After they introduced themselves, I understood who sat at the center. From left to right was Wizard Guild President, Royal Archwizard, Knight-Captain, and Knight Guild President.

In the middle of them sat Queen Ayana Vernon, monarch of Reuland.

Was I surprised? Sure. Was I confused? Yup. Did I underestimate the weight of a lich’s word? Definitely. But those weren’t the things that upset me. No. What upset me was this bitch’s boobs! What’s with that ridiculous size?! She’s barely older than me! God doesn’t exist! For a second, I wished I used Cadaver Possession on her instead. Hmm, but maybe she had a kid or two?

The queen stood up and performed a gratus, then invited me to sit.

But what’s with that teeny-tiny waist? My gosh this woman is a goddamn bombshell! And a perfect beauty! Gah, look at those eyes! Goddamn I’m having a gay panic! I held my chest. “Why, am I here?”

“Indeed, that’s what we’d like to know as well, Deidre.” The gorgeous queen had a gentle smile that would melt away anyone’s defenses around their hearts.

That smile is criminal. “What do you mean?” I asked.

The Royal Archwizard, Kaelyn simpered. “You’ve made a deal with a very strong wizard, haven’t you?”

I raised a brow, “A wizard?” and put a hand to my chin to feign ignorance. “I didn’t do such a th—wait, do you mean that lich?”

She looked a bit surprised, as did they all, that I was willing to admit it. “Yes. Necromancy is taboo, and frowned upon in Reuland. For you to address Her Majesty so nonchalantly, I’ll assume you’re not from this country, so I will forgive your ignorance this time only, okay?” She threatened with a smile.

“Huh? The queen? Well, that’s nice, but I don’t care who any of you are. Besides, I’m the one given power by a lich. Is it really a good idea to get on my bad side, Royal Archwizard?” I stood up for myself, but my butt cheeks were clapping in fear. Even as a feared monster of legends, it felt like getting on the wrong side of a freaking queen was just a bad idea. I kept my fingers crossed on my snarky behavior. “None of that matters anyway, right? Necromancy isn’t against the law in Reuland. I wouldn’t come here if I didn’t know that.”

The Knight-Captain growled. He was glowering at me since I appeared. “So, is that it? You still plan to practice your dark art after being warned in front of Her Majesty?”

I shrugged. “I would if I could, Demarcus. But the power I was given isn’t the ‘necromancy’ you hate so much. I can’t raise any people, so quit worrying.”

Archwizard Kaelyn was about to chastise me again, but the queen stopped her. Her blue eyes locked on to me, then she smiled and picked up her cup of tea. “Have we appraised her?”

“Not yet,” Kaelyn said. “She’s registered with the Warrior Guild of all places, so we need approval before any other guild can appraise her.”

“Hmm, I guess that makes sense. If the dark art wasn’t taboo, she would’ve joined the Wizard Guild,” Queen Ayana said.

“Wow, beauty and brains. That’s a rare combination.” I mimicked applause. “Indeed, I’m more suited to being a wizard or healer, so the Warrior Guild would’ve been the last place to go.”

The queen sipped her tea and her piercing eyes fell on me. “Can you tell us of your deal with the lich?”

“Hmm, well, your fairness has charmed me, so I’ll tell you if we get to speak alone,” I said most seriously, then smiled. “Of course, you can tell them everything after, I don’t mind.”

They all eyed her, and advised against it. It would mean she was defenseless after all. However, with her simple nod, they were forced to vacate their seats and move away. Good. Speaking to the queen? This went way better than I thought, and the ball is in my court too. Don’t fuck this up, Deidre! I cast Soundless Space, a spell that ensured no sound escaped the space I cast it on. “The Lich God’s part of the deal was to impart the power of expert spells upon me.”

She flinched, and the cup clanked on the saucer. “Expert? You’re an expert?”

“Yup.” I cast Dispel and undid the spells on the manacles easily, then took it off and rested my arms comfortably on the table.

Ice, wind, and other pretty dangerous spells were hurtling towards me, but I prepared for that as well and expanded a Mana Shield around me. They did nothing but endanger their own queen with their spells because Mana Shield was meant to expend the user’s MP before their HP was even touched, and my MP was pretty ridiculous. Well, I protected the queen as well of course. I safely ignored their efforts until Knight-Captain Demarcus drew his sword and commanded them to cease fire.

“Alright,” the queen brushed some hair behind an ear, “I believe your claim. And, what did you give in exchange for the power you wield?”

I sighed exhaustively. “He told me to help you, Queen Ayana Vernon. The best way for me to do that is supporting the Wizard and Knight Guilds, or training a special group of wizards and healers.”

“Why does a lich, a powerful monster beyond human comprehension, take interest in helping Reuland?” She interlaced her fingers and stared even deeper into me.

“I’m curious about that myself. He was a weird monster from start to finish. So, Ayana,” I purposely spoke over-friendly, “what is it you really want to ask me?”

I heard a strange laughter from her, as if there was another person inside her. “You really are interesting. Just seeing your magic makes me so wet.”

At that moment, sirens were going off in my head. EMTs were rushing with blood packs, oxygen, and defibrillators in hopes of resuscitating my brain. What’s with this fucking woman? I knew something was off about her. Her fucking beauty and body are out of this world! That’s some ten-out-of-ten meat right there. What kind of queen says stuff like that?

She stood up, and her movements were becoming sexier and sexier. She walked over to my side and put her hands on my shoulders. “I understand why my master wants to meet with you now, Lich God Deidre. Fear not, I will not reveal your secrets, I value my life, after all. But there is something that I value even more.” She reached into the bosom of her white dress and retrieved a coin with a spade symbol engraved on it. “Come to my quarters tonight and we shall discuss your,” she lowered her lips to my ear, “penetration, into our knights and wizards.” She gently passed her index under my chin, then walked away.