It has been a week since the battle in the arena where Ren killed Ignis.
The news of Ren's victory spread across Volaria and even other planets that resided in the Empire, and since then, Ren has slowly but surely become more and more of a celebrity among the populace of the empire, and like most celebrities, some people cheered him on while others booed him.
But in other news around the empire came the Intergalactic Conference, a conference of all major civilizations located in the empire. This meeting would talk about situations around the empire, including the local rebel groups causing chaos and, most importantly, the war against the people of Earth. However, that wasn't the only thing being discussed; there was also the introduction of Ashastha and her people, who would be entering this empire.
Ashastha was reluctant to join the empire. After the clear attempts of the Emperor being against her fated one, Ren, she didn't feel comfortable with joining the empire, but she was a leader and knew if she didn't join, it could be worse for her people, so at least she was willing to listen to what the other groups around the empire would say.
Aurelia respected this decision by Ashastha, as her view on things made sense. Don't blindly trust anyone in politics.
On the day of the conference, Ashastha and the other villagers she brought with her, like Sthora and Laelli. She had expected Ren to come with her, but Lucilia said she needed Ren for some important business.
So Lucilia and Ren went somewhere else in the building where the conference was taking place, while Aurelia escorted Ashastha and her villagers to where the conference room was.
Ren and Lucilia were walking together down a building, passing multiple alien ambassadors that Ren had never seen before.
Races with different features than he was used to, women with tentacles around their bodies, six armed, seven-foot-tall goliaths built like tanks of men and women alike, even some who looked like the typical aliens that you'd see in old movies on earth with oval heads with gray skins and elongated fingers. It made Ren realize just how vast the galaxy truly is and that there could be so many different species and civilizations in existence.
Lucilia then walked into a room that seemed to have two of her personal guards at the door.
"Hilde, Sveta...open the door." Lucilia ordered in a serious tone.
The guards did exactly as she said and opened the door to Lucilia and Ren.
When the two walked inside, the room went against Ren's expectations. He thought they were walking into a simple, basic room, but instead the surrounding area looked like he had just walked into the most exquisite room ever. The white floors were so shiny that Ren could see his reflection. On one of the walls was what seemed to be a fish tank with about a half dozen foreign fish to Ren, who assumed they belonged to some foreign planet.
"Ren, take off your shoes." Lucilia said as she started to take off her heels.
Ren listened, doing the same, as he looked further around the room and noticed a small table on the ground similar to tables you could find in Japanese homes, just with what seemed to be something that resembled a tatami mat and even had three cushions around the table, two on one side and one on the other.
"There's a lot of things reminding me of Japanese culture here." Ren thought to himself.
"Here, let's sit down." Lucilia said shortly before she sat down on one of the cushions.
"Alright..." Ren said, doing the same. "So, Lucilia, what now?"
"We wait." Lucilia replied "Just remember, when they get here, be respectful; she doesn't handle disrespect very well.
*In the Conference Room*
Ashastha was listening to every word that the other ambassadors said, offering her deals, trade agreements, and even marriage offers for some of her higher-ups; after all, nothing says politics like marriage schemes. One man even tried to persuade her into marrying them, but Ashastha hit the man so hard that he had to be escorted to the nearest medical center for internal bleeding. Luckily, everyone decided to keep it hush-hush in order to avoid a diplomatic incident.
"So, Queen Ashastha, are these deals to your liking?" one of the ambassadors asked.
"Agreements for my warriors to serve in your armies, and in return you offer us upgrades to our medical science and overall how we live...is that it?" Ashastha asked.
"Yes...we gathered how your village trains your warriors to handle most conditions, considering you deal with dangerous monsters and fight with mere tools. We offer you our protection in exchange for your people also protecting us. With some training in our weaponry, your warriors could become some of the most dangerous warriors in the galaxy." the ambassador said.
Ashastha sat in silence, contemplating the idea.
"I will have to discuss with my people; I won't make a decision without their approval." Ashastha said.
"We understand." The ambassador said. "Please let us know your answer as soon as you can so we can start preparing everything we need."
"Thank you for your hospitality." Ashastha said as she left the room.
"I can't trust them; throughout the whole conversation, they were trying to manipulate me into doing what they wanted." Ashastha said to Sthora.
"I know, they were annoying." Sthora said.
"So what's the plan, my queen?" Laelli asked.
"First we'll talk to Ren, then we discuss with our elders. After that, we decide. I will not have my people fight and die for people like them." Ashastha said confidently.
*Meanwhile in the room, Ren and Lucilia were waiting in*
"So, Lucilia, what do you think the empire is going to ask Ashastha?" Ren asked.
Lucilia stayed silent before sighing "They will most likely think she isn't intelligent due to being from a more primitive planet. However, we both know she isn't stupid. I'd say she will take everything they say with a grain of salt, which is what she should do. Hopefully she will discuss what happened with us, and then we can take action from there."
"It seems you thought this out." Ren said trying to get a read on what was going on in Lucilia's head.
"I've had too; now that you killed Ignis, I know my father will try anything to hurt your reputation. He thinks if I don't believe you are worthy of me, I will leave you. It seems he didn't realize just who his daughter is." Lucilia said with a devious smile.
Ren smiled because of her words, but then asked "So you're saying there's a chance he will try to use Asha against me?"
"He will try anything; he's desperate, but me and Aurelia have been coming up with an idea; it's still in early planning, but first Ren, I have to ask. Do you trust me?" Lucilia asked, looking Ren in the eyes.
"That's not even a question, of course." Ren said, cupping Lucilia's cheek with his hand.
"Good...things are going to get crazy, to say the least." Lucilia said with a nervous laugh.
Ren laughed at her response.
"What?" Lucilia asked.
"Lucilia, do you realize that ever since we met, my life has been crazy? I got captured by you, poisoned by a butler, flown to another planet, and ended up being betrothed to Asha. I fought against a giant alien monster, met my friends who I thought I would never see again, and I'm now currently in the same building where many galactic-scale agreements are being made. If we both can make it through all that, I trust that we can make it through whatever it is that you are thinking of."
Lucilia laughed at his response, realizing that nothing has really been normal since they met.
Ren noticed this and said "You know what? Whenever we get some free time, let's go on a date, just us."
"Just us?" Lucilia asked with a hint of blush on her cheek.
"Of course." Ren said with a smile.
Lucilia wanted to jump off her cushion and right into Ren's lap and kiss him, but she maintained her composure...for now.
It was shortly after their conversation that the door opened again, and a woman walked through.
This woman is not like any woman Ren has seen before, which is becoming more and more of a common trait lately. She walked in wearing a black kimono, her eyes being colored both red and blue in each eye. Ren had seen heterochromia before; after all, Octavia had one eye blue and the other green, but she was different. Each of her eyes contained two different colors, with red on the top and blue at the bottom of her iris'. Her hair was a long, dark red with blue highlights, but that wasn't all. She had two fluffy tails behind her, swaying in a hypnotizing motion. That wasn't all, as Ren noticed two ears on the top of her head, matching her hair color.
"A...fox girl?" Ren thought to himself.
"Hello, Princess Lucilia, and hello to you soon-to-be Prince Ren. My name is Tsukiko; it's a pleasure."
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