Eostia, a Continent Ravaged by War
Eostia, a continent plagued by war between nations. Primarily, the war between the kingdom of the High Elf Queen, Celestine Lucross, and the Dark Elf Queen, Olga Discordia.
For centuries, both queens have waged war, a conflict that has brought nothing but suffering to both sides.
In a bid to end this war, a mercenary group called "Kuroinu" was summoned to carry out the mission of defeating the evil queen, Olga Discordia.
Now, they stood within the royal palace of the "Holy Kingdom", swearing allegiance to the "Holy King." Yes, despite Eostia being a matriarchy for centuries, they still had a king.
"Do you swear to offer your blood to the people, your flesh to a great purpose, and your soul to the nation? Will you firmly uphold your prayers and serve as a beacon of justice?"
"I swear," came the solemn response, echoing through the grand ceremonial hall at the heart of the royal castle.
Vault, the leader of the Kuroinu mercenaries, knelt before the revered figure of His Holiness, King Sirius, accepting the gleaming sword placed upon his left shoulder. His expression was one of forced humility, as though he were constipated by all this ceremony.
Despite his sovereignty, the Holy King was far more a military ruler than a political one, as such a role belonged to the queen—his wife, Celestine. Therefore, while His Majesty held the title of king, his duties revolved mainly around military operations.
Though his authority as a ruler may have been limited, given the people's unwavering desire to triumph over enemy kingdoms and the deep-rooted culture surrounding their goddess, it was undeniable that his position surpassed all others.
Moreover, he deserved the utmost respect. To become a Holy King, one had to prove absolute devotion to the Goddess. In essence, the role demanded determination and the ability to bear the heavy Commandment that came with it—a system entirely based on merit rather than hereditary lineage.
Proof of this was the fact that His Majesty was the son of one of the kingdom's former lords. Now, at forty-eight years old, he was still considered young for a king. Most of the lords were older than him.
However, one could hardly guess his age by appearance alone. His tall, muscular frame bore no signs of aging, a testament to his past military exploits.
Yet, numerous wrinkles adorned his noble features, and his once-vibrant hair had faded with time. It was hard to imagine that King Sirius was still in his prime, not even fifty years old.
Nevertheless, his presence commanded attention and respect. Exuding power and dignity, his unwavering gaze radiated a will so strong that even the audacious mercenary leader dared not meet his eyes directly.
Few truly considered him old. Simply put, he had walked a path far more arduous than any of us. Having faced hardships and despair beyond words, his entire history formed an indivisible whole—our king.
Upon His Majesty's shoulders rested the lives and the future of all the kingdom's people—a responsibility we, mere individuals, could hardly comprehend.
Soon, the king resumed the ceremony:
"We are the defenders of order, unwavering fanatics, unafraid of censure or fear. We do not tolerate weakness and cowardice before the forces of chaotic evil. Your strength shall be the sword that lifts your helpless comrades, the shield that protects them from darkness. Understand that, from this moment forward, every action you take must be in pursuit of victory. By this decree, I engrave this new commandment upon your heart…"
Flanked by twelve noble lords, each overseeing a different region of the continent, His Majesty stood at the center, his voice firm and resolute. Behind them stood about fifty soldiers, united in purpose.
Each lord present was a native of this kingdom, having inherited their lands through lineage.
Soon, the ceremony ended, and Vault, now officially blessed by the king, received a thunderous reception of applause.
As I looked around, I noticed that His Majesty had already turned to leave, followed by the lords.
"His responsibilities must be numerous, so I shouldn't perceive him as a cold man."
"You're mumbling again, Alicia!"
"AH! LUU LUU!"
Yes, Luu Luu, a half-meter-tall halfling with curly brown hair and immense strength.
She is one of the seven princesses, of which I am a part— handpicked by the High Queen herself.
I am Alicia Arcturus, her companion, but also an aspiring heroine of the king.
"Meh meh! Let's celebrate! This war is about to end, Alice!"
"What's there to worry about?"
I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to happen.
"Nothing… Let's celebrate, Luu Luu…"
I hope I'm wrong, and that everything goes well.
Inside the Royal Hall
Where the reception before the final battle was taking place, King Sirius could be seen solemnly observing everything. His plate and drink remained untouched.
While everyone celebrated, the king seemed deep in thought, even melancholic.
"You're not going to eat anything, dear husband?"
However, his wife's voice pulled him from his pensive state.
The king turned slightly to admire his wife.
"Celestine Lucross", the pinnacle of elven beauty. A curvaceous elf with long platinum blonde hair reaching her ankles, wearing only a simple white cloth garment and a sash to cover her modesty.
The King could hide nothing from those loving green eyes of his wife.
Sighing, he responded:
"Just thoughts, Celes… Just thoughts…"
And so, the king finally ate, offering a soft smile to his wife.
At the same celebratory table, the Princesses were talking among themselves.
"Come on, don't you think that His Majesty is a bit…melancholic for the one who will end the war?"
One of the princesses murmured to her companion. The latter had red hair and eyes and was wearing a leotard.
"More respect for His Majesty, Maia."
Maia, the Rogue Princess, recoiled at the reprimand of the oldest of the princesses.
This was Claudia Levantine, Celestine's personal guard. A beautiful mature woman with creamy brown hair and a voluptuous body.
"Hum" among them, one who ate calmly without interfering in the discussion was Kaguya, a foreign Miko who founded and spread her religion across the continent and became worthy of being a princess due to her influence and magic.
"Nah nah! I still want to have a rematch with Sirius! He promised me!"
"Make yourself comfortable Luu Luu!"
"S-Restrain yourself, sister!"
The last 3 princesses were respectively:
Alicia Arcturus
Luu Luu
And Prim Fiore.
Of all these, Prim was the youngest, wearing a scanty open dress that covered only the lower part of her breasts and left the front of her waist open, showing her pink lingerie. A vulgar outfit for a pure girl.
All 7 princesses were part of the alliance through their military or political deeds.
And despite the Matriarchy of the Kingdom, King Sirius was still a respected and admired man.
A Holy King.
At the tables near the ceremony, Vault looked at the King with a smile on his face. The Leader of the Kuroinu Mercenaries could not wait for this meeting and how it would define his life and the destiny of the 7 kingdoms of Eostia.
Later That Night
Inside the royal chambers, the king and queen prepared to retire for the night after the festivities.
The king still bore a brooding expression as he prepared to lie beside his wife.
Watching him from behind, Celestine observed her husband with concern.
As the Reincarnation of the goddess, she approached, resting her head against his broad chest. In a low voice filled with doubt, she spoke:
"My king… what troubles your mind?"
The king remained silent for a moment before calmly replying:
"Nothing, my dear Celestine."
Her frown deepened at his answer. After a brief pause, Celestine huffed, then, like a pouting child, she straddled his chest, causing him to raise an eyebrow at her.
"Sirius… my dear husband… are you… tired of me?"
His eyes widened in astonishment at the abrupt question. But upon seeing the blushing and hesitant expression on Celestine's face, he understood where this doubt came from.
Gently cupping her soft cheek, he reassured her with a calm voice:
"Oh, don't worry, Celes… Nothing I feel would ever cause you distress… Even a useless king like me would never tire of your presence."
Her face scrunched up at his self-deprecation.
"You're not useless, Sirius… It's just that… we've been married for over twenty years… and we've never… shared intimacy as husband and wife should… I… You know I wouldn't resent you for having concubines… right?"
Normally, she would avoid this topic, but the alcohol from the feast had emboldened her.
However, to her surprise, Sirius chuckled. A soft, but amused laugh.
After a few moments, he held her hips and smiled warmly.
"Oh, Celes, don't dwell on that. When I married you twenty-seven years ago, I was prepared for a life of celibacy to avoid defiling your divine body… No, I have never regretted it. If I could go back, I'd do it all again. What drew me to you was not your body but your kindness and purity… You are one of the few good things in my life."
And with that, he gently pulled her down, placing a soft yet deeply loving kiss on her lips.
"Now sleep, Celes… my greatest love."
Neither of them knew that betrayal lurked within their own court.
Their world was about to shatter.