Slime Girl

- King Parcian Nox Demi Aurealis -

"So, Daddy, you're taking this one and this one. And then we'll reenact the scene from my play." (Anvenia)

Hah.

Serenia would surely scold me if she saw how I'm indulging in my daughter's requested games.

While it's certainly impressive that she apparently wrote the scene she wants to play with her dolls by herself, as some kind of theater play, my wife usually demands a more mature stance from her.

In this sense, she's clearly unsatisfied with the fact that my child commits to literal child's play, regardless of the dramaturgical value of her play, and won't indulge her whims.

However, I can understand her in this regard, as Anvenia is likely going to inherit the crown from me one day.

While female sovereigns usually have it slightly harder than their male counterparts in this position, Rakis' laws and traditions clearly permit their rise to power.

This means that one day it will be expected of her to take over and rule with the dignity expected from a monarch.

That is, if by then our house will still exist.

I should probably focus more on reclaiming my country from all the scum ripping it apart.

In this sense, yes, Serenia would certainly scold me.

But screw it!

I didn't come to play with my daughter in far too long!

Moments like these have to be enjoyed as well!

"So you're playing the knight and the king!" (Anvenia)

Fitting.

"And this one is me. Of course, I'll also handle this one." (Anvenia)

She's very serious about this game.

My gaze falls on a fourth figure she certainly plans to make use of.

Yet this one was, apparently, crudely dunked in green paint.

A mishap?

It should be cleaned.

Why would she even use it?

Does my daughter need more toys?

"Ahem. And who is this?" (Parcian)

"This is Liqu, of course! The absolutely greatest slime in the world!" (Anvenia)

...

Serenia might at least be right that we should be more attentive to who she makes contact with.

I still don't know how to handle the thought that my daughter is so infatuated with these creatures.

Which is apparently reciprocated.

The one thing where my wife should take action, but for some reason is strangely accepting of.

I'll give her that they are apparently sentient, but if sentience is the sole requirement of interacting with my daughter, we may as well invite all the traitors in the kingdom for a play session!

"Daddy, is something wrong? Your head is getting red." (Anvenia)

"No, my dear. No. It's..." (Parcian)

Suddenly, Serenia enters the room.

A scrutinizing gaze at me kneeling next to Anvenia, then she adopts her usual indifferent demeanor.

"Anvenia, your father and I need to discuss some important topics. Would you be so kind as to step into your bedchamber for the moment?" (Serenia)

Anvenia doesn't even make an attempt to speak up against her mother and leaves right away for her bedchambers.

She owns a double room for her space and as security in case someone breaks in here.

But why would she send her to the backroom?

Her quarters might be ample, but usually we should head to a designated environment to discuss state affairs.

The only reason may be that there's no time to do so.

Which means trouble.

"Serenia?" (Parcian)

My wife simply pulls out a sheet of paper.

"You may want to read this." (Serenia)

Letting me read her correspondence is her way of assuring me that the information I'm about to receive wasn't altered by her own wording.

Not that I ever mistrust her, but it wouldn't require a grand effort for someone like her to alter what I'm receiving, and she's certainly cunning enough to do so to anyone else.

Nonetheless, I trust her, so I won't dismiss it.

.

.

.

"Is this report correct?" (Parcian)

"Believe me, every single word." (Serenia)

I can only massage my temples at this continuous stream of information that is going to make things difficult for me.

I can't understand how my wife can stay so calm in this situation.

Apparently, the slimes she took in got fully exposed now.

It's only a question of time until it will be the talk in all of Rakis.

The news might even already have reached the capital.

"Why are you so calm?! Can't you see what kind of catastrophe we're facing?!" (Parcian)

"You're seeing this too pessimistically. We just brought Ekoras under our undisputed control. More so, the criminals in town were so thoroughly devastated that I see a great surge in wealth coming our way in the future." (Serenia)

"Which would be great if not for the point that all the rabble will talk about is going to be how their king and queen are employing literal monsters!" (Parcian)

"So what? They'll talk, they'll refocus. Like it's always been." (Serenia)

"You know perfectly well how badly a scandal can escalate! And even more how little need we have for this in our delicate position!" (Parcian)

The pact might be objectively weakened, but if they can take advantage of the bad public opinion and get the people behind their idea of replacing their sovereigns, the situation won't be salvageable anymore.

Just how is Serenia going to solve this disaster?

"It's simple. First, we should address the issue with the populace. Have the people know that the rumors are true, but that no harm may befall them." (Serenia)

"You don't seriously believe this will suffice to appease a rabid mob, do you?!" (Parcian)

"My dear Parcian, you seem to overestimate how invested the riffraff can be in a topic. Sure, they might be able to get heated about certain subjects, yet one shouldn't forget how arbitrary this topic would be for the populace. How does it affect them if the royals are keeping exotic pets? That's at least what the first impression is going to be. What we now need to take care of is that no undesirable ideas get stuck in their impressionable minds. Things like how we would feed humans to them, just as my ancestors did. If the worst of it is blown over, all that will be left of this is going to be an amusing anecdote people will laugh over at the taverns. Your ego isn't too fragile to persevere through a little laughter, is it?" (Serenia)

Sigh.

Sometimes I ask myself if the objective advantages of this marriage truly outweigh having her constantly at my side.

Her snarky side can truly be a little difficult to handle at times.

However, it brought me my daughter, which outweighs everything.

In addition, I'm inclined to take her by the word.

Serenia is unparalleled when it comes to maintaining public relations.

"So, how do you intend to prevent those 'undesirable' ideas from coming up?" (Parcian)

"Trust me, I have my ways. But we won't get around a public speech. I know how much you loathe those, but we need at least to show the citizens that we're addressing the issue." (Serenia)

I’ll do my duty, as she does hers, no matter our distaste of certain responsibilities, yet resolving this will certainly not be as simple as she makes it seem.

Even so, I truly trust her to handle this.

As far as I know her, she's going to redirect the blame from me to her.

Though, it comes clear that she's rather adamant about keeping those slimes.

This might even be for the better if the battle reports I gathered about them speak true.

"Do you believe this is going to suffice?" (Parcian)

"I do. However, we should start preparing countermeasures for what our enemies will be up to. I'm very sure they are going to focus all they've got on discrediting us. In concrete terms, I'm certain our dear chancellor is, just this moment, calling in the council to put us on the spot. But don't you worry, I got this." (Serenia)

This woman.

"I know this is your field of expertise, Serenia, but I believe you're taking on too much. It would be foolish to assume that everything is going the way you want it, and this crisis will simply blow over. We already have too many enemies to count, and this won't make it any better." (Parcian)

"I won't lie to you, Parcian. This is going to be a shitshow. However, I prefer a bit of public quarrel every day over open warfare. It should be pretty clear that they won't attack before they can be sure that the populace is on their side. This grants us all the more time to continue our current operations in the background while dealing with them. Which, if I may remind you about Ekoras, are proceeding very well for us." (Serenia)

I can't deny that knowing Ekoras is pacified is good news, objectively seen.

"So it might be pleasant for you to hear that I already ordered them to move on to Siras. They should arrive within the week." (Serenia)

Sigh.

While we agreed that she would oversee the shadows, it seems I need to remind her, once we aren’t expecting to be interrupted at any moment, that she also promised to confer with me about such important decisions beforehand.

Yes, bringing down Siras would be a devastating blow to the forming rebellion.

No funding, barely a foothold to speak of, the highest-ranking members of their pact out of the picture.

However, poorly handled, it could very well blow up against ourselves.

While evidence against Lord Leronne Eras is mounting, he still has a politically secure position.

His fief is wealthy, and public opinion could enter a freefall were the economy having to deal with Siras' decline.

Not to forget that I'm very sure that Koreso is only waiting for a good excuse to invade.

I heard their war with Tarsona isn't going well for them, and they incurred some serious setbacks.

So far that they might even have to fall back behind the Garanas and freeze the frontline.

However, I wouldn't put it past those warmongers to look if they can't get a win elsewhere to improve their position.

How will an unstable West with an ungoverned Siras defend itself against this kind of threat?

More so, as the region's stability is already questionable as is.

"I received concerning reports from Siras. Things could be far more dire there than we assume." (Parcian)

"I did the same. But I trust my agents to navigate this difficult terrain skillfully." (Serenia)

The lives of the people, our reign, and even the fate of the country.

All of this depends on how delicately two slimes will be able to handle this operation.

God help us!

Abruptly, the door opens again, despite my wife surely having told everyone that a private talk between us is supposed to be private.

Especially, in our daughter’s chambers!

More bothersome, it's none of my loyal subjects.

"Your majesties! The council came together for an emergency meeting. Your presence is called for." (traitor scum)

"What did I say?" (Serenia)

Sometimes my wife can be truly terrific.

So we head to the respective rooms.

But before we enter, I see my wife pulling out a certain device from her pocket.

"Click"

"Serenia." (Parcian)

It should be a given that I learned by now what exactly this button is triggering.

"What about it? Pressing it helps me focus!" (Serenia)

This woman scares me at times.