Romance RP

Ryan replied, "That's true and truthfully, I don't want Sia to hurt those soldiers.  I have an idea or two that might work but I'll have to see how things go this afternoon."

Lycoris nodded and then there was a knock on the door. It was the maid carrying lunch for the two of them as well as the puppies. After she was allowed inside, she laid it out on the table then bowed and took her leave.

After the maid left, Ryan helped Lycoris into her seat and then he made sure that the puppies had access to their food and water.  Taking a seat across from Lycoris, he said,

"Lunch smells delicious.  We should eat."

He took his fork and then began eating.

Lycoris began eating her lunch as well, and it helped to eat such delicious food after her lesson earlier with Ryan. She was thoughtful over what could happen this afternoon but she hoped that things would go for the best.

As the party ate their lunch, Ryan was thoughtful as well about how things would go this afternoon.  He hoped that his and Lycoris' presence would influence Lisianthus somehow and she would find it in her heart to show mercy to the imprisoned soldiers.  Although he could understand her reasons for wanting to carry a harsh sentence on them, he wanted her to see that there could be more peaceful ways of resolving problems.

Lycoris was soon all done with her lunch and waited until Ryan was finished as well, then they took care of cleaning up and putting everything away.

A little after lunch, Duchess Irene had headed to Lycoris' room and knocked the door, hoping they were ready to come with her.

Ryan heard the knock at the door and immediately got up to open it.  Indeed, there was Duchess Irene on the other side and giving her a small bow, he said,

"Hello, Duchess Irene.  I told Lycoris what's going on and we're ready to go.  I just hope our presence will be enough."

Irene nodded to Ryan and replied, "I hope so, too, Ryan."

Lycoris got up as she heard Duchess Irene's voice and bowed to her respectfully. Irene greeted her then said,

"Well, if you two are ready, follow me. Lisianthus should be already in the dungeons waiting for me. I haven't told her that you two are coming as well."

Ryan nodded and replied, "Ok.  I hope things will go well."

He held Lycoris' arm and once they were ready, Duchess Irene led the way towards the dungeons where Lisianthus would interrogate the imprisoned soldiers.

Irene led the way away from Lycoris' room and headed to the lower floors, where the dungeons were placed. They were soon walking between its halls, which were heavily fulled with soldiers almost everywhere. In the dungeons, there were prisoners of all kinds: former soldiers, poor people or dangerous bandits. It was a scary, dark place especially as all the prisoners looked poorly treated.

Although Lycoris couldn't see the sights around her, she could feel the change in the air and the sounds around her, and she couldn't help but feel scared, especially remembering when she was last here at the hands of the captain. She held on closer to Ryan as though to seek his protection.

Ryan could feel Lycoris hold on closer to him and holding closer to her as well, he quietly said,

"Hey, don't worry.  I'll protect you always."

As he observed the poor conditions of the dungeons, Ryan commented, "I didn't think the conditions here were this terrible.  I thought things would change after Sia got her throne back."

Irene heard Ryan's comment and glancing at him for a moment, she replied,

"Well, I would say that she may have not had the time to change things yet but then Lisianthus is the one who likes things this way. She says it's what they deserve."

Ryan looked saddened and replied, "But that doesn't seem right to me.  From what I understand, I'd heard that some of them were imprisoned because they stole food and to me, that's not a crime.  I mean, people who steal food don't really have a choice.  And for them to be in such conditions?"

He wondered if there was any chance that he could get through to Lisianthus, to persuade her into becoming a kinder ruler.

Irene sighed and replied, "You can't imagine the number of times I tried talking to her and well, at one point, the chancellor tried too. But look, we're almost there so don't bring this up now. Let's finish the soldiers' matter first."

They soon made it at a bigger cell of the dungeons and the soldiers let them inside. In there, Lisianthus was present, waiting for Irene. The imprisoned soldiers were chained and put together in a corner of the room, heavily guarded. As the three of them entered, Lisianthus turned and looked surprised to see Ryan and Lycoris, even a little angry. Walking up to them, she asked,

"What brought you here? You really don't need to be present during this."

Ryan sighed and replied, "Please don't be angry, beautiful.  Duchess Irene thought it would be a good idea if we were present when you interrogate the soldiers and at any rate, I should see one interrogation, right?  If I am to become your king someday, that is."

Lisianthus had to admit to herself that Ryan's argument was valid so calming down a bit, she replied,

"Fine. But I'll take care of things here and if it comes down to the original plan, no one will stop me, alright?"

Irene sighed to herself but didn't say anything, for Lisianthus was being more stubborn than she thought.

Ryan nodded but didn't say anything in reply, letting Lisianthus take care of the interrogation for now.  Instead, he opened up his telepathy to open a three way communication among Duchess Irene, Lycoris, and himself.  He then said,

I'll act if I need to but, Lycoris, it's probably best if you stay quiet.  I have an idea if this interrogation goes the way I think it will.


(Ahh if I'm slow in posting, it's probably because I'm proofreading again.  I'm trying to get as much done as I can since when there are days I have to go out, I don't get a whole lot done.  XD)

(Ahh take your time. ^^ I understand and all. ^^)

Lycoris and Duchess Irene both wondered what idea Ryan had in mind, but Lycoris replied,

Ok. I will stay quiet until you wish me to do otherwise.

Lisianthus then turned her attention to the soldiers and looking hard at them, she said,

"Well then, morons. Don't think that I've forgotten what you've done-helping the captain put things in chaos here at one point and hurt the innocent people at the castle. To me, you are nothing but traitors who deserve nothing but death. But I am willing to give you a choice. I am giving you a last chance to save your lives, if you will help me, that is."

(Thanks.  ^^)

Ryan watched as Lisianthus interrogated the soldiers and he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow as she called the soldiers "morons."  Glancing at Duchess Irene, he asked,

Umm, should Sia really be insulting the soldiers?  Is this a normal technique of hers?

Irene replied,

You've heard how she called them traitors. She is barely tolerating talking to them and well, that's how she usually talks to anyone she thinks criminals or traitors. If it hadn't been for your talk earlier with her, she might have executed them all long ago.

The soldiers, although weak and humiliated, tried to put a brave front as much as they could in front of Lisianthus. She continued,

"If you'll help me gather as much information as possible about the captain, tell me all you know about him, reveal all his secrets-I'll spare your lives. Exile will be enough for you then, somewhere far where you can never hurt anyone any longer. Otherwise, death shall be your fate. The choice is yours."

(Well, at least Ryan is seeing Sia's other side. XD)

(lol  That's true.  XD)

Ryan gave a nod to Duchess Irene and then turning his attention back to the interrogation, he hoped that the soldiers would give Lisianthus any information about the captain.  He wanted their lives to be spared and if that meant he would need to intervene and face Lisianthus' anger, then so be it.

The soldiers remained silent for a couple of moments, exchanging looks and words between them. One of them spoke up then,

"You call the captain a traitor but at least he's more honorable than you. The captain works for good causes but all you care about is yourself and those who matter to you."

Although this angered Lisianthus, she did her best to control her temper yet and replied,

"Oh yes? And what are the captain's so-called "good causes?" That captain of yours wants nothing but powers for himself! He's ready to hurt anyone and destroy anything just to be more powerful! Where is the good cause in that?!"

Another soldier replied, "The captain doesn't want the powers except to defeat you. He's promised us that if he gets the blue-haired girl's powers, he'll use them to fight you and make you pay for everything you've done."

Although it was probably better to remain quiet, Ryan couldn't help but say,

"So the captain wants Lycoris' powers simply to overthrow Sia?  Is that really the reason?  I always had the impression he had another reason."

Ryan was going to try using reason and logic on the soldiers and see what would happen.

Lisianthus didn't like Ryan interfering but she didn't comment on it. The soldier looked towards Ryan and said,

"That's what he's promised to do if we helped him and trust me, we're more than willing to do anything so this cruel queen doesn't rule anymore."

Lisianthus groaned angrily and replied, "You'll have to pay more respect if you want to stay alive for a little more, you know. And that captain hadn't told you at all that taking Lycoris' powers would end her life? Or didn't you care about that? So I'm the devil around here and you're the angels-you're perfectly fine if an innocent one is dead because of your captain's greedy desires?"

The soldiers were quiet at this but then one spoke up and replied,

"It would be a fine punishment for you, too. Then you'd know how it is losing someone you care about because of a merciless queen."

Ryan looked at the soldiers and sadly said,

"Please look at Lycoris.  Just look at her for a minute.  Tell me something-is it right to sacrifice an innocent life for more power?  What if the captain told you to sacrifice your wife, your sister, your daughter, your mother?  Would you do it?"

He held on to Lycoris and gave a sad, pleading look to the soldiers, hoping to aim for their compassion.