Fake Princess
Ccxxxiii Chapter
My grip on the clothes Haruki was wearing grew stronger as the horse we were riding increased in speed. The night wind was blowing, giving my body a little coolness.
Out my head looking back, Izumi's shining eyes were clearly moving closer. The sound of horse footsteps became clearer and more accompanied our steps.
Niel stopped the footsteps of his horse in front of the bridge, he shouted loudly asking the guards to open the gate. Slowly, slowly, the gate of the Castle that was in front of us opened.
Niel moved his horse through the gate, followed by Haruki who also moved the horse we were riding. My eyes were turned aside at the situation in the Castle which looked as quiet and peaceful as ever.
The horse we were riding stopped, I thrust my body as soon as possible down from the horse. I moved back a few steps when I looked at Haruki who was also moving down following.
I followed Haruki's footsteps who had walked after Niel. I turned my gaze to Izumi and Eneas who had also walked beside me. Our footsteps moved faster down the halls of the Castle.
"Your Majesty," said a Knight bending his body as his eyes unintentionally stared at us who were walking towards him.
"Call all the Knights in the Castle. Pinta they're gathered in the meeting room now!" Niel's command to the Knight earlier, turned the Knight had run after responding to Niel's words.
We walked faster, almost ran more precisely. Niel stopped his footsteps at a large, two-leaved door covered in black paint, without saying anything, the two Knights who were standing guard opened the door for us.
Niel moved his feet swiftly as the door opened, I thrust my legs into following him. A gold-plated throne chair looks solid in front of us.
I stopped my footsteps following Haruki who also stopped her footsteps. My eyes were still staring at Niel who walked closer and closer to the chair and sat on it.
For a long time we stood in the room, not a single sound came out between us. I turned around as the sound of the door opening startled me, dozens of Knights came into the room and lined up neatly before us.
"His Majesty called us?" Tem bent his body.
"There's something I want to ask you guys. Therefore, I ask all of you to gather here," said Niel, looking back at him who had moved his feet toward us.
"But before that" he turned his eyes to look at me.
I thrust my foot forward to return Niel's gaze earlier as I gave my right hand to reach for an object that was inside the bag I was wearing. I lifted my hand from the bag as I stared at the small white bottle covered in yellow cloth that lay on my palm.
I still stared at those who looked at each other in confusion. Kulirik Niel who also glanced at me, cleared his throat several times as his gaze returned to the Knights.
The knight who was standing at the far right approached, I asked him to open his palm when he stood straight before me. I suggest that my hand open the bottle cap earlier while I move the bottle slightly tilted above the Knight's palm until the contents inside are open.
I stared at the dried rice seed that had fallen on the Knight's palm earlier, as I commanded him to return to his ranks. A Knight came back closer, I gave him a grain of dried rice again, and I kept doing it until all the Knights got it.
"You have each one of the dried rice seeds that I gave you. And now, I ask you to put the dried rice seeds on your tongue," I said, as the Knights looked back at each other.
"I didn't put any poison on those paddy seeds. If you don't believe me, look!" My welcome, I re-breed the bottle until a dried rice seed fell back.
Let my fingers reach for the rice seeds as I point them towards those who are still looking at me. Put the rice into my mouth and swallow it.
"Look! I'm fine, aren't I? So hurry up and do what I ask," I said, staring intently at them.
Haruki, Izumi, Daisuke and Eneas walked past, the four of them walking around the Knights. I still stared at the Knights who started doing what I told them to do.
"Have you guys done it? Don't speak, just nod your heads" I said, replying to them by nodding.
"Alright, if it's like that. You can continue, Niel," I glanced at him.
Niel went back a few steps, the Knights were silently staring at him who was still bowed without making a sound. I still looked at Niel who was taking a strong breath and exhaled several times very strongly.
"I want you to answer one of my questions. If I find among you a traitor, I won't hesitate to execute you right now" he said as he lifted his head to meet the Knights in front of him.
"Don't say a word, just shut up! You can only talk when Niel asks you questions one by one" I said in a high tone trying to stop them.
Their gazes were all directed at me, I returned the gazes alternating one by one. They turned their gazes at Niel who was still silent for a while...
"Hows it? Can we start asking the answer?" Said Niel turning his head to the left and to the right looking at the Knights alternately.