Subtle Sovereignty | Chapter II: Golden Treaty | By Twisted Eternal Wolvetta
Two Years Ago
Getting a tap against the shoulder by a messenger, the heralder quickly got off his perch. "Her Majesty has entered Court, please stand for the Queen!" Upon his announcement, the guards by the Court entrance unbarred the doors with their spears.
"Remember the plan, Kruger." Sergei, Baron of August whispered in the far reaches of the Court. "My men could only smuggle a single shot inside." Sweeping his hand beneath his cloak, he unveiled a lead ball. Pressing it into the woman's hand, he spun on his heel and pushed into the crowd.
"The war has impacted the eastern regions terribly." The Queen spoke from her throne before her noble audience. "By royal decree, I order that they are funded appropriately and their militia are trained accordingly." Discontent mumblings arose, so she merely lifted a hand to silence it. "Lords; would I not do the same for our city? They are on the Altai border—our neighbouring enemy." Sweeping her gaze across the room, she awaited further silence as the nobility grumbled. "...We cannot withstand another attempted invasion. We know this—as do they, and so, I recommend a treaty with their enemy." Outrage poured across the chamber, causing the Queen to subtly sigh.
"An alliance with Lutecia? But we have been en—"
"—enemies with them for centuries, yes?" Her Majesty finished for him easily. "Now is not the time for petty squander. We either act now, or become overrun at our weakest." Due to Windbloom and Lutecia's similar size and economy, they had been natural rivals for generations. "You there, Ambassador Gallagher. You are to travel to Lutecia tomorrow with my treaty, letter and Altain maps." Thanks to espionage some years ago, they had chartered a portion of Altai's border. Lutecia would find this useful, as their territory was blocked by the Golden Mountains.
Natsuki, meanwhile, had slipped into the crowd. Sergei must be raging at this news as he's from northern Altai. Searching past the multitude of nobility, she eventually spotted him. As expected, he looked furious. "He's passed it over." She murmured quietly to the woman beside her. "He also has it." Nodding, she bypassed her and edged towards the front.
"Your Majesty." One of the Ministers announced, bowing low before the throne's stairs. "Your home nation, Zipang: They have recently opened to foreigners. How might we continue our alliance without putting strain upon it? There's word they have allied with Altai's neighbour, Taiyun."
"Rumours are mere rumours. My agents within Zipang have reported nothing of such."
As time flowed by aggravatingly, Sergei's anger started brimming. Where is Kruger?! She should have proceeded with the plan by now! Unable to spot her through the crowd, his impatience all but snapped. Fine, he'd do this himself. Pushing through the audience, people started to notice something was up. "Queen Shizuru!" He declared, confusing and displeasing the entire Court. Reaching into his cloak, he brandished an already loaded flintlock. "Rot in Hell, you who—"
A blast rang out through the chamber, his body smashing to the floor. Blood oozed freely from his shattered temple, a lead bullet lodged inside. The Court was briefly silent until chaos erupted.
"Silence!" The Queen ordered, peering down at the corpse presented before her.
Stepping forward, Natsuki, who had dealt the shot, halted before Sergei's body. "Your Majesty. Sergei, Baron of August has been neutralised." Bowing low, she transitioned into a kneeling position before the corpse. Rifling through clothing, she quickly found a sealed letter which had been opened. "I have been tracking him since last year when he entered Windbloom through Lutecia." Guards quickly surrounded her, and she offered the letter and flintlocks to one. "I was W." She explained, referring to her codename in the letters sent to Shizuru.
Looking upon the woman, Her Majesty's interest piqued greatly. "W, you say…" Leaning an arm against her throne's armrest, she brushed her fingers to her lips. "What a pleasant surprise."
Present Day
Natsuki hated the Court. Alone for now, she sat herself down upon the steps. She was inside the observatory; a circular chamber with a large telescope within the centre. Surrounding it were these steps Natsuki sat against. Sighing, she rested a forearm against her knees and crammed her head into it. Why had Shizuru sent her here, she wondered? Natsuki closed her eyes, but was interrupted when she heard the door creak open.
"...Natsuki?" The Queen entered, spinning on her heel and deftly locking this door. Approaching the Spymaster, she noticed the quirked brow, and smiled. "It has been a long day." She remarked, sitting down beside her. "The Secretary of State is ill, so she shall not be here tonight." She implied to Natsuki.
"Huh… well, I hope she feels better soon." The Spymaster murmured, not having read the atmosphere. Pausing, she looked to Shizuru who had grasped her arm. "Your Ma—" She attempted, but was interrupted.
"—Hush, Natsuki." The Queen propped her head against her shoulder. "I wish to remain like this for a time." She murmured, entwining their hands together within her lap. "...By my order." Was added playfully.
"W-wai—" Giving up, a sigh released from the Spymaster. "You are unbelievable sometimes, you know that?" She accused weakly, slouching against Shizuru partially. How had this happened? Natsuki still couldn't figure it out. At a young age she had been picked up by her local militia. From there she had become a bounty hunter, dealing with her region's petty bandits. She started losing track when the Fuuka Barony adopted her into their ranks. "But, I do have a question."
"Mh…?" Shizuru hummed into her throat.
"W-why did you choose me?"
"What a silly question." The Queen pulled back to view her properly. Laughing quietly, her hands ran to Natsuki's shoulders. "You brazenly shot my to-be-assassinator before my entire Court. Who would not be attracted to such displays?" She edged closer, causing the Spymaster's hand to support their weight from behind. "...If Natsuki ruled, would her heart shudder like mine did?"
There it was again, the innuendos were returning. "I-I wouldn't really have an idea what it's like being Queen?" She asked, glancing down to the hands curling into her ruffled shirt.
"Oh?" Mischievous crimson stared, fingertips teasingly digging against silk fabric. "Perhaps not. Who says Natsuki would not without training? She would make a bold Queen, methinks." Shizuru cracked a smile, a rush of excitement simmering as Natsuki's eyes swept downwards. "...Na-tsu-ki." The syllables seductively rolled off the sovereign's tongue. "What shall she do to me?"
O-oh, Gods'... Natsuki leaned further back, but the monarch merely followed. Heart hammering within her chest, she quickly found Shizuru between her legs.
"...Or what shall I do to you?"
A/N: Thanks to the abrupt feedback, I just had to continue this. I love writing Shizuru with overwhelming sexual tension. I wonder what will happen next? Always remember how fundamental your reviews are for us writers. Those three reviews skyrocketed my motivation and love for writing. I've been having a lot of trouble with silent readers lately. Anyway, until the next update!