Chapter 486 – More Inaction

"Welcome to our home," the older one says. "We're 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 come here. We did a good job of leaving you with little reason to care about this village. That's not something 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 purposefully hide that I'm a royal, then I suppose I can continue to ignore you. I don't really care to bring you back to the dragon realm unless we need to create a new village for some reason."

"I doubt we would be welcome 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.

"It's a little late," she says. "But we didn't know what the feeling meant. It was just an uncomfortable pressure for us. We're used to being the strongest in the village, so we should've figured it out, but we didn't want to believe it."

Well, I'm glad they're getting to the excuses early. I guess it would make sense. They haven't met 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 mentioned something 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 extreme 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, and Victoria continues to be silent and just stands behind me in her armor. I wonder if they'll trick her into saying something.

"Well, that answers one thing, I guess," I say. But shouldn't they have still said something? "Did you help my Aunt or know about it?"

"No," the older one says, sitting down across from me. "No. We wouldn't just let that happen. We knew you had something going on, and we wouldn't risk it. I'm just sorry we weren't able to keep her imprisoned here for you. Justice's temple came down and forced us to give her up. We've heard some rumors about what happened. We should've been in better contact with your Mother, and we could've gone to a Duchess and started something that way. We've grown lazy, while I like to act wise. That's probably why I talked to that Kitsune Princess."

"Who?" I ask.

"Yuki, I believe, was her name," the old one says. "She came 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 also 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 time I figured that out."

"Yes," I say. "It was a little too late by then." It's always too late. Everyone always figures things out in the future. Can I blame Future for this? I can wait for Past to be born and figure it out then. But why am I certain that Past will be born? Something happened, and someone is messing with my mind!

"Is everything alright, Empress?" the younger one asks.

"It's someone else," I say. "I don't think you've done anything to hurt me directly. You just didn't act, like so many. I guess you both get to keep your heads. I am training a new spy master or something like that, and if she finds something out, I'm sure she'll come and collect."

"We promise we've told you the truth today," the young one says. "We'll make sure the village follows our Empress."

"I'm glad you're so easy to convince," I say. "Victoria?"

"Why the fuck are you making me speak?" Victoria asks. "I was going to fucking make it through this damn meeting without a fucking incident, and you just had to ask for my fucking input. I believe the shits, but I disagree about not punishing them. Take their damn power and make them fucking do something for ignoring the obvious fucking power difference they should've fucking known it was. 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 something that would get you to talk, but it seems I had to do that myself. And I wanted someone who would speak their mind to make sure I was right about my plans. I'll go 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 source of advice for what to do with them, My Empress," Kou says. "But community service or forced labor could be one route. Forcing them into seclusion or sentencing them to some jail time would work if you do not think they should die. Honestly, they failed to mention you when you were born, and 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. Even just a mention of a rainbow dragon that gave them a strange pressure that likely didn't have a deal completed correctly would've been enough for the Duchess to show interest. She would have likely dragged you into her family, but the Queen would make sure it was fair, and you would've taken it over eventually anyway. Death is a perfectly fine punishment for them. Just tell Lady Elora to strike."

Do I kill them? It feels like I'm killing everyone who ever hurt me. But they expected to die at the beginning.

"Victoria?" I ask.

"Fuck," Victoria says. "I need you to fucking say it. I'm 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 came here much, and now I have a full entourage with me, making it quite the scene. The twins are in my arms, one even clearly a royal dragon. I hope they don't think I'm trying to show off. I really do just want to meet them and make sure they're doing fine.

"We should've dragged Nanoka out here so we wouldn'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 of them will figure out that they should be better people. It'll give them a better fate once they're in Death's hands. Though not by much. Few truly get tortured after death."

"That's good to hear," I say. "But I hope the kids don't hear that. Mothers sometimes 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 if someone goes too far and turns it into a prayer."

"Alzi never needed me to go that far," I say. "I didn't need it that often. She was a great kid. Too good."

"She is," Geta says.

We make it to the part of town that I'm familiar with, with the smaller and more worn-down houses. It makes me more comfortable, but the guards seem to disagree. They straighten up, and I can practically feel their eyes searching for problems.

"I lived here for most of my life," I say. "More problems come 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 women have no desire to cause you a problem. But we have to be careful."

"Well, the women 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 home. I didn't think about that. It is the middle of the day."

The house seems to have some activity in it. I wonder how many guards are going to try to join us inside. The home 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 me, since I am carrying two babies.

"Coming!" shouts out from the house. I guess only one of them is here right now. She probably doesn't know about the panic we've brought to the village.

"Oh, Armirynth, and a lot of guards," Cenzis says. "Is something wrong?"

"No," I say. "Sorry, but Alzi wanted to check in on the village elders, and I wanted to see some old friends. I believe you've recently given birth. At least, it looks that way."

"Yes," Cenzis says.

"Congratulations," I say. Oh, this is so awkward. "I wanted to bring around my two youngest children and see how you're doing. Alzi also wants me 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 come in," Cenzis says. "I would love for you to meet 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 that we couldn't help you much. But I'm so happy for you now. You two really 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. I'm sorry for bringing a crowd."

"WAIT!" I hear Alzi shout from above. "I made it!" She comes down quickly, managing to land on her feet, despite the belly.

"I'm 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 there, I saw that 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. "Come on. You shouldn't have done that, but you're here now. 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 that I gave you a reason to go. He was so cute."

"He was," I say.

It is quite a route to get home 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 back in my house. It's a lot better than if I didn't have Space's wonderful help, but it's still a lot for a single day.

"Alzi," Azula De Vil says, sneaking into my room. Well, the door is open.

Not this... "Yes?" I ask.

"We have the coronation 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."

I should've known. But I shouldn't have a slave wife.