Queen of Kingdom of Raja, Towa!

Ciel: <>

Voice of the World: <<>>

******

Towa, the young queen of Raja, sat nervously in a guest room within Tempest, her delicate fingers fidgeting as they traced idle patterns on the edge of her gown. Before her, a tray of meticulously prepared tea and an assortment of snacks lay untouched, their inviting aroma wafting through the air. Yet, the weight of her nation's troubles pressed so heavily on her that she couldn't bring herself to take even a single sip or bite.

Her heart pounded relentlessly as she waited to meet the ruler of this place. If she were honest with herself, she wasn't entirely sure how wise it was to seek help from a demon. Yet, given her nation's dire state, she couldn't trust any other country to assist without demanding a heavy price from her nation and its people in the future.

She had initially reached out to someone she thought could help, but even that avenue had turned out to be a dead end. Before leaving, however, they had directed her here, albeit with a warning: there was no guarantee she would receive aid, and if she did, the cost might be steep.

Just as her thoughts began to spiral, the soft creak of the door jolted her from her reverie, and Rimuru Tempest entered, accompanied by Testarossa and Shuna. Rimuru glanced at Towa briefly before taking a seat across from her, while Testarossa stood behind him like usual.

Shuna, however, immediately noticed the untouched tea and snacks on the table. Her brow furrowed slightly in concern, and she stepped forward. "Is everything all right?" she asked in a soothing voice. "Do you not care for these? Perhaps I could prepare something else more to your taste?"

"N-no! Not at all," Towa stammered, shaking her head. A flush crept across her cheeks as she realized how rude she must have seemed. "It's nothing like that."

"Shuna, please refresh the tea," Rimuru said calmly. "Miss Towa, you should try some. Shuna prepared it herself, and trust me, I could stake my name on her culinary skills."

"Rimuru-sama, you're too kind," Shuna said with a soft giggle, covering her mouth with one hand as she replaced the teacup with a fresh one.

Feeling the need to reciprocate their hospitality, Towa hesitantly took a sip. Her eyes widened slightly as the delicate flavor danced on her tongue. "It's... amazing," she murmured, the words escaping her lips almost involuntarily.

Shuna beamed at the compliment, her smile radiant. "I'm so glad you like it!"

"As expected," Rimuru said, taking a sip of his own tea. "With Shuna's expertise and tea leaves from the Druid-blessed fields, the result was bound to be exceptional."

For the first time since arriving in Tempest, Towa felt a sliver of her apprehension ease. Her shoulders, which had been tense with uncertainty, relaxed just a fraction as she allowed herself to breathe more deeply. She gave a polite smile, her tone softer than before. "Thank you for your hospitality, Ruler Rimuru. I only hope I haven't imposed too much on your time."

"It's no trouble at all," Rimuru replied, his tone light before shifting into a more serious demeanor. "Let's get straight to the point—why are you here?" 

With a silent nod, Rimuru turned his gaze to Shuna, who had been quietly observing the exchange. The graceful attendant returned the nod and, with a soft smile, excused herself, as she exited the room.

Rimuru leaned forward slightly, "Before anything else, let me formally introduce myself. I am Rimuru Tempest, the ruler of Tempest and the entire Jura Forest. It's a pleasure to meet you, Queen Towa."

In return, Towa rose to her feet, straightening her back with regal poise. "The pleasure is mine, Ruler of Jura Forest," she said, offering a respectful curtsy. "I am Towa Aurum, Queen of the Kingdom of Raja. I am deeply grateful for your generosity in agreeing to meet me on such short notice."

Rimuru leaned back in his seat. "No need to worry. I assumed it must be something urgent if the queen of a nation came to my doorstep personally."

Towa's lips trembled with the weight of her admission. She could feel the burden of her kingdom's fate pressing against her chest. "Yes... the situation in my kingdom is truly dire," she said, her voice betraying a subtle sadness. She swallowed, gathering herself before continuing. "It's no exaggeration to say that Raja's very existence is at stake."

"That does sound serious," Rimuru frowned, his expression reflecting genuine concern. "Go on. Tell me everything that's happening. We'll see what can be done."

"It all started a year ago, when the main source of our nation's water was poisoned," Towa began, her voice thick with the weight of the memories. "It didn't just affect our people's health; it also poisoned the land, devastating crops and livestock. I tried to purify the lake over and over, but no matter what I do, it always returns to its poisoned state after a while."

Towa continued, her fingers clenching around her skirt. "And as if that wasn't enough, three months ago, our neighboring country began sending us threats. They demand we surrender our kingdom to them or face war. We can't defend ourselves, not with our people weakened by illness, and certainly not with our army in such a fragile state," her voice cracked with emotion as she mentioned her people's suffering. "How can we face them in war if we're barely surviving as it is?"

Her words hung in the air for a moment, and Rimuru's expression turned serious, as he leaned forward, his gaze fixed on her with a deeper intensity. "And then there's your own declining health, too."

Towa froze, eyes widening in surprise. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice tight with a sudden sense of vulnerability.

Rimuru, blunt as ever, met her gaze unflinchingly. "I've got eyes," he said plainly. "A healthy human shouldn't be this thin, especially the queen of a nation."

Towa's face flushed with embarrassment, and she quickly looked down, her gaze dropping to her hands. "I... I didn't want to burden anyone with it," she murmured, her voice barely a whisper. "With so much going on in the Kingdom, I didn't want to appear weak to my citizens."

Rimuru didn't push further, instead, he shifted the conversation. "Anyway, I was told King Gazel sent you here. How does he fit into all of this?"

Towa nodded, her eyes softening at the mention of Gazel. "Actually, King Gazel and I are distant relatives. My grandmother was his aunt."

Rimuru raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Interesting. Then why not ask him for help? I'm sure he wouldn't turn you down, as far as I know."

Towa sighed, a hint of regret clouding her expression. She closed her eyes for a moment before meeting his gaze again. "Yes, King Gazel is a kind man, and I know he would have helped me without hesitation... if it weren't for a treaty standing in the way."

Rimuru's brows furrowed in confusion. "A treaty?"

Towa nodded gravely. "There's an old non-interference treaty between the Armed Nation of Dwargon and the Kingdom of Raja, signed by my great-grandfather and King Gazel's father, back when my grandmother married my grandfather." She paused, the weight of her history pressing on her as she continued. "It's a treaty that forbids any aid between our nations unless it's under very specific circumstances. My great-grandfather insisted on it to protect Raja's sovereignty."

Rimuru frowned, his thoughts racing. "That sounds... ridiculous. Why would you refuse help from a nation like Dwargon, especially after your grandfather married the daughter of that nation?"

Towa let out a weary sigh, her hands folded tightly in her lap. "I shouldn't speak ill of the dead, but from what I've been told, my great-grandfather was... an egoistic and paranoid man. He feared that Dwargon would try to meddle in our kingdom's affairs if we gave them too much influence. So, he pushed for that treaty, hoping to protect our autonomy. But now..." Her voice wavered with frustration. "Now it's a curse. The treaty was declared publicly, and if Dwargon were to break it now, it would be a massive blow to their reputation—especially since they're such a powerful nation. So Gazel, despite wanting to help, can't. He's bound by that treaty."

Rimuru took a moment to process her words, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest of his chair. "I see. I understand the situation now." Though he still had questions, particularly about why Gazel had sent Towa to him, but he figured that would be something to ask the king himself later.

"So, Queen Towa," Rimuru said, leaning forward slightly, his voice returning to its calm and measured tone. "I understand the gravity of your situation, but now tell me—how can I help you?"

"Ruler Rimuru, I am requesting military assistance to defend my nation, should our neighboring kingdom decide to attack," Towa said, her voice taking on a newfound regal quality, a sharp contrast to her earlier hesitations.

Rimuru's expression remained neutral, but his gaze was calculating. "Just for defense, not retaliation?" His voice was casual, yet the sharpness of his words cut through the air. "Or better yet, why not go on the offensive and eliminate the threat once and for all?"

Towa faltered, her resolve momentarily shaken. She struggled to meet his intense gaze, the question ringing in her ears. "That..." she stammered, unable to find the right words.

"Ah," Rimuru nodded knowingly. "You must be one of those who believes in the good in people. A noble trait, no doubt, but not one we can afford as rulers."

He leaned forward slightly, the atmosphere in the room shifting with his words. "From what I've heard, your neighboring kingdom has been harassing you for decades. Isn't it counterproductive to keep merely deflecting their advances, only for them to return with something worse each time?"

Towa was caught off guard, her mind spinning at his words. She opened her mouth to respond, but the words didn't come. She was left speechless, struggling to reconcile the truth in Rimuru's statement with her own beliefs.

Rimuru, sensing her discomfort, waved a hand dismissively. "Forget it. We'll talk about that later." He leaned back in his chair, his tone shifting to one of quiet confidence. "For now, you should know two things."

Towa listened intently, her anxiety building again.

"First," Rimuru continued, his eyes locking with hers, "I can solve all three of your problems." He paused for a beat, letting the words sink in. "Second, it will come with a price."

"All three!?" Towa's voice rose in disbelief, her eyes wide with surprise. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, but then her mind quickly grasped the second part of his statement. "What kind of price?"

Without a word, Rimuru produced a file from thin air and placed it in front of Towa. "Go ahead. Read it. It will explain my condition for helping you."

Towa hesitated, her fingers trembling slightly as she reached for the file. She unfolded it carefully, her eyes scanning the words printed within. As she read, her breath caught in her throat, her heartbeat quickening as the implications of Rimuru's terms became clear. The proposal was audacious, bold, and more than a little unsettling. Her eyes shot up to meet his, the weight of her decision pressing down on her like a heavy mantle.

"This..." she murmured, the word barely escaping her lips. Her mind raced to process the offer before her.

Rimuru, unfazed, watched her closely, his expression calm. "Yes, that's my condition for solving all your problems," he confirmed, his voice measured and steady. "But you don't need to decide right away." He leaned back in his chair, his tone lightening just a little. "Take your time... well, what little time you have," he added, a small, knowing smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

Towa nodded at Rimuru's words as he continued, "So, when are you heading back?"

"I'll be leaving immediately," Towa replied. "I can't afford to be away from my kingdom for too long. Especially not in these circumstances."

"Hm... I see," Rimuru said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "You arrived on a wyvern, right? In that case, can your wyvern carry two people?"

"It should be able to, but why?" Towa asked, raising an eyebrow.

Rimuru gave her a reassuring smile, his eyes twinkling with purpose. "Just wait a moment." He gestured toward the goblina maid who had been silently standing in the corner of the room. The maid nodded and swiftly exited, leaving the room for a brief moment. When she returned, however, she was accompanied by none other than Shizu.

"Rimuru, you asked for me?" Shizu's voice held a touch of confusion, her eyes scanning the room as she entered.

"Yes, I do have a favor to ask. But before we get to that, let me introduce you to Queen Towa of Raja," Rimuru said, gesturing toward the purple-eyed woman. "And Miss Towa, this is Shizu—my girlfriend and soon-to-be wife," he added, causing both Towa and Shizu to widen their eyes in surprise.

Shizu blinked, her mouth slightly agape. "Rimuru, what...?"

Before she could finish, Rimuru quickly calmed her, explaining the situation with Towa and the plight of Raja. Shizu's face softened with sympathy as she listened, her expression turning to one of understanding. "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," she said in a gentle voice.

"That's why, Shizu, will you please accompany Miss Towa back to her kingdom and protect her for a while?" Rimuru asked, causing Towa to blink in surprise again. "Not only will it help keep the Queen alive, but it will also be good for you, since you've been cooped up here for so long."

Shizu gave a small frown, considering the request. "I understand, but what about keeping my identity secret?" she asked. "Wasn't that the reason I had to stay out of the public eye?"

Rimuru smiled reassuringly. "Yes, I still intend to keep it that way." He asked Shizu to turn around, then materialized a silver pendant in his hand and carefully tied it around her neck.

"Rimuru, what is this?" Shizu asked, admiring the pendant now hanging from her neck.

"Just something I created after realizing how unfair I've been, keeping you restricted to Tempest for my own plans," Rimuru explained. "Try channeling magicules into the pendant." 

Shizu followed his instructions without hesitation, and the moment she did, her black hair turned a golden blonde, and her brown eyes shifted to a brilliant blue. She gasped, her hand reaching up to touch her newly altered appearance. "It's amazing!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with awe. Without thinking, she hugged Rimuru tightly, her gratitude overflowing. "Now I can appear in public more often without affecting your plans!"

Rimuru chuckled, returning the hug briefly before stepping back with a grin. "Exactly! Now you can go to the Kingdom of Raja like it's a vacation, all while protecting the Queen from any assassination attempts."

Shizu stood a little straighter, her confidence shining through. "Don't worry, Rimuru," she said, her voice firm and reassuring, "With me by her side, no one will even touch a hair on her head."

"I have no doubt about that," Rimuru replied with a pat on her head, his voice filled with warmth. Then he turned to Towa, and asked, "Can I have your hand?"

Towa, still a little overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events, looked at him in confusion, but nonetheless, she placed her hand in his. The next moment, she felt a wave of warmth rush through her body. Her strength returned, her limbs filling out as if life itself was coursing back into her. Her face flushed, and the color returned to her eyes as vitality surged through her once frail form.

Rimuru smiled with satisfaction, stepping back slightly. "And just like that, one of your problems is solved," he said. "What I just did was a token of trust between us, and proof that I can really help you."

"By the way," he added, "When I healed you, I found two types of poisons in your system. One is magical, likely from the lake, and the other is man-made, which you'll have to figure out on your own." He said this with a certain finality, but Towa was still too shocked to speak aloud, simply nodding her head.

Rimuru gave her a knowing smile. "Now that that's out of the way, I think it's time for you to leave. It was a pleasure meeting you, and I hope you make the right decision so we can meet again soon."

With that, Rimuru led the two women outside, his gaze following them as they mounted the wyvern. As Towa and Shizu took flight, Rimuru stood for a moment, watching them disappear into the distance, before returning to his office.

******

As soon as Rimuru returned to his office, he activated his mental link to summon Souei. Within moments, the blue-haired Kijin appeared, kneeling gracefully before him.

"Souei, you're aware that Queen Towa just visited us, correct?" Rimuru asked.

"Yes, Lord Rimuru," Souei replied with a slight nod. "I observed her arrival and departure."

"Good," Rimuru said, leaning back in his chair. "Take your team and head to Raja immediately. Once there, I want you to investigate thoroughly—not just Raja, but also the neighboring kingdom that's threatening them. I suspect there's more happening behind the scenes than even Queen Towa is aware of."

"Do you have any specific leads or suspicions I should focus on, my lord?" Souei asked.

Rimuru tapped his fingers thoughtfully on the armrest of his chair. "Yes. First, confirm the source of the magical poison affecting the lake. It might be tied to someone targeting Raja intentionally. Second, look into the man-made poison I detected in Towa's body—it didn't feel like an accident. Lastly, investigate the neighboring kingdom's recent activities. I have a hunch they're being backed or influenced by a third party."

Although Rimuru gave these instructions confidently, the idea to delegate this way wasn't entirely his own. It was Ciel who had gently reminded him to rely on his subordinates for such tasks if he didn't want to appear as an omnipotent being who magically had all the answers. In this case, while Rimuru already knew that this incident had involvement of Ultima—the Primordial of Violet and one of the zealous demons of her lineage—he couldn't reveal that outright. Admitting knowledge of Raja's affairs despite never having been there would raise unnecessary questions.

"As you command," Souei said, bowing low. Without another word, his form dissolved into shadow, vanishing from sight as swiftly as he had appeared.

Later that evening, Rimuru found himself in the bustling town square, enjoying the lively atmosphere as he played with the children. Their laughter filled the air, and he couldn't help but smile as he indulged their playful antics. However, his mental link suddenly buzzed with an urgent message. After a quick goodbye to the disappointed children, who smiled again when he handed out sweets from his pocket as a parting gift, he excused himself.

Once back in his office, the moment Rimuru settled into his chair, Testarossa appeared, standing silently behind him. Not long after, Souei materialized in the room, kneeling as he had before. Rimuru nodded in acknowledgment and Rimuru gestured for him to rise and began his report.

"Lord Rimuru, we've identified the source of the magical poison," Souei began. "It's emanating from a magical structure located at the bottom of the lake. Unfortunately, we couldn't approach it closely. The closer we got, the more dangerous the poison became. Without the potions you provided, some of my team members would have succumbed to its effects."

"Additionally, your suspicion was correct. Raja's neighboring kingdom is indeed being manipulated by a third party—a traveling merchant who goes by the name Lacua. He's been whispering in the king's ear, claiming new gold mines have been discovered under Raja's territory," Souei continued. "However, unlike those humans, it's clear to us that this so-called merchant is actually a demon in disguise, one who's intent on provoking a war between the two nations."

Souei paused briefly before adding, "We also identified the culprit behind Queen Towa's poisoning. It's an elven doctor named Chikuan, who has long served Raja's royal family. He, too, turned out to be a demon in disguise. We relayed this information to Lady Shizu, who passed it on to Queen Towa. Though reluctant at first, the queen acted swiftly and had him arrested and detained in the underground dungeons."

Testarossa, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke, her voice carrying a note of intrigue. "Souei, did you notice any particular color dominating these demons' appearances or aesthetics?"

Souei thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. Both of them seemed to have a heavy influence of violet in their appearance."

"Ah, I see now," Testarossa said, a knowing smirk spreading across her face. "Lord Rimuru, it seems little Violet is stirring up trouble in the Kingdom of Raja."

"By Violet, you mean..." Souei said sounding surprised.

"Yes," Testarossa confirmed. "I'm talking about one of my peers—the Primordial of Violet."

Rimuru sighed, leaning back in his chair. "So, Violet's the one behind all this, huh? Thanks for the insight, Testa." Turning his attention back to Souei, he added, "Excellent work, Souei. You and your team have done a fantastic job. For now, continue monitoring the situation. If tensions escalate further, let them. Relay anything important to Shizu, who will inform Queen Towa. It'll encourage her to make a decision on my offer much faster."

Souei bowed low. "As you command, Lord Rimuru." With that, he vanished into the shadows, leaving Rimuru and Testarossa alone in the room.

"Violet, huh?" Rimuru murmured, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the polished surface of his desk. A mischievous glint lit up his golden eyes, and a faint smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Say, Testa, what do you think about adding another Primordial to my ranks?"

"I think that's a splendid idea, my lord," Testarossa replied, her smile widening with a touch of excitement.

"I figured you'd feel that way," Rimuru said with a nod, leaning back in his chair. "In that case, Testa, how do you feel about taking a little trip back home?"

"With pleasure, my lord," Testarossa replied, her grin stretching wider as her crimson eyes glowed ominously. "It's been far too long since I reminded that brat of her place with my own hands..."

To be continued...