Everything was nostalgic, he almost smiled. Karlmine opened his eyes to find himself at was a familiar place, the entirety of the furniture was made out wood. The walls where painted white with a smooth shiny surface and golden ornaments and bows decorated the place. The soft comfy feeling that gave him the sensation of floating on clouds was the bed which was made up of a neatly designed wooden base and high quality sheep wool, nope this was different from normal sheep wool this one had a watery feel and the wool was not white but bordered on the realm of goldish yellow. Yes, this stirred up memories of about five years prior about the time of his first encounter with the Princess, he had woken up from collapsing and found himself in this very room.
"You have finally awakened."
Seeing as he was still quite groggy, he was not prepared to be assaulted by the bear hug that followed. Unlike last time it was not the princess' voice that he heard first but the voice of someone so special he recognised it immediately even after more than five years had passed.
"You a-are alive, you really are alive."
In between sobs the soft voice kept on repeating that phrase and like that he felt a warm sensation spreading all over his body.
"I missed you Lucy, you really are a sight for sore eyes."
It was the young elven maid that used to attend to him, seeing as a few years had passed, the little child he had left had grown and was now showing signs of maturity, her voice was still sweet but now had a mature allure to it, his body which had been petite was now fully grown and would not have lost to anyone not even the princess, she really had become a fine young lady. He did two things that no one would expect from him, he naturally smiled and hugged her who had thrown herself on him. This act not only surprised the onlookers but even Lucinda tensed too but Karlmine did not care, he was just too happy.
"It is not my eyes that are playing tricks on me right?"
Beldandy asked with astonishment.
"Unless mine are doing the same which I highly doubt___ His majesty really smiled_____"
The dark elven lady who was his underling was also shocked by the development which she had never experienced before.
"_____and hugged her."
Minerva the human and companion he had known the longest smiled.
(This is the smile I remember.) she recalled the past and teared a little which also shocked the other two even further.
"I am glad you have awakened my Lor____ehhh!"
The elf Heilis entered and bowed his head before him but yelped in the midst of doing so when he saw his Master hugging someone an act so rare it was probably like the aligning of stars.
Like that it seemed everyone of his entourage had been anxiously waiting for him to wake up.
"How long was I unconscious."
He asked having returned to his normal apathetic face.
"Three days my Lord."
Heilis responded immediately. Using his powers of reflection greatly exhausted him every time.
(Three days huh, at least it is shorter than last time.)
"And the others?"
"They have arrived my Lord and await your orders."
The way Heilis carried himself was that of a general awaiting a command from his king which is exactly what he was and the ones being discussed where the armies which he led that had been travelling with them when Karlmine had been summoned by the princess.
"Very well____"
He tried to get up but was assaulted by an intense bout of dizziness causing him to fall but luckily he was caught by____
"Samora?"
Beldandy who understood that the princess wanted Karlmine dead failed to understand why she was suddenly doing that but____
"Is that a______"
She pointed at the princess' wrists where glowing chain marks where glowing.
"______ enslavement mark?"
She asked perplexed.
Samora just looked down which was as good as admitting, she had moved against her will seeing as Karlmine's last order was for her to look after him.
"You can unhand me now I am fine."
Karlmine told the princess who proceeded to do just that.
"Master, you must rest. You have not fully recuperated."
Minerva pleaded with her worriedly.
"I concur, you should not be moving yet."
Beldandy added but they were both ignored.
***
A few minutes later Karlmine emerged from the room fully clothed and before him stood an army of five hundred, a group comprised of mixed races, ogres, dark elves, naiads and many other races all wearing silver armour and the one at the front was carrying a flag with a blue dragon.
The moment they saw him they all stood at full attention. Karlmine gave all of them a once over and then spoke the words that would plunge the entire world to war.
"Hearken unto me O men, this day I declare this place as territory of the Azure Kingdom, we rest a few days and then we march west to conquer the ogre fortress. Our blades shall not rest until the entire world is under our might. Will you all follow me?"
The speech itself was lacking but in response the said army shouted while oozing fighting spirit and unity that shook the earth, air and sky.
"As you wish, so it shall be done."
And thus began the world conquest of he who was Cursed by the world but Highly favoured by fate.
End of Volume 1 (The beginning of everything)