The Game Heroine's Cannon Fodder Leopard Cub - Chapter 27

Twenty years ago, Rose Castle in the Grand Duchy of Lancaster.

Xia La, the Grand Duke of Lancaster’s only daughter, sat silently at the head of the council’s round table. At just seventeen years old, she sat beside the Grand Duke’s golden, silk-draped throne—the symbol of Lancaster’s supreme authority.

The round table was filled with nobles and knights from various Lancaster factions, their incessant bickering and clamor forming an invisible wall of sound that isolated the young, orphaned princess.

“…Since the Grand Duke has no direct male heirs, according to the Imperial Saker Code, we should elect his nephew, Viscount Raven, as his successor to Lancaster…” A portly middle-aged man in elaborate attire and an extravagantly wide-brimmed hat boomed his opinion, his voice drowning out all other discussions.

“I object!” A knight in full black armor immediately interrupted. “Viscount Raven is merely the adopted son of the previous viscount. He has no bl00d relation to the Grand Duke whatsoever!”

“That’s easily resolved,” the portly man retorted. “Let him marry Princess Shara and stipulate that the Grand Duke’s title can only be inherited by their offspring.”

“That makes sense! That makes sense!”

“But…”

Before the knight could voice his objections, the gray-robed wizard across from him cut him off. “This is the best solution. I fully endorse it on behalf of the Imperial Wizard’s Guild.”

“The Lombard Family approves.”

“The Terry Family approves.”

The girl at the center of the commotion stared blankly at the Snow Leopard Totem above the throne, her amber-like pupils unfocused, bloodshot eyes framed by slightly swollen, reddened lids. The men’s fervent debate seemed to have nothing to do with her, even though they were on the verge of finalizing her marriage.

A week earlier, Archduke Lancaster and his wife had traveled to the Southern Model Town for an inspection. What should have been a routine official visit inexplicably turned into an attack by vagrants.

Even more puzzling was the absence of the knightly escort that should have been guarding them. The entire squad had vanished without a trace and remained missing to this day.

The unfortunate archduke and his wife perished under the vagrants’ chaotic blades.

Three weeks later was the coming-of-age ceremony for their only daughter, Xia La. The archduke had planned to bestow upon her the Golden Snow Leopard Medal during the ceremony, formally designating her as his heir.

Now, with his sudden death, the noble council members acted as if this plan had never existed, each vying like jackals to seize a share of the spoils.

Xia La, still reeling from the grief of her parents’ sudden deaths, had become a coveted prize on the chopping block.

“Feia, where have you gone?” Powerless and alone, Xia La sat in the seat closest to the throne, silently praying. “Great Beast God, if you can hear me, please tell me what I should do.”

“Let’s see who dares to support this!”

A clear, sharp female voice shattered the stifling air of the council chamber.

“Feia!” Xia La’s eyes lit up, and she sprang to her feet, her face flushed with excitement.

The slender woman, barely twenty years old, kicked open the heavy doors with a force that belied her delicate frame. She strode into the hall, followed by a tall, white-haired woman radiating Holy Light.

“May the Beast God grant you peace…” The men’s faces darkened, and they hastily knelt on one knee before the white-haired woman.

She didn’t wave to acknowledge their gesture, allowing them to kneel on the cold stone floor. A faint, mocking smile curved her lips. “I was unaware that the Empire’s Saker Code now governs the internal affairs of my sacred nation. Perhaps I should erase the Snow Leopard Totem and force you to kneel before the Pope?”

“Your Majesty, we only worship the Snow Leopard Totem,” the black-armored knight replied solemnly, before the others could exchange glances.

“Very well, then—”

Before she could finish, the Beast God abruptly raised her left hand. In an instant, blinding white Holy Light filled the hall. Black shadows writhed, emitting ear-splitting screams as the men, each harboring their own sinister motives, collapsed to the ground one after another.

Simultaneously, an ethereal voice echoed throughout the Grand Duchy of Lancaster:

“The Beast God’s Chosen, Princess Shara of the Grand Duchy, shall inherit the title of Grand Duke of Lancaster from this day forth. The Beast God bestows upon her the name Charlotte.”

“You don’t look well,” Charlotte said, having rushed to the temple immediately after her coronation ceremony.

The white-haired Beast God leaned back against the plush sofa, waving a listless hand. “It’s just that I’ve expended too much Divine Beast Power.”

“Baal has absorbed too much human resentment, then twisted and amplified the cracks in their hearts,” the Beast God continued, his tone losing its usual flippant edge. “Those nobles have been so thoroughly corrupted by resentment that even the Goddess of Life would struggle to reclaim them from the God of Death.”

“I know, I know,” Charlotte replied, casually setting her scepter aside and taking the Beast God’s left hand. “What can I do for you?”

“You are my people. Protecting you is my duty. There’s no need to repay me…”

“It’s not about repayment,” Charlotte interrupted earnestly. “It’s just that your Chosen wants to help you.”

The Beast God’s gray-green eyes softened, a faint smile touching his lips.

He straightened up slightly and said quietly, “If you could, find someone for me—a fair-skinned Greenfolk.”

“White-skinned… Greenfolk?” Charlotte’s eyes flickered slightly.

The Beast God didn’t notice her reaction, simply continuing to explain the reason earnestly.

“The Greenfolk have a prophecy: ‘When black and white stars align, misfortune will descend.’ Twenty years ago, the Chief Green gave birth to twins—not only did they look different, but their skin tones were completely opposite.”

“‘When black and white stars align, misfortune will descend.’ The misfortune wasn’t for the Green Clan itself, but for the white-skinned twin. Yet she was still ostracized by the elders.”

“At the Chief Green’s request, the Goddess of Life entrusted the child to Imperial Archmage Morgan for safekeeping. We believed she would be safe there, but then Morgan suffered that tragedy. At the time, the Goddess of Life and I were fully engaged in suppressing Baal. By the time she arrived, the child had vanished without a trace.”

The Beast God closed his eyes briefly, his voice deepening. “The Goddess of Life and I have a daughter, born last rainy season. Perhaps due to lingering resentment, her powers have been slow to awaken.”

“In truth, the white-skinned Greenfolk possess the purest bloodline of the Great Cat. Given my ancient connection to the Great Cat, if my daughter were to marry her or one of her descendants, the mutual nourishment would allow both parties to awaken their full primal powers.”

Charlotte’s eyes widened, her words tumbling out in a rush: “You mean… you want to…?”

“Seize her by force?” Seeing her wide-eyed, deer-like terror, the Beast God couldn’t resist teasing her, his mischievous nature getting the better of him. Her pupils dilated sharply.

“Just kidding, child,” the Beast God quickly clarified with a laugh. “This is merely the most efficient method. I still intend to ask for her consent.”

Charlotte: “……”

That night, Charlotte hesitated before entering Sophia’s chambers.

“Care for a drink?” she asked, holding up a bottle of red wine.

Sophia took the bottle, glancing down at the steel corkscrew. “Twenty years?” she exclaimed with delight. “Is this to celebrate your coronation?”

Charlotte forced a stiff smile and nodded.

Watching Sophia flit through the room like a bee searching for the finest nectar, her heart churned with turmoil.

The glasses clinked crisply. Charlotte raised her glass and spoke softly:

“Feia, would you like to visit Oasis Town again?”