章 2253: Anxiety

Though his afternoon was best by another round of audiences, Vahn's day ended on a high note when he returned to his room to find Artoria, Gray, and Gareth lounging on his bed in silk pajama tops, lace panties, and stockings.

"Is it my birthday or am I just the luckiest man in the world~?"

Noticing Vahn's presence, Gareth practically pounced from the bed before running over, wrapping her arms around him, and exclaiming, "Welcome back, Master~!" while her dog-like tail wagged furiously behind her. As for Artoria and Gray, they just adopted smiles as they waited patiently for Vahn to carry the puppy-like woman back to the bed.

Waiting until Vahn had climbed in alongside them, Artoria explained, "Fenrir came by to tell me you were in low spirits earlier this morning. Since she had already been given the opportunity to spend time with you, she asked if I could come by and help cheer you up. Gareth, Gray, I had been taking tea with Lady Boudica so it was decided they would accompany me."

Though he didn't actually need an explanation, Vahn ended up thanking Artoria with a kiss. Then, for the better part of an entire day, he pampered and was indulged by the three loveable dames until his mood had fully recovered...

Gareth had apparently been learning how to dance from Nero...

...

"How are you intending to respond? Unless I am misremembering things, I believe you wanted Eva to become the Empress of the Far North. Are you going to allow this Sandora to continue operating her Community as a police force...?"

Though a very small part of him wished they had found fault with the circumstances, Vahn wasn't even remotely surprised when neither Artoria, Gray, nor Gareth presented so much as a single hint of confusion or frustration. In their eyes, he could basically do no wrong, as, even if he did make a mistake, they knew he would do everything in his power to either fix it or make amends.

It didn't help that there was no legal age during the period in which Artoria and Gareth had lived. In fact, prior to becoming a Page at the tender age of 7, Gareth had already been betrothed to one of her cousins. If her elder brothers hadn't convinced their mother to let her impersonate a young boy, she would have been married off and never allowed to be a Knight.

When she learned about the letter penned by Sandora, Gareth was actually excited by the prospect of adding a new member to their family. She still had a very naive and pure view of the world, so, as long as she could train hard, play hard, and fill her belly whenever she wanted, she was happy.

Scratching the underside of the puppy-like woman's chin, Vahn carefully considered Artoria's words before answering, "I think I will accept. When Shiroyasha and I first considered the idea of taking on each of the Floor Master positions, I had already considered that something like this might occur..."

Nodding her head in both affirmation and approval, Artoria noted, "It's probably for the best. When it comes to young girls with tragic pasts, there is little you can do to resist helping them. Given how you described her, I imagine that Princess Sandora would feel considerably stressed if you rejected her proposal but still choose to help her. Girls like that, burdened by the expectations of others, find it particularly difficult to accept the assistance of others without providing something of substantial value as recompense..."

Having already reached a similar conclusion, Vahn offered a nod of his own as he squished and massaged Gareth's cheeks like mochi. It always amazed him how soft girls could be, so, with his mood slowly diminishing, Vahn decided to cheer himself up by tickling the unsuspecting Gareth until she managed to escape his clutches and get revenge by play biting him all over his body...

...

Though there were a few days remaining until the start of the week-long festival, Vahn decided he would head over early in order to spend some time with Semiramis and their two twins, Ebony and Raven. After that, he would be staying at the Royal Palace as Sandora had invited him to visit early so she could show him around and personally acquaint him with the Royal Capital, Kouen City.

Unlike the residential districts in the East, reminiscent of Feudal Japan, the buildings in the North closely resembled the types of buildings present in Europe between the seventeen and nineteen hundreds. This included a number of clock towers, neatly arranged cottages, and, every now and then, a gothic-style church.

Reinforcing the comparison, the Royal Palace of Salamandra more closely resembled the Palace of Westminister than the middle-eastern structure most people would expect after meeting members of the Royal Family.

For reasons even the senior members of Salamandra didn't fully understand, the direct descendants of Salamandra wore the type of garb typically associated with Arabic culture. For men, this typically meant muted grey tunics bound by a sash, curve-toed slippers, and long-sleeved robes made from extremely fine and breathable materials. To complete the image, they often carried around scimitars and a special type of curved knife called a Jambia.

Though it made them exponentially more popular with the citizenry, the female descendants of the Salamandra Royal Family were made to wear far more revealing outfits than the males. More often than not, this included a ceremonial top that only covered the breasts, various golden accessories, and flowing skirts. At a glance, there was no discernible difference between their ceremonial attire and the outfits worn by simple street performers and belly dancers.

Vahn had yet to meet Sandora but all the posters of her depicted a young girl walking around in an outfit more suitable for a Samba Parade than the future Queen of Salamandra. Her entire back and belly were exposed, and, though her skirt covered everything it needed to, it hung dangerously low on her hips. So much so that it gave the impression she either wasn't wearing anything underneath and, even if she was, it was very scant...

While a version of himself went to meet with Semiramis, another version of Vahn decided to give the Capital a sweep with his domain. He wasn't actively searching for something, but, by sweeping his domain across the entire city, he could create a map of the city while Sis sorted through and analyzed the data at his behest. This allowed them to keep tabs on suspicious individuals, discover secret locations, and, most importantly, create a 'snapshot' of the present moment for the sake of posterity.

Reality and fate were constantly shifting within the Divine Realm. Depending on the decisions of the people living within, even the identity of a person could be changed over something as simple as a coin flip.

During Vahn's exploration of the Royal Capital, he had noticed hundreds of missing person posters posted all throughout the city. This wasn't actually that uncommon, but, upon noticing that the vast majority of missing persons were children, Vahn began paying closer attention.

According to the people discussing and complaining about the disappearances in the various bars and taverns littering the city, children between the ages of 7 and 12 had been disappearing every single night for the past three months. The strangest thing about these disappearances was that there was absolutely no indication of any wrongdoing. In some cases, the missing children would be mere meters away from a group of adults or actively playing with other children before simply vanishing into thin air.

After his encounter with Hanako, Vahn was a little sensitive about the subject of children vanishing without a trace. It may not be a problem he was obligated to resolve, but, now that he knew about it, the people responsible would either need to flee or face his wrath. The moment he noticed even a hint that something was amiss, there wasn't a force outside the 1-3-Digit Gates that could prevent him from passing judgment. By that point, they couldn't even hope to flee...

...

Due to the increased security in and around the Royal Capital over the past three months, Vahn's appearance was immediately noticed and reported by countless people. Nearly every resident of Kouen City was affiliated with Salamandra in some form or another, so, with children going missing on the regular, they were pretty on top of reporting strange sightings and 'suspicious' individuals.

While some would undoubtedly refer to Vahn as a suspicious person, the reason so many people had taken notice of him was due to his sudden and meteoric rise to fame. There was hardly a single person who hadn't seen and heard of the Sage Dragon Emperor at this point, so, seeing a recently coronated Emperor walking around in casual clothes without an escort, they couldn't help thinking something was amiss.

Since a version of himself was already enjoying a cup of brackish-purple tea back at the Hanging Garden, Vahn didn't make a fuss when a group of men riding 3m tall Wyverns descended upon his position and nervously asked him to accompany them to the nearest guard station.

Vahn was originally planning to tour around the Capital for a few days before visiting the Royal Palace, but, now that he knew about the mass disappearances, he figured he may as well see what the Royal Family has to say on the matter. Thus, in response to the visibly nervous soldier's request, he answered, "Certainly." before transforming into a much, much larger dragon and adding, "Lead the way."

...

Even before Vahn had been approached by members of the Winged Dragon Brigade, a messenger had already rushed over to the Royal Palace in order to report his arrival to a young girl seated atop an ornate golden throne furnished with bright red cushions.

Upon reaching the throne room, the man dared not look directly at the petite yet limber redhead seated atop the throne. Her outfit may be exceptionally revealing, but, if you were caught staring at her for a prolonged period of time, members of the Royal Police Force would invariably bring you in for questioning.

"Princess Sandora, we have received numerous reports stating that the Sage Dragon Emperor has been seen wandering the streets of Kouen City. We have sent a brigade to confirm his identity but we need to know how you wish to proceed from there."

Hearing the man's report, the young girl seated atop the throne, Princess Sandora Doltrake, visibly tensed. In spite of this, her expression remained calm and dignified as she ordered, "Make sure he is afforded the same courtesy as a member of the Royal Family. Once his identity has been confirmed, notify him that I wish to meet at his earliest possible convenience. If he declines, do not attempt to impede him in any way. Anyone found attempting to sow dissension between Salamandra and the Aldrnari Empire will be investigated on grounds of treasonous intent..."

Though a veritable horde of butterflies was waging war within her stomach, Sandora managed to enunciate her orders without revealing so much as a single indication of the nervousness she was currently feeling. She hadn't been anticipating Vahn so soon after she had penned her letter. At the very least, she expected him to return one of his own rather than just appearing out of thin air. She needed time to mentally prepare herself...

Unfortunately, the moment Vahn learned that Sandora wished to meet with him, he agreed to allow the Winged Dragon Brigade to escort him to the Royal Palace. When Sandora heard about this, she immediately ordered the palace chefs to prepare a banquet before practically sprinting back to her room, locking the door behind her, and burying her bright red face into a pillow. Then, for the first time in many years, she screamed...

...

(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Fenrir is so thoughtful (O w O)...','Some say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Such people have never harmed children in the presence of Vahn...','Sandora was not prepared for today...')

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章 2254: Anticipation

After being escorted to the VIP suite he would presumably be staying in during his sojourner in the North, Vahn waited for around an hour before a firm knocking could be heard from the door.

Without rising from the rather comfortable lounge he had purchased from the System Shop, Vahn called out, "It's open." in a calm and relaxed tone.

Though there was a noticeable pause, the exceptionally thick door opened to reveal a tall man with bronzed skin, bright red hair, and rugged features that consisted of a squarish face, thick brows that flowed into a pair of dulled black horns, pointed ears, and black studs protruding from his chin. His outfit consisted of a dark grey tunic that flowed past his ankles, a red sash, open-toed sandals, and a set of dark robes emblazed with the fiery emblem of Salamandra on the back.

Seeing Vahn reclining against the lounge, the man's brows wrinkled almost imperceptibly before he quickly caught himself and bowed, stating, "It is an honor to be in the presence of the Sage Dragon Emperor. My name is Mandra Doltrake, Strategist of the Salamandra Community, First Prince of the Salamandra Royal Family, and Chief Inspector of the Military Police. I hope my men have not caused you any offense..."

Leaning forward, Vahn surprised Mandra by appearing right in front of him as he answered, "While it was a mild inconvenience to be stopped in the midst of my exploration of the Capital, your men were nothing but professional and courteous during our brief exchange."

Further throwing Mandra off, Vahn extended his right hand with the obvious intention of initiating a handshake. The man initially hesitated, but, after regaining his composure and nodding his head, he extended his own right hand and said, "I am relieved to hear that. The situation outside has become rather tense as of late. The impending festival has led to a drastic increase in the number of...guests visiting from abroad. If an incident does occur, please demonstrate the magnanimity you are known for. My men are under a lot of stress and even the Gods are not without their faults..."

Raising his brows, Vahn searched Mandra's dark blue eyes to ascertain if the man was attempting to threaten him. Instead, he noticed genuine concern in the man's gaze while traces of moisture had started to develop above his brows and the sides of his face. If not for the threads of grey and dark purple in his aura, Vahn wouldn't have suspected him of any wrongdoing.

Adopting what he intended to be a penetrating smile, Vahn retracted his hand from Mandra's and stated, "You had several small tumors in your lungs. To commemorate our first encounter, I took the liberty of removing them for you. I hope you don't mind."

Extending his left hand, Vahn held out a small glass container filled with granule-sized masses of grey, black, and dark red flesh. When Mandra laid eyes on the container, his expression became a white as a sheet as he placed his hand on his chest and took several, unobstructed breaths. Instead of appearing relieved, however, a hint of panic flashed across his face as she said, "Thank you..." in a low, clearly anxious tone of voice.

Patting the man's shoulder, the corners of Vahn's smile curled upward as he said, "Don't mention it. Even if you're targetting me for purely political purposes, we're practically family from this moment onward. Your troubles are my troubles. Just don't go making too many messes for me the cleanup, okay...?"

Swallowing the knot in his throat, Mandra attempted a response but found himself unable to find the words to speak. Vahn was far more competent than any of them could have anticipated, and, based on that smile from before, it was clear he had already seen through their schemes.

After finally recovering enough wherewithal to speak, Mandra had to fight hard against the urge to wipe the sweat from his brow as he muttered, "It would appear the rumors regarding your ability to intuit information were not exaggerated. Worry not. Though we anticipate numerous casualties, the agreement we made prohibits the killing of non-Players..."

Though he had absolutely no idea what Mandra was referring to, Vahn just nodded his head before retracting his hand from the man's shoulder and warning, "So long as your actions do not impress upon my bottom line, you have no need to fear the consequences of my wrath. Just pray that I do not discover you have a connection to the recent disappearances..."

Having already confirmed with Loi-chan that Mandra had nothing to do with the children going missing within his territory, Vahn eased up the pressure he had been exuding subconsciously. This resulted in Mandra nearly losing his footing, as, even when he suppressed it as much as possible, Vahn's Authority had a habit of leaking out when he felt anger or was trying to intimidate someone.

Feeling equal parts relief and fear wash over him, Mandra was about to thank Vahn for his clemency but the latter had already turned his back to him. This signified that Vahn was finished speaking, so, while there were actually quite a number of things that Mandra wished to discuss, he ultimately just bowed before backing out of the room and easing the door shut...

The power and supremacy exuded by a Pure Blooded Dragon were far more potent than Mandra could have prepared himself for...

...

With the help of several handmaidens, Sandora thoroughly cleansed her body and washed her hair before donning her most recently tailored outfit. She had yet to receive Vahn's response regarding her proposal, but, understanding the importance of first impression, Sandora was psyching herself up to make the best impression possible.

Had this been a few weeks prior, Sandora wouldn't have been looking forward to her meeting with Vahn. She had known ever since she was a mere eighteen months old that she would be forced to marry with the intent of preserving her bloodline. With the exception of her sister, she was the last person that could pass on the legacy of Salamandra, so, while there had been a period in her youth where she wanted to run away with a boy she liked, Sandora had long since accepted her fate.

Fortunately, Vahn was the best possible candidate Sandora could imagine. He was a Pure Blooded Dragon, but, instead of being arrogant and cruel, he showed genuine concern for the people in his Community. More importantly, he treated those who came seeking his help in a fair and impartial manner. So long as they hadn't done anything to touch his bottom line, he would even provide aid to Demons without asking for anything substantial in return.

Even if Vahn had only possessed these traits, Sandora would have accepted their arranged marriage without hesitation. The thing that pushed her over the edge, deeply imprinting itself onto her heart, was the moment when Vahn had transformed into what many were referring to as the Dragon God of Infinity. Since then, Sandora had viewed the recording of Vahn's showdown with Amaterasu more than three hundred times.

Though the content was a little disconcerting, Sandora knew that the only reason Vahn had ripped Amaterasu to pieces was the latter's apparent disregard for the lives of his children. Amaterasu had actually made a public statement clarifying the situation, so, like many maidens of Dragon descent, Sandora had been dreaming about Vahn with increasing frequency. When her brother broached the subject of entreating him for a political marriage, Sandora had actually spent three days and nights penning the letter.

While most girls wouldn't be particularly enthused by the notion of being pressured into a 'Stag Wedding', Sandora had gotten over such aversions years ago. If anything, she was relieved things had turned out this way as not only was Vahn from a different district, his Community, the Aldrnari Empire had much greater standing than the Salamandra Community. They may be the Community affiliated with the position of Floor Master, but, ever since the war against the Demon God and his endless hordes, they had stagnated to a 5-Digit Community.

Near the beginning of the war, the Salamandra Royal Family flourished with well over a hundred members. In its wake, a mere seven had survived. By the time of Sandora's birth, the lineage of the Salamander had diminished to four surviving members. One was nearing the end of his life, another was plagued by a congenital birth defect attributed to inbreeding, and another had fled after nearly being forced into an incestuous relationship after the death of their mother during childbirth. For all intents and purposes, this left Sandora as the so 'viable' member of the Salamander race.

Thanks to her brother and a parting gift from their sister, Sandora managed to escape the fate of becoming her mother's replacement. If Vahn agreed to bed her, she would also be able to silence many of the people pushing to have her marry her brother. Thus, while most girls in her situation would be nervous and afraid, Sandora's emotional state could best be characterized as giddy with a hint of excitement.

Staring at herself in the mirror, Sandora's demeanor changed the moment her handmaidens placed a golden, diadem-like crown atop her head. The crown was the processed remains of the Stellar Sea Dragon King, and, under normal circumstances, it safeguarded the wearer's mind against all forms of mental influence. Sandora didn't believe that someone of Vahn's level would peek into her mind or try and manipulate her, but, whenever she left her personal chambers, she was obligated to wear the crown at all times. It was the symbol of her status as the Leader of the Salamandra Community, and, though she had yet to be declared Queen, it simultaneously represented her Authority as Floor Master.

Feeling a lot more confident with the crown on, a smile graced Sandora's face as she stared into her own eyes and affirmed, "Don't worry, Sandora. You can do this. Vahn is a nice guy. What's the worst that could happen...?"

Imagining various scenes within her mind, a hint of a blush developed across Sandora's face as she promptly dismissed the twin sisters that had quickly risen to become two of her most trusted aides. In response, the two raven-haired beauties exchanged knowing looks before staring into Sandora's eyes through her reflection and chorusing, "Just be truthful and everything will go smoothly."

Without elaborating further, the two girls offered courteous bows before mirroring each other's movements as they departed the room. This was observed by Sandora, who, for the first time in a while, felt the urge to chuckle as she remarked, "How envious...if I could be half as confident and relaxed as those two, maybe there wouldn't be so many people opposing my ascent to the throne?"

Shaking her head, Sandora did her best to rid her mind of needless thoughts. She knew the sisters, Ebony and Raven, were just looking out for her. Ever since the duo had arrived, they had been two of the only people to treated her as something 'more' than just the Leader of Salamandra. Sandora appreciated them greatly, but, believing they had no idea what it was like to stand face to face with a man like Vahn, she disregarded their advice and continued to psyche herself up in preparation for her fated encounter with the Sage Dragon Emperor...

...

While Sandora was busy mustering her courage, Ebony and Raven migrated towards Vahn's room as if guided by some unseen force. When they reached it, they didn't even need to knock before an indescribably handsome man opened the door, an affectionate smile on his face as he asked, "How is she...?"

Understanding that the man, their father, was referring to Sandora, Ebony mused, "She is behaving even more adorably than usual." before Raven followed up by asking, "Are you really going to have sex with such a small girl? I fear you may break her..."

Laughing dryly in response to his daughter's rather brazen question, Vahn extended his hands to caress both girls' heads as he stated, "The two of you are becoming more mischievous with each passing day. I hope you haven't planted any strange ideas in her head..."

Exchanging glances with each other, smiles developed across the faces of Ebony and Raven as they cheekily chorused, "We didn't need to." in the same sultry tone often employed by their mother...

...

(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn the type of guy that shows up to pick up someone's daughter and the father is too afraid to come outside...','I would say that Royal Families and the notion of blood purity don't mix, but...','Semiramis would be proud...')

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