CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 44 - ASKING FOR SUPPORT

[Before Arriving at Zion’s house]

A knock on the door jolted Aurora out of her concentration. She was practicing the cultivation Zion had taught her, excited to become more powerful than normal.

"Zion! You’re back!" She spoke excitedly as she opened the door. Unfortunately, Zion wasn’t the one at the door.

"Um, hello. I’m Crystal, I’m looking for Zion." She smiled awkwardly

"Crystal?" Lidia popped her head out, seeing her and Zia standing outside their room. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, I’m just looking for Zion. I need his help with something."

"Am I able to help you with this ’something’?" Lidia asked, squinting her eyes at her potential love rival.

"I don’t know, maybe, but Zion’s help is needed more, no offense." She smiled

"Hmmmmm. Well, he’s not here. He went back home for the weekend, said he had some research to do."

"Oh, that’s unfortunate. I’ll just ask him once he’s back. Sorry for interrupting you, enjoy the rest of your day." She and Zia turned around to leave.

"Wait." Lidia called "Why don’t you come with me?"

"Where?"

"To Zion’s house of course. I was headed there anyway. Might as well come along."

"That would be great!" With a delighted smile, Crystal slightly jumped with glee, unaware of her actions.

"Get dressed Aurora, you’re coming too."

"M-Me? I can just stay here."

"Nope, you’re coming too." She grabbed her arm.

"W-Wait, I can get dressed myself! L-Lidia!"

---

Zion stared at the four girls sitting across from him on a couch, tea all offered to them, some not touched while Lidia was gulping hers down. He looked at Aurora who was clearly going through it right now.

She was shaking uncontrollably, her eyes darted all over the place, her breath was rough, and her face was as red as a tomato.

"What with her?" He asked

"She’s just overwhelmed. Not used to being in fancy places like this, especially the home of the boy she likes." Lidia said as she finished drinking her tea.

"And you two?" Zion asked, looking at Crystal and Zia.

At first, they were silent, more so Crystal. Zia gave her a weird look and elbowed her arm, signaling her to tell him what they came here for.

"Oh, ahem, yes," Crystal cleared her throat, "Um, will it be okay if we can talk privately, just the two of us?"

"Hmmmm." He looked at her closely, staring into her eyes. She too stared back into his, the only difference was the slight blush that reddened her cheeks, obviously being encapsulated by his handsomeness, or at least that’s what Zion assumed, not realizing his narcissistic thoughts.

"Fine, we can talk in my room. Follow me."

"L-Lidia!" Aurora spoke softly under her breath, shaking Lidia’s shoulder

"What?"

"Th-They’re going to his room!"

"And?"

"What if they...do it?"

She poked Aurora’s head "Get your head out of the gutter, he’s not gonna make a move on her, for now at least."

"F-For now?"

"Hehe, once you’re around him as much as I am, you’ll understand."

"What are you guys talking about?" Zia asked tilting her head.

"Oh, nothing, just girl talk."

Zia raised her hand "I’m a girl."

Lidia thought about it for a moment, then she smiled. "Yes, yes you are. Let me tell you a little something about my dear Zion."

---

"So, what is it that you want? Oh, and no offense, but make it quick, I’m in the middle of something."

"Alright. Zion Zagan, I, Fifth Princess Crystal Von Astir formally ask for your aid in the battle of the throne."

’Ohhhh, it’s starting. I prepared for this moment. Ahem, let’s get started.’ "No," he replied. Of course, he was lying, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t fool around for a bit.

"W-What?! Just like that? Not even an excuse? Just rejection?" She expected him to decline, but she didn’t think he would be as, well, blunt as he was now. She was used to people giving excuses, some reasonable and some total bullshit, and she expected that from Zion as well. So getting rejected outright was not something she was expecting.

"May I know the reason why?" She asked

"Sure. You have nothing to offer me."

"If that’s the case, when I become Queen, I can-"

"See?" Zion cut her off, "You’re acting like becoming queen is within your grasp and that couldn’t be further from the truth. I have a better chance at becoming the King than you do, and I don’t even have royal blood."

"I know, but with your help, I’m sure I can win, we can win!" Her eyes were sparked with determination. She wasn’t going to back down no matter what.

"Fuck all that ’When I become queen.’ bullshit, tell me what you can offer me NOW. What do you have to your name besides being the daughter of the King? What valuables do you have? What resources can you get me? What title can you bestow me? What power can you help me achieve? What allies do you even have? I can answer that question for you, it’s nothing."

Everything he said hit Crystal like a carriage (no trucks exist here so I’m not using that lol). She knew his words were the truth but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt to hear it.

Her hands were shaking and her confidence crumbling. What could she offer to him? She wondered. But she couldn’t think of anything. Even she knew that all of the promises she tried to make with other nobles started with the lines "When I become Queen." showing the lack of support and power she had.

Her mouth opened, but no words came out. Her shoulders slumped and all she managed to get out was, "My maternal family is supporting me."

Zion’s face contorted into confusion. ’Did she really just say that?’ he wondered. It was so pitiful that he could only laugh.

"Hahahahahaha! Really? Your maternal family? Viscount Harold? You’re uncle? I’m sorry but if you think that he will be able to do something for you, then you’re actually delusional."

"Don’t insult my family!" Crystal sneered

"I’m not, I’m just being realistic. Your father has four wives, each of them stemming from a Ducal family and each family supports one of your siblings. Ruby, the first princess has the Knight’s order supporting her. Lapis, the second prince has the magic tower supporting him. Amber, the third princess has the support of most nobles, and Beryl, the fourth prince has the support of the church. You can also sprinkle in merchants, smaller nobles, and lords who support your siblings. Your uncle literally can’t do anything against people stacked like your siblings."

Crystal yelled in anger, "I KNOW!" her fists clenched as she slammed it on the table in front of them.

"I know." her voice now soft and calm. "But your duchy is neutral and Lidia’s family is also. So I just hoped-"

"That if you got my support, you would be getting Lidia’s as well. And possibly my Aunt’s?" Zion finished her sentence.

"Yes." She nodded honestly.

"Truthfully, I expected you to come to me about this. And I did consider helping you."

"Really?" She asked perking up, her eyes now lit with a new fire.

"Yeah, but it’s a hassle. Like helping you will literally be like trying to save someone from drowning in lava, you’re already fucking dead."

She didn’t like that analogy, but it wasn’t false.

"However, if someone could make miracles, then saving the person from dying to lava wouldn’t be impossible."

"What are you saying?" She asked, squinting her eyes, trying not to read too deeply between the lines.

"I can help you. Hell, I can make you queen right now if I want to. But I’m not going to because you’re not ready for the throne."

"I am ready! I’ve studied, worked hard, understand the state of the kingdom, acted as a stand-in, and-"

"Yes, yes, yes, I know you’re ready mentally and academically, that’s a no-brainer. But let me ask you this. Are you sure you can keep your throne once you take it?"

She understood what he was saying. Her father was an Ascendant Stage martial artist currently and was a Grandmaster when he took the throne. He had the power to protect it, she didn’t.

"You’re not even an Advanced Mage. Even Beryl is a Master stage martial artist."

"What can I do?" She asked, slightly hoping he would give her the answer.

"Heh, follow me."