My Servant System

The immediate sense of urgency and concern that the usually stoic and composed Empress showed was quite telling, and seeing her just appear beside the wooden Elf as she supported her and tried to help her was heartwarming.

"I... I'm fine... Just a fit, nothing... nothing more... I promise..."

Waving her hand tiredly at the Empress, Lady Theresa sank into her throne and let out a long sigh as she continued to rub at her throat, something that made the Empress fuss over her a little more before she finally accepted that it was just a momentary thing and nothing more.

It derailed our questions a little, but it was far more important and pressing then they were, so I turned towards Mom and asked her to retrieve that giant Nature Crystal she had gotten from one of the Trials and give it to the wooden Elf, hoping that it would do her more good than it would us.

I won't lie and say it wasn't slightly painful to see such a valuable and rare item be handed over just like that, but knowing who it was going to and praying that it might help her 'condition' was definitely worth the price.

"Oh..."

Staring at the giant chunk of Nature Mana given physical form, Lady Theresa blinked a few times before looking up at the Demoness who had handed it to her, uncertainty dancing on her wooden features as she prepared to decline it.

Before she could Mom just said "I earned it and therefore can do with it as I please. I want to give it to you, Lady Theresa. It should be of help for your condition, no?" and took a step back, forcing her to accept it and earning a nod from the Empress as she thanked her silently.

"Use it, Tessa... You know how proud the Asmodia's are..."

'Blackmailing' her own wife like that made me smile wryly, and seeing how the wise Elf frowned at the suggestion was rather amusing since she clearly didn't like what was going on, but she needed to accept it since another few coughs racked her body.

"Fine..."

Without any fanfare at all the vibrant green Mana Crystal began to crumble to dust, all of its mana getting sucked into Lady Theresa's fingers as she flooded her Core with fresh, pure Nature Mana.

Her 'skin' began to lighten slightly, the various knots and whorls shrinking and getting covered by newer wood that looked far stronger and healthier, while her leafy hair took on a far more lustrous sheen with a few buds appearing at random.

Even her eyes were brighter than before, and after the Mana Crystal was completely gone she took a deep breath and sat up straighter, nodding a few times and looking towards Mom with a soft smile as she said "Thank you for that... Though it pains me to see such a precious item taken from you just like that..."

"Lady Theresa, it's fine. I have no use for Nature Mana anyways, and... well, could we maybe count that as part of the taxes I owe for the year? That would be reward enough, no?"

The sly grin the Marquess wore was immediately dulled when the Empress reminded her "A gift doesn't earn you exemption from taxes, Chordeva.", which earned the Empress a soft pinch from the wooden Elf sitting down beside her.

"However I am sure we can work something out at a later date. Now... Tessa, are you sure you're fine..?"

Getting waved off by her wife made the Empress tilt her head slightly before she just returned to her own throne, lounging on it again and returning to that indomitable aura that we were all familiar with; just seeing her on her pristine throne looking down at all of us was enough to warp my perception of the throne room as I imagined her being far larger than she really was, while the sunlight behind her seemed far harsher.

"I suppose we might as well discuss this openly. Though... Miss Draka, do you wish to head on home immediately? The Teleportation Circles are back up thanks to your Mother being rather... single-mindedly and unashamedly focused on you and your return, so..."

"Of course. I shall return sometime soon for anything else that is needed, Empress. Thank you all, and goodbye."

Taking that not so subtle hint to leave - and definitely wanting to just be done with everything and go home - Draka made her way out of the throne room and left us with just 'the family', meaning we could speak freely.

By that I mean the Marquess and the Empress' families, with the only addition being Lilith, who was resting nearby; everyone here was now tied to one another thanks to Leone, and the Vampire seemed very eager to hear this explanation as soon as possible.

"To answer the burning question on everyone's mind, Theresa and I are from the upper world, yes. She was a member of an important family and I was... definitely not as impressive as I was now."

"You undersell yourself as always. Why don't you tell them that you were the top of the Neophytes with once in a millennia talent and potential? Or that you learned your magics from someone who could destroy this entire continent in approximately an hour?"

The Empress just clicked her tongue and waved the wooden Elf's words aside, though what Lady Theresa said immediately got all of us - even Lilith - rather interested and wanting to hear even more.

"Neophyte? Important family? Someone who could destroy..? Mom, please, stop acting like this is just... common stuff! Tell us!"

Leone's slightly puffed out cheeks and blazing red eyes - full of curiosity and a hunger to know everything while also being tinged with a little irritation - made the Empress sigh again as she nodded, leaning back fully and getting comfortable as she stared down at us.

She was just right there in front of us and yet she seemed so far away, though after another moment Lady Theresa rolled her eyes and sent a small bolt of mana at the Empress, causing her to slowly turn her head as she stared at the now playful and animated wooden Elf.

"Stop being so damn dramatic and tell them already... The longer you wait the closer I get to being tired again, and then they don't get to hear the full truth."

We all nodded and supported the wooden Elf, drawing another sigh from the Empress before she smiled slightly when she felt everyone's eyes on her, waiting for her to speak once more; seeing her broad shoulders drop slightly while her posture relaxed softened the atmosphere around her immensely, and all of us were ready to be hooked on her every word.