My Servant System

Chapter 1211: Chapter 1210: Multitude Of Days (2)



Hope everyone had / is having a good holiday break, I certainly am so far with Path of Exile 2 and cozy weather~!

Jahi Pov

"Mhm... so that makes little sense honestly."

Resting my chin on my palm, I stared down at the board on the table and contemplated the move that the Sultana had made, the two of us taking a moment for this break while also enjoying the peace we had fought for.

"If it makes little sense to you that just means you have more to learn."

Plucking a piece from the board and fiddling with it, I locked my eyes to the various spaces I could move and realized the game was a mixture of many others, primarily chess and conquest with a few others mixed in.

It was a strategy and war game with a few elements of an economy, randomized events and time all poured into a single, complex and convoluted game that was created entirely to hone someone's mentality in commanding during a combat situation, be it in battle or during those periods between battles.

She had just moved to capture a piece that would give her more metal resources, but she had forwent any sort of industrial capabilities for full offense so that she could 'liberate' all of the things she needed from the settlements she 'acquired' from me.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

The game was fun and it was even better to sit here and drink with the Sultana, but at the same time...

"For instance, I have come to understand that you know no other skills besides that of combat, and that is... peculiar."

The Sultana was watching me like a hawk the entire time I contemplated my move, and upon hearing her rather pointed statement I let out a sigh and said "That happens to be my natural born talent, Sultana, and most of my time - all three, four years of it - has been spent entirely for that cause.

If you have issue with it as of now, I would say that - as pretentious and stuck up as this sounds, especially to someone like yourself - I am a product of not only my time but also my parents, specifically my Mom. She was not going to let me pursue a fascination with the arts until the world is at complete peace or she had the confidence she was capable of ruling without issue for multiple centuries to come."

Letting out a hum, she nodded to herself as I placed my piece down, claiming a crop field for myself and securing a flow of food for my armies and citizens as I prepared for whatever it was that the Sultana was attempting to do.

"Yes, your Mom is rather focused on producing an heir that could claim her mantle one day; I guarantee that with your two new siblings she'll be far more lax... which makes me curious, Jahi... Are you going to be envious and bitter about that?"

Even with her veil I could still tell she was scrutinizing my every move, be it my expression, my eyes, body language or how I was appraising the board at the moment; she was looking at everything as she waited for an answer, so I decided to be honest.

"Part of me will certainly be bitter. Did I really need to be molded into a warrior from the moment I could walk? Have my head stuffed with the requirements to rule a March, along with all the platitudes needed for the Nobility? Was it all truly something only I would need to go through? Not them? How is that fair?

But more of me will be happy for them both. They can learn to paint, write, dance and sing without ever needing to even think about needing to pick up a sword and fight. No requirements for the deep intricacies of the Nobility in order to foster and maintain relations with other Houses... No undue stress for something that is required of them from day one...

That will make me happier than anything else, truly. Another part of me though will be kinda disappointed it Lakshmi doesn't want to pick up a sword, y'know? Seeing a Demoness not wanting to fight, a Demoness related to me... it'd feel too weird."

The Sultana nodded at that and tilted her head somewhat as I moved another piece relatively quickly, putting her back on the timer as we continued to alternate rounds, though she was able to speak and think at the same time much to my chagrin.

"That answers the second question, but I must admit I am curious about the first. Will you be looking for something to do outside of fighting, Jahi? After all, it clearly isn't impossible; Anput is a prime example as a combat oriented 'Noble' who has pursued something outside of fighting. Princess Leone is another example, and some could argue that the young Baroness Zara is yet another as well."

Chuckling, I leaned back and stretched before scooping up my glass, draining it of the liquor and refilling it before I languidly asked "If I were to say that I was looking forwards to nothing more than starting and raising a family with the three women you just named and that was it, would you take that as a proper answer or no?"

"That is certainly an answer... One I was expecting, and one I would like to hold you to. After all, it isn't just 'three women' you're talking about, Demoness. It is also definitely a time commitment... though I would suggest finding something as a hobby lest you go insane. Children can be... fascinatingly irritating."

"I've heard. Worth the irritation though, I imagine?"

That earned a shrug as the Sultana just replied "Mine have been, others say differently sometimes..." before moving her piece again, bringing this conversation to a halt as I was made to contemplate what she was doing on the board in depth lest I lose.

Which... I did, since she rapidly upgraded everything before bull rushing me and sweeping me off the board, taking away my resources and ensuring I had nothing to counter her and then 'playing with her food' as she killed me slowly.