Reborn as a Succubus: Time To Live My Best Life!-Chapter 311: The Artifact, Part Seven

Melisa tried not to fidget as the royal carriage bounced along the cobblestone streets toward the palace. The plush velvet seats and gold trim still felt foreign to her, a reminder of how far she'd come from that little nim girl in Lessmark who couldn't even cast the simplest spell.

[And yet, here I am. On my way to advise the queen. I mean, unofficially, of course.]

She adjusted her formal academy robes, specially tailored to accommodate her horns and tail. Margaret had insisted on the upgrade a few weeks ago, declaring that "if you're going to play politics with humans, you might as well look the part."

"ACK!"

The carriage hit a particularly deep rut, nearly sending Melisa flying off her seat.

"Careful there!" the royal guard sitting across from her warned. "These old streets weren't built with comfort in mind."

"No kidding," Melisa muttered, steadying herself. "You'd think with all the taxes we pay, they could at least fill in the potholes."

The guard—Terrence, if she remembered correctly—chuckled.

"Been saying that for years, miss. The new queen's more focused on the outer defenses than street repairs, though. What with the darian war and all."

"Guess so."

Melisa nodded, her mind already drifting back to her conversation with Raven the night before.

[Secrets, huh?] she thought, staring out the window at the passing buildings. [So, the device lets you see specific things like that... intimate memories, private thoughts, things people would normally keep hidden.]

It made sense. Isabella's self-pleasure sessions, Jaylin's fantasies about Margaret, the random citizen's sexual encounters. All intensely private moments that no one would willingly share.

Well, aside from Isabella.

[But if that's the case, how do we "turn the effect off," so to speak?]

The carriage turned onto the royal road, the ride instantly smoother as they passed through the outer palace gates. Guards in the queen's colors stood at attention, barely glancing at the familiar royal carriage as it rolled by.

[Maybe we need to share a secret of our own? Or collect a certain number of memories? Or maybe there's a specific memory the disc is looking for...]

"We've arrived, Miss Blackflame," Terrence announced as the carriage slowed to a stop in front of the palace gardens. "Her Majesty's waiting in the eastern gazebo."

Melisa nodded her thanks, taking the guard's offered hand as she stepped down from the carriage.

[Another day, another nim crisis to manage,] Melisa thought wryly as she followed the stone path toward the eastern section of the garden.

She spotted Queen Aria before the monarch noticed her approaching. The young queen sat alone in the white marble gazebo, a delicate tea service arranged on the table before her. Without her formal regalia and all that, Aria looked surprisingly small, almost fragile in her simple white and gold dress.

Melisa knew better, though. More than probably most people. There was nothing fragile about Aria.

"Your Majesty," Melisa called softly as she approached. "Thank you for the invitation."

Aria looked up, her gray eyes sharpening as she registered Melisa's presence. She smiled. Just a little, but a smile nonetheless.

"Melisa. Right on time, as usual." She gestured to the empty chair across from her. "Please, join me."

Melisa slid into the seat, giving Aria a shallow bow of her head. They'd long since dispensed with the more formal court etiquette during their private meetings.

"Tea?" Aria offered, already reaching for the pot.

"Please."

As Aria poured the steaming liquid into a delicate porcelain cup, Melisa studied her carefully. The queen looked a little tired.

"Trouble sleeping, Your Majesty?" she asked, accepting the cup.

Aria's eyes flicked up, surprise briefly crossing her features before her royal mask slipped back into place.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Only to someone who's used to paying attention," Melisa replied honestly.

Aria sighed, setting the teapot down with a soft clink.

"The burden of the crown, I'm afraid. Particularly these days."

"The nim arrests? The war?"

"Among other things," Aria said, her gaze drifting toward the carefully manicured roses. "The court is... divided on how to proceed."

Melisa sipped her tea, waiting. She'd learned early on that patience was essential when dealing with Aria. The queen would speak when ready, not before.

"Some of my advisors are calling for executions," Aria said finally, her voice deliberately neutral. "They believe a public display would discourage further... unrest."

Melisa kept her face carefully blank.

"And what does Your Majesty believe?"

Aria's eyes settled back on Melisa, searching.

"I've yet to decide. Which is partly why I asked you here today."

Melisa nodded slowly.

"You want the nim perspective," Melisa said. It wasn't a question.

"I want Melisa Blackflame's perspective," Aria corrected. "You've proven yourself... uniquely positioned to understand both sides of this issue."

Melisa couldn't argue with that. As much as she hated to admit it, she had indeed become the unofficial liaison between the nim community and the crown. Not by choice, certainly not by election, but simply by circumstance.

"Well, before I offer that perspective," Melisa said carefully, "perhaps you could update me on the situation?"

Aria nodded, lifting her cup.

"We've detained twenty-three nim in total. Koros and his inner circle, thanks to you, plus various supporters who were directly involved in the planned attacks. Searches of their hideouts revealed weapons, incendiary devices, and detailed maps of noble residences."

"Including Javir's," Melisa added.

"Yes." Aria's eyes hardened slightly. "Had they succeeded, the death toll would have been significant."

"I don't dispute that," Melisa said quickly. "Their plans were inexcusable."

"And yet, you have reservations about proper punishment?"

"I... have reservations about what constitutes 'proper,' Your Majesty."

[Rich of me to say, given that I would have definitely off'ed Koros if my dad hadn't stepped in. But yeah.]

As Aria leaned forward to respond, the shoulder of her dress slipped slightly.

[Oh.]

Without thinking, Melisa reached across to adjust it, her fingers accidentally brushing against the queen's bare skin.

The world tilted.

Suddenly, Melisa was looking through Aria's eyes, staring down at a piece of parchment on her desk. It was a list of names—the arrested nim conspirators—with annotations in Aria's precise handwriting. Her elegant fingers tapped thoughtfully against the page as she considered.

"Executing them would send the strongest message," Lord Caelum's voice came from somewhere to her left. "The people need to know that treason, regardless of race, is punishable by death."

"And what message would that send to the nim population?" Aria—Melisa—heard herself ask. "That even plotting against humans is worthy of death, while humans who abuse nim rarely face punishment at all?"

"Your Majesty, with respect, these creatures were planning mass murder. They forfeit any claim to your mercy the moment they decided to target innocent families."

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Aria's jaw clenched, a flicker of anger rising in her chest.

"They are my subjects too, Lord Caelum. All of them. I will not make this decision hastily, nor will I allow the court's prejudices to cloud my judgment."

The vision faded, and Melisa found herself back in the garden gazebo, her hand still outstretched toward Aria's shoulder. The queen was looking at her with mild confusion, apparently unaware of what had just happened.

"Is something wrong?" Aria asked, adjusting her dress herself.

Melisa withdrew her hand quickly.

"No, sorry. Just... noticed your dress was slipping."

Aria nodded her thanks, apparently accepting the explanation. There was no sign that she had experienced anything unusual from Melisa's touch—no disorientation, no change in expression beyond mild surprise at the gesture.

[So it is one-way,] Melisa realized. [Unless both people touched the disc.]

That would explain why she and Jaylin had exchanged memories when they touched—they'd both handled the artifact. But Aria hadn't, so she remained unaware of the brief intrusion into her mind.

[Then... Wouldn't that mean...?]

But, Aria's words took her out of her thoughts.

"As I was saying," Aria continued, "there are those in my court who believe only the harshest punishment will suffice."

Melisa took a slow breath, carefully considering her next words.

"Your Majesty, if I may speak freely?"

Aria gestured for her to continue.

"Executing the nim conspirators would be a mistake," Melisa said bluntly. "It would create martyrs, not examples."

Aria's eyebrows rose slightly.

"Go on."

"The nim who follow Koros do so because they feel powerless and they're angry. Executing him and his followers would only prove their point—that humans will always choose violence against nim when given the chance. That there's no way to bring both sides together."

Melisa leaned forward, her voice low and urgent.

"But... I think a public trial, where their crimes are laid bare, where your mercy is displayed alongside your justice? I think that tells a different story. It says that even nim who commit terrible acts are still entitled to the same legal protections as humans. It says that your rule is defined by fairness, not vengeance."

Aria studied Melisa with unreadable eyes, her fingers tapping lightly against her teacup.

"You make a compelling argument," she said finally. "Though I'm curious why you're raising this specific concern today. The decision on their fate isn't scheduled for another week."

"I've been thinking about it since their arrest," she improvised. "But after seeing how tired you look today... I thought perhaps the decision was weighing on you."

It wasn't a total lie. The decision clearly was troubling Aria, based on the memory Melisa had just witnessed.

Aria's lips quirked in a half-smile.

"Perceptive as always, Melisa." She sighed, setting down her cup. "The truth is, I've been considering similar points myself. Execution would be... politically expedient. But I'm not convinced it would be just."

Relief flooded through Melisa, though she kept her expression carefully neutral.

"I believe your wisdom will guide you to the right decision, Your Majesty."

"Your confidence is appreciated, if perhaps misplaced," Aria replied dryly. She straightened in her seat, her posture shifting subtly from casual to royal. "Now, let's discuss the actual reason I called you here today."

"It wasn't the nim arrests?"

"That was one matter, yes. But there's another situation developing that requires your unique expertise."

Melisa fought the urge to groan. Of course there was. There was always something.

"I'm at Your Majesty's service," she said instead.

As Aria began outlining the latest political crisis requiring Melisa's attention—something about nim laborers in the northern mines—Melisa found her thoughts repeatedly drifting back to the memory she'd witnessed.

Aria had been genuinely conflicted about the executions, weighing justice against politics, mercy against deterrence. It wasn't the calculation of a cold tyrant, but the deliberation of a ruler trying to balance competing interests.

[Maybe there's hope for this kingdom after all,] Melisa thought, a small smile playing at her lips.

"Is something amusing about the mining dispute?" Aria asked, one eyebrow raised.

"Not at all, Your Majesty," Melisa replied smoothly. "I was just thinking that I'm starting to like you a little."

"..."

Instantly, Aria blushed deeply.

"P-Please, refrain from making such vulgar statements," she muttered, looking away.

"Sorry, sorry!" Melisa giggled. "My apologies, Your Majesty."