Ashley's Downfall and Despair
"Halt the execution!"
A voice full of dignity echoed through the execution grounds. The crowd murmured in surprise. The executioners looked up puzzled toward the source of the sound.
The queen had risen from her seat.
"Ashley Laphone has been spared direct involvement in the treason, among other considerations. Release her."
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
Ashley bowed her head repeatedly, tears streaming down her face.
"Come with us!"
Two men came forward and dragged her away. Moments later, they dumped her unceremoniously onto the street outside the execution grounds.
"Urk!"
"Don't think you're off the hook just because you're free. You're still the daughter of a traitor. Ptoo!"
"Be grateful you came back from the gates of hell."
The men cackled as they walked off.
Ashley collapsed to the ground like a beggar, sobbing uncontrollably for a long while. The shock of her family's utter ruin overnight, losing her mother and younger sister, had shattered her mind—she couldn't even stand.
"Hic...! Hic...! Waaah...!"
Only after a few hours did her sobs finally subside enough for her to shakily rise to her feet. She staggered down the street.
'Home... what happened to home...?'
Passersby saw her limp, exhausted form and hurled stones at her feet or spat curses as they passed.
"Crazy bitch!"
"What a jinx!"
"Those bitches got my neighbor's son killed!"
It seemed word had already spread through the capital that the Laphone family were traitors.
"No... that's not true."
Ashley sniffled, her voice breaking.
"Our family isn't traitors..."
When she finally reached her home, she dropped to her knees in stunned horror.
"Hahaha! This is hilarious!"
"Whoa, ride it good! Ride it!"
"Yahoo! Gonna ride all night!"
The grand, beautiful mansion was engulfed in roaring flames. The house where Ashley had been born and raised... her entire life was crumbling to ash before her eyes.
Crack! Boom!
As the main building's wall collapsed and the roof caved into the inferno, Ashley clutched her head and screamed.
"Kyaaah!"
"Huh?"
"Isn't that...?"
"Oh ho."
People gathered at the sound.
"Hey, you're Ashley Laphone, right?"
A man reached out to touch her. Ashley scrambled up and backed away.
"H-how dare you touch me! You scum!"
"Scum?"
"She's lost it. Still thinks she's nobility."
"Kekeke, dumb bitch."
"Hey, you homeless now? Come live with me? My dick's huge."
One man yanked down his pants and waved his junk around. But Ashley didn't even look—she bolted in terror.
"Tch!"
She tripped and fell soon after, drawing laughter from the crowd. A ragged old man reeking of booze approached.
"I-I've admired you for so long! M-my house h-has only o-one room, b-but there's a comfy spot to sleep! M-marry me! B-bear my children!"
"Kyaaak!"
Ashley kicked him square in the groin in panic and fled as fast as she could. Mocking jeers and curses chased her.
Tears welled up in Ashley's eyes.
'What do I do now? How am I supposed to live...?'
She just wanted to hide somewhere alone. It was all too much. Then, her friend Roberini came to mind.
"Right, Roberini..."
She yearned to pour out her grief, injustice, and rage to her closest friend, to receive comfort. And maybe hide out at her place for a while.
A short time later, she arrived at her friend's house and met Roberini.
"Oh... Ashley? H-hi. You're... alive, huh... haha."
For some reason, Roberini's face showed no joy—only discomfort.
"The queen forgave me. Sob sob..."
"Th-that's... good."
Ashley waited inwardly for Roberini to invite her inside first, but no such words came. Roberini responded only in short phrases, forcing awkward smiles, showing no sign of helping. She looked like someone eager to end the encounter.
"I'm not feeling well today... gotta go rest inside. Sorry."
"W-wait..."
"I'll head in now. T-take care."
Roberini rushed inside and slammed the door.
"I wanted to ask to stay over..."
Ashley stood there crestfallen for a long time. Then, from an open window, Roberini's angry voice drifted out.
"You want a whipping? Just because she's a friend doesn't make her my friend! If Ashley Laphone the traitor's daughter shows up, you say her name properly! You just said 'a friend came,' so I went out clueless!"
"S-sorry!"
"Next time Ashley comes, say I'm not home! She won't come back anyway!"
"Y-yes!"
Ashley clamped a hand over her mouth in shock at the voices from within. To think the friend she'd considered a bosom companion for years would discard her so cruelly!
"Hic!"
She ran off sobbing.
'You bitch! If you think about it, it's your fault I got divorced!'
She swore never to seek Roberini again.
After flinching and fleeing from every person she encountered, Ashley found herself standing before Melissa's house gate. A collapsed tent lay by the roadside—likely trashed when the soldiers dragged her away. No maids in sight. Had they all fled?
Farther off, lights shone beyond the front gate of the mansion.
'Is Naru there...?'
Kang Naru was the only one left she could trust and rely on. In the pitch darkness, Ashley saw him as her sole ray of hope. She resolved to stake everything on that hope.
He might be utterly cold to her now, but they'd once been husband and wife. That fact alone gave the now-friendless her tremendous comfort.
'Naru and I are still family.'
"Human food isn't bad at all. Thanks for the meal! Haha!"
"If something happens in Migad, call us. We'll come help anytime."
We were bidding farewell to Illar after the lavish feast prepared at the royal palace.
"When I make a new dungeon, you'll be the first I invite to raid it. I won't let you clear it, so prepare yourself!"
"Looking forward to it."
The merfolk all entered the portal. Illar turned back last with a grin.
"Men's business is done, so now it's the women's turn, eh?"
"Hm?"
As he spoke, April appeared from beyond the portal in a beautiful dress.
"I've missed you, Naru."
She smiled brightly at me.
"She helped out, so pay her back by giving me grandkids quick!"
Illar clapped my back and vanished into the portal. April crossed over, and it sealed shut.
"Fighting must have been tough."
"You, your father, and the others did the hard work. Anyway, great to see you again."
I smiled back warmly. An unexpected visit from my faraway lover. Looked like tonight would be with April. We'd saved the capital thanks to Illar—I owed her a proper send-off.
"Sir Naru. There you are."
Marie the head maid arrived. Perfect timing—she confirmed I could move into the grand mansion gifted by the queen starting today. So we decided to tour it and stay the night.
"This is perfect."
Leaning back on the plush sofa felt like floating. Top-quality stuff, incredibly comfy. I toured the spacious living room next. Every piece of furniture was impeccably furnished. Fully loaded—no need to buy anything.
"Whew... gotta relax like this for a bit."
Bringing Jenia and April along when coming here—well, my house now. Jenia had gone off to pick a room from the dozens available, while April was changing into comfy clothes in the bedroom with me.
'Ashley...'
I'd barely saved Ashley earlier that day. I'd offered the queen one pardon, and she'd smirked before approving it.
"That was close."
I quickly pushed Ashley from my mind and thought of tomorrow's executions. So many to kill. Felt too hasty without trials, but the queen feared dragging it out would dull the people's rage—she wanted to execute as many as possible while the iron was hot.
That showed the queen was truly ruthless and wicked. I shook my head in dismay.
"Still, they should get a chance to defend themselves... might be some wrongful deaths."
"Defend what?"
Jenia appeared in the living room stark naked. Long, perfectly toned legs and figure. Full breasts and pubic hair on display as she swayed her hips approaching. The sight soured my mood.
"Hey. This is the human world. You can't just strut around naked like at home."
"Don't care. I'll do what I want."
Dark elves liked going nude at night to absorb lunar essence. I knew it was healthy for Jenia, but we were both adults now. Time to be careful, right? Especially with a guest over.
"You... never mind."
I started to scold her as big bro but stopped. She wouldn't be here long—let her relax and enjoy. No need to be the nagging brother on top of her already being pissed at me.
"Picked a room?"
"Yeah, found a good one."
Jenia plopped onto the sofa. As she crossed her legs, spreading her thighs, the vertical slit parted slightly, revealing pink flesh inside.
Rather than getting aroused, I clicked my tongue at my little sister's sloppiness.
"At least wear panties."
Couldn't help being the nagging big bro after all.