An enraged expression was on the face of the Frigid World Spirit Emperor. His fists were clenched, but his undulations were kept controlled. Still, he angrily looked at his fourteenth daughter tremble in his presence before he slightly calmed down.
"Do you realize what you've done to yourself, Iesha?"
"I am aware, imperial father."
Iesha bowed her head as she bent her waist.
"Is that so?"
The Frigid World Spirit Emperor shook his head.
"Fourth brother is going to break into the Peak-Level Spirit Ancestor Stage soon while his prowess is similar to mine, able to battle against opponents a level higher, and I am going to finally face my heavenly tribulation. Do you know what that means? That means I am going to make your fourth uncle as the Emperor while I successfully ascend."
Princess Iesha looked deeply taken aback by this piece of information.
"Imperial father, I-"
"Don't call me that, you unfilial child! Have I, your imperial father, wronged you in any way before? You knew nothing and ruined yourself! Now you leave me no choice but to send you as a political tool to another power because I need stability for my Empire to continue existing even after we leave."
The Frigid World Spirit Emperor flicked his sleeves as he harrumphed.
"Hmph."
"Father, no! Please...!" Iesha forcefully pleaded as she clasped her hands towards her bosoms, "There's still a day left before I become seventeen. I will prove to you I can enter the Spirit Ancestor Stage."
"Iesha, forget a day since I can give you all the time you want for you are my daughter, but if I did that, it would be unfair to the others. I can also not let you go to the other powers and send you to a Lord of one of our many cities, but it does not bear much benefit for our Empire, nor to you, especially after you rejected your Uncle Yom whose reputation precedes those Lords. I can even make an exception and take you as my woman, but I don't have the time to look after you since I will encounter my heavenly tribulation and ascend. Therefore, you can only show your worth through becoming a political tool."
The Frigid World Spirit Emperor dejectedly shook his head.
"Still, as you asked, you have a day left before you turn seventeen, so do your best before your time is up. Your father will always want the best for you and always expect the best from you."
He turned around and looked at the exit.
"Don't disappoint me for the third time."
He walked away, leaving a stunned Iesha, who looked as if she didn't know what to say.
Moments later, she finally came out of her reverie but didn't even sigh. Her shoulders drooped, appearing to have become depressed while she walked towards the sofa and sat on it as she began to relax.
"Fortunately, Uncle Yom didn't tell on you. Otherwise, imperial father would've scoured my entire quarters."
Iesha's voice resounded to Davis, causing him to reply.
"Well, it looks like your Uncle Yom totally perceived me as your lover and didn't tell on you, although I bet he was afraid that he might actually be wrong in detecting my presence and didn't want to embarrass himself."
Indeed, outside, when Frigid World Spirit Emperor walked out of Princess Iesha's room and exited the palace, Uncle Yom was totally convinced that it was just his imagination. After all, who could hide from the Frigid World Spirit Emperor at such a close range?
He felt glad that he didn't accuse Princess Iesha of promiscuity and embarrass himself.
"It doesn't matter."
Iesha lifelessly answered, becoming silent while Davis began to feel bad again.
This female spirit was just facing too much pressure at the moment, not to mention that she was at a life-changing point in her life.
"What are you going to do?" Davis reopened the conversation, " Now you're just a tool to benefit the overall Frigid World Spirit Race, according to your own father. If I were him, I would've totally let you be yourself, chill in the home and enjoy life until you want to do something of relevance."
Iesha didn't answer for a while. She suddenly blinked and asked.
"Then how do you expect for an Empire to survive?"
"That's the responsibility of the one who founded your Empire, Iesha. If I establish my Empire, I have to take care of it. We are beings with tremendous lifespans and power and not mortals who depend upon the next generation. Therefore, if you are not strong, you have business establishing an empire of any sort."
"Heh..."
Iesha actually snickered as she stood up.
"Let's go."
"Uh? Are you not going to cultivate? Even a second is valuable to you now."
Iesha shook her head to Davis's doubt.
"I lied. There's no way I would be able to breakthrough in a day after I hurt my spirit from being disturbed by you."
"What? Then why did you ask for a day?"
"To get you out somehow and have you release the slave seals you put on others. After that, I'll fulfill my role as a princess. I need more time to recover."
'What the-'
Davis became exasperated by this woman.
Why was she making bad decisions all the time!?
To him, who possessed the free will to do whatever he wanted, her actions were extremely foreign.
"Iesha, don't be stupid. Don't let yourself get walked all over. That's contradictory to how you wish to live."
Iesha had just taken a few steps as she stopped. Her expression became slightly twisted before she shook her head and continued to head out without giving a reply.
She then successfully exited the palace with no one blocking her path this time. She looked around before she walked the streets of the city and went around shopping as if she was preparing for something. However, Davis understood why as there were spirits monitoring her.
Like this, she spent some time buying pills that he had never seen before and met with otherworldly-looking spirits and immaculate beauties, one with horns, some with other features. They all looked alien to him, but their unique features and characteristics were irrelevant to him, who appreciated the curves.
While he was sightseeing along with Iesha in this Frigid World Spirit City, she suddenly entered an alleyway and bellowed inside.
"Quick! Leave! I think I lost them for some time!"
Davis, who was distracted by the icy beauties of this city, became taken aback before he checked and noticed that there was no gaze cast towards him at the moment.
"Ah, I didn't think you had the skills..."
A streak of light shot from Iesha's forehead as it landed on the ground. Davis stood up straight and cast a look at her with narrowed eyes.
"You're really going to follow the words of your father?"
Iesha turned around and ran away, leaving him alone in that empty and dark alleyway. At the same time, he sensed numerous gazing, catching her silhouette as they kept following her.
Davis brought his hand to his face almost as if he was going to face-palm before his figure faded into the darkness.
=======
The next day, at the imperial palace's aerial platform.
Iesha stood on top of the aerial platform, dressed in ceremonial robes. She wore a veil on her face and had the crown on top of her head adorned with ornaments, making her look beautiful.
Yesterday after Davis left, she returned to the imperial palace and told her father that she was agreeable to be married off, and the latter did the work and took care of the proceedings.
Today, she was going to be sent off to the Seeker Spirit Empire that's towards the southeast of their Frigid World Spirit Empire.
However, she had no misgivings because she confirmed that all of the girls who entered the Frigid Yin Spirit Pool had their slave seals shattered, causing her to immensely calm down while also allowing her conscience to remain clear. Nothing of misfortune had befallen her Empire, making her believe that she averted a disaster with her wits!
The only thing that was taken was a Frigid Yin Spirit Pool that would regenerate in a few decades.
As the human named Davis Loret fulfilled his words without fail, she couldn't help but think about him.
'Heh, not only did he take advantage of me, but he also called me by my name, Iesha... Iesha... without using my honorifics. Sigh, some rude and strange human he is, but because of him, I feel that my ideals are correct... There are some humans worth treating with kindness...'
As the procession was about to leave, she took a step forward and placed her icy-white feet on the pedestal, entering the construct of a snow swan pulled by magnificent Snow Eagles that was at the King Beast Stage.
With many waving their hands and saying their goodbyes, the procession left as they took off to the skies. They crossed the high city gates and left the city, entering the outskirts as they were on their way to the Seeker Spirit Empire when a voice abruptly echoed.
"Halt!"
Iesha became stunned as she turned to look around, looking at her imperial father fly towards her with furrowed brows as if he was worried.
"Don't take my daughter away."
Hearing his words, Iesha's expression blossomed into a delightful smile.
"Imperial father..."
Her eyes glazed as she jumped out of the construct and flew towards him. When they reached each other, her head sharply swiveled towards the right.
*Paah!~*
A slap landed on her face, causing her eyes to widen while a red print was left on her left cheek.
"Little slut! You hid a human in your spirit sea who came to rob us and even allowed him to escape yesterday right under my watch!? How treacherous of you when I believed you so much!"
"...!"
Iesha's heart fell as her eyes trembled. Suddenly, she caught sight of a woman on the city walls and saw that she was one of the girls who entered the Frigid Yin Spirit Pool along with her. That woman's expression appeared to be one of indifference, no, best said to be anger.
'Pia... why?'
Iesha shed tears as pain that was more than the slap filled her heart.