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The pens were my immediate assets, along with my devil hobgoblin servant, a creature of darkness and cunning.

But these alone were not enough. In this world, strength reigned supreme. Intellect could only carry one so far; there were adversaries whose power could not be countered by wit alone. Absolute strength was the ultimate arbiter. The realization was a bitter pill, but one I had swallowed long ago. With the royal banquet approaching, I would face those who wielded such power.

The thick death fog that accompanied the triggering of the Villain\'s Fate would be unavoidable, and I needed to ensure I wasn\'t caught unprepared.

My thoughts wandered back to a recent memory, a moment when fate had intervened in unexpected ways. It was the night I saved Maris from the Deadly Hollows. The hollowed, desolate place where she was blinded by rage trying to take on a member of the Deadly Hollows alone, her life hanging by a thread.

I had intervened, dispatching the man with ruthless efficiency, but she killed the man, a judgment a commoner shouldn\'t be making. So I hid her from the sight of the knights, it would be evident that she was the killer if they saw her clothes. But it wasn\'t the danger or the victory that lingered in my mind.

"Sophie," I muttered, feeling a strange tightening in my chest. Despite the persona of Professor Draven, I was still Dravis Granger underneath it all. She\'s supposed to be only Draven\'s fiance, I don\'t have... Feelings...

Her name evoked memories of long white hair cascading like silk, and a beauty that seemed almost ethereal. My heart had pounded fiercely in her presence, a reminder that some emotions could not be easily buried. I shook my head, forcing the thought aside. "Ridiculous," I said, chiding myself for the momentary lapse.

Deciding to clear my head, I turned my concentration towards the senses of my devil hobgoblin servant. I had sent him to the forest, a place teeming with beasts, magic creatures, and monsters. His task was to grow stronger by consuming those he defeated, to search for a creature suitable to become my next devil servant.

The process was delicate; dark magic was highly sensitive and drew unwanted attention in the magical world.

Through the connection, I felt his movements: the swift darting through the underbrush, the powerful strikes against foes, the absorption of their essence. Each victory made him stronger, more attuned to the dark energies that bound us. Yet, it was a risky endeavor. The presence of dark magic in such a concentrated form could easily attract hunters or worse, those who opposed my methods.

Satisfied with his progress for now, I withdrew my focus and stood. It was time to reassess the situation of the earldom. I needed to ensure everything was in order before the banquet. Moving to the large window, I gazed out over the sprawling lands that fell under my domain. Fields and forests stretched out, dotted with villages and the occasional manor.

Each piece was part of a larger puzzle, one I needed to manage with precision.

___

Inside the grand Regaria Kingdom, the royal castle stood as a testament to both power and elegance. The castle, with its towering spires and intricate stonework, was the heart of the kingdom, a place where decisions of great import were made. At its very center, in the opulent throne room, Queen Aurelia Thalassia Arctaris Regaria presided over her court.

Aurelia was a vision of regal beauty. Her long, silken hair, a rich shade of auburn, cascaded down her back in waves, glistening like molten gold in the flickering torchlight. Her eyes, a piercing shade of emerald, held a sharp intelligence that belied her delicate appearance.

High cheekbones and a graceful, slender neck gave her an almost ethereal quality, as if she were a figure carved from alabaster. She wore a gown of deep royal blue, adorned with intricate silver embroidery that shimmered with every movement, and a delicate crown rested atop her head, studded with jewels that caught the light.

She sat poised on her throne, a picture of serene authority, as her servants and ministers stood before her. The room was filled with the low hum of conversation, the shuffling of feet, and the occasional clink of armor from the guards stationed by the doors. The ministers were lined up, each awaiting their turn to present their reports and seek her advice.

"Your Majesty," began the Minister of Finance, a portly man with a nervous twitch in his left eye. "The treasury reports show a significant increase in revenue from the new trade routes. However, there is also a rise in expenditure due to the recent military campaigns."

Aurelia nodded thoughtfully, her fingers lightly tapping the armrest of her throne. "Ensure that the surplus is directed towards the reconstruction of the northern villages. They have suffered greatly and must be our priority."

The minister bowed, relief evident on his face. "As you command, Your Majesty."

Next came the Minister of Agriculture, a tall, thin man with a perpetually worried expression. "Your Majesty, the harvest this year has been bountiful, but there are concerns about the storage facilities. They are old and may not withstand another season."

"Begin immediate repairs and upgrades to the storage facilities," Aurelia replied decisively. "We cannot afford to lose any part of our harvest."

As the reports continued, the ministers began to shift from presenting facts to engaging in subtle attempts to win her favor. They flattered her, praised her wisdom, and competed to outdo one another in their expressions of loyalty. What began as a routine session quickly devolved into a chaotic debate, each minister trying to speak louder than the other.

"Your Majesty, it was my department that facilitated the new trade routes. Surely, we deserve additional funding to expand our efforts!"

"Nonsense! The increased revenue is due to the agricultural reforms I implemented last year. Without them, there would be no surplus to speak of!"

Aurelia\'s patience began to wear thin. Her emerald eyes narrowed as the bickering continued. She raised a hand, attempting to restore order, but her voice was drowned out by the cacophony of competing ministers. Her regal composure began to crack, irritation flickering across her features.

"Enough!" she finally commanded, her voice ringing with authority. The throne room fell silent instantly, the ministers frozen in place. "I will not tolerate such behavior in my court. You are here to serve the kingdom, not to engage in petty squabbles for personal gain."

The ministers bowed their heads, murmuring apologies, but Aurelia had had enough. "You are all dismissed. Leave me at once."

They filed out of the room, their heads low and their expressions chastened. As the last minister left and the heavy doors closed behind them, Aurelia allowed herself a moment of vulnerability. She slumped slightly in her throne, her elegant façade slipping away.

"Damn bastards, is there nothing but those bastards that I could meet in this cursed castle?" she muttered under her breath, the words a stark contrast to her usual measured tones. "More interested in their own glory than the good of the kingdom."

She massaged her temples, trying to alleviate the growing headache. The constant demands of ruling were draining, and the endless need to navigate the ambitions and egos of her ministers added to her weariness. But it\'s not just that.

"This damned curse," She cursed as the headache on her head that has been haunting her since she got that \'Dream\' got more intense.

She longed for a moment of peace, a reprieve from the weight of the crown.

A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. "Enter," she called out, her voice regaining its usual calm.

A young maid stepped into the room, her head bowed respectfully. "Your Majesty, would you like some tea? It may help to soothe your nerves."

Aurelia managed a small smile. "Yes, thank you. That would be most welcome."