by Andur
I close my mouth. Ok. I admit it, she is the better ruler. Not that I care that much about ruling a principality. I just want to do my research. “Is there anyone who doesn't have a grudge against me?”
She tilts her head while thinking. “There are some. But they don't have as much reason to like you, as those two have to dislike you.”
I huff and watch the Jarl's mistress, who has reached the throne and places herself on top of it. The throne is much too big for the graceful beauty with long straw coloured hair. Her body is not very curvy, but that only adds to her sharp facial features. Probably she could melt hearts if she decided to smile.
Then she starts to speak. “I am Natasha, second wife of Jarl Ibrahim the Great. And I am currently ruling Norfolk in absentia of the Jarl!”
A murmur passes through the hall. Then someone calls out from farther behind. “A woman can't rule Norfolk! Why do we even have to listen to you! The Jarl is dead!”
I look and find a dark dressed guy to be the source of the provocation.
“That's King Sven Sveralk. He is one of the hardliners against the Jarl.” Celestial whispers to me.
“Because the Jarl had no children. Nor are there any living relatives by blood!” Natasha speaks loud and with a steady voice. “And that's why he left a testament behind. It's signed and confirmed by six of the people who are present here today!”
Natasha pulls a document with six seals out of her robe and raises it while looking around and six nobles raise their hands.
I glance at Celestial. “I suspect that those guys are loyal supporters of the Jarl?” Celestial nods without saying anything.
Then Natasha breaks the six seals and starts to read.
If this document is read to the assembled leaders of my principalities and kingdoms, it means that I am dead. And I left no proper heirs behind. But don't despond, my devoted subjects! I have thought of everything.
This testament was created in anticipation of the current situation. And because I knew that you idiots would start to fight one another once I was no more. To be honest I never had any hopes that you guys manage something reasonable without me.
I forged Norfolk when I was young and resourceful. I beat all of you into submission until even the biggest idiot acknowledged my superiority! We had over five hundred years of war before I came and put an end to it!
So, to avoid history repeating, I thought long and hard about someone who is able to control a group of wild animals like you! So hear the choice of your Jarl. As I am now in full possession of all my mental and magical powers.
My heir is Ascathon Asceron and his house. All my rights, possessions and responsibilities belong to him from today on! He is the new Jarl! Of course taking over my position includes taking good care of my lovely wives! I will watch you from the next life.
If someone wishes to dispute this testament, he has to duke it out with my heir. Although I don't have much hope for you guys to survive a duel with him.
Natasha purses her lips innocently and folds the document together.
All eyes in the hall move to me and then to my wheelchair. Why are they looking at me like I am wounded prey?
Then I feel killing intent close to me and my head snaps to Celestial.
She has a bittersweet smile on her face and taps the table with her fingers.
“So you have two wives from now on, eh?”
“I am innocent!”
58 - Tradition.
Norfolk, Capital-City
Celestial
“I am innocent!”
Should I really believe that!? Surely he negotiated for something like this with the Jarl! He had a strange connection to the Jarl! Why else would he be accepted as a noble from Norfolk!
But even if he is innocent or not, I have to come up with something! I won't share Ascathon with someone else! Me being part of a harem!!? That's the end! I would arrive at the ultimate bottom of womanhood!
Who in her right mind would be happy to see her partner getting intimate with someone else! And I am not lesbian either! I have a child with this guy for gods sake!
What to do? Think fast before anyone gets over the shock of this revelation! On the other hand, nobody said that this Natasha is now his wife. The document just said that he has to take care of her. But the dickheads in this room will surely interpret the testament with their own perverted thoughts.
That's it! I shoot up and my chair topples over. Ascathon rolls a little backwards in anticipation that the need to escape could arise. I point at my dear husband and smile.
“♠~I challenge you to a duel for the position of the Jarl!~♠”
If the room was silent before, the silence is now complete! If I would drop a needle, I could probably hear the impact on the ground. A few pearls of sweat form on my forehead, as I think of the implications of my actions.
I just broke several traditions. Like speaking up loudly during a discussion between men. Like challenging my own husband in public. Like trying to get into a position of power despite being a woman! Fuck this country!
A few mixed feelings play over Ascathon's face as he probably has similar thoughts. He looks down on his lap and starts to mumble. “A principality is already troublesome to manage … how troublesome is the whole fucking nation?” Then a smile forms on his face and he waves with both hands towards the throne with Natasha on it.
“~Sure. Take it. You are the new Jarl. It's all yours.~”
“Eh. Really? You have no problem with it?” I tap my lip with my index finger.
He shakes his head. “None at all! ~Sugar Cat.~ … erm, I should probably say Jarl!”
Okaaay? Did he think about something I didn't? I took this decision in the spur of the moment. But if I don't go through with it now, it will have a serious impact on my reputation.
So I walk quickly to the throne and snatch the testament out of Natasha's hand. Then I grab the shocked girl at the collar and lift her out of the throne to place her beside it. “You can be the new maid! I will need an assistant.”
Then I take my place on the throne and smile at the people under me. This thing is really a little too big, I need to make it smaller.
“D... Don't joke with us! First the Jarl's concubine and now the slave-wife of someone who wasn't even born in Norfolk?” King Sven Sveralk starts screaming with all his might.
“So you challenge me?” I arch an eyebrow and smile. That one will be the perfect example!
He starts walking up to me while a shard of ice starts to form above his right hand. “I don't challenge you! I will remove you from that chair! And then we will finally start talking for real!”
Sven thrusts his hand forward and the shard of ice flies in my direction, so I invoke my battle aura and stand up while ignoring the weak attack. The shard breaks upon impacting on my chest and I grab the throne.
It's big and heavy. Made out of big and heavy wooden trunks and iron rods, which are holding the whole thing together. The previous Jarl needed such a sturdy chair, otherwise he would have had to sit on the floor.
The throne is the perfect weapon to fight magicians!
Then I jump with the throne above my head and use it like a club, striking down at the offender! I hear a scream and the breaking of bones, as the heavy throne squashes King Sven Sveralk. After confirming that there is no more movement under the throne, I look around at the assembled party.
“~Is there anyone else who wishes to object?~”
Some people turn and try to run for the door, but the huge and heavy doorwings fly shut on their own. A clicking sound marks them being locked and a huge metal joist falls into position to seal the gate completely.
Ascathon wheels slowly in front of the door and turns to face the assembled party. The wheels are jarring a little, which makes the entire scene a little bizarre. Especially because he isn't using his hands and the wheelchair seems to move on its own.
Then he smiles. “The doors are locked until this issue is solved to my satisfact
ion. We can't have a civil war at this moment. Phenex is solidifying its position and Mislow plus the Nation of Mist have proven that they are willing to attack us. No one will walk out of this room until everyone's signed a magical contract to obey the new Jarl.”
He pulls a stash of papers from his clothing and waves it at everybody. “Fortunately, I always have the needed materials with me. Just in case, if should I need a few more employees.”
“We aren't some commoners who can be bound with magical contracts! Who do you think you are!?” Duke Erwin decides to throw a fireball at Ascathon, but the spell hits a barrier and disperses.
My husband sighs and places the documents on his lap. “This could have been so much easier.” Duke Erwin is lifted into the air above everyone else. He is visibly fighting with the power that grabbed him, but the effort seems to be wasted.
“Whatever you do! You won't break my barrier! I am confident to be capable of the best barrier spell in Norfolk!” Duke Erwin starts a rant while rowing through the air with his hands and feet.
Ascathon smacks his head. “The best barrier spells are useless if you can't fortify yourself in a fixed position.”
Then Erwin starts to spin. First slowly, then faster and faster at incredible speed, while screaming with a Doppler effect. The situation lasts for several seconds until the scream stops and a brown liquid starts to spiral away from the Duke, who blurred into a spinning something.
The guests hastily got away from the affected area, while those who were hit are bemoaning their fate. Shortly after, the twitching and crying Duke floats to the ground. “I will sign! I will sign...”
“Then please start to form a line and I will hand you the contracts.” Ascathon starts to hand out the contracts.
Someone taps my shoulder and I turn to see Natasha eyeing me with fear. “Are there possibilities to climb higher in rank than being a maid or secretary? You know, I am very good at managing this country...”
I eye her for several seconds. “I won't share my husband!”
Natasha nods. “No need to share, he is all yours! Though I have to ask, you aren't interested in women? No? Too bad. The expression says it all...” She shuts up after witnessing my expression.
I look deep into her eyes, but I recognize no deceit. “Fine. We will see what you can do. Of course that's regarding affairs of the state and nothing else!”
Natasha starts to smile satisfied, while Ascathon rolls towards us. “I handed the troublesome stuff to someone who already signed.”
“I still want to know why the Jarl handed everything to you.” I fold my arms in front of my chest.
“Maybe I can help... Ibrahim always kept a multitude of documents and testaments in his chambers. Just in case that something might happen to him. He cared very much for his wives. So in case of his death, we should be able to deal with the situation to our benefit.” Natasha explains.
“Eh? So becoming my property is beneficial to you?” Ascathon smirks with a dirty expression, while looking at Natasha.
Hmpf... Why does this sting so much! He shouldn't look like that at other women!
“Ibrahim cared for us, but he was still a follower of tradition in some aspects. It was the best testament I had to choose from. The others either didn't fit, or would have left me off worse. Ibrahim couldn't see everything in advance. But he seriously thought that you would be able to prevent a civil war in case of his death.” Natasha starts to fiddle with her fingers.
“I see.” I turn to Ascathon. “And now … why didn't you object to me becoming the Jarl!?”
Ascathon smirks and looks back at the assembled group of people. They are almost done with signing contracts. Then he hands me one of the contracts.
I grab the paper and start to read. “ … bla … bla … complete obedience to Ascathon Asceron and his house!? They needed to swear to me!” I rip the paper and look at him. “I am just a figurehead if it's like this!”
He shrugs. “What did you expect? I am not carrying magical contracts with your name around.”
“Argh! I have been had!” I drop the papers and stomp onto them.
"Well Dear, the devil is in the details."
59 - What shall never be known.
Norfolk, Sarn-Valley, Sarn
Sera
Sometimes I ask myself why I am doing all this. All the effort to force my parents closer to each other and they manage to thwart it the very moment they are alone.
My grandparents even forgot to fight with each other for a while after Ascathon and Celestial returned. When they learned about Celestial's new position as the Jarl, they almost got a heart attack.
Celestial on the other hand doesn't seem too happy with her new position. She has a constant eye on her new assistant Natasha, who turned out to be the former Jarl's widow.
I think that Natasha poses no danger to her position at all. That's because I think that she is more interested in women than men. Is that a direct consequence of being part of a harem?
Despite that fact my mother is treating Natasha like competition. Although the woman hasn't shown any ambition to do something problematic. Probably mother is afraid that Natasha could actually try something on her.
And Celestial hasn't talked much to Ascathon since they came back. Both of them dove into their work to get the administration of Norfolk under control.
They even already announced Sarn as the new capital! Being the Jarl gives you a lot of power I guess.
Anyway... it's time for drastic measures. I will play my trump card! First I will deal with mom and then with dad. I just need to play my hand properly and see to it that they don't learn that I manipulated them. It has to look like I am actually conspiring with them.
I arrive at my mother's office and take a look inside. She is alone and sitting at her desk. Good! “Mom? Could we talk for a while? I have something important to tell you.”
She turns and smiles. “Of course, dear. Is there a problem?”
“I want to talk about dad. You two buried yourselves in work and didn't talk much recently.” I walk closer and try to look into her eyes, but the edge of the desk is too high! Damn! My puppy eyes attack was foiled by a desk! I planned to look just over the edge to kill her with my cuteness!
“It's nothing to worry about Sera. We are simply a little occupied at the moment. And he tricked me, so I have a little too much work at the moment.” She shakes her head and signs another document.
I walk around the table and hold her shirt while looking up. “But despite everything, he still really likes you.”
Celestial sighs. “Look, Sera. We talked over this again and again. It's nice that you are trying to help in your own shrewd way, but ...”
“But I am sure of it! I even have proof!” I grab her hand to lead her outside. “I will show you his greatest secret.”
Celestial's expression turns sharper. “You will show me his weakness?”
“One of his weaknesses.” I lead her down into the basement, where his private laboratory is located.
Celestial becomes a little anxious. “I don't think that this is a good idea. What if he catches us? I promised that I wouldn't rummage through his lab ... since that accident.”
“That's fine. He is outside to supervise a new project and won't be back for quite a while. And I am the one who did the rummaging.” I lead her inside and into a small empty chamber.
“Didn't he take better care of his stuff after you threatened him with the contents of a certain box?” Celestial looks around.
“He changed the hiding place and put several seals on the new location. But I was a good pupil and he underestimated me. I bugged him to learn of the new spot. To be honest, I wouldn't have found it without this measure.” I place both hands on the ground and infuse my mana into it.
A magical circle starts to form on the floor. Finally it covers the walls and even the ceiling.
“~~~That which has to be forgotten,~~~
~~~that which is the greatest treasure,~
~~
~~~that which nobody should know,~~~
~~~my greatest weakness! Appear!~~~”
A box starts to form out of thin air and finally materializes completely in front of me and the magical circle disappears. I grab the box and start to fiddle with the complicated locking mechanism.
Celestial kneels down beside me. “You know, that formula sounded like he really didn't want anyone to know. Probably I shouldn't...”
But I interrupt her. “Don't you want to know a man's ultimate shame? He even went through the trouble to hide this in an extradimensional space! And it's even more important because he is your husband!”
*Click*
Celestial grabs the opening box and tilts it. The contents are emptied onto the floor and a pile of blueprints spreads in front of us. She grabs one of the papers and looks over them. “Those are just construction plans. Airships, mana cores, railguns, … nukes!?”
I grab the sheets from Celestial's hand. “Those are just distraction! The important stuff is under the false bottom!” I start to work on the box again. The false bottom is loosened by a few jabs onto the side of the box and I place it to the side.
Then I dive with my whole upper body into the box, which makes Celestial gasp. “No problem! It's a magical box with extra space inside.”
I resurface with a stash of pictures. There is a really stupid picture of mom on top of the stash. And there are pictures of everyone else in the family too. “He has pictures of everyone in his household. And there are especially many of you!”
Mother takes the stash with a complicated face. “That was when I first learned that I was pregnant with you.”
“Oh... seems like I wasn't planned. But I already know that.” Again I dive into the box and get another smaller box out of it.
“What's that.” Celestial asks.