Chapter Thirty-Three: Princess Lucilia meets Queen Ashastha
Once Ren and Lucilia ended their embrace, Lucilia took notice of Sthora and Xysira and immediately went on guard.
She, like Colette, accused them of being the ones who took Ren hostage, but Ren calmed her down and explained everything, which made Lucilia grateful to them instead, and she welcomed them for a cup of tea as they discussed everything.
Ren, with Sthora's help, explained the situation that had happened since they saved Ren, including his meeting with the Queen and discussing the possibility of an alliance between their people.
Lucilia agreed to talk to the Queen to discuss the terms of the alliance, and she joined Ren, Sthora, and Xysira to go to the village, bringing along two of her own guards, Colette and Zilyana, along with one of the maids she brought, Rumia.
Lucilia walked arm in arm with Ren as she asked him some questions quietly.
"Did they treat you well?" Lucilia asked.
"Very well, the queen is extremely kind." Ren answered.
"Oh...and tell me, what did she look like?" Lucilia asked, her arm tightening up with Ren's.
"Well, she was taller than me and beautiful." Ren said, not realizing that last word nearly sealed his fate.
"Beautiful huh..." Lucilia's eyes darkened, and in contrast, her crimson eyes glowed.
"I messed up..." Ren thought to himself. "I mean, objectively, yes, she is beautiful, but you know you have my heart."
"Good, now I need to see what this 'beautiful' lady looks like." Lucilia said.
"Yup, she's pissed..." Ren said, looking at Lucilia as she clenched her fists.
The group finally arrived in the village and were escorted by more guards along with Ceti and Aleyda, who were in some form of wheelchair, confirming to everyone that the two were safe.
Lucilia and Ren were escorted separately to Queen Ashastha's house and greeted by her personally.
"Welcome to my home; my name is Queen Ashastha." She greeted Lucilia.
"It is my pleasure to be welcomed by you. My name is Princess Lucilia Aria Caelum."
"Please come sit in my main room. Ren, you should come with; after all, you're the one who created this arrangement in the first place." Ashastha said this before taking Ren by the arm and dragging him along with her.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" Lucilia yelled out in anger.
"Oh? I'm letting my fated one walk with me; is that a problem?" Ashastha said, teasing her.
She knew from every reaction Lucilia made that she was the one to whom Ren's heart belonged and decided to make her intentions known, that she would not give Ren up without a fight.
"Fated one? What does that mean??"Lucilia asked, still in anger.
"I will be discussing that with you as well; any way, let's go, Ren." Ashastha said as she continued to drag Ren along. Ren couldn't even resist due to how much stronger she was than him.
"This is going to be one hell of a meeting..." Ren thought to himself.
In the meeting room sat a table with three seats: on the left side of the table sat Queen Ashastha, on the right side sat Princess Lucilia, and on the front end of the table sat Ren.
Both Lucilia and Ashastha fought over who Ren would sit next to, so Ren compromised by sitting next to both of them.
"So about our alliance?" Ashastha was the first to speak.
"No screw that; what did you mean by Ren being your fated one?" Lucilia asked.
"Lucilia, please..." Ren said, trying to calm her down.
"We can get this meeting going when she answers the question. Lucilia said in response.
Ashastha smiled at her reaction "He is my fated one; he will be my life partner."
"No, the hell he won't; he's mine!" Lucilia yelled out.
"We'll see about that." Ashastha said, instigating Lucilia.
"What did you just say?" Lucilia said, slamming her hands on the table.
"GIRLS!" Ren yelled out.
The two both got quiet and looked over at Ren.
"Girls...this meeting isn't about me; this is about our two groups allying, so can we please stay on that topic?" Ren pleaded for the two to calm down.
Lucilia sighed, saying "Fine..." under her breath.
"Anything you want, my fated one." Ashastha said.
"If you keep saying that..." Lucilia said as her eyes started to glow red.
"What? I'm just saying the truth." Ashastha said, with her eyes also glowing with her golden color.
"Girls..." Ren said looked at the two "Stay on topic."
Both of them sighed in response.
"So I guess I'll mediate Ashastha. The deal was that you would help teach our people about this world and give us shelter. In return, we would help your people with problems we could fix with our technology." Ren said, looking at Ashastha.
"Yes, while this deal is taking place, your people will be placed under my protection." Ashastha said getting serious.
"Now, Lucilia, could you agree to this deal?" Ren said, looking at Lucilia, who was still pouting.
"Fine..." she said, knowing she couldn't let her personal grudge with Ashastha get in the way of the safety of her people.
"Okay, now this is a personal ask from me." Ren said, which got both of the girls attention. "I'm not asking you two to get along, but for the sake of everyone, especially me, please just work together for our people's sake."
"If it's for you, darling, anything." Lucilia said, smiling at Ren as she jumped onto his side, holding him tightly.
"Of course, fated one, ask, and it shall be done." Ashastha said as she sat next to Ren and leaned him over to her chest.
"So soft..." Ren said, as he couldn't deny that her chest was very comfortable.
"Get those mountains away from him!" Lucilia said as she pulled Ren back over to her.
"Please stop pulling me..." Ren said, asking both of them to stop.
And as such, the alliance was now set in stone, setting up many opportunities for the future.
The other members of Lucilia's ship soon moved into the village as well and helped build a giant barracks for them to stay at.
"This place is primitive, but I can't deny that these people are very interesting." Mae said admiring the scenery of the village.
"Most of the people I've met are very kind. Sthora and the Queen, especially." Ren said in a response.
"Well, Ren, shall we have our room setup?" Lucilia asked.
"There's no need for that." A voice came from the side.
It was Ashastha, along with Sthora and another guard in tow.
"And why is that? Lucilia asked with glaring eyes at Ashastha.
"Because he will be staying in my house." Ashastha said.
"THE HELL HE WILL!" Lucilia responded.
"It's fine; you can stay there as well, Lucilia." Ashastha said, which confused both Ren and Lucilia.
"What do you mean by that..." Lucilia said.
"Well, by our culture, Ren must sleep in my house due to him being my fated one; however, I doubt you would ever allow that, so this is a compromise I came up with." Ashastha said. "It also helps that there are some things I'd like to talk to you about with Princess Lucilia regarding our alliance...and our shared interests."
"I got a bad feeling about this..." Ren thought to himself.
Lucilia put her hand on her chin and looked at Ashastha.
"Fine, but you won't try to do anything with Ren, will you?" Lucilia asked.
"Not yet, but that's part of the discussions I wish to have with you." Ashastha said.
"Alright, I guess we will accept your deal; however, I request the right to bring two personal guards with me." Lucilia said.
"Don't trust me?" Ashastha said.
"Not yet; we have just met after all. I wish to learn more about you before I can say that. But also, I sure don't trust you not to sneak into my room when I'm not there to be with Ren." Lucilia said.
"Fair assessment on all parts." Ashastha said. "Deal, you may bring two guards, and they will also have a room prepared.
"I appreciate that." Lucilia said before turning around. "Zilyana, Attia come with me."
"Yes, princess!" the two guards said before joining the group.
As the group walked back to Ashastha's house, Ren noticed Sthora walking uncomfortably.
"Are you okay, Sthora?" Ren asked.
"Yeah...just something has been bugging me since yesterday." Sthora said, forcing a smile.
"If you need help, you should speak with a healer or one of our medics." Ren said.
"Thank you for worrying, Ren, but it's nothing serious." Sthora said.
"Alright, just don't be afraid to ask for help." Ren said.
Sthora smiled at Ren and kept walking with the group.
Once the group arrived, Ren and Lucilia were moved into a new room, and Sthora walked to the room next to it, where she would be staying.
Sthora sighed heavily before removing her armor, and on her back was a glowing green symbol shining brightly.
"It couldn't be...could it?"
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