Players Take the Stage (2)
Empire Chamberlain Tanya Mainz had been radiating pent-up frustration and stress ever since hearing the military aid request from the Valua Kingdom. No one dared approach her. The bureaucrats who had served her for years knew she was on the verge of exploding. Meanwhile, her escorting knights were blushing as they pondered, 'How can I time it just right to earn a solid scolding from our cute little chamberlain?'
"Ah, fuck…."
The goblin spat out the curse as she lounged crookedly on the sofa, roughly unbuttoning her uniform coat adorned with badges bestowed by the imperial family and the council. The bureaucrats' eyes gleamed. The knights could barely contain their excitement. These were telltale habits Tanya displayed when her irritation and stress peaked.
"Calling in foreign troops to crush a citizen uprising? Do they think we're some kind of errand service for their dirty work?"
Tanya clicked her tongue. It was the kind of decision only a tyrant could make—one who saw citizens not as people, but as disposable tools to be used and discarded. Over centuries as empire chamberlain, she had observed all manner of rulers. She had witnessed emperors' coronations with her own eyes and learned harsh lessons from the rise and fall of countless kings and feudal lords.
'Philippe, you couldn't keep that promise to revive your nation after all.'
Tanya gave a wry smile as she thought of Valua's king, Philippe. He'd been a sharp kid back in the day…. How did a prince born with such a brilliant mind and quick wits end up as the king of a doomed realm?
The goblin prime minister's lips curved in a bitter smile. She recalled the young crown prince of Valua who had once boldly confessed to her—the empire's chamberlain, no less. His flustered, beet-red face had been utterly adorable. Lost in old memories, Tanya sighed in lament at how that cute prince had become a failed king.
"If Valua falls, it'll create a vacuum in the balance of power. With the royal family gone, every thug and pretender will claim legitimacy and scramble to take its place."
Tanya spoke as if Valua's downfall were inevitable. That vacuum worried her as chamberlain. The citizen militias had risen only to escape royal incompetence and noble oppression—they had no vision for leading a new nation. Their leaders would soon squabble over the throne, dragging the civil war into a prolonged mess that would leave the kingdom's lands in ruins.
"Intervening in Valua's civil strife would brand us as violent oppressors crushing citizens fed up with royal tyranny and noble corruption. It'd shatter the Holy Empire's hard-earned prestige overnight, dumping it into the gutter."
But they couldn't completely ignore Valua's plea for aid. Some help was necessary. Valua was a long-time ally of the Holy Empire. At minimum, they had to save face.
"Who's the current supreme commander of the kingdom's forces?"
A bureaucrat answered Tanya's question. "The Grand Marshal of the Kingdom's army is Duke Ankour."
"He'd better have a functioning brain…. Not some deranged idiot like the crown prince or second prince, I hope?"
"He's a renowned veteran with countless achievements. His insight is solid too, from what we hear. Even the empire speaks well of him."
"Otherwise, he'll die by my hand."
"Pardon?"
"Don't you dare question me back, you fucker."
The goblin chamberlain snarled the curse as she picked up a pen dripping with ink. A good idea must have struck her, because despite her rough demeanor, she began penning the letter in impeccably neat handwriting.
Scarlet Heymond had served the Valencia family loyally for years and was a longtime friend of Ardena Valencia. Owning over ten ships, she dominated Valencia Harbor as a major shipowner and traded with all the large merchant guilds passing through.
Meeting the harbor's big shot without an appointment was next to impossible.
"You deal with merchants all the time, right? So you must know the kingdom's situation inside out. Spill it—how's the kingdom faring?"
The blue-haired swordswoman spoke up. Scarlet's face soured at the sudden visitor's rudeness—barging in without notice and acting like she owned the place, casually asking to store goods.
'Wait, blue hair… human woman… That's Allen Rocksfield! The one who helped the Diablo Slayer and the young miss take down Sabnack!'
They were at the pier where Scarlet's ships, fresh from long voyages, were anchored. Rocksfield's Mad Dog—Scarlet knew the infamous nickname well. She wanted to kick this rude woman out on sight, but acting on impulse would only hurt her own interests, so she held back.
"O-Of course I know…. But I can't just give away info for free."
"I'll let you live, so talk."
"Got it."
Allen plunked her fist on the table. Yielding to the violent intimidation, Scarlet nodded submissively.
"But how'd you know to come to me…?"
"Alonne told me. Said if I wanted the scoop on the kingdom, find you."
Scarlet swallowed a scream at Allen's reply.
Miss Alonneeee!!! She wanted to rush to Alonne and complain right then.
"Merchant guilds trading at Valua's ports are pulling out one after another. The foreign ships docked here now all fled Valua. None will head back anytime soon."
Scarlet explained the chaos's severity through the guilds' movements. Valua was beyond control. Not just foreign merchants—even local ones were fleeing abroad. Capital was draining out, foreign and domestic alike. Having spent years in trade routes, Scarlet grasped the crisis better than most.
"Valua's not my problem. Just tell me about Rocksfield Earldom."
"Rocksfield Earldom? Deals there are rare. It's a remote backwater…."
Muttering that, Scarlet stood and went to summon her connected guild leaders to inquire about Rocksfield.
About thirty minutes later, she returned and relayed the info to Allen.
"Nothing special going on. But…."
Hesitating as she gauged Allen's mood, Scarlet finally spoke.
"Who'd hold a grudge against the Rocksfields right now? They're cracking down hard on rebellions across the kingdom. Naturally, the militias will target them first among noble houses."
Obeying royal orders, the Rocksfields suppressed revolts ruthlessly. No citizen militia waving flags of liberty and equality spared them their hatred, nor did any kingdom folk lack resentment toward the family. Rumors swirled among militias: strike Rocksfield Earldom before toppling the capital Lutemine. With guilds swayed by the militias' ideals lending support, Scarlet passed on the gossip.
"What the hell are that old fart and those morons doing? They should just hole up and guard the house."
Allen's face twisted. She fumed at her father and brothers prioritizing petty loyalty over family safety. It made no sense. What was the kingdom? What was loyalty? Why risk the family for it? Having never felt a shred of patriotism for Valua, Allen couldn't comprehend their actions.
"…Thanks anyway."
She thanked Scarlet for the info. Ardena would've been shocked witless at the sight. Allen, who knew gratitude about as well as a beast, thanking someone—let alone an elf—was unthinkable.
"So, about the info fee…."
"Bill Valencia Castle."
Like Yushin telling Ileina to charge Ardena for the ring he'd gifted her, Allen told Scarlet to bill the castle. Same breed of bastards, both of them.
Back at Valencia Castle, Allen rushed to find Yushin. He was in the training yard, swinging his sword. Wiping sweat from his brow, he locked eyes with her and listened intently.
She relayed what Scarlet had told her. Her poor storytelling made it hard to follow, but the key point—that Rocksfield Earldom might be in danger—came through clear.
"Guess I gotta head there now."
"Got it. I'll go tomorrow."
Yushin shrugged at her response, as if to say what the hell?
"What're you talking about? We're going together. How could I let you go alone?"
Allen's pale cheeks flushed crimson at his concern. Her heart pounded wildly. One sentence, and her body reacted intensely. If she'd been in beastkin form, her tail would've wagged furiously.
"I'm going too, obviously."
"Alonne's exam is right around the corner, isn't it? She said it's super important. I'll go alone."
Yushin replied to Allen's protest.
"It's only a week away…. But still, how can I send you off solo?"
Whether by threatening Ileina to delay the graduation exam or telling Alonne and Leticia he'd hand over training starting tomorrow—it didn't matter. Yushin was dead set against letting Allen go alone. An inexplicable unease gnawed at him. Citizen rabble couldn't touch Rocksfield's Mad Dog, but… the dread persisted.
"You left Valua because I pushed you. I've owed you so much since. And what brother sends his little sister into danger alone?"
One week until the exam—the crunch time for prep. Leaving now was irresponsible, a betrayal of Alonne and Leticia's trust in him as their master and teacher.
"You're more important to me."
Yushin said. Hearing that, Allen felt her head heat up, rational thought slipping away.
'Why's he suddenly saying something so cool! Not that I hate it…. Ah, damn it! Whatever!'
Her heart raced madly. Her whole body surged with violent reactions, hot enough to make her wonder if she'd drop dead. As her skin burned, a fierce heat stirred low in her belly too.
Kyu kyu.
Maybe from prolonged beastkin shifts. Even in human form, she felt reactions akin to her kin. She wanted to pounce on the male before her, ravage him until he begged through tears to stop. Overwhelmed with joy by this man, she yearned to tackle him and express her gratitude through brutal, frenzied mating.