363Beware, TodaBruh didn't proofread this chapter, so if you catch mistakes feel free to point them out!
Center of the Void, Throne Room of the Eldritch Pantheon.
Princess Aerith Gainsborough couldn't help but be incredibly nervous despite the repeated reassurances of her best friend, Tifa Lockhart.
Here they were, at the center of power of the Omniverse, in an out of the way room where the newly ascended King of the Eldritch was going to meet with her very soon. The gathering of some of the most powerful individuals in existence going on elsewhere in the palace of the rulers of the Eldritch helped easily hide her own secret arrival, but if anything it also made for a perfect example of how important this upcoming meeting was.
The Grand Empire, the greatest space nation after the Eldritch Kingdom, was heavily divided between three major Houses with very different beliefs. This division had always been a delicate balance to maintain for her ancestors, but recently this has gone far beyond mere division.
Quite simply, two of the three Great Houses barely recognized the authority of the Crown anymore, and she knew for a fact that a number of their members would gladly see Aerith herself dead if they ever discovered her existence.
As the rightful Heir to the throne, she was technically meant to claim ultimate power over the Grand Empire… But the harsh truth was that if she revealed herself, only a little over a third of the people in power within the Empire would support her.
House Wingsom were made up of the scholars and intellectuals of the Grand Empire, extreme supporters of collectivism and pragmatic beliefs where the ends justifies the means. For the most part, they believed in a strong government, but also one where the Crown's power was limited, and where the power to rule was shared by various individuals rather than just one. They were also zealously opposed to anyone trying to restrict their ability to pursue advancements, whether scientific, mystical, or otherwise. Effectively, it meant that they had a tendency of straying into immoral experiments as long as it gave them results. And nowadays, they saw any possibility of a strengthened Royalty as a possible threat to their freedom in studying the laws of Reality, knowing full well that many experiments they were conducting were far from morally correct.
Thankfully, not all within the House were like that, but recent decades and centuries has seen a growing influence of Hell within the House that once favored the Heavenly plane of Nirvana, and the results were as disturbing as they were increasingly hard to fight.
House Teftis on the other hand were fiercely individualistic, making up the merchants, traders, capitalists but also the artists, adventurers, and more who all believed in the value of the individuals over the collective, eager to pursue their own passions, moral beliefs, and personal ambitions. They stand for the restraint of governmental and royal power over the general public, and for individual freedom above all else. They too have little desire for a return to a strong royal family, which they see as a threat to their personal freedoms at best. Not all within the House are willing to go as far as murder to remove her, but there certainly were quite a few outright anarchists and revolutionaries who would blink at ordering her assassination.
The good news was that the House had always been strongly linked to the Chaotic Good plane of Elysium, and that has not changed. It limited the numbers of individuals willing to ressort to criminal means to fight off political battles, though it did not remove them entirely. Nonetheless, they still would oppose her return, for political reasons and beliefs if nothing else.
Finally there was House Presaul, the oldest House of the Grand Empire and her greatest supporters. Made up of the old nobility, they were fiercely monarchists, and their members were often heavily involved with the military. Lords and Ladies, Admirals and Generals, they stand heavily on safeguarding Traditions and the culture of the Grand Empire against those who would see it all discarded in the name of "progress", and they are willing to die to ensure the Grand Empire will remains the noble bastion of greatness it was always meant to be. Right now, they have put all of their hopes into supporting her, praying that as the last true heir to the Throne she would succeed in bringing back the age of Greatness of the Grand Empire.
Even so, she wasn't completely blind that House Presault wasn't without fault. Not all nobles were good people, and quite a few looked down on the common people of the Empire. Moreover, their hyperfocus on traditions can sometimes be actively detrimental to the prosperity of the Grand Empire.
All of which left her in a rather complicated situation. In theory, the Grand Empire was ultimately ruled by the Emperor or Empress, with a Council of twelve people, four from each House, as representatives of their respective factions. Now however the power lied with the councilors rather than the Crown, as her parents were long dead. Her father died before she was even born, and her mother was poisoned when she was only a few years old. Thankfully her birth had been kept secret, with only the most trusted of individuals knowing of it, but even so no one had ever caught the mastermind behind her mother's death, and if she tried to claim her throne there was a lot of worry that she would suffer her mother's fate.
So even if, somehow, she gained the support of the majority of the Council, a task much easier said than done, then she would still have to worry about dropping dead one day.
"You should relax. Everything's going to be alright, you'll see!" Cheerfully said her best friend, a bright smile on her lips. Tifa's red eyes looked at her with both worry and reassurance, one of her hands gently squeezing Aerith's right shoulder, and the princess took strength from her friend's presence.
Tifa by all right should have never been involved in this political mess, but somehow fortune or the will of the gods had decided otherwise. Born in the outer rim of the Grand Empire, her location of birth by itself should have ensured that she never became anyone famous, as the outer realms of the Grand Empire were well-known for being utterly ignored by the powerful elites of the Empire. Somehow however she was lucky enough to catch the attention of a respected master of one of the most powerful martial art sects who happened to be passing by her birth system, and that master offered her a place as one of his students if she was willing to follow him back to Manalim, the Capital system of the Grand Empire. With the support of her parents, she followed him, and quickly rose up as one of the greatest upcoming Young Mistresses of the sect. Passionate, incredibly skilled, and yet endlessly kind as well as stunningly beautiful, it didn't take long for her to become a symbol of the potential of those living in the borders of the Grand Empire, forcing her quickly to learn how to navigate the treacherous political waters of Manalim.
Perhaps her story would have remained there, as a rising star of one of the martial art sects belonging to House Teftis… If a completely random chance encounter hadn't caused Aerith and Tifa to meet when Aerith had been spending time in secret in the Imperial Gardens of Manalim.
They had struck a quick friendship that day, though it took a few years before Tifa learnt the truth behind who, exactly, her newest friend turned out to be. Ever since, she had sworn to support Aerith in her bid of claiming back her throne, and Aerith had always been incredibly thankful to have a true friend by her side in Tifa.
"I appreciate it, Tifa, but it's hard not to be nervous right now. I have very little to negotiate with in the face of the deity who is currently the most powerful God-King in existence." Aerith replied, sending her friend an apologetic look.
"King Aeon isn't a bad person. I can't say I know what he'll ask for in exchange for his help, but I truly do not believe it won't be something you won't be willing to accept." Tifa said with confidence.
Aerith smiled wryly. "The problem is that there isn't much I'm not willing to accept, at this point. Even if… Even myself becoming one of his wives would be acceptable. It'd hurt my standing immensely, because I'd definitely never be seen as his equal, but it would also guarantee me the Throne instantly."
Tifa grimaced.
"I'm sure it won't come to that." Her adopted mother spoke up, Lady Elmyra, a very good friend of her parents, who had acted as her true mother as far as the public knew. "While many members of the three Great Houses would accept him, many others would not. It'd be seen as a clear power-grab by far too many to be readily accepted. Such an union would risk starting the very civil war we're trying to avoid, and he has to know that."
Aerith let out a breath at those words. "I suppose we'll find out soon enough. If he asks, however, I do not have the means to stop him. Not if he insists on it. And frankly, depending on how much support he's willing to offer us… I'm not sure I want to disagree. He'll be putting his own people on the line for me and the Grand Empire, after all."
Tifa's hand tightened on her shoulder. "Whatever happens… I'll always stay by your side, Aerith."
Aerith smiled, looking up into those warm red eyes and putting one of her hands over that of her friend… Though they have occasionally been a bit more than just friends.
There were few people Aerith could afford to sexually experiment with, after all, when her very existence had to be kept secret from almost everyone at all times.
For a moment, they stayed like that, a thousand words and promises shared in silence as they just looked at each other…
Before the door suddenly opened, letting in one of the Royal Guard of the Eldritch Kingdom who quickly looked at them, nodded when he saw no visible threats, and then took a step the the side to let the next person in, while Aerith and those with her quickly stood up from their seats as the King of the Eldritch entered.
The first thing that Aerith noticed as he did was that the King was tall. He stood head and shoulders over everyone else in the room, and his body was clearly muscled, but with a clear balance between power and speed.
What she noticed next were the strange cosmic robes he wore, the robes acting like cut-out windows into the very fabric of the cosmos, as his robes showed a kaleidoscope of stars and cosmic formations, galaxies floating in the void of space in complex, awe-inspiring patterns.
Then she finished to look up, and her eyes met with his own, instantly making her inhale sharply. The sheer raw power within those cosmic eyes took her breath away, as it was like staring into the very fabric of the entire omniverse revealing itself to her in its full glory, her mind struggling to not be overwhelmed by the absolutely staggering scale of his existence.
As the princess of the Grand Empire, even one in hiding, she had grown up with some of the best teachers in existence. Her mind, body and very soul had been trained to its utmost limit, granting her power beyond that of most gods in existence. It wasn't a lie to say that she could reduce an entire solar system to ash with little difficulty. As rulers of the greatest mortal nation in existence, her ancestors had throughout countless generations' worth of rituals and technological refinement, ensured that her bloodline was far beyond that of any other in existence… Or at the very least, they've certainly spent staggering fortunes trying.
And for the most part, they had succeeded. Aerith had a connection to the very fabric of the cosmos that went far, far beyond what any mortal should ever possess.
And that connection was currently singing so loudly in her ears it was almost downright deafening.
She had known that one of the new King's titles was "Lord of the Cosmos", but she had not fully understood the sheer weight behind that statement until now. Aerith could feel the way that Reality wrapped itself lovingly around him, holding him in a lover's embrace. His power washed around him like a star's light, shining upon all that surrounded it, and Reality exulted in its presence, not merely submitting to his will but actively eager to change and form itself according to his slightest whims.
It was… Like looking at an excited puppy, she thought numbly.
It was absurd, but Reality itself felt like a pet eager for attention and utterly delighted whenever the King of the Eldritch actively focused upon it.
"Princess Aerith. A pleasure to meet you in person." smoothly declared the King while smiling at her, and it took all the self-control Aerith possessed to not flush brightly when it took Tifa giving her a light kick in the leg for her to reply, lost as she was in the sensations her senses were drowning under in his presence.
In her defense, the way Reality rippled like a purring animal at the mere sound of his voice was incredibly distracting.
"The pleasure is mine, King Aeon." she finally replied, curtsying perfectly as she did. At least not all of her teachers in manners might decide to kill her for her mistake after this was over. "While your invitation came as a surprise, it was most certainly a welcome one."
For some reason, his lips twitched in amusement at those words, and Aerith once again had to hold herself back from losing herself in the way the fabric of existence rippled with the weight of his emotions. She had never seen anyone or anything so utterly connected to reality as the god before her, and her senses were almost overwhelmed by how much reality sang in delight in the face of his joy.
"It is my honor and pleasure to host someone as distinguished as yourself on this memorable day, my lady." he replied, bending over, taking her hand and laying a gentle kiss upon the back of it, Aerith's cheeks darkening ever so slightly at just how smooth his movements had been.
She didn't need to look at Tifa to tell how incredibly amused she was over her reaction, so instead Aerith ignored the heat in her cheeks and smiled back at the Eldritch King.
"Come, let us sit. I trust that you have been welcomed properly, despite the secretive nature of this meeting?" he inquired, while everyone took a seat in the richly decorated meeting room.
"We have indeed, have no fear." Aerith reassured him. "The hospitality of the Eldritch kingdom has not been found wanting."
He smiled, interlacing his fingers together on top of the table and leaning forward just a bit, his sheer size and presence making the meeting table seem more like a royal desk meant to enhance his authority. Aerith couldn't help but feel a little inadequate, her teachers in royal manners would weep in awe at the sheer ease this man took control of any room he was in.
"Perfect. Then in that case, I believe that we should get to what we are here for. We can afford to focus on more relaxed conversation after the serious talks are over." He grinned. "Work before pleasure, as it were."
Aerith tried to not let it show on her face that her nervousness was going through the roof, though she could tell that it was a lost cause.
The way reality rippled from his knowing amusement was something of a dead giveaway, though at least he was in a good mood for now. She really hoped that it would stay that way.
She would pray, but there was quite literally no deity in existence that could help her with this.
"If that is your wish." Aerith said, before taking a deep breath. "I trust that you have a good understanding of the political situation in the Grand Empire?"
"I do indeed. House Wingsom is falling under the influence of Hell, House Teftis are quite happy to do their own things without having to worry about Royal authority, and the third House-" his eyes flicked towards Lady Elmira. "-while very much eager to support you, is also severely outnumbered."
Aerith noddeed. "That is a good basic description of the situation, yes. And of course, trying to gain influence with the other two Houses is rather difficult when my very existence must remain secret for as long as possible."
"Too much risk of an assassination attempt. I understand." He agreed calmly. "Which nonetheless leads us to this meeting, where you might gain the support of the most influential man in existence…" A wry smirk came on his lips. "If at a cost that you're no doubt worrying will be far too high to accept… Or just as badly, too good to afford to pass up, no matter the consequences."
Aerith swallowed. Tifa had warned her that the king was rather straightforward, but even then she hadn't expected him to straight-up call her out like that, and by the way her adopted mother sifted in place, neither had she.
He stared at her, his eyes studying her in a way that made her shiver. Not because of any malice, but simply because it felt like he was seeing through her, to all that she was, like she was an open book, her every thought, feelings and hopes known instantly, and that despite the fact that her mental and spiritual defenses didn't register a flicker of divine power trying to read her mind or soul.
"... I am willing to come to a mutually beneficial agreement for the sake of my people." she finally replied. "The Grand Empire is slowly but surely tearing itself apart, and if nothing is done, I fear a civil war will happen, even if my existence remains secret."
He looked at her thoughtfully, and Aerith couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking. This was King Aeon, ruler of the Eldritch, a god who had boldly declared war on the Abyss, made Abaddon submit and almost started a civil war in Hell all at the same time. He did succeed in starting a civil war in the Abyss, in fact! And on top of all that, he was someone who was well on the way to start the greatest alliance between Factions and pantheons in the history of the Omniverse.
And now, that man was sitting before her, with the fate of the Grand Empire and her very life in his hands.
It was as humbling as it was terrifying to know that beings such as him existed, much less to stand in the same room as them.
"Good." he declared. "Because I want to see you on the Throne, and the sooner we can come to an agreement, the sooner we can start working on achieving exactly that."
She blinked. Her adopted mother inhaled sharply behind her, and Tifa gasped softly.
Did… Did he just casually declare he wanted her on the throne, even before they started negotiating? He had to know that would weaken his negotiating position!
The King grinned, clearly amused by their reactions. "What? Did you expect me to leverage my help as conditional? I could have, sure, but I see no point." He shrugged slightly, opening his arms with a wry grin. "Let's see the facts, yes? I know of your existence. Just by that alone, I could see you and all your dreams destroyed if I share that information to your enemies."
Aerith swallowed at the blunt admission, but the King wasn't done.
"Secondly, if I actually choose to support someone else for the throne, there isn't a snowball chance in Hell for you to triumph. Your greatest supporters are within the Grand Empire's military. The military of the Eldritch Kingdom however is far more powerful than yours, so in a conflict I could crush House Presaul easily enough, especially if I get the support of the other two Houses."
He raised a third finger.
"And finally, you need me. You cannot move freely, thus you cannot gain the supporters you desperately need to back your cause. Worse, enemies within the Grand Empire can easily kill you as they have killed your mother, so even if you somehow gain the support you need, you might just end up dying on the day of your coronation. You need more than just political support: you need to know the names of those who would see you dead by any means necessary, and you need to see those people removed from power… and the world of the living too, if at all possible."
He looked at her calmly, and Aerith tried not to show just how badly shaken she was by the fact that he just gave her a step by step explanation of how utterly powerless she was.
She knew she failed, because she could tell he saw through her just as easily as he did all of his enemies.
She… She never stood a chance, did she? From the moment this man took his throne, her fate was no longer hers.
"So with that all being said… I want you to argue as fiercely as you can for your people."
Aerith blinked.
She caught a bewildered "What?" from her mother, though Tifa…
Tifa suddenly looked at the king with a dawning look of realisation.
The King smiled. "I don't want a puppet, Lady Aerith. As a God, I stand for the opinion that all people should pursue Greatness in their lives, in whatever ways they can. Yes, you are almost completely without cards in these negotiations. Yes, I can almost certainly easily ask anything I want from you, including your hand in marriage, and you will have no choice but to accept. And yet, that's not what I want."
He leaned forward, and Aerith was once again reminded of how imposing he was when he seemed to tower over her despite being on the opposite side of the meeting table… And yet there was something in his expression that made her straighten unflinchingly as she met his eyes.
"I want to see you fight, Lady Aerith." he declared. "I want to see you struggle your hardest in this desperate situation, and claw every victory possible from the brink of utter defeat. I want to see your mettle, to see how you handle what should be a crushing defeat… and how you can rise above it."
His smile widened, an air of pure challenge radiating from him.
"Impress me, Lady Aerith. Show me the will of the future Empress of the Grand Empire. Show me how she can fight despair, and how she can defy the odds. These negotiations are, by all logic, doomed to be overwhelmingly in my favour."
His next words were almost a whisper, yet they echoed with power and eager anticipation to their ears.
"You want the throne, Lady Aerith? Then prove yourself worthy… And you shall have it!"
Aerith met his challenging gaze with one of her own, suddenly understanding what this was all about.
This wasn't about crushing her. This wasn't him gloating over her doomed fate.
This was a divine test, a literal divine challenge, a thrown gauntlet into her face with the full expectation that it would be answered in kind.
King Aeon wanted to see for himself if she had what it takes to be a ruler, if she had the steel necessary to face the challenges that her position would bring…
Her green eyes met his divine ones, and she refused to look away.
She felt Tifa lay an encouraging hand over her thigh, squeezing gently to let her know she believed in her.
And Aerith swore she would not be found wanting.
Reality rippled again as King Aeon stared at her with approval, and she mentally readied herself for the battle of words that was going to decide her fate and that of her people.
She grinned.
"Then let's get started." she declared firmly.
The hours that followed were some of the most mentally grueling of her life, as King Aeon used every hint of weakness in her words to try and claim more benefits for the Eldritch kingdom.
Without a shadow of a doubt, he came out of them the winner.
And yet…
She had never felt more like the future queen of her people then when the talks ended, and Tifa, Lady Elmyra and even King Aeon himself praised her for every victory she had managed to grasp in the name of the Grand Empire.
The tight, excited hug from her friend, the brilliant, proud smile from Lady Elmyra, and the approving, respectful nod from King Aeon were going to remain in her memories forever as the moment where she truly started her journey in becoming Queen Aerith Gainsborough, Ruler of the Gand Empire.
Queen Elizabeth III, Ruler of the Star Kingdom of Manticore, couldn't help but feel rather nervous for once in her life.
She wasn't used to feeling like that, since she had learnt from a young age that she needed to be strong for the sake of her people. Ever since her father was assassinated by those craven bastards of the People' Republic of Haven, she had to stand up and fight for every inch of justice and righteousness she could claw from an uncaring universe.
And today, she was once again doing that very thing, for the sake of someone who absolutely earned her favour. Lady Honour Harrington was standing by her side, her wounds mostly healed from that disgraceful duel between her and her fiance's true killer, Pavel Young, the so-called "noble" who did everything possible to ruin her life.
Elizabeth took some satisfaction that the bastard was very, very dead, but it was a bittersweet victory considering how his death created a political storm that saw Honour disgraced. She was forced to leave the Navy, and she could no longer be a part of the Star Kingdom's military forces anymore.
Elizabeth glanced at Honour, the woman with her Treecat on her shoulder standing rigid by her side as they awaited to meet the god who might just help save her future.
Frankly, Elizabeth was still surprised that they were both standing here to begin with. The invention to the Coronation of King Aeon was only somewhat surprising, as the Star Kingdom of Manticore was a relatively small but very rich and technologically advanced star nation within the greater Oblivion Compact, the third greatest star nation in existence behind the Eldritch Kingdom and the Grand Empire.
Though in all fairness, the Oblivion Compact wasn't truly a star nation, so much as it was a large gathering of star nations united more or less loosely for the purpose of not being consumed by either of the greater civilizations. And needless to say, many of its members did not get along at all…
Like Manticore and Haven.
Queen Elizabeth III couldn't help but feel a fierce feeling of vindication that the rulers of the Republic of Haven were not invited to King Aeon's Coronation. Even she didn't fully know the details, but apparently Haven's rulers had, at first, thought that the lack of an invitation had been a mistake and contacted the diplomatic offices of the Eldritch Kingdom to correct that.
Whatever answer the diplomatic office of the Eldritch Kingdom had quite clearly been the furthest thing from diplomatic, as the answer given saw a vicious purge of nearly the entire diplomatic corp of Haven out of, as Elizabeth had heard, sheer desperation by the ones in power to keep whatever had been said a secret at any cost.
Either way, Queen Elizabeth III had indeed received an invitation, and she was more than happy to accept it, especially when it was accompanied by a message saying that "The King was in need of soldiers willing to fight against the Abyss, and any individuals willing to join the war would see themselves richly rewarded."
The added detail that the crimes and politically sensitive past of any such individual volunteering themselves to serve were of no concern had all but screamed that somehow, the Eldritch King knew of Lady Harrington's situation, and was extending a helping hand towards her if she was willing to take it.
Obviously, Queen Elizabeth was more than happy to take the offer given with both hands, as it would not only be a spectacular snub towards Harrington's political enemies, it would also be a perfect way to give aid to someone worthy of it, while also establishing the beginning of good relations with the most powerful man in existence.
If the ruler of the Eldritch Pantheon and Kingdom regarded the Star Kingdom of Manticore favourably, the consequences would be as far-reaching as they would be incredible. Queen Elizabeth was willing to sacrifice a lot to get something as utterly priceless, but doing it in a way that allowed her to feel good about herself on top of that? That was a true miracle.
Of course, it all required Lady Harrington to be willing to go with it in the first place… But thankfully, it hadn't been hard to convince her to accept the offer.
A chance to snub those Lords and Ladies who hated her for killing a noble who engineered the death of her fiance, save her career, and do a lot of good for the Kingdom of Manticore all in one move? She didn't need to be half as smart as Elizabeth knew her to be to see the writing on the wall.
Elizabeth glanced at Lady Harrington, meeting her gaze, a faint smile crossing her lips as she did.
"Don't worry so much, Lady Harrington. The Eldritch King wouldn't have invented us like this if he didn't know exactly what he wanted."
"I am aware, my Queen." respectfully replied Lady Harrington. "It is just… still a great change to be sent effectively to the other side of the universe to fight in the name of a star nation I know very little about, even when it is with your full support."
"That, and the fact your new leader will be a God-King with more power than almost anyone else in existence probably doesn't help, does it?" Elizabeth teased gently.
"... No." agreed Lady Harrington. "It does not. Though in fairness, everything I heard about him does sound rather good. His support of mortals is unusual by Eldritch standards, though it does make sense with his origins. His declared intentions to war with the Abyss is certainly to his credit, and his stunning ability to create the greatest supernatural alliance in history speaks very well of his diplomatic skills. That he was able to start a civil war in the Abyss, subjugate Abaddon and almost start a civil war in Hell while barely doing anything spoke of an incredibly cunning individual, and one fully willing to change reality as a whole to see his vision come to pass."
Lady Harrington then hesitated, before speaking more softly. "But none of that speaks much of how he is like in person. We know that he has several wives, humans and goddesses alike. We know that he seemed to be firmly aligned with Good over Evil, and that he wants the Eldritch to be far more involved with the rest of Reality than ever before… But that's essentially all we know."
"There is also his holy book about his days as a mortal Hunter in this… Yharnam." Queen Elizabeth pointed out.
Lady Harrington nodded. "True, though how much of it is accurate is debatable. If the book is to be believed, he died over a hundred times as a mortal Hunter, which is…" she trailed off, and Elizabeth understood.
A single death is already terrifying enough to consider for most people, so a hundred is utterly incomprehensible.
What kind of man could endure such horror and remain sane? Of course, he was the God-king of the Eldritch Pantheon nowadays, but even so…
Elizabeth didn't consider herself a weak-willed woman, but even she had to admit that it wasn't something that she could see herself enduring without consequences.
And by the look on Lady Harrington's face, she wasn't the only one.
"Well, we're going to meet him soon, so at the very least we will see for ourselves how the King is in person." noted Elizabeth.
Lady Harrington nodded in agreement… Before her head jerked upwards, looking into the distance as a very tall man in cosmic robes and with a halo of flowing light and dark came towards them, the distance vanishing rapidly under his large steps.
Show time, thought Queen Elizabeth, straightening and preparing herself for what might be the most important meeting of her life.
Lady Harrington did her best not to show her nervousness as she waited with her Queen for the new King of the Eldritch to meet with them.
The Eldritch Pantheon did not have much of a presence in the Kingdom of Manticore, and for that matter neither did it in the Protectorate of Grayson, her second home. The worship of the White God in Heaven was the major religion of both star nations, with most other cults a distant second at most.
That being said, it wasn't to say that they did not know of the Eldritch Kingdom and Pantheon. Both were simply too large, too powerful, too important to not be known by all civilizations who had access to space travel, and most others as well.
For the most part, the Kingdom of Manticore had never had any dealings with the Eldritch Kingdom. Their place amongst the Oblivion Compact ensured that none of the more military active members of the Eldritch Kingdom would dare attack them, and otherwise there was little need for diplomatic contact between nations with very little in common beyond the very basic fact that both were technically monarchies.
Of course, things had changed greatly with the rise of King Aeon to his throne, along with the growing tensions between the Kingdom of Manticore and the Republic of Haven. With the first, the Eldritch Kingdom had suddenly strengthened its diplomatic ties with everyone it was in contact with, as long as they weren't supporters of the Abyss or Hell, or otherwise unquestionably evil-aligned star nations.
With the second, the Kingdom of Manticore was in desperate need of every ally it could get, considering that everyone with a functioning brain (which sadly was only a limited number of nobles amongst the Kingdom of Manticore) could see that war was inevitable. It was only a matter of time, and the Kingdom was by no means guaranteed victory in the war. Certainly, the military forces of Manticore were far superior in technologies, but they also were far fewer in numbers, which meant a war between both will be decided by that simple question: will the superiority of the Kingdom of Manticore's military prove sufficient to overcome the gap in numbers, or will Haven drown them in warships?
Needless to say, having the Eldritch Kingdom suddenly reach out to the Kingdom of Manticore while snubbing the Republic of Haven was as close to a godsend as one could imagine, and for a great many reasons. Right now, the simple favour or disfavour of the Eldritch King could make or break empires, and everyone knew that.
This was a time of change, of countless dangers but also countless opportunities, and if the Kingdom of Manticore wanted to thrive in these troubling times it needed to seize every opportunity offered to it.
Which was why the offer for Honour to join the Eldritch Kingdom's military was a very welcome one, for both personal and national reasons.
Honor had had some time to mourn her fiance's death, after those involved in his murder died at her hand. But it still didn't change the fact that her heart ached at the loss of her lover, and when combined with the fact that killing that cowardly bastard Pavel Young in an honour duel caused her to lose her place in the military… Well, she had considered that a price worth paying for the sake of putting down her lover's killer, but it had been bitter to swallow all the same.
So obviously, the chance to serve her kingdom by joining the Eldritch Kingdom's military as a political "gift" of sorts in the goal of fighting in the upcoming war against the Abyss had been more than welcome. Not only did it effectively save her military career, but Honour also couldn't deny the righteousness of the war. It was hard to disagree with it when the enemy were literal demons, after all.
Not only that, but the chance to see for herself the military of the greatest Kingdom in existence was just too good to pass up. While she obviously wouldn't be able to just share military secrets with the Kingdom of Manticore, on a personal level she was incredibly intrigued to see all the differences between the two militaries.
And on a more petty, vicious level, the looks on the corrupt nobles' faces when they discovered who exactly the Kingdom of Manticore was sending to the Eldritch Kingdom had been deeply, deeply enjoyable.
So overall, Honor was actually looking forward to meeting the Eldritch King and getting started on her new career, even if she was still deeply nervous at the idea of meeting the newest God-King in charge of, effectively, all of Reality.
"Well, we're going to meet him soon, so at the very least we will see for ourselves how the King is in person." noted Queen Elizabeth to her previous words, and Honor nodded… A second before her head jerked upwards, looking towards the incredibly tall and well-built man in cosmic robes walking confidently towards them, his eyes a study in contrast between the glowing star-like right eye and the unnaturally black pit of his left iris.
On her shoulder, Nimitz, her Treecat stiffened, his own head snapping up to stare at the approaching form of what had to be the God-King of the Eldritch, as both of their human and inhuman instincts suddenly screamed at them that this man was the most dangerous individuals they had ever met.
Even with the casual aura of power he exuded, the way he moved was too smooth, too quick, too in control to not send alarm bells ringing in both her and Nimitz's minds. His movements reminded Honor of the best of the best of the elite ground forces of the Kingdom of Manticore she had the pleasure of meeting, except intensified a thousand, perhaps a million times.
Honor shifted, her eyes meeting with those of the approaching god, and she could swear his lips twitched upwards for a bare fraction of a second at her reaction, though it was far too fast for her to know for sure.
Then King Aeon came to a stop before her and Queen Elizabeth, both of them bowing respectfully while King Aeon nodded in greetings.
"King Aeon, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Queen Elizabeth III of the Star Kingdom of Manticore, and with me is Lady Honor Harrington, who has chosen to answer your call for service in the upcoming war with the Abyss." declared her Queen respectfully.
"Queen Elizabeth. Lady Harrington. The honour is mine." he replied, his lips definitely twitching in amusement at the pun over her name. Honor held back a shiver at the sound of his voice. It was smooth, deep and powerful, carrying with it an authority so vast it defied mortal explanations and understanding. "I know of your people, and their struggle with Haven." His expression darkened, a shadow crossing his features that sent an outright chill down Honor's spine, and made Nimitz freeze in place on her shoulder. She'd faced death many times in her life, and yet that expression alone made her tense in dread. "And I know of secret plots and the masterminds behind them which have been tolerated for far too long. No more."
He held up his right hand, a data stick appearing within it, before he extended it towards Queen Elizabeth.
"Within this data stick is the combined knowledge of countless secrets and plots from both internal and external enemies of the people of Manticore… and others." His voice turned fierce with grim satisfaction. "I strongly suggest reading through it all, even if it will certainly take some time. Nonetheless, you deserve to know the full scale of the plots aimed at you and your people, past, present and future."
A cold, cruel smirk touched his lips. "Once you have, I suspect that you will have a great many decisions to make… But I want to let you know something: If you decide to see justice done against the Mesa Alignment, I am willing to grant you a military expedition capable of ensuring that all allied with said Alignment are removed from existence, up to and including my approval for large-scale orbital bombardment. Not even the Solarian League which they have infiltrated will be left standing if you desire it."
Honor and Queen Elizabeth froze in shock at the words spoken. Not only at the casual willingness to give what had to be incredibly sensitive secrets, even if they weren't those of the Eldritch Kingdom… But also at the willingness to swear military assistance to the Star Kingdom of Manticore against even the might of the Solarian League, the greatest power within the Oblivion Compact.
Queen Elizabeth stared at the outstretched hand for a long moment, before gently, carefully taking the data stick.
"The Kingdom of Manticore has been an enemy of the Mesan Alignment for many years, as those slavers' bastards are a blight on reality, but… I am not aware of them having committed crimes against us to the point that their entire solar system must be purged. And your words that they have infiltrated the Solarian League…" Queen Elizabeth trailed off, her expression turning harsh and cold.
"How many of my people have they harmed, King Aeon?" she asked, her hand holding tightly the data stick given to her with a white-knuckled grip.
"Many." grimly replied King Aeon. "Far, far too many, and far more than you ever imagined. They have been playing you and Haven for fools for many years, as their conspiracy has been ongoing for nearly a millennium now. Beware, Queen Elizabeth. They have assassins and spies within your kingdom in far greater numbers than your worst estimate. Quite frankly, the Eldritch Kingdom cannot afford greater diplomatic ties with your kingdom until the matter of the Mesan Alignment has been conclusively dealt with."
Honor tensed at those words, as the implications were obvious: King Aeon was effectively telling them that they have been infiltrated to the point their political system was at least partially under the control of a foreign power, and that was a horrifying thought to consider, especially if the Mesan had such influence for centuries.
By the utterly enraged and horrified expression on Queen Elizabeth's face, she understood that perfectly well, and the hand holding the data stick was now trembling with sheer fury.
Then she took a deep breath, exhaled, and stared at King Aeon straight in the eyes without flinching. "We shall heavily investigate your words, King Aeon. If they prove in any way truthful…" Queen Elizabeth's jaw clenched for a second, before she continued. "Then let it be known that the Kingdom of Manticore shall never forget its friends, and that all debts rightfully owed shall be paid back in full."
King Aeon nodded. "I am a god of Truth, Queen Elizabeth. I have no need for lies when the truth is all I need."
Queen Elizabeth hid the data stick in her royal robes, her expression grim. "If that is the case, then I am in your debt twice over. Both for helping Lady Harrington, and for potentially saving my Kingdom from the worst kind of monsters in human skins."
King Aeon's eyes turned towards Honor, who stiffened under the weight of that divine gaze.
"Lady Honor Harrington." he said, his voice thoughtful. "I am aware of your history." His voice softened, along with his expression. "Your fiance did not regret loving you, you know. Not even at the end."
Honor froze, her heart suddenly squeezing in her chest, while the King smiled gently at her. "He loved you, truly. And he was proud beyond words to have been loved by you in return. However, he did have one request for you, if you would hear it."
Honor swallowed, blinking rapidly, trying to hold back her tears from the sudden surge of emotions coursing through her and only mostly succeeding. At her side, Queen Elizabeth looked at her with a mix of sadness and guilt, for having failed one of her greatest citizens, though all Honor could focus on was those kind, gentle divine eyes looking at her with warmth.
"W-What… What was his request?" she whispered, Nimitz purring gently against her head in comfort as she struggled to speak.
King Aeon opened his mouth, and suddenly Honor wasn't facing the god anymore. Instead, she was looking at Paul, looking exactly as she remembered him, a sad yet loving look on his face as he stared at her.
"Live, Honor. Live long, live happy, and be the incredible woman I know you to be. I love you… So please. Don't follow me. Instead, live your life to the fullest, that I may cheer you on from the afterlife, now and forever."
Honor staggered backwards, face pale and tears streaming down her face. She could feel him, feel the echo of his emotions as he died, feel his love for her, his desire to see her live on and be happy and-
And-
Honor put a hand over her eyes, hiding away from the world for a moment as she grieved for the man she loved, taken from her far, far too soon.
For a moment, she forgot where she was, and who she was with, no longer being Honor Harrington, the leader of warships and soldiers capable of pulling miraculous victory against overwhelming odds, but instead simply… Honor, the woman who one day met a kind, good man while wanting to learn how to fight with her body better against potential assassins.
Tears fell down her cheeks, but she could feel an echo of his love for her linger in her heart, a warmth that refused to leave, clinging stubbornly despite her grief and gently, but firmly reminding her that, as bitter as their story ended, it was a beautiful story of love nonetheless, and that there was need need for regret or guilt.
Nimitz kept purring against her, his presence a steady anchor to remind her that for all that she had lost, there were still so many who loved her amongst the living, and Honor took a few deep breaths before doing her best to wipe her tears, unable to look her at Queen or King Aeon in the eyes after her display of emotional weakness.
"I… I apologize, I didn't mean to... I didn't want…" Honor stammered, unsure what to say, much less how to say it, before a large, warm hand settled on her free shoulder, and she froze, looking upwards into the gentle expression of King Aeon.
"It is never wrong to mourn the passing of those we love." he said softly. "To have them taken from us far sooner than their rightful time is a tragedy. That it was done at the hands of those who exulted at his death like it was a good thing is an inexcusable crime. That you brought his killers to justice is a cold comfort, but what is important to remember is that he loved you. Truly, earnestly, with all his heart. And nothing can ever change that. I know it is hard, but do not look upon your memories of your shared time together with sorrow. Instead, see them as the precious, priceless gems of light that they are, capable of giving you strength even in the darkest of nights."
He smiled kindly. "You knew him well, did you not? So tell me, Honor Harrington: Would he want his passing to break you? To make you lose all that makes you great? Or instead, would he want you to live more than ever, and show this cold, cruel reality the strength that made him fall in love with you in the first place?"
Honor stared at him, saying nothing for several long seconds… Before she took a deep breath, wiped off the rest of her tears, and straightened before performing a textbook perfect military salute. "Captain Honor Harrington, reporting for duty, sir!" she exclaimed, her expression fierce and determined.
King Aeon's smile grew, a flash of pride and respect crossing his face before he nodded at her. "At ease, Captain." he declared, his voice suddenly sharp and clear, and Honor didn't even think before obeying, relaxing her stance instantly.
King Aeon turned towards Queen Elizabeth, who had been watching everything with an expression of clear approval, with an apologetic smile. "My apologies, Queen Elizabeth, but I would like to talk with Captain Harrington in private about her place in the Eldritch Kingdom's military."
"Of course, King Aeon." Queen Elizabeth bowed respectfully, then looked at Honor for a moment. "I know I said it before… But I apologize for failing you. After everything you did for my kingdom and its people, you deserve better. That I cannot grant it to you is a shame I shall bear with me to my grave."
Honor smiled gently at her Queen, shaking her head. "It is alright. You have done more than enough to help as it is."
"I suppose that we shall have to agree to disagree on that." replied the Queen, before she looked back at King Aeon. "For now, I believe I have a data stick's worth of information to read through. If it proves truthful, then I will be in your debt, and I will make sure to repay you in full. For now…" her expression softened. "I leave Lady Harrington in your care, King Aeon."
King Aeon nodded. "Until we meet again, Queen Elizabeth."
With a last look at Honor, the Queen left, leaving Honor and Nimitz alone with the Eldritch King, who smiled at her.
"Come on, let's take a walk for a moment."
"As you wish, King Aeon." she replied, following him as they left the grand Throne room for a smaller side passage.
They kept walking in silence for a time, Honor taking the free time to recover her emotional calm after what had just happened, and mentally prepare herself for her future duties.
Finally, King Aeon entered a wide room with a massive window showing a glimpse of the space around the seat of power of the Eldritch Pantheon, and Honor couldn't help but inhale sharply and marvel at the eldritch beauty of the sprawling cosmos spreading out before her.
King Aeon stopped in front of the window, his hands collapsed behind his back, his cosmic eyes staring at the sight before them both with thoughts that Honor couldn't even begin to imagine.
For a few seconds, Honor simply enjoyed the view before her, this incredible display of cosmic beauty that could only be found at the very center of the seat of power of the Greatest Pantheon in existence, before the Eldritch King spoke up.
"Tell me, Lady Harrington, what do you see when you look at the sight before you?" he asked softly.
Honor considered the question for a moment, before answering. "It's beautiful, your highness." she said truthfully. "To see so many stars, so many galaxies spinning in the void of space… there is something wondrous and humbling in it all."
His lips twisted upwards into the shadow of a smile. "It is beautiful, indeed. And humbling, very much so."
"Even for you, your majesty?" Honor hesitated, but ultimately still dared to ask that question. From what she had seen of him so far, she didn't think he would take offense.
And she was proven right, as his smile grew slightly.
"Especially for me, Lady Harrington. For I do not merely see the sight before me as a collection of distant stars. I also know of every single species calling those stars home. Every single civilization that has ever existed within them. Every single soul that had ever lived under their lights." he replied.
Then his smile fell, replaced by a look so cold that Honor shivered at the sight of it.
"And I see their pain. Their despair, and their deaths, every time that evil acts. Every murder, every rape, every demonic sacrifice. I see every life cut short before their time, countless bright souls corrupted or broken, and I hear their screams, Lady Harrington. The screams of every single man, woman and child pleading, begging for a saviour… And being answered only by silence."
Honor stiffened as she could feel his rage, his sadness, and his cold, unyielding determination to act and stop those horrors from coming to pass. The will of a man capable of rewriting existence itself marshalling to prepare for war, to ensure that Reality would be made into a better place that he had found it, no matter the cost to pay to guarantee it.
He looked at her, his expression grim and unyielding.
"You have never stood for injustice in your life, Lady Harrington, and that is very much praiseworthy. And it is that very same will to refuse Evil to thrive that saw me decide to go to war against the Abyss. Because I have heard their screams, heard their pleas, and decided that it was better to act to ensure a brighter future, than to do nothing and allow Evil to run wild."
His expression finally softened, and he looked downright sorrowful as he looked at her.
"The war to come… It will be horrifying beyond anything you have ever experienced. It will be brutal beyond any mortal language's to properly describe. So I feel like I must ask: Are you truly alright with fighting in it? It does not need to be your war to fight. You always have a choice, Lady Harrington. I will not judge you for avoiding a conflict that has nothing to do with you."
Honor considered his words… But honestly, there was only one answer that she could ever give.
"As you said, it is not in my nature to let injustice be without fighting it, King Aeon. I will not back down from my duty. I may have never fought the Abyss and its horrors, but I am well educated enough to know of its Evil. I doubt there has ever been a war more righteous in the history of existence, and I will not back down from fighting in it to make a brighter tomorrow."
A smile came to her lips. "I have sworn to defend the innocents, as both a soldier of Manticore and Grayson. I have no problem doing it in the name of the Eldritch Kingdom as well."
King Aeon studied her for a few seconds, before smiling warmly, though she couldn't help but notice the lingering sadness in his expression.
"If only reality was made up of men and women with your sense of integrity and kindness, I dare say that both of us could have lived lives of peace with those we love."
His expression hardened again. "But it is not, and so here we are."
He paused, studying her again before smiling and-
She gasped as he bowed, him, the God-King of Reality, bowing towards her.
"Thank you, for choosing to help me in my selfish war against the Abyss and all other Evils in existence. Thank you so much, for choosing to stand by my side. I do not know if I can ever repay you adequately for it but I will do my best to succeed." he swore.
"You don't have to bow, your majesty!" she said quickly. "Nor thank me for choosing to do my duty!"
"I disagree. All who choose to fight by my side against Evil deserve my respect, and none shall be forgotten." he declared, his voice carrying the will of stars, and Honor felt overwhelmed as she felt his earnest gratitude, bittersweet joy at her willingness to help and his absolute respect towards her. "Know that even when the stars of your Kingdom shall die, when the last world of your people shall turn to dust, I will still remember you, Honor Harrington, and your willingness to help me fight for a brighter tomorrow for all."
The words made Honor swallow, as she could feel the absolute truth within them. This God, who would outlive most civilizations and species, would still remember her long, long after everything she knew was dead and gone, and that was… As humbling as it was overwhelming.
What was she supposed to say to that? Thank you? It didn't feel enough for the sheer magnitude of his words.
"I… I just want to protect people and do my duty." she whispered.
His gaze pinned her in place and made her feel simultaneously small and like the most important person in existence.
It was like Reality itself had suddenly decided to focus upon her and solely her, and she barely managed to not collapse under the sheer cosmic weight of those divine eyes looking at her.
"Yes." he said. "And that is why you will forever earn a place in my memories."
They fell silent, Honor struggling to grasp the sheer weight of the promise made to her, and King Aeon seemingly content to let her gather herself in peace.
Eventually, there was a question that continued to burn in her mind like a wight that refused to let go, and he glanced at her knowingly.
"You wish to ask me something. Do not hesitate to speak your mind, I will never condemn an earnest desire for understanding." he told her.
Honor hesitated… but Nimitz purring against her centered her enough to ask her question.
"Did you… meet with Paul, when he died, for you to know…" she trailed off, unable to finish, but her question was still clear.
"I did." he answered calmly. "I had foreseen that you very likely were going to accept my proposal to serve, and I wanted to… give you closure, in a way that none other could." He smiled faintly. "His soul was judged righteous, and he entered Heaven and the Garden of Eden of Yahweh. You do not need to fear for him, for his soul has received his rightful rewards."
Honor bowed her head, blinking her tears at the answer she had been given.
"... Thank you." she whispered in a voice choked with emotions.
"There will be time to focus on duty later. For now… Mourn, remember the lost as they deserve, and when you are ready, I will be there, waiting for you." King Aeon said gently, before he turned and left the room.
Leaving Honor free to look up at the cosmic beauty beyond, in all of its wonders… and horrors.
Tears streaming silently down her face, one of her hands going up to gently pet the head of Nimitz, she smiled faintly at her reflection in the window.
"I'll make you proud, Paul." she swore.
Tomorrow, she'll focus on her new duties. On learning everything she needs to serve the Eldritch King and Queen of the Eldritch Kingdom, and in waging the war they had started against the Evils of Creation.
But today… Today, she took the time to mourn the life she could have had, if only those who had embraced evil had not taken it away from her.
The hole in her heart born from grief was still there… But there was determination, now, to rise above all that she had lost.
She was Captain Honor Harrington, and she would prove to all Reality that the faiths placed upon her had not been mistaken. She would be one of the greatest woman to ever live-
And she would burn that very fact into the deepest pits of the Abyss itself.
A.N: Alright! Here is the next chapter in which we continue the events of Love Azathoth!
First, so more worldbuilding about the Grand Empire, and Aeon's first encounter with this version of Aerith! There are quite obviously a lot of changes to her canon version, but in her heart she is still the flower girl who wants to make people happy. She's just caught in a political mess with her at its very heart… Though thankfully, she's got Tifa around to help! Tifa is basically Aerith's Zack in this timeline, and Aerith Tifa's Cloud, as they are essentially each other's best friends… and a bit more than that occasionally.
Now, on the matter of Honor Harrington, I have read most of the books about her when I was younger, with only a handful I haven't read towards the end. Still, it did a good job of helping with some Worldbuilding with what exactly the Oblivion Compact (the third largest space faring civilization in the Prime multiverse) is all about, and show off some of the internal members and politics.
Those who know the setting can probably understand why Aeon took one look at the Mesan Alignment and went "Okay, Exterminatus time", since those guys are comically evil like you wouldn't believe. Slavery, assassinations and starting wars is the least of the fucked up things those guys get up to.
Also, Haven is basically corrupt on a hilarious level right now, so they have a lot of ugly secrets… And Aeon is aware of them all.
Moreover, a friendly reminder that NYARLATHOTEP is the diplomat of the Eldritch Pantheon, so all things considered, Haven having to purge the majority of their diplomatic corps after Aeon let her off the leash was frankly the bare minimum of devastation she could have caused.
As for Honor herself, canonically she doesn't actually get booted off the Navy after killing Pavel Young, but some changes in the background made Manticore's enemies more willing to see her off. Of course, those enemies unknowingly fucked themselves up by giving Aeon the golden opportunity to involve himself and start meddling…
We'll see more of Honor in the future, as she's an excellent way to show off the Eldritch Kingdom's military from the pov of someone that is both learning all about it while also being actively a part of it. She'll also let me show off some of the growing numbers of battlefronts caused by Aeon's actions.
Still, with all that being said, I hope you all enjoyed this update! Next time, depending on how things go, we might reach the end of the Coronation, and start pivoting towards the set-up of the return to Bloodborne! Only a few chapters at most before we get there!