Chapter 947 Confrontation
Izmir was well aware of her grandparents' mysterious disappearance when they were just kids, alongside her sister, during the early days of the Elf Kingdom's growth. She also understood that the kingdom owed its existence to them.
For the longest time, Izmir believed her grandparents to be deceased, considering that no news of their whereabouts had ever surfaced. They had vanished without a trace, leaving no clues about their fate. So, when she finally saw them in person, it brought a mix of emotions - the longing for their presence and a tinge of resentment.
Why the resentment? Because their return couldn't have happened at a more inconvenient moment. They were unaware of the strained relationship between Izmir and her sister, Renatta, which had been simmering since the beginning. The two siblings had a tacit agreement to avoid the very situation they now found themselves in, as they didn't want their grandparents to discover the truth.
However, with their grandparents witnessing everything, there was no turning back. They had no choice but to face the consequences head-on.
Renatta ceased her attack and shifted her attention to her grandparents. She had momentarily forgotten their presence, but faced with Izmir's actions, she had no other choice.
"Renatta, we'll talk later. Izmir, you better explain what's going on and why you two were fighting," Mila said, casting a stern glance at Renatta before urging Izmir to speak.
Izmir hesitated, too frightened to converse with her grandparents. Though she might have grown stronger since their disappearance, it was evident that they still possessed their peak strength, which she couldn't hope to match for many years.
Avos decided to let the matter rest for the moment. "Never mind. We can make her explain later. Renatta, I understand there's a history of conflict between you and your sister, but for now, we'll allow her to come inside. If she causes any trouble, we'll handle it, and Manato can manage her, right?" Avos turned to glance at Manato, who nodded in agreement.
Izmir swiftly got to her feet and bolted from the area before her grandparents could intervene. She needed to escape, and she needed to do it quickly.
"Why are you running?" Avos furiously pointed a finger at Izmir and cast a spell, "[Paralyze Shot]!"
ZAAAP!
Manato agreed with a nod and approached Izmir. She shot him a stern look as if Izmir, who had been sprinting, abruptly froze as an electric shock coursed through her body. She stopped in her tracks and collapsed, completely paralyzed.
Mila asked, "Manato-kun, can you carry her inside?"
Manato agreed with a nod and approached Izmir. She shot him a stern look as if warning him not to touch her.
Ignoring her glare, Manato scooped her up in a princess-style carry and headed into the mansion with the other three. The Spirit Butler then bowed and restored the protective barrier at the gates before following the group inside. As for the unconscious men outside, it remained uncertain whether they would recover enough to leave or choose to remain in their half-dead state.
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Once they were all inside, Manato gently lowered the still-stiff Izmir onto the sofa. Avos and Mila took their seats opposite her and prepared to address the situation.
It didn't take much time for Izmir to recover from the paralysis. She still felt a lingering tingling sensation throughout her body, a side effect of the shock, but she was otherwise fine. She composed herself, fearing that her grandparents might unleash their strongest abilities and dispose of her on the spot.
"Alright, now can you please explain why the state of the Elven Kingdom has deviated so far from our initial vision? This is not what we had hoped for. Your recent actions and demands are in direct violation of what we once forbade," Avos sternly questioned Izmir, who couldn't meet their gaze.
"This law was enacted a century ago, during the same period when the two of you mysteriously disappeared without a trace. It's understandable that you were unaware of its existence," Izmir hesitated before continuing.
"What law are you referring to?" Mila inquired.
Izmir was stumped by the question, so Renatta stepped in to explain. "It's a rule that elves who can't afford to pay their yearly taxes are treated as commoners, exposed to threats like slavery and abduction. These unfortunate people suffer daily and are exploited by those who can pay their taxes. They're coerced into working, and their possessions, including their homes and clothes, are forcibly taken away. Their Elven rights are stripped from them, and they can only regain them when they manage to pay off the accumulating taxes. Unfortunately, it becomes nearly impossible to pay off these taxes in full unless you're already wealthy."
Upon hearing this, Avos and Mila were seething with anger, but they managed to restrain themselves from taking rash actions.
"Did both of your parents enact this law? What were their reasons for doing so?" Avos inquired, eager to understand the motivations behind his daughter and her husband's actions.
"I honestly don't know. I simply followed the laws because of our royal status. We're exempt from taxes, but we have to ensure that the populace obeys, and evading taxes is considered a serious crime," Izmir confessed, her voice trembling. She felt torn, fearing she might betray her parents' trust in the process.
"This is absurd. I can't fathom how many people have suffered due to this law. Did your parents never consider the plight of those who couldn't pay?" Mila questioned.
"I can't say for sure what they felt," Izmir replied, reluctant to stoke the anger of her companions. Renatta, however, had a different perspective and was determined to set things right.
"If you won't reveal the truth about our family's wrongdoing, then I will. Grandpa, and Grandma, as you can see, my parents don't care about others. They believe it's for a better future, a way to weed out those they see as incompetent and potentially detrimental to the kingdom. They've even suggested they've been abandoned by the Goddess of Life because of it."
Avos couldn't contain his anger upon hearing this revelation. His fury surged, causing the cups on the table to shatter.
Mila could only shake her head in response. "That reasoning is senseless. I agree. It's time we confront them and demand an explanation by storming the castle."
Manato, who had been silent during the confrontation, decided to speak up.
"I suggest we don't go ahead with this plan right now. It would be better for both of you to rest instead of pushing yourselves to confront them in your current state. You just broke free from that curse, so it's important to let your bodies recover first."
Mila nodded and gently tapped her husband to calm him down. "He's right. We've only just escaped, and we're already pushing ourselves too hard. Our anger got the best of us."
Although Avos was reluctant to stop, he decided to abandon the plan to storm the castle when his wife advocated for them to delay their initial plan.
"Alright, let's follow their advice. Izmir, you can leave. Maybe take some time to reflect on your actions. While you share some guilt with your parents, we'll let it slide for now. Perhaps you're afraid of disappointing them. Go, while we're still feeling merciful."
Izmir wasted no time and left. She missed her grandparents but felt it was best to give them some time to cool off. The Spirit Butler escorted her out, and she left before the two could change their minds.
Avos and Mila sighed once Izmir was gone. Their hostility dissipated, lightening the mood in the room. Renatta took a seat and addressed her grandparents.
"Grandma, Grandpa, I'm sorry for our actions and the fighting. I can't accept the family's ways, especially after witnessing them firsthand. I don't like how they go about it as if it's not a bad thing. If you're upset, please forgive me. And don't be too hard on Izmir; she's just following our parents' wishes, even if it seems questionable. Try to understand her actions."
Avos and Mila smiled, and they moved over to Renatta, giving her a warm hug, something she had missed.
"We're not angry with you. In fact, we're grateful for your efforts to stand up against the family's oppressive rules, even when the odds are stacked against you and them. But things will change soon. Once we've had some rest, those two will have to explain themselves properly, and they better have a good reason for what they're doing."
The three shared a tender moment with each other quietly. Manato who was standing there smiled underneath his mask before silently moving away from the three and leaving them there. Since something will definitely happen for tomorrow, he is gonna prepare some things.
While he is not particularly against the charge of the two to the palace for tomorrow, he felt that something big is going to occur for tomorrow, not only for the family of Renatta but even for them. He is still not sure but he can feel it.
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