"But... how did she end up with Reggie!" Matriarch Talia said as she seemed lost in her own thoughts. "I... he was..." She went quiet for a long moment while I watched her. I said nothing, simply continuing to glance behind me every few seconds, my ears listening to the other room. I heard Tama speaking.

  "Nya! Tama loves you all!" She spoke in her imperious tone, her voice lighthearted, and yet the tone added so much power. As her royal advisor, I literally felt it hitting me with every word she spoke.

  It was clear Tama was unaware of what was actually happening. Matriarch Talia seemed to be lost in thought. After almost a minute, I'd had enough. "Enough! We need to stop her before she starts actually causing harm. She thinks this is a game!" I snapped at the matriarch, any fear drowned out by Tama.

  "Do not fear, for Tama, your wondrous empress, shall protect you all!" Even knowing she was just playing, the words held so much power that I felt my fear bleed away like it wasn't even there.

  Matriarch Talia looked at me as she seemed to regain focus and nodded. "You are right, we have to tell her before this gets out of hand."

  "No!" I said quickly, my tails and ears perked up as I held out a hand. Matriarch Talia froze, and a look of suspicion crossed her face.

  "And why not?" she asked, her voice deceptively calm. She tensed as she looked at me warily.

  I held up both hands, the ball of void canceled as I said, "Please, let me calm her down. If she finds out she is actually a princess, this could be very bad. I admit, I have not known Tama very long, but I have felt a strong connection since the moment I met her. I just know she would hate that knowledge, and learning it before she is ready could be disastrous."

  Matriarch Talia looked at me for a long moment before nodding once. "Calm her down, Saki. She is your responsibility just as you are hers."

  I nodded before quickly turning around and rushing back out into the guild hall. The scene before me was somehow worse than when I left it. A crowd of people had gathered around Tama, and Tama was starting to look uncertain. "Nya! Why is everyone looking at Tama like that!"

  Cursing under my breath, I ran up next to her as the guild people surrounded her. None of them were hostile; rather, they all looked at her in awe and wonder. This was going to get ugly quick if I didn't think of something.

  "My beloved empress, mighty ruler of our kingdom and treasure beyond treasures, it is my greatest pleasure to serve!" Tera's voice cut through the crowd. At first I didn't see her, but looking down I found her still at Tama's feet. She was kissing them still. If the other guild members were in awe, Tera looked like she was about to pass out from pure bliss.

  The thought disgusted me, that someone would so easily give their freedom away like that. I ignored her and looked at Tama. I had an idea, and Tera might be able to help unwittingly with it.

  "Alas, my empress Tama!" I said, really playing up the silliness of my words and tone. As I had hoped, Tama turned to me and smiled, her uncertainty gone.

  "Ah, Tama's royal advisor! Tama has been awaiting your return. It seems these peasants wanted Tama's attention!" She said, playing along to the game she thought we were playing.

  "Yes, my wondrous empress!" I intoned before continuing, "But, we cannot have this rabble!" I pointed at the guild members around us. Some turned to look at me with anger, but I ignored them. "Following you around like sick puppies!" Then I acted like I had an idea and looked down at Tera. "Tera, as royal advisor to her great majesty the empress, I command you to make sure the others keep their distance unless allowed to approach!"

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  While it was true I could have just convinced Tama to come with me and run away, it would not have fixed the issue entirely. This would instead be the first step to a more permanent fix.

  I watched as Tera's brain seemed to work in real time, processing the command, who it came from, and the title I now held. After a few seconds, Tera kissed Tama's feet one last time before standing and bowing to me.

  "As her majesty commands." Tera's voice was much colder than even a second ago. I could feel the distaste at being ordered around by me. She smiled at me in a way that didn't quite reach her eyes. She was very unhappy with the situation. I smirked.

  "Excellent. If you do an excellent job, as advisor, I will make sure Tama sees you become captain of our royal guard!" I said as I held back amusement. I knew I was helping Tama, but I could get revenge simultaneously.

  "Nya, yeah! Good work, Tera!" Tama said as her tail wagged and ears twitched in amusement.

  Tera beamed at Tama, her cheeks going red as she nodded. "It is my greatest honor, Empress. I ask only that you allow me to continue my service!"

  "Nya! Do what Saki said!" Tama said with a wide grin.

  Tera's eye twitched, and I held back laughter. Revenge never tasted quite so sweet. Tera turned around to the crowd and drew her sword.

  "Get back!" she yelled as she stepped forward. Every single guild member retreated a few steps back. "Her majesty requires her space," Tera continued. "Should anyone wish to speak to her, you may do so from a distance!"

  At this point, I was incensed. I wondered how far Tera would actually go. "Tera, I have wonderful news!" I said, barely holding back laughter at the way she tensed as I spoke to her. She turned to face me and spoke with clenched teeth. "And what, Royal Advisor Saki, would that be?"

  "As it turns out!" I said with glee as I spoke. "Empress Tama has a new dress code for her guards! Since clothes have a tendency to slow you down!"

  The realization and dawning horror hit Tera like a ton of bricks, and it took everything I had to not burst out laughing. "With permission from Empress Tama… " I looked over at Tama, who was standing tall, acting regal. As I looked, she giggled and nodded. "I hereby set the new royal guard uniforms of Empress Tama to nothing."

  Tera stared at me with so much hatred I was sure I'd be dead if looks could kill. Instead, after a moment, she turned to Tama, showing utter devotion as she spoke. "Dearest Empress, please reconsider such... drastic actions. I am certain that armor and clothing are an important part of an outfit." She even fell to her knee and bowed her head as she spoke.

  Tama looked uncertain and glanced at me. "Nya! Is this true, Royal Advisor Saki? Do clothes give good things for wearing them?"

  I genuinely considered lying to Tama for a moment, but I refused it out of hand. Instead, a few well-placed words could make all the difference.

  "Only if the person is slow enough to get hit. All your guards should be super fast and agile! If Tera is unable to go fast enough to not get hit, maybe she shouldn't be a royal guard."

  As I spoke, I beamed at Tera with an award-winning smile. Tera looked like she wanted to murder me more than anything else in the world. I was all here for it! happiest day of my life.

  Fun time, however, was over. I wanted so badly to actually watch Tera undress herself in front of everyone. The level of pure chaos would be one I would remember for the rest of my life.

  But sadly, Tama came first, and this was our opportunity. So, with a heavy heart, I moved on to the next step of my plan.

  Tama opened her mouth to speak, no doubt about to agree with my declaration. I wanted so bad to let her. "Wait, Tama, this can wait until later. We have to go do our quest. I want you to thank everyone for playing with us and meet me outside the gates. Don't talk to anyone for me, okay? I promise I will be there as soon as I can!" I said quickly, preventing her from making an actual royal decree that royal guards needed to be nude. As funny as that would have been.

  Tama frowned. "Tama doesn't want you to take forever again!" she said as her tail snapped back and forth and her ears furrowed.

  I sighed and looked irritated at her. "Tama, enough! The game was fun, but it's over. I'll meet you by the gates. You can go run around the town a few times if you get bored."