After the words of the clerk both men fell on one knee bowing their heads to the floor, the crowd quickly parted and the hem of a long kimono appeared in Lin's field of vision.
"Stand up," gently said an imperious female voice, having fulfilled the order before the eyes of the men appeared before her - the queen.
To say that she was a beautiful girl is to say nothing at all, Arisa was dazzling in every detail, her figure more like an hourglass, was wrapped in many layers of exquisite fabrics, but even they could not shade her attractive form. Two of her 'mountains' threateningly overhung the fragile at first glance construction of numerous belts and buttons, which seemed to hold on from the last strength. Her face with large amber eyes was powerful and sweet at the same time, and her long hair, dark as tar, almost touching the floor, was decorated with numerous bows and hairpins.
In the eyes of the men she was like a sculpture on whose creation the gods had spared no effort, no time, having looked over the men with an affectionate gaze she made a shallow bow and spoke.
"I am glad to see my husband's nephew in good health," her voice oozed like honey, mesmerising everyone and Lin was no exception. Even in spite of his self-discipline, his nature wanted to burst out, and his armour saved him from an awkward situation. He preferred not to think about what was happening to his subordinate and just continued talking.
"And I am pleased to see that Queen Haro has become even more beautiful than before."
"Hee, hee," the queen smiled slightly for a moment, hiding her mouth with a fan, and after a while she continued the conversation.
"Why don't we take a walk, aren't you busy right now?"
"For the monarchy, I am always free." Only after realising what he had just said, Lin realised that his answer could be taken ambiguously. He didn't want any unnecessary problems with the queen, they saw each other only during official events and occasionally crossed paths within the palace walls, that was enough for him.
"Well, I'll know, now let's go." Arisa grabbed the man's hand and led him towards the gardens. On the way they chatted on distant topics, Lin was more listening than listening, the guy tried to think about his upcoming actions, and how not to say something unnecessary, and in the company of such a charming person it could be done at once or twice.
When they reached the boundaries of the small but well-kept garden, the queen gestured to the servants to leave them alone, they silently obeyed and moved ten metres away from the couple, silently walking behind them.
"I will not torture you with waiting, I have heard rumours of an impending invasion, and you were so fortunate to meet me on the way, and I wanted to ask you to satisfy my curiosity." This was what Lin was afraid of, he couldn't tell the queen anything, but he couldn't throw words around without his uncle's permission. After hesitating a bit, the lad sensibly reasoned that there was no order to keep the information secret, and it was not good to refuse the lady. 'Especially when her 'mount' is so soft and warm...ugh, what am I even thinking.
"I'm sorry to say this, but there's an enemy moving towards our shores, and we...."
"Well, you will definitely be able to defeat him," Arisa interrupted him and squeezed his hand even more tightly in her embrace.
"Yes, your husband has decided that the coastal provinces can handle it on their own, our troops will be ready in case of unforeseen circumstances."
"As a good wife, I will not challenge my honourable husband's opinion, but I ask you, do you agree with this decision?" 'What are you talking about from early in the morning, I agree, I disagree, as if there were no other topics of conversation'. Lin complained to himself.
"No, I don't agree, but as a loyal servant of the kingdom I will not challenge the ruler's decision." The answer given by Lin was deliberately officious and neutral, the man was not clear about the queen's intentions, and even if they were not at all, it was worth being cautious.
"You will help them if they fail, won't you?" Arisa ended every sentence with a slight smile, and a look at the interlocutor with such pitying eyes that it left the interlocutor no chance to say no.
"Excluded, in case of a breakthrough we will move to the aid of the coastal provinces, I personally..." Lin was ready to continue listing all the measures and actions necessary to repel the threat, but Arisa was not interested in all this. The woman covered Lin's mouth with a fan and with her usual affectionate intonation said.
"Whoever the inhabitants and rulers of those lands are, they are my subjects, and I have a duty to protect them, don't you think?"
"Definitely."
"So how do you expect me to abandon my subjects to their fate?"
"But the king ordered to wait." Lin was not an idiot and understood perfectly well what this conversation was going to, in his dreams he had long ago sparkled his heels, referring to the state necessity, but with Arisa such a trick will not pass, because she felt the intentions of the interlocutor and did not let his hand out of his embrace.
"My husband works so much, managing people takes so much energy, I think he just didn't realise the sadness of the situation."
"In that case I think we should discuss this problem with him again, if you support me he will surely change his decision," Lin grasped his theory that the queen supported his position as a saving straw, the young man's gaze literally radiated optimism.
'So handsome, and so dumb.' - The queen thought, without changing her gently imperious expression.
"I don't think it's worth bothering my husband unnecessarily."
"Then what do you suggest?" Lin did not want to get involved in another palace game, and this moment he delayed until the last moment in the hope that Arisa would retreat.
"And that's for you to decide, wax manager Master Lin, I think such a smart and promising warrior, will have a couple of ideas how to fix the situation." Arisa let go of her companion's hand and turned round to face him.
"If you help me, we'll definitely see each other more often." With those words, the woman took Lin's hand and placed it on her waist, Lin tried his best to resist the urge to pounce on Arisa right there, and all red with excitement and embarrassment, pulled her hand away and replied.
"I'll think about what I can do."
"That's what I wanted to hear, don't disappoint me master over waxes, and trust me if you pull it off you definitely won't regret your choice." Lastly reinforcing her words, Arisa bent over slightly, giving her interlocutor a better view of her 'mountains'.
"I guess I'll be going, then?" 'Just say yes.' He thought to himself.
"Yes, of course, I wish you good luck Lin." The guy hurried away, leaving the queen alone with nature, the servants were already running towards the woman, the male part of them looking at the guy with extreme disapproval.
He let their glances pass and reunited with Turo and headed away from the garden. - 'Just what more rumours I need.' The lad thought in his mind, quickening his step as much as possible.
"Well, can I congratulate the queen on the acquisition of a solid and modest lover?" Turo asked wryly.
"Your tongue will drive you to your grave, mark my words." Lin spoke, and his thoughts were somewhere out there, rushing through his skull, looking for a solution to such a sensitive situation.
"I know that without you, so what are we doing?" Turo was already scratching his hands in anticipation of another bloodbath, he was a mercenary and he treated war in his own way, as a lucrative business.
"You're going on an exciting journey through the provinces, looking for mercenaries, make sure they're mounted, visit Multibarrels, Bright Flashes and Steel Swarm, and don't be afraid of the others either, the unit should be at least two thousand heads, the century old oak tree on the border between our clan and the Mena clan will be the rally point, is that clear?"
"Fucking plan, as reliable as Midgar's fucking watch, but mercenaries don't work for thanks, what do you want me to tell them, and yes, I remind you that our queen's vague request as payment will not work."
"I will find money, don't worry about it, I have my own methods," under which Lin understood the disorder in the financial affairs of the clan and the treasury as a whole, the high origin and the reputation of the king's favourite always went ahead of him.
"Eh, we'll think of something, but I don't understand why you, having such wide powers and authority, don't declare yourself? The people love you, half the nobles do too."
"Honour and pride, for example, though you wouldn't understand what I mean."
"To a crooked-toothed mercenary like me, these childish, ephemeral notions remain inaccessible, no, impenetrably inaccessible." The men looked at each other for a few more seconds with a stern look and finally laughed at the top of their voices.
"Lin was about to leave when Turo called out to him." What are you going to do all this time?
"I'm going to visit your permanent residence."
"What?"
"Brothel, idiot, meet me at the assembly point." Said Lin and started to walk quickly towards the exit.
"That's not fair, I want to go too." His subordinate's angry shriek was barely audible, but Lin preferred not to hear it.
'Okay, there is still a lot of work to be done, but that's later, watch out ladies today the queen has awakened a real beast, and it is thirsty' - What exactly Lin did not think of, and with a smile walked out of the palace.