POV David
I frowned as I looked at the starry eyes of Baroness Visher. She was clinging to my leg in a most unsightly manner and whispering to herself.
"Baroness Visher…" I began.
"It's Veina to you lord Fulton." She said dreamily as she nuzzled my leg. What had Shyora done to her? She'd been acting perfectly normal until we were alone.
I glanced over at the daemon in question. I didn't like that sly, proud grin of hers. I should have just killed her… she was a useful tool though. Wait… do daemons, have societies like mine or are they something incomprehensible to me? Is that why I find Shyora so detestable? Or is it just her attitude? Never mind that right now, I had a bigger, person sized issue clinging to my leg.
"What did you do to her?" I whispered to Shyora.
"She worships power, I just twisted her mind to see you as the ultimate form of power." She replied coyly. I had a feeling there was more, but perhaps I didn't want to know… No, I needed to know. Later though.
"Baroness… ah. Veina. Could you stop that?" I asked as I pulled her to her feet.
"Of course lord Fulton. My apologies for the unsightly display." She curtsied deeply.
I sighed, the reverence in her tone was unsettling to me. I don't want to be worshiped. I'll have Shyora tell me what she did later, perhaps see if there's a way to tone it down or revert her once I don't need her anymore.
I winced. I'd barely been in this world for four months and I'm already thinking like a machiavellian politician. There's something sacred about free will and I'm already trampling all over it. What about my goal? What I hoped to create, what would this mean?
I pushed my worries for the future aside and forced a blank face while I looked back at the expectant Veina. "I need your help."
"Of course, I'll help however I can lord Fulton." She pressed her fist to her chest as she swore her vow. I balked and glanced at Shyora again, but she acted as if this was completely to be expected.
Vows were taken very seriously, I'd never made one because of that. Here she was, making a vow to someone she'd despised the previous day. I knew i'd crossed a line yesterday when I gave that order…
I chuckled to myself. So facing the consequences of my own actions was unsettling even for me? I smiled. What a failure I was. Time to stop bullshiti g and to get the ball rolling. Daemons and undead don't wait on the living.
"I need you to convince the others to back my command. Can you do that for me?" I asked Veina.
"It shall be done, Lord Fulton." She said stoically, like some heroine from a graphic novel.
"Thank you for your support Lady Veina." I bowed as she curtsied and she left.
I turned to Shyora and she visibly paled under my steely gaze. "What. Did you do to her?"
"Exactly as you asked Master." She replied, quivering as I stepped closer, my hand drifting to my pistol.
"Oh? What did that entail?" I hissed.
"I broke her mentally and reforged her in a way to be completely loyal to you master." She replied nervously, she kept backing away from me.
"Oh? And what happens if anyone finds out?" I asked.
"They won't master!" She swore.
"What did you do?" I pressed as Shyora hit the wall of the tent.
"Lord Fulton, the Princess would like to speak with you." Tullio's voice came from the entrance. I gave the daemon and long look, this conversation wasn't over. I took a breath to calm myself and left the tent to greet Veria.
She was wearing her armor, weapon at her waist and helmet under her arm. "David."
"Veria." I nodded to show my respect.
"Rena and I will follow your orders." She said calmly.
I chuckled. "It's my brother's plan…"
"It is…?" She asked.
"You seen him anywhere near anyone that's heavily involved with politics?" I asked with a wry grin.
"I haven't seen him since we arrived in Feln." She replied after a moment.
"That's by design." I chuckled.
"Thank you for your vote of confidence though. At this point we just need someone in command." I muttered.
We were interrupted when Earless Barford walked over, also dressed in her armor. "I'll follow your orders Baron." She said with a tight smile.
"Thank you Earless, I won't forget your kindness." I nodded in thanks.
"You could become my daughter's husband." She said, The air between her and Veria seemed to freeze. They stared at each other, smiles on their faces. Was I that deseriable a catch?
I made to slip back into my tent but they followed me, apparently unwilling to let me be alone with the other. I sighed and changed, donning my armor with the two women frostily glaring daggers at each other.
I wouldn't be able to have a normal marriage would I? I grumbled to myself. Most noble women had harems of between three to eleven men. Meanwhile a man couldn't have a harem, it was against the 'codes of civilized societies'. A series of laws passed by Queen Bianca Vandame when she rose to power.
The laws were… brutal in their repression of men. I had about a sixth of the rights that women possessed. If I was being technical and according to article 2 section 7, everything I owned was held in trust by Rebecca. Gotta thank my sister, the true heroine of the story. Here I am, out here in the bonnies with my brother cleaning up a mess so she can chit chat with the other nobles.
"Lord Fulton?" Veria asked after a moment. "Would you become my consort?"
"Now's not the time for jokes." I chuckled as I brushed off what was most likely a serious request. She seemed visibly confused by my reaction but I filed that away for later. I simply wasn't interested in becoming her third consort.
The two ladies followed me as I headed back outside. My guards started breaking down the tent for travel as I headed to the road nearby. There I came across Rena arguing with Veina. The two turned to us to mediate the dispute.
"Lord Fulton…" Veina whispered dreamily before standing tall and addressing her highness behind me.
"Lord Fulton, Baroness Visher is insisting that her regiment act as your honor guard." Rena visibly fumed. "My regiment is superior."
I… didn't have words. "You two are aware that I have my own regiment right?" I heard them all start cursing.
"The honor guard of the commander is taken from a different regiment, it's a tradition that extends back to Marshal Triko, wife of Queen Bianca." Veria explained. I looked at the rest of them but they were all nodding. They probably thought I knew this already… I thought honor guards were for formal events only. So I hadn't looked much into it.
I sighed and started going over the pros and cons. Really I leaned so heavily towards the 86th that I was barely considering the others. It was a such clear sign of favoritism. I couldn't afford that right now. I grunted then had a realization.
"Each regiment will put forward two soldiers for the honor guard." They looked around then at me like I was crazy but I stayed firm. I couldn't show any of these women favoritism, they'd no doubt use it to their advantage over their peers.
The first to accept my decision was Veria. She bowed her head and instantly recommended a pair of soldiers. The others reluctantly recommended their own pairs and I averted the crisis. Granted I nominated a pair of my own guards… so it wasn't like I'd see only unfamiliar faces.
Damn politics, because now… this was a decision that would have political ramifications no matter who I chose. That being my second in command… I so, so desperately wanted to pick my brother but that would only go badly. So I went with who'd brought the most troops, aside from myself.
"I'll happily take the position of second in command." Rena smiled when I asked her to fill the role. The dark looks she got made me worry for her safety.
This will no doubt be a very fun few weeks for me. How I envied my brother's ability to disappear…