Snippet #2817949

6565D1

The tears in Benedicto’s eyes dried quickly as Ivelda praised him for his work. He felt her heartfelt humility towards her subjects. He was convinced by her wish not to be feared and for everyone to be happy.
”Your words only underline how lucky we are with your guidance and everlasting wisdom. I will send for the Dungeon Master. With your permission, my lady, I’d also like to hear Master Rock’s progress in the capital. And any moment I can spend further in your presence is a gift from the heavens.” He emphasised his words with another deep bow.

As Thaddeus started, Benedicto walked over to the guard waiting outside. He whispered as not to disturb the report of the leader of the Royal Guard. ”The Queen would like you to call up the Dungeon Master to the Throne Room. Do not delay, the Queen insist at his immediate presence.” he urged the guard. The man looked with wide open eyes, and a small droplet of sweat started forming on his forehead.
I Will inform the guards in the Dungeon, Preacher Carama. the man tried to shove his duties to others.
”Do what you must, but I’m holding you responsible for the Dungeon Master’s imminent arrival. I pray for you that it will not be long” Benedicto said threatening.

The man rushed away, and before Benedicto went back inside to close the door he saw the hunter. ”I assume you have been summoned as well.” He asked with his head high up in the air, trying to emphasise how much better he was than a guy who preferred to sleep in a forrest and roll in the dirt.
”For once you assume correctly. Just please tell me you have given your report, so you’re done talking…” the Hunter said irritatingly. Before Benedicto could answer however, the man continued.
”Who am I kidding…. You’re never done talking, are you?” As the man finished he pushed Benedicto out the way and stepped into the Throne Room. He closed the door and took his spot in the room to listen on to Thaddeus’ report.

”..and I can assure you, my men and I will be vigilant and dutiful to ensure your everlasting reign,” The guard had just finished his interesting and enlightening report when the doors to the room opened once again. Looking over his shoulder, Benedicto could see the Dungeon Master walking straight to the queen. The man child fell on his knees, bowed his head and did not utter a word. A few metres to the right the Preacher could hear an audible sigh coming from the pink-haired man.

Benedicto smiled upon seeing him. The Dungeon Master was but a tool, but a highly effective one. He himself was not a great fan of inflicting torture personally, although he did so when needed. Eike had turned it into an art. A great knowledge of the human body and its pain points, most probably rivalling Asher’s knowledge, albeit in a vastly different way.
Although definitely a favourite of the Queen, Benedicto believed she only saw him as the tool he was, regardless of how she acted toward him. If the Queen was looking for leaders she could turn to anyone of her Royal subjects. All young man had a way of influencing people and leading them to something better. Not Eike…, as skilled as he was in his Dungeon, he would be nothing outside these castle walls. A pity, that someone so devoted is so stunted in mental growth. I could teach him…, if only our Goddess would let me.

Benedicto cleared his throat, ready to great the young man when he heard the footsteps. His eyes rolled back in his head so hard, it nearly made him dizzy. Not this one…not now he thought a second before the door slammed open again.
Of course he has to be announced by a herald. Putting your own importance over she who most deserves it… BLASPHEMY! He was ready to shout it out, but he would not be dragged down to the same level of civility as the beast man and his unlucky companions.
”Roderick. Thaddeus. Benny.” The pig said confidently. He continued in a small whisper as he walked past Benedicto.
”Strung up any poor children, lately?”
Benedicto answered through his gritted teeth: ”Only those that have been irreversibly taken over by demons, in order to thwart the ruling of the one and only true Empress and Goddess this world has ever seen. ”

The Healer and Beast Master were following in his wake. The smell coming from the three was unmistakably laden with alcohol. This must be enough reason for our Queen to refuse them the drink… the drink that is as nectar for me.
Before long a bottle flew through the air in the direction of Thaddeus. Benedicto held his breath as he saw it fly past the guard and smashed to a thousand pieces against the pillar behind him.
”You absolute monster…” Benedicto started before being shushed by Thaddeus speaking up.

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18D10A

Raiden was still rubbing his shoulder when he saw the bottle flying through the room. Fish breath had bumped into him as he came in, sloshed as they come. A soft whistle escaped Raiden’s lips as he was impressed with the aim, even though the beast would not be able to keep his eyes from getting crossed, drunk as he was.
Unless he didn’t aim to miss poor Thaddeus.
He noticed how the Dungeon Master had still not moved, and was still sitting bowed down at Ivelda’s feet, as if he was a well trained pet.
Not even the Beast Master would be able to train something that well, especially not in his current state.
Raiden got a bit upset. After he had given Tyann a very rare and interesting present, Raiden had had to deal with a level of incompetency amongst the staff as well as heaving surgery on his arm. And here he shows up…, drunk as a skunk.

Ivelda would be pissed. Not only showing such a level of disregard, but then also doing it in front of her other servants is reaching a new level of stupidity. As Raiden could have guessed, it was Thaddeus who spoke up, acting as if he was all-that.
”"I apologize, My Queen, but I feel compelled to say this.” The pompous ass continued with his pomp-assery, although Raiden had to admit, the man wasn’t wrong.
He stepped forward, his saddle bag with the adult Nexu head still in his hands. ”Dear Thaddeus…, it may walk like a man and talk like a man…” Standing next to Eike, in front of Ivelda, he let go of the bag. The bag fell to the floor and as the flap opened a little, the Nexu head came rolling out, it’s empty eyes looking at Eike directly.
Raiden bowed in front of his Queen. ”It was an honour to retrieve this for you, my Queen, I can only hope it pleases you.” he said well rehearsed.

He turned around again to walk back to where he had been standing. ”… but never forget, he is not a man. He is not more than the filth that comes out of his mouth.”
He had a grin on his face, knowing the lashing that would follow for Korgan’s behaviour. The hunter lifted his hand to scratch his arm, while he remembered the Serein woman that had helped him. His grin quickly gone he lowered his hands.

”RUDE, USELESS, KNIGHT! What did ANY OF US EVER DO TO DESERVE THAT IRE?! Hm!? Where do YOU get off being all HIGH AND MIGHTY! HMM!?”
Soon after the Beast Master fell and leaned on the wall he was standing close to. Raiden walked over to him, feeling sorry for his friend.
”Calm down Tyann, it’s better not to speak in your current state.” He held his shoulders, trying to make him stand up straight. Trying to preserve any dignity still left in the boy. This is all Korgan’s fault. It’s bad enough he is allowed to come here at all, but even worse that he is dragging others down with him.
He sniffed as he smelled something strange. Looking at Tyann’s hair he saw little branches of green and rose petals sticking out. ”Unless you have a sudden fondness for gardening, I believe you fell over in the rose garden, my friend.”

Asher did not seem to be doing any better. ”This, I think I need more drink if I'm going to be here with a few of you. Yooooou of All people” he aimed at the Dungeon Master. As the Healer drank another bottle, Benedicto could no longer contain himself.
”You ungrateful lot. Can you not see all of the abundance in your life is thanks to our Empress? Our lands and lives are blessed by her Grace. We are privileged over so many servants, that we are allowed to be in the same room and breath the same air as our Goddess. She guides us, she rewards us… and this is how you choose to pay your respects. I urge you to seek forgiveness. I urge you to seek repentance for your misdeeds.”
He turned to Ivelda herself, finding himself kneeling in front of her again.
”Your Grace, we can only humbly ask for your forgiveness towards us. The fact we disappoint you is a punishment in itself. Your deeds and actions have brought so much prosperity to the people in these lands. I will pray for them, I will pray for their repentance and I will pray that we may enjoy your teachings for the rest of our lives until the end of time.”