Just dominate me queen

The grand hall of Soleilspire Palace was alive with tension the next morning. The ornate space, with its gilded arches and towering stained glass windows, was filled with murmurs and restless energy. The failed assassination had shaken the nobles to their core, and now they gathered here like frightened sheep, looking for reassurance.

Liora Valenstride sat on her gilded throne raised on a dais, looking like she ruled the damn world—well, she kinda did, at least in her mind. Her tiny frame almost looked ridiculous on the oversized seat, but there was something about the way she lounged sideways, her golden twin pigtails swaying as she tapped her fingers impatiently on the armrest, that made you forget how small she was.

"Silence!" she snapped, her voice cutting through the murmurs like a whip. The room instantly fell quiet. Her piercing blue eyes scanned the hall, daring anyone to so much as breathe too loudly.

"Is this what my court has become?" she began, her tone dripping with disdain. "A bunch of useless cowards, quivering because of one pathetic assassin? Truly pathetic."

I stood near the edge of the room, doing my best to blend into the background. Watching Liora tear into her court was like watching a natural disaster—terrifying but weirdly fascinating. No one dared to respond. They all just stood there, squirming under her gaze like kids caught stealing cookies.

"You," she said, pointing her delicate little finger at one of the guards near the door. The guy visibly flinched. "Explain to me, in excruciating detail, how the fuck someone managed to sneak into my palace and attack my spy without anyone noticing?"

The guard froze like a deer in headlights, his face going pale. "Y-Your Majesty, w-we—"

"Speak faster, idiot!" she barked, crossing her arms and leaning back in her throne. "I don't have all day to listen to your stuttering."

"We—uh—we believe the assassin had inside help, Your Majesty," he finally managed, his voice barely above a whisper. "The patrol routes may have been compromised."

"Oh, may they?" Liora said, leaning forward with an exaggerated smirk. "Congratulations, you've cracked the mystery! Someone give this man a medal for pointing out the fucking obvious!"

The guy's face turned a deep shade of red, but he wisely kept his mouth shut. Liora let out a dramatic sigh, leaning back again like this was all one big inconvenience.

"Unbelievable," she muttered. "Do I have to do everything myself around here? If I wanted this level of incompetence, I'd hire a fking donkey to guard the palace."

A few nervous chuckles bubbled up from the nobles, but they quickly died when Liora's glare swept the room. I tried to keep a straight face, but it was hard not to smirk. Watching her chew people out like this was oddly satisfying, even if she was a total tyrant about it.

"Double the patrols," she snapped. "I want guards stationed at every entrance, every hallway, and every broom closet. If a fucking rat tries to sneak in, I want it skewered before it takes its first step."

"Yes, Your Majesty," one of the senior guards said, bowing like his life depended on it.

"And another thing," she continued, her voice growing colder. "Find the traitor. Someone let that assassin in, and I want their head on a fucking pike by the end of the week."

Her words sent a visible shiver through the room. The idea of a traitor among them clearly wasn't sitting well with the nobles, who exchanged uneasy glances. Liora didn't seem to care.

"Lady Valenstride," one of the older nobles finally said, his voice cautious. "Perhaps we should—"

Liora's gaze snapped to him like a hawk spotting prey. "Perhaps we should what? Speak plainly, or shut the hell up."

The noble hesitated, clearly weighing his next words like they might cost him his head. "Perhaps we should investigate quietly, without alarming the public. If word spreads too far, it could cause unrest."

Liora tilted her head, her expression turning mockingly sweet. "Oh, so you think I should tiptoe around like a little mouse, hoping no one notices? Brilliant idea! Maybe next, we should invite the assassin back for tea and ask them nicely not to kill anyone. Fking genius!"

The poor guy looked like he wanted to sink into the floor. I didn't blame him. Liora was ruthless when she was pissed, and right now, she was livid.

"No," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "We're doubling patrols, increasing security, and finding the traitor. End of discussion. Anyone who doesn't like it can take a fking hike."

The nobles wisely stayed silent after that. I stayed silent, too, trying not to draw any attention to myself. The last thing I needed was for her to decide to make me an example.

"Spy," she said suddenly, her voice sharp and cutting through the quiet.

Oh, shit.

I froze for a second before realizing she was talking to me. "Uh... yes, Your Majesty?"

She fixed me with that icy glare of hers, and I swear the temperature in the room dropped a few degrees. "You were the target last night," she said, leaning forward on her throne. "Tell me what you saw."

I cleared my throat, feeling every pair of eyes in the room turn to me. "The assassin was skilled," I said, keeping my voice steady. "They took out the guards without killing them and went straight for me. They didn't say anything, just attacked."

"And the amulet?" she asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"It worked," I said, touching the charm around my neck. "The barrier stopped their first attack, but they broke through it. If Eris hadn't shown up, I'd be dead."

Liora scoffed, leaning back in her chair. "Of course, you would've. You're practically defenseless without someone babysitting you."

I clenched my jaw, biting back a retort. She wasn't wrong, but damn, did she have to rub it in?

"What about the assassin?" she pressed. "Anything unusual about them?"

"They were fast," I said. "Used claw weapons. I didn't see their face, just their eyes. They looked... metallic."

She tapped her chin, her expression turning thoughtful. "Hmph. So they weren't just some common thug. Someone trained them."

Standing abruptly, she surveyed the room with a glare that could've melted steel. "Listen up," she said, her voice cold and commanding. "Last night was a warning—a test. Someone thinks they can undermine me. They think they can make me look weak."

Her voice grew sharper, each word like a dagger. "Let me make this clear: No one screws with me and gets away with it. Find them. I don't care how many doors you have to kick down or how much gold you have to spend. Bring me their name, their face, and their fucking head."

The hall went silent again, the weight of her words hanging heavy in the air. She scanned the room, daring anyone to speak up. No one did.

"Dismissed," she said with a flick of her wrist, turning on her heel and striding toward the exit. Her golden twin pigtails swayed with each step, a strangely innocent contrast to the fury she'd left behind.

As everyone began to disperse, I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. Liora was a nightmare to deal with, but I couldn't deny that she had a way of taking charge.

"Spy," she called over her shoulder, her voice sharp enough to snap me out of my thoughts.

I looked up to see her waiting by the door, one hand on her hip. "Uh... yes, Your Majesty?"

"You're coming with me," she said, not bothering to look back. "We have work to do."

I swallowed hard, feeling a mix of dread and curiosity. Whatever Liora had planned, it wasn't going to be boring.

Q: What do you think will happen next?