Chapter 46: The Oncoming War
Capital City, Mareiona Kingdom
"Your Majesty," a servant walked into the palace and bowed to the man sitting atop the throne.
"This servant comes with news. The messenger of the Azure Frost Kingdom of the North has requested the Mareiona Kingdom of the West to help search for the whereabouts of Princess Fiona of Glendora."
The man slammed his fists onto the throne. "Why do we have to help those Glendorian dogs!" He shouted in fury, silencing the room.
Another voice spoke up. "Your majesty, Azure Frost, is asking for our help. We can't bear to get on their unpleasant side in fear of offending them, hereby ruining our plans."
The man scoffed. "Help the Azure Frost with what, secure an alliance with the Glendorians, and that b*tch?"
"Remember Mishadow and their leader, Princess Fiona's father. Although he's missing, he has never let Princess Fiona or himself take part in any political matters between the kingdoms, even though Princess Fiona's mother is the Queen of Glendora."
"Just address her as b*tch. Continue," the man said, waving his hand.
"Ahem. The marriage alliance might not benefit the.... the b*tch. The Azure Frost never took part in the Great War, even though Glendora announced it in the later stages of the war. We hesitated at that moment and never finished off Mishadow and Princess Fiona's friend."
"Mishadow and Azure Frost will never take part in the war unless it implicates Princess Fiona, which we can confirm. If our plan goes into action, they might stand on Glendora's side as we indirectly caused their disappearance."
"We don't know the importance of Princess Fiona to the Azure Frost, and Mishadow is already unhappy with the disappearance of their leader, even ceasing operations. Our spies haven't been able to track their movements since. Thus, the intricately linked Princess Fiona is our best bet to appease the two of them."
The servant bowed, returning to the darkness. The man on the throne scratched his chin before nodding.
"We underestimated Glendora's strength. I thought Willes and Mishadow were defending them because that b*tch was the mother of Princess Fiona, but who knew it was just because we killed a commoner friend of hers," he said, returning to his thoughts.
"I decree that the Maeriona Kingdom is joining the priority search for Princess Fiona. All families and sects within must send two cultivators each to the Capital City and join the assigned search party."
"Your subject approves of his Majesty's words!" The crowd said in unison.
They bowed and left the palace. Officials quickly sent word out to the kingdom as generals organized the search party's workings.
"I heard that the b*tch has sent a bounty on Princess Fiona's head in the weaker cities?" The man on the throne asked.
"Your servant has heard of these posters."
"Show me."
The servant excused himself and scurried off to the tavern where he'd heard the news.
The man on the throne stood up, murmuring to himself, his eyes flashing a crazy light. "You b*tch, I swear as King Vondreas of Maeriona that I'll return the humiliation tenfold!! Princess Fiona... I'll start with you first. I wonder how you'll feel when your last hope of winning this oncoming war ends up in my hands!"
The servant then ran in with the flyer in his hands. King Vondreas read it over and grinned to himself.
"Send the word out to the kingdom that anybody who finds anything, even minor clues about Princess Fiona's whereabouts, that they'll receive double the rewards of this!"
"Your Majesty!" A eunuch ran into the palace, yelling. "We have heard reports of Princess Fiona in the Capital City!"
King Vondreas froze in shock. "What!?!"
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"Didn't you say that you liked Sister Ellie, Fiona? You've completely killed her hopes of becoming your actual sister," I asked, carrying her on my shoulders.
She patted my head, signaling me to lower her to the ground. I did as she demanded and set her on the ground. She grabbed my hands and stared back at me.
"Weren't you teaching a lesson to her, daddy?"
"Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?" I asked, puzzled.
"Fiona... Fiona learned a lesson too," she paused, at a loss for words. I had to urge her to continue.
"What was it?"
A blush crept up onto her face as she tried to loosen the hold on to her hands. I clung to it as tight as I could, seeing her cute, beet-red face. I wore a smug smirk on my face as I asked her teasingly, "Ah, was it about... daddy?"
She looked away in denial. "N-no. Fiona learned that—"
"That she loves daddy?" I chuckled, expecting her to turn around, jump into my arms and kiss my cheeks.
"N-no, not that," she answered in a low voice. That saddened me, although I knew deep inside that it was too early for her to say anything like that. It'll happen soon, I can imagine it. As long as we spend more time together and when we've avenged her birth father's death, her heart will be mine. I gritted my teeth with determination. I'll make her admit it in her sweet-sounding voice!
Fiona turned around slowly, trying to avoid my puppy-dog eyes that reflected my heart weeping blood. She must've felt that her words were a little harsh as she tried to coax me.
"Daddy, no, I-I didn't mean it like that!"
I know you didn't mean it like that, but starting now, it'll take a lot more effort to coax me. I wagged my imaginary dog tail pitifully, asking for more consolation.
The blush on her cheeks moved to her ears as she became a tomato—a tomato that had burst, seeing as she launched into a flurry of words.
"Fiona... Fiona learned that daddy is shameless but Fiona is selfish! Daddy isn't allowed to hug or kiss or spoil anyone other than me, or else I will get mad!!"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
ryfulrifle
ryfulrifle Okay, the chapter is a little late and short; I apologize about that.
This will serve as a teaser for the next mini-arc as I need some time to plan and think about events, action, and dialogue that'll take place. I'm trying my hardest to avoid cliche fights after fights.
Ellie won't be with us now, but I assure you she will return when the time is right and the plot twists... muahahaha.