Living As the Villainess Queen

Nicholas scanned the assembled kings. “Unpredictable situations are futile to fret about,” he said, “no matter how much we strategize. Surely, none of you expected a flawless execution.” No one disagreed.

“But more importantly,” he continued, “implementing the Fourth King’s plan within days is impractical.”

A murmur of agreement rippled through the room.

“We have only two months left of the dry season,” Nicholas pointed out. “It’s unlikely Anika Flora can master that spell in such a short time.”

“A valid concern,” another king conceded. “The bigger issue is, none of us can remain here indefinitely.”

Kasser, lost in thought, tapped a finger against the letter Eugene had written. Time was the one obstacle he couldn’t seem to overcome. Fortunately, a series of fortunate coincidences had brought the six kings together to face the monster.

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By sheer chance, all the kings found themselves in the Hashi Kingdom for various reasons, at the very beginning of the dry season. This serendipitous timing offered ample time before their kingdoms required their attention again. Exchanging lengthy correspondence, which could have jeopardized secrecy, was thankfully avoided.

Additionally, all the kings readily agreed on the need to eliminate the enemy. This was another stroke of luck, as there was always the possibility of a king with conflicting interests or one who viewed the enemy as a divine figure.

With the dry season offering a window of opportunity, and the unexpected convergence of the kings, there was little hesitation – they assembled without delay.

This was precisely Kasser’s concern. The next dry season loomed just four to five months away – not an unmanageable delay. After all, a king’s primary duty lay with their kingdom, regardless of any potential crisis brewing in the capital city. Eliminating the monster, while important, wasn’t an immediate threat.

From another perspective, the monster had essentially cornered itself by isolating the capital. A known enemy location shouldn’t pose such a logistical nightmare.

However, Kasser disagreed with delay. The war was escalating, and any pause could introduce unforeseen complications. The monster’s cunning, having tormented humans for so long, was beyond comprehension.

Lost in thought, Kasser formulated a response when Riner cut in, his voice sharp. “With such a relaxed approach,” he declared, “we’ll snatch victory only to have it slip through our grasp.”

Akil bristled, but Riner pressed on, his voice rising with fervor. “Are we all underestimating this beast? Remember the legend of the Hashi Kingdom, as recounted by the Fourth King? The king who vanquished the giant lark perished from exhaustion. Who guarantees our safety after this fight? We’re barely holding on with all our combined might. Delaying won’t solve anything. It simply won’t.”

Pered, who had maintained his composure throughout, spoke up. “I second the Fire King’s sentiment.” Riner’s delivery, though passionate, bordered on rudeness. His blunt and loud nature often came across as criticism. However, Pered’s support effectively defused the brewing tension.

As the kings spent more time together, unexpected revelations emerged. King Pered, notorious for his supposed gambling addiction, defied expectations. Rumors had painted him as a neglectful ruler, but the reality was far different. Pered was serious, spoke sparingly, and displayed minimal emotion.

Now, if faced with a rumor of Pered striking someone, the other kings’ likely reaction would be, “He must have had it coming.” This highlighted the unique character of Riner as well. He had challenged Pered to a fight and remained unfazed by the exchange.

Kasser reevaluated Riner in light of this. Who knew he could be helpful at times? he thought wryly. Riner’s unwavering stance had lessened the pressure on Kasser to be the sole voice of reason.

“While the exact timeframe for a full operation remains uncertain,” Kasser began, drawing everyone’s attention, “delaying until the next dry season carries significant risks. Retreating now wouldn’t guarantee the monster’s passivity within the capital. It would likely send out scouts, and you all know its ability to empower knights with extraordinary abilities. The potential for chaos is immense. Hypnosis or similar tactics could be used to infiltrate the royal palace, exploiting individual vulnerabilities.” ɽ

Nicholas’s brow furrowed. His mother resided in the palace, his sole Achilles’ heel. A hostage situation could force his surrender.

“Therefore,” Kasser continued, “I have a plan in mind. This is just my proposal, and I welcome any objections or doubts. Please, speak freely.”