"—Mmm~" Siana purred, rubbing her cheek against Arnold's like an affectionate cat. She had made herself perfectly comfortable on his lap, legs tucked to the side, arms wrapped loosely around his shoulders.
She looked like a toddler demanding attention—if toddlers smelled like perfume and pressed their entire body weight against you.
"Erm, Miss Siana, I have work to do—"
"Nope!" she put a finger on his lip, "You vanish far too often. Let me enjoy this moment a while longer before you disappear again."
'Sheesh…'
They sat outside under a white gazebo, wind brushing through the curtains that swayed around them. Below the hill, grasslands rippled like green waves. The palace's elevated position gave them a clear view of the forest and the bright horizon.
"Don't you think you should be showing a bit more grace as the future queen of this land, dear?" Roseria said with a faint smirk as she watched the two from her chair, hand holding a cocktail. "What will the nobles you're supposed to lead think?"
Siana puffed her cheeks. "That their future queen is happily in love?"
She tightened her arms around Arnold possessively. "Besides, nobles gossip no matter what we do so I will make their job easier for them."
"Oh, trust me, they do," Roseria chuckled. "But I fear they may faint if they see you clinging to the king like a baby rock drake clinging to its mother."
"I'm not a rock drake," Siana huffed.
Then she leaned closer to Arnold's ear and whispered loudly enough for Roseria to hear, "Rock drakes sleep eighteen hours a day… I only sleep fourteen. But if my beloved is here, I can stay awake as long as he wants~"
Roseria laughed. "Very dignified of you, Your Majesty-to-be."
"Hmph. At least I don't chase the king around lecturing him like a worried mother," Siana shot back playfully.
The two chuckled at the same time.
"So, what have you been up to lately, Your Majesty?" Roseria teased as she asked.
"I spent the whole morning in Sir Henry Fralk's office, inspecting all his work. As my dear's plenipotentiary,it is my duty to ensure no one is slacking or abusing their power as nobles of our growing kingdom. While I don't like Sir Henry given his attitude towards the common people, his work is the most up to date compared to the others who only give excuses. I can see why, despite his flaws, he was the vassal of the previous city lord. "
"I was going to ask them about their work at the meeting but it seems you have that handled," said Arnold, "We can focus solely on discussing the future of this city."
"The meeting sounds quite boring so I don't think I want to attend. Since you are here now, I can tour the land a bit more, dear. People are beginning to set up camps near the outer settlements—people that weren't originally
"They're probably trying to gain our protection without becoming citizens." Roseria replied, "That's basically freeloading without paying taxes to the lord of this land."
"Just make them mine more crystals. We can work on expanding the outer settlements later throughout the year. For now, someone should go over to their camps and explain to them how things work around here."
Freeloaders won't be allowed in this land. if they can't get a job at the construction sites or the few stores that had opened in the city, they can start up farms and present the harvests to the palace later in the year. With the magic stones that got donated to him, there shouldn't be any issues with that.
"Speaking of uninvited guests, did you hear about the tribe from the mountains that tried to claim the crystals as their own?" Siana asked.
"I read the report Lunaria wrote to me."
He wasn't exactly thrilled that there are tribes trying to claim his land as their own, land they aren't developing. Then again, he can't be angry either. It's best to reach an agreement with them to avoid conflicts.
"I'll let the chief and elders sit in at the meeting. I won't have time to meet with them any other day."
"It's surprising how easy they settled in. Maybe they aren't as barbaric as the civilized would think of nomadic tribes."
"Young Celeste did all the talking, from what I hear." Roseria added, "So, I think she deserves the credit."
"Ah, true."
He's curious to hear about their story. Maybe they even know how the crystals were formed. Sure, mana crystals are purely condensed mana that form randomly in nature but how come his land's crystals are purer and better than what you would find anywhere else, even in dungeons?
It may sound absurd but maybe this entire region was once a dungeon? In this fantasy world, that's treated the same way as regions that were once submerged in water centuries prior.
Then again, it would've needed to be a very special dungeon, something that doesn't form that commonly.
Maybe he should take some time to inspect the mountains for clues. Maybe there's some ancient ruin somewhere in the mountains.
The trio headed inside when the horizon was bathed in an orange glow. Victoria, Roseria, Wistorina, Siana and Arnold gathered in the dining room, awaiting the food. Servants quickly brought the appetizers for them to nibble on while they wait.
Elizabeth—who has been missing since early afternoon—wasn't present. He heard that she's running around the palace as if chasing a ghost, according to the servants. She can take care of herself so he won't disturb her. She's probably chasing after a real ghost, knowing the kind of power she commands.
In any case, to pass the time, the women were having their own conversations. Unfortunately, it devolved into Rina's homeland since Roseria immediately recognized her. This killed the merry mood, making even the appetizer a little bland.
"That's horrible, my dear. The important thing is that you are safe in this city. If they have not made contact with you yet, that means they are willing to bargain." The empress said while rubbing Rina's shoulder.
Arnold thought so too. They wouldn't just kill her father since he's the last option to make her surrender. That said, she probably knows her father would be furious if she handed herself over like that. She's his most important person in the world and he wouldn't her to sacrifice herself just to save him.
"I am so glad you sought Al's protection. But what baffles me is that he accepted without asking for your body in return."
"…Do you really have such a twisted opinion of me, Miss Roseria…"
Despite her light jab, all the women at the table, including the servants, looked at him with warm eyes. He's used to the stares but this is probably one of the rare times when the eyes looking at him don't have fear in them.
"As I said before, actions will speak louder than words, Al." she said teasingly then spoke in a gentler tone to Rina, "Not to worry, this city will keep you safe even if he is not by your side. His mysterious ally supplied this city with troops that even the empire could not rival."
No imperial knight stands a chance against any of the red knights.
That said, he's not confident they would stand a chance against any of the high-ranking members of Serz so he'll keep an eye on her signature for any signs of distress 24/7, whether in the city or in the empire.
"I am thankful for his help…" she said with a small voice, "I'm… not sure what I will do once they make contact. Will they begin slaughtering people if I refuse to cooperate? I care for my people as much as I do the nation itself…"
"Lunaria already delivered the tip mentioning the invasion so the allied nations are just preparing their armies before marching over there." Arnold added, "If they escalate the conflict by murdering more people indiscriminately, a chance to establish peace will be over."
"Peace…?" dumfounded, the princess looked at him blankly, "The empire and allied nations would sign a peace treaty with a terrorist!?"
"I wouldn't call it a peace treaty, more like a seal of tolerance. They go back into the shadows and there won't be an all-out war. Neither side can afford that. My point is that they won't slaughter even more people since their message has already been made clear. The ones that died will be mourned but still be considered collateral."
Rina blinked at Arnold, still processing his words.
"…I know I should be forgiving anyone that wrongs me, no matter their sin but—!"
Roseria placed a hand over Rina's trembling one.
"My dear, slow down," she said softly. "What Arnold means is not peace the way you understand it."
'I'm certain Melis' religion doesn't teach their believers that… What kind of insane logic does this princess follow?' he kept his bafflement to himself.
Rina looked at her, confused.
"…Then what is it?"
"A cease of open slaughter," Roseria explained, her voice calm and elegant. "Nothing more. Nothing less."
Rina's breath hitched.
"I… I don't understand."
"Listen carefully, Princess. When nations and groups like Serz fight, their battles are never about good or evil. They are about power—and survival. I assume you imagine peace as forgiveness and harmony. But on the political stage, peace often means simply avoiding a war that would drown millions."
Rina swallowed hard.
"Serz has already made their point loud and clear. They do not need more bloodshed to deliver their message. If they kill more citizens now, they risk uniting every allied nation and the empire against them. They may not be crushed completely, but even their corrupt allies in every nation will turn their back on them, taking away a lot of political power, they once had."
She gestured lightly with her hand.
"So instead, they will retreat into the shadows again, pretending to be quiet, pretending to be reasonable. Not because they are reasonable… but because they wish to survive as the strongest criminal organization."
Rina's eyes widened.
"So the treaty would be… pretending?"
"Not pretending," Roseria smiled wryly. "Strategic tolerance. You leave the monster in its cage, because breaking the cage would collapse the entire building with it."
Rina's voice came out small.
"And… my father?"
"That is why they will keep him alive, child," Roseria answered gently. "He is their shield. Their leash on you. Their bargaining tool."
Rina bit her lip.
"This is the part of ruling you only learn through experience," she murmured. "The part where you must make peace with monsters—not because you want to, but because your people cannot survive a war with them."
One thing she forgot to add is that "if their goal is important enough, they won't stop pursuing it".
"B-But the thing they ask of me—I can't give them what they want."
Roseria tilted her head, "I know it is not my business but what would they want from a young maiden that they would go to war for it?"
"…" Rina looked at Arnold for help.
Yeah, it would be bad if anyone else found out about her "gift".
"She doesn't know. They probably want her blood or something for a bizarre ritual to summon some demon from the past." Arnold interjected, making her sigh in relief.
"Such a thing…" Roseria shook her head, "Stay strong, dear. I am but a powerless woman in this conflict so all I can do is keep you in my prayers."
"Thank you, Your Majesty…" Rina smiled warmly as she squeezed the empress' hand.
The main course soon arrived as they tried to have a lighter conversation to wash away the tension and broodiness.
You wouldn't think this city was once a rundown bandit-infested shithole with the cuisine that was made tonight. Maybe it's not like this every night and it's only because Arnold is here but whoever cooked this food was probably a head chef at some noble's house.
But to think they came all the way out here… Arnold could shed a tear with how closely everything is starting to resemble his old home where he had dinners like this every night.
It was… peaceful.
Maybe that was why the weight on his shoulders felt heavier than usual—because peace made it stand out more sharply. There was so much to do, so much to prepare, that he rarely allowed himself to breathe in the present moment.
Watching Roseria, Siana and Victoria closely, their smiles as they conversed, he thought that maybe it's time he lets one thing off his shoulders that had been bothering him ever since he arrived here.
Since they have been busy travelling around the countryside, they probably didn't hear what happened in the empire since news doesn't travel that far. Or maybe they didn't hear the full story but decided it's best not to ask him about it just yet.
Regardless, he wanted to share everything he went through and the justification for his future actions… even if he feels they aren't necessary to share.
"If I can have everyone's attention." Arnold stood up, getting everyone's eyes on him, "There's something I'd like to bring up."
All of them looked at him, waiting to hear what he wants to say.
Maybe he's being a bit repetitive but he wants to address this one last—
"In a month's time from now, Whitage may be branded an enemy of the Eulia Empire. No, I'm sure the entire world will turn against us."
Each of them, well, besides Beth and Rina, shared the same confused expression.
"I'm sure it won't be as extreme as launching wars against us but they won't like it that I'm the lord of this land. I'll stop beating around the bush—You may or may not have heard that Promethius' successor has been born. Victoria already knows about Luke being the first one. But there is a second one."
They listened attentively.
"That man is my cousin, Arthur von Tivurgian and it will be through his death that I will become not only the enemy of the Gods but the people as well."
"…I'm sure you are not jesting but… why?" Roseria asked with a slight frown, "Why do you not celebrate the birth of a second hero? This is something we humans should be elating at! Why start conflicts—"
"He's the one who killed me first, by command of the divine titans who fed him lies, believing I'm going to become a demon lord. And yes… that holds true—I was the seed of a demon lord, something I was given during a fight with an inquisitor in the past, but that's not important. This happened during my journey in the Sky God Dungeon, the floating dungeon that was recently discovered on the shores of the Elven Country's beaches."
Roseria's mouth hung open, unable to say anything.
He summarized everything that happened during his journey, leaving Guinevere and the shadow world out but keeping the skeleton merchant and Adult Lyra in (though he does not name her, instead giving her the term "blue-skinned Witch").
Siana was clutching her hand to her chest and looking at him with shaking pupils.
Victoria was shaking with her head down, leaking killing intent all over the place.
She suddenly stood up and walked out of the room, "The food was delicious. Please excuse me."
He didn't stop her, merely watching her back as she left.
Roseria, on the other hand, held her hands to her face, her elbows on the table.
Wistorina looked a bit uncomfortable and was rubbing her stomach, as if the tension itself made her nauseous.
There were still servants here, besides Bethany. He didn't really care if they heard the full story. As expected, all of them looked horrified by what they heard but none moved an inch.
"I'm not going to spare him." He said that final thing before sitting down and continuing eating, the tension not registering for him at all.
Honestly, it feels relieving to tell them himself. The only two he worried about was Siana and Roseria.
His relationship with the former is still very new and she ahs no obligation to stay with a monster who will be hunted forever. Whereas Roseria is the empress of the same empire that will brand him a national level 5 terrorist.
While his eyes were on his plate, he heard another chair being pulled back. A few seconds later, his head was embraced by two arms, the side of his face buried in someone's bosom. A flowery scent filled his nostrils accompanied by the sound of a gentle woman's voice.
"…I wish I could have been there to protect you, my love." Siana said through a choking voice, "Even if you never get your true body back, I shall always see you as the man I fell for."
This time, Roseria also stood up and approached Arnold.
Her eyes were cold, just like her daughter's. it's an expression you would never see this kind and gentle empress make. In fact, she's always smiling, whether working or at parties. It's her act to win people over but also a sincere personality everyone came to love.
"My husband must be gathering an army to send to this city just so that he can take me back to the capital, fearing I am going to be used as a hostage. I would like to avoid that as the situation won't be settled peacefully between Whitage's army and our own."
Her voice held no warmth or pity for him. It was as if him being killed didn't make her heart beat once.
"To avoid such needless, one-sided bloodshed, I shall be returning to the empire as empress… for a while. I apologize for making promises I cannot keep, as this is a situation that is out of my control as a royal. I hope the city lord does not mind that I borrow a carriage and a few knights to protect me."
"It's fine. Please take care on your way back." Arnold answered back and resumed eating.
"…." Roseria was about to say something else but stopped.
Deciding not to say anything else, she left the dining room soon after.
**
Siana said she's going to bed early tonight after they finished their dinner. She obviously wanted to give everyone some space after learning what happened.
Meanwhile Arnold went to Victoria's room, which wasn't too far from the master bedroom.
He had an idea of why she rushed to her room. Her killing intent was leaking all over the place.
The door screeched when he opened it silently.
She was sitting on her bed, putting on her gauntlets, donning light armor that protected her vitals only, while the rest were covered in dark clothing meant to make her blend into the shadows at night.
"Victoria—"
"I know you are the type of person to handle things on your own but what happened isn't something I can just let go." She said without looking up, loading her gauntlets with shuriken.
She stood up and rummaged in her bag of weapons, pulling out even more weapons that she concealed. Two shortswords vanished under her skirt, just like how she usually conceals her main weapon.
What kind of portal is under that dress of hers?
"And I know you are the type of person who won't listen no matter what I say. But I want you to understand that you won't win, whether you play fair or not." He tried to put a hand on her shoulder but she stepped back with a slight frown.
"Whether I fail or not doesn't matter. The person I loved is now a ghost, his subconscious taken over by a homunculus."
…Well, she's not wrong.
"What will risking your life for a dead man accomplish? I told you all I need to do is remove the curse from my—Arnold's body, then it can be revived. You will be executed in the end if Arthur spares your life… I don't want this conflict to escalate any further or put the ones I love, in danger."
When he stepped closer this time, she didn't step back.
"I know it's hard to accept because I'm technically not the same person but if you can wait a little longer, I will be back as my real self once I deal with Arthur." He slowly began to strip off her armor and take out her weapons, "I want to force you to stay but I know nothing but words will reach you."
"…" she didn't resist.
"If I lost my first love, how do you expect me to live on?"
"…" he took off her gauntlets, making her weapons fall out, clanging on the marble floor.
"Reanimation might be a power I can utilize but I don't want any loved ones to die in the first place. The love I have for them and what they'll give me will feel fake."
He reached behind her, his touch gentle, unfastening the clasp of her breastplate. It slid free, the metal landing beside the fallen gauntlets. Her bountiful breasts dropped but he did not focus on them right now.
Her armor was peeling away piece by piece, her anger with it.
Soon her body was bare, showing her porcelain skin and mature yet youthful body.
His hand cupped her cheek just as the last fiery storm in her eyes was beginning to die—
—and he kissed her.
Victoria gasped softly against his mouth before melting into him, fingers twisting into his shirt like she needed something solid to cling to. Her lips trembled, then pressed back hungrily.
The two fell onto the bed and Arnold began to strip as well.
Soon, Victoria's sensual moans resounded through the halls. There was no sound of slapping skin but there was the sound of a bed rocking back and forth.
She accepted his love deep inside her, hoping once again that it bears a fruit this time.
All that remained from the ashes of her anger was the beastly desire of a man and woman who love each other deeply.