3 The Empress

Alagarassi's residence was beautiful and elegant but it was also empty and devoid of life. I guess the house reflects the owner or me depending on how you looked at it.

Showering and dressing up was a matter of course as it was something Alagarassi did at least twice a day.

Her habits, her favorite food, and even her tastes when it came to potential lovers – they were all something I now knew on an instinctual level.

Perhaps this was a result of our agreement to accept one another. I can't complain, after all, this is all very beneficial to me.

I sighed in exasperation, "this is really tiring."

"Ahem e-excuse me miss is there anything wrong?"

I directed my attention towards the rear-view mirror. Reflected were the brown eyes of my driver, Joshua.

Joshua is someone who has remained loyal to Alagarassi despite her less-than-popular status in her family. In fact, it can probably be argued that he was her only ally in this world.

The Salvador Family is a part of what is called the Twelve Master Swords of Humanity. They are the pre-eminent and de-facto rulers of the world and are all relatives of The First Twelve – the original 12 superhumans.

Alagarassi Luna y Salvador is by right a Queen but her existence proved nothing more than an eyesore that her family could snuff at any time they wanted.

I smiled at Joshua and blinked my eyes in confusion, "Say, are you worrying about me?" what a fascinating man.

I crossed my legs and gave him a sharp glare, "Have I fallen so low that a peasant like you is worrying about me?" I smiled and added, "Ara, how delightful."

I licked my lips as I waited for his reaction.

Joshua let out a funny sound shriek and hurriedly shook his head, "No miss I wouldn't dare! I wouldn't dare!"

He was sweating profusely. I guess I took it too far.

I turned my attention to the outside world once more while waving my hand in annoyance. "I was joking." I once again sighed in exasperation, "am I really that scary?"

"Oh, right miss!" seemingly just remembering something, Joshua directed my attention to the small screen in front of me. "There's a special on Lord Almasy. It seems he has finally woken up."

A familiar name.

"Almasy?" I asked in earnest.

"Err. Lord Arthur Almasy, my lady."

Oh. 'That' man.

"I see. Turn it on then."

The screen jumped to life. It was a small type of television that unfolds upon itself to produce an image made with prana fragments. It was basically a mini-projector, so to say.

"Oh, what a beautiful woman," I said in awe, despite myself.

The overall feel of the news anchor was somber and solemn. He was dignified but a side-character is a side-character, after all.

"The beloved figure known as "The Empress", Artesia Romanov has passed away." The anchor seemed to be holding back tears but the people around me in their own cars weren't as reserved.

Even Joshua was silently crying on his lonesome. How tiring.

"Artesia Romanov and Arthur Almasy embarked on a top-secret mission on behalf of The Guild and…"

"Shut it off, Joshua."

So that woman died on her own and made the most eligible bachelor in the world a widower at the age of 28.

It seems that a new kind of war will brew soon and I might just find myself in the middle of it all.

The trip was quieter than usual and the hustle and bustle of the city seemed to halt right in the middle of it all. People were consoling one another and even strangers gave each other hugs as they passed one another.

What kind of existence was this 'Empress' that could cause the whole world to grieve for her like this? If Alagarassi died, would anyone cry for her like this?

No, they wouldn't because she was a villainess. A cursed woman.

The door beside me opened and a hand appeared in front of me. "Miss, we have arrived."

Taking his hand, I exited the car and smiled at Joshua. "Thank you. Try not to get into an accident on the way home."

"I..I'll be careful miss." After giving a light bow, Joshua scurried away like a small animal.

Truly a fascinating man. Joshua was a beautiful and delicate man. 19 years old with long brown hair, he was apparently quite popular with the maids in the main residence and in my own prison apparently.

Alagarassi has had her food spat on and tampered with on more than a few occasions due to the jealous maids who thought that she was playing with poor Joshua's heart.

"It's not my fault I'm too beautiful, ladies." I chuckled to myself.

As I prepared to start walking to the educational center I was attending, I heard a condescending voice behind me. Suffice to say that it was extremely grating.

"Who does this bitch think she is?" She laughed in a pleasant voice, "You really think you're too beau-"

I turned around and sneered, "why yes, I am indeed too beautiful. Have you met me yet?"

"A..Alagarassi!?"

I heard a few gasps and a few admiring sighs from the people around me.

"Oh. You know of me then?" I asked her in a teasing voice.

The plain woman stuttered, "I I I..I didn't know my place. I apologize." Pathetic.

I slung my bag to my shoulder, "Do you know your place now?"

"I do."

"Good. Then grovel on the ground." I pointed towards my feet. "If you are an insect, then you should act like an insect."

I heard the crowd muttering among themselves.

"Hey what's going on?"

"Eh, you don't know? That's Alagarassi Luna y Salvador. The villa.."

"Shut up if you don't want to end up like that person in front of her!"

"Hey, that's her own fault. Who told her to bother that dangerous woman?"

"She is quite beautiful though"

"Shh! Didn't you hear about the Oxford incident?"

"Oh, shit was that true?"

The peanut gallery continued to chatter among themselves while I waited for the plain woman to run away. I didn't really want her to kneel or grovel or anything but she was troublesome enough to even try and filter Alagarassi's usual venom for.

She looked me in the eyes in resigned indignance, "Though you may be of the Twelve, I am still nobility myself. I am Josephine Ford so if not me, give my family some face!"

What a ridiculous woman! I'd like to play with her a little bit more.

"Ara. The Ford Family then?" I slowly walked towards her and stopped just short of coming face to face with her. "Have you ever heard the saying 'the man who calls himself king is no king?' or something to that effect."

I inched towards her as I placed my hand on her face. "Truly a waste." I licked my lips as I savored the fear she was exuding all over her pores.

"What do you think these people would do if I were to tore your tongue out and made you eat it?" I accentuated each word by tapping her forehead. "Do you think they'd care? Josephine Ford?"

I turned towards the crowd and asked one of the men who was talking earlier. "You. You heard my question. Answer."

He looked at his friends who seemed to not want to do anything with him. Sighing in resignation, he answered "I wouldn't have seen anything, my lady. I'd mind my own business."

"Good answer. Do you all agree?"

Some of the people in the crowd nodded, some of them bopped their heads like cute little chicks and others voice their agreement.

"See Josephine? This is real power." I placed my index finger inside her mouth as I massaged her tongue.

She moaned in pleasure and some of the men were red in the face. The women were covering their eyes – while I saw a few special ones who were biting their lips.

"P-please forgive me." I silenced her with a kiss on the lips. "Mmm. My lady."

"Don't attract my attention like this again. I won't be as forgiving." I licked my lips as I eyed her with interest. "I wouldn't want to waste a delicious dish like yourself after all."

I wiped my hand on her uniform and I left the crowd who started getting excited all on their own.

"Wow, she was so cool!"

"That was a villainess? Sign me up for more please."

"Isn't she more like an Empress? She's the second coming I tell you!"

"Hey don't talk like that, not when Lady Artesia just –"

"Wouldn't it be nice to get stepped on by her?"

"Hey, Josephine! How did it feel? She kissed you, right?"

Josephine Ford was dazed. How could she not? That was the best kiss she's ever had in her life. "Mmm. She was sweet. I wanted to drink her up…mmm mistress.."

"What the fuck why are you showing off?"

"Hey let me taste!"

It was worth noting that the people talking to Josephine were all women. All the men were still arguing among themselves for some reason.

Even though I was already a few steps away, with my enhanced hearing they might as well have been beside me.

I really can't control Alagarassi's whims and what the fuck was that super suave move? She turned her enemy into her plaything and the enemy liked it?! Villainesses are scary, man.

"Welcome to the Velvet Room."

An automated voice interrupted my useless thoughts. So…I've finally arrived.

In front of me stood the foremost research and educational institute when it comes to superhuman abilities or the study of Prana. It was simply called "The Establishment" but people also knew it by another name: The Velvet Room.

Its founder was another member of The Original Twelve and he was a well-known lover of the Old Order's JRPG or Japanese Role-Playing Games and it seems he named it after a certain location from one of his favorite games at the time.

Alagarassi originally studied in Oxford for her more traditional degree and eventually was also accepted into the most elite training center in the world for Guild membership hopefuls.

I can't believe my first day in this world is also this body's first day in school.

The building itself was a super state-of-the-art high-rise building with more than 90 floors. Half of them were ultra-luxurious residential units while the rest were separated into classrooms, training rooms, and other relevant facilities.

There was also a shopping mall somewhere in the middle and more than a handful of 5-star restaurants scattered here and there. It was uselessly grandiose but it was a blessing to the less fortunate students as a majority of their needs and wants here were state financed – in short, food, lodgings, and even luxury were paid for the country in the name of education.

That's just how rich South Korea is I suppose. Additionally, Guild missions paid ludicrously well after all so money was never an issue, especially when the strongest ranker in the world considers South Korea his home.

"Arthur Almasy, huh," I whispered to myself.

He seems like an excellent goal to work towards in terms of bettering myself as a Guild member. Ok, let's work hard today!

I just realized that I didn't know where to go but that shouldn't be a problem. I took out my smartphone and scrolled through her messages.

[You were so good last night mistress.]

[Did you already get tired of me?]

[Why haven't I seen you for so long?]

[Welcome to the Velvet Room – A Primer]

[I can't get you out of my mind]

Uh. Aren't you one hell of a player, Alagarassi? And these are all young women! What the hell is wrong with you?

I shook my head and opened the message from the training center.

[Welcome to The Establishment. We pride ourselves in..]

I skipped through the text and scrolled toward the schedule.

[Upon arriving, kindly present yourself for testing on the ground floor's testing area.] Attached was a link to the navigator where it showed an exact map of the area in real-time. Technology sure is convenient.

I fiddled with my phone as I headed towards my destination, blocking the numbers of the conquests of the insatiable demon that is Alagarassi.

"I'm already tired," I complained to no one in particular.

The Empress – End