Finally, I can Retire, Or so I Thought

Afterward, inside the king’s private study, which remained structurally intact despite scattered debris from breached walls and a partially collapsed ceiling, Dion and Sheila sat behind the cluttered desk. Gred knelt before them with his head bowed low. His face betrayed a storm of conflicting emotions, but above all, sheer terror, he was thoroughly convinced his life was about to end.

Positioned behind Gred, Cleo, Luna, Aria, Mei, Harumi, and Nala sat relaxed on the sofas. Though their postures seemed casual, they kept a sharp eye on the entrance and monitored Gred to ensure he wouldn’t pull any desperate tricks. Meanwhile, Gina sat directly atop the desk between Dion and Sheila, crossing her tiny arms over her chest with a proud smirk. Dion turned his head to look at Sheila.

”Have you made up your mind?” Dion asked softly.

”I have,” Sheila replied briefly. She turned her sharp gaze to Gred. ”Listen up, Gred. I want you to stay on as King of Northgard and rebuild this kingdom back to its former glory. Do you understand me?” Sheila barked curtly.

Sheila’s words hung heavy in the air. A stunned silence fell over the study. Beside her, Dion stared intently at Sheila, caught completely off guard, he had assumed she would demand Gred’s execution. Meanwhile, Cleo, Luna, Mei, Aria, and Nala gasped in disbelief, unable to process how casually and effortlessly Sheila had delivered the verdict.

Even Gred slowly raised his head, staring up at his stepsister with a look of sheer bewilderment. Having prepared himself to be sent straight to hell, the decree made no sense to him. The only ones unaffected were Harumi and Gina, who seemed entirely oblivious to the gravity of the moment. Dion gently placed a hand on Sheila’s shoulder.

”Are you sure you didn’t misspeak, Sheila?” Dion asked.

”No. Like I’ve said before, I have no desire to sit on a throne and rule a kingdom. I already have a home, and my loyalties lie elsewhere... So I didn’t misspeak. Gred has already been presented to the public as king, so he might as well fulfill the role, unworthy as he currently is,” Sheila explained plainly.

”Hmm... Very well. I’ll defer to your judgment,” Dion conceded.

”However, there are strict conditions, Gred. You will learn how to lead properly—no more tyranny, no more abuse of power. You will prioritize the people’s needs over your personal desires, manage the royal treasury responsibly, and permanently abolish the official slavery decree you put in place. No more playing games. I’m leaving someone here to oversee your every move,” Sheila stated firmly to Gred.

”Y-Yes... Thank you for sparing my life,” Gred stammered out, his body trembling violently.

”Hah... Don’t think you’re off the hook for the death penalty just yet. I’m giving you a three-month probation period to rebuild this kingdom and fix everything... I’ll return to check on your progress in three months. If there’s no visible improvement or growth, your severed head will be mounted on the city gates as a deposed tyrant. Got it?” Sheila threatened coldly.

Hearing her ultimatum, Gred flinched. The reality crashed over him: this wasn’t a pardon, but a high-stakes probationary test where failure meant instant death. He began to shake uncontrollably.

”W-What if I refuse?” Gred squeaked out hesitantly.

Sheila offered no verbal response. Instead, her lips curled into a broad, terrifying smile, blam! She slammed her battleaxe deep into the wooden desk, landing inches from Gina. The sudden impact sent the baby dragon leaping into the air before flying across the room to hide safely in Cleo’s lap. Gred stared wide-eyed at the embedded axe blade and Sheila’s beaming smile, instantly catching the unspoken message: he had zero leverage, zero options, and absolutely no right to refuse.

Gred lowered his head and squeezed his eyes shut, his face contorting in despair as he realized his comfortable, carefree life was officially over. After a long pause, he raised his eyes once more.

”Who are you assigning to watch over me?” Gred asked weakly.

Sheila turned toward Nala, who offered a firm nod in response. Nala stood up from the sofa, walked over to the desk, and looked down at Gred with a cold glare. Seeing Nala step forward, Gred let out a small sigh of relief, even offering a slight smile, knowing full well that Nala harbored romantic feelings for him.

”Do it, Nala,” Sheila instructed.

”Right,” Nala replied.

Nala raised her staff, summoning a glowing magical crest beside Gred. From within the circle slithered a human-sized golden serpent. Moments later, the serpent morphed into human form, taking on Nala’s exact physical likeness, save for slit-like serpentine eyes. The copy reached out and extended a finger toward Gred’s neck. A tiny golden snake slithered off her fingertip, wrapping around Gred’s throat like a collar. As its jaws clamped onto its own tail, the tiny serpent flashed with brilliant light, solidifying into a sleek golden choker. Gred gasped in panic.

”What... An S-rank Golden Chameleon Serpent?! You’re using a shape-shifting monster disguised as Nala to monitor me?!” Gred cried out.

”Yeah... I know how your pathetic brain works. If the real Nala stayed behind to supervise you, you’d try to seduce her in no time and we all know Nala is far too soft-hearted to handle you properly,” Sheila countered smoothly.

”With this, you won’t ever be able to escape. I’ve severed my contract with the Golden Chameleon Serpent under the condition that she supervises you and teaches you how to govern properly. In exchange, she has full claim over you to mate and reproduce. Congratulations, Gred, you now have a wife who shares my exact face,” Nala said with a sweet, mocking smile.

”And if you attempt any funny business, that collar will snap tight and sever your neck instantly... You do know the Golden Chameleon Serpent is considered a serpent queen, right? Enjoy your new queen, and happy breeding,” Sheila added with a malicious grin.

Sheila held out her palm, and Nala gave her a crisp high-five. Gred’s face turned deathly pale. He turned to look at the copy standing beside him, she wore a gentle smile, but her slitted green eyes locked onto his, her long, split tongue flicking out periodically between her lips. Gred looked ready to burst into tears; his spirit was completely broken, and every grand ambition he had held for the future lay in ruin.

Ultimately, Gred could only bow his head in silent resignation to his grim fate. Watching the bizarre interaction unfold, Dion rested his forehead in his hand, letting out a quiet sigh. Deep down, he understood the psychological horror Gred was enduring and felt a faint pang of pity for the guy, though he kept his mouth shut. Meanwhile, Cleo, Aria, Luna, and Mei let out sighs of relief, leaning back into the comfortable sofas to shake off their exhaustion.

A quiet calm settled over the room once more, this time, carrying the undisputed feeling of victory and peace. Everyone took a moment to enjoy the tranquility, except for Gred, who remained slumped over, mourning his tragic turn of events. Suddenly,

”Papa... Mommies... When are we going to go explore the city?” a tiny child’s voice echoed directly inside the minds of Dion, Sheila, Luna, Cleo, Aria, and Mei.

By pure reflex, Dion, Sheila, Luna, Aria, and Mei turned to look at Cleo’s lap. Gina was fast asleep on Cleo’s knees, having spoken those words in her sleep. Dion offered a warm, gentle smile.

”We’ll stay here for three days to help the townspeople resettle and do some sightseeing. How does that sound?” Dion asked softly.

”What about our airship?” Mei asked.

”We’ll order the crew to return home immediately and come back in three days with relief supplies and golem construction units to help rebuild the city faster. We’ll ride back with them once they drop off the supplies,” Dion outlined.

”Hmm... That makes sense. Plus, staying here for three days allows us to guard the capital in case any lingering threats surface,” Cleo agreed.

”Indeed! As for taking Gina out for sightseeing, leave that important task to me!” Luna declared enthusiastically.

”Hah... Just admit you want an excuse to slack off, you airhead princess,” Aria chimed in sarcastically.

”Quiet, you spoiled princess! Stop commenting on everything!” Luna shot back loudly.

”Harumi, go inform the captain about our plans and head back with the ship,” Mei instructed her sister.

”Ew... No way! If you want him informed so badly, go tell him yourself! I’m staying!” Harumi yelled back.

Springing to her feet, Harumi sprinted over to the desk, hup! ooof! She leapt directly onto Dion’s lap, causing Dion’s eyes to widen as the wind was knocked out of his lungs. ”Bleee!” Harumi stuck her tongue out at Mei, whose face instantly darkened as her hand dropped to the hilt of her sword. Aria and Luna scrambled forward to hold Mei back before she could execute her own sister.

”Give me a break... Just let her stay, Mei. The city is safe now, and we all saw how capable she is in combat,” Cleo reasoned, shaking her head.

”Yeah... She’s right. Relax a bit, Mei,” Sheila added.

”Grrrr... You guys always take her side... Whatever. I’m going outside to inform the captain myself,” Mei huffed, turning on her heel and marching out of the study without looking back.

Moments later, the monster shape-shifted into Nala grabbed Gred by his hair, dragging his limp, lifeless body out of the room like a dead dog.

”Where are those two headed?” Dion asked the real Nala.

”To consummate their wedding night... Just let them be. That golden collar around his neck seals their bond... Gred is completely powerless now, guaranteed, ehehe,” Nala answered with a satisfied smirk, looking thoroughly pleased that her grievances had been avenged.

”You seem pretty happy about this, don’t you?” Dion asked with a smirk.

”Nope... Not happy at all,” Nala said smoothly, though her beaming smile completely betrayed her words.

Laughter broke out across the room. The group settled into casual conversation to discuss the initial reconstruction plans for the capital, while Gina remained fast asleep in Cleo’s lap with a peaceful smile on her face.