To Rule Is Restraint

Genaro and Aleric were looking at me like I had said the most impossible thing ever, in the history of the world. Then Genaro said, “I would never break our marriage!”

Aleric followed, saying, “I would rather die than break my marriage to you, my Empress! I am so ecstatic to actually be married to you. When can we have a child? Would you like to try right now?”

“I will be the first one to impregnate my breathtakingly flawless wife!”

“I already have a contract with my amazing and resplendent wife to be the one who next impregnates my Empress. Get to the back of the line,” Aleric replied.

Oh, Great Goddess in the Sky! I hope this infatuation thing wears off.

There was shouting and running in the hallway. The sounds were getting closer.

“Kiru! Kiru!” I cast, on myself and Vulcana.

“You can’t just barge in on the Empress, your majesty! Let us announce your presence!” came the voice of my guard from the hallway.

Just then, the door burst open and Queen Ophelia entered, along with several male ambassadors, and my guards. To say that Ophelia looked shocked, ecstatic, and disappointed all at once would be an accurate description of her face at that moment. Then she said,

“You look like sex!”

Aleric stood up on the bed in a full-frontal naked display, in an obvious post-coital and dripping state, and proudly pronounced,

“I have taken the White Dragon Empress as my wife, and consummated our marriage with several mating acts. I have also married her trusted knight and produced an heir!”

Not to be outdone, Genaro stood up on the bed in the same condition, and putting his hands on his hips, with equal pride proclaimed, “I too have wed the Peerless White Dragon Empress, and consummated our marriage with many mating acts. I have also, taken her esteemed knight as a wife, and been the first to produce an heir!”

I put my head in my hand in frustration and rubbed my temple, as did Vulcana. The ambassadors were hungrily eyeing me. Also, interestingly hungrily eyeing Vulcana. My female guards were somewhat captivated by my naked husbands, with somewhat hungry eyes. Was this going to be a thing? Were my female guards all lusting after my husbands? The male guards were trying to look anywhere but the bed with two naked post sex men. Ophelia, struggled not to burst out laughing.

“My valiant knight Vulcana went into season last night, for the first time in years, while chaperoning us at dinner last night. This may have had an aphrodisiac effect on us at dinner and precipitated an overindulgence of alcohol, and a loss of self-control, resulting in our subsequent marriages and matings. By draconic and international law we are all now legally and officially married. An official announcement will be made by the crown later today. The official Prittoni wedding and bedding between Consort Aleric, Prince of Prittoni, and myself will commence as soon as possible, which should be in four to nine months. With four months being the most probable,” I said.

Ophelia, burst out laughing, unable to contain it any longer. She came up to me, and said,

“Congratulations, daughter. You will call me Mother now. I look forward to your upcoming child with my son Aleric. Do take good care of him, my most entertaining daughter.” Then she gave me a hug, before turning to Aleric, and saying,

“Get down from that bed, and go clean up your sex. And get dressed. You are a Consort to the Empress now! Act like it.”

“Yes, mother,” Aleric said and headed for the bathroom, which embarrassingly he knew where it was.

Ophelia, turned around and left, laughing all the way down the hall.

I lost. I totally, and completely, lost, this round. No more dinners in the Pubs with potential mates, until I’ve chosen to mate them. We have our own professionally staffed kitchen, we can have dinners here. What the Abyss, was I thinking! I’m such a reckless idiot!

“Genaro, go get cleaned up. Get dressed and return to your embassy with Aleric once you are both clean and dressed. Then decide whether you are going to stay in your embassy. Or whether, you are going to … move in with me. My, husband,” I said.

Sigh.

Well, nothing to do about it. What’s done is done. Suddenly, Genaro ran up to me, turned me around and … kissed me!

“Yes, my heart of hearts! I’ll be back as soon as I can pack up my belongings! I’m so excited! Soon we can sleep together again!” Genaro said, and blasted through the bathroom door.

He too knew exactly where it was. Without any hesitation. It must have been one Abyss of a night! Perhaps that was why my sex was so sore.

“Great goddess. How many times did we do it last night?” I said quietly to myself.

“Twenty-one times, my Empress. I went twenty-three. I’m truly sorry, my Empress. I had no idea I was so starved for a mate,” Vulcana said.

I nearly jumped to see Vulcana standing so close to me. Then, I laughed. I laughed so hard my sides hurt. “Come, sister, let us bath and begin our day,” I said.

After we bathed, we headed for my cabinet room, and I sent for my airde-domo.

“My Empress, you sent for me. How may I serve you,” Rin said in her battle form, kneeling in traditional form, her head bowed.

She was always so serious. A zealous, dogmatic, and deeply devoted lightning dragon who had come to me from the Dragon Realm swearing undying allegiance to me. I was still struggling to get her to relax a little. I just wanted to shake the stiffness out of her. I internally laughed a little at the thought.

“Rise my valiant, and dedicated, dragon knight. Rise and tell me what awaits me in my throne room today,” I said.

“There are many citizens needing simple letters, decrees, and lesser judgments, but the entire Terranon ambassador party has come demanding an urgent consultation concerning the, ahem, matrimonial selection offer. Also, a delegation from the Svalbard Queendom seeks audience with you,” Rin said.

I sprayed the tea out, I was just sipping at the mention of the Svalbard delegation. Svalbard was a Queendom in the Far north. In the Frozen Marches. The wild-women of Svalbard were renown for their fighting prowess. They lived to battle. They battled over everything. They battled on an almost daily basis. But they battled most fiercely over their mates. Their men were no less fierce. What the Infernal Abyss were they doing here? Oh, I so didn’t need this. Not today of all days.

“Rin, have the Terranon delegation join me for breakfast in my salon. Drag any of my husbands you can find to join us. See to it the Arena is prepared for battle with the Svalbard delegation, and I will receive them there after breakfast. Then, find my Seneschal, and have her handle the other matters. I will probably be busy for some time with those two delegations,” I said.

“Yes, my Empress!” Rin pounded her left fist over her impressive breast, turn and left. How does she not get bruises doing that? I need to find her a mate. Maybe that will mellow her out some. Can I actually find a dragon who would come here and be her mate? I will have to consult with Kazan.

About ten minutes later, the door to my chamber opened, and my jaw must have dropped to the floor. Rin was floating there, holding Fergus under her right arm. Rin was also dragging Kazan backward, by his wings, in his battle form, in her left hand. Alexander was hanging from her left foot claws.

“My Empress, I have brought your husbands,” Rin said.

I won’t laugh. I won’t laugh. I seriously cannot laugh!

“Thank you, Rin. For following my instructions so, literally. You did tell them why I asked for them? Please release them,” I said.

“Yes, my Empress, I informed them they would be enjoying breakfast with you,” Rin said, releasing them.

“If you would give us a moment alone, please,” I said.

“Yes, my Empress!” Rin said, and closed the door.

Once we were alone, I said,

“I’m very sorry. I did tell her to drag whatever husbands of mine she could find here to have breakfast with me. I didn’t think she’d literally drag you here,” I said.

Fergus and Alexander stood up and adjusted their clothing. Amazingly, she hadn’t torn or put any holes in Alexander’s outfit.

“Well, just be careful with your wording in the future, My love,” Alexander said.

“She just caught me off guard, or she’d have never been able to do that,” Kazan said.

“She’s an amazing, accomplished dragon. Which reminds me. I’d like your help trying to find her a mate. Maybe that will help mellow her out some,” I said.

“I will try, but do not get your hopes up. She has rejected some of the finest dragons in the Realm,” Kazan said.

“Figures,” I said.

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“You really outdid yourself last night, my reckless love. So is this your new approach? Bringing us along and dining in the palace with your future suitors? It’s a solid plan,” Fergus said.

“Yes, my lover. I am hoping to curb any future fiascoes. Shall we go get breakfast, my husbands?” I said linking arms with Fergus and Alexander. Kazan transformed to a dragonkin form, and we went to our salon. The ambassadors were already seated.

“Salutations, men of Terranon,” I said, as I sat down at the head of the table.

The servants brought in tea and breakfast.

“Greetings and Salutations, your imperial Majesty. We are pleased to see that your double wedding last night to the Prittoni Realm has not inconvenienced you. I must admit that it was quite the surprise given your delicate condition. I do hope that you experienced no ill effects to your pregnancy with the Dargon Prince,” Prince Ferdiad said.

I seriously could not stand this obnoxious prince.

“We are perfectly well, and our pregnancy is proceeding fine. Thank you for your concern, Prince Ferdiad,” I said.

“Is it true, your Imperial Majesty, that your pregnancy has resonated again, and you are having an accelerated childbearing?” Seventh Prince Oisin asked.

While this was technically still a state secret, there was literally no reason to hide this fact. It would all be quite obvious by the second month.

“My condition is a state secret. However, it is true we have once again resonated, Prince Oisin,” I said.

“Does it hurt much to have such an accelerated childbearing, my Empress?” Oisin asked with concern.

“It is at times unpleasant, but as I have as yet not had a normal pregnancy, I have nothing to compare it with. I do thank you for your concern, Lord Oisin,” I said.

He is displaying symptoms of idol worship. So he was at least affected by the bedding ceremony. Why does Ferdiad not seem to be affected? Breakfast continued for some time with light conversation. The ambassadors kept skirting the issue they came for. Then as breakfast drew to a close, Ferdiad spoke up again,

“Empress Deirdre, we would like to discuss, the matter that you have formed close relations with the royal and noble houses of both Dargon and Prittoni, as well as subjugated the Realms of Crispenwell and Sinestelos. Furthermore, you have conquered the Realm of Wallachia. Yet, you have neglected all the representatives of Terranon. When will you consider our offer of friendship and mutual relations?”

“We will begin at once. Prince Oisin, would you please join us tonight for dinner here at the palace, and a conversation after for a chance to get more acquainted with each other?” I said.

“I would absolutely love, to have dinner and a conversation with you tonight, my Empress!” Oisin said.

“Very well, we shall send a carriage when we are ready to receive you. Now if you will all excuse me. I must meet with the Svalbard Delegation. Please do continue to enjoy your breakfast. May the Goddess shine her blessing on you,” I said.

We went to the arena and a throne and chair had been placed on side of the field. I walked up and sat down. The Svalbard delegation was waiting.

“Salutations, Empress Deirdre. I am Frejya Meykongr1 of Svalbard. We bring greetings from the jötunn Skaði,” Queen Frejya said, bowing her head slighter maintaining eye contact. Frejya was a tall, muscular woman with bronze skin and ice-blue eyes. She had long snowy hair in a braid forming a single circlet around her head and the rest falling down her back. A single short white horn, with only a hint of a blueish cast, about a decimeter long, rose from her brow. Which being the wildfolk of Svalbard had mixed with to obtain that horn only they knew, and they did not say. Frejya held a long straight white staff in her left hand. Their staffs were highly prized. It was presumably made from wood. But if it was, it was not just wood.

“Greetings and Salutations, Meykongr Frejya. We bring you greetings from Goddess Benzaiten,” I said, as I walked down the steps of the throne.

“Bó!” I cast, and a staff appeared in my hand. When I was ten meters away from her, she took a fighting stance and spun her staff into the Chúdan position and took the Zenkutsu stance. I followed suit. She launched at me and I at her. Our staffs smashed together, and we were both thrown backwards in a rebound of the force we’d applied. Frejya a little further than I. Frejya was strong, and a martial expert.

We battled and parried for several minutes. Neither of us giving ground, although I was slowly pushing Frejya backwards. Then after about fifteen minutes, Frejya stood up, and bowed slightly, tossing her staff to her aide. She walked towards me. I dismissed my staff and walked towards her. We clasped our hands to each other’s forearms, and she said,

“You will mate my son, and form pact with Svalbard. He is good son, and true. He is young, but brave. You are with child. We will wait until summer, and return with mating gift,” Frejya said.

This was a great honor among her people. If I refuse, debated, or altered her ‘gift’ in any way, it would mean war. I was really dreading this meeting. I just knew it would wind up like this. I had no choice but to accept. Had I lost the spar she’d have left and left me alone. But it wasn’t in me to lose on purpose.

“You honor us great mother of Svalbard. We humbly accept, and will cherish our husband,” I said.

Her son came forward and a claw Frejya was wearing on her left index scratched her son’s left inside forearm. Then she quickly scratched mine and joined our arms and spoke,

“Let Skaði witness. By the blood we are bound. By the mana we are joined. By the jötunn we are blessed. By the womb we are grown. Live long, and prosper. By this are Deirdre and Baldér made one.”

And I had a new strapping young husband. Baldér was tall, and heavily muscled. He had his mother’s features. His hair was cropped very short in the back. His snowy hair on top pulled to one side in a simple braid.

The queen said, “Be Blessed young dragon Empress and be fruitful.”

Then she and her entourage turned and left.

“Come, my husband, let us find you a place of your own,” I said.

“Yes, my wife,” Baldér said.

I found him a suite close to mine, explained life in the palace, showed him around the palace, and we sat in my library with a light snack and tea. We talked briefly, and I said, “I have affairs of the state to deal with yet today. We will introduce you to the realm tomorrow, and make our official announcement. It is our wedding day, so, you will sleep with me tonight, in my nest. I will see you at dinner. This is our guard, Kamara. She will assist you today. We will figure out guards for you tomorrow,” I said.

“As you wish, my Empress,” Baldér said.

I went to my chancery, to begin to deal with the disaster that was my queendom, and now also my Empire. I walked in, and my desk was covered in paperwork. Stacks and stacks of paperwork. How was it possible there was so much paperwork in the administration of a Queendom, or an empire?

I began working on the pile of papers for the Queendom. Several hours later I had reduced the pile significantly, but it would be just as big, or larger tomorrow. By leaving the Queens in power, managing the Empire was trivial compared to a queendom. But, Crispenwell nobility was not happy about being made into a vassal nation. Honestly, neither was Sinestelos, but they were not actively hostile to the concept either. It didn’t take long for Crispenwell to attack us. With a tsunami of paper.

“Your majesty, we have an issue,” said Kazuki, my Chief Chancery Clerk.

Kazuki and the rest of the clerk staff were not trained staff for running a nation. All of the Dragonkin came from towns, villages, and wandering merchants. We had built a bureaucracy from the ground up. We had now a few experienced people trained for the work. But we had a yearlong backlog still to clear up. It was then no surprise that we sent out a notice of taxation to both Sinestelos and Crispenwell, instead of to the White Dragon Realm. We had of course quickly resolved the false notices. But the Crispenwell Nobility locked onto to this mistake, and ran with it.

“Yes, Kazuki, what is it?” I asked.

“Well, my Empress. We’ve been getting some written complaints from Crispenwell regarding the wrongful taxation issue. Additionally, we’ve also been getting demands for individual audiences with your majesty from the nobles of Crispenwell,” Kazuki said.

“Well, that is to be expected, and shouldn’t be considered an issue. As for the individual audiences, that is unusual, but I don’t see that as an issue. I’m more than happy to meet them and have a chance to get to know them,” I said.

“Well, yes, normally, that’s not an issue, but -” Kazuki began.

The chamber door burst open, and the stablemaster, Daisuke, stumbled in,

“Your Majesty, they’ve broken loose!”

“The horses have broken loose? All of them?”

“No, your majesty, the slimes! The slimes have all broken loose!” Daisuke screamed.

“Slimes? What slimes? Since when do we have slimes in the stables?” I asked.

“Um, your Majesty, that w-” Kazuki began.

“Just a moment Kazuki, I need to find out about the escaped slimes,” I said.

“I know, your Majesty” Kazuki said.

“You know? You know about the slimes? Why am I only now hearing about this?” I said.

“I hadn’t gotten to that issue yet, Ma’am,” Kazuki said.

“You hadn’t gotten to it yet? How many slimes are we talking about, Daisuke?” I asked.

“Four thousand seven hundred and forty,” Kazuki said.

“Four thousand eight hundred and thirteen, your Majesty. Seventy-three multiplied,” Daisuke said.

“We have a slime infestation of thousands, and you two knew about this, and no one has told me about this before!?” I said, getting angry.

“Not an infestation, your Majesty. Gifts,” Kazuki said.

“Gifts? GIFTS!? Who in the Infernal Abyss sends slimes as gifts!? Why weren’t they killed before entering the city?” I said.

“They were Royal Gifts, your Majesty. No one had the authority to destroy Royal gifts,” Daisuke said.

“Alright! Enough! Kill them! Get the Adventurers Guild to help. I want them all dead before the end of the day! You Kazuki, go see to it! Hold it Daisuke! You stay, and I want to hear the whole story about why we have thousands of slimes as gifts and no one has killed them or sought a royal order on the matter,” I said.

“Yes, my Empress,” Daisuke said.

Kazuki ran out as fast as he could to avoid my possible wrath and to get to work on getting the slimes killed.

“You see, your Majesty, it all began at the fourth hour this morning, Carts began entering the city from Crispenwell, with wedding gifts for her Majesty. The first cart contained eight crates of ten waste slimes, along with a gift tag of the senders and congratulatory letter. But the carts kept coming all morning. A gift from every noble in the Crispenwell realm. Each of the gifts were a crate of ten waste cleaner slimes. Then about a half hour ago one stack of the cages fell over and the cages broke. That set a hundred slimes free, and they immediately merged into an acidic mega-slime. That slime then moved past a whole row of slimes setting hundreds of slimes free. Some formed mega slimes, and it all cascaded from there. We think a few thousand found their way into sewers,” Daisuke said.

“Thousands of slimes made it into the sewers! You should have led with that!” I said.

“Gate!”

I jumped into the Adventurers Guild.

“We have thousands of waste cleaner slimes in Sewers! Quadruple rewards for clearing them!”

BANG!

Adventurers popped out of the building like lightning.

“Just another random day at work, your Majesty?” Adele said.

“Just a little domestic dispute with my Nobles in Crispenwell. Got a belated wedding gift of forty-eight hundred cleaner slimes. I will have to send a special thank you to them. Not sure what though. How are things with the Guild? Are you happy you made the move from Nirvan?” I asked.

“Best decision I ever made. The entertainment is non-stop. You have a lot more adventurers, and the pay is much better as a result. Any decision on the date the Onsen Shangrí is opening?”

“Waiting on Aoi to finish up with the Floating Academy,” I said.

“Yeah, I saw what she had done so far a few days ago. It’s going to be truly spectacular. It’s certain to become one of the Wonders of the World. All that talent, and that ridiculous magikal affinity. You’ve really done so many amazing things with your friends. I always knew there was something special about you, your Ragdoll Majesty,” Adele said.

“Just Ragdoll. I’m just a Tired Ragdoll in a pretty outfit,” I said.

“You were never just a Ragdoll, your Majesty. But if you take my advice, you should show restraint against the Crispenwell Nobles,” Adele said.

“Oh, I will. They are just venting, and I was just ranting. I will have to think of a way to win some over. I can’t ignore this. I need them to accept this relationship, for what is to come later,” I said.

“Oh, you are not done with your conquest?” Adele said.

“I have a dream, and I want to make it a reality. I want peace. A real peace. I have a plan on how to make that happen,” I said.

“Ever the dreamer. Good luck with that. It won’t be easy,” Adele said.

“Nothing worth having ever is. Well usually. I guess, in some things, I’ve been lucky. Well, I have more to clean up than slimes. I’d rather be hunting the slimes, though,” I said.

“The burden of power. May the Goddess shine her light upon you, Empress Deirdre. Please do something about that Runaway Empress Siren, will you? It’s really annoying to listen to,” Adele said.

“And also on you, Adele Ní Fagan. And I’m on it. Gate.”