The System's pulse faded, leaving behind a silence.The absence of swords clashing fell. My ears still rang with the phantom echoes of steel on steel. My men leaned on their weapons, drawing ragged breaths, faces gray in the torchlight.
The councilors were still alive, cowering behind their barricade like mice.
"Open the damn door," One of my guards called on my order.
A hesitant voice from inside: "Is… is it over?"
I didn't bother answering. Jorven gave me a quick nod and kicked the door in, sending chairs and desks crashing back. The smell of sweat and fear rolled out to greet me. Six councilors huddled together, robes disheveled, eyes darting between me and Valric.
"Your Majesty," one stammered, "we had no idea-"
"Save it, Lord davidson" I said. "You'll have plenty of time to explain how you didn't notice armed men walking into the palace."
Valric was leaning on the wall, arms crossed, studying the council like a butcher choosing which carcass to cut first. His lazy smile was back.
The oldest councilor, Barlin, a man who'd been fat when I was still alive the first time, cleared his throat. "We are grateful, Your highness"
"You should be grateful to him," I cut in, jerking my head at Valric. "Half of you would be cooling on the floor if he hadn't shown up."
That earned me a sharp look from Jorven, but I ignored it. The truth was, Valric's timing was too perfect to be pure luck, and that meant I needed him close until I understood the game he was playing.
Valric pushed off the wall. "If you're done congratulating me, Your Majesty, I suggest we get back to securing the palace. Duke Drann won't be the only ones with a key to the back door."
he was right.
[[System Notification:] Council Defense Complete. Influence +25.] [New Harem Member Available]]
The words burned into my vision. I blinked them away before anyone saw the flicker in my eyes.
We left the council chamber under heavy guard. The corridors were quieter now, but it was the kind of quiet that made you wonder what was waiting around the corner. Valric walked at my side without asking permission. Jorven shadowed us, close enough to hear every word but smart enough to keep his mouth shut for now.
"You've got a hole in your defenses," Valric said conversationally. "Two, actually."
"You're going to tell me just to be helpful?" I asked.
"No," he said. "I'm going to tell you because a weak king isn't suitable for our Great Azaran Empire." He just smiled. I'd seen that smile before, over the course of a week, he flashed it usually right before someone was murdered.
By the time we reached my chambers, the festival was winding down outside. The sounds of music and laughter had thinned to drunken stragglers and the occasional shout from the streets. The city thought tonight had been a celebration. Inside the palace, it had been a battlefield.
Two maids waited inside. One was new, dark hair and sharp eyes that lingered on me a little too long. The System pulsed again.
New Candidate Identified: Lyra — Intelligence: High. Loyalty: Uncertain.[Recruit to Harem? Yes/No]
I kept my face neutral. "Wine and Food, Woman."
They scurried off, Lyra glancing back once before disappearing behind the curtain.
Valric dropped into a chair without asking. "You should rest, Your highness."
"I'll rest when I know how deep Drann's knife went," I said rubbing my temples, death and bloodshed had followed me to this realm too.
He tapped his fingers on the armrest. "Deep enough that this was just the first cut."
Jorven closed the door behind us and stepped forward, whispering into my ear "Your Majesty, with all due respect, I don't trust him, his appearance was a bit too perfect."
I raised an eyebrow. "You think I do?"
"I think you're letting him stay too close, and he won the hearts of the council tonight too."
"That's the point," I said. "Better to have the wolf where I can see his teeth, and the council mean nothing as long as i wear the crown"
Valric smirked, running a hand through his dark hair. "You two talk like I'm not in the room, whispering doesn't mean absolute silence."
I leaned forward. "You are. And since you seem to know more than you should, how did Drann get men past my gates?"
Valric's smile thinned. "Ask the gate captain, Not me." He raised his arms in the air.
"Which one?"
"Exactly." He chuckled.
The wine came. Lyra poured for me first, then Valric, her eyes flicking between us like she was taking mental notes. She lingered just long enough for me to notice, then slipped out again.
System Notification: Side Quest Added — Test Lyra's Loyalty.
All of this is so exhuasting, quest after quest, what am i? some game character on a screen?
Great. Another piece on the board, and I still hadn't finished the last game.
We drank in silence for a while, the kind of silence that's thick with unasked questions. Finally, Valric set his cup down.
"You want Drann's head?"
"Yes."
"Then you're going to need to do something about the palace guard. Half of them will bend the knee to whoever pays them more."
"You volunteering to clean the house?"
"I'm offering to point out who needs to be removed. Whether you use a sword or a coin purse is your choice."
"And your price?"
"That's the wrong question," he said, standing. "The right one is how soon you want it done." He stood tall, with the wine glass, stirring it lightly, and with slow steps started walking away.
After he left, Jorven stayed behind. "He's dangerous."
"And i am the king," I said. "That's why I'm still breathing."
The System pulsed again.
Main Quest Updated: Secure the Palace: Eliminate Disloyal Guards (0/12). Reward: Power +50, Influence +40.
I rubbed my temple again. Every time I thought I'd bought myself a moment, the damned thing started stacking me with tasks.
Outside, the last of the festival music faded. Inside, the air still smelled faintly of blood.