I wish I could be a shopkeeper. Merrily selling my wares for decades. That wasn't for me. Abandoning the Quest I was burdened with was too big of a penalty.

My mistake was simple. Caring for the wellbeing of others. I should've left Cedric, Josie, to their mutilated fates, and Karina to die. I should've left Windemere invade the Eleons. I should've let the stampede wreck the city and move on.

I couldn't let shit happen. On the other hand, I caused misery and suffering to several others. Wicked men and women, I could rationalize. Who decides which decision was the right one?

Nobody, that's it.

I withdrew the order to fire the servants. It was better to keep the facade. I told the servants we were going on a trip to hunt for a rare monster. I took the simple house into the dimensional storage and everyone climbed on a carriage with my two humongous ranked-up mastiffs. We didn't have a horse, but I didn't need one. I climbed on the driver's seat and made the vehicle invisible - by bending the light around so everyone inside was invisible too. With a Force spell wrapped around the axles, I lifted the vehicle and sent it flying toward the Eleon village.

While we flew over the countryside, I thought about what I had to do. I had to reduce the population. Establish god governance, cull corruption, get the Eleons and beast-kin on board, maybe secretly raid the neighboring countries for supplies and money. Go around the neighbors and sell monster parts. Show up at my former home.

Banish the church of Bundeus. That was a must.

Using my cartographer Skills and my friends' eyes to guide me, I flew for the whole day, feeding on Lorna's MP regeneration and alternating between MP and SP to fuel my spell. We landed on the outskirts of the village, away from sight. With another spell, I combined Force and Illusion magic to make a horse and it pulled the carriage the rest of the way.

Meanwhile, I talked to Lorna about what we were going to do. She, as the Queen of Windemere, would invite the Eleons to be part of her realm. I was the court wizard, and the guys her knight and butler. I gave them the equipment and accessories to play their parts and ran some phrases.

Eric took the reins of the illusionary horse. A blind driver would not be a good idea.

The carriage stopped in front of my parents' house. Mom came out.

"My, my! Rosewise! Whose carriage is this?"

"I got hired, mom! You are looking at the court wizard of Windamere!"

"Isn't Windemere the country that was invading us? The one you went to investigate?"

"Was. I took care of it. Then on the way, I met a guy, a bastard Royal. I helped him overthrow the Royal family and now he's the King there. We're escorting his wife back to the castle."

Mom gasped, "Wife? Do you mean there's a {Queen} in that carriage?"

Eric did the honors, crying out loud. "Queen Lorna of Windemere!"

I heard people coming out of the carriage. Lorna said, "Lady Eirana, it is a pleasure to meet you. Your daughter has been of inestimable help to us."

"Your Majesty! I never thought I'd ever meet a real {Queen} in my whole life," Mom's voice was overflowing with emotion.

"We are spending the night here before going on our way to Windemere," Lorna continued, talking all high and mighty. "I would like to talk to your elders tomorrow, is that possible?"

"Yes, of course, Your Majesty!"

"Sir Eric," Lorna said, "Take us to the inn. I'm tired of the road."

"As you command, Your Majesty!" Eric replied like a real knight.

I stayed behind to talk to mom and arrange the meeting between the elders and the Queen. We sent runners to the other villages and invited them to luncheon with the Queen.

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"We would join your Kingdom, Your Majesty," elder Dillon said. He was the oldest among the Eleon elders, considered the leader of the community. "However, we are not willing to move from our place. This is our land. If you can defend it, we'll have no objection to swearing fealty. Especially because Honorcoin now is your court wizard."

This place was too far away. If Windemere annexed this region and the lands between, it would almost double in size. It made me wonder what the hell was those guys thinking, invading this far off.

"Elder Dillon," Lorna replied. "My mate and I are trying to create a kingdom free of prosecution. I won't ask you to abandon your lands. But we would like you to select a few skilled Eleons to help with the government. I can guarantee they will receive training, good wages, and the protection of the King."

"We'll select a dozen youngster to go with you. Most of them don't have a Class yet, and if Your Majesty helped them obtain a Class with a good rarity, we'd be in your debt," the elder answered.

"That'll be my task," I interjected.

"Good, good," elder Dillon cooed. "Young Honorcoin, you bring great joy to these old bones."

We couldn't have a migration of the Eleons now. This was a project for years to come. After the luncheon was over, the twelve volunteers, all young Eleons between two and three years younger than me, presented themselves at the inn we were renting. For the Queen of Windemere, it meant exactly that. Lorna was renting the whole inn.

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"Good afternoon. I believe you know who I am, but it doesn't hurt to introduce myself. I'm Rosewise Honorcoin, a [Sorceress], level sixty-three. My current occupation is as the court wizard of Windemere. You are here because we need your help in making Windemere the best country it can be. Here's what we offer. We'll help you unlock a Class with a good rarity. I'm aiming for [Very Rare]. I won't dictate which Class you'll pick, but I would like to have you select at least one Profession of our choice.

"I know most people use the professions as a cheap source of Skill Points to spend on Class Skills. I personally dislike that choice. We'll train you to unlock the [Royal Bureaucrat] profession, a Very Rare one that will give you four Skill points per level. I will take you to delve in the Dungeon, to gain Experience fighting monsters. I can guarantee your safety, but it means you'll need to learn how to wield a weapon. Which ones can wield a short bow? Raise your hands."

I heard the rustling. While I could use {Echolocation} to find out who'd raised their hands, I didn't.

"C'mon, folks. I can't see any hand up!" I said with a smile.

"Aren't you blind, mistress Honorcoin?" One young man asked.

"Damn right I am. First lesson, folks. Know and keep in mind the circumstances of the person you are talking to."

With these new recruits, I spent five days teaching them the basic skills for unlocking the [Royal Bureaucrat] profession. [Bureaucrat] was a rare one, requiring entry-level social, management, accounting, and command Skills. The jump to the "Royal" required some court etiquette and the sponsorship of someone with a Royalty perk.

Once they unlocked the profession, I had they take it and start training the basic Skills among themselves. They were not supposed to level up the profession. I wanted them to reach at least Beginner 24 through organic growth. That would save them thirty-eight Skill Points. I gained one new Skill during this time.

Teaching (rare): Increase skill acquisition rate for one pupil per rank by Rank x Charisma x 0.1%.

The System was insane. At grandmaster levels and a high Charisma score, the rate could soar to five or eight times. While it was disheartening to think that {Teaching} was considered rare, that was the reality of the world.

I left everyone in the Eleon village and teleported via trees back to Windemere. It was time to meet nobility. I hoped things wouldn't get too gruesome, but I knew I'd had to kill some. Disguised in my chimerical flat-board shape and clad in the gothic armor, I held court.

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"SILENCE!" The crier shouted. "All rise! King Robin of Locksley!"

Sorry. I liked that movie. 'I'll tear your heart with a spoon.'

I walked from the back chamber into the crowded throne room. I'd memorized the steps. The last thing I wanted was people to notice I was blind. Taking a page from Dakota Krout's Ritualist series, I decided to be the impassible metal colossus King, sitting on his throne like a statue. Without seeing my face, they would be kept guessing. I wouldn't face the speaker unless it was to chastise them.

After I sat on the throne, the crier continued. "You may take your seats. We will now proceed with the gifting session."

A procession of nobles, from the high-ranked Duke that was the brother-in-law of the destitute Queen and was currently sheltering her to the lowest Baron. Windemere had a dozen noble houses only. One duke, two marquises, two counts, three viscounts, and four barons. They came with their whole families, as was requested.

They offered me enchanted items. A sword, a shield, a saddle for my nonexistent horse, amulets, and rings. I didn't touch them. I only gave a slight nod as these items were presented and taken backstage by the pages.

Once the gifts and the few words that came with them, wishing me health, prosperity, and other hollow vows, the time to bend the knee came. I checked my resource pools to see what I had to work with.

> HP 3.185.280

>

> MP 9.072.000

>

> SP 5.759.100

The rank up and the new perks to improve them caused another jump. The two extra HP per level {Human Royalty} gave me compensated for the halved HP Eleons had to contend with because of their small size.

I made a declaration from my throne, "All those that are not of age and have no System access shall orderly remove themselves from the room. Guards, kindly escort the future of Windemere."

I sensed the pinpoints of the youngsters leaving the room. The tension was thick as the nobles wondered if I was going to slaughter them all and paint the throne room red. It was one of the possible outcomes but one I wished to avoid at all costs. Once I heard the doors closing, I spoke again.

"Baron Rowntree, come forward," I called.

Shuffling and I think the Baron was on a knee. "My liege..." He tittered.

"Silence," I said with an imposing but neutral tone. "Let all present hear. I shall ask the same question of you all. Falsehoods will be rooted out, and the guilty shall be punished. You have one chance with me.

"Baron Rowntree, did you commit any crimes against the crown or embellished any funds? Did you entertain thoughts of rebellion against me? Answer truthfully."

I took care to not infuse my question with any of {Royal Order} or {Royal Geas}. Yet.

"Ne-never, Your Majesty! I'm your loyal vassal, and I would pledge my fealty now if you so wish."

Now it was the time to catch a liar. I activated {Royal Geas}, "Now answer my question with the truth."

His Soul score was a pitiful eight.

"I never... Gah!" I heard a body thumping on the floor. A woman screamed. I kept paying the eighty SP per second but didn't put a contract on the Baron. He died and I gained a dozen million Exp. One of the drawbacks of ranking up was that you lost the Exp bonus for killing a higher-ranked creature. You were the higher-ranked creature.

"Baroness Rowntree and family, step forward. Servants, move the Baron's corpse to the back room."

The whispers and gasps died down. The throne room was silent. I heard clothing shuffling and something slamming down on the carpet.

"My lord, spare my children at least!" The baroness implored.

"Let it be known that I do not kill without reason. Your husband chose death instead of truth. I'll ask you the same I did to your husband, baroness. Answer me."

"I have no knowledge of how my husband conducted his business, Your Majesty!" She replied with a straight voice. Probably face too.

I did the same. {Royal Geas} and a command, "Now answer my question with the truth."

She gasped and twitched. The Baroness had a Soul score of twelve, but way less HP than her husband. She died with the first tick.

I spoke, "Servants, move the Baroness' corpse to the back room. Who's the heir to House Rowntree?"

The servants were all geased to obey my orders to the letter and spirit. They wouldn't loot or desecrate the bodies. As for the ghosts of the baron and baroness, those I kept to the side, to interrogate later. I would have the truth one way or another.

"I am, Your Majesty."

"Baron Rowntree, the same question, and the same chance are offered to you. Answer me with the truth."

"Our House embellished about five hundred gold coins of taxes in the last year. We also overtaxed our peasants for another hundred. My father also conspired with a neighboring country to allow troops to pass unchallenged through our lands although they were not against us."

Rinse repeat, {Royal Geas} and a command, "Was that all the truth? Speak."

He paused. "That was all I know, Your Majesty. I shall conduct a detailed investigation, should you allow me to serve you."

"You shall swear fealty to me. You shall investigate the misdealings of your House and pay the Crown what was stolen from us. You shall not betray the law of Windemere and all my Royal decrees, following them to the letter and spirit. You will report any falsehoods, crime, misdealings, or treason immediately!" I ordered, with another {Geas} on him. All the nobles that survive this day would leave here completely bound to my will.

The ones that died, those would serve too before their souls passed on. One unhappy noble needed only three happy peasants to compensate.

But the court session went well into the night. More than half the noble Houses didn't survive.