This Princess Has Never Lost When It Comes to Comparing Backers
The people of Merrifield Village swarmed around Princess Solana, celebrating as if they'd just won a war as they led her toward their town. The folks from the other villages could only watch, green with envy, begging the princess to visit them next.
Cassidy walked arm-in-arm with a group of older women, swept up in the cheerful procession as they entered the village. But the moment they passed through the gates, they ran right into chaos.
Up ahead, a man in official robes, his hat knocked crooked, had his foot planted on an old man's back.
"You old fool!" he spat, his voice echoing through the sudden silence.
"All the villages around Argent are under my control. Every other family has paid this year's road protection fee, but yours dares to hold out? You must have a death wish!"
With that, he cruelly ground his heel into the old man's spine.
Before Cassidy could even process what was happening, the woman who'd given her the meat pie cried out and rushed forward, falling to her knees before the man and his uniformed cronies.
"My lord, please, have mercy!" she pleaded, trying desperately to pull his foot off the old man. "Just give us a few more days! The harvest was terrible this year, we just don't have the money!"
The official just sneered, ignoring her completely as he raised his other foot to kick her away.
In a flash, Cassidy snatched the metal badge from her waist and flung it. It spun through the air and slammed squarely into the man's outstretched leg.
He let out a bloodcurdling scream, clutching his shin as he crumpled to the ground. His face was a mask of agony, but he still managed to roar, "What idiot dares attack a court official? Show yourself!"
*Get him, Host!* the System popped up in her mind, practically buzzing with excitement. *He's even more arrogant than we are. This is completely unacceptable!*
If the System had a body, Cassidy was pretty sure it would already be in the fight. Her mouth twitched. For a second, she wasn't sure who was the System and who was the host. But looking at the arrogant official writhing on the ground, she had to admit, she couldn't stand him either.
She tilted her chin toward Reid and said coolly, "Break his left leg for me."
Reid was still stunned, replaying the princess's throw in his mind, the perfect, impossible accuracy of it. But when she gave an order, he didn't hesitate. He lunged toward the wailing man, raised his foot, and stomped down hard.
A sharp, sickening crack echoed through the square. The man on the ground shrieked, the sound cutting off as he nearly passed out from the pain.
The other bailiffs scrambled back, grabbing their weapons. "You, you have a death wish!" one of them stammered. "You dare to attack our County Vice-Magistrate!"
"The more arrogant, the better," Cassidy murmured, a thrill running through her. "My first day on the job, and they're already hand-delivering me brownie points." She raised her voice, letting it ring with authority. "These men are openly abusing the people in broad daylight. Take them down!"
The manor guards surged forward, and in moments, the bailiffs were subdued, their arms pinned behind their backs.
The man with the broken leg heard Cassidy mention being a 'Capital Inspector,' a title he'd never heard of, and it only fueled his rage.
"What kind of garbage inspector are you?"
he snarled. "How dare some nobody interfere with Lord Sutton's business? Do you have any idea who my brother-in-law is? Let me go right now, or you'll regret it!"
Cassidy cleaned out her ear with her pinky and crouched down, her expression one of pure curiosity. "And who is your brother-in-law?"
Quentin Sutton struggled to turn his head, sneering. "The Minister of Revenue! You think you can touch me? He'll have you fired and thrown out on the street!"
Cassidy paused, looking genuinely thoughtful for a second. When it came to a battle of connections, she'd literally never lost. Seeing Quentin and his men staring at her expectantly, she knew she had to say something.
She put on her most serious face. "Oh, wow. I'm so scared. So very scared." Then, feeling that maybe she wasn't selling it enough, she added, "I'm just terrified! I'm practically scared to death!"
Auspicious, ever loyal, rushed to her side. "Don't be afraid, Princess," she said, trying to comfort her. "We have His Majesty on our side!"
The manor guards couldn't hold it in any longer. They burst out laughing.
For Quentin Sutton, clutching his shattered leg, the words "Princess" and "His Majesty" were like a bolt of lightning.
There was only one princess left in Argent, Princess Solana.
The same princess who, rumor had it, was raised by the Emperor and Empress Dowager themselves and was their absolute favorite.
He slowly lifted his head, his eyes landing on the woman who claimed to be terrified while casually ordering his arrest.
A hot, foul-smelling puddle spread beneath him.
Forgetting the searing pain in his leg, he started scrambling across the dirt, begging for mercy.
The other bailiffs, hearing the word 'Princess,' went pale as ghosts.
They dropped to their knees in unison, pressing their foreheads to the ground and pleading for their lives.
Cassidy felt a pang of disappointment. She hadn't even gotten to really show off, and her cover was already blown. This was no fun at all.
She shot Auspicious an annoyed look. "Next time, don't blow my cover so early. It ruins the fun."
Auspicious, though confused, nodded obediently.
Cassidy's gaze fell on the old man still lying on the ground. She gestured to the guards. "Take him to a healer."
Seeing the County Vice-Magistrate, Quentin Sutton, the man who routinely tormented them, arrested, the people of Merrifield Village erupted in cheers. They had assumed the princess would be like any other official, protecting her own. But it turned out her promises weren't just for show.
The villagers all dropped to their knees, their voices rising in a single chant. "Long live the Capital Inspector! Long live the Princess!"
The woman who'd brought Cassidy here was shaking, overwhelmed with gratitude. If the princess hadn't come today... she couldn't bear to imagine what would have happened. She bowed again and again in Cassidy's direction.
Cassidy, who had been lost in the pleasant sensation of her lifespan rapidly increasing, was startled by the sight of the entire village kneeling.
"Everyone, stop, please!" she called out, waving her hands. "Get up, quickly. I have a task for you."
Hearing that, the villagers shot to their feet as if jolted by an electric current. "Princess, just tell us what to do!"
Cassidy took a moment to think. This was going to be a hassle. She turned to her team. "Reid, take some men and interrogate those bailiffs. Find out what other crimes they've committed."
Then, to her ladies-in-waiting, she said, "Auspicious, As-Desired, you two start interviewing the villagers. I want every crime these men have ever committed documented."
The two women immediately produced paper and ink brushes from their sleeves and set to work, questioning the villagers one by one. Cassidy stared, dumbfounded.
"Doggo," she murmured to her System, "do you think they've got Mary Poppins's carpetbag hidden in their sleeves?"
The System was completely absorbed in the rising numbers. *Lifespan +1... Lifespan +1... Lifespan +2...*
"Doggo?" Cassidy repeated.
Silence.
Then, a sulky voice in her head. *Host, please refrain from personal attacks. This System has a temper, you know.*
"Oh," Cassidy said.
The System fumed silently.
Once their daily back-and-forth was out of the way, the enthusiastic villagers insisted on celebrating. The village chief, following their highest customs, laid out a grand banquet for the princess and her entourage.
Surrounded by the overwhelming adoration of the people, Cassidy couldn't stop smiling. By the time they left, they had not only been treated to a feast and loaded with gifts, but they had also collected a thick stack of evidence against Quentin Sutton and his crew.