"I know there are plans to speak of a betrothal between you and the prince. While I respect your wishes in the matter, it might satisfy you and your father to have a General instead?" He whispered. The vulnerability shone in his eyes. Setia's heart was beating so fast, she felt her palms were getting sweaty. She bit her lower lip in thought.

Her mission was to avert the war between the dark elves and the light elves. Her main male lead for romancing in this world was Prince Niall. He had the love meter attached to him. But she didn't need to romance Niall to complete this world, did she? She would just get fewer Devil Shards, whatever good those would do to her. She saw Elarion's eyes change, and he pulled his hands away.

"I can see I've troubled you, I forget myself." He said sadly. He moved to rise from the bed. Setia gasped and panicked and launched herself at him. She found herself draped almost across his lap, with her hands pressed against his chest. Her face was close to his.

"It's not that, its just... my actions are not entirely my own." She explained. She had hiked her dress skirts up around her waist, her legs on full display, the deep V of her dress revealed ample chest.

She had to think about her kingdom, if that would really guarantee peace. Would it be enough? And how did she feel about Niall? She felt this alluring pull to him, this ghost of a presence, as if someone familiar was calling to her. She felt something for him, too.

"I understand." He said with a soft smile.

"Do you? It's just that my people rely on me to secure peace." She murmured. He nodded and wrapped his brawny arms around her, pulling her into him.

"Let's take it one day at a time, and see what we can do." He offered. Setia smiled and nodded.

 He rested his chin on the top of her head. She sighed and leaned into him, inhaling his divine scent, feeling the strength and warmth of him. She'd never been held like this before. Not in her real life. Was this all real? Was what she was feeling real? She let herself enjoy the moment while it lasted.

The next several days passed on similarly. She would train in the morning with the soldiers, practicing her skills with the blade. Her claymore felt like an extension of her soul. She was water, and whipped the blade through the air. She sparred with the top warriors and unseated them all. The prince would often ask her to walk with him through the gardens in the afternoon, and they would joke and laugh, she felt a budding familiarity with him.

(Ding! Love meter now at 35%)

General Elarion would mostly watch her from afar, she could feel his eyes on her every move, taking in the sway of her hips. She could feel herself flushing when she was around him.

(Ding! Court approval meter has increased to 30%) She smiled, so the people were starting to believe she was harmless. She hoped. She was still a long way from them liking her, but at least she knew most of them weren't plotting their revenge now.

She had seen Lina hovering around Niall a few times, and received nasty glares every time she approached, or her and the prince were seen together. She shivered everytime she saw Lina, the thought of her grubby paws all over her things, in her room.

One afternoon she was lounging in her suite when she received a knock to her main door. She sighed and rose to answer it, smoothing her dress before opening the door. Prince Niall stood there, looking royally handsome. His green eyes glimmered in a smile, and he held a hand out to her.

"Princess, I came to ask if you would come to a council meeting." He said. She gasped. A council meeting? She nodded and placed her hand in his.

"I'd be delighted." She said honestly.

The men in the war room were surprised by her entrance with Prince Niall, but one look between the prince and their king and they held their tongues. Setia noticed General Liandris standing on the opposite side of the table from her, eyeing her intensely.

"Welcome, Setia. Glad you could join us." The king's jovial voice boomed. Setia gave a low curtsy and smiled at the king.

"Thank you for the invitation, your majesty." She moved to one of the empty chairs around a large table with maps splayed out across it. Daggers stuck into the table and maps at various locations, little figurines were arranged in formations. Setia scanned the map, it looked like the light Elves had gathered forces along the borders of their territories. She wasn't surprised, she was sure her father had men there as well.

"Now, down to business. There has been unrest on the periphery." The king gestured to the small towns at the edges near the borders, all the way up Northern until halfway across the kingdom. "Small sects of rebel groups forming against an upcoming alliance. They are raiding towns and villages, causing anarchy. There have also been sightings of dark elves across the borders, even some joining these anti-alliance groups." The king said gravely, staring at Setia. Setia blanched, gripping the edges of her seat.

"We must strike them down at once!" One of the Councilors spoke, slamming his fist on the table. A few of the men nodded their assent.

"So there are dark elves and light elves uniting against dark elves and light elves uniting?" Setia said, her voice confused. The prince chuckled next to her.

"They are causing chaos and havoc in my realm, and I will not have it." The king said resolutely. "I will send regiments of soldiers out scouting these groups and combating them."

"You may also send some of my men." Setia spoke, the king turned to look at her. He inclined his head.

(Ding! Court Approval Rating 40%, Mission Meter 30%)

"We appreciate the aid, your highness." He said smoothly. "Elliott, have it be done!" He snapped to one of the older Elves (who still appeared only forty), and that elf snapped to attention and bowed before rushing from the room.

"Now this news of unrest brings to light even more the need for good tidings in the kingdom. An alliance!" He said, clapping his hands together gleefully. He looked between Niall and Setia.