Chapter 160: Chapter 25 - King's Game, Part 1 (5)

Lilia's POV

It was 18 years ago when a baby, barely a month old, appeared on the doorstep of our house. At the time, I was merely 7 years old.

My father and mother were astonished to find a baby there, but their shock turned to adoration upon laying eyes on her. It was no surprise, really. Even to my young eyes, the baby exuded beauty. Her hair resembled the darkened, starless night sky, and her eyes gleamed like flaming rubies. I, too, fell in love with her instantly and pleaded with my parents to take her in.

The child was a girl, swathed in a white cloth upon which rested a letter. It bore the words, "Veronica Eclair is the name bestowed upon this child. I beseech you, those who chance upon this young one, to provide it with care and protection."

Upon reading those words, it was as if we were under a spell, compelled to obey the directive as though it were a universal decree. Yet, simultaneously, we found no objection in adhering to it. In fact, we rather fancied the name bestowed upon the baby; it seemed to suit her perfectly.

Given that we lacked a surname at the time, being of commoner status, we decided that "Eclair" would serve as her second name, not her family name. However, when I ascended to the rank of commander within the magic knights, and the King granted me the surname "Silverblade," her name underwent a change as well, becoming Veronica Eclair Silverblade.

Nevertheless, she predominantly uses Veronica Eclair when introducing herself. Moreover, her official designation within the magic knights remained Veronica Eclair.

Let's set aside discussion of her name for a moment and reflect on her journey after joining our family. As she matured, it became evident that she possessed remarkable abilities. From a young age, she demonstrated proficiency not only in the arcane arts and swordsmanship, but also in marksmanship and blademanship. She was a true polymath, a prodigy in every sense.

I felt immense pride in being her elder sister, which motivated me to push myself harder. I was determined not to let my little sister surpass me. After years of effort, my latent skill finally awakened.

Absolute Command.

My ability, Absolute Command, grants me the power to impose unyielding and irresistible directives upon anything, whether living or non-living, natural or supernatural, including myself. With a mere utterance, I can compel someone to kneel, halt a conflict, or even declare myself ruler of the world. I possess the authority to command someone to take their own life, and they would obey willingly.

Such is the extent of my power.

I wield control with a word from my lips, yet there are individuals whose indomitable wills resist my Absolute Command. While manipulating the King proved effortless, the Queen's formidable will posed a challenge. Hence, despite my capabilities, usurping the throne from the King remained beyond my reach. Not that I harbored any intentions to do so, of course. I lacked the motivation.

After awakening my ability, I pursued four years of education at the academy, emerging as the top graduate of my class. Subsequently, I embarked on a career as a magic knight, steadily ascending the ranks until I reached the pinnacle as commander. Admittedly, I may have employed a bit of manipulation, leveraging my skill to secure my position, but ascend I did.

Upon Veronica's seventeenth birthday, I commanded her to join the ranks of the magic knights and serve under my command. Despite the typical requirement for formal training, my ability allowed her immediate induction. By the age of eighteen, she rose to the position of second-in-command. It was at this age that her own latent abilities awakened, possessing formidable strength.

Notably, her skill stood as the sole counter to my own.

Veronica was the sole individual capable of ending my life—my own sister.

After perusing the information, Veronica raised her gaze to meet mine. "I'll proceed as instructed," she affirmed. With that, she returned the documents to Laurel and ventured into the forest, likely in pursuit of the young man.

Laurel returned the portfolio to the tent before resuming her massage. Midway through, she voiced her thoughts. "What's with the fixation on that young man? Personally, I fail to see anything particularly intriguing about him. He strikes me as quite ordinary. I mean, isn't he the weakest among the first years at the academy?

And isn't he lacking in skills?"

I chuckled at Laurel's remarks. "Oh, Laurel, perhaps your eyesight has faltered. Didn't you notice the extraordinary feat this young boy accomplished? He managed to locate us even while we were high in the sky and in the darkness of night. That's not something an ordinary individual could achieve under any circumstances."

"I concede that his actions were remarkably impressive for someone I initially considered unremarkable. However, I remain skeptical of his capacity for further extraordinary feats," she retorted.

"Well, if you're doubtful, why not observe whether that young man can withstand a confrontation with someone like Veronica? If he manages to evade even a single one of her attacks, it would signify that he is far from ordinary," I proposed.

Veronica possessed formidable strength. Should the young man evade even one of her strikes, it would indicate his extraordinary nature. Perhaps he hailed from the lineage of Eclair, akin to Elise Eclair, a renowned member of the Fangs, famed within the underground society. Given Veronica's shared surname, there might be a familial connection to consider.

"Commander," Laurel interjected, her tone noticeably altered.

"What is it, Laurel?" I inquired.

"It has come to my attention that there's an ongoing petition for your demotion from the commander position. Your recent mismanagement of the magic knights, coupled with your failure to retain Gabrielle within the ranks, has spurred a movement seeking your removal. What do you intend to do about this?" Laurel disclosed.

I halted Laurel's massage and rose to my feet. Turning to Laurel, I drew close to her. "It's rather inappropriate of you to bring up such matters while I'm trying to relax. You've truly tested my patience," I reprimanded.

"I-I apologize," Laurel stammered.

"Let them try. The ultimate decision lies with the King and the court nobles, not those insignificant individuals seeking my demotion," I declared confidently.

"Do you truly believe you'll prevail?" Laurel inquired.

I grinned at her. "One thousand out of one hundred people will choose me, without a doubt," I asserted, then playfully stuck out my tongue and licked her cheek. After the playful gesture, I flashed a smile at Laurel. "I won't merely sit back and await the King's decision, naturally. Circumstances can shift, after all," I remarked.

"And your plan is to eliminate those advocating for your removal in this game, isn't it?" Laurel queried, wiping the spot where I had licked with the back of her hand.

I maintained my smile, offering no confirmation or denial. It was enough for her to grasp my intent.