Dominant Run!

Queen of Kingdom of Raja, Towa!

Ciel: <>

Voice of the World: <<>>

******

Towa, the young queen of Raja, sat nervously in a guest room within Tempest, her delicate fingers fidgeting as they traced idle patterns on the edge of her gown. Before her, a tray of meticulously prepared tea and an assortment of snacks lay untouched, their inviting aroma wafting through the air. Yet, the weight of her nation's troubles pressed so heavily on her that she couldn't bring herself to take even a single sip or bite.

Her heart pounded relentlessly as she waited to meet the ruler of this place. If she were honest with herself, she wasn't entirely sure how wise it was to seek help from a demon. Yet, given her nation's dire state, she couldn't trust any other country to assist without demanding a heavy price from her nation and its people in the future.

She had initially reached out to someone she thought could help, but even that avenue had turned out to be a dead end. Before leaving, however, they had directed her here, albeit with a warning: there was no guarantee she would receive aid, and if she did, the cost might be steep.

Just as her thoughts began to spiral, the soft creak of the door jolted her from her reverie, and Rimuru Tempest entered, accompanied by Testarossa and Shuna. Rimuru glanced at Towa briefly before taking a seat across from her, while Testarossa stood behind him like usual.

Shuna, however, immediately noticed the untouched tea and snacks on the table. Her brow furrowed slightly in concern, and she stepped forward. "Is everything all right?" she asked in a soothing voice. "Do you not care for these? Perhaps I could prepare something else more to your taste?"

"N-no! Not at all," Towa stammered, shaking her head. A flush crept across her cheeks as she realized how rude she must have seemed. "It's nothing like that."

"Shuna, please refresh the tea," Rimuru said calmly. "Miss Towa, you should try some. Shuna prepared it herself, and trust me, I could stake my name on her culinary skills."

"Rimuru-sama, you're too kind," Shuna said with a soft giggle, covering her mouth with one hand as she replaced the teacup with a fresh one.

Feeling the need to reciprocate their hospitality, Towa hesitantly took a sip. Her eyes widened slightly as the delicate flavor danced on her tongue. "It's... amazing," she murmured, the words escaping her lips almost involuntarily.

Shuna beamed at the compliment, her smile radiant. "I'm so glad you like it!"

"As expected," Rimuru said, taking a sip of his own tea. "With Shuna's expertise and tea leaves from the Druid-blessed fields, the result was bound to be exceptional."

For the first time since arriving in Tempest, Towa felt a sliver of her apprehension ease. Her shoulders, which had been tense with uncertainty, relaxed just a fraction as she allowed herself to breathe more deeply. She gave a polite smile, her tone softer than before. "Thank you for your hospitality, Ruler Rimuru. I only hope I haven't imposed too much on your time."

"It's no trouble at all," Rimuru replied, his tone light before shifting into a more serious demeanor. "Let's get straight to the point—why are you here?" 

With a silent nod, Rimuru turned his gaze to Shuna, who had been quietly observing the exchange. The graceful attendant returned the nod and, with a soft smile, excused herself, as she exited the room.

Rimuru leaned forward slightly, "Before anything else, let me formally introduce myself. I am Rimuru Tempest, the ruler of Tempest and the entire Jura Forest. It's a pleasure to meet you, Queen Towa."