Two Weeks
When Scarlet opened her eyes, a set of large brown eyes met hers.
"You are awake at last, your majesty." Sunshine remarked with glee. She joyfully laid aside the damp towel she had been using to wipe the queen's face earlier.
With a moan, Scarlet struggled to sit up, and Sunshine helped her.
"How long have I been asleep?" She asked, leaning against the headboard and cautiously scanning the room with her crimson eyes.
It is the same room where she had given birth to the tenth royal child.
"Your Majesty, you had been sleeping for two weeks already." Her courteous response was accompanied by a hint of respect and worshipful eyes that caused Scarlet to raise a brow.
"Ah, you're majesty, are you perhaps hungry?" Sunshine added,
The two fell silent as a growling sound reverberated throughout the room after that.
*AHEM*
To cover up her embarrassment Scarlet cleared her throat.
"Please give me a glass of water; my throat is a little dry. Also, have the kitchen make me some food." With a blush on her lovely face, she asked.
"I understood, Your Majesty."
Sunshine chuckles as she prepares a glass of water and hands it to her.
"I shall now take my leave, Your Majesty." Sunshine announces and Scarlet nodded in answer, continuing to sip her water.
Sunshine couldn't help but smile broadly as she left the royal chamber simply because she hadn't heard the queen protest or lose her temper.
'Thanks to Holy God Illuminus, the queen had genuinely changed.'
Unaware from the thoughts of the brown haired maid, Scarlet is now looking at the floating system in front of her.
She had been sleeping for two weeks during that time a lot must have happened
[Main Quest #1 - The Wall of the North]
Category: Main
Difficulty: S
Clear Conditions: Defeat the Beast Tide
Time Limit: 3 Months (Countdown: DAYS [76] l HOURS [1,824: 40: 12] )
Compensation: The Queen's Death
Failure: Death]
[Main Quest # 2 – The Fall of the East]
Category: Main
Difficulty: S
Clear Conditions: Win the war
Time Limit: 6 Months (Countdown: DAYS [166] l HOURS [3,984: 40: 12] )
Compensation: The Dungeon of Ru
Failure: Death]
Main Quest # 2 also had been activated.
'This two seems difficult because it requires a lot of preparation to finish,' Scarlet scowled.
The Dark Haze's startling rate of expansion is what causes the beast tide in the north, which drives animals and beasts to seek refuge elsewhere. Despite the fact that a towering, thick wall has been built on the ground to keep the vast number of beasts at bay, they are nevertheless able to enter the territory.
There are many advantages and disadvantages to war, therefore developing effective strategy is essential to winning. She acknowledges that she doesn't know much about this topic, but she has seen and read a lot of action and military films and books, so she has some idea of how military operations work. And how could she have forgotten that she had knights and brilliant, intelligent generals like Aiden Kroft under her command? She only hopes they will help her.
"Moonlight." She calls and a man in black appeared kneeling on the side of the bed.
"The White Crow sings for the Queen. What is your command, your majesty?"
After witnessing Castell's face earlier, Scarlet remembered that Moonlight had previously been her brother's personal knight. Moonlight also swore to serve the original [Scarlet] and help her seek revenge after the prince died, which is how the White Crow came into existence and how her murderous rampage was successful.
"Give me a summary of what has happened over the last two weeks," she asked calmly. As a matter of fact, she remains wary of her surroundings and others.
Owning a large business gave her experience and allowed her to observe many people for who they really are. However, because of the pledges taken by the White Crow members, they are currently the only people she can trust because she has their lives at her disposal.
"According to my subordinates Oak of the forest and Lucy that dances under the bridge after your majesty successfully save the royal children, you suddenly fainted however during that time a bright, warm golden light enveloped your majesty's body…" Moonlight paused and looks at her which made her raised a brow and gesture him to continue.
"Bishop Graham and the priests of Cathedral of Soliel confirm it's the highest degree of [Holy Light] which mostly bestowed by the God of Sun, Illuminus to his chosen saints and the Pope." Moonlight continued as he looks at the serene queen and an idea suddenly crosses his mind.
'Are my subordinates' statements true? Is the former a demon and she the real queen?'
On the other side, Scarlet was mentally concealing her happiness. Suddenly, the cheap god helps him a lot so she can think of a better excuse for covering up her lies.
"I see, the God of Sun is really benevolent," she added, pretending to cough, "Without his and the other gods' help I can't return this body. Also notify the Cathedral of Soliel and the other religions that this queen allows them to hold public religious events and activities."
Moonlight's astonished expression is seen in her silver eyes. The queen detested all the gods, which is why she banned religious activity and commanded that anybody who disobeyed be killed, restricting priests and followers to private prayer and church visits. In addition to confirming his earlier thoughts, the queen's actions also allowed him to verify that the current queen and the former are different person.
"By the way, what happened to the skeletons and that place?" She asked with curiosity. Given how difficult it was to defeat those skeletons since they kept coming back to life, she wonders how they did it.
Moonlight wipe out the shock on his face and look at her seriously.
"We had made every effort to keep those monsters inside the sewer as much as possible with the assistance of the Black Hounds and the priests of the Cathedral of Soliel, but their numbers kept increasing."
"How were they defeated?" Scarlet interrupted, and Moonlight gave her a questioning look before continuing.
A little while later, the entire place was immediately bathed in a brilliant golden light, the skeletons abruptly turned to ashes, and the altar was also set on fire. According to the priest of the Cathedral of Soliel, it is also the [Holy Light] of the God of sun, Illuminus. "
'If he's capable of that, why did he make me to go through all that suffering?" she inwardly cursed.
Scarlet rubs her aching head, feeling overwhelmed by the questions that keep coming up.
'Baby steps, Scarlet. Baby steps.' She repeated as she calmed her thoughts
"I also sent Rogue painted with blood and Cain the scorching sun to investigate further the origins of the altar." Moonlight added.
"All right, what about the royal children and the royal consort?" she inquired.
She had no issues with the children because the capital's magical power prevented them from leaving, but she was it is head ache with the royal consort because she needed to increase their rate of love.
Although she can still utilize her ability [Eternal Love], she can't stop them from leaving the capital; the reason she gives them freedom is to compromise in order to assist her in putting an end to the rebellion, and she cannot take it back because she has already taken an oath.
"The first consort is living in Primrose Palace with the first royal child and with the exception of Commander Aiden Kroft, who has returned to his residence, and the ninth consort, who is staying at one of the Selestine Tower branch in the capital, the other consorts are staying at Primrose Palace. Also all of the royal children, with the exception of the first, are resting in Freesia Palace."
As she recalls, there are three palaces for residence: Freesia, Primrose, and finally Amaryllis, where she was living. The remaining structures on the palace grounds are primarily large royal council offices and empty luxury buildings that she had ordered to be constructed.
"I see," she said, "Pass my order to Merida, accommodate all their needs." The silver-haired man brightened as he heard his lover's name. Scarlet notice this and she can't help but shook her head helplessly.
According to what she remembers, Moonlight is a handsome guy behind his mask, but because of a clause in their oath, [Scarlet] cannot have him as a consort. In his defense, his heart and body belong to Merida, his lover. He was so head over heels with her.
"Ah, what about the people, how are they?" she recalls.
They were innocent, but they are the ones who suffer the most from this rebellion since it ruined their homes and affect their live hood.
"Everyone returned to their homes with Prime Minister Lancaster's assistance. He also asked for some aid relief, but the Chamber of Finance repeatedly turned down his requests." Scarlet scowled when she heard it.
"What is the reason?"
"Lord Volor claimed that the treasury lacked sufficient gold and silver to assist the victims and you're your majesty had already used the remaining funds to build another ballroom building inside the palace ground." Moonlight explained.
*PING*
Scarlet was startled when she hears a notification noise and a blue system prompt appeared infront of her.
[Congratulations you have discovered a hidden quest.]
[ Hidden Quest – Let's get rich.
Difficulty: S
Clear Conditions: Reach 100 Prosperity rate.
Failure: Kingdom destruction]
Summary:
Both the Kingdom of Avelion and its people are depressed and poor. The system made the decision to assist them in leading happy and peaceful lives, and to do so, we must become rich!
[Due to unlocking of the hidden quest the system will upgrade the user's system]
[ For further information please open the envelope below.]
She ignores the gold flashing envelope beneath the system prompt for the time being as she tries to recall the name of the Chamber of Finances' director.
Then, an obese man with flat nose and thick lips flashes on her mind; it was no other than Viscount Sator Volor.
Scarlet couldn't help but suspicious. . However, as the White Crow's only responsibility is to defend the queen, they have no evidence to back up her claims. The former Scarlet doesn't care about anyone but herself and simply wants to spend lavishly; therefore she doesn't know whether there some is corrupting the kingdom's fund.
Inhaling deeply, Scarlet looks at the enchanted clock on the bedside table; it was already ten thirty in the evening, according to the clock.
She had gotten plenty of sleep earlier and she didn't want to disturb anyone, with that she dismissed Moonlight.
"For now, Moonlight, that's all. Thank you."