Living As the Villainess Queen

Richard rushed back into the tent to check the spell note. As expected, the other kings were observing the same phenomenon.

[The lark keeps ramming the iron bars in the direction of Holy City. – Nicholas] 

[There is a change here as well. – Pered] 

[It seems the spell has been activated. Kings, please break the seeds. – Kasser]

“It’s begun!” Richard exclaimed, his suppressed rage erupting like a tempest. His heart pounded furiously. He burst out of the tent, his voice echoing the command, “Break the seeds!”

A seemingly endless line of warriors stood ready, baskets filled with seeds at their sides. At his order, they swiftly poured water over the baskets. Instantly, a horde of larks emerged, their shapes grotesque and varied, their eyes burning with a crimson intensity. Larger than humans, these monstrous creatures, resembling beasts and insects, ignored their surroundings, charging directly towards Holy City with a possessed frenzy.

The soldiers, gripping their weapons tightly, watched in stunned disbelief as the larks vanished from sight. Despite the king’s assurances, the soldiers were understandably apprehensive. 

“What are you doing? Follow the larks!” Richard commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos. Several warriors surged forward, leading the charge towards Holy City. The rest of the soldiers followed in a tumultuous wave.

A sharp cry pierced the air. Richard turned just in time to avoid a lark that had appeared directly in his path. A nearby warrior steadied him as he stumbled.

“I’m fine,” Richard replied, his brow furrowed as he watched the lark disappear into the distance. The seeds had been strategically placed at the front to ensure a direct path towards Holy City. How could a lark have appeared behind him?

Screams and shouts erupted from the battlefield. Richard spun around, his eyes widening in horror. A soldier had been hurled into the air by a lark, crashing heavily to the ground. This was no isolated incident; larks were appearing from all directions, their reckless charge causing chaos among the soldiers.

A terrified warrior approached Richard. “Your Majesty!”

“What has happened?” Richard’s voice was laced with disbelief. 

The warrior’s face was ashen. “The seeds are breaking on their own. These aren’t the seeds we brought. Larks are appearing everywhere. It’s as if they’ve entered an active phase.”

“What?”n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

***

After issuing the command to release the larks, Kasser quickly summoned several trusted warriors. “Upon entering Holy City, your primary objective is to protect the Ars mansion. Maintain your position until the chaos subsides,” he instructed.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” they responded in unison.

Kasser then called for warriors with intimate knowledge of Holy City’s geography. He provided them with the addresses of his mother’s home and shop. “Your mission is to safeguard the lives of those residing at these locations,” he ordered.

Eugene had previously revealed during a dream encounter with Alber that all the Anikas were currently gathered at the Holy City Palace. While Alber’s knowledge of the city was limited to the Anikas’ confinement and the palace’s overarching control, this information proved invaluable in the absence of other details.

While strategizing the lark infiltration of Holy City, Kasser’s thoughts turned to his brother. Without their mother, Aiden was vulnerable to the approaching chaos. The memory of losing Aiden once was a haunting specter. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing him again, especially after their brief, wordless reunion.

“Your primary objective is to protect a man of adult age named Aiden,” Kasser instructed the warriors. “His location is at this address. If the situation overwhelms you, prioritize Aiden’s safety. If he’s not there, search Toredd Academy. Do not abandon him until the area is secure.”

After sending them off, Kasser reached for the sword beside the table. Each king possessed a similar blade, forged to withstand the immense power of their Praz. “An hour? No, they’ll arrive sooner,” he muttered, estimating the larks’ arrival time.

Impatience gnawed at him as he reopened the spell note. A new entry startled him.

[What is happening? Larks are emerging everywhere.]

[The seeds are breaking on their own. – Richard]

[The same here. We will proceed as planned. – Pered]

[It seems the spell is awakening even dormant larks. – Nicholas]

[The larks are still heading towards Holy City, but this means many more larks will enter the city than we anticipated. – Akil]