--- Alexia ---
"...Is this really supposed to pass as a plan?" I glanced up at Fray, my expression betraying my skepticism.
Knowing that our enemies are on their way doesn't excuse having such a lackluster plan in place.
"What's the matter, Alexia? You don't trust it?" Fray's smile was disarmingly charming, a tactic he knew all too well would sway me.
Despite my reservations, there's a part of me that wants to meet his expectations.
"Of course I am. As the princess, I have every intention of defending my own country."
It would bruise my pride to rely solely on someone who doesn't even belong to our kingdom.
Shadow Garden may have allied with us because of him, but that doesn't mean we should become dependent on them.
"Those two don't even try to hide how wrapped up they are in their own world anymore..."
"T_T. All of us are practically invisible. We don't even get a few lines in..."
I could hear the murmurs from the Seven Shadows.
Well, they're not entirely wrong.
I'm here to keep everyone in line, not to sit through this plan when I can just ask him about it later.
Honestly, I couldn't care less about whether these girls fancy a guy or whatever.
Touch my man, and you're done for.
It's as simple as that.
"Anyway, now that we've sorted out the most pressing issue, there's just one thing bothering me," Alpha brought up another point from their agenda, prompting a sigh from me.
I can't deny I have some mixed feelings about her.
Just like many of the Shadows don't take kindly to Fray because of how he handled a certain dog present in this room, I can't help but feel a bit wary of Alpha for her frequent private meetings with him.
Lately, they've also been engaging in intense sparring sessions.
It's hard not to notice, especially when I feel my skin crawl and the ground tremble like there's an earthquake every time they clash.
Am I jealous? Maybe just a little, but there's not much I can do about it right now.
Unfortunately, Fray is a force of nature, advancing in power at a pace far exceeding mine.
Even though I'm pushing myself to keep up with him, it's daunting to imagine reaching his current level of strength.
Especially when it comes to his Magical Power. It's become so formidable that our fights are increasingly difficult to manage; the ring can't defend against his Magical Power, and he hasn't had the time to research for a solution about that.
If we were to engage in a serious battle, it could easily turn into a fight for our lives.
It's frustrating, but I have to accept it as reality.
I'll need more power to keep my head high in the future.
"...About your marriage, we will still attend it just in case the Cult is planning..."
The moment for us to get married has arrived...
I can't say we didn't plan ahead for this, but although that's the case, it's on a league of its own now
We're in love now, that means it's a true marriage!
Also, he hinted more than once that right after we're officially married, he would do this and that to celebrate... all night...
Wait, what am I thinking in the middle of a meeting...
I tried to shake my head to get rid of these dirty thoughts.
It's all his fault...
Suddenly, I felt a peculiar gaze on me, and I looked up to see Fray smirking at me knowingly. He knew exactly what I was thinking, and the way his eyes darkened with desire only made me more eager for his touch.
I bit my lip, trying to suppress a whimper as I shifted in my seat.
If you know, take care of it!
...As such, we excused ourselves a little earlier than planned.
--- Loki ---
I can't believe they resorted to using forbidden magic.
Normally, nobles from the Kingdoms wouldn't stoop to such deceitful tactics.
Even if they manage to defeat us, their reputation would suffer if it came to light that they used forbidden magic.
That's why a spy was able to operate freely for longer than I would have preferred, resulting in significant losses for our side.
But, in the grand scheme of things, that's not the most pressing issue.
We've managed to amass around 10 thousand troops, which is no small feat.
While Shadow Garden's members may be of superior quality, their numbers are lacking compared to ours.
Their inability to keep up with our swift movements suggests they don't have nearly as many members as we do.
If we force the leaders who are the backbone of the Cult to show up, we can secure a relatively easy victory.
It's a bit risky, I'll admit, but if my suspicions are correct, they'll have no choice but to show themselves eventually.
With that resolve, we made our way to the Midgar Kingdom's Capital.
"As I expected, it's already deserted," I remarked, noting their anticipation of our plan.
...Or so I thought.
Standing there with a nonchalant expression was a girl with silver hair that shimmered in the sunlight and piercing red eyes that seemed to see right through me. She was none other than the Demon Queen, Princess Alexia Midgar.
She was dressed in light armor that hugged her slender frame, revealing her toned muscles. The armor was imbued with Magical Power, giving off an aura of strength that made it clear she was not to be underestimated. At her side was a sword that seemed to hum with energy, as if eager for battle.
Seeing her there, I couldn't help but feel a pang of unease. If she was here, then the Demon King was surely watching from somewhere. It was well known that he doted on her, and if anything were to happen to her, there would be hell to pay.
Still, if we could manage to take her hostage, it could be a valuable bargaining chip. But with the way she was standing there, I had a feeling it wouldn't be that easy.
"Oh, you've actually shown up. Not that I had any doubts," she remarked casually, initiating the conversation.
Since she took the initiative, I decided to try and gather some additional information.
"Are you planning to take us all on by yourself? Keep in mind, there are 10,000 of us. I'm not underestimating you, so you should reconsider that idea," I cautioned.
It's not common for someone to remain so composed unless they believe they can win this fight.
She must either have a hidden card up her sleeve or possess extraordinary strength.
Either way, it doesn't bode well for us.
"Well, that was the plan, but my husband is quite the overprotective man, you know? He's gladly said that he'd..."
As the woman spoke, I suddenly felt a dangerous surge of magical energy around us, causing me to immediately grow alert. I clenched my teeth as I tried to use my own Magical Power to stop the barrier from forming, but it was instantly cut down.
My instincts as a strategist were screaming at me that something was wrong.
"Offer me the Knights of Rounds on a silver platter, while taking care of the rest," she continued, her voice taking on a sinister tone.
She grinned from ear to ear, her eyes gleaming with malice as she glanced at each of us in turn.
---
Author's Note:
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Alexia really want to go at it with all of Shadow Garden, FR.
Also, she kinda badass.