Chapter 18 – Interlude: The hatred of a puppet princess

A beautiful woman was walking through the corridors of a castle.

Her beautiful black hair waved with the slight breeze blowing in the corridor. Her eyes, as black as the night, were looking fixedly forward, keeping an ice-cold expression on her face that was enough to pressure most people.

Her name was D’vina Slew’nid Had’ning. She was the princess of the Slew’nid empire, and at the same time, the only heir to the throne.

She was currently walking through the corridors of the royal palace to attend a meeting with the empire’s council. It was one of her obligations as a member of the royal family.

Before long, she reached to the chamber where the council reunites. Without waiting for the guard to announce her arrival, she pushed the doors of the council open and walked forward.

“Princess D’vina Slew’nid Had’ning is here to hear the words of the council.” She announced in an ice-cold tone

Immediately, every eye in the place was fixed on her.

As a level five, it was easy for D’vina to identify the emotions in the council’s members. Fear, greed, lust, hatred.

But she was accustomed to it.

Inside this place, everybody was her enemy.

“How rude of you, princess.” One of the elders seated inside the council said. “Were you not taught to announce yourself before entering to a place?”

“I don’t consider such etiquette as something necessary.” D’vina answered coldly.

The council was the place where the most important people of the empire reunites. Every person present inside this chamber was a leader in charge of different areas of the government; from the economy, until the military. Every one of them was present in this place.

With the exception of one person.

D’vina father, the emperor.

Six years ago, this world’s only level six, disappeared during a mission.

In the beginning, nobody paid attention when the emperor didn’t return at the specified date. After all, it was not uncommon for a level six to be delayed during a mission, considering the usual difficulty of such missions.

But when the emperor failed to return after four months, D’vina nightmare began.

The empire's higher-ups fell in chaos, the greedy minister made a move, foreign influences tried to influence the government, among other things.

And now, despite being a princess, D'vina was not more than a prisoner constantly in fear of being killed.

“Why are you here, princess?” Another elder asked without hiding his hostility.

“Did you forget? I participated in the game today. I came to report my victory.”

“Oh right! I forgot to congratulate your majesty for your stunning display! Three level five died to your hand, bringing pride to the inhabitants of this world. Now, let me see…”

Glancing to a device in his hand, the elder read the information about D’vina’s game. Then, he spoke casually.

“Hmm, a little beyond forty thousand coins. I must admit that your highness’s ability to earn money is as surprising as always. As accorded, we will take thirty-five thousand coins for the war effort, is it alright? Surely, the people of the empire will praise your highness generosity.”

With a mocking laugh, the elder spoke to the princess. Unfortunately, besides biting her teeth, D’vina could not do anything else.

In the end, she transferred the money away reluctantly.

“Very well. You can go, princess. We have work to do." Waving his hand as if shooing a dog, the elder ignored the expression of the princess and closed his eyes.

Suppressing her rage, D’vina exited the place.

When the emperor disappeared, the empire ended in the council hands.

And her, despite being the legitimate heir, was nothing else than a puppet. Not even the money earned with her life in the line was hers to keep.

Fortunately, not even the corrupt council dares to kill the heir of a level six so easily. After all, the council's power is far from enough to violate the rights that the United Dimensional Planes granted to each level six and their families.

Unfortunately, though it stopped the council of killing D'vina directly, it was not enough to stop them from plotting other methods to get rid of her.

Because of it, they found a reason to force her to participate in ‘Dimensional Paradise’.

And because of it, certain circumstances forced the princess to not have more option but ‘donate’ most of her earnings to the empire’s treasury.

For a normal level five, ‘Dimensional Paradise’ was an opportunity to become stronger; to understand better their skills without the risk of death. After all, almost every level five has the capacity to pay the resurrection cost.

But D’vina was different.

For her, every game was a test of life and death.

So, she can only continue becoming stronger. Surviving each fight with all her might.

And then, surely, one day she will have her revenge.