Chapter 192 – A Marriage Deal

*** Yuki ***

Victoria is a real slave driver. Hardly get to spend a night in my new house with these missions.

I know I said I wanted a request from the Queen, but this is painful. Two weeks and seven missions. We don't even return to the capital every time if we happen to be close to a different city with a guild hall.

The one nice thing is my levels increasing so fast.

"Yuki!" a guard calls out.

"What do you want?" I ask.

"Hurry the fuck up!" Victoria yells back. "We need to pick out another mission!"

This bitch. Could we not have one night?

"The Queen has ordered you to see her when you arrive," the guard says. "If you want to get on with your missions, you better move quickly. I don't think she's happy about you right now."

"I don't know if I care," I mutter. "I'll meet you two at the house. I'm going to need a rest after meeting that woman."

"Single night, and we go again," Victoria states. "Expect to see your ass in the guild before the fucking sun is awake."

"Yeah, yeah," I mutter. Everyone must really be wondering why a Princess won't marry you.

I rush through the streets, hoping to get all of this over with. The Queen wants to talk to me just about as much as I wish to speak with her, so it must be important.

As much as I hate to admit it.

Maybe she'll offer me Alzi in return for leaving her Queendom?

Or Victoria spilled the secret. I could see her doing it, hoping to find me joining in the marriage to help smooth over her rocky personality. But then she would be called into this meeting.

Audrey.

I'm about to lose my slave.

I really don't want to ask my annoying sister for help, but I need to keep the dragons alive, or Alzi will kill me. And they are kind of sweet working together. Those twins are going to be spoiled by the time Alzi gets to meet them.

The dragons better not teach the kids they can play with my tail. If I could keep Nakuma off them I would limit touching to Alzi and myself only. And maybe our kids to teach them how to care for their tails.

I reach the inner gates, and the guards are already opening the door for me.

How kind.

"You can enter, Yuki," one says, the disdain coming in clear.

Don't worry—I hate you, too. Just wait until I'm in the royal harem, pregnant with Alzi's children.

I just need to be careful not to get stuck in this royal harem. My Mother said she'll help, and if she wants to see the grandkids, she'd better.

"Follow us, Yuki," a new group of guards say, the personal crest of the Queen on their armor.

They turn quickly and race up the path to the castle.

The few times I've been inside a building, I was normally directed to the ballrooms. Elaborate things that pale in comparison to our dancing halls, but sufficient for me to play in.

The castle is similar. Marble, gems, statues, and paintings litter the halls, showing the rich history of the Queendom but lacking the elegance of my Mother's home.

The fast pace continues as we move through the halls. This has to be more than just an ask to free a slave.

"The Queen ordered you to enter immediately," the officer commands. A maid opens the door to a study.

Inside, Audrey is already sitting down in a large leather chair. The Queen is staring at the door, waiting for me to enter.

The study is definitely more of a meeting room. More paintings than books. The desk is made to have the Queen appear larger than she really is. Chairs that don't let you fully relax.

"I am Glad you could join us," the Queen says. "I am tired of meeting with you, so please explain why you have a collar around one of my noble's necks."

"It was that or kill her," I say. "It was only a year with no chance of increasing it. All she had to do was help a few girls I have in my care."

"Remove it," the Queen says.

"Fine," I say, waving my hand. The collar falls to the ground with a loud bang before returning to my storage. "Anything else?"

"Audrey, you may leave," the Queen says. "I do have more to discuss with you, Yuki. I think you may like this offer."

Marriage. Why, oh, why are you rewarding me for enslaving a noble?

"I'll listen," I say, the door closing behind me.

"Think you have a choice?" the Queen says with a snarl. "Now, the girls you were watching were almost killed. An assassination attempt, and I think you know the buyer."

"Do I?" I ask. "And how did you learn of this?"

"Audrey," the Queen says. "It is the only reason you aren't kicked out of my lands. I need to protect my family, and they were after Alzi's Mother. I can't have that happening, can I? I have some guards posted around your house now. But I doubt any more will try. The assassin's guild is under new leadership, and the ones behind the attack are gone."

"Gone?" I say. "Not killed?"

"Ashmark," the Queen says. "Fled. Which just moves right into my suggestion perfectly. You go and bring me the head wife and that bitch of a man. Then I will give you a marriage to my daughter. The one married to Alzi. I think you already wish to kill the Ashmarks for their earlier attempt. Now you can go and do it."

"Where did they run off to?" I ask. Tempting, if they know where they are hiding. I don't need to go on a hide-and-seek mission right now. My current method would work better than that.

"That is what I wanted to hear, you annoying Kitsune," the Queen says, relaxing in her chair. "North into Edeozia. Princess Esiyae Edeozia kidnapped Elora and Alzi a few days ago."

"What do you mean?!" I scream. Another fucking princess coming in and taking my catch? I found her and made her love me. Who the fuck do they think they are, trying to steal her from me?

"Fluvis is chasing them," the Queen says. "No need to worry about that. Fluvis had her newest ship already prepared. Started the chase just a few hours after they were taken. So, will you go show the Edeozia Queendom and show the Ashmark family they shouldn't have messed with the dragons or not?"

"You know what I truly want," I say.

"Fine, you may take some kids that you parent and move them to your realm. But some of your children have to stay here. Same with Nakuma," the Queen says.

"Fine," I say. "I get the head wife and the husband, bring him before you, and I get a marriage deal with your daughter, Princess Elora Elagwyn, and I may have some of my children grow up in my home realm."

"Deal, Yuki," the Queen says. "I will add your dragons, the catkin, and the healer, who may join you, Nakuma, and Victoria for the marriage."

"Yes," I say. "Thank you." Got a little ahead of myself there. But I have an easy in. Two kitsune and that brute kidnapping a weak little man and a single woman?

The only hard part will be the travel.

We can burn that place to the ground and bring those two back bloody and bruised and enslaved. Oh, this is going to be a real treat. Killing the wives for daring to be a part of a family that tried to kill my lover.

Offer them up to Alzi as a wedding gift.

Perfect. Perfect. Perfect.

"Now leave," the Queen says. "I'm tired of your presence."

"You'll have to get used to me, Queen," I say. "I'll bring them to you, and I want the wedding to move quickly."

"Get."

We will both have to learn to tolerate each other. But for now, I agree.

I get out of the leather chair and join up with the guards to make my way off the castle grounds.

I run through the city again, back to my new home. I'll have to learn about the assassination attempt and make sure they are safe. Then, I'll talk to Victoria and give her the news.

We'll need to make some extra preparations. There is no need to make this mission harder than it should be. We could even bring Kelly along to have the healer nearby.

Running up to the new house, I see the four royal guards—enough to persuade almost anyone to turn around and find a different contract.

I stop and tidy up my look before entering. I move to the kitchen, hoping to run into Armirynth first.

There she is, pregnant and still refusing to rest, working over the mana stove.

"Hello," I call out.

She startles a bit but still answers with her own hello.

"I just got back from a meeting with the Queen," I say. "She said there was an assassination attempt?"

"Yes," she says. "They stabbed Ilka and aimed to get me. Someone called Tanatsu stopped the attempt. Mai says another girl was trying to kill us as well."

"My sister," I mutter. "I'm glad she helped you. Did she ask for anything in return?"

"Just for Alzi to help her with something," Armirynth says. "I got her to agree to just a meeting to discuss it with my baby. I didn't want to promise anything on her behalf. I guess you being related is why she agreed."

"Yes," I say. "She isn't normally that easy when she asks for help. Are you and Ilka ok?"

"Tanatsu gave Ilka a potion, and Kelly finished healing her," Armirynth says. "I was just startled. Little trouble sleeping, but that was happening anyways."

"Good, good," I say. "You should check the stove before it burns."

"Oh, yes," Armirynth says. Hurrying to flip whatever our dinner is going to be. "Not used to things cooking so fast. Are you going to be staying for a bit?"

"Yes. The Queen offered me a way to speed up my plan. It's just a single mission to get a marriage contract," I say. "I need to prepare more for the mission and make sure Victoria is ok with it. It promises a marriage to a Princess, so she should say yes. I just wanted to check on you. I'm happy everyone is ok."

"It was quite the scare," Armirynth says. "Don't risk too much on the mission. My baby needs you alive."

"I know," I say. "I am confident we can handle this. It is the kitsune's specialty."

"Ok, I should focus on the food for now," Armirynth says. "I don't have the skill to talk and cook with these mana things."

"I'll leave you be then," I say.

I move to my room and lie down. Victoria should go right along with this plan. She never seems to care about the danger, just the prestige to cover for her language.