AO 7 Ch 43 END

Several days later, much to Emlyn’s delight, she managed to not only gain access to but also complete control over the Royal Zenov Library. For whatever reason, no one wanted to tell her no, and I didn't blame them. She could be quite cranky when she was cross.

Then again, most of the time people took one look at me and were willing to take the rings off their fingers and empty their pockets for my anchors. They must really appreciate all our help.

Once we were able to go through the books, we began perusing the records on Zenovia and Jezebel, as well as my father. It became abundantly apparent that Jezebel had been active for several generations under numerous names. She simply remade herself in the Zenov family, with a few decades between each name.

I assumed she was idly waiting in that creepy room for her face to be forgotten. 

Missy had pieced together that Jezebel had planted curses in each of the Zenov children from a young age. It was a simple, and on its own, harmless curse that forced the target to sleep. However, I knew as well as everyone did, within the realm of dreams, Jezebel was likely terrifying, at least to an average mage.

I muttered as all of the pieces were coming together at the banquet during Gabriella's toast. “All Jezebel had to do was activate that curse, put them to sleep, and within their dreams, she was likely able to reach out and destroy them with ease since there was a flaw in their soul defense.”

"Not to mention it's an easy way to alter or plant memories," Missy pointed out. "All it takes is making them think one part is a dream and one part is waking, and they would completely muddle reality and fiction." 

I made a face at that concept. "Twisted is what that is." 

Aurelia was reading a book nearby and glanced up nervously. "If she could track all of them in their dreams, then if, say, one of them found out something they shouldn't, she'd know exactly all the details and be one step ahead." 

I didn't want to admit it, but I knew she was right. "Like if my father suddenly discovered that the way they were teaching soul magic was flawed." I did my best not to chip my tooth with how hard I clenched my jaw.

"Yeah, Ard like that." Aurelia sat up and looked down at her book. None of them, save for Bad Kitty, had left my side since the fight.

Not that I blamed Bad Kitty. It was clear she was dealing with her own turmoil. Apparently, my sudden and violent end to Freya was not what she had hoped to achieve.

"Well, it's not the answer I wanted. But it is an answer," I said, frowning at the stacks of books we'd gone through, before my expression transformed into a great smile. "But my father was a pretty remarkable person."

There were several books I had gone through, and I had no intention of giving them back. They were records of the intelligence network within Zenovia, and my father's name came up many times. Each time I read through the records, which were admittedly rather dry, a smile flashed on my face when my father's name appeared.

"I don't know if they'll let you keep those," Eva said, glancing at the books.

"Well, it's a good thing I'm not asking permission. Besides, I think they owe me at least this favor. I just won't rub it in their face when I collect." I shrugged.

Eva squinted. "So you're just going to steal them?"

"No. I'm taking them as my payment. Besides, I'm sure if they have at least a modicum of noble virtue left in them, the new rulers are going to try and shower me with favors. And I'll just brush it aside, because I've already taken my payment." I nodded to myself.

This is where normally some of them would argue with me. Yet since the fight with the gods, I found them all almost ominously in agreement with whatever I wanted.

“Sure Ard.” Emlyn beamed.

My skin crawled with how sweet she was being lately.

"All right, so I think we're going to get up. The coronation is about to happen." I glanced out the window. The sun was almost high enough in the sky for noon to be upon us. At my mention of moving, all of them snapped to their feet, abandoning whatever they were doing, ready to join me.

"It's okay. If you get separated from me, I will come back," I promised, feeling like they were all suddenly a bunch of needy girlfriends that couldn't stand to be out of sight from me.

"Oh, come on now.” Ditzy came up behind me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders, planting a kiss on my cheek. "The god of chaotic devotion just has a bunch of devoted women. That’s only natural. Don't try to push them away. They just want to be with you."

It was hard to argue against that logic, so all I could do was grumble. "Is that what we're going to call it now? I mean, I thought Missy didn't want to call me a god," I said, knowing there was almost a superstition amongst them for the word that it might bring the rules they were once bound to back in enforcement. "What if I felt more like a warden or a ward, just protecting this space?"

"How about something a little less chain-y?" Missy wiggled her fingers. "How about we just call you and what we become ‘Transcendents’?”

“I could do that." I agreed.

Emlyn readily agreed. "Warden's too dark. Makes it sound like you're going to chain us all up and put us in some sort of prison."

Maribelle perked up.

"Not in that way.” Emlyn waved her off, and Maribelle pouted.

"If you want, Maribelle, I'll do it that way for you. We just have to find the right time and place. Hopefully soon we'll have those aplenty." I offered.

As we stepped out of the library, it was clear that the palace was in full swing. The staff was busy as could be, though the halls were empty of any of the royals. Instead, when I walked outside the palace, at the front gates, there was already a massive procession filling out the street in front.

"We're not going to get a good seat," Eva said, and I, with a gesture, made a small platform that rose high enough that no one would block our view. I fitted the space with stone couches for all of us to lounge and enjoy.

"At this rate, they're going to think you're the star of the show," Ditzy said, as she pushed me down on the couch and forcibly crawled into my lap. I gave an apologetic shrug to the rest of the ladies. Ditzy had been rather territorial since I had claimed her godly mojo.

Trumpets blared, and the front gates to the palace cranked open dramatically slowly.

"I don't know." I shrugged. "Gabriella may have been the best option, but she's clearly not an option anymore. And while there are many other heirs I could try and force, at the end of the day, the two of them together should at least balance out to something reasonable. Well at least I’m not wearing a crown."

Augustus, with his arm now fitted with a metal clasp and a stoned hand he could manipulate, appeared standing next to Arthur, sword belted on his hip and head lifted heroically.

"Yeah, together they might not be too bad," Emlyn agreed. Everyone else was bobbing their heads rapidly.

Between Augustus's idealism and Arthur's blunt realism, I hoped that if the two, the scholar and the warrior, could agree on something, it wouldn't be too detrimental for the rest of the world.

And I solidified that hope by pledging my support to them. But who could predict the future? If anything, I would be their neighbor to the north. And if they caused too much trouble, I could simply pay them a visit.

Both of them stepped forward as the crowd cheered. The people celebrated the Zenov name. Both were presented to the world as the new rulers of Zenovia. I narrowed my eyes, watching them, anticipating some games afoot. It was almost inevitable that Arthur or Augustus would try to wrestle for power. But that was a problem for another day, and perhaps for someone very different from myself.

The ceremony continued, though it was a bit hesitant at times. Clearly, some of the people involved didn't quite know what to do with the new dual vassalage presented before them.

The ceremony was brief. The two kings then had fruits scattered throughout the crowd. Servants poured out of the palace, handing them out like candy.

That was one way to make the populace happy with the new arrangement. Judging by the giant smiles on their faces, it was clearly working.

When it finished, I descended the platform and headed back into the palace, hoping that dinner would be ready. And while I loved a good murder mystery, I was ready for a quiet dinner.

"Arden," Augustus spotted me and peeled away from the swarm that was escorting him towards what I assumed was a new kingly level of dinner.

"Your liege," I said, bowing low to him.

"Please, none of that," Augustus held his hand up. "I think we both know," he gestured vaguely over to where Arthur would be, "that without you, everything here would have been a lot harder."

"Of course it would have been," I said shamelessly.

"Well, regardless, I still wanted to humbly thank you and tell you that if the Zenov royal family can do anything to help repay the debts, consider it done." He told me.

A big smile spread across my face. "Oh, don't worry about that at all. You've already done plenty."

He seemed clearly confused but dropped the conversation quickly as more people were filed into the palace in preparation for some sort of fabulous party and he was being summoned.

"I wouldn't take what he says lightly, Ard," Eva shot me a look.

"I'm not taking it lightly. Like I said before, they've already paid us back." I winked at her.

The night was certainly one to remember as it went on, and luckily did include a lot of tasty food while we ate in the corner. I resolved that the next time any country had a coronation, I would definitely be present.

Yet, as the party wound down, and the turmoil within my soul began to settle, I realized there was one person who had been left out. This oversight needed to be corrected.

I rounded the corner to where I knew a certain mischievous individual had been hiding. "Oh, well, hello there. Didn't know I'd find you here," I said, feigning surprise. I received a scowl in return, but I knew the anger wasn't directed at me. "Sounds like you have a pretty big grudge to pick," I observed, sitting down next to her. I had foolishly placed myself in the line of fire.

"Do not blame yourself, Arden," Bad Kitty said.

"Oh, for clarity, I'm not," I replied quickly. "It's just clear that I didn't know we needed to take Freya alive. Something like that would have been nice to know before we started all of this.” I glared at the goddess.

"And what would you have me say? I underestimated you?" She batted me away.

"Literally anything," I retorted, staring back at her. "A single peep about Freya having someone close to you and holding them hostage would have been infinitely better than waiting until there was nothing we could do."

The goddess scowled and glanced into the distance. "She's lost. I've searched for her for years on my own, unsuccessfully. Freya was the only one who knew where she was being held."

"Well, you searched for her on your own. Why can't we do it together now?" I offered.

"Where would we even start?" she asked, her tone revealing just how much she had given up.

"Well, my first instinct is to start by having a little bit of hope," I said, staring at the goddess. "And the second is for you to tell us everything like you promised. Not to brag, but I think I'm packing quite a bit of magic these days. Not to mention everything Freya ever was, as well as Jezebel, is now mine. As for Angrboda, I still have no idea what to do with her. She's imprisoned in the Ardenium Palace for now, and I don't think she's too upset about it." I shrugged.

That one didn’t seem to have much of an aspect, but she was a big bundle of power that my palace was greedily drinking up.

"She is an old and crafty one, Ard. Be very wary of making assumptions when it comes to Angrboda." Bad Kitty told me.

"Well, thank you for telling me that now," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. I desperately wanted to pitch a fit, but I also knew that wouldn't be helpful in the slightest.

Right now, I needed to bring Bad Kitty back from her melancholy, and bring her with us towards whatever the future might have in store.

It seemed to me that I wasn't destined for a simple life, especially after what my own godly artifact nearly did to me. I could be dense at times, but I wasn't an idiot. I had nearly lost myself to the power that had so easily crushed multiple gods before me. And that fact only led me to question more about who I was and what I was becoming. 

Regardless, once the festivities surrounding the coronation were over, I was very ready to return home. And I had a very pregnant woman waiting for me who I did not want to be late to visit.

I was beginning to accept my chaotic life; it was worth it to have the beauties around me and a future still untold.

Bad Kitty sighed. “So, where do I start…”