**Serena POV**
"Serena my sweet daughter, soon enough that mongrel of a Prince will be challenging you. You must show him what it means to carry an actual position within the succession." Therese Von Arcadia sported a warm smile with seemingly vemenous words as if it was natural. The Arcadia family has its roots in the neighboring country, the Arcadia Kingdom. One of the last things Therese wanted was for someone to show up who could prevent Theo from eventually claiming the position of Crown Prince. Furthermore how dare a half-breed use magic as a speciality in this empire of muscle freaks? Serena could tell her mother was fuming though considering all the extra resources being poured into her recently, she couldn't complain about it openly.
(I really hope she doesn't try and encourage me to raise my level crazily. I don't see myself becoming the Crown Princess, but I'd like to be able to provide for myself.)
"Yes, Mother. I will prevent Loki from climbing a single rank within the succession." Nonetheless Serena agreed as this was an ample opportunity in her eyes. All she had to do was defeat a half-sibling who had only just finished their first hunt. As Serena had been doing lately she would show her status to her mother through a status orb as part of those resources included monsters that were prepared and then killed in training matches. Serena's status was as follows:
[Level 18]
[Tier 1]
[Class: Princess Knight Trainee]
● HP: 180
● Str: 108
● Mag: 36
● Skl: 180
● Spd: 216
● Lck: 0
● Def: 90
● Res: 90
● Charm: 36
Serena had an above average class that was considered closer to unique than most normal classes. She wasn't the type to slacken off in training either though it couldn't compare to the training lunatic that Loki is. Truly very few people would think that Loki could win even before seeing their stats due to differences in age, experience and stats by more levels. The Palace other than the chambers which the Concubines and Empress resided in were in a flurry. The messengers had been delayed, but a string of messages had been the cause.
The first message had been one saying how a hobgoblin activated a bersek skill almost killing Prince Loki in a single blow. Guinn IV had already been fuming then and before he could calm down after learning he was fine and moving once more just as he was going to order for scouts to investigate one of the messengers had gone missing. The Emperor hadn't given the order and the workings of a traitor within the Palace were spreading like wildfire in the form of rumors.
The hunt had been called off and Loki was being escorted home though fast runners brought some rather worrying and reassuring news at the same time. The reassuring news came in two parts Prince Loki managed to avoid any additional injuries furthermore, the Goblin King which had been unconfirmed to exist has already been slain. The worrying news affirmed the rumors within the Palace as said messenger attempted to take Loki's life though the way it was stopped made plenty of the more honorable types mock the Prince.
"As expected of a half-breed, they reach out to such despicable magic like it is second nature!" Such comments had frightened Serena as they flew about the Palace, she wanted to be removed from this conflict as soon as possible. At the same time though she recalled when she brought that up a year ago and her Mother smiled as she explained. "You want to relinquish your claim to the throne? If you wish to do so now, Duke Kohlberg has shown in an interest in you. Shall I arrange for you two to marry?"
(Duke Kohlberg? Kohlberg? Wait isn't he that fat and old guy who constantly gloats about his harem of cuties? Brother Theo was yelling at Mother when she even brought up the idea.)
All she could remember after that was idly nodding and saying how she wouldn't relinquish her claim or even mention it anymore. Serena herself wasn't aware of it, but she has slightly better growths than her full brothers. Her main drawback being how she doesn't want extra attention and simply carries on with the desire of forging a path for herself. It served as enough motivation to practice her footwork and rapier techniques not wanting to think about what she may be forced to do, should she somehow manage to lose the duel that would likely take place in a few weeks.
**Kaya POV**
It was a day after the assailant who posed as a messenger had been disposed with Loki being seen surrounded by Undead Goblins of various ranks and even managing to keep a Goblin General corpse standing for an hour before it dispersed. The spectators were torn between pride and disgust, even if it may end up having less impact now with the issue being resolved any information on the cause of it was still of viral importance.
Around this time was when the two succubi sisters woke up and Faya briefed them on the current situation. "That important person is the youngest prince of the Zoval Empire, huh? Well at least we finished part of the main quest, right?" Kaya had been looking to ground herself after needing the help of an NPC to take care of a boss type monster while Faya had been sporting an awkward expression on her face. Looking at her as if to ask what was wrong she said only a single thing. "Check the quest." Both Saya and Kaya were surprised on how Faya who had seemed the most excited about this quest had suddenly fallen silent. They both pulled up the quest studying it.
[Main Quest, Succession Conflict of the Zoval Empire]
[The state of succession within the Zoval Empire is bound to become a storm with the exceptionally talented Prince Loki joining the fray. In order to rescue your fellow Heaven-blessed who have been imprisoned within the Empire and the Verdant Council you need to infiltrate this conflict.
● Heaven-blessed imprisoned in Zoval Empire: 3
● Heaven-blessed imprisoned within the Verdant Council: 12
● Free Heaven-blessed: 85
The requirement to complete this quest involves one of the candidates recognizing you as a member of their faction. Doing so will earn you the following rewards for each faction.
Guinn V: 1 Potential in all stats.
Yahiko: 3 Potential in all stats
Theo: 3 Potential in all stats
Lorenz: 7 Potential in all stats
Yolanda: 5 Potential in all stats
Shizuku: 6 Potential in all stats
Serena: 8 Potential in all stats
Loki: 12 Potential in all stats, 5 User Selection Tickets, 1 Bloodline adjustment Pill
Failure to join a side within 120 days: Loss of system missions and death will become the equivalent of a ban.]
The rewards especially for joining Prince Loki's faction were especially mouthwatering though Kaya felt like it was trying to force them into that route. Her suspicion only strengthened thinking about how he is the only canidate they have run into.
"Those rewards... Aren't they a bit much? Not only could we select five people to join us we could get one of them a [Race] other than the basic ones! Why does this closed beta want to expand though?" That final part was a question on the mind of the three and they couldn't figure it out in the slightest. This game 'Chronicles of Haestinnia' had popped put of the middle of nowhere as well as being the first VRMMORPG ever with the competitors not being anywhere close with the year only being 2072.
Faya took this moment to speak up though her tone was rather hesistant as if she didn't know if even she could believe what she was about to say. "I did some asking around while you were both logged out letting your characters recover. It took some plying with alcohol, but I managed to get Prince Loki's status at level one aside from his class. Faya then shared the information through the messenger to the two and they looked like an apple could easily fit in their mouths.
[Stats]
[Level 1]
[Tier 1]
● HP: 12
● Str: 12
● Mag: 28
● Skl: 16
● Spd: 11
● Lck: 10
● Def: 8
● Res: 20
● Charm: 13
"Faya ... This is a joke right? Those NPCs ... I mean soldiers were clearly misleading you right? We got 20 allocatable potential points through missions and a unique class, yet the highest gainer in a single stat for Tier 1 was Saya with 19 points in magic. You want to tell me that a kid NPC who is six years old gained 28 points in magic?" Saya was nodding along on this issue clearly being in disbelief over the whole issue herself.
"I do believe it is the truth though, his status would be unveiled after this hunt regardless. I found it in books on the history or lore of the Empire." That was the final nail in the coffin which made the two believe it was the truth without a doubt. "Why does siding with him give the greatest rewards by far then? Is it because he is part Elf?" The conversation couldn't progress further before a member of the Guard approached the tent. "His Highness, Prince Loki 8th in line, wishes to have a discussion with the members of the Floral Maidens. Please arrive in front of his carriage in two hours if you plan to attend." His message delivered the knight went back to his duties leaving the three stunned for a minute or two.
"I say we should take up this opportunity, who knows how long it might take otherwise to meet up with any canidate for the throne." Saya and Faya nodded in agreement as they began to prepare for the meeting, Saya especially was in a frenzy constantly asking the other two how she looked causing them to ignore her in disgust and that feeling only strengthened when she got into a pink dress which showed off her deep cleavage.
"You damn shotacon! Put on some actual clothes!" Shortly after that the tent of the three succubi sisters was practically bouncing as they fought to get Saya into just about any other outfit.
The guards who were closer would notice dirt flying into the air, a chill spreading through the air and a pinkish aura which was causing their emotions to rapidly fluctuate which had them all beating a hasty retreat and Mekkla letting out a weary sigh as he prepared to incapacitate them if they brought the struggle close to the young prince.