The Idle System (A LitRPG series Book 7): Family by Pegaz (good books to read for young adults txt) 📗

Off to the side, the princess stood frozen in place. Her lips were no longer scrunched together in disgust, but instead, her mouth had fallen agape.

She wasn’t taken aback by Kelly’s medical expertise nor her snubbing the prince’s advances; the hook-nosed woman was taken aback by the item hanging from Kelly’s hip—it was the golden eagle badge!

Sixteen years ago, her father had warned her that if she were to ever cross paths with the wielder of the one-of-a-kind badge, she should run away. If escaping wasn’t possible, she was instructed to butter them up or do anything except turn against the badge’s owner.

These sayings were hammered into her since she was six years old, and at twenty-two, she didn’t dare risk her own life.

“STOP!” the princess demanded.

Luckily, the prince’s knights stopped and turned to stare at her, awaiting orders.

Taking a deep breath and regaining her composure, she pointed at the knight on the floor and screeched, “Behead that knight!”

All of her knights were standing there, staring at the princess, not moving at all as it was a request that could turn the Gralux Kingdom from an ally to an enemy.

“What is the meaning of this? Have you gone mad?” the prince questioned as he angrily joined his fiancée’s side. “Why should my knight be beheaded for doing his job?”

The princess stared him down, unwavering in her decision. “You don’t get a say in this!”

“What do you mean? He’s my most loyal knight!”

Ignoring the prince, she looked at her knights again. “This is an order and the last time I’m going to say it! Behead that knight or be marked as traitors to the kingdom!”

Her eight knights regained their wits as they ran towards the Gralux Kingdom’s six knights. All fourteen of these knights had grown increasingly harmonious with one another over the course of this royal tour, but that didn’t stop them from obeying orders.

It didn’t take long for the Bahan knights to keep their opponents busy as one knight grabbed the person Kelly had knocked down and dragged him away.

As the man was being dragged off, he found himself winded because of Kelly’s attack to his ribs, but he had just enough energy and air in his lungs to scream for mercy.

When he reached a good distance away from the knights fighting, the Bahan Kingdom’s knight ignored the man’s pleas as he took out a long sword and swung without hesitation.

A head rolled on the floor not long after.

Ignoring the stunned townspeople and royal guards, the princess walked up to Kelly and stopped a few feet in front of her, performing a full curtsy towards Kelly as she apologised. “Please forgive our behaviour. We will leave and not bother you again.”

After a brief hesitation, the princess straightened herself and grabbed hold of the prince’s arm, pulling him away, knights in tow.

Kelly stood there, dazed. When she saw the princess leaving, she yelled, “Wait!”

The princess turned around and looked at Kelly who was jogging towards her.

“Why did you behead that knight? There was no reason for you to bow and apologise to me. I’m a nobody and you’re royalty!”

A look of bewilderment struck the princess. “You don’t know?”

Kelly shook her head.

“Then, I think it’s best I not answer.” The princess pointed towards the golden eagle badge. “If the person who gave you that badge hasn’t told you, then it’s not my place to do so.”

Kelly looked down at the golden eagle badge dangling from her waist.

Dad always said the king gave him this badge and I can use it to see the king whenever I want. Did the princess recognise it which led to the knight being beheaded, just so we wouldn’t have any bad blood between us?

Before she could question the princess further, the royal entourage had packed up and left the town as quickly as they could under the princess’ command.

I’ve got to ask mom and dad what the hell happened all those years ago! They’re definitely hiding something if the princess risked going to war to smooth things over!

Kelly headed to the jungle to find Sarah and John, but no matter how much she searched, she couldn’t find a single trace of her parents.

* * *

Inside the carriage, the prince and princess were arguing.

The prince was furious that his uncle was on his deathbed while one of his most loyal knights was beheaded by his future wife.

“Shut up!” the princess shouted.

“Tell me the truth!” the prince roared. “I saw the look on your face after seeing that thing on the woman’s waist. What was it?”

With a deep sigh, the future queen cleared her throat. “It was a badge my father made for someone. The only one of its kind, and whoever wears it is protected by this kingdom no matter the consequences.”

Leaving the prince in his shocked state, the princess opened the window to talk to the leader of her knights. “Send a message to my father telling him we’ve found the golden badge. He’ll know what it means.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” The knight slightly bowed as his horse galloped alongside the carriage. He slowed the horse down a little to get to the back of the carriage where he took out a bird cage. Inside was a homing pigeon that was trained to fly straight to the capital.

The princess closed the window and looked at the prince.

“So, that badge saved that woman’s life and I can’t ask for justice for my knight?” the prince said in a half-whine.

“You misunderstood,” the princess answered. “That badge didn’t save her life—it saved all of ours.”

Chapter 17: Wanting to Trade

During the early hours of the morning, a short-bearded old man was sleeping alone in a giant bed. His hair was mostly grey, but there were quite a few brown hairs sprinkled throughout what hair he had left.

Though it was spring, there were extra blankets piled atop him to provide extra warmth due to the fact that he kept