Virturia Palace Courtyard. Several months later.
----------------------------------------
The months went in a blur as I trained the former sacrifice girls. They couldn't go back to their families, either because they didn't have any or because they would be treated as whores since they were sold under the pretense of becoming sex slaves. Thankfully I had a friend from another continent that came to help me.
Callisto and Cadrel weren't idle either. They were trying to keep their nation from unraveling. It was hard work.
The ceremony today was for them. The girls were nearby but out of sight, as they should be. I had trained them well.
I attended as [Princess] Arista of Atlantis. A mermaid with two legs. My dress was one made with glistening fish scales over layers of living silk, adorned with precious metals and pearls. Lots of pearls.
The High priest of Galbarar presided the ceremony. Peasants standing up filled the courtyard around us while the few surviving nobles watched from the grandstands.
"Duke Cadrel of Arlington, do you vow to dedicate your life to the good of the Realm, and to rule with wisdom under Galbarar's counsel?"
"I vow upon my soul. I will strive to be the best King of the Ackerton Kingdom. Virturia is no more. Let the decadent customs die with the old and let a new age dawn for us. As sure as the Sun will grace us with its warmth every day, we will prosper. And I change my name to King Ackerton II."
The priest put the crown on the new [King]'s head. "Arise, King Ackerton II. May you rule be long and wise."
The people cheered. Sitting in the stand of honor with the [Princess] Callisto, I squeezed the young woman's hand. "You are officially demoted now, niece. I've never seen a case where a [Queen] returns to being a [Princess]."
"The System is so mysterious," she said with a giggle.
We watched the ceremony continue, as all the nobles came to swear fealty to the new [King]. Then we had a ball and banquet. Callisto was snatched away by a coterie of noble ladies that wanted to start gaining favor with the new [Princess], under the watchful gaze of dozens of young suitors that would soon vie for the hand of the heir to the throne. Fools, all of them.
I sipped my drink as I talked with the nobles and wealthy merchants, getting trade deals for my Realm. Ackerton and Atlantis were sister nations. After a while, I excused myself and walked to the balcony overlooking the courtyard, outside.
A feast, modest but still a feast was underway down there for the middle-class and members of several trade guilds as well as high-ranked Adventurers. Outside the palace gates, the people in the streets celebrated. Bards sang of the heinous and fictitious crimes of King Romulus IV and his children.
Somewhere in a ship bound to Auvanini, a family of Silk-People made their way to a new continent, to try their luck. The mother was over level 140, strong enough to hold out on her own, whichever Classes and Paths she took.
People wouldn't stop pestering me. With Callisto and me as the only [Princesses] in attendance, it was inevitable. I returned to the ballroom to fulfill my duties.
----------------------------------------
"Why wasn't I aware there was a secret dungeon underneath my own palace?" King Ackerton II asked as I led him down into the dark and once evil bowels of the palace.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
"You forgot a lot of things. It is better this way. But if you want to truly honor the name of Ackerton, you must accept what is to come."
We walked down the corridors, manned by cloth golems clad in full plate. The former knights of dead Virturia, now eternally bound to serve Ackerton.
He held my wrist. "You were his heir. If you tell me that, then I'll surely do that. It is the least I can do for your invaluable assistance."
"Alright. Don't get sentimental. That is for the above-ground palace. Here, we are meticulous and diligent. Callous even."
I led him into a great hall I'd dug during these months. In it, forty-nine girls wearing black armor and clothes stood at attention. I met Kazuyran's eyes and nodded. The dark elf smiled and nodded in response. I placed the [King] behind a desk with everyone facing him.
"Lord Ackerton was an aristocrat, but he also had a secret identity. He knew there were times when the law and justice failed. People that needed to die. When that happened, he became another person. In these halls, Cadrel, you are not a King, neither Ackerton. You are only 'The Master'."
"I don't understand!" He said. "Are these girls... By Galbarar's fair gavel! They are all [Assassins]!" The King gasped.
I placed several tomes on the desk. They were copies.
"You too shall be, once you get a new Path to follow. These tomes are copies of Ackerton's journal and training manuals. Commit them to heart. And this fair gentleman here is Kazuyran. He was a disciple of the Master. He is the spymaster keeping Windemere safe all these centuries. He's done an excellent job."
"Master. We are here, in the shadows, to give what some deserve but always evade. Death."
"Death!" the girls said in unison.
"You!" the new Master pointed at me. "You are the legendary [Death Princess]! Wait, why does this sound familiar?"
"Don't strain your mind. The memories you are looking for no longer exist in your soul," I told him. "Study the books, train with the girls, listen to Kazuyran. Make honor to the legacy of Ackerton. On both sides of the coin. Be the King the people need and the Master of [Assassins] the wicked deserve."
"I don't know if I can, but I will try."
I dumped another sheaf of papers and tomes on the desk.
"This continent is plagued by diabolists and dark magicians. I have a list of clues and names of known diabolists and associates. Plenty of work for the girls here. Kazuyran will stay with you for a few years. Work hard, Master."
Baffled, he nodded.
----------------------------------------
Some diabolists tried to move into our country to fill the vacuum my purge created. They were promptly dealt with by the Master. But I had to go back home. it was almost a year since we battled the pirates and soldiers in the second fleet.
I was on a tall rooftop of the palace. The stars above told me there was a lot of work until the Age of Eclipse ended. I wanted to go home. The reef should have the first batch of baby mermaids swimming around already and I wanted to see it. Help them deliver some, too. I was curious.
"I guess it is goodbye then," King Ackerton II said. "But you surprise me yet again. I didn't know you could fly."
"I am full of surprises," I said with the tip of my tongue poking out.
Callisto embraced me. "What about my request?" She said fearing the answer.
"Oh. That. Well, we shall see. Now I really have to go, niece," I said as I escaped her embrace.
"Godspeed. May the Gods watch over you."
I snorted a laugh. "Oh, they do. All the time. In fact, I wished they watched me less," I looked up at the sky.
"Strange," the [King] mumbled.
"I thank you for the opportunity to cross one item from my bucket list. Let me show you how I'll travel," I shapeshifted into a Quetzalcoatlus. This pterosaur was the largest flying animal ever, with more than forty feet of wingspan. "How do I look?"
The [King] was astonished. "Is that a dragon?"
"Not quite. Now, if you excuse me..." I grabbed Callisto with my foot and took flight. "I have to kidnap your [Princess]."
To my surprise, Cadrel laughed. "Farewell, daughter. May you find the happiness you never had here!"
----------------------------------------
After we were away from civilization, I moved Callisto to my back on a harness I wove with my silk.
"Where are you taking me?" She asked, her voice almost drowning in the wind.
"Marlowe, put some barrier to keep our passenger from freezing, will you?"
"As you wish, milady," the golem said.
"I'm taking you home. Did you forget what you asked me? Do you want to go back?"
"And become a political tool by being married to some total stranger? No way!" She squealed as I picked up speed, enticed by her answer.
"That's my niece!" I laughed. "I have a boon for you."
> Fairy Godmother.
>
> You granted the Perk: Fairy Goddaughter.
>
> You granted the Perk: Dolphin-Mermaid's Tail.
>
> You granted the Perk: Water Breathing.