Chapter Volume 4 9

Queen’s Kiss

"Ah!! Little Doggy, Little Doggy!! Good, good, my Little Doggy, my Little Doggy! I felt a little hesitant after the last ray of sunlight vanished, but I'm happy again now that I've seen you. I'm not in a fantastic mood. Come, Little Doggy."

When we got off the carriage, we found Queen Sisi already there waiting for us. She wore a bright smile; she was dressed in a white formal gown that was almost transparent. The shade of white looked as though the sunlight illuminated it. She pulled me over with one arm and gave me a tight hug. She completely disregarded Veirya and Leah, both of whom were behind me, and hugged me cheerfully. She kissed my cheek without any misgivings then took hold of my hand. She cheerfully said, "Come, come, Little Doggy. Come with me for a stroll first. I shall give you the honour of accompanying me on a stroll. Tonight, you shall join me in meeting all those who serve me. Oh, right, you people, make sure to take good care of Veirya and Leah. Veirya is my good friend. Should she even slightly frown tonight, I'll be very mad. Veirya is here with me, so rest assured. Little Doggy, I will take good care of her on your behalf."

I didn't have a chance to a say a word before Queen Sisi dragged me off by my hand. I turned around to look at Veirya with a look of dilemma. Veirya froze in place she watched me but didn't say anything. Leah, on the other hand, grumpily folded her arms. Sadly, there was nothing she could do. I really wanted Veirya to step up and take me away. I was positive Queen Sisi had something in mind to drag me off immediately. The question was what she wanted.

The military gathering ground adopted a carnival atmosphere. The banquet wasn't prepared for officials or nobles. Queen Sisi even generously allowed anyone else to enter. However, the circular gathering ground was split into three large circles.

The outer layer didn't have anything. There were only lots of long tables and dispersed empty areas. Everyone who passed by the area could pick up a glass of their choice and food. They could also dance along with the band's music.

In the centre layer, offerings were slightly more luxurious. That layer was probably reserved for the nobles.

In the innermost layer was a huge statue with a massive bonfire below it. That layer was presumably reserved for those close to Queen Sisi. Next to the statue was a huge temporarily set up structure made from wooden boards. A throne was placed on top. The soldiers were busy going back and forth at the top. That was probably where Queen Sisi would be.

I looked up to the top of the huge bonfire. A strange structure was set up there. It resembled a test tube rack. That said, there were no test tubes up there. I couldn't figure out what purpose the rack served. Is it going to be used to grill something, I pondered.

Queen Sisi excitedly held my hand with her beautiful and slender hand. Nonetheless, I didn't have neither the time nor chance to enjoy the beauty and sweetness she shared with me. I was nervously trying to decipher what she wanted me to do.

"Your Majesty."

Queen Sisi personally led me to the centre of the plaza. Everyone there wore resplendent and elegant clothing. They respectfully saluted Queen Sisi upon seeing her. I looked at the faces; among them, I noticed a number of familiar faces. Achilles gave me a grin and raised his glass as a toast. I didn't have the chance to respond, though, for Queen Sisi hooked her arm around mine with a bright smile. She gave me a kiss on my cheek without any regard for the eyes on us. She gleefully declared, "Did you all see that? Nice, nice. It is very rare for me to have the chance to see you all. Let me introduce you: this is Little Doggy, who I currently really like. Mm, Little Doggy, your introduction this time is much better than last time, isn't it?"

Indeed, compared to my first introduction, it was much kinder and gentler. The nobles standing together were the entire empire's foundation. If I chose to stay in the imperial capital, I had to remember every single one of them, and I had to convince all of them to support me. Nevertheless, as I chose to go to the North, I could do with or without them.

A young man, one younger than Achilles, dressed in formal robe came over. He chuckled in a quiet voice and questioned, "Your Majesty, how shall we treat the gentleman? What significance does he hold to you?"

Queen Sisi looked at me and slightly tilted her head. She earnestly pondered the question before answering, "Mm, the one I care most about, I guess. He's different to you all. Little Doggy is loyal and smart. In the last incident – which is also the one that has led to us gathering here – my loyal Little Doggy protected me. He fought in the pack of wolves, which greatly pleased me."

"So, can we consider him your favoured vassal?" The man softly chuckled and raised his cup to offer me a toast with a smile: "It seems I need to salute you, then. Her Majesty has been crowned for so long, yet has never been so intimate with an outsider. Since you are Her Majesty's favoured vassal, we hope you can be a nicer to us henceforward."

Queen Sisi looked at the people down below and spoke with a smile: "That's your business; but nonetheless, I didn't bring Little Doggy here this time for you to ingratiate yourselves with him. I have something to say to him."

Everyone understood what Queen Sisi meant. They set down their glasses, which was a sign of them expressing their respect to her then turned around and left, leaving me and her with private space. She softly giggled as she took out a long white glove from her chest region. She then picked up a cup of wine from the table and handed it to me with a smile: "So, Little Doggy, are you not going to offer your Queen a toast?"

Queen Sisi had her back to the last sunrays of the setting sun. The sun enveloped her face in darkness, so I couldn't see her bright heterochromia eyes and expression. I didn't know what would come after I took the glass with wine as red as blood. However, I knew what the consequences of not taking the cup were. I, therefore, took the cup and raised it. I took in a deep breath: "This is a toast to you, my Queen."

"So, is this glass for your loyalty?" Queen Sisi picked up another glass and smiled: "My Little Doggy, I, the ruler of all of humanity and the empire, hereby solemnly declare that I'd like you to come to my side and assist. I always encounter situations where I need someone smart enough to guide me and think in my steed."

I knew well and truly what Queen Sisi meant. If I clinked her glass, that meant I agreed to her request. I understood what she was implying She had everyone get to know me to turn the belief that I was her favoured vassal into a reality. Subsequently, nobody would believe I served Veirya. Veirya, including those in the North, would believe that I was Queen Sisi's favoured servant. By then, there'd be nothing I could say to change their belief. Veirya wouldn't speak up; she wouldn't tell the truth, while I'd be forced to side with Queen Sisi. When that happens, Queen Sisi would force me to join her, and I'd be helpless to change that reality. She wanted to turn me into her vassal via social pressure.

Queen Sisi was absolutely serious this time. Regardless, I still only had one answer for her. I didn't clink her cup; instead, I raised my head and knocked back the glass of red wine in mind. Sadly, I couldn't tell if it tasted good or not. All I felt was a burning liquid running down to my gut. The hot liquid almost made me throw it back up, which was the exact same feeling she gave me. She.was the red wine that I drank, hot and stimulating. Everybody liked it, everybody except me. When someone drinks something they shouldn't have, it feels bad.

"A toast to your health and rule, Your Majesty. However, please forgive me, but I decline. I am neither the brain that you need nor the virtue that you need. I am merely a small thief, who is hungry for money. That is all. Protecting a nation is beyond what I am capable of. Therefore, Your Majesty, I am very sorry."

The last ray of sunlight vanished. Queen Sisi's entire face was covered in darkness. In an instant, the red wine lost its colour, turning into black mud. A flame was thrown into the bonfire. The huge bonfire produced a light brighter than the sun. The people below erupted into loud shouts and cheers, while the music began to play again. Everyone entered a carnival state of mind.

Neither Queen Sisi nor I spoke. She silently looked at me. She flung her glass. She clasped my face with one hand and seriously looked at me. I didn't know what to say when I looked at her heterochromia eyes. She leaned in to the tip of my nose and asked, "Why… can't… I… have you?"

As Queen Sisi was too close, she appeared slightly blurry to me. I softly responded, "Because Veirya came first."

Queen Sisi quietly asked, "Even after seeing this?"

A few things dropped down from above the test tube rack. I glanced over with my peripheral vision. If I wasn't mistaken, they were people who were tied up. There were large and small, fat and thin people who were restrained. They were dropped into the bonfire. They were the firewood for the night’s bonfire.

That was a clear demonstration of Queen Sisi 's power. She defeated the adventurers and chapel with ease. There was not a single power that could threaten her. She became the strongest ruler of the nation. She could have anything she wanted. The music and flying ashes masked the painful cries, but I could hear them loud and clear.

Queen Sisi gently pressed her hand onto my chest. In a tender voice, she said, "I can throw you, Veirya and everyone you care about down there, but I want you. I now want to do something. I don't need someone who will stop me, but someone who can make the impossible possible. I don't need vassals expostulating me, but an outstanding individual who can realise everything that I want. What do you think, Little Doggy? I can give you everything that you want even my body. What do you think? Am I not gentler compared to Veirya, who knows nothing?"

Queen Sisi gently picked up my hand and placed it on her voluptuous breast. She leaned in and kissed my cheek. With her whispering in my ear with gentle pants, I compared her to a venomous snake.

"Sorry, Your Majesty." I took in a deep breath and gently took my hand off. I took half a step back. She froze in place. I elaborated, "If I want something, I will try my best whether that is power, money or you. I promised Veirya I would stay by her side. I am not the chapel. I will stop you from throwing me, Veirya and Leah down. Your Majesty, we can work together, but I am fated to never be here."

"Yeah?"

Queen Sisi clasped my face. Before I could react, I suddenly felt a soft and warm sensation in my mouth… Nonetheless, the sensation instantly vanished.

"Ah, Little Doggy, Little Doggy… you truly are different to other people… I can… sense your ambition. Your ambition is wider than the sky and firmer than a mountain. I don't hate that, though. An ambitious man is a true man. I need a knight such as yourself, not a slave. As you said, I am the same. I will stop at nothing to bring you to my side, so after this kiss, you must remain alert at all times. Careful not to let me take you away…"

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