The Conquerors Path

"Car-Carmel?"

Nix called out, the pain on his face mirroring the same pain appearing on Melvin's face. Those emotions made a pang in Carmel's heart, but then her mind kept flashing with the disappointment that she kept causing to Austin, and now if she didn't make a good point here to control these two, then she wouldn't have the face to look at Austin again.

He has been giving and giving to her, while she seemed to have kept hurting him. Then there is the fact of the certain mysterious past that seemed to exist between the two of them, and even above that during this trip, Austin had done nothing but try to be a gentleman. In situations where he could have made it tough for these two, Austin seemed to not mind them at all, even helping them at times.

He has been nothing but cordial, and how would Carmel feel when she sees the two of her best friends being so unreasonable?

Carmel couldn't deny the fact that those two are having some tough times, but are they life-threatening? Did they get hurt extremely badly? Did they even bleed out here?

No, the answer to all that is no.....

Austin had already spoken to them before the trip that the travel won't be easy at all; in fact, he didn't even want the two of them to come with them. Yet, because they came with her, he allowed them to join because of her, and she, with her weak heart towards her best friends, let Austin down, making him disappointed in her.

And now, these two, after forcing themselves into this situation, are currently shouting at Austin? Why? For what reason? In front of what Carmel is seeing, all she sees is her best friends being unable to cope with the 'little' things that are being thrown their ways, the things they are going through being the small issues that everyone will face during travels, especially during this region.

They had already been briefed on the fact that the beasts here are more towards the mischievous side. Hence when they 'attack' you, you just have to go through the pranks to make it through. Yet these two on themselves called upon disaster to themselves, and Austin even dealt with that such that they won't get any major issues to them.

Yet after all that Austin is doing here, even calling upon a favor for Angelina, these two dare to act like this? Where is the reason for it? Sure, Carmel and Carmelia can understand the fact that these two have lived a better life and they are going through all this to help save her little sister. But ever since they joined this trip, how have they helped her a bit?

All they got into are problems and issues, not being helpful at all. And even with all the issues they kept causing, Carmel just went with it. They even slowed down their leave for them. Yet now, the moment they face Austin, they do this? Being so pissed off at what? What is there to be angry at Austin for? Hasn't he been fully cordial till now?

'I have been too lenient at this.'

Carmel bit her lip, holding back the affection she is feeling for her best friends. It's by not dealing with this situation that she seems to be pushing back Austin from her. Carmel gives a lot of opening for her best friends, but right now, if she doesn't deal with this correctly, then Carmelia is sure Austin will never ever depend on her again. Any relationship forward will be impossible.

'Plus, the situation is of their own making.'

As Carmel thought this, her expression turned cold, the control being subtly taken in by Carmelia who spoke in a cold tone.

"What reason do you two have to get angry at Austin?"

Her sudden change catching the two off guard, the two of them biting their lips in anger as Melvin tried to speak.

"It's just this bastard is try-"

"Who is the bastard?"

Carmelia cut him off, her cold voice turning ever colder as she looked directly at Melvin, a disappointed expression filling her face as she started to speak.

"What did Austin do wrong here?"

As she asked this, her mana started to rile up around her, the might of the future Empress flowing out as she continued.

"Is Austin at wrong for taking you two with us when you suddenly barged in?"

"Is Austin wrong for being cordial and accepting of the two of you?"

"Is Austin wrong for not making a FUSS WHEN YOU KEEP FAILING TO BE OF ANY USE IN THIS ADVENTURE?"

"Is Austin wrong for trying to save you back then?"

"Is Austin wrong for helping us?!"

At the end of her questioning, the two of Nix and Melvin lowered their heads, the two of them clutching their hands such that their hands turned white from the pressure, the two of them feeling extreme amounts of anger, dissatisfaction, and sadness at the current situation. How could they, with their negative emotions being boosted, feel anything good about this situation?

How could they feel anything good when they are torn down in front their 'rival'?

The situation only looks more absurd in the eyes of the two. Why is Carmel taking the side of this man who seems to be not giving her the time of the day over them? THEM that is going through this dangerous travel for her sake! The ones who have been with her for such a long time! They that have been through with her through thick and thin! The ones that have supported her the most!

How could she do this to THEM!?

Of course, in normal situations, the two would have easily calmed down and seen through a different perspective and easily made themselves feel better. They can know and feel the fact that Carmel isn't pushing them away but doing this to keep them in a small lane. But with their negative emotions being amplified, things are only getting worse for them in their heart.

"Do you now understand what you are doing wrong now?"

Carmelia asked, her tone getting a bit less cold at the guilt-

faced of the two. Yet as she eyed Austin, whose face has turned completely cold, Carmel and Carmelia understood at their heart that forming any good relationship between Austin, Nix, and Melvin isn't possible at all. And in the end, the situation became of her own making.

If she had been a bit more forceful, she could have prevented the two from coming and the current situation from happening. Right now, Carmelia is just doing her best to make sure such that Austin doesn't feel too bad against them. Right now, Carmel has to do this, not just as a friend but as the future Empress as well for her best friends too.

The words that Austin spoke in the morning are still lodged into her heart. The one in front of her isn't just some young man, he right now is the eye of the storm of several powerful organizations of the world, the man himself bearing an amazing level of power and influence. In that case, she didn't want Austin to act against her best friends.

She knows deep in her heart that if she doesn't deal with this situation well enough, quell enough as a future Empress, then she would be turning Austin into a permanent enemy, not just to herself but to the whole of her Empire itself. And that would be completely detrimental to her whole Empire. Right now, Carmel and Carmelia need to play their cards as a ruler.

And thus, she decided to be fully ruthless in the current situation. Carmel and Carmelia know better about her own best friends, such that she is sure that her best friends would easily be able to see through her words. Sadly for her, she doesn't know the fact that her best friends are now fully being clouded by dark thoughts.

They can't see the fact that she is doing this as a ruler and as a friend; all they can see is the fact of Carmel taking the side of Austin, humiliating them without any control as she spoke.

"Now apologize to him." Each word Carmelia spoke is completely cold, yet it was expressed in a slow tone, showing off her seriousness as she stood right in front of the two, both Nix's and Melvin's hearts trembling at her words, their insides creaming anger at the fact that they would have to do this. But the moment they looked at Carmelia's face, they understood the fact that she is very much serious.

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