The princess remained breathing quietly, her closed eyelids twitched and her body trembled slightly. Inside her mind, she opened her eyes and saw a familiar place.

  A crystal palace. But instead of an endless expanse of crystals—the tactician found herself standing beside a raised throne. At the foot of the stairs, a silver armored knight facing forward.

  She recognized the knight’s silhouette even from behind as she uttered.

  “Avalon?”

  The female figure turned her head around and looked at Leona with a confident smile.

  “It’s good to see you again, my wielder.”

  Her crimson eyes left a faint glow that contrasted against her silver hair and armor. Despite being glad to see her again, Leona looked down at her right hand.

  “Why… are we here? I thought I was fighting Alexander and then…”

  “You almost died.”

  A familiar haughty voice expressed her annoyance. Looking on the opposite side of the steps, Leona saw a blonde haired woman of sharp aquamarine eyes wearing crimson armor—she sat on the bottom of the staircase. She looked back at her and snarled.

  “I told you to rely on me, didn’t I?”

  “Empress…”

  “Tch, but what is done is done. Now do something about that other one over there.” She motioned forward with her chin. “The one you brought for the party.”

  Avalon scratched the side of her helmet as she uttered quietly in resignation.

  “My Empress…”

  Leona followed her gesture and saw a young woman of short black hair and amber eyes. She wore a very familiar maid uniform that made her mutter quietly to herself.

  “Adele…?”

  Just as quickly as she mumbled, she shook her head and stepped forward. She felt something different as she walked. Her body was firmer, as if her balance had been restored. Looking down to her left she noticed her whole arm had grown back.

  “What the…” She looked back at the figure and asked. “Who are you?”

  “My name is Sophie, my fair Princess.” She bowed while gently lifting the edges of her skirt. A signature bow from the head of the maids she knew so well. “I’m a frostburnt silver slime.”

  Leona swallowed hard. There was something familiar about her.

  “Were you… the slime that tried to imitate my maid?”

  Without looking up, she answered.

  “Indeed. It was me.”

  “Why?”

  “I… wanted to talk to you. To know you better.” She glanced up. “When the maids of your mansion were thrown into that cave, I… consumed their bodies and memories, then I saw you. A beacon of hope and kindness in their lives. Someone that was deeply admired by those who followed your family.”

  Silence. Leona looked at the crystal floor as the Empress and Avalon flanked her on each side. After taking a slow and deep breath, the princess slowly walked towards the maid and each hand on her shoulder.

  “I’m sorry for attacking you before and… thank you, for keeping their memories alive.”

  Sophie’s eyes widened. Despite not having a heart, she could feel a very familiar tingling sensation inside her chest the maids also felt when they interacted with her.

  “I… I just wanted… to be helpful… to be at your side… I’m sorry…”

  The tactician felt a tug in her left arm. Her mind was washed over by a myriad of memories lived through Sophie’s eyes. Her happiness, her sadness, her resolve, her decisions.

  Leona closed her eyes before pulling Sophie into a tight hug.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  “Don’t be. You’re strong, Sophie. Thank you.”

  The slime’s cries echoed in the crystal chamber. Both Avalon and the Empress approached from behind her and nodded in unison.

  Upon blinking again, Leona found herself staring at a different ceiling.

  “Ngh…”

  She brought her right hand and rubbed her eyes. Sitting up felt surreal as her left hand instinctively reached to grab the bedside to pull her up.

  Her left hand felt natural, as if she had never lost it. The skin, the mass, and movement were all second nature to her.

  She looked down at her palms. Closing and opening them for a while. Mana hummed gently through her body. It was different than feeling for it as she usually did. Instead, magic felt like it was coursing through her like a conduit.

  She stood up and looked down at the ruined cape that was covering her body. She grabbed it and placed it around her shoulders despite being stained with blood. She grabbed the handles on the wooden door and pulled them back.

  She was met with a surprised Priscilla and two other musketmen.

  “My Queen?! How- how are you feeling?”

  “Better.” She answered shortly as he walked out. The trio of guards flanked her. “Where is Krieg?”

  “In the throne room, Your Majesty.”

  “Good. Tell the troops to assemble.”

  “At once!”

  The soldiers saluted before running off with her orders. Priscilla kept following her quickened pace. There, Leona and the fencer saw Krieg dealing with a group of nobles. They had armed knights circled by a group of musketmen.

  “What is the meaning of this?!” A brown haired man wearing fancy clothes seamed with golden details was shouting loudly at her knight. “Do you realize what it means to arm these… people with guns?!”

  “Lord Lorraine, as I told you before, even if you have any questions, you would do well to wait for Queen Leona’s words.”

  “Nonsense! What will the workshops work on? Rats?!”

  Leona walked beside Krieg and asked.

  “What seems to be the problem here?”

  “Ah! Princess Leona you…” The nobleman’s voice trailed off as he saw the tactician wearing a military uniform and a blood soaked cape around her shoulders. He tilted his face back and raised an eyebrow in a condescending way. “...do something about these grunts, would you? These… demi-humans… are not fit to be at your side.”

  The soldiers furrowed their brows in anger.

  “My royal guards are none of your concern, lord Lorraine, and as far as I’m aware, they didn’t hurt any Arcadian.”

  “Yet.”

  “No, they won’t do it unless they are attacked first.”

  “Preprostorous! Demi-humans can’t follow even basic orders, much less being ‘disciplined’ as you say.”

  She looked at her soldiers holding their bayonets at the ready and snapped her fingers once.

  Every single musketeer retracted their weapons and marched into a line parallel to her.

  “These are the men and women that will protect the kingdom while I finish what I started. By royal decree, any person that harms another during this time of crisis will be considered an enemy of the kingdom.”

  “?! You can’t simply snap your fingers and-”

  “Men!” Krieg shouted, “remove lord Lorraine from royal grounds.”

  “Yes, Sir!”

  In unison, they readied their weapon like pikes with their fingers loosely above the trigger. The knights protecting the noblemen glanced at each other nervously as they knew getting shot by a musket was a sure way to die even in armor.

  “Tsk! I will remember this! Leona!”

  “I’m sure you will.” With the musketmen taking the unwanted guests out of palace grounds, Leona focused her attention back to Krieg. “We find Alexander and finish this.”

  Her knight briefly shook his head.

  “That thing is no longer Alexander. Akantor took control of his body.”

  She widened her eyes.

  “The dragon god?!” She clenched her jaw, visibly baring her front teeth. “This isn’t good…”

  “I spoke to Arondight earlier and she mentioned she could still feel his presence in the Great Forest.”

  “Presence?”

  She closed her eyes briefly and focused inside her own body. A tug formed and she could hear Avalon’s voice clearly.

  ‘Did you hear it?’ She asked her weapon.

  ‘Yes, I can also feel his presence, it’s not far, but it’s certainly outside the city.

  Leona exhaled slowly. Both Krieg and Priscilla were looking at her with expectation.

  “Let’s not waste any time.” She turned to the fencer. “Priscilla. I will leave you in charge of protecting the castle.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  “Let’s go, Krieg.”

  “Understood.”

  Both the Queen and her knight left the throne room. Once outside the castle halls, she was met by Gunther and Emi leading their own squads of musketeers.

  “I need both of you to make rounds in the city.” Leona explained without wasting any time. “Make sure to quell whatever rebellion, should it arise. Avoid killing innocents, but make sure the capital stays safe.”

  Both the dwarf and oni looked at her in awe, but the first thing both of them did wasn’t to ask for orders but instead-

  “Are you alright, Your Majesty?”

  “Ah? Oh, yes. I’m quite alright.” They looked at her now present left arm but none of them dared to ask how she had grown it back. “In any case. You are all part of the royal guard. But my guards aren’t just for protecting me. You are here to protect every Arcadian in need. Make sure to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Understood?”

  All soldiers saluted.

  “Yes, Your Majesty!”

  “Come Krieg. Let’s finish this.”