Queen Laxis had almost forgotten when she last burned this hot; once the crown cooled on her brow, war’s scars taught her to chase a utopia of peace.

But Medith’s arrival shattered that glass dream and showed, like a compass snapping, her path had veered wrong.

Strength—only overwhelming strength—is peace’s bedrock; humans don’t bargain with the weak, and history hammers that anvil again and again.

“Gods… Medith, are you really just a general?” Sais stared like seeing dawn break over her for the first time.

The women froze, eyes wide like startled deer; they didn’t catch it all, but the aura cut like steel.

“Our Commander is our Commander. The name ‘Medith’ carries magic,” Milia said, admiration rolling in like warm tide.

“Sigh… you troublemakers never make it easy. I had to ride out myself,” Medith drawled, lazy as a cat in sun.

“It’s not that I can’t; I just hate lifting a finger. If I do everything, may as well throw me the crown.”

“Back then I was a proper Chancellor; a throne to me is smoke on the wind, a hollow name,” she said, cool as rain.

Medith was blunt, unashamed. Aside from Peggy, Nora, Nira, and Nameless, the women traded knowing smiles like lanterns winking.

“Hey, Milia, you weren’t this fawning,” Iling teased, legs crossed, grin curved like a crescent moon.

“Since Sia City, you act awakened, like you went full-on simp,” she said, voice light as spring drizzle.

Milia’s shoulder-length green ponytail swayed; her pretty face pleaded helplessly, like a dove. “I praised Medith twice. How’s that a simp?”

“And I am not—! Hmph!” She puffed, cheeks rising like peaches.

“Heh… Medith, this one’s yours, full authority,” the Queen said, smile warm as spring sun despite the ‘disrespect.’

“Whatever you need, speak. I’ll move heaven and earth,” she added, voice steady as a river.

Nameless and the other outsiders felt cold sweat trickle like rain; Medith treated the Queen like a puppet.

Yet the Queen didn’t mind; their bond was unbelievable, tight as ivy clinging stone.

“But… the Elven Queen is truly stunning…” Nameless murmured, eyes drifting like a lazy cloud.

“Does the Elf Clan all have that… size—sorry, pretend I didn’t say that,” he added, glancing at the Lina Sisters’ chests with a frown.

Lina’s smile stayed porcelain-smooth; her slender hand slipped under the table and pinched Nameless’s thigh, silent as a snake.

“Huh? Nameless, what’s wrong? Moved to tears?” Medith’s knowing smile glinted like a cat’s eye.

Nameless’s face twisted; his hands shook on the table like autumn leaves. “N-no… it’s just…”

“It’s fine,” Rita chimed in, teeth gritted but smiling, grip sharp as a crab’s claw. “He’s human—Her Majesty’s fairy beauty overwhelms.”

“Getting moved is normal. Besides, we’re ‘little’ sprites, right? Heh, Nameless little bro!” she teased, voice sweet as honey.

Their playful innocence made the Queen’s face bloom like a garden; laughter rippled through the hall like stirred water.

“Well done, Nora! Heavy rewards this time. Name anything; I’ll make it happen,” Medith said, praise bright as noon sun.

Nora chuckled, the six-star brand on her face gleaming like gold. “Then… I want you for a night?”

Medith’s brow flicked up, surprise quick as a sparrow, then she softened. “I don’t mind… but can you beat those two?”

She pointed at the frost-faced Queen and Sais, her finger steady as a spear.

“Pick someone else. Milia or Iling works,” the Queen said, eyes narrowing, smile curved like a blade.

“Wait, that—” Milia and Iling started, but the Queen’s look fell like winter frost.

They wilted like eggplants in sun, heads down, lips pouting, meek as kittens.

“No. I want Commander Medith,” Nora shot back, stubborn as a mountain, voice firm as stone.

Medith hid a smirk, watching like a fox at dusk, eyes bright with mischief.

“Fine. Reward and penalty are clear,” the Queen said, smile sudden as sunlight through cloud. Sais nodded, calm as pine.

Now Nora was the stunned one; Medith met their eyes and caught the hint, quick as lightning.

She stroked Nora’s pale, long, rose-pink leg, her grin domineering as a king. “Time’s precious, babe. Let’s start, now~”

“Wait, wait—I was joking, I was joking—” Nora yelped, dragged off like a leaf in a current, eyes pleading toward Peggy.

Peggy’s helpless look fell like a curtain, and Nora’s hope broke; a sharp wail rose, wild as a hawk’s cry.