Dungeon of Pride, Laplace



"That's Burg and Brett" Marba exclaimed.

"Where are they are they alright?" Alvara chimed in.

"They are alright and are in the room next to you. However, they are yet to wake up. Once they do, I will send someone to bring them here. Anyways, it's unfortunate that I was a step too late to save the others".

Cynthia shook her head, a small smile of gratitude touched her lips "No, that's not true. We are alive because you made it in time, we are truly grateful for everything that you did for us. Thank you for saving my subordinates".

"Well you should be, if not for my master, you all would have become the nourishment for the dungeon and some of you might even have been…" Bea spoke out, a small smirk hanging at the corner of her lips.

Although she didn't finish her sentence, it was clear as to what she meant as she glanced at Alvara.

BAM… Just like always, to correct the behaviour of her sister, Annette gave her a smack with her fist of love.

"You idiot, Master is not done talking. Why are you interjecting in the middle". It was a funny scene seeing how these graceful and poised maids, whose beauty could make others jealous of them, razzing like that.

Though thanks to them, it broke the tense atmosphere that settled onto the place.

"Haha, please excuse them. They are my dear family. Although Bea is always raucous, she didn't mean what she said" Simon glanced at Bea, who although was pouting a little still apologised to the other party.

"No, no you don't have to . What she said was true after all".

The group made a few more small talks before Simon shifted the conversation to the main topic at hand.

"Now then, may I ask the reason for your visit Miss Cynthia or should I say your Highness". Simon's eyes flashed brightly as he glanced at them.

It didn't look like they were here to deliver a message, the purpose for their visit seemed to be different from last time. What was particularly intriguing was the presence of the princess herself, which implied a matter of serious consequence.

Cynthia took a deep breath, gathered her thoughts, and proceeded to state the purpose of their visit without unnecessary preamble "Our situation is a complex one. The Kingdom of Ellesmere is facing both internal strife and external threats."

Her voice held a mixture of determination and concern "With the recent demise of the king, the struggle for the throne has intensified among us royal siblings. The first prince is amassing political power through the support of influential dukes, to solidify his claim to the throne".

"While the second prince has resorted to underhanded tactics. He has allied himself with the Kingdom of Blackthorn who are our enemies, and using their support, he wants to secure his throne. This alliance has plunged our kingdom of Ellesmere into a web of political intrigue and manipulation. The struggle has consumed countless lives and territories, tearing our kingdom apart". Cynthia elaborated the turmoil that had gripped her homeland.

"Even Her Highness, the princess is not spared from their ambitions. The first prince is trying to betroth the princess with an ambassador from Duke Montford's faction and solidify his support. On the other hand, the second prince in his pursuit of the throne, offered the princess as a bargaining chip to win the favour of the King of Blackthorn. A marriage alliance that she had no say in, a decision that was forced upon her" Alvara chimed in, her tone sharp with frustration.

A sombre silence fell over the chamber, each word underscoring the magnitude of their predicament.

Cynthia's gaze met Simon's, her eyes reflecting the weight of the burden she bore "With my father's passing, my influence and support have dwindled. Alone and without a voice, I found myself fleeing the capital to seek refuge and escape the clutches of those who wanted to use me as a prey for their political machinations".

As her words fell, Simon crossed his arms and silently contemplated her words. Cynthia's recount painted a picture of the kingdom's dire state. The passing of the king had triggered a fierce struggle for the throne among the princes.

The first prince sought to secure his claim through political alliances, garnering support from powerful dukes and influential figures. Meanwhile, the second prince had aligned himself with the Kingdom of Blackthorn, a move that brought foreign influence into the kingdom's power struggle. And Cynthia who was caught in all of this.

After a while, Simon opened his eyes and asked "I see, I more or less understand the situation. However, what does it have to do with me? I am not your ally, so why did you come to my dungeon?".

"Why you ask? Simon, the princess needs your help…" Alvara spoke out her expression a little erratic; however, she was cut off by Cynthia whose hand gestured for her to stop.

"The reason we came here is to seek shelter, a sanctuary where we can bide our time without worrying about any pursuers. I know it is asking too much, but I can only humbly beg for your compassion to let us stay here and, if possible, your protection until the treacherous tide of political turmoil and power struggles subsides" Cynthia bowed her head, there was an air of vulnerability and despair in her action.

"We beg you" Alvara and Marba too plead following the actions of their master.

As their words hung in the air, the room seemed to hold its breath, waiting for Simon's response to their plea for refuge inside the dungeon.

At this moment his lips curved into a wicked smile, and the master of the dungeon came to a decision.

"You have an interesting choice of sanctuary. The dungeon is a treacherous place, everything here exceeds far beyond your imagination. You will find that it is not so easy to live here, you might have to face many challenging situations. Even then are you still willing to stay here?"…

"We overcame numerous life and death situations to reach this place. Can it be compared to them?" Cynthia answered, there was not even a trace of uncertainty and hesitation in her eyes.

"Hmm… very well, I can give you refugee here; however, I have one condition" Simon extended his finger.

"What is it? If it's something within my power, I will not refuse" There is no such thing as free lunch in this world, everything has a cost. It is only natural that the Master of the dungeon would ask something of them in return. Cynthia replied nodding her head.

"I haven't decided yet. Don't worry though, I won't ask of something that won't be in your power. I will make preparations for your accommodations until then you have to stay on the prison floor. Oh, that's right, welcome to Dungeon Laplace".

With those words, the die was cast, changing the paths and destinies of Cynthia and the others.

"One of my subordinate will be monitoring you. You can contact me through him" After learning what he needed to learn, Simon and his battle maids left the place.

Now that they were gone, Alvara, her curiosity getting the best of her, inquired, "Princess, why didn't you ask for his assistance with the matter of the kingdom? With his capabilities, it would seemingly be within his grasp to help you ascend the throne, defeating the other claimants with relative ease."

It was a valid question, considering the immense power that Simon wielded. However, Cynthia's expression remained steady, her tone measured.

"Alvara, in bargaining, both parties must bring something of equal value to the table. I may be a princess by blood, but my support has crumbled, my influence shattered. I have lost the backing of my father, his majesty the King. In the eyes of my brothers who vie for the throne, I stand as a hindrance. That is why they want to get rid of me. My claim is weakened, and as someone seeking refuge, I bring no value to the master of the dungeon to involve himself in all of this".

"For now, my goal is to ensure our survival, to weather this storm that has engulfed Ellesmere. And in that struggle, I am willing to set aside the pursuit of the throne if it means I can protect those dear to me." Cynthia looked at Alvara and Marba who stuck with her despite the dangers. 

.

.

Underground Prison, Level 3.

The Training Floor of Dungeon Laplace was a paradoxical space, designed as a training ground on the surface but concealing a sprawling underground labyrinthine prison.

When one ventures into this floor, they would be met with a vast expanse, designed to resemble an outdoor arena. Grassy terrain stretched out, interspersed with strategically placed obstacles and training equipment, creating an ideal environment for combat practice and skill refinement.

However, beneath this seemingly innocent training ground façade, lay a hidden network of prison cells, chambers, and passages. Its layout was both intricate and foreboding, with multiple layers, each accessed through hidden staircases and passageways.

The first layer or the level 1, was where Cynthia and the others are currently being sheltered. It was a slightly remodelled area, meant to accommodate them temporarily.

Since Simon cannot house them on his Main Floor or the Forest Spring Spirit village because it might expose them to dangers no matter how minuscule, he had to temporarily use the prison as quarters for Cynthia and the others to rest.