After the previous king’s execution at the guillotine, Arcadia was thrown into a major upheaval by nobles and demi-humans alike. The capital was at a constant state of instability. Fights would constantly break out between humans and the previously oppressed populace, while the former used their own levied militias to keep themselves safe, the latter were constantly harassed and coerced into brutal labor just to bring food to the table.

  Leona found herself once again in a meeting with each leader of the noble houses to discuss the matters of slavery and labor. She was accompanied by Priscilla and her knight now known as commander Leonard.

  She wore a black military uniform with an overcoat of the same color, golden aiguillettes crossing her breast, a long black skirt with golden details trimmed at the seams and high black leather boots and her hands were covered with white gloves.

  “My fair Queen, can you answer me what benefit is there to freeing these slaves?” One nobleman asked. “They are simply more workforce for our weakened kingdom, surely Your Majesty can see the reason in that.”

  “It is unstable.” She answered shortly. “You oppress and coerce them into working in your workshops because it is convenient, not efficient nor human.”

  “Those demi-humans are not considered human under royal decree.”

  “Of the last king.” Priscilla stepped forward with a serious gaze. “Do you even understand how crude his actions were?”

  “Enough, Priscilla.”

  “My apologies, Your Majesty.”

  Leona raised her hand as she glanced at the noblewoman.

  “Our kingdom will not survive being built on top of their backs. We need a stronger foundation and I am willing to give it to all of you. Follow what I have to say, and this kingdom will endure.”

  “Endure?” A very familiar noble stood out amongst the rest. A brown haired man that resembled her late friend. His father, Lord Lorraine. “It has been nary a month and the capital is almost at its knees. It wouldn’t be surprising if Akrapocalis came to invade us at this point.”

  “But they will not.” Leona spoke with her gaze hardening at his comments. “There is a reason why we have returned the metals we bought and strengthened our military.”

  “Our—no. Yours, Your Majesty.” He replied while tilting his chin up as if looking down at her. “These ‘musketmen’ are part of your royal guard, are they not? That means the duty to protect the kingdom falls on your shoulders, not ours.”

  Leona could feel the anger flare up from within her. Talking to those nobles was similar to trying to talk sense into a brick wall. She took a short but deep breath.

  “Very well. Since you are unable to see my reasoning then that means I must show it to you—first-hand, what I mean. Commander, bring Gunther in.”

  Krieg nodded and a few seconds later, the dwarf entered the room with schematics of new machinery. He used a stepstool to lay down the blueprints on the table as he addressed them.

  “These, ladies and gentlemen, will revolutionize how products are made.”

  The room fell silent as eyes traced lines they didn’t yet understand.

  There were many new concepts of tools and machinery that could make anyone’s head spin. Gunther went on how they could make production skyrocket at least tenfold if the right method was used to make those goods.

  The previous nobleman was skeptical as he asked.

  “But, you’re telling us that you can make this happen, within the next year?”

  “Yes.” Leona answered confidently. “But only if you follow the work reforms.”

  “Your reforms mean nothing if this isn’t true.” Lorraine was quick on the uptake as he tapped the blueprint papers. “How do we know you aren’t just forcing us to release free labor under false promises?”

  Gunther clenched his teeth in annoyance, but Leona answered calmly.

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  “Because it would be against my own interests to destabilize the kingdom.” Her gaze swept across the table. “And I know all of you understand exactly what that means.”

  She straightened.

  “We are weak. As a kingdom, we could not present ourselves as a more inviting target to our neighbors than we do now. Londria has weapons and discipline. Akrapocalis has efficiency and production. And we have nothing but exhausted people and outdated methods.”

  Silence followed.

  “As we stand, only my royal guard can prevent a foreign banner from marching through our gates and claiming what is ours.” Her voice hardened. “But with this plan—and with my reforms—I guarantee this kingdom will not merely survive.”

  She leaned forward.

  “We will dominate the continent economically, militarily, and politically.”

  After a while of further discussion about the plans going forward, the nobles finally left the meeting room, leaving only four exhausted people behind.

  “I’m sorry for overstepping my boundaries earlier, Your Majesty,” Priscilla said as she bowed deeply.

  “No need. I know you meant well.” Leona replied with a faint smile. “Just try to hold it in next time.”

  Priscilla bowed again.

  “It shall be done.”

  “Was it wise to show them the blueprints?” Krieg asked, concern evident in his voice.

  “Don’t worry,” Gunther said with a hint of amusement. “These are missing crucial components—without them, the machines wouldn’t function. Besides, I know nobles like that well. Too comfortable in their ivory towers to ever dirty their hands.”

  A quiet laugh passed between them. Leona dipped her head slightly toward him.

  “Thank you for staying with us, Gunther. I don’t know how I would’ve handled them otherwise.”

  “You’re quite welcome, Your Majesty. I, uh… have a request, if you’ll allow me to be so bold.”

  “Go ahead.”

  “I wish to bring my family here. We Loraexion owe much to your mother—and Akrapocalis isn’t what it used to be.”

  “I’m flattered, but why?”

  “The king.” Gunther’s tone darkened. “With the death angel menace being dealt with, he’s begun turning his eyes northward.”

  Leona stiffened.

  “Londria?!”

  “Aye. My wife wrote as much. He intends to seize control of the frostburnt silver mines along their border—by force.”

  Leona massaged the space between her brows.

  “This isn’t good. If a war were to break out now…”

  “Do you need anyone dead?”

  The familiar female voice came from behind them. In an instant, weapons were drawn.

  At Krieg’s and Priscilla’s bladepoint stood a black-haired high elf, deep blue eyes calm beneath long pointed ears. Both hands were raised—not in fear, but casually. She wore a musketman’s uniform a size too large, the sleeves bunched at her wrists.

  “Phoebe?!” Leona nearly shouted. “Wh–what are you doing here?!”

  Phoebe smiled.

  “Hey, I did vow to serve you, didn’t I?” Her gaze met Leona’s. “I’m here to repay my debts.”

  Krieg huffed softly with a smile as he sheathed his blade, Priscilla following his lead. Leona looked up and down at her, as if trying to make sure she wasn’t seeing things.

  “But I have to say.” Phoebe flicked her head back with mild disappointment. “Your new guards could use some more training.”

  Looking through the open door, all of them could see a half-naked guard unconscious in the corridor.

  “Oh.”

  After getting her clothes back and the unconscious musketman to the infirmary, Leona, Krieg and Phoebe had a small reunion at the castle’s back courtyard. The trees and grass patches were replanted and it was a space that Leona found herself comfortable for resting.

  “So, want to tell me how you got that new arm?” Phoebe asked casually. “You seem to have gotten way stronger than when you left Nara.”

  Leona chuckled as she removed her left glove.

  “It’s thanks to her.”

  “Her?”

  “Come out, Sophie.”

  To the high elf’s surprise, Leona’s left arm detached at the shoulder and glopped down on the floor, then, in a matter of seconds, it reconstructed itself to a maid. Black hair, amber eyes, fair complexion, she could almost be mistaken for a human.

  “Woah…”

  “This is Sophie.” Leona said. “The slime that saved me.”

  The maid bowed curtly.

  “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Lady Phoebe.”

  “Finally? Have we met before?”

  “In the cave near Leona’s mansion.” She spoke while locking eyes with her. “I was the humanoid slime your group fought.”

  “Oh… um… in that case, I’m sorry for what happened before.”

  She bowed gracefully.

  “No harm done.”

  There was a brief moment of silence as Phoebe looked at all of them. Finally a smile appeared on her face.

  “We’ve gone through quite a lot huh?”

  Leona and Krieg exchanged a look of quiet understanding. They laughed softly, then nodded together.

  “Yeah…” The queen’s gaze drifted upward as she drew a slow breath, eyes settling on the open blue sky. “It has been… a very long journey…”