- Shari -

The rest was wrapped up quite simply.

Liqu and I got our equipment delivered to us so that we could once again return to our adventurer personas.

The royalist soldiers went for some time through everything of interest in the facility and took what was interesting and easily removable.

Conveniently, they made a good deal of prisoners to help them carry.

The rest got tied up with suspiciously slimy rope.

Eventually, the procession starts to move back to the capital, while around a third of the soldiers remain to secure the area.

Fortunately, the captives could be convinced not to act up.

Probably because some were able to draw the connection between a royal expedition and a suspiciously convenient slime attack.

And nobody wants to get dissolved by slimes.

Though, I don't know how many of them can follow that trail of thought to the two cloaked figures who weren't there before.

Yet the greatest risk might be this crazed scientist who certainly saw too much.

I ask the captain about this certain issue.

"Are we seriously going to take her with us?" (Shari)

"You should be honored to dwell in the presence of an ascended spirit such as mine." (Irene)

"We don't have much of a choice. Her expertise might be invaluable. And there's a high chance that she knows details which Count Loria isn't even aware of." (Michael)

Sure, that's possible, but I find myself hard-pressed not to ask Liqu to erase her from existence.

It helps that Michael grants me a small boon while Captain Soma contributes by looking scary.

"Just so we understand each other, Irene, if you start to blurt out anything to anyone you think might listen, then I'll personally cut your throat before too many words may pass your tongue." (Michael)

"Okay, okay. I'll be perfectly well-behaved. Not like I want to imagine what happens to my corpse afterward." (Irene)

Well, I won't touch her, but I can't speak for Liqu.

At least this threat proves to be effective, and she won't say more unnecessary things aside from repeated exclamations about how great she is.

So we manage to reach the gates of the capital without trouble.

And since we're on an official mission of the crown we don't even have to wait.

"I'm going to take my leave. I have to make a report and am not good with crowds. Bye!" (Michael)

With this, he leaves.

So we go straight to the palace.

Well, not everyone.

Apparently somewhere in this city is also a prison where the prisoners are brought to be confined and interrogated.

And this means I can finally say goodbye to a certain annoying individual.

"So how does your sensory perception work? Those eyes are certainly not working the same as normal ones." (Irene)

I hate her!

"Change of plans. We're commanded to bring the head researcher to the palace for a thorough interrogation." (Soma)

What have I done to you world?!

"Oh great! I demand some private quarters. Naturally, not the ones you give to the common folk. The good ones for nobles. Oh, and three meals a day of sufficient quality. But most importantly, my grapes. I can't think without those." (Irene)

Yes, that woman is a hassle.

I can't imagine why anyone would like to stay involved with her.

No, now she's the problem of that guard captain over there.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"Lock her up, and do it well. Set thrice the number of guards in front of her 'quarters'. We can, with certainty, expect assassination attempts." (Soma)

"Yes, sir!" (warden)

But now Captain Soma turns to us.

"We're going to return to the palace to report our findings." (Soma)

What exactly were our findings?

As far as I know, we only found a bunch of stuff to produce slave collars, which I truly hope we're not going to make use of.

The procession to the palace is fortunately uneventful.

Though I hide my face a little deeper within my cloak.

Even if I wear a mask, it has an intricate design that might be recognizable to people, and it would bother me if people would relate me to this event.

I doubt that this would be good for my identity as a slime.

We split from Irene and head, once again, to the secured palace compartment of the royal family, since this is the only place where one can talk about stuff like countrywide conspiracies.

Yet the first place to go for us is our quarters.

Captain Soma insists on it and I wouldn't even know what else I could add.

But the main reason is the meal waiting there for us.

Liqu is already developing her food-depravation restlessness.

Which is less due to any serious lack and more because it's a very teasing feeling not to be completely full.

After we have restored our reserves in a sufficient way it's now finally time for a well-deserved rest.

"Knock, knock"

My mistake.

I should've learned by now what my wishful thinking might summon.

"Yes?!" (Shari)

"Ahem, the queen wishes to see you in the meeting hall." (servant)

Well, I suppose I can't tell her that I want her to wait till I feel like it.

But I might take this chance to ask her for better working conditions.

Still, for now, it means getting presentable and slipping back into the clothes I dropped earlier for dissolving my meal.

The servant outside apparently doesn't appreciate my effort and shows the same signs of suppressed distress I'm all too used to.

So we are a short time later at the door to the meeting hall.

"My queen, I brought 'them'." (servant)

Should I be offended by this way to refer to us?

"Enter." (Serenia)

I don't waste any time and push past the servant who almost seems to be stalling on purpose.

"Good day." (Shari)

My tone is a bit grumpy since I'd like to enjoy a break once in a while.

"Likewise. Are you well? You seem a little strained. If this is possible for your kind." (Serenia)

"May I say, we just returned from our mission, and you seem to have the concerning tendency to call us overly frequently?" (Shari)

"Mind your words! You're talking to your liege!" (Soma)

It's nothing new that Captain Soma is directly on her side.

Though, what surprises me a bit is that he said liege.

As such, he recognizes us as her subjects which refers to a certain status.

"Captain Soma, it's not necessary to defend me here. It's true that I demanded much from those two. Though, I fear I'll have to state more requests before this is over." (Serenia)

"And when will everything be over? After this whole revolution is settled? What will happen after this? Are we forever going to be sent on one mission after the other?" (Shari)

"But we're getting sustenance and aren't attacked. Isn't this what you wanted?" (Liqu)

Damnit!

Liqu, stop sabotaging my negotiation efforts!

"That's only part of it. Or do you think it's a balanced relationship if one party always does what the other orders and can never decide for themselves without having a single moment to spend as they like?" (Shari)

"Oh! That doesn't sound too fair to me! Just good that you allow me so many things. Like linking!" (Liqu)

Please stop talking about the very intimate details of our relationship.

"I understand and will do everything in my power to remedy this issue, yet the general problem that we're understaffed won't change." (Serenia)

"So what is it now?" (Shari)

"I suggest you stop speaking to her highness in such a manner." (Soma)

"Captain Soma, this truly isn't necessary. I can understand their worries. It's only natural in their position to fear being taken advantage of." (Serenia)

Then she turns towards us.

"Don't mind Captain Soma. He tends to be overly formal. In fact, you're here because I wanted to commend you. The captain was lauding you to a great degree, saying that you two did an excellent job. Because of your presence and involvement, our forces apparently met barely any resistance, leading to minimal losses and many caught conspirators. You should be proud, this man is quite stingy with his praise." (Serenia)

The captain in question doesn't even dare to look in our direction.

"Nice to hear we are appreciated but this was certainly not the sole reason for calling us, right?" (Shari)

"No it wasn't. In fact I want you, Shari, to pose as my guard for the time being. I need to confirm something, and while Captain Soma is an outstanding fighter, it can't hurt to be safe rather than sorry." (Serenia)

Why is she calling me out like this?

"What about Liqu?" (Shari)

"Yes, what about me?" (Liqu)

She points with an extended tendril at herself.

"You're going to visit my daughter." (Serenia)

"She is!?!" (Shari/Soma)

"I was told that she acted as her guard before, so it should guarantee my daughter's safety. But the bigger reason is that, just like you, my daughter is surprisingly smart in certain areas. One would be that she can be distrustful enough to believe I might not tell her if I disposed of you. So I'd like to prove to her differently." (Serenia)

Sounds, in some way, reasonable.

"So now I'm going to be your guard for the rest of the day?" (Shari)

What about my break?!

"To be honest, this will only be a small endeavor. We'll return soon. Liqu, please let the servant outside the room guide you to my daughter's quarters. But mind yourself, I won't allow unbecoming conduct. This includes all kinds of sullying her with your matter or excessive cavorting." (Serenia)

"Whatever. But I like the girl." (Liqu)

I'm still not entirely convinced if Liqu should be part of any parenting plan.

Yet I don't get to point this out when she turns to me.

"We on the other hand are now going to the confinement quarters. There's someone I have to meet." (Serenia)

Oh, I've got a very bad feeling about this.