"Welco to our ho," the older one says. "Sorry for not having more to offer you. We were caught off guard when we heard that a caravan with the royal emblem was coming to our village. We know you're the Empress, of course, but we couldn't understand why you would want to co here. We did a good job of leaving you with little reason to care about this village. Not sothing we're proud of, just a fact. I will have to say I'm truly confused about what you could want if it isn't our heads."
"I just want to know if you knew I was a royal dragon?" I ask. "I don't think there is much else to discuss. I don't care too much about you all. So as long as you didn't help my Aunt poison my Mommy, and didn't didn't hide purposefully hide that I'm a royal, then I suppose I can continue to ignore you. Don't really care to bring you back to the dragon realm unless we need to create a new village for so reason."
"I doubt we would be welco in the realm," the younger one says. "But we'll do as the Empress asks."
"I'm glad to hear you're loyal now that I can kill you," I say.
"A little late," she says. "But we didn't know what the feeling ant. It was just an uncomfortable pressure for us. We're used to being the strongest in the village. We should've figured it out, but we didn't want to believe it."
Well, glad they're getting to the excuse early. I guess it would make sense. They haven't t a Golden dragon before. But is there really pressure for those I'm around? Does Mommy feel it? I should've asked about that after Elo ntioned sothing about it at court. "I see," I say. "Do you understand it now?"
"Yes, it's hard to ignore it now," the younger one says. "The feeling has grown a lot since we last felt it. Take any seat you want."
We've moved to a small office, and I'm starting to see the difference between nobility and royalty. Well, I don't think these two have any titles, so this is probably the most extre difference I'll see. Fluvis's stuff wasn't too different from royalty, but I also wasn't paying that much attention to the details. I decide to be a little bitchy and sit behind the desk. Victoria continues to be silent and just stands behind in her armor. I wonder if they'll trick her into saying sothing.
"Well, that answers one thing, I guess," I say. But shouldn't they have still said sothing? "Did you help my Aunt or know about it?"
"No," the older one says, sitting down across from . "No. We wouldn't let that happen. We knew you had sothing going on. We wouldn't risk it. I'm just sorry we weren't able to keep her stored here for you. The Justice's temple ca down and forced us to give her up. We've heard so rumors about what happened. We should've been in better contact with your Mother. We could've gone to a Duchess and started sothing that way. We've grown lazy, while I like to act wise. Probably why I talked to that Kitsune princess."
"Who?" I ask.
"Yuki, I believe, is her na," the old one says. "Ca to pick up your Mother after your sale. She was acting rather high and mighty. I told her to get her head out of the clouds. I should've told her that I failed to listen to that very advice, and it ended in tragedy. But I think it was too late for both of us by the ti I figured that out."
"Yes," I say. "It was a little too late by then." Always too late. Everyone is figuring things out in the future. Can I bla Future for this? I can wait for Past to be born and figure it out that way. But why am I certain Past will be born? Sothing happened, and soone is ssing with my mind!
"Is everything alright, Empress?" the younger one asks.
"Soone else," I say. "I don't think you've done anything to hurt directly. Just didn't act like so many. I guess you both get to keep your heads. I am training a new spy master or sothing like that. If she finds sothing out, I'm sure she'll co and collect."
"We promise we've told the truth today," the young one says. "We'll make sure the village follows our Empress."
"Glad you're so easy to convince," I say. "Victoria?"
"Why the fuck are you making speak?" Victoria asks. "I was going to fucking make it through this damn eting without an fucking incident, and you just had to ask for my fucking input. I believe the shits, but disagree about doing no punishnt. Take their damn power and make them fucking do sothing for ignoring the obvious fucking power difference they should've fucking known was going on. They can't be the fucking leaders when they don't give a shit. But I don't know why the fuck you needed to hear my damn opinion. Kou is right fucking here."
"It's funny," I say. "I was hoping they would do sothing that would get you to talk, but it seems I had to do it. Then I wanted soone who would speak their mind to make sure I was right about my plans. I'll see what Mommy is up to. Maybe walk around a bit"
"Whatever you command," the young one says.
"Kou?" I ask.
"Elora would be a better voice for what to do with them, My Empress," Kou says. "But community service or forced labor could be one route. Forcing them to seclusion or so jail ti would work if you do not think they should die. Honestly, they failed to ntion you when you were born. Then they failed to support your Mother when Ashryn failed to uphold her end of the bargain. They would've been able to get the Duchess to act on their behalf. Just a ntion of a rainbow dragon that gave them a strange pressure that likely didn't have a deal complete correctly would've been enough for the Duchess to show interest. She would likely drag you into her family, but the Queen would make sure it was fair, and you would've taken it over anyway. Death is a perfectly fine punishnt. Just tell Lady Elora to strike."
Do I kill them? Feels like I'm killing everyone who ever hurt . They expected to die at the beginning.
"Elora?" I ask.
"Fuck," Elora says. "I need you to fucking say it. Sorry, but I'm not about to fuck this up."
"Take their heads," I say.
*** Armirynth ***
It's weird walking through the center of the village. I never visited here much, and now I have a full entourage making quite the scene. Twins in my arms, one clearly a royal dragon even. I hope they don't think I'm trying to show off. I really do just want to et them and make sure they're doing fine.
"We should've dragged Nanoka out here so we don't have to take all the guards through the village," I sigh.
"No, it's better this way," Geta says. "You're important. Don't be afraid of it. They all used to look down on you, and now they get to see how stupid that was. They should see this. Maybe a few will figure out that they should be better people. It'll give them a better fate once they're in Death's hands. Not by much. Few truly get tortured after death."
"That's good to hear," I say. "But I hope the kids don't hear. Mothers sotis need to use Death to get the kids in line."
"She knows that well and laughs when she feels it happening," Geta says.
"She can hear it?"
"If it happens near her temples," Geta says. "Or soone goes too far and turns it into a prayer."
"Alzi never needed to go that far," I say. "I didn't need it often. She was a great kid. Too good."
"She is," Geta says.
We make it to the part of town I'm familiar with. The smaller and more worn-down house. It makes more comfortable, but the guards seem to disagree. They straighten out, and I can practically feel their eyes searching for problems.
"I lived here for most of my life," I say. "More problems co from the center of the village than the outskirts."
"You're part of the center now," Geta says. "But you are correct in that these won have no desire to cause you a problem. But we have to be careful."
"Well, the won I'm going to see don't have any classes that attack others," I say.
"That's comforting."
"Here they are," I say. "I hope they're ho. Didn't think about that. It is the middle of the day."
The house looks to have so activity in it. I wonder how many guards are going to try and join us inside. The ho won't have room for many of them, and we won't have a good conversation with them around if any of us get invited in.
Geta knocks on the door for . I am carrying two babies.
"Coming!" shouts out from the house. I guess only one of them is here right now. Probably doesn't know about the panic we've brought to the village.
"Oh, Armirynth, and a lot of guards," Cenzis says. "Is sothing wrong?"
"No," I say. "Sorry, but Alzi wanted to check in on the village elders, and I wanted to see so old friends. I believe you've recently given birth. It looks that way."
"Yes," Cenzis says.
"Congratulations," I say. Oh, this is so awkward. "I wanted to bring around my two newest and see how you're doing. Alzi also wants to thank you for helping her grow up. She should be coming around in a bit. Can I see your daughter?"
"Him, actually," Cenzis says. "We've been blessed."
"You deserve it," I say. "Oh, that's great to hear. I've got a male as well."
"Please co in," Cenzis says. "I would love for you to et him. We're a bit sad that you aren't our neighbor anymore. You were great, and I felt so bad when we had to say we couldn't help you much. But I'm so happy for you now. You two deserve it. You worked so hard, and Alzi is so kind. I feel better knowing she's in charge of things now."
"Just Geta," I tell the guards. "Thank you, Cenzis. Sorry for bringing a crowd."
"WAIT!" I hear Alzi shout from above. "I made it!" She cos down quick, managing to land on her feet despite the belly.
"Glad you could join us," I say.
*** Alzi ***
Victoria is probably cursing up a storm right now, but I really wanted to fly, and when I got up, I saw Mommy was still at the door of our neighbors so I just went for it. Stupid, yes, but it worked out.
"Hi Cenzis," I say. "Thank you. And you have a kid? Can I see them? Oh, Mommy, have you shown her our two? They're so cute, and I'm sure yours is too."
"We were just getting to that," Mommy says. "Co on. You shouldn't have done that, but you're here. Let's go have a play date."
"Great!" I say.
...
"Thanks for making us visit," I say.
"I didn't make you visit," Mommy says. "But I am happy I gave you a reason to go. He was so cute."
"He was," I say.
It is quite a path to get ho now. I have to go through the capital, and into the castle grounds, and then to Space's temple, and then finally I end up in my house. A lot better than if I didn't have Space's wonderful help, but still a lot in a day.
"Alzi," Azula De Vil says, sneaking into my room. Well, the door is open.
Not this. "Yes?" I ask.
"We have the crowning for the Edeozia Queendom," Azula De Vil says.
"Fuck," I say. "I thought I was done with all of that."
"Not yet," Azula De Vil says. "Then my collar?"
"If the ceremony includes you getting bent over the throne, I'll take it off," I say. Please say no.
"Fine."
Should've known. But I shouldn't have a slave wife.
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