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….
"King?!" my brother's friends shouted in unison.
In response, silently (I clenched my teeth, trying with all my might not to swear), I turned Gungnir in my hand, forcing the shaft to ring slightly with a flow of magic.
The thin, insinuating sound swept through the entire bulk of the throne room, forcing the four guests to immediately turn on ingrained reflexes and kneel in unison, pressing a fist to their chest in the heart region.
"Eh, drop it," I grimaced, feeling Laura's gaze on me.
The girl clearly noticed the hostility hovering in the air and was genuinely interested in what was happening and the identities of the visitors.
"I know perfectly well how 'glad' you are to see me in this place, so let's skip the formalities: say why you came, and let's get this over with."
"We…" Sif started again, but held back at the last moment and, reflexively licking her lips, tried to portray acting again: "My King," the attempt to smile respectfully was counted but didn't pass. No… With such a smile, she should only be heating an iron in front of an interlocutor tied to a chair.
"We ask you to return Thor from exile."
Unable to restrain myself, I leaned my right cheek on my propped-up fingers, looking with sincere sadness at Thor's friends, who were also listed as my buddies.
Or rather, it just so happened that the former Loki spent a significant part of his time in their company, playing the role of a sort of squad nerd who always talks about caution and is always brushed off.
On the one hand, Thor should clearly be envied, because not everyone has friends who, even in such a situation, will try to protect and save you to the end, including frankly setting themselves up, as these four were doing now.
But on the other hand… How I wanted to take four pots, put them on their heads, and play drummer!
I didn't even crave to bail from all this crap this much when I first got into this body and realized the depth of said crap!
And I didn't want to kill them, some notes of old affection buzzed on the edge of consciousness, as if someone asked them to, I just… Just wanted to hurt them! Let their brains feel what it's like to exist, dammit!
"Firstly, the new King of Asgard cannot cancel the last decree of his predecessor. That is the law. And secondly… Have you thought this through? The Allfather sent Thor into exile not for a torn tablecloth! Do you even understand that if Thor had pulled what he pulled just a few days later, after Odin fell into his sleep, you would all be dead already, and Asgard beheaded?"
"The new King of Asgard killed while trying to invade Jotunheim, a wonderful prospect, isn't it? Very conducive to peace and tranquility in the Nine Realms. What should I expect if he returns now? That in a week he'll arrange a war with the Kree Empire for us too? Punishment must bring results, force the punished to draw conclusions and reform."
"But what conclusions could Thor draw in just a few days? And what conclusions will he draw if even for such a transgression he is immediately forgiven and returned? can you, with a hand on your heart, say that he has already reformed? Can you vouch for this with your honor and good name? Come on!" I straightened up on the throne, looking mockingly at the petitioners.
"If you do this, I might just come up with something. Well?.. I'm waiting."
"None of this would have happened if you hadn't disappeared!" Sif hissed, literally trembling with indignation, drilling me with a burning gaze.
Alas, it burned by no means with passion to get to my "innocent" body and show a master class in the cowgirl position.
"Oh yes, of course, whatever happens, it's all Loki's fault, how could I forget?" I rolled my eyes to heaven.
However, in fairness, on the faces of Hogun, Volstagg, and Fandral, understanding of my arguments was readable, expressed in deep shame. And Sif objected clearly purely out of stubbornness.
"Okay, let's leave that, especially since you gave the answer," I met the gazes of all four in turn. "Anything else?"
"If I may," feeling obvious discomfort, Volstagg rumbled uncertainly, "I dare ask… Your Majesty…" here the red-bearded giant's gaze finally snatched a standout detail from the surrounding space in the form of Laura, who had come closer to see everything better.
"And… who is that?" The others also noticed the "undocumented element."
"This is…" I shifted my gaze to the child and caught exactly the same one in response, that is, simple, direct, and with slight interest. "My advisor," I shrugged, turning back to the four.
"Advisor?" Fandral asked again with an "I misheard" look.
"Yes. My most chief advisor," I touched my chin with the fingers of my free hand. "Every dark lord and embodiment of universal evil and deceit must have a child advisor to check his plans for adequacy. Am I right?" I glanced at Laura.
"…" the girl clearly understood little, at least her eyes, running from me to Thor's friends and back, said that we were all complete psychos here, but, having decided something for herself, X-23 nodded in agreement.
"Dark lord?" Volstagg asked again, stunned.
"Embodiment of universal evil?" Fandral echoed him.
"…" Sif's face, with which she stared at Laura, deserved an Oscar in general. I couldn't clearly express for what and in which nomination, but it one hundred percent deserved it!
I even saved this image in the Throne's memory next to the recording of Xavier lifting Mjolnir, later I'll definitely transfer it to a portable holo-projector and rewatch it when I want to feel my own magnificence.
"Oh, just don't pretend that it wasn't through your efforts that I have the reputation of an evil God throughout the Nine Realms. Although to Surtur with it, let's skip this joke as too subtle. I repeat the question: do you have any other business with the King of Asgard?"
"We…" Volstagg started again, but I interrupted him:
"Besides Thor's return."
"We need to speak with the Queen!" Sif blurted out, once again convincing me of her complete impenetrability.
And again I didn't know whether to envy Thor or sympathize with him.
On the one hand, such a loving and selfless woman is a reason for envy, especially since my predecessor was secretly in love with her at one time, after all, Sif was indeed a beauty against the background of many, many other women of Asgard, plus a strong character, constant presence nearby, and all that.
Remove the mole from her face and give her normal breasts instead of a flat plain, she'd be such a candy that even I couldn't resist and would start drooling no less than over Storm.
On the other hand, with such a temperament, she can cause her man times more problems than benefit, especially if she really moves into that serious relationship with him where it is permissible to clarify any topics, no matter how personal they are, and show her attitude without being shy of anyone.
"Speak," meanwhile, without distracting myself from reflections, I answered with an indifferent look.
"What?.." the goddess ran into a wall, obviously expecting another rebuff from my side.
….
If you want to read ahead by 20+ chapters from here you can visit my Patre-on.
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