[Queen's Paradise: Prologue - Queen of the Night]

[22:55] <!Emilybroshoujo> [Queen's Paradise: Prologue - Queen of the Night]
[22:57] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Alright, open your eyes." Aldeas says after carfully hanging a silver pendant around Lucia's neck.
[22:57] <!Emilybroshoujo> The young queen opens her blue eyes and looks down at the silver charm with a smile.
[22:58] <!Emilybroshoujo> "It's lovely but what's the occassion?" She asks as she touches the amulet.
[22:59] <!Emilybroshoujo> "The queen of lycanthrope is coming tonight." Aldeas says as he leans over the palace rampart and watches the sun set.
[22:59] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Is that why you're out on the outer wall?"
[23:01] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Of course, of all the queens to come and stay with us thus far she is the most dangerous. You should return to the palace and have all the maids and female knights wear any silver jewelry they have."
[23:01] <!Emilybroshoujo> "And if they have none?" Lucia asks.
[23:01] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Give them some from the castle treasury." Aldeas responds instantly.
[23:02] <!Emilybroshoujo> "I thought you'd say that..." Lucia says with a smile as she turns and heads back to the palace.
[23:03] <!Emilybroshoujo> The sun falls eerily slow.
[23:03] <!Emilybroshoujo> As if the night were hesitant to begin.
[23:03] <!Emilybroshoujo> "It's no coincidence you chose the night of the full moon to show yourself is it, Veronica." Aldeas says to the evening air.
[23:04] <!Emilybroshoujo> "This won't be a repeat of the Lloth incident will it? I'm not the same as I was last time we fought."
[23:05] <!Emilybroshoujo> "..... Don't give me the cold shoulder like that.... I know you can hear me." He says as he rests a hand on his cheek.
[23:05] <!Emilybroshoujo> The sun finally falls below the horizon, and as if in response to Aldeas' words a loud howl echos from the forests leading to the castle.
[23:07] <!Emilybroshoujo> "So you're already that close.... it's a good thing Lucia isn't here. She might be very upset about what's going to happen when we meet."
[23:08] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Oh? And why's that?" Mesina says as she stands silently behind the young king.
[23:10] <!Emilybroshoujo> "What are you-" "Lucy sent me to tell you everyone is wearing silver." Mesina says as she taps her bracelet.
[23:11] <!Emilybroshoujo> "I see, then tell he-" Aldeas' sentence is cut off as a billowing cloud of smoke forms around him as if from nothing.
[23:12] <!Emilybroshoujo> The smoke almost instantly forms into the shape of a woman, her long pale arms wrapping around Aldeas' neck from behind.
[23:12] <!Emilybroshoujo> The long wavy blonde ponytail of the woman billows in the breezy night air and her sizable breasts are pressed again his back.
[23:13] <!Emilybroshoujo> The pink full lips of the woman are curved into a smile as she places them close to Aldeas' ear and whisper.
[23:13] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Caught you...."
[23:13] <!Emilybroshoujo> Aldeas is completely frozen.
[23:14] <!Emilybroshoujo> He holds his breath as he waits to see the next move of the woman with her arms around him.
[23:15] <!Emilybroshoujo> The woman opens her deep blue eyes that seem to absorb the moonlight like deep wells.
[23:15] <!Emilybroshoujo> The elegant black blouse and skirt the woman is wearing are of fine fabric, like that of royalty.
[23:16] <!Emilybroshoujo> Her long legs are covered by black stockings that stop just short of her skirt showing a tiny portion of her pale thighs.
[23:17] <!Emilybroshoujo> Mesina, for a breif moment as she takes in the scene suddenly unfolding before her can't help but think that Aldeas and the woman embracing him look like they belong together.
[23:18] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Who-" Before the can even ask the question Mesina is hurled off the side of the wall and into a cart full of grain by a sudden gust of powerful wind.
[23:19] <!Emilybroshoujo> The same wind causes the flowing hair of the girl to blow forward draping across Aldeas' shoulder as it settles.
[23:19] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Hello, darling." The woman says as she rubs her cheek against Aldeas'.
[23:20] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Hello to you as well Veronica." Aldeas returns with a cold expression.
[23:20] <!Emilybroshoujo> "You have the scent of that little tomboy who used to follow you around, is that who you ended up marrying?"
[23:21] <!Emilybroshoujo> "You already know the answer to that, and before you ask we haven't done anything."
[23:23] <!Emilybroshoujo> "That's ashame.... it would have made this a lot more fun.~" The elegant woman says as her body becomes black smoke and flows around Aldeas before rematerializing in front of him.
[23:23] <!Emilybroshoujo> Her cherry lips press against his as the tall elegant woman closes her eyes.
[23:24] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Is that what you didn't want her to see?" Veronica asks in a low whisper as she runs her hand across Aldeas' face.
[23:24] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Yes... have you gotten it out of your system?" He returns, unphased by the kiss.
[23:24] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Yes..." She says.
[23:25] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Then lets go." Aldeas says as he walks through the womans wispy body.
[23:25] <!Emilybroshoujo> She grasps her chest as she follows him down the stairs.
[23:26] <!Emilybroshoujo> Mesina is buried face down in the pile of grain with her rear end sticking up in the air, good thing she's not wearing a skirt.
[23:26] <!Emilybroshoujo> Aldeas pulls her free of the mound of grain by the waist of her shorts.
[23:27] <!Emilybroshoujo> "As I was saying, who's she?" Mesina says immediately unphased by falling fifty feet.
[23:28] <!Emilybroshoujo> "She's this evenings guest. The queen of the Lycanthrope, Lady Veronica Eveir." Aldeas says as he continues walking towards the palace as if avoiding looking at Veronica.
[23:28] <!Emilybroshoujo> "I feel like I've heard that name before." Mesina says as she follows the king.
[23:30] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Very likely, my family has served as Archduke for the royal line since antiquity. Only in my mothers generation did that end." Veronica confirms.
[23:30] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Eh? Why?"
[23:30] <!Emilybroshoujo> Mesina asks a simple enough question but the reactions it gets are anything but.
[23:31] <!Emilybroshoujo> Aldeas and Veronica both stop dead in their tracks and an unusually cold wind blows over the trio.
[23:31] <!Emilybroshoujo> "It's a long story." They both answer at once and continue walking, though now with a heavier atmosphere as Mesina is afraid to ask anymore questions.
[23:32] <!Emilybroshoujo> As they arrive at the palace and enter through the doors Lucia sits on her throne waiting.
[23:32] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Hello, Lady Veronica." She says with a smile.
[23:32] <!Emilybroshoujo> Veronica bows and returns the greeting.
[23:33] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Mesina, could you give us some time to talk." Aldeas asks.
[23:33] <!Emilybroshoujo> "No.... I think I'd rather like her to stay." Lucia says.
[23:33] <!Emilybroshoujo> Aldeas smiles and shrugs in concession.
[23:34] <!Emilybroshoujo> Aldeas sits on his throne, and across from the pair a black throne forms from wispy smoke and Veronica takes a seat.
[23:34] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Where do we even begin?" Aldeas says with a sigh.
[23:36] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Perhaps it would be best to start at the beginning given our company." Veronica suggests with only a trace of venom in her words as she glances at Mesina.
[23:36] <!Emilybroshoujo> The redhead seems to shrink under the weight of Veronica's deep blue-eyed stare.
[23:37] <!Emilybroshoujo> Aldeas takes a deep breath and prepares to tell the story, from the beginning.
[23:37] <!Emilybroshoujo> [Intermission]


[23:45] <!Emilybroshoujo> [Intermission Out]
[23:45] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Six years ago Veronica and I were good friends." Aldeas begins.
[23:46] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Okay, your turns over." Lucia says.
[23:46] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Six years ago, Veronica was the woman Aldeas was supposed to marry."
[23:47] <!Emilybroshoujo> Mesina's mouth hangs open and she suddenly regrets getting involved in this conversation.
[23:48] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Now, would you like to tell her the actual story or do I have to do it?" Lucia asks.
[23:49] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Are you sure you want to hear it from the horses mouth?" Veronica says to Lucia with a grin.
[23:49] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Enough, Veronica. Don't be an instigator." Aldeas says which causes the stunning blonde woman to pout and look away.
[23:50] <!Emilybroshoujo> "It's like Lucia says, Veronica and I were engaged."
[23:50] <!Emilybroshoujo> "In fact she was raised from the time I was born to be my wife."
[23:51] <!Emilybroshoujo> "To say we were unhappy with the arrangment would be a lie however."
[23:51] <!Emilybroshoujo> Lucia flinches a little and makes a wistful smile.
[23:51] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Veronica and I were actually very close."
[23:52] <!Emilybroshoujo> "You were the only man I ever had interest in." Veronica confirms as she looks at Aldeas with remorseful eyes.
[23:52] <!Emilybroshoujo> "I remember my parents used to scold me for bringing women up to my chambers." Veronica says with a smile
[23:53] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Your father was so desperate to keep that aspect of your personality hidden from me." The two share in a soft laugh.
[23:54] <!Emilybroshoujo> Lucia places her hand on top of Mesina's and squeezes.
[23:54] <!Emilybroshoujo> It's suddenly clear why she didn't want her to leave.
[23:55] <!Emilybroshoujo> Mesina smiles at Lucia to reassure her as Aldeas continues.
[23:57] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Even though saying it now is hard, I actually expected to marry Veronica."
[23:57] <!Emilybroshoujo> "But something happened?...." Mesina asks.
[23:58] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Do you think my father would let me marry a monster?" Aldeas returns.
[23:58] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Veronica was human."
[23:58] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Was being the opperative word..."
[23:58] <!Emilybroshoujo> "During the monster wars Aldeas' father made a very nasty enemy, The Black Witch Circe."
[23:59] <!Emilybroshoujo> "She attempted to place a nasty curse on Aldeas, but the Sanctuary of the King protected him."
[23:59] <!Emilybroshoujo> "Sanctuary of the King?" Mesina asks again.
[00:00] <CYOA-sama> "An ancient write that protects the kings line from sabotage, until a king has an heir he can't die of old age or disease and he's protected against magical curses."
[00:01] <CYOA-sama> "Couldn't that be abused?" Mesina makes an astute observation.
[00:01] <CYOA-sama> "Loves comes to everyone eventually, even a greedy old king." Veronica says.
[00:02] <CYOA-sama> "A few generations ago one of Aldeas' ancestors attempted to live forever using the Sanctuary but as soon as he lay with a woman for the first time, at age 124 she was impregnated and he died on the spot."
[00:03] <CYOA-sama> "It's a very cruel magic, to say the least. It's impossible to have a magic that can protect you from any curse for free, all spells ahve a price." Veronica says.
[00:05] <CYOA-sama> "The more expensive the price the more powerful the magic, the condition for the magical protection of The Sanctuary is this: Any fate that would befall the king's line instead is inflicted upon the person the youngest in the line loves the most. At the time for Aldeas that was me."
[00:05] == Emilybroshoujo [CYOA-sama@2b2c869d.1916f0b2.14fd58ce.31b34b44X] has quit [Ping timeout: 360 seconds]
[00:06] <CYOA-sama> "In the past Queen's have died of poison, disease, old age in their early twenties... you name it."
[00:06] <CYOA-sama> "For me it was a bit nastier than that, Lycanthropy."
[00:06] <CYOA-sama> "Now, as I've spread the curse it's common knowledge, but back then I was the first."
[00:07] <CYOA-sama> "When the king discovered I had been turned into a monster he ordered me executed.... I had to kill a lot of people to escape."
[00:08] <CYOA-sama> "I think I understand...." Mesina says.
[00:09] <CYOA-sama> "Yes, in short that means three things." Lucia finally chimes in.
[00:09] <CYOA-sama> "First, it means that if Aldeas were to die before having an heir it would result in my death instead."
[00:09] <CYOA-sama> "Are you sure?" Veronica asks mockingly.
[00:10] <CYOA-sama> "No.... I'm not, but I'm hoping that's the case at least." Lucia returns which actually makes Veronica show a tinge of guilt.
[00:11] <CYOA-sama> "Second, it means that at one point Aldeas loved Veronica more than me. I'm not childish enough to resent her for it of course but it's not an easy thing to accept."
[00:11] <CYOA-sama> Lucia's eyes grow cloudy as she speaks and it's obvious she's holding back tears.
[00:12] <CYOA-sama> "Third, it means that Veronica is the only woman that can actually stake a claim on my position as queen."
[00:12] <CYOA-sama> "Th-then....." Mesina seems to understand.
[00:13] <CYOA-sama> "Yes, the arrangement was never annulled by my father, he just ordered her executed. Veronica still has the right to force me into marriage." Aldeas confirms.
[00:13] <CYOA-sama> "So.... what will you do?" Lucia asks as she places her hand on top of Aldeas'
[00:13] <CYOA-sama> .....
[00:13] <CYOA-sama> The throne room grows eerily silent as Veronica sits with her eyes closed.
[00:14] <CYOA-sama> "Nothing."
[00:14] <CYOA-sama> "I love Aldeas and I always will, so I'm not going to force him into anything."
[00:15] <CYOA-sama> The king and queen stare slack jawwed at the woman sitting across from them.
[00:16] <CYOA-sama> "So, about these peace treaties. Do you think it would be possible for you to fund some reasearch into curing lycanthropy in exchange for my co-operation?"
[00:16] <CYOA-sama> ".... I think we could arrange that." Aldeas says with a smile.
[00:17] <CYOA-sama> "Wonderful then! So who's going to show me to my room?" Veronica says as she looks at Mesina lustfully.
[00:17] <CYOA-sama> "I will." Lucia says as she stands.
[00:18] <CYOA-sama> Aldeas sits quietly in his throne as the pair head up the stairs.
[00:18] <CYOA-sama> "Mesina.... do you think it's possible to love more than one person with all your heart?" Aldeas asks as he sits on his throne.
[00:19] <CYOA-sama> ".... I'm flattered you would ask me your majesty but I'm just a servant girl, I don't really know." She replies.
[00:20] <CYOA-sama> "But.... I hope it is.... because there are a lot of people I love, and I'd hate to choose." The redhead smiles knowing Aldeas will be ignorant to the meaning of her words.
[00:20] <CYOA-sama> Meanwhile, as Lucia and Veronica head up to her room.
[00:20] <CYOA-sama> "Does he make you happy?" Veronica asks to break the silence.
[00:21] <CYOA-sama> "Every day." Lucia replies with a smile.
[00:21] <CYOA-sama> "I'm sorry... I kissed him when he met me on the wall."
[00:21] <CYOA-sama> "It doesn't matter, it's not the first time."
[00:21] <CYOA-sama> "But he's your husband now....."
[00:22] <CYOA-sama> An awkward silence falls between the two.
[00:22] <CYOA-sama> Veronica's hands tremble as she tries to hold back her tears.
[00:22] <CYOA-sama> "Do you.... nevermind." She stops herself from asking her question to the wrong person.
[00:23] <CYOA-sama> "Do I what?" Lucia tries to drag it out of her.
[00:23] <CYOA-sama> ........
[00:23] <CYOA-sama> "Do you... think he still loves me... at all?"
[00:23] <CYOA-sama> Lucia stops on the stairs and turns around.
[00:24] <CYOA-sama> Despite their height difference Lucia being on a higher stair puts her at eye level with Veronica.
[00:24] <CYOA-sama> "Do you want me to tell you a secret?"
[00:24] <CYOA-sama> Veronica nods.
[00:24] <CYOA-sama> "Your condition for accepting the peace talks has already been met."
[00:25] <CYOA-sama> "From the day he took over the crown, he's been pouring funding into having the mages circle study lycanthropy in search of a cure."
[00:26] <CYOA-sama> "I don't know if he loves you, but never once for even a single day has he stopped caring about you.... and neither have I." Lucia says as her tears start to fall.
[00:26] <CYOA-sama> "I don't care what anyone says...." Lucia embraces her older sister tightly.
[00:26] <CYOA-sama> "You're not a monster to us."
[00:27] <CYOA-sama> Vernonica trembles as she buries her face in Lucia's shoulder.
[00:27] <CYOA-sama> The two sisters soft cries echo through the empty stairway in the dark.
[00:28] <CYOA-sama> "Tomorrow night.... when the moon is no longer full and I'm not in full control, will you still feel that way?"
[00:28] <CYOA-sama> Lucia's voice is shaky as she responds.
[00:29] <CYOA-sama> "We've arranged for your door and windows to be lined with silver.... you can lock yourself in if you choose to, but even if you don't Aldeas and I won't treat you any differently."
[00:30] <CYOA-sama> "You... have grown into a beautiful lady little sister. A far cry from the clingy tomboy you were when Aldeas took you away from me."
[00:31] <CYOA-sama> "I'm thankful to him... if you had stayed who knows what might have happened."
[00:31] <CYOA-sama> "I-" "Veronica...." Lucia interrupts.
[00:31] <CYOA-sama> "Yes?" The beautiful girl looks down at her sister.
[00:32] <CYOA-sama> "If you were secretly doing it with girls why didn't you ever explain to me that girls could do it with other girls?" Lucia asks as her face is red and inexplicably angry.
[00:32] <CYOA-sama> "E-eh?..."
[00:33] <CYOA-sama> "I just found out about it yesterday! Do you know how embarrassed I was!?"
[00:33] <CYOA-sama> Lucia pounds on Veronica's chest as she flails angrily.
[00:33] <CYOA-sama> "W-wait this isn't the right mood for that kind of discussion...."
[00:35] <CYOA-sama> "It is too! I thought all those girls were just going up there to do girly stuff with you! I spent my whole childhood thinking you were just really good at doing pedicures!"
[00:35] <CYOA-sama> "Ehehehe...." veronica, caught off guard by the sudden shift in mood attempts to calm her furious sister by patting her on the head to no avail.
[00:36] <CYOA-sama> "Everyone looked at me like I was dumb..... *sniff*... as my older sister explaining things like that to me was your responsibility."
[00:36] <CYOA-sama> "Yes, yes...." Veronica says as she coddles her sister.
[00:37] <CYOA-sama> "How long has it been since you've been able to whine like that?" Veronica asks as Lucia starts to settle down.
[00:37] <CYOA-sama> "D-don't tell Aldeas...." She says as she smushes her face into Veronica's chest.
[00:37] <CYOA-sama> "Oh, I'm telling." Veronica says with a sly smile.
[00:38] <CYOA-sama> "Noooooooooooooooo!~ You can't don't be a butthead." Lucia says as she bagins clinging to her sister.
[00:38] <CYOA-sama> "I'm totally telling~" Veronica begins to drag her sister back down the stairs.
[00:38] <CYOA-sama> "No, pleeeease, I'll do anything!~" Lucia begs.
[00:39] <CYOA-sama> "Eeeeeeh?!~" Veronica says as she looks down at her sister.
[00:39] <CYOA-sama> "Aaaaaanything?~"
[00:39] <CYOA-sama> "W-within reason...."
[00:40] <CYOA-sama> "Send that cute redhead friend of yours up to my room sometime." Veronica says with a perverted grin.
[00:40] <CYOA-sama> "No! I don't want her to become a werewolf."
[00:40] <CYOA-sama> "She won't if she wears silver!"
[00:42] <CYOA-sama> The two go back and forth in their sisterly squabble unaware of the fact that their conversation has grown loud enough to be heard all the way downstairs where Aldeas and Mesina sit covering their faces in laughter and embarrassment respectively.
[00:42] <CYOA-sama> [Queen of the Night - End]