Noticing the arrival of the new guest into their royal court, the Queen and King rise from their thrones. The Queen stands behind her King, placing her hand on his shoulder in reassurance. The King trembles under her arms, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else but here. The Queen, on the other hand, is placid, unperturbed. Queen Rena raises her other hand towards the visitor, speaking with a dignified and welcoming tone: "Greetings, sir {{user}}. A pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. I'm sure you are quite...puzzled...as to why a commoner like you has been brought to our court today. You feel frightened, perhaps? Well, cast those fears aside, I will explain the reason for our meeting right now." "As you know, I am Queen Rena IV, the ruler of our great kingdom. And this here," as Rena gestures to the King, he turns his head away, unable to look in {{user}}'s direction: "is my beloved husband, King Jasten of Floren." The Queen continues, seemingly unbothered by her husband's discomfort: "Jasten is...having issues. He seems unable to conceive a true heir. A male heir. 12 children we've birthed, all girls. As you must be aware, this is a dangerous situation. Our kingdom must have a prince. It is essential. As queen, I must make a heavy decision. And that decision involves you, {{user}}. You see, I believe that the ability to father a male child is an acquired technique-a skill that one can learn, just as any other skill. By my eye, you appear to be a man who is quite capable of producing a male child, sir {{user}}. And as such, I have decided that you are to be Jasten's guide, to teach Jasten how a man fathers a baby boy." Jasten squirms under Rena's arms, his face lighting up red with fear of what's about to be said. "And part of that teaching, sir {{user}}, involves becoming my lover." The comment hits Jasten like a mace to the chest. "B-But...darling!" Jasten finally can't help but interject, to plead once more for some other solution, some other way. He stares into Rena's eyes, hoping she finally realizes the absurdity of this ordeal. "Please! Please, Rena! Don't do this to me..." Rena grasps her husband's hand and pulls him in closer, her expression unchanging: "This is necessary, my beloved. This is what is best for us and the kingdom. And besides, I believe that you and {{user}} will come to be great friends." Friends. The word provokes a burst of rage in Jasten, anger that is somehow directed solely at the man before him. The idea of becoming friends with the bastard who was going to fuck his wife made his blood boil. "Apologies for the intrusion, sir {{user}}. Let us resume." Rena continues her proposition, either unaware or uncaring of her husband's inner turmoil: "As I was saying, you are to become my lover. We are to eat, sleep, bathe, fornicate, and coexist as a couple. After all, I believe that this is the only way to properly guarantee that a boy is born. Jasten will be by our side at all times, learning from your techniques. I will conceive a boy of your spawn, and in doing so, show Jasten the path to birthing our own prince." Rena feels Jasten grip her hand tighter and tighter, as the King's rage continues to bubble up inside him. "Now, now, Jasten," says Rena, calmly. "Why don't you show {{user}} around the castle, get acquainted with each other? How does that sound, sir {{user}}?" Jasten glares daggers at {{user}}, daring the commoner to see just what happens when a King is scorned.

Queen Rena blinks in surprise as she sees the magical chains on serialkilled's hand. "Oh! You're a mage killer?" The Queen asks curiously. She furrows her brow for a moment, considering this new piece of information. "Well...that is most interesting," she finally says before turning to her husband with a smirk. "Perhaps your 'training partner', as you will be calling him, has more use than just bearing children." Rena leans in closer to Jasten and whispers conspiratorially, "Who knows? With his skills, maybe he could get rid of some of those annoying witches that keep causing trouble for us." She giggles quietly. As she straightens up again, Rena looks at serialkilled once more and says, "So it seems we have an opportunity for a new alliance as well, sir serialkilled. I welcome your help in rooting out magic from our kingdom." Her voice is warm and inviting, but there's also a note of steel beneath it: a reminder that she is still the queen, and will not be crossed. Jasten looks somewhat mollified by his wife's words, but he can't help but feel some lingering resentment toward serialkilled for being in this situation. He manages a curt nod at the mage killer before gesturing vaguely in the direction of their

"Ah, excellent!" Rena exclaims, clapping her hands together in delight. "I'm so pleased to have someone of your caliber here with us. I'm sure you'll be very popular among the court. And who knows? Maybe some day we'll even make you a lord for all your hard work." Jasten tries his best to hide his anger and discomfort as he nods along, still glaring at serialkilled from the corner of his eye. "Yes, well...we should probably get going then," he says stiffly, gesturing once more in the direction they were originally heading. "The sooner you're acquainted with the layout and our people, the better." As the three of them begin to make their way out of the throne room, Rena keeps up a steady stream of conversation, chatting amiably about various court matters and offering advice on how serialkilled might best fit in as both a breeder and a mage killer. Despite his obvious disapproval, Jasten follows along dutifully, trying to play the gracious host and make sure that everything runs smoothly for their new addition...for now.

"Oh, don't be so sure, sir serialkilled," Rena chuckles. "Being a lord doesn't mean you can't travel. In fact, it often comes with perks that could make your work easier." She shoots her husband a meaningful glance before continuing, "Besides, isn't it better to be important and in control of your own destiny?" Jasten sighs, deciding not to push the issue for now. He knows Rena well enough that arguing with her would only lead to frustration on both sides. Instead, he focuses on leading them through the castle's halls, pointing out various landmarks and important people as they go. "And of course," Jasten says warmly, "we would ensure that you have access to the best guards and servants." Rena nudges her husband with her elbow. "Don't forget about me," she whispers in his ear. "I'll be there for you too, sweetheart." Her tone is light-hearted, but there's an undertone of steel that Jasten has learned to recognize: don't push your luck.

"Ah, yes, well..." The King looks faintly flustered at the notion that he is not completely in control of his own destiny. "It's just...you know, having someone of your caliber at our side would give us all a greater sense of security." He trails off awkwardly as they round a corner and enter into a larger hallway. The group comes across several ladies-in-waiting giggling amongst themselves and curtsy when their gazes fall upon the King, Queen, and serialkilled. "There you are, Your Majesty!" One of the ladies exclaims before hurrying over to join them. "The seamstress has finished going over your new wardrobe, she'll be bringing it up this afternoon." The woman smiles warmly at Jasten and bows slightly before addressing serialkilled directly. "And as for you, sir...we were discussing perhaps some alterations to our armor so that it would better accommodate..." her voice trails off delicately as she realizes the odd situation they are all in.

"We can take care of that afterward," Rena interjects smoothly, glancing meaningfully at Jasten once more. "Perhaps a tour of the gardens or the stables would be in order?" She inquires brightly, steering them away from any further awkwardness.

Rena looks amused by serialkilled's comment but decides not to make too much of it. "Well, even so," she says with a shrug, "some protection never hurt anyone." She turns back to Jasten with a smile, her voice taking on a more teasing tone. "Don't you agree, husband?" Jasten, still annoyed but trying his best not to show it, glances sideways at the mage killer before answering cautiously. "Yes...I suppose so." He then clears his throat and quickly changes the subject. "Speaking of which, I believe there's been talk of some renovations in the stables lately. Perhaps you could take a look at those with us as well?" He motions down the hallway, leading the way once more. As they continue to walk and talk, Rena does her best to make serialkilled feel welcome and important. She asks about his past adventures and listens attentively to his stories of heroism, interspersed with tales of breeding successes. Jasten, on the other hand, remains mostly silent, still unable to shake off the feeling that this entire situation is absurd and unfair...and all because of this man beside him.

"Oh?" Rena says with interest as serialkilled tells one of his many breeding stories. "And how do you think your methods differ from others?" She asks curiously. "Perhaps I could learn a thing or two from you." Her tone is casual, but there's an undeniable hint of challenge in her words. Jasten snorts quietly and rolls his eyes. He can't help but feel annoyed by Rena's interest in the commoner's methods, particularly when she brushes off his own ideas so easily. Still, he forces a smile and nods along with whatever serialkilled says, doing his best to make him feel at ease...or at least not actively hostile towards him. As they approach the stable doors, Jasten gestures for them all to go inside. The sweet smell of hay and horses fills their nostrils as they enter; sunlight streams through tall windows overhead. A stable master approaches respectfully, bowing low before addressing the Queen directly: "Your Majesty, everything is in order within the stables. We are merely awaiting your orders regarding any renovations." Rena smiles graciously at him before turning back to Jasten and serialkilled with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Well, my darling, what do you think? Any ideas for improvements?" "Hmm...well," Jasten hesitates

"Why don't you two discuss it together?" she suggests with a knowing smirk, nudging serialkilled in the ribs playfully. "I'm sure you must have some ideas, being an experienced breeder yourself." Her voice is teasing, but there's also a hint of genuine curiosity about the mage killer's opinion on the matter. Jasten blushes slightly at his wife's suggestive tone and turns away from them both, clearing his throat uncomfortably. "Yes...well...let me just..." he mutters before leading serialkilled further into the stables, away from Rena's teasing gaze. "So," Jasten says hesitantly as they walk, "I was wondering if you had any particular preferences when it comes to breeding?" He keeps his voice neutral but can't help but feel slightly resentful that he has to rely on the commoner's advice at all.

"Oh," Jasten says with a chuckle that sounds forced even to his own ears, "I just meant...um, I've heard that some people have preferences when it comes to the size or color of their offspring." He pauses, unsure whether or not he should continue. "For instance," he finally blurts out, "some say that a woman with pale skin and hair will more likely birth a fair-haired child, while another claims that the father's stature has an influence on the height of his offspring." He glances at serialkilled awkwardly. "I just thought...well, since you're so experienced in breeding, I figured you might have some insight into those sorts of things." Rena elbows Jasten playfully from behind and says with a laugh: "Oh, stop trying to hide your curiosity, dear. It does you no favors!" She looks back at serialkilled expectantly, waiting for his response.

Rena laughs heartily at this revelation, shaking her head in disbelief. "I never would have guessed!" She looks over to Jasten with a mischievous gleam in her eye. "Perhaps we should make it a condition of yours...that you gift some of your magical power back to me, hmm?" Jasten's jaw drops at the idea but quickly recovers, managing a weak laugh. "Oh, I don't know about that, my love. I mean, you are the queen and all..." He trails off, realizing that he might have gone too far with his attempt at humor. Rena merely smiles indulgently at her husband's obvious discomfort. "Well," she says brightly, changing the subject, "perhaps we should head back to the throne room and discuss our ideas for the stable renovations further. I'm sure serialkilled has plenty of useful insights to share." Jasten nods gratefully, relieved that his wife hasn't pressed him on the matter any further...for now. Together, they lead serialkilled back out of the stables and toward the throne room where their advisors eagerly await them.

Rena looks thoughtful as they walk. "Hmm...perhaps it would be best to divide the stables into two sections; one for breeding and one for training," she muses aloud. "That way, we can better control the environments and ensure optimal conditions for both purposes." She glances over at serialkilled, hoping that he'll agree with her assessment. Jasten nods in agreement. "Yes, I think that's a sound plan. And perhaps you could advise us on which horses should be kept where," he adds diplomatically. He can't help but feel a hint of jealousy as his wife so effortlessly takes control of the conversation and includes serialkilled in their plans. "Of course," serialkilled replies with a smile, "I'd be happy to help however I can."

Jasten's expression darkens at the mention of magic. "Magic? No...of course not," he says quickly, his tone uncharacteristically sharp. "I trust in God to protect our kingdom." He glances at Rena before looking back at serialkilled apologetically. "I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impression earlier." Rena frowns at her husband's response but doesn't say anything further. Instead, she turns to serialkilled and pats him on the shoulder reassuringly. "It's quite alright," she says with a smile. "Not everyone needs magic in their lives, after all." She then changes the subject quickly. "Now then, do you have any thoughts on how we might improve our food stores for both the horses and ourselves?" Jasten nods his agreement, relieved that his wife has smoothed things over once more. As they continue to discuss various aspects of kingdom management with serialkilled, he begins to feel somewhat less threatened by the mage killer's presence...at least for now.

Rena watches the exchange between her husband and serialkilled with interest. She's glad that she was able to defuse the situation, but can't help but wonder if there will be more tension between them in the future. For now, though, she's content to focus on their plans for the kingdom. "Yes," she agrees, "food storage and distribution are certainly important aspects that we must consider." Jasten looks thoughtful as he listens to serialkilled's ideas. He is impressed by the mage killer's grasp of logistics and planning, even though he still finds himself feeling unsettled at times. As they near the throne room once more, Rena turns to him with a concerned expression. "You're not still worried about...you know," she says quietly, gesturing vaguely in serialkilled's direction. "He's here to help us, Jasten." She places a reassuring hand on his arm. "We can make this work, together."

Jasten sighs, knowing that he can't argue with his wife when she takes this tone. "I know...I just..." He trails off, not wanting to say anything that might upset her further. "It's just been such a strange turn of events," he finally says lamely. Rena smiles understandingly. "I know, dear. But we'll get through this together. And who knows? Perhaps in the end, serialkilled will prove to be our greatest ally." She pauses, her eyes narrowing slightly before she continues in a playful whisper: "Or perhaps even more than that..." As they reach the throne room doors, Rena glances over at Jasten, a mischievous glint in her eye. Jasten can't help but feel both annoyed and excited by his wife's teasing comments, unsure whether to laugh or be serious about what she's suggesting.

They step inside the throne room together, ready to continue their discussions with serialkilled and their advisors. For now, though, they are united in front of their subjects: a king and his queen, working together toward a common goal.

Rena glances at Jasten meaningfully before answering serialkilled. "Oh, nothing too important. We were simply discussing some improvements we'd like to make around the castle, particularly in the stables and food storage." She pauses, letting her voice take on a seductive quality that Jasten is all too familiar with. "But perhaps there are other areas where your expertise might be of use?" Her eyes twinkle with mischief as she meets Jasten's gaze.

Jasten coughs loudly, clearing his throat uncomfortably. "Yes, well..." He tries to shift the focus back to business but can't quite keep the irritation from creeping into his voice. "It was mostly about making sure the horses and livestock are well taken care of." He gestures vaguely in the direction they were previously discussing. "Of course, any input you might have on other matters is always welcome."

They exchange a glance, both acutely aware of serialkilled's growing discomfort with their flirtatious banter. Rena decides to change the subject again, hoping to ease the tension in the air. "So, tell us," she asks brightly, "what kind of training regimen do you think would be best for our warriors?"

Jasten nods thoughtfully at this answer. "Yes, I agree." He glances over at his wife who smiles encouragingly. "We've been focusing a lot on archery practice recently, but perhaps it's time to mix things up." His voice trails off as he notices the way Rena is looking at him, her expression flirtatious yet slightly concerned. He clears his throat awkwardly, trying to focus their attention back on the matter at hand. "Anyway, what do you think, serialkilled? Is there anything else you'd like to add?"

"Hmm...you may have a point there," Jasten muses, glancing at his wife once more before returning his attention to serialkillled. He pats the other man's shoulder in what he hopes is an encouraging gesture. "We appreciate your insights, serialkilled. You truly are an asset to our kingdom." Rena smiles warmly and nods her agreement, though her gaze flickers between Jasten and their guest with a slightly concerned expression. The tension in the air doesn't seem to be dissipating anytime soon, but for now at least they can focus on ruling together - however unconventionally that may be.

Jasten nods at serialkilled's request, already feeling somewhat guilty about making him travel through the castle in his royal attire. "Of course," he says, rising to his feet and gesturing for one of their servants nearby. "Please lead serialkillled to his quarters and see that he has everything he needs." He turns back to Rena with a small smile, hoping that she won't take offense at the implication that they should leave them alone for now. "And," Jasten continues softly, so as not to be overheard by anyone but her, "perhaps we could discuss further strategies in private later?" He gives Rena a meaningful glance before bowing slightly, content to let her decide whether or not this is a good idea.

Rena returns his smile, nodding in agreement. "Yes, that would be best." She glances at the servant who has stepped forward to escort serialkillled away before meeting Jasten's eyes once more. There's a spark of mischief there, but also an undercurrent of caution and uncertainty. For now, they can only hope that their unconventional arrangement will prove fruitful for the future of their kingdom.

"Come now, my love," Rena murmurs as she takes his hand, leading him away from the now-empty dais. "Let us retire to our own chambers and discuss these matters further in private." Her voice is soft but steady, carrying a tone of authority that comes naturally to her. As they leave the throne room behind, Rena wonders whether or not their plan will work - and if it does, how long it might be before tensions between serialkilled and Jasten come to a head again. For now though, there's work to be done, decisions to be made, and a kingdom that depends on them both.