Interlude - A Queen’s Soliloquy

“How dreadful. Are they not able to wait until after my tea arrives? Though, I suppose it does make the maid’s job easier,” Queen Valerie Reale mused, sitting at her usual spot by the bedroom window. She leaned her wrinkled face into her gaunt hand, ruminating on what had happened a few minutes prior. Like clockwork, another person – this time a woman – clad in black snuck into the room ready to assassinate her. As usual, the queen first knocked out the assassin, hoping they would stay down. But alas, with an almost fervent bloodthirst, they ended up bisected, staining the carpet red with their blood.

Valerie was under no delusion as to the cause of such an act. She was well aware that these were her citizens, kidnapped and roped into the slow coup instigated by Duke Dolon Engres. It was almost an open secret, not just to the palace, but to the entire capital. However, did she blame him for it?

Not in the slightest.

Duke Engres was a skilled leader, almost astonishingly so. In a world beset by an eternal cold war, he pushed through innovative reforms, improving the efficacy and efficiency of nearly every facet of the kingdom. This most recent adoption of science through spellstones was one such investment. Human mages were a strategic resource, regardless of how much mana they could use, so whenever one was discovered, they were almost always scooped up for the mage corps. However, humans, like all other living creatures, did have some amount of mana residing within them. The use of spellstones functioned similarly to a circuit back in a certain streamer’s world, where the people themselves provided the charge necessary to activate them. A revolutionary design, one that had turned the capital into a smog of industry for the time being.

If that was all, then Valerie would step down from her figurehead role, transferring the last of her authority to Duke Engres. Unfortunately, Duke Engres was greedy: an almost impossible lust for power. He would use any and all means to achieve his goals, as evident by the never-ending attempted assassination. Valerie wouldn’t be surprised if he sold the kingdom to one of their enemies in exchange for better technological prowess, like the rumors suggest.

But what could she do? Most of her duties had already been stripped and handed over to the ‘democratic’ body led by the Duke. Of course, she could always go the more violent route, but as she approached ninety-two, her mana control began to deteriorate like the rest of her body. She might have her strength for another few months and live a year or two, but that was it. In the eyes of the people, she was simply a relic of the past.

One with an ever-burning fire in her eyes, relit from a strange otherworlder’s melancholy.

“My lady, I have brought your tea – poisoned, of course,” A maid walked into the room, rolling in an almost comically large silver tray cart with a single kettle on top. Each movement swayed with arrogance as she poured Valerie a cup, the lascivious outfit revealing assets not quite enticing. For a mere servant, it was unthinkable to act in such a detestable manner to her mistress.

If only she were a servant.

“How many times shall I remind you to knock before entering, Elvira?” Valerie quipped, though she knew the maid would not care.

“But it’s so fun watching the other servants pale,” Elvira teased with a rueful grin. With her androgynous looks, she was pretty much the perfect spy, able to blend in and gather all kinds of information without notice. On the other hand, her showman personality was absolutely abhorrent, dancing as close to the guillotine as she possibly could. Especially with her habit to change her style of address, Valerie sometimes forgot whether she was a man or woman. Even as they spoke, Elvira cleaned up the dead assassin while somehow changing into a butler’s suit, somehow gaining even larger assets with a masculine form.

“Go ahead with your report,” Valerie stated, not even bothering to acknowledge her makeover. It was a headache not worth unpacking.

“Of course,” Elvira spoke, though in a flatter tone than before. “Duke Engres has grown increasingly anxious at the failing hero summoning ritual. He is unlikely to stop trying any time soon, but he has begun to accept that performing any more is a waste of resources.”

“We already have a hero in our country. I still do not see a reason for another. What else?”

“The number of kidnappings from the palace guards has slowed in preparation for your birthday banquet. Instead, the Duke is trying to gather more experienced fighters.”

“In this kingdom? Good luck with that,” Valerie chuckled. As a swordsmaster, there were few humans that could even come close to rivaling her. However, Elvira had an uncharacteristically strained smile on her face. “Do not tell me he has actually secured assistance from another kingdom.”

“...”

“...from which?”

“The elves are the most likely.”

“Ah…” The pieces had begun to click together in her mind. “Then the hero summoning ritual…”

“Is likely from the elves as well, correct.” There were many races that dotted the planet they lived on, all constantly at war with each other. Compared to the skilled artisans each race was known for, humans were a jack of all trades, master of none. While there were a few that might reach lofty heights, to a race that specialized in that task, humans would always be considered second-rate.

Valerie had just confirmed the other day that the spellstones were traded from a recent agreement with the dwarves. If the elves were responsible for providing the circle for the hero summoning ritual, then Duke Engres was treading a dangerously thin line – a simple mistake sparking a war on two fronts.

“It is no wonder that Dolon is desperately searching for another hero.”

“I recommend escaping as soon as possible. I’m sorry, but not even you could win against an elf in your current state.”

“And how would I manage that?” Valerie glared in response. “Even if I escape, they will simply send someone to hunt me.”

Elvira’s eyes grew wide. “Wait, you’re actually considering it? Escaping? I thought you were planning to just wait and accept your death.”

“I can’t say it’s not your choice, I’m well aware of that. But if it was up to me, I would stick around just a little longer, if only to say…” Those words rang in her mind. It was a clumsy attempt at comfort and an excuse meant for someone else. And yet, for some reason…

“Well, I am still here.” Elvira cocked her head confused, but Valerie had no intention to elaborate.

Instead, she simply kept those words close at hand, prepared to weather whatever came her way.