Chapitre 2: I'm not marrying a king, I'm making a harem!
A king consort.
She'd just gotten dropped into a strange body and she was already expected to marry someone?
The man stared at her patiently. "...Your majesty, don't give me that look. The empress must marry a king consort to retain her throne."
Empress? Marry a king to retain the throne?
There was something about it that just rubbed her the wrong way. She stared at the man, whose gaze back at her was stern, unbending, and perhaps a little challenging. His graying hair and dark brown eyes added to the 'matter settled' feeling his presence exuded. She didn't like it.
In fact, the more she looked at him, the more her right hand ached with the desire to slap the look right off his face.
Startled and cornered animal though she was, however, randomly striking servants didn't seem like a wise choice.
Even if she really wanted to.
Instead, she settled on, "Can't I rule alone, though?"
It sounded whiny even to her ears. She hoped her expression didn't make her look as sullen as she sounded.
"....This isn't a game, Your majesty. Empress Isabelle."
What's with that emphasis? Why's he saying that like it means something?
The man continued, "Nevremia is on the brink of ruin. Your people need a strong leader. And a king consort will strengthen you as our empress. We need political allies after the mess your moth-"
He cut himself off, a bit too late.
Not that she cared. She couldn't be offended for a woman she had no concept of. She could, however, be annoyed at him for being insistent. She shook her head.
"I know I know. I need a king consort."
The man nodded.
"But. Why are we doing it this way?" She asked, her tone genuinely curious. "I mean, wouldn't it be better for us to establish trust in my rule, prove I'm a worthy and competent empress who deserves the people's faith and respect, and won't make the same mistakes my mother," apparently "did, before we think about trying to add foreign diplomacy into the mix?"
The man blinked owlishly at her.
It almost made her wonder if she'd just spoken another language.
After a pause, he shifted, clearing his throat awkwardly. "You. What? I, uh, beg your pardon?"
She squinted.
Did she break this man?
"...Are you all right?"
He shook his head quickly. "Never mind. Empress Isabelle, it is part of our laws. The empress must have a king consort!"
She huffed and crossed her arms. "If that's the case, as empress I can just invalidate that law."
".....Pardon?"
"It's simple. I become empress, right? I sit on the throne, the empire's mine. So it's all in my jurisdiction. I just get up and change the law. Dictator, baby."
The man paled and waved his hands. "E-Emperor Isabelle, please wait a second..."
"In fact~!" She pointed at him, feeling a stroke of inspiration. "Not only can an empress rule alone, she can have a whole harem of male concubines!"
There.
He could chew on that.
A little.
It would let him think about the idiocy of these archaic traditions they wanted to impose upon her instead of trying to force her into some kind of marriage arrangement before she'd even had the time to come to terms with where she was. Not that he'd know that last bit.
Except.
He didn't look like he was thinking at all.
Actually, she would venture to say he'd gone catatonic.
"...Hey, you there, servant guy?" She asked, leaning forward and squinting at him hard.
Suddenly a...pop up...appeared in front of him.
[~~STATS~~
Archibald Hiernianos - Steward of the Empire
Class: Imperial Servant
Sex: Male
Age: 59 years
Height: 5'10 ft
Weight: 174 lb
Hair Color: Dark Brown
Eye Color: Hazel Green
Skill: Shrewd Dealer
Mood: Shock
Affection points: 0
Kinks: Sadism]
She just about fell off the bed in surprise. The pop up was like a jump scare without the noise.
Then she started wondering what these numbers and words actually meant. Were they important? Invisible? Did she hallucinate them? If she did, she probably needed to go see a doctor.
While she stared, she noticed a blinking red circle hovering in the upper right corner. Curious, she reached out and tapped it.
[CHALLENGE
RANK: 4
OBJECTIVE: Seduce Archibald Hiernianos!
REWARD: 10 SPECIAL SKILL POINTS
ACCEPT?]
Oh. OHO. NO. She thought, a shiver going down her spine. She could think of nothing less appealing in that moment. She immediately scrambled and hit 'DECLINE'.
It still popped up a...tu...tutorial?
[Congratulations, Isabelle! You found your first challenge! Challenges will be given throughout the course of your new life as both an Empress and a woman in this world. There are many missions ahead, but start small! Complete 10 challenges and unlock a reward!
Challenges may include, but are not limited to, completing objectives, learning skills, unlocking secrets, etc. Be on the lookout!
See? All on your own, you came to the conclusion to make a harem of men for yourself. But be careful. This world comes with its fair share of complications and troubles! Best of luck. ♪(˘⌣˘ )]
The notification faded out just like it appeared, leaving her reeling in confusion and disbelief.
Did the hallucination just use a cute emoticon?
As she stared dumbfounded at the place the little text box once hovered, Archibald suddenly spoke.
She didn't know what he said, though, because it startled her so badly she screamed over it.
When she collected herself, he was staring at her with wide eyes.
"...Are you sure you're alright, Your majesty?"
"...I'm fine?"
They stared at each other in awkward silence.
Then he coughed into his fist. "...As I said. I'll...see to it that the new laws are codified as your majesty desires."
He nodded, and then left the room.
...New laws?
"Wait..." She said, to no one, because Archibald was already gone, "A-am I actually getting a harem?!"
....Nothing dramatic happened.
No shadowy servant appeared and answered her.
She just...shouted to herself in her bedroom.
Well. It was a very big bedroom, so likely no one heard her anyway.
She frowned after a moment and cautiously made her way to the mirror again, this time squinting at herself like she had Archibald.
And as if answering her unspoken question, the same pop up window appeared in front of her reflection in the mirror.
[~~STATS~~
Isabelle von Nevremia – Empress of Nevremia
Class: Empress
Sex: Female
Age: 26 Years
Height: 5'7"ft
Weight: 144lb
Hair color: Gold
Eye color: Red
Skill: Unknown!
Mood: Tense
Skill Points: 0
Reward Points: 0]
The skill screen also had a red box on it, like Archibald. Hesitantly, she reached out and tapped it. Could there be...self challenges?
A small screen popped up.
[YOU HAVE NO SKILL POINTS TO SPEND ૮(˶╥︿╥)ა]
...Was it gonna keep using emoticons?
That was almost endearing.
....Almost.
It was creepy if she actually stopped to consider how insane it was for something in her vision to be sending her words with a cartoonish emoticon.
But she choose to go with 'cute' for now, because she couldn't afford to be any more distressed than she already was.
She closed her eyes, and fortunately when she reopened them the stat screen was gone. With a little nod, she puffed out her cheeks. No better way to get answer than to go out and find them, right?
Chapitre 3: I'm not awkward, I'm the Empress!
She smoothed out her dress and made her way to the door. As soon as she left her room, she crossed paths with two young man in armor. One of them had black hair and purple eyes and froze in place when he saw her.
Just...staring at her.
She returned his gaze, confused by his stare. Was something wrong?
She blinked at him a few times and looked down at her clothes. Was there something wrong with them? They looked fine to her?
No tears.
No stains.
No transparency.
And she'd just gotten done gawking at herself in the mirror, so she knew there wasn't anything wrong with her face.
"...Why are you staring at me like that?"
Whoa. Still not used to that voice.
He startled and looked frightened. Frightened...? Why?? It made her feel oddly guilty, like she'd just scolded a puppy.
His face turned red and he stammered, bowing. "M-My apologies, Empress Isabelle!"
Before she could respond, he grabbed his friend's arm and hightailed it down the hall away from her.
"Hey...! Hey don't apologize! Explain yourself!!" She shouted at their retreating forms. "Get back here and talk to me!"
...She might as well be shouting at an empty hall, because they fled like the devil was after them.
Confused and bewildered, she wandered through the palace grounds. She only made it a few minutes before the sound of horses snorting and their hooves clip clopping upon the ground caught her attention.
Curious, she followed the sounds to a nearby courtyard.
Upon a cobblestone path a handful of men dressed in heavy metal armor and trained with their weapons. Their movements were fluid and quick, yet clearly controlled and focused.
The swords clanged loudly, their hilts wrapped tightly by black leather, their silvery blades gleaming in the sunlight as a matching pair to the men's armor.
"Oi! Show some spirit there, Vesper!"
A voice echoed through the air. A man with green hair and lavender eyes stood off to the side, calling to one of the trainees.
A man with flowing raven hair, tucked messily into his helmet. The young man swung his sword sharply at another's who, at the last moment, pivoted just enough that the first youth's blade slid right past its target, harmlessly, nearly sending the youth toppling to the ground. He grunted, scrambling to keep his balance while the instructor narrowed his eyes dangerously.
"Don't just swing it like a stick, boy. It's a part of you, and if it fails, so do you." The man's deep voice rang through the courtyard. It resonated with power that sent chills down the spin and instinctively had one snapping to attention.
The youth - Vesper? - winced. "Yes sir!"
With a wave of his hand, the instructor dismissed the youth, indicating another man to step forward for his turn. This young man's golden blonde hair swayed in the breeze as he trotted forward, no helmet on his head. His emerald green eyes shimmered in the sunlight.
He was...very pretty.
For a knight.
She heard a few whispers from other observers like her. "Here he comes....shining star..."
"Everyone already knows he's the best...what's the point...?"
She hummed curiously, and watched the man strike a pose with his sword. When the signal was given, he immediately struck. She gasped at the speed of it. Before the opponent could react, he had him flat on his back on the stone ground. In awe, she approached, stepping closer to the edge of the area.
As soon as she was witnessed, everyone in the courtyard snapped to attention. Even the young man the beautiful blond had just floored rose to his feet in an instant and then knelt - quickly grabbing the blonde man's arm and yanking him down with him.
The blonde yelped, surprised, then also bowed down to the floor.
"Majesty, you've arrived." The green-haired man nodded, saluting her with a hand to his chest.
"U-Uhh...well...sorry I just...walked in." She said lamely. She wasn't quite used to people bowing before her yet, even if she's the empress or whatever.
The green-haired man gestured. "Your majesty can go anywhere she pleases. We just didn't expect her to observe the training today. It is an honor."
...She really wanted to emphasize that she'd randomly wandered in but at that point it felt cruel?
"Ah...yes...um. What...was your name?"
She immediately regretted that question. The man looked heartbroken. It made her wince internally.
"Ezekiel, Your majesty." He said sadly, straightening up. He looked her in the eye for a moment, and then looked back down quickly.
"Ah...ye-yes. Of course. I haven't had my coffee yet."
Another awkward statement, but the man brightened up just slightly.
Good. He believes me.
"Does Her Majesty wish for us to summon the head butler so she may have her coffee?"
"Um."
She didn't want to inconvenience the poor maid, but any progress with her lie she made would be lost if she turned it down. Lesser of two evils.
"Will it not interfere with your training? I don't want to disturb you more than I already have-"
"Nonsense." The man cut her off smoothly. She appreciated him taking control of the situation.
She wasn't a passive person, but right now her forwardness just kept stun-locking people. She wasn't used to it being such a problem. She'd never had a problem being aggressive with people.
"Her Majesty's health is of the utmost importance."
He went over to a bench where a row of trainees sat, either having already had their turn or possibly sitting around and waiting for theirs. He pointed at one, seemingly at random, who straightened up immediately.
"Go and fetch Her Majesty a nice cup of hot, fresh, darkest roast coffee, soldier. Make it black! Right this instant."
"Actually I like a little coffee with my cream..." She mumbled.
"Well, of course, Your majesty. How could we forget. Please excuse the miscommunication. Have it be done right. She likes her coffee with plenty of cream, and sugar. Lots of sugar. That should be simple enough for a new recruit such as yourself, no? We've all had our practice making coffee in the academy before graduation, and it was always easy enough for us, right?"
Ezekiel smiled calmly as he spoke, but she could hear a few mutters from the others around him.
Guess no one wants to bring a bad cup of coffee in front of the Empress?
She...really dug herself deep not knowing his name. Which was a problem, because how else was she going to learn these peoples' names? She couldn't call everyone You and You Over There.
Belatedly, a realization hit her so hard she jolted.
The stat screen had names on it.
...Oh.
oh.
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
200+ Classement
Power Stone 
6 Power
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