"Why is Barlas joining the alliance he almost destroyed over a week ago?" Blowzabella asked Eden directly.
Eden stared at the message, a pulse of frustration throbbing at her temple. Why is this chick always questioning my decisions after the fact when she was explicitly invited to shape them before they were finalized?
Eden tapped out a sharp response: "Do you have access to the incident battle logs and the compensation reports that weren't settled?"
She already knew every item was accounted for and fully reimbursed. She hadn't even bothered raising the topic until now because the logistics were closed.
Blowzabella replied within seconds: "It's right on the attack logs. Why do we need someone like him in our ranks?"
Taking a deep, stabilizing breath, Eden typed back firmly: "The decision has already been finalized. I reviewed it thoroughly with the other alliance leaders and issued an alliance-wide dispatch for feedback. The vast majority voted in favor. If you had attended our leadership summit when the incident occurred, you would already know the exact amount of the losses and how every single member was compensated that was affected."
The channel went dead quiet. Blowzabella didn't send another word.
Still, the interaction left a bitter taste in Eden's mouth. Seeking clarity, she sought out Corruption in the quiet sanctuary of the castle gardens. She went back and forth on whether she should keep Blowzabella on the council. Having different points of view was essential for balanced governance, but the constant underlying hostility was wearing down her patience.
"Did she explicitly state she didn't want him here, or did she simply ask why?" Corruption asked gently.
Eden felt the air leave her sails all at once. Slumping into a chair, she groaned softly. "She just asked a question, and I snapped. I should have taken a walk before replying."
Corruption offered a serene, understanding smile. "I'm not saying your frustration isn't valid, Eden. But when you already harbor negative assumptions about someone, every word they write gets filtered through a prejudiced lens."
Silence settled over the table for a moment before Eden grabbed a cookie from the tray and stuffed it into her mouth. "I don't think she's being overtly malicious, but my gut tells me there's something hollow beneath that 'friendly, caring' persona. If she wants the seat because she thinks she can govern better, she should just say so. I set up the recall charter on day one. All she needs is a majority vote to unseat me—I won't even contest it."
"No one is going to vote you out, and you know it," Corruption chuckled. "But I think you should be honest with her about how her tone makes you feel."
"Talk about my feelings? Heck no," Eden scoffed, waving a hand. "First of all, she isn't the boss of me. Second, I am the boss of me. Third—did I mention she isn't the boss of me?" She chuckled at herself before softening her voice. "Look, I know she doesn't think highly of me, but because of peer pressure, she won't say it aloud. I know I'm awesome, but hey—don't hate, congratulate."
After a beat, Eden sighed genuinely. "In all honesty, she's tough for me to communicate with. She operates entirely on emotional frequency."
"You have feelings too," Corruption pointed out instantly. "Otherwise, you wouldn't be sitting here venting to me about her."
"If you repeat that to anyone, I'll deny it under oath," Eden warned, pointing a finger. "I have a reputation to maintain."
"Stop it," Corruption laughed, tilting her head. "You care deeply about everyone here. Players have been trying to poach you with massive resource offers, and you refuse to leave your people behind."
"Okay, fine, you're right," Eden conceded quietly. "But don't broadcast it. People in this realm are far more deceitful than they let on. My guard stays up."
Corruption leaned forward, a sudden spark of curiosity in her eyes. "Oh! Speaking of which... what is actually going on between you and Barlas?"
Eden blew out a breath. "We flirt a bit back and forth, but nothing real is happening. I keep it strictly playful, and even that pushes my comfort zone. It feels wrong because we all have real lives waiting for us back on Earth. Even though I was single when I got pulled in here, I'm not interested in facilitating bad behavior. I told him straight up: I can offer light teasing and friendly banter, but nothing more."
"So when did this dynamic start?"
"I think he saw a bit of himself in how openly I challenged him," Eden explained, her tone turning reflective. "Then he migrated to our alliance after Jericho wiped his main fortress. I felt genuine sympathy for him—Jericho was supposed to be his close ally. Seeing how cold that backstab was... honestly, it made me question how far I can actually trust Jericho."
"So there's truly nothing romantic between you two?" Corruption verified.
"Nothing real. He's the one who insisted we 'pretend' to date publicly. Honestly, I think he's deeply depressed, and having a buffer makes him feel less isolated in this place."
Corruption set her teacup down, listening intently. "How so?"
"It isn't my place to share his personal history," Eden said softly. "All I can say is he's dealing with heavy baggage. He opened up after we talked—I guess he felt I was safe to confide in."
"You're safe," Corruption agreed, taking a bite of her cookie with more force than strictly necessary. "Just be careful. You don't want toxic rumors undermining your authority."
Eden covered her mouth to hide a grin. "The rumors have already started, but my conscience is completely clear."
"As long as you're tracking the political fallout," Corruption swallowed.
Eden stared into her drink for a long moment. "Do you think Barlas being in Excalibur is a strategic liability?"
"No," Corruption answered without hesitation. "He's been quiet while his forces recover, but once his unit tiers are rebuilt, he'll be an invaluable tactical asset."
"I hope so," Eden murmured. "I don't want him feeling pressured to march until he's ready. I remember how terrifying his power rating was before Jericho gutted his infrastructure. Deep down, he's not a bad guy."
"Everyone remembers what he can do, and most of the lower tiers are still terrified of him," Corruption reminded her gently. "Give them time to adjust."
Meanwhile, across the province inside Barlas's newly reconstructed fortress, a woman sat draped casually over a plush crimson loveseat. She possessed exaggerated, voluptuous curves—a razor-thin waist contrasting sharply against wide hips, framed by a dangerously low-cut top.
Barlas stood near his bar cart, pouring scotch with his back turned to her.
She ran a manicured hand through her hair, crossing her legs lazily while tracing small circles in the air with her toe. "Please, Barlas... come back," she purred, her voice dipping into a practiced, whining piteousness. "I miss you."
"I am not returning to the old alliance, Isabella," Barlas said sternly, his tone flat.
"Why stay over there?" she pressed, her eyebrows drawing together. "Is it because of Eden?"
"She is a remarkable commander," Barlas replied evenly.
"Are you two together now?" Isabella demanded, sitting up straight.
"Yes," Barlas lied, keeping his back to her as he took a sip of his drink.
"Then why isn't it public?" Isabella snapped, her eyes flashing with jealousy. "She's still letting rival warlords court her for recruitment!"
Barlas turned his head slightly, his dark eyes cold. "Why are you meddling in my affairs?"
"Because I care about you!" she insisted, standing up from the couch.
"I cannot reciprocate those feelings," he said softly.
"You won't even look at me when you say it!" Isabella marched across the rug, stepping up directly behind him. She reached around his waist, her hands sliding slowly up his chest. "I just want to be close to you. You saved me when we first spawned into this nightmare. You protected me."
Barlas unclasped her hands firmly and stepped away, creating clear distance between them. Standing near the doorframe, he kept his gaze directed toward the hallway. "I will not return to an alliance where my presence was exploited and under valued."
Before he could finish, Isabella cut in. "Then let me come with you! Ask Eden to let me join Excalibur!"
Barlas exhaled quietly. "I will speak to her, but I guarantee nothing. Thank you for checking on my recovery, Isabella, but I must ask you to leave. Your attire is inappropriate for my quarters."
Once the front gates clicked shut, Barlas returned to his inner study. "Guide," he addressed the small pixie entity hovering over his desk. "Has she departed the perimeter?"
"Target has cleared the courtyard," the fairy reported.
"Dispatch a private ping to Eden. Request a secure audience when her schedule permits."
"Sent."
Back in her private quarters, Eden was clearing administrative backlogs when Barlas's priority ping flashed.
The cross-server war against the Valkaries was only a few days away. Assuming he wanted to coordinate unit formations, she cleared her queue and opened the line. "I'm available now. What's on your mind?"
"Isabella wants to transfer into Excalibur," Barlas messaged back rapidly.
Eden pinched the bridge of her nose, letting out a long, weary sigh. "I know she's your friend, Barlas, but she caused a massive scene at the regional leader mixer. Her lack of filter will trigger a war between Excalibur and whichever faction she insults next. My alliance is still scaling its defenses; I cannot absorb that kind of diplomatic risk for your friend."
"She is a good person at heart."
"She might be to you, but she demonstrates zero awareness of how her words impact the surrounding territory."
"She will refrain. I will personally supervise her."
"She needs to learn self-control somewhere else. For now, the answer is no. We can revisit the conversation in a few weeks."
"Understood. I don't want to cause friction between us."
"I'm not upset," Eden clarified smoothly. "I'm simply acting in the best interest of my roster. Whatever personal relationship you have with her isn't my concern."
"Understood. I also wanted to discuss making our status official and public."
Eden blinked. "Why?"
"So rival lords stop courting you for alliances. Unless you're interested in their offers?"
"Not in the slightest, but why broadcast a fake arrangement?"
"I dislike seeing them flirt with you," Barlas admitted bluntly.
Eden chuckled into the silent room. "Are you getting jealous?"
"Yes. I am a man; of course I get jealous."
"There's no reason for it. I am not pursuing romantic relationships in this prison."
"I know. But while we're trapped here... please."
Eden weighed the political utility of a public deterrent against the harmless play-along. "Fine."
"Thank you, my love."
Eden stared at the last message, her brow furrowing in mild discomfort. Closing the interface, she released a long breath. She was wearing a loose cotton tunic and slippers, her hair falling naturally over her shoulders.
Uriel materialized silently at her side as she stood up.
"Equip: training loadout," Eden commanded. "And instruct Arthur to meet me in the yard."
Her casual attire dissolved into shimmering digital code, instant-swapping into flexible leather boots, fitted silver plate armor, and her dual blades strapped securely at her waist.
Without another word, she headed for the training grounds to bleed off her excess energy against the steel of her commanders.