The heavy air of the Albion Castle throne room carried the unmistakable weight of absolute authority, though its current occupant was fighting a losing battle against a yawn.
On the primary throne sat King Owen. To the casual observer, he looked like a young man of university age, his short, grey hair slightly tousled. A high-quality patch of black silk covered his left eye, leaving his right eye to scan the grand hall with an expression that shifted between deep wisdom and restless wonder. He looked worn out, a exhaustion the court attributed to the heavy burdens of statecraft. In truth, he had simply overslept.
Dressed in tailored black royal attire, Owen tapped his fingers against the armrest, his gaze dropping to the figure kneeling before him. He maintained a stern mask to avoid any outward display of favoritism, hiding the deep affection he held for this particular child.
To his left sat Queen Leandra Breeze. The stunning Elf woman loomed at an impressive six-foot-five, her long, golden hair flowing like spun silk against a vibrant red gown. The dress featured a tasteful yet revealing neckline, trimmed with sharp black edges and accented by heavy gold jewelry that highlighted her ethereal beauty. She sat perfectly upright, one long leg elegantly crossed over the other, her proud posture emphasizing a bust notably ample for an Elven woman.
Flanking the royal couple stood the Valkyrie sisters, Gondul and Skogul. Clad in polished silver armor, the two female guards possessed braided blonde hair and striking grey eyes. The distinct, white-feathered wings folded against their backs immediately signaled their non-human origins. As the King’s first and second personal summons, these eighth-circle entities paired the raw physical might of a Full Knight with the devastating spellcasting of a Death Healer. With such monsters on guard, no other security was necessary. Like all of Owen’s summons, they hailed from the Plane of Death, matching the King's own magical affinity.
On the luxurious red carpet below, First Princess Lana Balder remained on one knee.
"Father, your daughter has returned," Lana said.
Tap. Tap.
Owen’s fingers struck the wood gently. When he spoke, his voice carried the deep, resonant authority of a monarch who had weathered a hundred storms. "Vali sent you to bring the child, Loki Sky, back to the Royal Academy. How did your efforts fare? Also, you may rise."
Lana stood, her blue eyes reflecting a sudden wave of conflicting emotions. Raised under a strict moral code, she lacked the capacity to lie convincingly.
"He refuses to return, Father. And frankly, he has no need to. He is entirely self-taught, yet my investigation proved he is an absolute genius. He masters alchemy, deciphered Eastern spellbooks, possesses sharp intellect, and is significantly stronger than I am."
She paused, taking a breath before continuing. "But the real reason he won't return is due to a feud with my brother. It seems Vali offended him during Sir Loki and Duchess Sky’s wedding banquet by sending the Vice Principal to crash the celebration."
Queen Leandra, who held the concurrent title of Royal Academy President, closed her eyes and shook her head in disapproval.
Owen’s remaining blue eye locked onto his daughter. "And what of your interactions with Sir Thorin Sky?"
Neither the King nor the Queen missed the way Lana's eyes shifted, or the sudden drop in her enthusiasm.
"Oh. Thorin," Lana murmured, her tone flattening. "He is kind. We get along well enough—as friends. My brother is quite fond of him. We actually accompanied him to speak with Loki. While they barred my brother from entering the estate, they permitted me inside out of respect for Sir Thorin, who resides there."
A knowing smile graced the Queen’s lips. "Lana, you seem remarkably less interested in Sir Thorin now. Over the summer, you were eager to write to him, and you couldn't wait to meet him in person. Did something occur? Did he behave inappropriately?"
Lana shook her head quickly, anxious to protect Thorin from royal displeasure. "Not at all. He was a perfect gentleman and did nothing to offend me. It is just... when we met in person, my heart simply wasn't moved."
A subtle, telltale pout formed on the Princess's lips. Reading her like an open book, Owen leaned forward. "Then, my daughter, should I proceed with the formal engagement to Sir Thorin as you previously requested, or shall we wait? He remains an excellent match—a dual-element Full Knight, after all."
Lana’s fingers fidgeted nervously. "Father, I believe it is far too early to speak of marriage. We have only just met, and I simply do not harbor those kinds of feelings for him right now."
The King, the Queen, and the two Valkyries shared a silent, amused glance at the girl's transparent behavior. Owen cleared his throat, pulling his stern mask back into place to conceal his doting nature.
"Leandra," the King addressed his wife. "This matter regarding Sir Loki Sky is actively damaging our public standing, and public opinion is cratering. As Queen and Academy President, it is time for you to intervene. I authorize you to take whatever measures you deem necessary to bring the boy back to the institution."
He shifted his weight, stoking his thoughts. "This also provides an ideal opportunity for you to evaluate both brothers simultaneously. As for Vice Principal Lisa, perhaps she should focus entirely on her teaching duties rather than managing the Academy in your absence."
Owen took a breath, delivering his final verdict. "Duchess Sky is clever; she has forced a diplomatic dilemma regarding the official ranks of Mage and Knight. Therefore, I shall issue a royal decree elevating Sir Loki Sky to the rank of Count of the Northern Duchy. Since he is the Duchess’s husband, he already fulfills the role in practice. Regarding Princess Lana's betrothal, the matter is officially shelved until she has ample time to thoroughly know her prospects. That is all."
Lana beamed, her anxiety vanishing. For once, her father was being entirely reasonable.
Owen closed his single eye, leaning back with the stoic poise of a grand strategist. The Queen took the cue to conclude the audience.
"It is too late to pay a visit to Sir Sky and Sir Thorin tonight," Leandra noted smoothly. "I shall handle the immediate Academy administrative issues in the morning. Once the school day concludes, I will personally visit Mage-Knight Loki Sky to resolve this dispute. Lana, would you care to accompany me, since you are already acquainted with both young geniuses?"
Lana’s face brightened instantly. "I will go, Mother. I can help smooth over the tension and ensure Loki returns to his studies."
Lana missed the sharp twitch in her father’s jaw at her phrasing, but the Queen caught it instantly, her smile turning mischievous. "Oh, my. That is the second time you have omitted his title and simply referred to him as 'Loki.' Is there a development we should be aware of?"
Realizing her slip of the tongue, Lana bit her lip. Her mind raced before her eyes lit up with an excuse. "No, Mother. It is simply that within the Academy walls, he is technically still classified as a commoner. As a fellow student, I shouldn't contradict the Vice Principal's official stance by using his formal titles, correct?"
Owen’s grip tightened on his armrest, nearly cracking the wood.
Leandra nodded gracefully to cover her daughter’s blatant evasion. "Go now, my child. Rest well and focus on your studies. Your advancement exam is this weekend. Tomorrow afternoon, you shall ride with me instead of the Third Prince."
Lana bowed deeply, turning on her heel with a noticeable spring in her step. The massive double doors of the throne room swung shut behind her, closing with a heavy, echoing thud.
The dignified silence of the court shattered instantly.
"Lean! My little girl is going to be stolen from me!"
With a sudden, violent shift in demeanor, the stoic monarch transformed into a whining man-child. Owen bolted from his throne, dove forward, and buried his face entirely into his wife's massive, soft cleavage, shaking his head frantically against her chest.
Queen Leandra didn't bat an eye. Accustomed to this exact routine over centuries of marriage, she merely smiled and began gently stroking the back of his grey hair as if comforting a toddler.
"Oh dear, Owen-chan," she cooed playfully. "You are far more agitated than usual. What is truly troubling you, darling?"
The childish energy evaporated from Owen instantly. He looked up from his absolute favorite sanctuary in the world of Myst, his expression turning deadly serious. "Wife, when I first heard of the boy named Thorin wielding a combined Thunder element, I sent him that Maul as a joke. But now a brother named Loki has suddenly materialized beside him."
He sat up, his brow furrowing. "In Myst, coincidences usually point to something deeper, especially regarding my past life. Based on Lana’s report, this Loki is hiding an immense amount of power. Frankly, he is executing standard Transmigration Protagonist tropes down to a T."
Leandra reached out, playfully pinching and pulling at his cheeks to break his scowl. "Do you suspect either Thorin or Loki possess memories of Earth? A pair of fellow countrymen?"
"I am uncertain about Thorin," Owen muttered, allowing his face to be warped by her fingers. "But I am entirely confident about Loki. He is a Summoner, just like me. Furthermore, he explicitly summoned a Dark Elf kunoichi. Only an otaku pervert of true culture from our world would prioritize an Elven summon. It's a dead giveaway."
Leandra’s playful expression softened. "Should we restrict Lana’s movements? In case this Loki proves dangerous?"
Owen fell silent, pondering the gravity of the situation. "It has been centuries since I awakened my past-life memories, and the finer details of Earth are growing hazy. However, I want to avoid provoking him. If he is a decent man, it would be a tragedy to spark a misunderstanding and lose the chance to connect with another soul from Earth."
He leaned back into her chest. "Besides, if he follows the standard tropes of my old world, he will naturally treat a kingdom's princess with respect. Our little Leaf is an excellent judge of character. If he were truly evil, she would have sensed it, wouldn't she?"
Leandra leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. "Very well. I shall allow Lana to act as our gauge while I pretend to be entirely oblivious during tomorrow's meeting. Besides, with Fenrir watching over her, no one can truly harm our daughter."
From the deepest recesses of the throne room's shadows, a low, resonant voice echoed through the stone.
[Have no fear. The two boys have behaved impeccably around the leaf cub. I shall ensure her absolute safety.]
Owen smiled toward the dark corner, nodding at the ancient, terrifying entity. "My thanks, Fen-chan. Allow her to act freely. Only intervene if her life is actively threatened. Now... back to my morning royal duties!"
With a wicked grin, the King went right back to burying his face in his wife's chest. Leandra giggled, continuing to stroke his hair.
From the side of the dais, Gondul crossed her arms, exhaling a sharp sigh. "My Queen, please cease spoiling Master. He desperately needs to project a more kingly demeanor."
The busty Elf woman glared playfully at her husband's death summon. "Gondul, who was it that kept him awake until dawn, utterly exhausting his stamina?"
Gondul immediately pointed a silver-gauntleted finger at her sister. "That was Skogul! She sneaked into his quarters right after my shift ended! I am being falsely accused!"
Owen paused his antics, looking up with a thoroughly unkingly, perverted smirk. "Yeah, that one was on me. I was stressed about the Academy situation, haha—ouch!"
Leandra pinched his cheek with significant force, letting out a long, long-suffering sigh.
Meanwhile, far from the capital...
As I finally filled the lustfully perfect snake-woman beneath me, an abrupt shiver raced straight down my spine.
"Ah! I just felt a sudden chill up my spine," I muttered, breaking the rhythm. "Shehuang, did you just cast some new spell on me?"
"Master!" Shehuang hissed softly, her eyes locking onto mine with intense focus. "Stop talking and focus on the task at hand... I refuse to let you take Yin Meng until I am thoroughly satisfied!"
Deciding to ignore the sudden disturbance in the Force, I pushed the odd sensation aside. I shifted my weight and doubled down on the <Serpentine Training> skill Shehuang had personally beaten into me.
As it turned out, the King wasn't the only man staying up all night.
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