A lady in waiting had walked inside the room and made a deep curtsy as she announced, "Your majesty. It is time."

The words snapped the naked woman back to reality and knew that frolicking in her bed around with her royal concubines was over. Her playtime was over. Ahhh. Now I'll be bored again.

Stifling a yawn, her curvaceous body covered with nothing but silk and laces which were embedded with strips of silver and gold caressed her luminous skin, eliciting a sensual reaction among her harem. She smiled, her small and delicate face framed by the curly waves of her long blond hair. She knew how many men would be willing to die just to see her smile. She knew how men would kill to be part of the Royal Consort. She knew how she drove all men wild, she knew and she revelled in it. She prey on it and she has built her pedestal with it.

Once more, she stirred. Her eyes that seemed to have been sculpted straight from an amethyst mined in the deepest cave of the Middle Kingdom were sparkling in delight. Slowly, she pulled herself to a sitting position, and her eyes met the jaded eyes of one of her playthings. She beckoned for him, and he immediately crawled next to her.

"Do not be sad, my love. We shall play all night once more. Later," she purred, and the man who's name she does not remember well sighed in ecstasy. She pressed a kiss onto his lips, and a stirring was felt once more. The four concubines crawled around her, one was kissing the sole of her feet, the other kissing her hands and palm tenderly, and the others on her back carefully attending to her.

"Say," she called her maid, "does His Majesty the Emperor need me now, right this very moment?"

The servant remained in her deep bow, unmoving, "I believe not in another twenty minutes or so."

She smiled, "Then come back after ten minutes. I'll be over in ten."

The attendant of the queen bowed even lower before making a hasty retreat as moans and groans filled the entire room. In ten minutes, she'll be back; and the Queen will surely be done with her affairs.

***

The Queen's presence was first announced before she was allowed entrance inside the Emperor's chamber. To greet the Emperor of the empire was one of the Queenly duties that must be carried out every day. And it was just the usual greeting, except, the Vizier was present this time around.

Clad in her voluptuous gown made of silk and gold which gave emphasis to the perfect shape of her nape, exposing her elegant white throat before the dress took a daring plunge down her decolletage. The Queen walked inside the chamber slowly but steadily, her hair beautifully swept in a dramatic coif, and finally she stood face to face with the Vizier. How she hated the Vizier for having more power and influence than the Queen of the empire.

"Greetings, your majesty." The Vizier made a curtsy.

"Greetings, Grand Vizier. May providence bestow you her beatific smile today." She made a tiny curtsy just for the sake of it. "I don't get to see you often. Is his Majesty the Emperor ill?"

"The usual, my Queen."
The Queen hid her smirk behind her golden fan. "Hmmm. You may leave, as I would like to speak with his Majesty alone."

"Then, I shall give you the privacy needed." And he turned his heel towards the door.

When everything was silent inside the chamber, the Queen made a bow on her knees and did not move. She heard the rustling of fabric and the gentle creaking of wood, but she remained motionless prostrating before her king.

"You may rise." Finally, a raspy voice devoid of any emotion was heard. The Queen regally stood on her feet once more, and finally saw the lean figure obscured by the canopies of the gigantic bed befitting the greatest ruler of the empire. Thirty years of marriage, and she can still never get used to how grand and rich this bedroom was.

"Your majesty, I am worried. I see that you are not feeling well again this time?"

The emperor chuckled. "Yes, just the usual. I'm losing my strength."

The Queen straightened her back. "Then I presume the game must begin as soon as possible."

Dry cough racked the Emperor's frail body, but no one was allowed to approach the Emperor and so the Queen waited until the seizure was over.

"Tell the Vizier to make haste," he said in between gasps. "The sacrifice must be ready."

The Queen made a deep bow once more, "Yes, my King."

"I'll leave this matter in your hand, my dear."

"And I shall not fail you at all, dear husband," she smiled, "for this will be a game like no other."

"I just need the blood of the sacrifice." The emperor nimbly replied.

You've never really shown great interest in the process. "I'll make it so that you'll enjoy the festivity, my dear."

The emperor gently smiled, deep creases forming around the corners of his eyes and mouth. "Thank you, my Queen. I would love to kiss you, but I cannot risk you coming near me in this deteriorating state."

"I am humbled, but worry not, you will be in the greatest of strength soon. I believe we have extraordinary players this time."

"Yes," came his reply, his tone indicating he doesn't want to hear more of the players.

The Queen finished her morning greeting by burning an incense, and soon after she exited the bedchamber, a small smile playing on her lips as she walked. Ahhh, she thought, I won't be bored for quite a time.

All that's left is to discuss the matter to the Vizier, and the game will commence by the end of the week. Yes, it will surely be fun.

***

For the time being, Estil and Ueno's team decided to stay in a nearby inn. Ueno wouldn't risk Estil's dangerous trip to the Gray Area, and it was also favorable for her since she wouldn't want to place the people she's left with in danger. Elois, on the other hand, is happy so long as she is with Estil. There are only three of them in the team, and they need four more before they can proceed to the game. Ueno's influence as part of Emperor's Knight was an advantage, since plenty of enlisted players have been trying to get into their team. However, Ueno was one hell of a picky bastard. Indeed, it was a surprise for Estil that he truly allowed Elois to become a member despite his pickiness.

When Ueno returned early in the evening inside their private chambers, Elois and Estil were welcomed with two other figures tagging along with him.  The first one was a good looking man wearing a white shirt with small collars and buttons and a black trousers made of moleskin, his long brown hair tied in a loose ponytail. He carried with him what seemed to be a huge quiver and a lute luggage. The second one appeared suspicious, wearing a raggedy brown hooded cloak with eyes covered by a piece of black cloth.

Estil was frowning when she met Ueno's gaze. He immediately understood what her expression meant, but before he could speak the brown-haired man uttered an exclamation.

"You were that brat!" He was talking to Elois. Elois blinked her eyes, uncomprehending.

"Now you don't remember me?" he clucked his tongue. "You made a blunder earlier by peeking through the bushes at the back of the Castle Gardens and you scared my poor woman away." The man sounded dejected.

Elois blinked her eyes, her eyes sweeping past his brown hair, his quiver, and finally his lute. The lute! Her eyes now widening, an unpleasant memory from not so long ago flashed before her mind.

"It's you!" she gasped.

Ueno was observing the scene with a tinge of interest. "So you've met."

"He's a pervert!" exclaimed Elois.
"What unmannered twat," the man snorted.

"He's going to be part of our team though, so I'm afraid I'll have to ask you both to be civil at least."

Elois was frowning, but didn't say anything. Ueno continued, "This is Diego the bard, skilled in crossbow and good with people. This twat is Elois of the Middle Kingdom, a mage."

"A kid this small is a mage?"

Elois glared at the man.

"Seriously, what kind of spell can you cast though?" he was grinning from ear to ear.

"I'm Estil, guess you've heard of me."

His eyes swept through her, eyes momentarily stopping on the few streaks of blue hue among the gray of her hair, "I knew who you were the moment I laid my eyes on you."

Ueno continued, "and I know you're aware of how skilled she is in terms of yielding blades."

Now all eyes fell to the remaining figure. The brown hooded cloak looked too worn out that the majority of its fabrics were coming undone. The person removed her hood, revealing a long, black hair and surprisingly, a set of pointed ears.

Estil and Elois knew it right away. The bard though, who never had the privilege of education and time to pore through a wide array of books, had never seen such a creature before. And so he was left dumb founded. Still, Estil was also taken off guard by the sight.

"And this is Hiraya from the Diwasi clan of the Middle Kingdom. Skilled in alchemy, spear, and brawl fighting."

The person removed the black piece of cloth covering her eyes, and revealed the most spectacular sight they had ever seen in their lives. Fire opal eyes that seemed to contain millions of galaxies inside.

"My name is Hiraya," and they were swept away by her beautiful gaze, "Please let's win this game."

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Sorry, it took me a while for the update! Don't forget to leave your comments or reactions. Please let me know your thoughts! XOXO