Chapter 16: The Ethereal City Embassy
I placed the strange man down gently on my komori wolf pelt. He looked around his early twenties, his light orange hair than was a bit filthy. I stared for a few moments before I snapped my fingers. Kuro, Fang and haru appeared from the shadows.
"Shiori-sama! Why is their a naked man in here?!" Kuro demanded, absolutely petrified.
"It's a long story. Please Get him dressed and bring him to the meeting room immediately..." I ordered.
"Yes, shiori-sama!" Fang and haru bowed, kuro pouted. Once the were gone, I was jumping for joy!
"I did it! I finally broke am advances curse!" I beamed, then it hit me.
"Wait isn't this that part in an anime, where the protagonist has a massive aura moment...?" I thought deeply for a moment.
I really need a cool, catchy yet badass code name if I'm going to attract an infamous reputation.
"Let's see, I'm a beacon of light that shines for my people but a terror to the enemy, it mustn't be long nor hard to pronounce...."
My eyes lit up. "I've got it!..."
"Master I've returned!" Ryu announced
"Welcome back Ryu, tell everyone I've decided on a badass code name for my villainess persona..." I beamed excitedly
"Huh?" He blinked.
No one's pov
The curse free man woke up confused, he looked down surprised . he was clothed in clean fabric, completely opposite to the bloody patient gown he worn in that hell.
His mind shifted as he listened to the melody echoing in the room. Looking ahead he saw a lady sitted on a couch stool. she gracefully played the strange item with black and white keys.
Each key made a beautiful note as her fingers as well as her body moved like water.
. Absolutely ethereal...
not so far from her were two well dressed goblins, a dire wolf, a black hair male and a little cream haired girl, all wearing strange uniforms.
All staring with awe as the lady played.
The boy was awed as well, the lady in question had Fox ears, her tail swayed as her slivery white hair flowed like silk, her gem like eyes shone like stars in the night sky.
Her features were so enchanting that the man wanted nothing more than to paint her portrait.
Just who was this woman?
After the melody had ended she stood up facing the orange eyed male. His eyes widened as he stared at her majestic form.
"Who are you ?" He muttered his question. His voice not more than a whisper.
"I am your master, most of my citizens call me shiori-sama, milady , or master, but for especial exceptions like yourself, you may call me..."
"Ultamia!"
"Lady Ultamia..." He muttered as if craving the name into his memory.
"What happened to me?" He queried
"You were under the influence of an advanced dark curse, one that turned you into a creature of disgust. So disfigured that not even the records could identify you" her voice was stern yet gentle.
like she pitied him but also distained his weakness to be able to reach such a state.
"Lucky enough I managed to cure you from such curse" she smiled lifting a vile half full with faintly glowing green liquid.
"You're starting a new life, although it might be full of risks and dangers, I ask of you to join my cause, To create a safer future for my people and eradicate the cause of your pain. the Crimson cross. what do you say?" She gestured her hand forward to him.
" you've saved me from my torment, so my answer is clear as day, I shall follow you wherever you go milady, no...lady Ultamia!" He bowed
"With this new name I cast upon you, your identity shall forever change. Forged into your very soul. Now rise, kyokota! Less formal, Kyoto"
A wave of light surrounded him as he name was spoken from her lips. he could fell his mana raising as his body accepted the feeling with opened arms.
Soon the power died down. He stood up with confidence as she grinned approvingly.
"Dayama, prepare his room and wardrobe!"
"Yes! Shiori-sama!" Dayama nodded sharply
.......
Ryu had returned, visiting his master who was sitted in her study.
"Did you find out anything?" She asked, casually flipping through achrives from the late king's study for melivanne.
"It was Just as you suspected, the town was still lingering with bandits. they were transporting mystical type species, fairies to be exact as well as a few rare artifacts, forbidden one's too." he reported, leaning on a bookshelf.
"Artifacts huh... sounds sus. anything else?...."
"Indeed. Young girls have been going missing, particularly those from the slums..." He added.
I put the book down and stared at him. "That's oddly specific, but why girls form the slums. I'm pretty sure they lack proper education or strength from labor work...."
"Shall I look into it?" He asked
"Please do and...inform the topic seven petals, I shall look into it..." She said flipping her book boredly.
"Yes, shiori-sama!" He disappeared into the shadows.
.......
{Location: melvialine palace}
I walked through the halls, Eliot not so far behind.
"What in tarnation are you doing?! And what are you wearing?!" His eyes widened as he stared at my outfit, my turtleneck sweater and my shorts, with the fur coat.
"This is much more comfortable that those horrid ballgowns you suggested I wear" I smiled as I walked.
"B.b.b.but those are tradition!" Eliot was baffled
"To hell with tradition. There's no way I'm wearing those torture tools you call corsets. I'm the ruler and what I say goes"
"And where's your crown?!" He asked, hyperventilating
"On it's way" I smiled
"hah?!" He yelled
"Let's do this!"
Walking ahead to a double wooden door as guard men opened it from both sides, I stepped forward into the light.
I stood on a balcony, staring below at the numbers of citizens looking up at me intrigued.
Hello my loyal citizens, nah my fellow subjects!, it is I you're ruler. However!, I don't believe in terms of status and stand for open honesty, which is why I myself shall enate on such and reveal the truth.
I took off my ring as my fox features poofed back.
Everyone gasped.
"I am not human, I'm a fox hybrid!" I announced
Everyone frowned at the realization, some of them even started ridiculing me as others trembled with fear.
"Fear not! I'm not here to submit you all for my ego! I believe there was potential in this kingdom for my dream! To build a nation where humans and other species can live in harmony! A place where discrimination is forbidden no matter what species or race!"
They bowed there heads in shame. Their new ruler was actually a species they fear but she won the tournament fair and square.
"Why do you bow your heads?"
They rose there heads in surprise
"Its because your all weak! There's no exception! You all feel mighty as your ranks, level and status increase but you're still self aware!
Under all that ego is a cowardly, humiliating heart that just wants to stay alive, survive and trive!
I'll say it again, you're all weak! But the ability to acknowledge your weaknesses is where true strength lies!
They were stunned by her words
No one has managed to survive nor trive on there own. So for the sake of yourselves if not others, push passed your ego and accept reality! As your 304th queen, I'll mould this kingdom into one of great promise! Because we're all weak! We can do anything we put our minds to, because all great things started from nothing!!!
The crowd went wild with roars of determination.
From this day forward! Melvialine had died and a new nation shall rise from the ashes!
The Ethereal City Embassy!!!
Crowded cried out joyfully. full of determination and hope. Kuroha now in a suit came with my tiara before gracefully placing on top of my head.
Now let the games begin!
......
The sound of slicing echo through the woods, Ryu was currently being chased beat a thunder bear.
He smirks, halting in his tracks before slicing the beast in half, right down the middle.
He took his prize back to a random spot in the forest. Goblins stated at him in awe as he skillfully chopped up to bear carcass into small pieces as they fell into a large bowl.
Yamada, took out two needles, stabbing the meat in skewers before placing them on the grill shiori-sama had shown the dwarves to make as he sprinkled some salt and spice onto them.
"Looking good!" Ryu bellowed proudly, just then a goblin ran up to him
"What is it?!" He asked curiously as the goblin panted from the run.
"It's lord kuroha. Hed just returned and is now in the room where the divine knowledge from shiori-sama is kept!, the metia!" He replied
Ryu's face paled with horror.
"wait, I have the lastest season of sakomoto days in there!" He panicked. Ever since his master had been busy in her study, kuro had be snappy and idle.
Ryu could practically envision kuro devouring everything out of sheer boredom.
"Nooooo! I won't let's him eat my babies!" He ran as fast as he could, a dust trail following.
"What's wrong?" Dayama asked
"Oh nothing much, lady haruna just told me to say that to him" I chuckled nervously
Ryu ran in the mansion, stopped in front of the metia room door as he barged in panicking hyperventilating
He eyes search for the formal black Spinner, seeing him just sitting down looking through some memories, beside him was an orange eyed guy doing the same as well as jotting something down.
"Huh?" Ryu was confused, that's when haru approached him.
"Oh hey Ryu, glad you're here, we could use an extra pair of hands to get some more of the work done" she smiled
"Huh? What's going on?" Ryu asked genuinely confused
"Well you were busy so kuro and kyoko volunteered to interpret shiori-sama 's memories" she explained gesturing to the orange hair male.
"Oh...I see..." He sighed in relief
"Don't worry Ryuchi, I won't inform master about how the minute she left, you slacked off and went off to chasing meat rather than help look after the kingdoms progress, just as long as you do. your. jobs..." Her voice was dark contradictory to the sweet smile on her innocent face.
"Um...ok.!" He quickly took a sit.
"Thanks for your help!" She beamed
"damnit haru is truly a crafty girl " he pouted
"She was worried your laziness would affect the kingdom growth. The farming records need looking at as well as we need to retrieve life stock from the other forest for more silk farming and hide." kyokota said still translating his master's memories in writing.
"And you are?" Ryu asked Kyoto suspiciously
"This is kyokota, master named him two days ago" kuro explained
"NANI?!" Ryu whined
"stop being so loud, it's annoying" kyokota frowned
"Whatever, so kuro how was the trip, you and shiori-sama shared a bed together, correct?"Ryu smirked
The other two choaked on air as the air tensed up
"Yes, we did..." kuro replied, a bit embarrassed
"And?" Ryu pressed
"We shared a bed, that was all" he answered
"Huh? So you didn't make a move on her?" He was surprised
"Only an idiot would try so in a none erotic environment " he pouted at the dragon
"No matter, I'll just watch some sengoku night blood " Ryu said going through some files
"Seriously, your watching anime right now?!" Kuro frowned
"Your looking at her memories too" he pouted
"We're translating them, something you should be doing" kyokota frowned as he stated bluntly
"Hmm, what's This?" Kuro pick up a memory curiously. His eyes were transfixed on it.
Shiori's pov
I was addressing the staff, installing rules and tips for better improvement for the pillars of issues for this country. Elliot was acknowledged as my page here, basically my right hand in this kingdom's matters.
I flipped threw the pages of problems as we walked down the corridor.
"My my, if it isn't min...." I stopped, staring at the obnoxious woman before us. Her dirty blonde hair tied up in a bun as she wore a body fitting dress that probably cost more than half the kingdom's current budget.
"And you are?" I rose my eye brow, looking her up and down with zero interest.
"This is my aunt, countess Abigail" Eliot said flatly
Such a pretty name, too bad she screams major bitch.
"Watch your tone brat. You're just a servant now." She spat before turning to me smiling.
"My name is Abigail milevinne. Eillot's aunt." She said sickly sweet.
"I'm Shiori komori. Now what do you want?" I said not hiding my distain.
"I came to congratulate you on your coronation. I'm sure you're aware of the state of the kingdom's finances. Luckily since your a beautiful woman, I've found a very wealthy man to help you in exchange for martial alliance. . consider it my gift to you...." She grinned
"Marriage" I blinked, stunned at the sheer audacity.
"He's a bit old but he's kind and rich...." I cut her off
"And why in my right might would accept something so absurd.? " I said, glaring at her.
"Consider it is a gift, I was originally going to offer min here as his concubine, however since he has no legal standing, it's pointless..." She replied as of it was the most natural thing to say
Eliot looked away clenching his fists. Just as I was about to roast her, I froze.
"I'll think about it...." I said shocking Elliot
"What?!" He exclaimed
"Excellent, I'll arrange a meeting between the two of you in three days...." She smiled before walking away, swaying her hips like a whore she was.
"Why did you agree?!" Elliot screamed in horror.
"I Sensed mana, a high amount. Not from her, but the anklet she was wearing..."
"What?" He blinked
"I have a theory but I need details on your aunt first. Let's go grab some food first..." I said walking ahead in the opposite direction.
........
What a hassle. I sat in a local restaurant with Eliot who seemed nervous
"It's not like we're on a date, so relax"
"That's not it! Your a person of high status now, so why choose here to dine?!"
"The food is good that's why" I deadpanned. He gave a defeated look.
"Now spill the deeds" I asked reading the menu.
"Lady Abigail is my late mother's elder sister. Unlike my mother who was calm, reserved and study to help my father, aunt Abigail was loud, extravagant and barely studied at all. She wore revealing outfits since her teens, gaining attention from men easily. She ended up marrying a count, however as years past he cheated on her with several cases younger girls and even took in concubines. Since I'm technically illegitimate, she takes all her anger out on me when she visted..." He explained
"I see, but she looks like she's in her early thirties..."
"That impossible, she's forty eight, her birthday was a few months ago.." he said surprised by my observation.
"That's strange indeed. Is there any artifact that can reverse aging by chance?" I asked as the sever served our meals.
"There are a lot of unique artifacts, but I do believe that anklet was given to her a few weeks ago.." he said thinking
That lines up with the missing reports, I have a theory but I don't like it.
" Is there an archive on artifacts?" I quired.
"Yes, I believe it's in my grandfather's study." He nodded
"We have Only three days to research and think of a plan...." I said with a serious expression
{Location: ethereal city}
.......
I came back exhausted as I headed for the mansion.
Shiori-sama!
I clutch my ear as Ryu used telepathy. "What the hell Ryu? " I scolded
"It's kuro, he's gone mad! Hurry!" My eyes widened , I put the book down and rushed to their location. But when I got there, Ryu and kuro were brawling on the floor.
I sweatdropped. "Um what's on?" I asked kyokota. He nodded before explaining.
"Lord kuroha saw a memory and was immediately addicted but Ryu refused to make more" he said
I see, I facepalmed turning back to kyokota as he stared at me with anticipation.
"Um, oh right. Thanks" he smiled
"As for you guys! What the hell is going on?!"
"Kuro is treating me like a tool" Ryu whined
"I only asked for more chapter!" Kuro pouted
"Chapters? Wait kuro do you like anime as well?"
"I'm not as obsessed as Ryu. I much prefer this" he explained as he handed me the crystal screens.
My jaws slack as my face flushed.
This is! "Wait your into novels?!"
"Yes, the story seems so intoxicating I can't help myself ~!" He squirmed as he hugged himself with a drunken expression.
"Um...okay ..that's ... fine I guess" I sweatdropped
"Really!" He beamed as I handed him back the screen.
"What about me~" Ryu asked hopefully
"As for you...." I pulled him by the hair
"Go do your job!"
{A few days later}
Eliot was coming out of a jewelry store with a box in hand and a smile on his face.
"I hope she thinks of something. I really want to thank her for everything " he said to himself feeling all giddy
Suddenly a handkerchief was placed over his nose. As he inhaled, he felt drowsy and was soon unconscious.
The cloak man grinned sickly as he dragged Eliot's body into an alleyway