I shook my head to get rid of the sensation of other people scrubbing every part of my body, making me wear clothes like I was 5 years old, and putting on makeup on my face.

“I see that you met with Mrs. Griselda.”

I raised my head and for a second my mouth was agape but I quickly recovered myself. The Queen stood before me, her presence commanding as always, but today she seemed even more imposing in her elegant dress. It was a deep shade of red, almost black, with intricate silver embroidery that shimmered in the light. Her hair was perfectly styled, and her piercing eyes bore into me as if searching for any sign of weakness.

“I have a weird suspicion that you are quite amused with my predicament, Your Majesty.”

I said as I crossed my arms. She let out a soft giggle.

“It is funny because I was in the same predicament when I first became the queen.”

She signalled me to link up with her arm and I complied. Standing side to side with her made the height difference between us even more obvious but I didn’t say anything. Even though I was taller than when I arrived in this world, I was still growing and the Queen was a tree of a woman.

“Huh, your hair hasn’t been made. How did she allow it?”

She tried to push a thread of hair to the back but it came back as soon as she pulled her hand away.

“She tried. This was the most she could do after an hour.”

The Queen raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by my rebellious hair. Her fingers traced the unruly strands with a mix of amusement and curiosity.

“Trust me, people, more stubborn than she tried to shape my hair. Whatever style or shape they wanted to create always failed after an hour or so.”

Technically speaking it wasn’t the first time people tried to prepare me so I would look “presentable” to others. I made some appearances on the TV so all this dress nice and wear make-up that wasn’t new. Except for most people, they were afraid of my super soldier physique.

As we walked through the grand corridors of the palace, her arm still linked with mine, I felt Queen’s arm tightening around my bicep and forearm. She was clearly checking to see if I slacked off during my stay at the Time Dilation Chamber. In the end a satisfied smile bloomed on her face.

“I see that chamber benefited you greatly.”

She remarked. I smirked.

“That was the least I could do. When you are stuck in a closed area, that’s was the only thing I could do.”

She let out a soft sigh.

“Your resolve is impressive. I have seen many people come up with various excuses to avoid training when they don’t want to. Artemeni reported to me how vigorously you trained.”

I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant.

“The more you sweat while training the less you bleed on the battlefield.”

I glanced down at the clothes they had dressed me in—a finely tailored suit that felt both constricting and out of place on me. It was a far cry from the armor and practical attire I was used to. It also didn’t help that I was noticeably bulkier than before.

“Plus, I prefer training to this stupid party.”

She glanced down at me with a sympathetic smile.

“Is this the part you asked me if you could skip it?”

I raised my eyebrows.

“Do I have a choice?”

She answered my question with a loud laugh.

“Hell no.”

I felt her grip my arm tighter as if to stop me from escaping. The Queen's laughter echoed through the grand corridors, a rare sound that seemed to lighten the otherwise tense atmosphere. Despite her imposing presence, there was something almost comforting in her laughter, a brief glimpse of the woman behind the crown. I couldn't help but crack a smile, even as I resigned myself to my fate.

"You really thought you could get out of it, didn't you?" she teased, her voice laced with amusement.

"Well, it was worth trying, I replied dryly, earning another chuckle from her.

As we approached the doors leading to the grand ballroom, the sounds of the party became more distinct—the murmur of conversations, the clinking of glasses, and the soft strains of classical music. My heart sank a little, knowing that soon I'd be thrust into the midst of it all.

The Queen must have sensed my reluctance because she stopped just before the doors, turning to face me fully. Her expression softened, and for a moment, she looked more like a concerned friend than a monarch, despite not knowing me for a long time. I felt like she also shared what I felt. She was also a warrior and being entrusted to this political bullshit must be unpleasant to her.

"Listen," she began, her voice quieter now, There are nobles from other countries behind that door.”

The Queen's voice took on a serious tone as she continued, "Many of them have come here with their own agendas, looking to size up potential allies or rivals. They're sharp and observant, and they can be ruthless in their judgments. Tonight isn't just a party—it's a battlefield, and the weapons are words and appearances. I know this isn't your preferred arena, but it's just as important as any physical fight. You’ll need to keep your wits about you and trust me, they’ll be watching every move you make."

I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.

“If we want to get their help against Moloch or any other threat, we can’t make mistakes. We can’t look too soft or too aggressive. This means that no cutting limbs.”

I pouted.

“No promises.”

The doors to the grand ballroom were opened, and a wave of warmth and light washed over us. The room was filled with elegantly dressed nobles, diplomats, and other high-ranking officials, their eyes turning toward us as we entered. The murmurs of conversation quieted for a moment as the Queen made her entrance, her presence commanding respect and attention. I followed closely, trying to mirror her poise and confidence, even though every fiber of my being wanted to be anywhere but here.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

As we walked deeper into the room, I felt the weight of countless gazes on me, evaluating, judging. Some were curious, others skeptical, and a few openly disdainful. It was clear that not everyone here was pleased with my presence. I could hear snippets of whispered conversations. Many wore clothing I recognized as traditional fancy stuff while some others had exotic attires.

“Gökbörü.”

I called out in my mind, feeling better as I felt his presence in my shadow, currently napping without a care in the world. I traced the ballroom, taking a breath of relief as I saw Thalia, Artemeni, and Aurora though they all seemed to be battling their own problems as they were surrounded by several people each. Not that surprising since each one of them was high-ranking.

The Queen and I continued our slow procession through the ballroom, each step drawing more attention. It felt like walking through a field of landmines—every word, every gesture, had to be perfectly calculated. The nobles surrounding us were a mix of wary allies, potential enemies, and those who would switch sides if it suited their interests. The political landscape was as treacherous as any battlefield.

However, as I gazed upon the countless nobles gathered here, I felt a familiar presence. I traced the presence and locked eyes with a blue gaze. My lips curled into a smile. Her eyes weren’t cold and calculated as I had last seen her. Instead, they were full of shock and surprise. She stood across the room, almost blending in with the crowd, her attire far from the traditional gowns that adorned the other women in the ballroom. Dressed in a tailored military-style outfit, dark blue with silver accents, she looked every bit the warrior I remembered. Her silver hair was tied back in a simple braid, and her piercing blue eyes were locked onto me, widening in recognition. Honestly, her expression was priceless and I wanted to let out a wild howl of a laugh.

It made sense that she was surprised. Who would have thought that the peasant boy she employed to conquer dungeons was the Champion of Aliera and stood beside the Queen of Quipax?

Queen, probably sensing my amusement, looked where I was looking at.

“A Silverfox. Do you know her?”

I suppressed a grin as the Queen's question hung in the air.

A slaver who Morrigan and Ama wanted dead.

A comrade who has been life or death situation with me.

A superior I obeyed.

A member of a noble house.

I took a deep breath, maintaining my smile as I met the Queen's gaze.

“Yes,” I said, my tone steady. “We’ve had some... shared experiences.”

Gökbörü, who was sleeping woke up as he sensed Blanche’s presence. He popped his head out of my shadow and sniffed the air. As soon as he saw Blanche, he bolted towards her with his tail wagging fast enough to create gusts of winds strong enough to lift skirts into the air.

I touched my temple and sighed. The Queen raised an eyebrow at Gökbörü’s enthusiastic response. “Seems like someone is quite excited to see her,” she remarked with a hint of amusement.

“That casanova does this every time he sees a beautiful woman.”

As Gökbörü bounded toward Blanche, the room’s atmosphere shifted subtly. Nobles exchanged curious glances and whispered among themselves, clearly intrigued by the interaction. Gökbörü, not having a shred of social anxiety didn’t even notice countless gazes watching him.

He nuzzled to her legs and while initially hesitant, Blanche quickly recovered her composure. Her hand reached out to steady Gökbörü as he nuzzled her affectionately. The person on her side, who I assumed to be another Silverfox due to his hair and skin color looked confused.

I closed my eyes and sensed their presence.

“Hmft.”

When I first encountered Blanche I didn’t know jackshit about mana and other stuff so I couldn’t sense it but now it was obvious. Their mana and presence were similar to Wolf King and Gökbörü only much weaker and diluted. Honestly, it was a miracle that no one was able to figure out that they somehow acquired power from Wolf King’s essence but I guess I was only able to feel it since I was soulbound with Gökbörü. I walked towards them.

“Gökbörü. Please do not pester our guests for pets.”

Gökbörü tilted his head like he didn’t understand what I said before turning back to nuzzling Blanche. I sighed.

“It’s been some time, My Lady.”

I remembered how she ordered me to call me that. While I held no real grudge, a part of me wanted to see what her reaction would be. She looked up from Gökbörü, her blue eyes meeting with mine.

"Indeed, it has," she replied, her voice steady and calm.

“Guess the world is really as small as they say.”

The Queen took our interaction with calculating eyes. Blanche bowed down to the Queen.

“Your Majesty. I, Blanche Silverfox, and my cousin Albus Silverfox came here to greet the Champion of Aliera and give our respects to the ruler of Quipax.”

She forced her cousin to bow with her who looked suspicious of Gökbörü. It was probably related to how dogs behaved around the Silverfox family.

The Queen nodded with regal grace, acknowledging Blanche’s introduction with a curt but polite smile. “Lady Blanche, Sir Albus,” she said, her tone formal but not unkind. “It’s a pleasure to have you both here.”

Blanche straightened, her eyes flickering briefly with curiosity as she took in the Queen's demeanor. "Thank you, Your Majesty. The honor is ours."