Chapter 30 – The State
Aiko returned inside, where the Princess was still discussing the situation with the administrator.
"So the concubines were paid to make the people suffer so the Demonic and Righteous Sects could have more youngsters or cleaners." When the administrator finished speaking, the Princess had a baffled expression.
"Seriously? Those lousy Cultivators make them suffer because they are running out of disciples??" She was completely speechless, people were dying as they spoke and all of that was because of some stupid Sects...
"It is what it is Princess, we can't do shit against Cultivators." He shook his head. "We are normal mortals, after all." He sighed. "We will use the money well, but we won't last all that long since all support was cut off by the concubines, especially the 3rd."
"I see... so-"
...
They continued talking, but this thing was not for Aiko so she slept until she was picked up again by the Princess.
"Let's go home, I will need to exchange a few more Spirit Stones for gold and give them some so they last long enough that my father will snap out of it... hopefully." She didn't have any faith in her father the moment he married the 3rd concubine. The second one was alright and well-versed in state affairs, but the 3rd one was just a whore from the West. She didn't know anything about management or affairs but still messed with them. This caused many issues during the flood or drought seasons where people needed help the most. The King was so busy managing foreign kingdoms and expansion that he had not paid any attention to his own people.
"He is a complete failure." She sighed.
They walked through the city again. The people bowed to her, but there was tension and melancholy surrounding the air. She didn't announce her departure, but people could guess what was happening. There were too many rumours drifting around for them not to make any stories or fantasies.
...
The palace was cold, yet they were still preparing the banquet. She has already crippled her fiance so he wouldn't be coming unless he was a complete masochist. The only ones that would/could be coming were Cultivators, since their Royal family had their own Sect. It was only 8th Grade, but they were still very outspoken about their views, since they had 2 Nascent Soul Cultivators. (AN: 9th Grade lowest, 1st Grade Highest.)
"Princess, you were asked to-" The Princess immediately suppressed the annoying servants. Those concubines won't leave her alone even when she is leaving. 'I will contact Mum later, she will have a good laugh and pick me up later.'
She shook her head annoyed at everyone and everything. Her personally trained servants were used to this as they knew this place was not good for their miss. They didn't say anything, they were only tasked to make her stay in here at least a bit more pleasant.
One of her personal servants was giving her reports. "Princess, there were-"
The Princess sighed. "Now they even want to poach my servants." She shook her head at that ridiculous motion. 'They wanted to pay my servants in gold when all of them were Cultivators...' She sighed, she had a higher opinion of her father, but it seemed like beauty was the only thing he was interested in. 'For Cultivators gold is completely useless, if they paid at least in jade it would be somewhat alright, but gold? Did their brains rot or something?' She thought about it and paused. 'No, their brains rotted a long time ago.' She leaned on the table, caressing Aiko to soothe her emotions.
Aiko was half-asleep and didn't really care. There was no danger to her as most servants were too weak in terms of Cultivation. The only danger would be from the Princess guards who were quite powerful, but if they didn't catch her off-guard she would be able to run away.
...
The outside servants brought food for them, but neither Aiko nor the Princess ate. They were not hungry and both of them noticed that it was poisoned. Neither of them would be hungry even if they didn't eat for a while.
The Princess activated a special high-grade talisman.
"What is it sweetie~" A mature yet seductive voice drifted from the slowly burning talisman.
"Mum, I want to join your Clan." The Princess said quietly.
"Did someone hurt you, sweetie? Should mom torture them for you?" There was concern in her voice.
"Dad is being a fool." She sighed.
There was a long pause, longer than necessary. "I understand, I will pick you up soon, I will just finish my work." The voice sighed. "Do you have any good news for Mom sweetie?"
"I bought a beast for 62,000 Spirit Stones." She proudly proclaimed.
"S-sweetie, did someone... sell you something bad?" Her mother asked her. 'There is no way that others would try to rip her off, right?' She was paranoid.
"No, she is really beautiful and soft and still a cub and cutie-" The Princess barraged her mother with her words, not stopping until finishing everything she had in mind.
"Shadow beast, huh?" Her mother pondered for a while. "That's not a bad price and did you say that it could even outrun a Golden Core Cultivator?" She asked again not really believing it.
"Yeah! It was amazing to see her just dash out of the room~!" The Princess hummed.
"... not bad. Have you already formed a contract with it? This beast is suitable for you." Mother told her gently.
"I didn't~, nobody can, they die if they try to form a contract with her." The Princess pouted.
"Interesting. That means you can't force the beast to submit, a rarity. The price was well worth it. If you can raise it well and increase her affection towards you she will be indispensable for you." Mother commented.
"I know, but everything needs time. Fortunately, it already has intelligence~" The Princess puffed her chest in pride.
"What?!" Her mother was startled. "Dammit! Don't tell me she is that Lunatic Fox's cub?!" Now she was extremely concerned about her daughter.
"Um... they said that they transported her?" The Princess was awkward not really willing to part with Aiko.
"Dammit! It will take me at least 3 days to arrive!" Her mother panicked. "If a Fox is destroying the palace you MUST bring her the cub, otherwise our clan is doomed! Understand? Mother will help you to have a better beast in the future. You can't keep her, understand?!" This was the first time Mother was so adamant about something. The Princess understood the situation and no longer wanted to keep Aiko forcibly by her side, but... she really liked this little cutie...
"Don't worry! Foxes are tough and if what you all said is true, she will seek you out eventually! Just treat her well, mom wouldn't be able to survive your loss too, okay?" Her voice sounded firm, but she was quivering. If she willed she would be able to challenge the Fox that was destroying towns, but the problem was that other old fossils would be very interested in her and she couldn't have that! She must stay hidden!
"I will do as you say, Mum." The Princess spoke gently still caressing Aiko that was now looking at her strangely.
"Good, good. Don't be too sad, Mom will pamper you later, alright? Just be safe... please." She was still distressed.
"I will mum, don't worry." She spoke gently trying to reassure her mother.
"Love you, sweetie." She said gently and affectionately.
"Love you, Mom." Said the Princess with the same affection and gentleness.
The talisman burned. Now she only had that relic to contact her mother, but she wouldn't use it unless she faced death.
"Little one, your mother is looking for you. What are we going to do." She sighed, she really liked her fur and how mostly good-natured this little furball was. Aiko didn't try to destroy her pillows, claw her pillars or shit on the carpets. She was way too good-natured that Princess was pained to separate from her...
"Will you visit me later?" She spoke gently kissing Aiko's forehead. She loved the feeling of her fur and would love to have Aiko as a contracted beast, but she was no fool. She didn't want to burn like those idiots.
Aiko thought for a while, considering how many things she would confis- *Cough* move from one place to another place (Her pouch). She would feel kind of bad about it, since this Princess was really gentle to her and let her have quite a lot of freedom. Of course, she still didn't want to become her pet, since it seemed like she had too many enemies and it would be a pain to take care of all of them.
Aiko still nodded.
"YAAAY~!" She threw Aiko high in the air and caught her once she was falling down. She then cuddled Aiko relentlessly, trying to enjoy her as much as possible until she had to go.
"Princess, the King calls you." One of the outside servants told her.
"Tell him I'm too busy and that we will see each other at the banquet." She dismissed her immediately, upsetting that outside servant.
She still left as she knew she would get punched if she pestered that Princess too much.
"Seriously, stupid father, first he wants to wed me away from my hometown and mother, and now he wants to spend time with me?! Ridiculous." She didn't really have a high opinion of her father, since once he sipped the power of being the King he didn't want to stop until he became Emperor.
...
"Princess declined your offer, my King." The servant spoke slowly and didn't dare to look at the King.
"I see..." He looked tired, he wanted the best for his family, but his first wife left and his only normal daughter didn't want to spend time with him.
...
The Princess was rolling in the bed with Aiko. "Tomorrow we will stay here and play some more and then there will be a banquet." The Princess spoke gently. "I will take you with me since the banquet food is much more delicious than what you would get in my palace." She scratched Aiko behind her ears and Aiko enjoyed that greatly.
"Afterwards you can leave for your mother or stay with me until she comes. I won't keep you in here if you don't want to." The Princess was gentle with her beasts, that was also one of the reasons why so many beasts stayed by her side.
"There will be visitors during the banquet, but you can ignore them. They have nothing to do with us, what is important is that you will eat well and have fun. Okay?" She smiled kissing Aiko's forehead. "Haaa... I will miss you (Your fur)" The Princess lay on her bed.
...
The next day they spent the time exploring the palace, the Princess guided her almost everywhere, so that if Aiko wanted to escape she would know the place well and could choose different routes. She wanted to protect Aiko, but she knew that she was too weak and her guards would act first to protect her and not Aiko, so it would be dangerous if she promised Aiko something like that.
"This is the last passage, even cultivators can't destroy this, so if everything goes awry, this should be your best bet." The Princess explained the secret passage only Royalty uses. It was built with inscribed jade and its defence was peaked until the jade ran out of energy.
