The Princess' Harem-Chapter 26: Viana’s First Move

Viana sat inside the carriage, her hands folded in her lap as she stared sharply out the window.

Joel and Reyes rode on either side of her in silence.

"Are you sure this man will talk, Your Highness?" Joel finally broke the quiet.

Viana turned her gaze toward him, her expression firm. "He will talk," she said with confidence. "If we apply the right pressure."

Joel raised an eyebrow at her answer. The more time he spent with the Crown Princess of Elysia, the more surprised he was. She was nothing like the gossip spread among the nobles or what the information guilds described. The young woman he was escorting was bold and calculating.

Meanwhile, Viana sat lost in her own thoughts. She felt as if she had strayed too far from her original goal, building a harem to prevent financial collapse in the Elysia Kingdom.

And, more importantly, to escape Count Lazarus's grip.

She sighed, reassuring herself that everything she was doing was for that purpose.

When they finally arrived at the prison facility, Reyes dismounted first and opened the carriage door for Viana.

She stepped down and walked toward the entrance of the small building, where Joel was already pushing open the door.

The air inside was damp, filled with the scent of iron and dust.

A thin, battered man sat hunched in the corner of his cell, his hands bound in front of him. Bruises and scars covered his face, clear signs of previous interrogation sessions.

Viana stood tall before the iron bars, her sharp eyes scanning his miserable state.

She steadied herself, then asked coldly, "Who ordered you to spread rumors about me?"

The man lifted his head, his cracked lips trembling. "I don't know what you're talking about," he murmured weakly.

Behind her, Joel clicked his tongue and glanced at Reyes. "Want to give it a try?" he asked, gesturing toward the tools used for 'persuasion.'

Reyes looked at the instruments, but before he could respond, the Princess raised a hand, stopping them.

She crouched before the bars, locking eyes with the prisoner.

"You know who I am, don't you?" she asked in a voice soft yet threatening. "And you know I have the power to find and stop whoever is behind this."

The man swallowed hard. He glanced at Reyes and Joel, both clad in black Royal Guard uniforms intricately detailed with gold, their swords resting at their hips.

Fear flickered across his face, and after a moment of hesitation, he finally spoke. "I... I was just ordered."

Viana narrowed her eyes. "By whom?"

The man shook his head weakly. "I don't know the name. Only that he is an insider. Someone from the noble circle."

Joel crossed his arms, surprised. The beautiful princess had managed to break the prisoner, something none of his men had been able to do.

Viana stood, straightening the folds of her gown. "If you see him again, would you recognize him?"

The man gave a feeble nod.

Viana turned to Joel. "Make sure he's treated better."

Joel smirked, bowing slightly before signaling his men.

As they left the prison, Viana considered that if this rumor failed, especially after the attack she faced alongside the Independent Committee members, then she would have to prepare for an even bigger battle.

She turned to Joel. "I want a full and verified report on this matter. If this is connected to kidnapping and slave trade, we'll present it during trial in Valendale Empire."

Joel smirked again, his interest piqued. "Understood, Your Highness." After years of boredom in the mercenary world, he finally felt excitement again.

***

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The next morning, Viana sat quietly on her balcony, her emerald-green eyes gazing across the vast flower garden below.

The crisp spring breeze ruffled her neatly styled golden hair, but she continued eating her breakfast in peace.

She sipped her warm tea, her thoughts drifting to yesterday's meeting with Count Lazarus. It confirmed her suspicions, those involved in the slave trade network wouldn't stop until they had silenced her.

She glanced back into her bedroom, where Joel, Reyes, and Sina were chatting and laughing together. A few maids were tidying up the space, fixing the sheets and cleaning the room.

Smiling to herself, she turned back to the view. In her heart, she was grateful to have people she could trust, even if Joel was an outsider.

Seeing that the Princess had finished her meal, Joel and Reyes approached her.

Reyes, usually the more reserved one compared to Joel's carefree attitude, spoke first.

"What's our next move, Your Highness?"

Viana continued gazing at the garden, a small smile playing on her lips. Her eyes sparkled as she replied, "I want to approach one of Duke Callisto's allies. Marquis Tobias is our best option."

The two men exchanged curious glances before Joel chuckled. "Are you planning to manipulate him? That's an interesting approach."

Viana's smile deepened. "I don't need to manipulate anyone. I just need to open his eyes to the truth. If Marquis Tobias realizes that Duke Callisto is merely using him, there's a chance he'll turn against them."

Reyes studied her expression carefully. "But how do you plan to do that, Your Highness? People like Marquis Tobias won't be easy to persuade."

Viana lightly traced the rim of her teacup before answering. "I'll speak to his daughter first, Lady Seraphina Tobias."

***

The next day, Viana visited the Tobias family estate. Dressed in an elegant light green gown, her hair styled in a thick braid, she looked every bit the graceful and wise future queen.

Accompanied by Reyes, Joel, and several Royal Guards, she stepped down from the carriage and, escorted by Reyes, walked into the front courtyard of Marquis Tobias's castle.

The servants and guards who saw her immediately bowed in respect, while a young woman with chestnut-colored hair descended the stairs leading to the entrance.

"Your Highness, welcome to the Tobias estate," Seraphina greeted her in a soft, respectful voice, though her blue eyes held a hint of curiosity, wondering why the princess had arrived so suddenly.