day I had spent practicing swordsmanship. Having nowhere to spend the anger and the hurt that her words left me with, the whole day I had to wield the sword over thousands of times until I had destroyed the practice field completely.

She called me selfish and questioned my motives towards my own son. I was angry, furious beyond imagination but after the whole day abusing my body with constant practice, I realized she wasn't completely wrong about what she said.

I would die before admitting it openly but still, I wasn't that foolish to not understand her implications. Not to forget how my son protected his mother from my outburst.

He used his power against his own father and the astonishing fact was it worked. The technique of sealing away my power and strength for a certain period of time was successful and what was more surprising was he was able to apply it on me.

I am the most powerful in the whole kingdom and his magic worked on me, making him more powerful than me.

Such a son, I was proud to have!

Only, he was very protective of his mother. Even going against me!

These things made me realize that I cannot act impulsively when around Igses. However young he is, his senses are rather advanced than his age. His senses towards his mother were strong that it made me what to know what exactly Eblilis did to receive such protectiveness from him.

"Who are you? Why are you blocking our path?" The loud demand from Eelk broke my trance.

From the shadows, I watched Eelk got down from his horse and moved towards the batch of bandits who looked unclean, treacherous and considerably vicious.

Of the twelve bandits, the burly one in the middle grinned at carriage and the security around as he pulled out a leaf and started to pick the substance from his teeth.

"Pay the silver to step inside." The burly man spoke carelessly, all the while cleaning his teeth with the edge of the leaf.

"Pay? Are you from the boarder administration authorities? Show your identity tokens." Eelk demanded as he gestured other guards to be vigilant and protect the carriage.

"Authority? What I say goes here. Little boy, I changed my mind, don't pay the silver. I want you to put down all the treasures you are carrying." The burly man grinned dirtily and waved his hand to his subordinates.

Upon receiving the silent orders, the subordinates gathered around the carriage with their weapons.

"Ay, Gyrd, whack the treasures out." And immediately, the man Gyrd jumped on the carriage and pulled the door out.

"This -" Gyles reacted but I raised my hand to stop him from taking any action. The security already started to fight with the bandits that surrounded the carriage while Eelk tried to stop Gyrd.

"Err, Boddie, there are chicks, no treasure." Gyrd scratched his head while informing the Boddie named burly.

But all the while, what surprised me was Eblilis did not even make a sound.

Is she scared until her voice was gone or was she -

She can't be not scared of such people. These bandits are ruthless and malicious.

Boddie walked to the front of the carriage, completely unaffected by thefew guards that were trying to beat him to death. Eelk gritted his teeth and punched Boddie on his eye when his eyes looked at the ladies inside the carriage and brightened with desire.

"Chicks, definitely the treasure our leader desire." Stumbling back from Eelk's punch, Boddie continued to assess the ladies inside the carriage with a broad lecherous grin.

Immediately, hearing those words, Eelk started to throw powerful punches all the while trying to cover their powerful aura.

After all, it is not safe to reveal their identities until they reach their destination.

Although Eelk and the others were very powerful and have top combat skills, a wild gangster is still a gangster who does not play according to rules. The issue that they cannot even reveal their force to suppress the bandits made it worse and soon the security team was overpowered by the bandits.

"That's enough. Stop fighting all of you." A calm surreal voice rang amidst the bang of violent fighting.

There, by the carriage door stood Eblilis, not scared, not worried, not anxious but very much calm and collected like clear water from a stream.

What is she doing? Why is she out?

Where is the coward girl that I once knew?

As her voice fell, the fighting ceased as if a strong force has compelled them into submission. However, I know she is just a human with no particular skill or ability.

"Grr, leader would dump silver on us if we give him this beauty." Boddie grinned widely amidst his bruises but before he could capture Eblilis, she spoke again.

"May I know who you are?" She asked gently like a proper lady in a tone that I never heard from her until now.

Is she being gentle with an troop of outlaws?

Boddie huffed proudly and beat his chest before answering, "I'm called Boddie, the third rank member of The black cobra gang. Beauty, come with me and please our leader. Our leader will take care of you."

The maidservants behind Eblilis tried to pull her inside and guard her but she pried their hands off and gave a look to Circe, telling her to stay close to Igses.

With a smile, Eblilis climbed down the carriage making everyone, including me and Gyles, look at her in disbelief.

"Majesty, this -" Gyles gritted. "What is the matter with that airheaded woman?" He continued when he saw dark malicious glint in my eyes.

I want to go there and put those outlaws in their graves; however, I held back myself wanting to know what this human female wanted to do.

"The black cobra? Do you people collect taxes from every passerby to enter Oudad?" She asked. Eelk walked towards Eblilis to block her from bandits eyes but Eblilis only gestured him not to bother with it.

"Aye. If they not pay, they die." Boddie said proudly. Eblilis nodded in understanding and smiled gently again.

"Then you must be very powerful. To kill those who go against you, you must have mighty power, right?"

"Aye. Our gang is the most deadly around this area." Eblilis heard him and look around with a thoughtful expression.

"Circe, bring Igses here." She yelled out and turned her attention to Boddie again.

What exactly is she planning to do?

"Are there any more gangs that collect taxes here?" She inquired.

"We killed them all. We rule this area." Boddie spoke, this time looking suspiciously at Eblilis and Circe, who has Igses in her arms.

Eblilis took Igses from Circe and with a smile, she turned to Boddie and said something that made certain this girl lost all her senses.

"Then please lead us to meet your leader."

**~*~*~*~*~*~

Hello Sweeties,

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