Cycelia leads Straf into a bright reading room, its plentiful shelves are stocked seemingly with literature for sake of entertainment, rather than learning. The titles suggest mystery novels, romances, horror stories… All in all, pure fiction, or fiction based on events that occurred.

「Here. Take a seat, I'll be right back.」

Cycelia points her hand at one of the sofa in the center and backs out to the door, nervously biting her lip.

「Sure…」

Straf lazily slouches down in the sofa, and places his boots on the table with a thud. Cycelia leaves, closing the door softly behind her. Straf looks around the room, impatiently tapping his hand on the backrest as he waits for her return.

「…I'm back.」

The door opens, and Cycelia enters. She shuts the door with her back, since her hands are holding a wide, rolled up parchment.

「What's that?」

Straf raises his brows, wiggling his foot on the table out of boredom.

「Here… See for yourself. I don't really know what to call it…」

She walks up to Straf, and hands him him the parchment. As soon as Straf grabs hold of it, it surprisingly unrolls onto the floor, being longer than it appeared to be in Cycelia's hands.

「…What is this?」

He sits up straight. Straf's brows furrow as he skims the preface of the long text.

「It's… A… I'm not sure? I want to center my new government around this idea. I think it's pretty novel, I don't suppose anyone thought of a system like this yet. What do you think?」

Cycelia shrugs her shoulders as she sits on the sofa across from Straf. Her emerald eyes look intently at Straf while he reads. She anxiously fidgets with her medallion, with gently furrowed brows.

「Huuuuhhh…」

He humms, and Straf's brows rise further as he reads the extensive contents of the parchment written with beautiful and clean handwriting. Cycelia bites her lip, appearing unable to sit still while waiting for Straf to say something. He peeks up at her from the parchment, almost making her jump, before returning his eyes back to the text.

「I see…」

Straf nods, and mutters quietly.

《It's… A constitution. A constitution that introduces the concept of a parliament, while nominally retaining the function of the monarch. Day-to-day rulership is through elected officials, for which the citizens of the kingdom vote for, and they have term limits… Yup, that sounds familiar. It's a constitutional monarchy.》

Straf looks up from the parchment at Cycelia again, with his brows lifted almost to their exaggerated limit.

「…And? What do you think?」

Cycelia tilts her head, tapping her fingers together and avoiding direct eye contact. Straf continues quietly skimming through the text.

《Though while it is describing some vague notion of commoners' and nobles' rights, and limitations of the state…》

「It's… Very ahead of the times…」

Straf says, and nods his head as he reads through the list of the things commoners can and ought to do.

《…It also has a clause stating that she can hop right back into the throne at any time, forcing the parliament into an advisory-only role… Basically, she's baked the right to be a dictator into the constitution. That's pretty ballsy.》

「Yeah. You have no idea how ahead of the times you are, Lia. That's pretty good. I like it.」

Straf lowers the constitution. With a brazen smile, he praises Cycelia like a father praises his daughter for drawing him a picture of her family with crayons.

「Really!? You like it!? I worked long hours through the night to make a system where everyone is treated fairly and equally, regardless of their birth! I want a system where everyone has a say in how they are ruled!」

Cycelia smiles with a smile so bright, it is almost blinding. Her eyes light up like green spotlights, and her manner of speech becomes energetic and rapid. Straf forces a sly smirk back, barely holding his laughter back.

《Yeah, fair and equal…》

He takes a quick peek at the constitution, and sets it down on the table in front of them.

「So, uh… You don't know what to call this thing, huh?」

Straf asks, and a grin slips through.

「No. I read through history books to see if anyone had a system like this, but nobody really came close. There were attempts at voting, but it was for nobles. I want everyone to be able to vote and rule.」

She shakes her head, excitedly gesturing with her hands.

「Uh-huh… And this part here that says… 「The crown retains the ultimate right to rule and may resume its rule at its discretion.」… Isn't that a little… Self-defeating?」

Straf smirks, furrowing his brows, unable to holding his surfacing ridicule any longer.

「My ancestors built this kingdom, I reserve the right to rule it.」

Cycelia bluntly blurts out. Straf stares at Cycelia in a minor shock.

《…Woah, and she just went and said it completely bold-faced too.》

Straf's lips tremble, struggling to hold his laughter back.

「Is something wrong?」

Completely oblivious, she tilts her head, blinking in confusion.

「No, no, no… Of course. What kind of a kingdom doesn't have the throne, right?」

Straf holds his hands up, grinning.

「Yes, wouldn't that be silly?… What do you think about the voting part? Isn't that unique? I want the lowliest peasant and cobbler be equal to a noble, if the people want to be ruled by themselves.」

Cycelia proudly proclaims.

「Yeah, it's genius. If something goes wrong, you can just execute the current government, declare them traitors, take power back and then everyone will love you.」

Straf chuckles, spreading his hands. He slouches on the sofa and puts the boots up on the table again, narrowly avoiding placing them on Cycelia's hard work.

「…Execute? I don't think that will be necessary… I can just dismiss them if I deem their performance unsatisfactory.」

「Come on. You really don't want it to be their physical neck on the line?」

Straf asks, scoffing.

「No! The count killed enough people as is already.」

She denies with a raised, insistent voice.

「Alright then, your choice… By the way, what did you do with the body?」

「What body?」

Cycelia tilts her head, blinking.

「Nice. Already disappearing people, huh?」

Straf snaps his fingers and points at Cycelia with a grin.

「…Huh? What are you talking about exactly, Straf?」

Cycelia furrows her brows, and Straf is confused by her confusion.

「Come on, you can tell me. Unless it's another secret police kind of secret.」

Straf sighs and shrugs with his hands, looking at Cycelia with a tight-lipped grimace.

「Straf, I didn't even know about the Dragon Cult until recently… First, tell me what do you mean. What body?」

Cycelia sighs and rolls her eyes. She looks on Straf with patience, but there is very clearly frustration building up on her face.

「The count. Y'know, what did you do with him? Fed him to the pigs? Turned him to ash?」

Straf inquisitively spreads his hands, shrugging his shoulders a little.

「Ah, that…」

Cycelia looks down at the constitution on the table, and starts fidgeting with her fingers.

「Don't tell me you just left him to rot in that room, that'd be kind of gross.」

Straf points his thumb to the door, scoffing with a grin.

「No, I-… We gave him a state funeral…」

Cycelia shrugs, still looking downward and avoiding eye contact. All her previous vigor and energy are gone, and she stares at the parchment with a sullen expression.

「Wait, you mean with like, full honors and stuff?」

「Yes.」

「Procession?」

「Yes.」

「And guards and stuff, and everything else like some really important noble just died?」

「…Yes.」

Cycelia nods, becoming more and more gloomy with each nod. Straf throws up his hands, shaking his head in disbelief.

「…Why? I mean, he basically ruined everything for you.」

He asks with a squinted eye.

「…He deserved at least that much, in return for the funeral my family received.」

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

Cycelia quietly answers and starts blinking rapidly, still avoiding eye contact with Straf.

「Man… Lia, you are way too nice…」

Straf sighs, shaking his head again. A momentary silence begins.

「Corpses being mentioned, here's another morbid topic… A vampire murdered some guy in the city, there was a shredded corpse in an alley. Have you heard about that?」

Straf asks, propping his head up on his fist lazily.

「Yes… I have. One of the guards reported that to me. I'm somewhat concerned about that… I wonder if I made the right decision, with the lamps and all…」

Cycelia's wet, green eyes look up at Straf, and she nods. Her tone is still somewhat sullen, but recovering its color.

「Well, I also found Lily there. She was absolutely fuming. She was mumbling something about it being the same day, or something. She also told me she'll handle it on her own, so I'll just let her deal with it I guess.」

Straf shrugs, and scoffs with a grin.

「Lily said so? I see… I'm glad. It seems like she's actually going to take responsibility for her… Subjects, I suppose. I think the same day she was referring to, was her speech. It happened today, didn't it? Lily addressed the vampires last night.」

Cycelia sighs with relief and nods.

「Addressed the vampires?」

Straf furrows his brows, lightly shaking his head.

「Yes. She outlined a couple rules to them, and introduced herself to the vampires that entered the city. It's easy to see how frustrating it must be for her, it's almost like a direct challenge to her authority.」

「If she has any, that is.」

「Authority ultimately comes from power, Straf. And Lily is definitely powerful. I don't think I need to worry much about her… But…」

Cycelia looks down, and sighs again, this time with a troubled expression on her face.

「Things have really been falling apart while you were gone, Straf. Almost every day for the past two weeks, I received some form of bad news.」

「Like what?」

Straf shrugs with his hands.

「Oh, it's too much to even talk about… The Mage Federation is upset about the mercenary mage being restored by force to the guild membership… We are running out of money again… Now the war. I'm glad you are back, Straf. I really missed you, for many reasons.」

Cycelia sighs and a fatigued, but genuinely happy smile appears on her face.

「Wait, you're running out of money? You mean my 700 gold is already gone and you won't be repaying me?」

Straf furrows his brows, and asks with his finger extended.

「Um… Yes. Is that a problem, Straf? You didn't say when I should repay you-」

Cycelia starts anxiously fidgeting with her medallion as she grows small.

「No, it's not a problem, but… Tsk. I guess it's fine. It doesn't matter in the long run.」

Straf cuts Cycelia off and shakes his head, then sighs, placing his hand on his face.

「More importantly, Straf, I have received news that concerned me quite a lot. Bandits all over the kingdom are somehow getting their hands on magical artifacts. They're becoming quite a problem.」

Cycelia speaks with a serious expression and tone.

「Magical artifacts? Like what?」

Straf sits up out of his slouch and straightens out.

「All sorts of things, Straf. Things that make a regular bandit either extremely difficult to apprehend, or outright impossible. Have you figured out anything regarding the grimoire yet?」

「Uhhhhhhh…」

《In my pursuit of coffee, I forgot about this quest.》

Straf glances aside, and shrugs.

「Nope. Nothing yet. I'll let you know if I figure something out, though!」

Straf spreads his hands, attempting the most convincing grin he can muster.

「…I see. Please, if you do find the source of the artifacts, shut it down. The guards are getting overwhelmed by the sheer volume of bandits with dangerous items.」

Cycelia looks intensely into Straf's eyes with a grave face.

「Alright. So, are you rejoining the harem as a mobile member, or?…」

Straf spreads his arms as he asks.

「Ah… I wish I could come along, but I still have some administrative duties to fulfil. I'm glad you like my idea, Straf. I was really worried I came up with something stupid, but if you like it, it should be fine.」

Cycelia sighs and nods apologetically.

《Well, you did, but…》

「So, how much longer?」

Straf throws his hands up and sighs.

「A few days at most? I need to send a diplomat to Rankor Kingdom to negotiate for peace-」

She glances aside, thinking. Straf cuts in.

「Oh! About that, bleed them dry on the peace. You're running out of gold, right? Threaten that I'll come back, and I'll fuck their whole kingdom up unless they do as you say.」

Straf snaps his fingers and points at Cycelia with a smug smirk.

「What? I can't. Straf, for peace to last, it can't be unjust. I will demand some gold to compensate the slain and for the unwarranted aggression-」

She shakes her head and explains, gesturing with her delicate open hands.

「Lia, trust me, okay? Just bleed them for every single coin. If they can't afford it, make them go into debt for it. If they refuse, I'll just actualize on the threat. Remember Lia, bluffing never works.」

Straf leans in and insists, staring into Cycelia's green eyes.

「But… I…」

Cycelia leans backwards, but doesn't break eye contact. Straf's stare and his serious expression is intense. She blinks, and a warmth starts burning inside of her.

《I could send Straf to destroy them… I could bring them to heel… He turned back an army, who's to say he can't conquer an entire kingdom in my name, all by himself? And it's him telling me to do this, so it's okay, isn't it?-》

Cycelia drifts off to fantasy land, placing her hands on her face. She starts giggling, laughing as her gaze drifts away downwards with a grin on her face. Her heart starts pounding like a battering ram against a gate.

Snap snap snap.

「Lia, you alright?-」

「Eep!」

Straf snaps his fingers in front of her face, and Cycelia snaps out of her fantasies with a yelp very reminescent of a small critter being caught in hand, and screaming in panic. Her face flushes red as she looks at Straf through the gaps between her fingers on her face.

「…Do you do this often?」

Straf asks, furrowing his brows. Cycelia wordlessly shakes her head left and right as far as it goes.

「Um… Okay. I'll do that… But are you sure that's a good idea, Straf? They will either stop paying, or they will declare war again…」

Cycelia nods, and gulps before continuing the rest of her sentence. She calms her heavy breathing while still looking at Straf through her hands.

「Yup. That's exactly the point…」

He smirks and points at Cycelia.

「…Either they are free money, or you get an excuse to take their stuff. Isn't that great?」

Straf chuckles, spreading his arms.

「But… That's not how I want to rule-」

Cycelia lowers her hands, speaking in a sullen tone. Straf cuts in.

「Uh-uh-uh! You said the people get to rule! For now, those chumps become your source of income.」

Straf wags his finger and shakes his head.

「Let democracy decide whether the people want war or not. And let me tell you, Lia, war leaders are exremely popular. If the people say they don't want war, why do they vote for it so much? Am I right?」

Straf asks with a massive smug grin, shrugging his shoulders as he spreads his arms again.

「…I don't know? Time will tell, I suppose. Very well, I'll let the chancellor know of our demands. But I still need to spend a few days picking my administrators…」

She sighs, and Cycelia starts twiddling with her thumbs, looking down at her lap.

「How about you make me the minister of finances in return for the loan?」

Straf rubs his chin with a grin.

「What?」

She blinks rapidly, then tilts her head a little.

「Make me the minister of finances. I'll handle the kingdom's economy. You know, spending, budget, income… Everything related to money. How about that?」

Straf leans back, placing his elbow on the sofa's backrest as he puts his ankle on his knee.

「What?… Straf, I can't burden you with a duty as some sort of payment for the loan. It would be unfair-」

Cycelia blinks, furrowing her brows as she's fully perplexed.

「Ah, burden. What if I want to do it, huh?」

He dismissively waves Cycelia's words off, and shrugs with his hands.

「You do? Something as important? But…」

「Come on Lia, just make it official. The economy is in the hole, isn't it? I have some ideas of my own. Just let me at it.」

Straf confidently smirks at Cycelia. She sighs, then shrugs.

「…Very well. It will take a day or two for everyone in authority to be notified, but you can now consider yourself a… Er… Minister of finances of the Redwing Kingdom? I suppose?」

「Heh. Cool. You will be completely amazed by the changes I implement, Lia. You've got my word.」

Straf stands up and snaps his fingers one more time, pointing at Cycelia, then places his hands in his pockets.

「What are you planning, Straf?」

Cycelia stands up as well, as Straf heads for the door.

「Oh, you'll see. Economic changes, broadly speaking.」

Straf opens the door, and exits. Cycelia follows him out into the hallway, taking the constitution with her.

「See you later, Straf. Visit me often, okay?」

She calls out to Straf as he's walking away. He waves her farewell with the back of his hand…