Regina was starting to be seriously miffed at the Nerlians' attitude.

Not that most Nerlians were an issue, of course. They were still her citizens, and the country had largely done just as well as Cernlia at adapting, integrating and taking advantage of the new order. Better, in some respects, if worse in others. No, it was the king she was having an issue with. Although he was the victim currently.

She understood that he disliked her. It was fine. She would dislike herself if she was in his place. But it seemed to have made him petty and stubborn about the wrong things.

Like the fact that he clearly didn't want to see her if he could possibly avoid it, and thus didn't want to be healed by her. And, perhaps he saw the drones as an extension of her — which wouldn't be entirely wrong, after all — but he was only marginally more receptive to being healed by drone healers she had taught.

They still sent them, of course. If nothing else, it would be harder to turn them away if they were there. But in the meantime, the local doctors at the Nerlian court were treating him.

Regardless, she'd used her new Ability to talk to several people at the Nerlian court, making sure she was kept informed and that they knew she was watching. They were a bit recalcitrant, which she knew was because of their king's attitude. She'd withdrawn mentally and was currently half-heartedly going through some other correspondence, giving the matter some space.

It had been a while since the original attack, and Regina was keeping a close eye on the atmosphere at court and reports of public opinion beyond it. Unsurprisingly, there was a lot of anger, and a bit of fear. So far, the Empire's response seemed to be good enough. They couldn't afford to just do nothing, but that was the issue — if she publicly accused her enemies of being behind the poisonings, it would mean war. If someone tried to assassinate the heir to the Empire, she was bound to declare war on them. It wasn't something that could be ignored.

Regina could already see how it would play out. She could demand they extradite Helen and everyone behind the attempt or who was associated with it, at minimum. The Westerns would refuse. Maybe there would be some skirmishes or minor incursions. And then that would be it.

At least, so far, their policy of essentially saying 'Sure, it was probably the Western Confederation, but we are not absolutely sure and so we won't do anything irreversible yet.' seemed to be enough.

Either way, it was the wrong time for problems to crop up in Nerlia. And if the Esemen or Confederationists were going around poisoning her key supporters or allies, she couldn't keep sitting around either.

Her dark ruminations were interrupted when Tia contacted her again. Regina almost snapped at her, but reined herself in. At least Tia didn't seem distressed or upset, as she linked in a few other drones currently staying in Nerlia-city. What is it? Regina asked.

There is news about the king's condition, I thought you'd like to know right away, My Queen.

Of course. Our healers aren't there yet, so did his doctors manage to diagnose or heal him?

They did, Tia answered with an almost visible smile. They are treating him now. I managed to speak to one briefly, and he told me that they've identified the poison almost with certainty.

Regina blinked. They have?

Oh, yes. Of course we can't be sure if it was the same one used in the attempts here. The doctor also said that doing the treatment, they would eradicate all traces of it, so it will be hard to analyze later. But he recognized it. Apparently, it's a concoction using venom from certain types of monster chimeras that are found in the Great Forest and the area beyond it, though they're rare.

Regina sat back in her chair, cracking her neck. She could admit she hadn't expected that, which was her mistake. Of course experienced physicians here might have encountered poisons like this before. Tell them they are to write up everything they know about it and about how to treat exposure, she commanded. I will set some people to research previous notable cases. Until then, what can you tell me?

It's known under several names, he called it 'manticore fire', for some reason. Apart from that, I'm afraid I haven't learned much, My Queen.

Regina dove deeper into the psychic link and focused on every bit of information Tia was sending. Unfortunately, it really wasn't much. The description of the symptoms she could get was mostly the same as before, and while it aligned reasonably well with what she'd seen — allowing for some variation between species, since he was human instead of Hivekind or demihuman, as well as sex, age and individual factors — that didn't say much since it was still rather general. Of course they couldn't be lucky enough to get a poison with very specific and distinct symptoms, that would have been too easy. The relatively sudden onset of fever and indications of intestinal vectors as well as inflammation were suggestive, but not enough to conclude it had to be the same.

At least she knew it responded well to judicious application of Greater Heal. That was something.

I hope they have raised the alert and are starting to investigate, she said instead, changing tracks. Now that it is clear poison is in play, we must secure the palace to ensure no one else is affected and catch the culprit.

That's a tall order, Tia muttered, but we'll do what we can. They have already closed the place down. There's been some conflict between the regional Nerlian officials and Imperial ones.

Regina bit down on her irritation. They had better get over it, or I will make them if I have to, she said. Also, I'm sending June. She can help find who is behind it, if there's anything to find, and they can hardly turn her away. Don't be afraid to use your own power, too. You're a princess of the Empire. Just don't put yourself in danger.

I will, Mother. Thank you.

Regina reached out to several other people currently there, giving them a few stern words to hopefully help settle the matter. She didn't want to be too overbearing, but this was important and she couldn't let it be mucked up. Not that she was very optimistic about catching the poisoner.

Clearly, they would have to enforce stricter implementation of security protocols here, too, including ones aimed at protecting against poisoning. Regina had already been made to accept additional food tasters in the royal palace of Cera, including dedicated shifts for her own food as well as Janis and the most important drones, and of course Kiara and her family. It was a pain, but she'd rather that than leave themselves open. It was a bit of closing the barn door after the horse had left, though; she didn't think the culprits would try the same thing again, at least not right here.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Now both a little hopeful but also still irritated, Regina turned back to her correspondence. She tried not to let her irritation affect her work, although she might have been a little shorter than usual.

No, taxes and rents had to be paid in coin and not in kind, no ifs, buts or exceptions. She was aware it might make things harder for a few people in the short term, but that was fine; the idea was to make sure everyone in the countryside was thoroughly used to using money. Though she didn't put that last part in the letter. And no, lords were still not allowed to hire mercenaries anymore — why would they even want to? She made a note someone should look into that case. No, she would not judge this case, or that one, or this one, there were courts for that. And no, a knight would not automatically get an officer's commission in the army, they had to be accepted first; which really shouldn't be a problem for most. And, oh, yes, that was actually a clever suggestion — setting up 'Sunday schools' of sorts for older adults who could supervise children to receive more education was a good idea. She could provide legal protection and tax incentives, as long as they were held to a certain standard.

It might close a gap for some, at least a little. While she'd tried to found as many new schools as possible, they were still rare in the countryside and so many people didn't have access to them. Sponsoring local solutions, perhaps in combination with local people of influence, and perhaps focused on practical trades as well as basic literacy, could be useful.

In the long run, a lot of people would be moving from the countryside to the cities — that increasing urbanization might lead to some social unrest and would have to be carefully managed, but Regina was still counting on it. They had already introduced many technological developments and machines that reduced the labor required for agriculture and related cottage industries like textile production — notably harvesting machines, spinning machines with several spindles powered by pedals or gears, and flying-shuttle looms for the same. Of course they would need to find jobs for all of these people, but she wasn't worried about that, since new factories and more skilled trades could use all the labor they could find. Some work might be devalued, but they should hopefully be able to adapt — freeing more time for women to get an education and other jobs, for example. And meanwhile raising the standard of living a lot. She could already see the effects.

Regina smiled a little as she went through the next few letters on her desk. As long as she could keep the Empire standing through the coming war, she was optimistic. There were already new inventions and improvements coming from some of the schools or universities, and people would develop more as long as the right conditions were given. If she could protect them, the Central European Empire really might offer a degree of liberty, equality and standard of life the world hadn't seen in a thousand years.

Of course she would have to ensure their equal, legal rights and protect them from exploitation … but isn't that what I'm an empress for? So I can make laws and enforce them. Like safety standards and minimal wages to ensure the horrible conditions of nineteenth-century factory workers aren't repeated.

Not that she was unaware of the irony of talking about equality and freedom while ruling as an absolute monarch, or close enough, of course. But still …

Regina pushed the thought out of her mind. She needed to focus on her work and on protecting the Empire against her enemies, not philosophizing.

The next document made her pause. She frowned, reading through it again. There was a note that it was forwarded from a letter Armin had sent to Madris, which made sense. But the content was interesting.

Carefully, she reached out to her psychic teacher. Madris?

My Empress, she replied. What is — ah, I see you got the letter.

Yes. We should discuss it. Do you have time to come now?

I'll be there in ten minutes.

She cut the connection before Regina could inform her she'd also invite others, but she shrugged, then made her way to the receiving room by her office. Max and Tim came in shortly, then Janis. June was out at the moment. She didn't have to wait long until Madris arrived.

"You could have told me directly," Regina stated.

"I only just received the letter myself," Madris answered. "And I saw that you were busy, given what I've learned is another assassination attempt? They are really not holding back."

"Apparently," Regina grunted. "Which is why this is concerning. If they manage to turn the Eternal Dark against us …"

"That's unlikely," Madris snorted. "However good Lucas may be, well, he's not that good. He's a single psychic in an empire that has knowledge of and some measures against psychic power. I could, perhaps, bend them to my will if I was willing to abandon my principles, but not entirely on my own and not without the knowledge and experience I have from living there."

Regina nodded, not particularly surprised by that little revelation. "Perhaps if he can't accomplish much himself, that just means he has local support already. Obviously, someone must have invited him to this Gathering."

"Doesn't it really depend on what they want?" Janis chimed in. "Madris, you used his first name, so I assume you know him?"

"In passing," Madris said, shrugging a little. "We've met a few times. The last time was just before I moved here, I think, when I went north for a quick trip. At a certain point, when you've been around long enough, most psychics at our level know each other. We're hardly friends, but I never had much reason to think badly of him. He always struck me as more concerned with honor and the typical concerns for a nobleman from his home region. I think he has a bit of a chip on his shoulder about not being a real knight."

"Honor?" Regina mused. "Is that going to constrain what he's willing to do?"

"Maybe, but I wouldn't rely too much on it. Honor or chivalry doesn't preclude being brutal to your enemies."

"Have you considered, what if this is just as distraction?" Max asked. "They could have just sent him there so we would be distracted by the threat he supposedly presents, and meanwhile have another psychic working much more subtly against us somewhere else."

"Maybe, but we still have to honor that threat, right?" Janis said.

Regina sighed, leaning back in her chair and rubbing her temple. "What I'd like to know is why they're suddenly acting up like this. Are more psychics going to pop out of the woodwork?"

Madris looked at her seriously for a moment. "They're still people, and just as susceptible to nationalism, religious fervor or the like as others. In particular, as I mentioned, some might be concerned about you and how much power you're accumulating, or even how you have used it." Madris tapped her fingers on her chair, clearly thinking hard for a moment. "But you haven't visibly abused psychic power, by taking control of people or otherwise. No, the catalyst is likely the temples' actions and maybe the Western Confederation's preparations for war. I doubt any more of my acquaintances are with them."

Regina exhaled, sitting up a bit straighter. That was good, at least. "Can you make sure?"

"I will 'check in' with some," Madris acknowledged. "Those I can reach. In the meantime, have you come to a decision on whether to respond to this?"

Regina glanced at the others, then at Madris. "I think it might be time to send an actual delegation to the Eternal Dark. You know, an official, bigger one. Unless you have objections?"

"Well, they have so far responded reasonably well to Armin," Madris mused. "Icnes will likely want to send at least one or two of her people along, too. It's your decision, but I don't think it's a bad idea. Their travel will take time, though."

"I know," Regina acknowledged. She paused, thinking. "Do you think you can take a few of the psychic students along when you reach out to your compatriots?"

Madris paused. "You're willing to trust them with that?"

"Of course, they'll be under your supervision."

She hummed. "Alright. It won't always be practical, but I'll do what I can. I understand why you're too busy to come along, but I would take June. It would be good for her. And Edmund, I think."

Regina hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Okay, if she wants to go. That's fine."

Perhaps she could send someone else along with that delegation, too, if it didn't take too long. For now, she had a list of candidates to draw up.

Why did these things always produce more work, rather than less?

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