CHAPTER 428: HERE, CHRISTOPHER

"Vampires, sorcerers, witches, and humans," Arabella spelled aloud to the races that filled Versailles and with ease she blinked at the now frightened minister, the very same chilled by her cold gaze. "I have made a weapon that could kill regardless who it is. But in no way have I planned on using those weapons for war. I won’t amass it either."

Helena who heard what weapon was made by her felt a little shiver down her spine. Something in her feels as though this weapon if amass would perhaps really be a weapon that could turn into a deadly force, perhaps so deadly that it would cause millions of death.

"I agree-"

"That is not fair," demanded Christopher. "Those witches and sorcerers wanted us dead and we cannot have a weapon to use for protection? You are our about to be our Queen, you rule us and your responsibility is to protect us. Your mercy towards the sorcerers or witches aren’t necessary as we come first."

"Your audacity," snapped Juan but she stopped him before Juan or Helena could chastise the man.

She instead looked at the garden from the hall where both of its side was open. For a moment she closed her eyes and when she opened it again, she thought of an idea to share with these ministers, a perfect chance.

"Then we should visit the training ground."

Training ground, a place she had visited the past few weeks to try her new weapon. The ministers were delighted at the idea. If they couldn’t have the weapon, by seeing they could perhaps form or create the same weapon— maybe something even better.

Helena was unaware of what Arabella was going to do but something in her feels as if the girl who was from the village and always stood by peace and mercy had changed. Perhaps because the absence of the King or perhaps due to the ongoing war with the sorcerers, but something in her had changed, it had turned merciless, deadly even.

When they reached the training ground, all the knights who saw her dropped whatever training they were doing. One by one knelt in the ground full of sand, bending their knees right when they saw her. The presence of her alone managed to subdue the knights who were all known for their high pride and nature of not bending to those they haven’t deemed worthy.

But the fact that they seemed so honored to be able and see her, bending their knees down for her seemed to show that she had proven her worth and that all the knights have began to acknowledge her as their own Master.

"Over here," Arabella wasn’t used to people bowing to her before but at some point it became so natural as if she was born for it. Nowadays with many new responsibility, she had adapted to the point as if she was breathing.

When they arrived to the field far from the knights, they were met with a wooden table and a round board as if it was made for a dart or arrow competition.

Then Arabella picked a small round balls, black in color and looked light in her hands as if it was obsidian marbles. With ease, she pushed the marbles inside the barrel of her gun, rolling the barrel and then aiming it toward the board without shooting it.

Then she placed it down, turning her eyes to the expectant gazes of the ministers.

"You want me to shoot?" Her smile was meaningful but Helena felt something amiss.

Arabella... she really had changed. Cold, calculated, and even her words sounded more like a threat than an offer. Still some ministers couldn’t tell it but she could. Having been with Cassius for so long, she’s aware of his hobby of giving someone a choice when in truth they never had a willing choice to make.

Like so, Arabella had adopted Cassius’s personality and whether it was a choice or done without thinking, the similarity was so uncanny that it felt creepy.

"Haven’t you brought us here to show the weapon?" Taunted Christopher as if he had a cat’s fortune of having nine life. "We would like to see it for our own eyes what our mighty soon to be queen had created in order to protect us."

"Protect," Arabella hummed, "I do not mind showing you what it could do however," she paused eyeing everyone with a smile. "Even if I do show you what it could do, you won’t be too impressed I’m afraid."

"But why?"

"You would see," Arabella raised the same gun and aimed at the board. For a moment she didn’t move and after she took in her breath, she pulled the trigger that caused in that one second for the bullet to leave the gun and hit the board. In that instant a loud noise boom from where she stood and the board that was once standing had disappeared into piece of splinters.

Everyone was gasping from what they have seen, shocked by the sight that such a small thing could destroy the board easily.

"T- That’s nothing-" Christopher argued. "It doesn’t look anything special at all! I have seen that weapon before used by the neighboring country that had to fend off against pirates. They’re no different and this is weak."

"Weak," Arabella sighed, "But I have told you didn’t I? That I need a target better than a wooden board. Normal wood such as this would only bring you disappointment."

"You mean if we use a creature, it would really show its true strength?"

"Yes," she answered with ease and the ministers began to question what would be the best target.

One argued, "A deer!"

"A wolf or a bear, something closer to a human creature so we could see its value."

"Then what about a human, might as well!"

"That is against the law! Then sorcerer?"

"Someone in a death row-"

Everyone all disagrees with the other’s idea. They add and added even more choices to the target that should be used but none has an idea that everyone accept immediately.

Arabella smiled seeing this and rubbed her fingers against the gun. She learnt it from Isabelle’s blueprint but those marbles were made by her own. She spent night and days trying to figure out a deadly weapon so that when Cassius is in need to go against her own body when controlled by the demoness, she was sure he could easily take care and subdue her.

But the ministers, they didn’t know the true reason for her creation. She didn’t know how they manage to catch a wind about the gun either but questioning won’t help. To show them fear, she simply has to let them see by their own eyes what would happen if the weapon falls to their hands instead.

"I see you don’t know what to do. How about I give you an insight?" She offered while they exchanged looks, curious of her idea.

"What may it be, your highness."

"One of you can volunteer."

"..."

Silence ensued, so quiet that it was so loud. Pretending not to notice this, she continued, "It is always so much easier to see the effect by experiencing in your own body. Besides I can promise to whoever chose to volunteer for this great cause begged by the ministers of the court, for a life of their family to be guaranteed until their seventh generation is buried inside the ground."

"W- What are you jesting-"

"A joke is meant to be funny. Am I laughing, Christopher?"

They gulped, fear wrapped around their heart like a vice. Realizing that Arabella hadn’t smiled anymore, they fell into an understanding that she was mad. She has been mad.

"I do think that if I shoot a human or a death row prisoner, it would be against the law and I don’t want Cassius to be disappointed in me."

They fell relieved hearing that she was still worried if hearing Cassius’s name involved in the problem. But Arabella clapped her hand and purposed her genius idea.

"But if one of you volunteer and give up your own life, Cassius would surely understand and even allow this to happen. I’m sure of it," Arabella grinned while seeing their face losing color by the second.

What a fool. It’s easy to see that they all regret their pressing hidden goals.

"So one of you should walk up," Arabella leaned to the table, leaning back to her arm while humming and holding the marble between her five fingers. "Please don’t make me count."

That last sentence was enough to make all hairs on their body to stand up from fear.

"Should Christopher walk here?" Arabella offered, "after all you were the one most excited to see how this gun would work. How this weapon would protect you. In the name of protection, Christopher, walk here, show me your courage while I trust this weapon on you. Everyone should watch and have a see for their own eyes how this weapon will make sure with one shot your head would be blasted off while about seventy percent of your body also burnt and turn into holes. Walk here now, Christopher."