[Sophia's POV]
I looked at the window of the spacious carriage, so spacious it was that we three could roll around on the floor and never bump our heads against each other, the sun was shining through the blades of grass, tainting them with its golden luster, the unclaimed lands that serve as the unofficial border between Kamatayan and Gjallarhorn doesn't have any paved path, primarily because my oh so intelligent father layered his great forest so that armies will have a hard time going through it, he made the place a dungeon, that in itself is amazing.
Anyway, while I was thinking of such things, I was absorbing the information being divulged by Eleanor, I didn't have time to collect ample intel. about the place these past few days, the only thing I am certain of is that nobles are fucking jerks and will disobey Urduja's warning (that I am sure she will distribute) and attack my nation, that is why I stationed my weapons of mass destructions in the name of Wokung, Sipnayan, and Ruphas, plus the living army in the border as defense, I also set up a barrier that only existed for 72 hours and counting to the whole Kamatayan as another layer of defense.
The Urdujan Territory, officially known as the Duchy of Urduja is an inverted V-shaped large land gifted to Urduja, at least that is what the Kingdom says it is so that Urduja can act as a frontline in the potential war against Valentine Kingdom for the Five-pronged forest that will open up trading routes via water with the Exodus continent if they won, unfortunately, I suddenly appeared and nailed a nation between the two, I now realized that my nation's territorial placing is the same as The Philippines. Going back, the King who gifted the land to Urduja is branded as the most stupid in history, why?
He thought that a person who can destroy armies on her own cannot think in a strategic way, which Urduja definitely can, Eleanor's story from that point is not detailed anymore because that part of history is omitted from the books, and Urduja just stated the story after the idiot King cried in front of her when she successfully assimilated the nobles once loyal to the king under her wing, the other parts, she did not narrate to her children.
"So basically, Urduja suddenly locked up the Kingdom, giving her the final say about the forest's invasion and war against Valentine..."
I muttered so and under Eleanor's "very proud of her mom" gaze that anticipates my amazed smile, I did as she expected.
_My father created a layer-style dungeon set up and Urduja was in front to block her land to interfere in his land... Fucking gods again._
I swear that when I get to the level of those bastards, I will give them a fucking that their divine asses have never felt before.
_If it's plotting that y'all want, you have a competitor._
After swearing, I sighed, before all of that, I have to tend to mortal affairs first, the most urgent one is the opportunistic vassal nobility of Urduja that will surely combine their forces and attack me, like I said earlier, nobles are jerks and even though they have come to a consensus to not meddle with hero affairs, some are still ambitious and will try to use trump cards against me, as it will even work, so I want to give them a "Mabuhay and Welcome to your Kamatayan." (TL: Hello! And welcome to your death.).
I will use some of my tricks to plant evidence that someone from the royalty backed them up so that I can get a huge bargaining chip when I get to be invited by the King himself this time, surely they will not miss the chance to meet the person the second one to prevent their already aged like a milk plan of opening trading routes in front of a god's backyard.
"And that's what she achieved all her life, ah, but of course, I believe that you already achieved things of historical proportions, like being the fastest to establish a well-oiled societal system of a nation, and I am sure that you are the only baby to ever walk with her two feet the moment she was born. But still, it is a very good thing for the world to have such a capable person in its repertoire."
I nodded slightly, certainly, all of my historical exploits will probably be about being the youngest to achieve this, to conquer that, to be this, and so on, but I don't care about that right now because just as Eleanor stopped bragging about her mom, she went silent for a minute, that is so strange because she was talking to me non-stop for a long time but the weirdest thing is that, the silence gave me a very bad feeling, even Bakunawa who is listening to Eleanor with interest suddenly poked out her head towards the window, her gulps being audible, but it might be possible that she is just carsick, but the instincts of a woman is most of the time right.
And I am a woman, so I was right, thus as I was also starting to get nervous, Eleanor suddenly spoke.
"Hey, you accepted the invitation because you want revenge against your biological mother, right?"
I squinted my eyes, this was not what I expected, I wondered if my mother was Ruphas Mafahl or Rimuru Tempest during the after story of the web novel, but the two of them are not people to abandon children so I doubt that, and I mean it would be a bummer if this novel suddenly became a fanfiction, well enough with the jokes for I already formulated the reply I have to give.
There is just no way my mom is strong, given that she needs Urduja to find me before.
"Well, you can say that."
What I said is not concealing something, it is just that my main goal right now is to create connections and forcibly plant opportunities for Kamatayan, "Nation before oneself", that is one of my friend's most famous quotes, so I saw my vengeance as something I have to do like a side quest like I can do it on an earlier or later time, nothing would change, surely not the fact that I want to murder her.
At this point, however, I have my priorities, but it seems like Eleanor misunderstood my vague answer, her probing look earlier was changed with worry.
"Sophia, I know that you are an intelligent person and I know that you know it too. Thus I have to warn you of the possible consequences of your potential actions to one of my mother's numerous concubines, she is not only obsessed with women, but she is also protective of them, I know where you are coming from, and I have also developed a deep hatred towards Myra, however, you have to plan this action of yours, because you will face the strongest human to ever exist not only the basic showmanship your mother have learned."
Oh, so she became part of Urduja's harem, huh... now that I think about it, if Myra is a mistress to Duchess Urduja, does that mean that I and Eleanor are step sisters? Or does that apply only when she becomes a legal wife?
[I can feel it, the kinks rising.]
Even when you can't read my thoughts, you are not seizing to annoy me.
"But... I mean, I technically have a higher standing than her, I am a monarchy and she is a Duchess, so I think I can do something using my authority right?"
I tried to argue, mostly because I am interested in Urduja's personality because the Urduja I know is a mythical ruler of Pangasinan, certainly having someone who has the same name as the hero I know will pique my interest, but again, to my surprise, Eleanor shouted.
"No! I assume that you already know what she did to her territory, and she did all of that because she doesn't recognize authority, even though she rarely uses her own, as a hero and as the second highest form of authority in the Kingdom, next only to the King, surely, instead of making her back out, you will be facing her relentless charge if you ever tried to use the royalty card. You can even use your identity as her daughter in law than your crown."
Wait, if you put it that way, isn't she an overprotective and overbearing father and husband? But then again, her saying that I can use the Daughter-in-law's card means that Urduja is doting on her adopted children, is Eleanor really that panicked about my safety that she forgot that I can easily exploit this one thing?
_Well, that is kind of sweet._
To lose part of one's reason because of her beloved's safety, I mean.
I looked at Eleanor while I was thinking of such, I grew interested in my mother-in-law, more so when I saw the emblem of the Duchy of Urduja, though, of course, I could be wrong, who knows, still, it is a very good thing to brood about the only person in my two lives that I can potentially call "mom".
_I'm getting excited._
I cannot help but think as such as I answered "Alright, alright I won't."
However, honestly, I don't know if I can leave it up to my answer, I am not good at controlling myself, I mean, unlike my former self, I am way more emotional (Though I still cannot fully understand my own emotion), you just have to imagine how hard to control things that you can't understand, mostly because I don't have the time to explain things further for the walls of the capital city of Urduja, Urduja City is finally at sight.
I imitated Bakunawa and peaked my head outside of the carriage, to hell with Royal bearings, I thought as I looked at the tall walls at the entry point of the city to the south, of course the guards who also had golden armor stationed in the walls were already notified of my arrival, plus because of the emblem in the back of the carriage the three of us is riding we are not obstructed, not even our shadows, now upon entrance the interest of Bakunawa is heightened, her hair fluttering as her eyes glimmered, yet the oversized clip on her head is not budging at all.
Once you enter the walled city of Intramuros, you will see a resemblance in the style of the buildings. Still, in terms of space, the Urduja City is way, way larger, though I wonder if mom (to be) is a narcissist by giving her territory and capital city names after herself.
She is like, The Duchess of Urduja, owner of the Duchy of Urduja, living in Urduja City, the Capital of Urduja, that is very strange, but what is more strange is the girl with a lot of eyes running at the same speed as the carriage, it's Momoiro, and she occasionally glances at me to check if I can see her and I have enough delicacy to act like I don't. It seems like her common sense and fundamentals are somehow weakened by her mind-reading abilities because she wasn't able to recognize gazes directed towards her, she even thought that she could conceal herself using a new set of clothes.
Eleanor also joined the fray and watched her sister run fervently as she panted heavily, she was determined to follow us from the city walls to the mansion of her mother, yes mansion, what use would a castle be if the owner of the place is virtually impossible to assassinate, not only because of her power but because of the strength of her spouses, concubines, and children.
_But Urduja needs to pay more attention to her children._
Bakunawa and Eleanor looked at me as I looked at Momoiro with a smirk, I will not lie, I find her interesting, and I am sure that she also finds me to be one because I am the first person who blocked her ability to read minds.
My general and my wife continued to look at me, in which I am obliged to argue.
"What?"
The two of them shook their head but continued looking at me.
[I can feel it, the ki-]
Shut up, I thought you would be quiet in this whole arc, if you will not, then be quiet until the end of my visit.
"Hey, I mean, isn't she cute if she puts an effort to observe things that interest her?"
This time, the three of us went back to the carriage as the two of them squinted their eyes toward me, I could not understand.
"Yeah, I heard that Momoiro visited Bulawan, but only after she left did I learn of it, I didn't know that you would also captivate her with your charisma."
Eleanor smiled at me, gentleness and even relief evident on her face, what the hell is this?
"What are you talking about?"
I asked in confusion, but Eleanor did not even listen to me and continued.
"Oh, of course you don't have to worry about me, you are a queen, and you already have a first wife, a second or a third will not hurt anymore."
[Sophia's POV]
I looked at the window of the spacious carriage, so spacious it was that we three could roll around on the floor and never bump our heads against each other, the sun was shining through the blades of grass, tainting them with its golden luster, the unclaimed lands that serve as the unofficial border between Kamatayan and Gjallarhorn doesn't have any paved path, primarily because my oh so intelligent father layered his great forest so that armies will have a hard time going through it, he made the place a dungeon, that in itself is amazing.
Anyway, while I was thinking of such things, I was absorbing the information being divulged by Eleanor, I didn't have time to collect ample intel. about the place these past few days, the only thing I am certain of is that nobles are fucking jerks and will disobey Urduja's warning (that I am sure she will distribute) and attack my nation, that is why I stationed my weapons of mass destructions in the name of Wokung, Sipnayan, and Ruphas, plus the living army in the border as defense, I also set up a barrier that only existed for 72 hours and counting to the whole Kamatayan as another layer of defense.
The Urdujan Territory, officially known as the Duchy of Urduja is an inverted V-shaped large land gifted to Urduja, at least that is what the Kingdom says it is so that Urduja can act as a frontline in the potential war against Valentine Kingdom for the Five-pronged forest that will open up trading routes via water with the Exodus continent if they won, unfortunately, I suddenly appeared and nailed a nation between the two, I now realized that my nation's territorial placing is the same as The Philippines. Going back, the King who gifted the land to Urduja is branded as the most stupid in history, why?
He thought that a person who can destroy armies on her own cannot think in a strategic way, which Urduja definitely can, Eleanor's story from that point is not detailed anymore because that part of history is omitted from the books, and Urduja just stated the story after the idiot King cried in front of her when she successfully assimilated the nobles once loyal to the king under her wing, the other parts, she did not narrate to her children.
"So basically, Urduja suddenly locked up the Kingdom, giving her the final say about the forest's invasion and war against Valentine..."
I muttered so and under Eleanor's "very proud of her mom" gaze that anticipates my amazed smile, I did as she expected.
_My father created a layer-style dungeon set up and Urduja was in front to block her land to interfere in his land... Fucking gods again._
I swear that when I get to the level of those bastards, I will give them a fucking that their divine asses have never felt before.
_If it's plotting that y'all want, you have a competitor._
After swearing, I sighed, before all of that, I have to tend to mortal affairs first, the most urgent one is the opportunistic vassal nobility of Urduja that will surely combine their forces and attack me, like I said earlier, nobles are jerks and even though they have come to a consensus to not meddle with hero affairs, some are still ambitious and will try to use trump cards against me, as it will even work, so I want to give them a "Mabuhay and Welcome to your Kamatayan." (TL: Hello! And welcome to your death.).
I will use some of my tricks to plant evidence that someone from the royalty backed them up so that I can get a huge bargaining chip when I get to be invited by the King himself this time, surely they will not miss the chance to meet the person the second one to prevent their already aged like a milk plan of opening trading routes in front of a god's backyard.
"And that's what she achieved all her life, ah, but of course, I believe that you already achieved things of historical proportions, like being the fastest to establish a well-oiled societal system of a nation, and I am sure that you are the only baby to ever walk with her two feet the moment she was born. But still, it is a very good thing for the world to have such a capable person in its repertoire."
I nodded slightly, certainly, all of my historical exploits will probably be about being the youngest to achieve this, to conquer that, to be this, and so on, but I don't care about that right now because just as Eleanor stopped bragging about her mom, she went silent for a minute, that is so strange because she was talking to me non-stop for a long time but the weirdest thing is that, the silence gave me a very bad feeling, even Bakunawa who is listening to Eleanor with interest suddenly poked out her head towards the window, her gulps being audible, but it might be possible that she is just carsick, but the instincts of a woman is most of the time right.
And I am a woman, so I was right, thus as I was also starting to get nervous, Eleanor suddenly spoke.
"Hey, you accepted the invitation because you want revenge against your biological mother, right?"
I squinted my eyes, this was not what I expected, I wondered if my mother was Ruphas Mafahl or Rimuru Tempest during the after story of the web novel, but the two of them are not people to abandon children so I doubt that, and I mean it would be a bummer if this novel suddenly became a fanfiction, well enough with the jokes for I already formulated the reply I have to give.
There is just no way my mom is strong, given that she needs Urduja to find me before.
"Well, you can say that."
What I said is not concealing something, it is just that my main goal right now is to create connections and forcibly plant opportunities for Kamatayan, "Nation before oneself", that is one of my friend's most famous quotes, so I saw my vengeance as something I have to do like a side quest like I can do it on an earlier or later time, nothing would change, surely not the fact that I want to murder her.
At this point, however, I have my priorities, but it seems like Eleanor misunderstood my vague answer, her probing look earlier was changed with worry.
"Sophia, I know that you are an intelligent person and I know that you know it too. Thus I have to warn you of the possible consequences of your potential actions to one of my mother's numerous concubines, she is not only obsessed with women, but she is also protective of them, I know where you are coming from, and I have also developed a deep hatred towards Myra, however, you have to plan this action of yours, because you will face the strongest human to ever exist not only the basic showmanship your mother have learned."
Oh, so she became part of Urduja's harem, huh... now that I think about it, if Myra is a mistress to Duchess Urduja, does that mean that I and Eleanor are step sisters? Or does that apply only when she becomes a legal wife?
[I can feel it, the kinks rising.]
Even when you can't read my thoughts, you are not seizing to annoy me.
"But... I mean, I technically have a higher standing than her, I am a monarchy and she is a Duchess, so I think I can do something using my authority right?"
I tried to argue, mostly because I am interested in Urduja's personality because the Urduja I know is a mythical ruler of Pangasinan, certainly having someone who has the same name as the hero I know will pique my interest, but again, to my surprise, Eleanor shouted.
"No! I assume that you already know what she did to her territory, and she did all of that because she doesn't recognize authority, even though she rarely uses her own, as a hero and as the second highest form of authority in the Kingdom, next only to the King, surely, instead of making her back out, you will be facing her relentless charge if you ever tried to use the royalty card. You can even use your identity as her daughter in law than your crown."
Wait, if you put it that way, isn't she an overprotective and overbearing father and husband? But then again, her saying that I can use the Daughter-in-law's card means that Urduja is doting on her adopted children, is Eleanor really that panicked about my safety that she forgot that I can easily exploit this one thing?
_Well, that is kind of sweet._
To lose part of one's reason because of her beloved's safety, I mean.
I looked at Eleanor while I was thinking of such, I grew interested in my mother-in-law, more so when I saw the emblem of the Duchy of Urduja, though, of course, I could be wrong, who knows, still, it is a very good thing to brood about the only person in my two lives that I can potentially call "mom".
_I'm getting excited._
I cannot help but think as such as I answered "Alright, alright I won't."
However, honestly, I don't know if I can leave it up to my answer, I am not good at controlling myself, I mean, unlike my former self, I am way more emotional (Though I still cannot fully understand my own emotion), you just have to imagine how hard to control things that you can't understand, mostly because I don't have the time to explain things further for the walls of the capital city of Urduja, Urduja City is finally at sight.
I imitated Bakunawa and peaked my head outside of the carriage, to hell with Royal bearings, I thought as I looked at the tall walls at the entry point of the city to the south, of course the guards who also had golden armor stationed in the walls were already notified of my arrival, plus because of the emblem in the back of the carriage the three of us is riding we are not obstructed, not even our shadows, now upon entrance the interest of Bakunawa is heightened, her hair fluttering as her eyes glimmered, yet the oversized clip on her head is not budging at all.
Once you enter the walled city of Intramuros, you will see a resemblance in the style of the buildings. Still, in terms of space, the Urduja City is way, way larger, though I wonder if mom (to be) is a narcissist by giving her territory and capital city names after herself.
She is like, The Duchess of Urduja, owner of the Duchy of Urduja, living in Urduja City, the Capital of Urduja, that is very strange, but what is more strange is the girl with a lot of eyes running at the same speed as the carriage, it's Momoiro, and she occasionally glances at me to check if I can see her and I have enough delicacy to act like I don't. It seems like her common sense and fundamentals are somehow weakened by her mind-reading abilities because she wasn't able to recognize gazes directed towards her, she even thought that she could conceal herself using a new set of clothes.
Eleanor also joined the fray and watched her sister run fervently as she panted heavily, she was determined to follow us from the city walls to the mansion of her mother, yes mansion, what use would a castle be if the owner of the place is virtually impossible to assassinate, not only because of her power but because of the strength of her spouses, concubines, and children.
_But Urduja needs to pay more attention to her children._
Bakunawa and Eleanor looked at me as I looked at Momoiro with a smirk, I will not lie, I find her interesting, and I am sure that she also finds me to be one because I am the first person who blocked her ability to read minds.
My general and my wife continued to look at me, in which I am obliged to argue.
"What?"
The two of them shook their head but continued looking at me.
[I can feel it, the ki-]
Shut up, I thought you would be quiet in this whole arc, if you will not, then be quiet until the end of my visit.
"Hey, I mean, isn't she cute if she puts an effort to observe things that interest her?"
This time, the three of us went back to the carriage as the two of them squinted their eyes toward me, I could not understand.
"Yeah, I heard that Momoiro visited Bulawan, but only after she left did I learn of it, I didn't know that you would also captivate her with your charisma."
Eleanor smiled at me, gentleness and even relief evident on her face, what the hell is this?
"What are you talking about?"
I asked in confusion, but Eleanor did not even listen to me and continued.
"Oh, of course you don't have to worry about me, you are a queen, and you already have a first wife, a second or a third will not hurt anymore."
