Leslie had returned two weeks ago, and passed on her knowledge of the Heretic Tribes to the north to Lucius, though mental messaging. It was up to him how he wanted to handle the plants of the three gods that were among them, that Warmarshal Michael was bringing back. She hoped it was going to be as simple as a small accident cleaning up the unwelcomed.

She decided that while Jack was gone she needed to talk to the tiny Consort, as she had off handily decided to call Emily. She made her way to her new room, also information generously provided by Lucius.

She knocked on the door.

Emily was started from her studying. She had asked her servants to bring her some new books from the Library of Saigunrai, as suggested by the Grand Minister. She was grateful... She was starting to run out of coloring books.

"Come in?"

The door opened with Leslie walking in, and closing it behind her, "Hello tiny Consort." Leslie giggled slightly as she spoke.

"...Do you have to call me that?" Emily was slightly pissed, but now that this undead in front of her was her Sister-Consort, and Senior on top of it... She wasn't really sure how to deal with her.

"Its fun to say." Leslie walked over to the table that Emily was sitting by, and pulled a chair. In this room, there was a nice large evening tomb and a great table with chairs. The Table was average size, made of bone per the usual, but the chairs were interesting, to say the least. The chair Emily sat in, was perfect for her size, there was an overly large chair and two normal chairs.

Leslie could guess the large chair was for Jack. She marveled at Lucius' ability for fine details. Leslie may not have thought of it, but this room had a window, as well. This time it was a view of the back of the Holy Palace showing the garden of The Holy Witch King. A much better view than the grim monument in front of the Holy Palace.

"...What brings you to me today???" Emily wasn't sure why her Sister-Consort visited, as she didn't seem to like her all that much.

"I had a few questions I wanted to ask. I'm wondering if you could help me." Leslie asked with a smile.

[Maybe... Maybe we could become closer...?] Emily thought hopefully.

"Sure. If it's within my power I'll answer."

"I'm sure you can." Leslie's smile grew, but her brows furrowed ever so slightly.

Emily could tell that Leslie was slightly fiercer, and wondered just what did she want to ask.

"Did... Did Jack come visit you before his retreat?"

"Oh..." Emily accidentally let her voice leak.

"He did?" Leslie couldn't tell from Emily's reaction, but now she saw her lower her head... Then did he?

"Yes, and no."

"???" Leslie was slightly lost on this.

"Yes. He came by and asked me a few things, and told me about his God-King business, but then he left. The last thing he did was to message me that he was going into retreat and to manage the ambassador duties with Neolith." Emily said with a slight note of sourness.

"Oh? Did... Did you turn him down?" Leslie looked own, with wide eyes.

"...I know what you're asking... We didn't do anything, and I didn't turn him down... I... I offered him to visit me before he went into retreat. I didn't outright say it, but I'm sure he knew. He said that he didn't want me to get sick of him too early... Can you believe that.........." Emily's tone still contained a note of sourness, but now with a mix of anger.

"You offered, and he... turned you down???" Leslie slightly surprised! She knew Jack was a straight-up pervert, and also knew that he didn't mind Emily's form as a little girl, even if he said otherwise. She could tell when he said he wasn't into Lolis... He was lying. The only time she had heard him lie... And he lied about that. She couldn't help herself but want to follow up with her... Sister-Consort.

"Yeah. Pretty much..." Emily kept her head down and didn't speak anymore. The entire room descended into a stale quietness.

Leslie looked up and noticed that between the words and the body language, Emily was feeling down about being turned down. With just a bit of thought, she could tell it hurt her pride. Her betrothed turned down intimate relations. How would anyone, let alone a woman, feel for being turned down.

As much as she disliked this little princess, she was her Sister-Consort for better or worse. She couldn't just leave her to wallow in her misery. She also liked the idea of having a sister... She always wanted a sibling, but that never worked out...

"Dear... Can I call you Sister?" Leslie had unknowingly softened her tone.

Caught off-guard, Emily raised her head to look at Leslie, who now had retracted her accusing wretched smile in favor of a more gentler expression.

"...Only... Only if you will let me do the same."

"Sure."

"Alright, Sister Leslie... I hope you are better than my real Sisters... I'm in your care, as you're my older sister, right?"

"What happened to putting me in my place when you become Queen." Leslie covered her mouth and giggled, teasing Emily.

"Haaaa~ I think we both know Jack's favorite. You don't have to rub it in... He visited you the night before and then left. He didn't pay me any attention. I always thought that it would be happy ever after when I finally met my husband... But here I am... Unwanted just like home."

"Unwanted?" Leslie again didn't know what to say to that as she blurted out, "But in your kingdom, you have everything! You have servants, the best teachers, access to cultivation resources, and tomes!"

"Yes. Yes, I do... But I was born to be given away. My siblings were jealous of what our Queen-Mother gave me but never stopped to see how little time she gave me. I haven't talked to mother face to face in five hundred years..." Emily confessed, "And now my husband-to-be leaves the day after announcing my betrothal for at least half a year."

Leslie's mind was working, and she could see the despair in the situation. This was changing her opinion on Emily. She now no longer felt jealous, but... Pity... Leslie had the rare feeling of comforting the little princess.

"I don't think that's just it. Jack has a lot on his plate at the moment. I'm sure he was going to ask you to become his consort later in the future but asked hastily due to his impending doom he felt."

"So... He was going to make me his consort any way?"

"Of course, he already asked me if he could have a second consort, and I agreed," Leslie spoke with truth and a lie. Jack did ask her about a second consort but never said he was going to take Emily. Leslie was surprised when Jack did it during their meeting, but after a quick conversation, that day understood why.

Emily felt a bit better, at least she wasn't just an afterthought.

"I know Jack... He's a bit of a perv... Sister, let me tell you more about him." Leslie covered her mouth again, as she giggled. She pulled her seat closer to Emily, as they began to talk about Jack and the kingdom.

*******

Mark had returned, after several weeks of absence, to the court of Jakahn. The King and his daughter, Violet, had awaited his presence when they received word. They had dismissed all other servants of the court, for a private session.

Mark walked into the room, with a straight back. He walked to the front of the throne. It was obvious to Mark that the King was showing his power by meeting him from his throne, instead of a more personable location.

"Honored Guest Mark. It is a pleasure to see you again. After you took your resources, you quietly slunk away for a while. In fact, We expected you to be gone longer on your retreat. We hope all went well?"

"Of course, your highness. The resources were perfect, and exactly what I wanted." Mark said with a bit of a smile in his voice.

Violet mentally raise a brow.

"So what brings you to Us, so early?" The King's voice echoed in the hall, not phasing Mark in the slightest.

"After some meditation, I believe that I have obtained a demon of the heart," Mark said, as he spoke.

It was widely known, that demons of the heart, that these could black progress in cultivation. Mental afflictions, anxiety, and pained emotions could cloud cultivation, no matter the Cultivating method.

"Oh? Making a breakthrough can be tough, but exactly what is your demon? If it's within Our power, We would wish to break this obstacle." The King spoke again, a bit of laugh in his voice, as he smiled.

Mark could almost hear the rest of his sentence, "-for a price."

Mark didn't hesitate, "Thank you so much for your favor. It is indeed a demon. A demon named Deagoth. I know that his Highness has already made plans to lay siege to the Hypocritical Kingdom, but how far are you planning to take your war?"

Slightly startled the King asked, "How far?"

"Yes. How far? Because I believe my demons will only rest when the seat of Deagoth is razed in flames and chaos." Mark said, as a bit of anticipation leaked in his words.

The king brow's slammed together, "It's never a good idea to take to big of a bit, lest you choke on it."

"Would his highness rather nibble his enemies to death, or like the King's of old, and tear his Enemy apart with his teeth? As the saying goes, would you rather choke of greatness or nimble of mediocrity." Mark said while maintaining his words. It seemed he had covered his anticipation for destruction, and resumed his mild manners.

A few minutes of silence permeated the room. Mark could tell that his Highness was speaking with his daughter. He had long known the true mind of the Nation of Jakahn was this purple-clad lady in front of him. Only she could bend the ear of the King, and sway his hand.

"Mark, We know you are tempting me, goading even, for Us to take far more from Deagoth than what We first planned, but Our question is... What do you have or know that will sway Our favor?"

"Of course, I have key knowledge, that is far more than just the military maps of Deagoth. I also know their relay stations they use for communication. I, also know, just where their churches and tombs lay." Mark put most of his chips on the table. He needed Jakahn for his plans. He needed them to take the bigger bite for his plans, even if they didn't make it to the Saigunrai, they could cripple them enough for his other agents to take what he needed, that was fine.

A few more moments of silence, "My daughter wishes to negotiate. So, We will let her speak on Our behalf."

"Business with a fair lady is best, no matter what it is. Princess Violet, what say you to my terms." Mark said with a smile in his voice, as he turned his head to take in the full view of the princess.

"Honored Guest... Mark. I've been studying you the best I can. You are a very hard undead to get information on that isn't obvious." The princess spoke in a happy tone, contrary to the difficultly in her words.

"Well, I do believe that a certain level of personal life must be maintained." Mark maintained his tone.

"Is that so... If I'm not mistaken, you have a wife, but no one had seen her or heard from her. Then do you really have a wife?" Violet asked, in a humorous manner.

"Again, I do like to keep my personal life, personal. I'm sure the both of you can understand how hard it is to have personal affairs that are not made public."

"Well, it just seems to me that if you do not have a real wife, then it wouldn't be an issue to take another, or if you DO, in fact, have a wife, I don't see an issue with taking another wife." The princess went on...

"Princess Violet, I don't seem to be following. I've come to request help to lay the demons of my heart to rest, so I don't understand how my personal life or my wife are involved in these negotiations." Mark's voice was still the same, neither humble nor arrogant.

Violet decided to lay her card down, "I can tell you are a decisive undead, so let me just state it clearly." The princess paused, and then continued, "I wish for you to take me as your wife. I will apologize personally to your current wife, and I will not even question you having another wife. Even my father has a few wives. I only request to make me your first wife..."