Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 459, Section 68. The Empress is dead? No, you fool! The Empire lives on, Her Majesty lives forever! - Bonus Chapter [45]

(Bonus chapter for "konstanzzz" [4/5])
"A group of Nightborne civilians will arrive at Nighthold Keep this afternoon. Send someone to receive them, help them bathe and change clothes, and then arrange for them to enter the Nightwell Platform at midnight to pay homage to the Queen's glory."

Then, the Queen's maids were each allowed to take some children to receive training.

These highly malleable and simple-minded children must be trained to be qualified court servants, adhering to the high standards of the court era!

As for the adults...
Assign them some odd jobs to free them from their daily labor; I need them to resume their former duties and be ready to serve the Empress at any time!

In the Dark Night Fortress, Vashj, upon her return, gave orders to her lieutenants.

These were all former court ladies-in-waiting of Queen Azshara. Besides being beautiful, vicious, and skilled in palace intrigue, they were also very good at fighting, just like Vashj.

This is a required course for the Queen's ladies-in-waiting.

Although Her Majesty Azshara is incredibly powerful, the Queen cannot personally handle all the mundane affairs.

Her energy had to be devoted to more important "national affairs," such as the fact that ten thousand years ago, the empress loved to watch her fervent courtiers draw their swords and duel for her favor.

Yes!

This is also part of "popular support" and the majesty of the king.

At the very least, Azshara considered this kind of "jealousy" to be the privilege of a beautiful queen.

However, Vashj's order today still left these millennia-old handmaids wide-eyed in bewilderment. A few of the bolder ones exchanged glances, and Lady Nazshael, a handmaid who had long served as Vashj's adjutant, whispered:

"Your Majesty's court has not seen a new member for ten thousand years. Our current size is sufficient to ensure order at Nighthold Fortress. Furthermore, I do not believe that the Nightborne commoners are qualified to serve the Great Empress."

They are of lowly blood and behave rudely, and cannot possibly comprehend the greatness and nobility of the Queen. I cannot imagine what a blasphemous scene it would be to let their filthy hands touch the Queen's throne!
Vashj, I'm not questioning you, but…

"You're questioning me!"

Vashj didn't give her subordinates, who were all cunning and calculating, a chance to argue. She scolded them:
"Without the Empress's high standards and perfect requirements, you all spend your days drinking and making merry in your own rooms, except for your daily audiences with His Majesty! Don't think I don't know how lazy and decadent you have been for the past ten thousand years."

It's one thing to let it go in the past, after all, I've been lost before too.

But now that I'm back, this situation can't continue. If one day in the future the Queen awakens from her serene slumber and sees that her carefully chosen maids have become a bunch of neglectful scum, how disappointed she will be.

you!

How dare you disappoint the great Empress with your ridiculous indulgence?
From this day forward, each of you must return to the level of diligent service you showed to the Empress ten thousand years ago.

I will personally check whether you are acting in accordance with court etiquette.

Clean up all the 'contraband' items in your respective rooms, and make sure all the faces are spotless. I'm telling you this upfront: if anyone fails to meet the standards, they'll be kicked out of the palace and sent to tend the imperial garden outside.

The gardens were overgrown with weeds!

Open your eyes and look! Is this what the Queen's garden should look like?
Ten thousand years ago, if someone had managed a garden like this, they would have been sent to the court sorcerer's laboratory as a test subject!

This reprimand left the maids even more bewildered.

Yes, they have indeed lived a very decadent life for the past ten thousand years, but everyone is like that. It's not just them; even the Imperial Guards under General Varosson are the same.
The Nightborne commoners still sing praises to the Queen and pray for her awakening, but these close people whom she serves every day know better than anyone else that the Queen most likely will not wake up.

For ten thousand years, every night before falling asleep, people would look forward to seeing the Queen's perfect smile at dawn the next day.

But the longer time goes by, the more distant those desires become.

Azshara's maids were among her most loyal servants, yet even they had become so decadent, demonstrating the extent to which the Queen's court had fallen into disarray and corruption.

The Archmage Elisande may have had similar reasons for not targeting them all these years.

These disorganized and disorganized courtiers of the Queen are no longer worth paying attention to.

It wasn't that they lacked resolve; they had simply been disappointed for too long, so long that when they gazed upon the Empress's magnificent beauty each day, they no longer felt any desire to dedicate themselves or any impulse to sacrifice.

However, these maids were indeed close advisors personally promoted by Azshara during the Imperial era. Their intelligence was as superb as their beauty, and several leaders had already realized something from Vashj's change in attitude.

The women pulled Vashj aside. Lady Nazshall looked around, pressed her hand to her pounding heart, and whispered:
"Tell us honestly, what exactly did you go on this long journey for? Never mind, I'll just ask you directly, did you see His Majesty?"

"I cannot answer any of your questions, especially not this one."

Vaschi, with a stern face and a firm tone, denied it:

"Because I have not been given permission to tell anyone else about this, so please don't ask. I am just warning you not to forget the Empress's kindness and favor towards us, and not to fail to live up to the Empress's expectations and favor towards us."

Those who dare to disappoint or sadden His Majesty, I will never let them go!

The head maids immediately became excited.

Vashj's words were tantamount to an admission of the truth. Everyone knew that Vashj regarded the Queen as a god. She was the most die-hard court lady, and had remained unmoved by the Archmage's attempts to win her over for ten thousand years.

Her unwavering loyalty to the Queen, which ran deep in her soul, prevented her from lying about anything concerning the Queen.

That is
The head maids all turned their heads to look towards the depths of the Dark Night Well.

Their eyes also became intense.

Now, this Guardian Legion is nothing more than a noble reputation in High Elf society. They don't truly yearn for a life of depravity; they've simply lost all purpose in life.

But if the Empress were to awaken...
"I apologize!"

Ms. Nazshael lowered her head and honestly confessed to Vashj:
“I have accepted a bribe from the Archmage to secretly pass on information about the Royal Guard’s movements to her. I will continue to do so, but each message will be reviewed by you first.”

"Humph."

Vashj sneered and looked at the others.

Several head maids confessed their disloyalty, saying that the mess they were in was just too bad. If this had happened ten thousand years ago, these bastards and traitors would have been torn apart by Vashj herself!

Someone actually dared to keep a long dress that the Queen had worn! Although most of the Queen's clothes were destroyed after being worn only once, keeping one or two as "souvenirs" is not a big problem.

But Vashj just wants to ask, what the hell are you guys trying to do?!

Do you secretly use the Empress's gown to make your male favorites cosplay as the Empress to increase their attack speed?

Do you still want your head?

You have one day.

Vashj cracked her knuckles and said in a cold voice:

"At this time tomorrow, I want to see you from ten thousand years ago!"

Nazsha's sisters!

You must immediately inform Her Excellency Sivara, the chief female warrior of the Queen's court, that I want her to personally train those Nightborne children, and to instill absolute loyalty to the Queen in these very children!
You will be personally responsible for the education and court etiquette training of these new maids.

The Acisa sisters!
You are the most skilled scheming master among us.

I want you to act immediately, to find the commoners and lower nobles in Suramar who are dissatisfied with Elisande's corrupt rule, and to build up a loyal lower-class force for the Queen and unite them as one as quickly as possible.

The Valeschi sisters!

You are a courtesan and a master of diplomacy. You immediately find a suitable palace in the Night Fortress and transform it into the Queen's banquet hall. You select loyal nobles who can cooperate with you and transform the political power of the Nightborne into the Queen's power.

We need to win over not only those at the lower levels, but also appease those at the higher levels.

Do you have any alternative candidates?

“That must be the Yue family, my lady.”

The alluring and luxuriously dressed Lady Valish covered her mouth and laughed. This head lady-in-waiting, who lived the most extravagant life in ten thousand years and had seven royal guards as male lovers, seemed to have rediscovered her former passion.

She blinked and said:
"The Moon County family is a well-known noble family in Suramar City for its tolerance of the lower classes. They are full of goodwill towards the poor commoners living in Elisande's rule."

Even though they never revealed any political leanings and remained loyal to the Archmage, it was clear to everyone that Lord Moonshire and the scoundrels around the Archmage were not on the same side.

Leave this to me, madam.

I will arrange a gathering of courtiers befitting the Queen's taste as soon as possible, but it would be best if you and General Varosson were present, as this would best reflect her distinguished and high-class taste.”

"Very good, you are not useless yet, which makes me very happy."

Vashj nodded in satisfaction. Looking at the dilapidated palace before her, she said:

"Let the Queen's court get running, sisters. I hope that on the day Her Majesty awakens, she will feel that her beautiful home is no different from what it was ten thousand years ago."

She was heartbroken; the whole world had abandoned her.

But we're still here!
We are His Majesty's closest confidants, and trusted men should act like trusted men. I have heard that the prince of Quel'dorei is about to get married. Ten thousand years ago, the Sunstrider family was also a high-ranking official of the Queen. Such an event must be attended by a court lady representing the Queen's wishes.

Let the Heracles sisters go.

She had served as the Queen's envoy for thousands of years, but the Sunstriders had indeed rebelled. Although times had changed, they couldn't be given too many favors lest it tarnish the Queen's dignity. A few pieces of jewelry used by the Queen from the palace would suffice as a gift for Prince Kael'thas's fiancée.

Ah, no female elf in this world could resist such a gift.

"Uh"

The head maids exchanged glances, and Lady Nazshael said somewhat awkwardly in a low voice:

"Well, the jewels in the Queen's treasury have all been 'collected' by the nobles under Elisande's command under various pretexts. This is... cough cough, this is a 'legacy issue'!"

"Ok?"

Vashj looked coldly at her sisters, who were sweating profusely, and said in a drawn-out voice:
"You guys have really gotten to the point. Since the treasures on the books are gone, you'll just use your own hidden treasures as substitutes. I don't care!"

If you can't even find a decent piece of jewelry when the Queen awakens, you'll have to bear her wrath yourselves!

After saying that, Vashj strode away.

She didn't want to stay with these insects, lest it affect her loyalty, and at the same time, she planned to return the jewels in her "little treasure trove" without anyone noticing at some point.

Well, although I have collected hundreds of pieces of clothing and jewelry worn by the Empress over the past ten thousand years, my starting point is definitely different from that of these insects!
He did this to ensure that the Queen's private belongings would not be desecrated by outsiders.

This is undoubtedly an act of loyalty.

Well, Ms. Vashj easily convinced herself, while straightening her clothes and glancing at her purple royal lingerie, thinking that she should probably change to a more "understated" lingerie in the future.

She quickly entered the depths of the Dark Well, which was firmly guarded by the Imperial Guards.

The royal guards under Varosen have also had many bad habits over the past ten thousand years, but because they occasionally have to go on expeditions, they have not degenerated as much as the maids. At least on the outside, they still look as dignified as they did ten thousand years ago.

The spymaster entered the inner sanctum and then saw Queen Azshara sleeping amidst the brightest light of the Nightwell in the magnificent starry sky.

The Empress slept in a perfect floating posture within that magical flow of time-filled energy.

Her limbs were relaxed and stretched out, her long white hair flowed in a very artistic way, her beautiful face had not faded with time, and her tightly closed eyes seemed to be unable to bear seeing her empire fall into such a state.

Before this stream of “divine” energy, the Queen’s most loyal general, Varosan, knelt before Her Majesty in a posture of prayer and meditation.

This has been his norm for the past ten thousand years.

He was like an ascetic, spending most of his time here with His Majesty.

Perhaps in Varosson's heart, these were the happiest days, at least when the Queen was asleep, she belonged only to him.

"I'm back, Varosen."

Vashj lowered her voice in the place where the Queen slept, and said:

“You are the Queen’s most trusted chief of staff, and I will not hide anything from you. I met Her Majesty in Pandaria, where she suppressed ten thousand years of calamity for our Pandaren friends in that friendly land.”

The Empress never gave up protecting her subjects and territory; it was the outside world that misunderstood her.

Varossen should have been very excited.

But Vashj didn't notice Varossen's statement. She stepped forward in surprise and saw an abnormal bluish-gray tinge on Varossen's face, which made the spy master panic.

Why would that bastard take poison?

There was no time to worry about that now. Vashj pulled up the Queen's chief guard and punched Varossen in the stomach. Her current "Royal Guard" was so powerful that this punch almost killed Varossen on the spot.

The pain made the Imperial Guard leader's eyes widen, and he let out a howl as he vomited out all the toxins and blood from his stomach.

He was still poisoned, but years of contact and fusion with the magic of the Dark Well had made Varosen a demigod-level magic swordsman. His self-healing ability was also quite strong, so he wouldn't be tortured to death by the poison.

The premise is that he himself does not seek death.

Why did you take poison?

Vashj grabbed his neck and scolded:
"Her Majesty needs loyal ministers like you and me to serve her. How dare you, a coward, disappoint her?"

"Your Majesty...His Majesty has passed away."

Varosen groaned in pain:
"Just a few days ago, our Empress, my Empress, her breath stopped. Her Majesty is dead! I failed to protect my Empress, I have let down the Light of Light, I deserve to die!"

"Oh, this matter, you fool! His Majesty is not dead, His Majesty is immortal. It's only because His Majesty's soul entered the realm of the dead and launched a punitive expedition against the arrogant eternal beings of death!"
That was His Majesty's personal expedition.

You need not worry about Her Majesty's safety; she will surely return in glory.

Vashj told Varosen everything she had seen and heard at the Naraksha engine, and the latter's deathly eyes gradually brightened.

Especially when he heard that His Majesty Azshara had asked Vashj to tell him that, in order to reward him for his ten thousand years of loyal defense, the supreme ruler had actually allowed him to leave a kiss on her cheek, Varosan, this demigod strongman, actually became unusually shy.

He stared intently at His Majesty Azshara in the light.

His Majesty has always known of his arrogance, and instead of punishing him, he has bestowed upon him unparalleled honor.

But how could he dare to desecrate his supreme authority?
In that instant, all the loneliness, solitude, and sorrow that had guarded the land for millennia were gently soothed, like parched earth receiving the nourishment of rain.

Worth it!

My life has been worthwhile!
"In order to prepare for His Majesty's future awakening, we must reform the now corrupt Imperial Guard and the palace."

Vashj whispered:

"This requires your cooperation."

"I will absolutely cooperate."

Varossen said in a hoarse voice:

"I don't know much about politics, so I'll leave the palace reforms to you. I'll start training the Royal Guard immediately. Rest assured, Lady Vashj, when Her Majesty wakes up, she will see her invincible Royal Guard fighting for her."

But Elisande.
That lowly, arrogant woman will not allow us to act this way. What are you going to do with her? Do I need to carry out an assassination myself? I would be happy to do so for my Majesty, and I am certain that the haughty Elisande will not escape.

"That guy has been secretly researching the power of the Dark Well, and time has been protecting him."

Vashj shook her head and said:

"Assassination won't work on her, and we don't need to resort to such extreme methods. Before the Empress awakens, we will deal with her in a kingly manner."

We cannot let that fellow tarnish the Queen's eyes again, otherwise it would prove that we servants are utterly incompetent.

Go and rest for a while.

“I must complete my blessing and meditation here. Don’t worry about these toxins. As long as I want to live, these toxins cannot harm me.”

Varosson refused the request.

Vashj didn't insist. She knew that this guy's loyalty and adoration for the Queen had reached a pathological level. If anyone dared to discuss this with him, Varossen would really dare to pick up his sword and kill them.

However, before leaving, Vashj still reminded her:
"His Majesty allows you to kiss her, but only once. Don't do anything too offensive. I'll be watching you."

"Shut up!"

Varossen scolded:

"How dare you say such outrageous and vulgar things in front of me! How could I do such disgusting things? Her Majesty is eternally holy. How could she possibly have the desires that only lowly mortals like us have?"
Vashj!
You'd better examine your own depraved mind!

"You son of a bitch!"

Having been outmaneuvered, Vashj looked at the righteous Varossen with the eyes of someone looking at an idiot. She felt that this guy was really amazing, amazing in every way.

They had no choice but to leave.

There's simply no way to talk to someone with this kind of mental illness.

After the spymaster left, Varosen frowned as he looked at the fist marks left on his armor.

That was a punch from Vashj when she "saved him," but this armor is made of arcane alloy washed by the eternal flow of magic from the Darkwell. This thing is also a bit softer than elemental steel. How strong was Vashj's grip?

What exactly did that guy go through?
However, none of that matters!
Panting, Varosson looked at His Majesty in the light, swallowed hard, and stepped into the flow of time magic before him with a mixture of shyness, anticipation, and trepidation.

Time slowed his movements, but he dared not actually leave a blasphemous kiss on His Majesty's perfect cheek. In the end, he could only lift His Majesty's toes as if on a pilgrimage and gently kiss Azshara's perfect toes as time continued to slow down.

enough!

That's enough. It would be impolite to continue.

Besides, His Majesty only said one kiss and didn't set a time limit. Maybe I can kiss him tomorrow too. I can't think about it anymore; it's too blasphemous!
The supreme Queen Azshara.

I will surely guard your eternal throne!
(End of this chapter)