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I Reincarnated As My Waifu, What Do? 16
🕑 Added 2022-10-06 03:50:26 +0000 UTCI am not going to lie.
I may have underestimated just how... annoying working with someone to turn evidence in for their own family's crimes. Especially because the men who had become part of my circle of conspiracy were not exactly my men.
Unfortunately, they were gay. And not just gay, but almost entirely exclusively gay. They were not attracted to me in the least, and so the easiest method to purchase their loyalty was out. Fortunately, my Privilege granted me the ability to, if not buy them out entirely, at least use my superior knowledge and view to make damn sure they never escaped my sight, while at the capital.
The Hunt was long behind us now, and after the nobles had parted ways, I had extracted a promise from the sons of Haart and Bogden to meet me in the capital.
With the excuse of receiving training from Otto, they had managed to find an excuse to come, and evade any and all questions. They'd gathered some, but not a lot, of evidence of their families' activities.
"As I suspected," I said, throwing the paper I was reading on the table. "Suspicious movements of troops and supplies. Attacks that happen to take certain goods, but not others. No injuries, no deaths, always quick, simple, and striking exactly where and when the patrols slack."
Maltus and Jonathan, still feeling the after effects from getting the crap beat out of them by a one armed man, nodded. The atmosphere was serious. Jeannette poured each of us a cup of tea, and I was miffed to see them drink it like it was just leafwater. My Jeannette makes an excellent cup of tea, you fiends, enjoy it like it should be enjoyed!
Ugh, men!
"There's more, father has fake cargo manifestos for the shipments and caravans," the future Lord Haart spoke, "this," he said, placing his fingers on one of the documents, "is one of the few real ones I've been able to copy and bring over... They're coded, I've not been able to decipher the contents, but if they're hidden and encrypted, it can't be anything good, or legal."
Bogden grunted. "Father's a lot more simplistic. He's going entirely through the black market, and disguising the expenditures as charity," he said, raising a stack of papers and shaking it. "I've conducted inspections on the villages and orphanages he claims his funds have been going to. Some were straight up abandoned, and in others, people were starving."
"How horrible, faking charity like that," I frowned, taking a sip of Jeannette's tea. As expected, it was amazing... luckily, my disgust at their lack of decorum was taken as disgust for their fathers' actions.
"We- it's difficult, but-" Jonathan clenched his teeth. "We are ready to turn this evidence to the state and have the matter persecuted by the King's court."
"Not going to happen," I said, simply and clearly. "Not yet, at any rate. I don't hold onto the image of a vain princess as empty headed as her father becasue I am any of those things," I said, "running to the court with this information will simply ensure that it gets buried."
"W-What..!" Jonathan seemed shocked.
Maltus frowned, crossing his bulging arms over his chest. He was the bigger of the duo, but he was not as forward as his boyfriend, for lack of a better term. "What does that mean for us, then? Is everything we did, every risk we took... pointless? We can't do anything with it?"
"Not quite. I've got... people. You'll be contacted," I said. "keep an eye out for the ones that move in the shadows. You're in on this now, you are now part of the group whose sole goal is to maintain the peace and prosperity of this kingdom."
They both looked a bit indecisive, as if they weren't quite sure about it, but at the same time, resigned to the fact there weren't really any other options. Even if they thought in some ways like their fathers, that they deserved more than they had, they also knew that rebellion would just weaken Trom, and end in failure.
The King's power had been made manifest before them, and I had ensured that the might of the Royal Guard had been impressed upon them.
There were more reasons than I care to admit for why I had them actively train with Otto, both where people witnessed and reported it, as well as underground.
"There's a room for you. Yvette," I called, and one of my first and most faithful opened the door upon my call. Though she had not heard my voice, she had felt my command, through the power of my privilege. "Lead them to a room they may use."
"Ah... there are two rooms free at-"
I raised my hand. "They'll only need one," I explained.
Yvette looked at them, blinking. Her usually bright eyes were almost like an owlbear's as she processed the information. "Ah... shall I prepare you lubricant?"
Both boys choked.
"What the- we're not like-"
"Relax," I said, "neither Yvette nor Jeannette would reveal your secret. Nor would anyone here," I'm sure of it.
None of my people would turn on them, unless they turned on us first. Such was the power of the Imperial Privilege I possessed... The moment they would betray my trust, I would know. It also made the fact that Yvette found the thought of those strapping lads being together even more obvious than the flush upon her face did.
"Still- this isn't- it was a secret, it could ruin our lives!"
"For now," I said. "It will take time for things to change, but they will."
I knew it would. Things always changed, after all. Even as they remained the same, they changed.
Maltus frowned. "Fine," he said, "but I don't want anyone else to be told about it..."
I chuckled. "Anyone who asks will simply be told that it's none of their business," I said, "and I'll pretend to be offended at you for some inane reason and they'll assume I'm trying to snub you somehow."
"I... see," Jonathan spoke. "But through all this," he said, gesturing at me, "one thing still eludes me, your highness."
"I told you, here, I am Noire," I said, "I'm not the princess and you're not the heir of Bogden," I said, "so what's the matter?"
He nodded. "Right," he closed his eyes, "Princess, why are you wearing such outrageous lingerie?"
Oh, that? I was wearing a red sling bikini, backless. It covered damn near nothing, and it was thin enough that the shape of my nipples could easily be sene through it. It appears that they could see its red color through my thin white robes.
"Well I was in the process of testing the hot tub we installed down here when you people arrived," I said. "If you guys are interested, speak to Yvette, she's the one handling the schedule for its use."
"Hot tub?" they asked in unison.
"It's a big pool of water that's heated to the perfect temperature, we use some special stones and powders to make the water super relaxing and nice to rest at. It imitates a natural thermae," I said, feeling a bit giddy, "but it's indoors and I don't have to worry about someone trying something stupid while I'm there! It's amazing!"
"So it's like... a cross between baths and hot springs?" Jonathan asked.
Maltus frowned. "Does it have curative purposes for muscles like hot springs do?"
"Not yet, it really depends on what you add to the water," I said, "these do work for relaxation though, so getting a dip after a workout is great! We're working on getting the water jets to work but it's really a pain..."
Primarily because I didn't have a proper engineer to work on it. I might need to go look into folding more people into this group.
Jeannette refilled my cup, I didn't even realize I'd emptied it. Well, more tea is always good, especially when she improves its taste almost with each brew she makes.
"So... we, uh, we can use it?" Jonathan asked.
Wait.
Wait.
Really?! I can't buy them with money, I can't buy them with promises of power, I can't buy them with my body, but I can buy them with access to a freaking hot tub?! Are you fucking kidding me guys?!
It's nowhere near as strong as the ties that bind most of my men and women to me, they don't see me as someone who showed them a whole new world, but- my Privilege always does seem to prefer this sort of option in general, when it comes to buying people... ugh, are humans really this easy?
Do we really toss everything else aside, in the name of comfort and convenience?
"Yes," I said, trying to hide my inner turmoil. "Like I said, speak to Yvette, she has the schedule for it," I said, "Yvette?"
"I can fit you in relatively soon, but first, we must discuss the rules..." she explained. "Please, follow me, I shall explain as we walk to your room."
They stood up from the big couch, and made to follow, both of them nodding and bowing to me as they did so.
"I'll see you guys later, maybe next time we talk, we can do it over there," I said. I did intend to have some of the meetings that didn't need us to be tense and ready in a more relaxed setting. If we didn't need to deal with papers vulnerable to the high humidity, we could probably just do it over there.
I collapsed onto my seat as soon as they left.
Jeannette sat beside me. The meeting had taken place at one of our less... important rooms. This one was meant to be a bit of a break room. Two couches between a table, meant to be used to play card games.
"Jannuuuu, I need cuddles," I said, "I just lost some of my faith in our own species..!"
"There, there," she said, patting my shoulder, head, and then hugging me to her flat chest. I hugged her, as she did. Flat though she might be, she had a magnificently womanly scent, and the softness of her skin was to die for. "I thought it was strange that you had not claimed their bodies to seal the deal..."
"Claim their- Jeannetteeeee," I mewled, "I'm not that kind of woman- I just, I- oh who am I kidding," I sighed. "They're so handsome and hot and- and- and they're totally gay and they don't even, I even wore these sexy undies, and nothing!" I said, opening my robe, revealing the fact that my lingerie was even skimpier than they'd imagined.
"I can't believe that being unable to charm a pair of men has become such a hit to my mistress' pride," Jeannette said. "Does it help your feelings that I believe you are amazingly attractive and sexy?"
"Yes?" I spoke, confused myself. "I need some relaxation and cuddles... I need it so badly," I moaned, beginning to lay kisses on Jeannete's exposed skin, her arms, from wrist to elbow, her neck, her thighs, every part I could reach. My hands traveled all over.
"Ahhn, mistress, I- I must return to work-"
I looked deep into her eyes. "This is your work now," I said.
"Ah, my lady, I could never consider pleasuring you anything other than the greatest of privileges!" she said, "I'm sorry, I don't think I shall be finishing my chores for today," she said, finding my hands with her own, and intertwining our fingers. "Healing my mistress' wounded ego has become my priority."
I couldn't even deny it, at this point.
Being desired deeply by my handmaiden would heal my wounded heart, her lips met mine, and we kissed passionately. We'd need a very long night to heal my wounded ego... Stupid sexy brawlers!
