The doors to the Royal conference room were as magnificent as the rest of the Royal palace, heavy yet beautifully carved with intricate patterns.
Elizabeth walked up to the door but did not open it immediately. She could clearly sense a familiar presence behind it.
This didn't surprise her. If anything, the corners of her mouth curved upward with quiet satisfaction.
That woman had returned.
With that thought in mind, she pushed the door open with a bit more force, her movements becoming brisk and confident.
Inside the spacious conference room, standing at the podium that should have belonged to the Queen, was a tall woman radiating a powerful aura.
Her flaxen hair was pulled into a practical ponytail, and her brownish-yellow eyes gleamed with sharp confidence.
She was none other than Lion, one of the strongest members of the Royal Faction.
The moment Elizabeth stepped inside, Lion's gaze fell directly on her.
A bold smile crossed Lion's face. She offered Elizabeth a slight nod, the barest gesture of formality.
-LION-[1]
"Queen Elizabeth, you've finally arrived. I thought with the Commander here, you'd be wrapped up in his warmth until dawn."
The teasing remark immediately caused Elizabeth's delicate face to stiffen.
"Lion, you've arrived sooner than I expected. The only problem is that, just like before, you still fail to show enough reverence for your Queen."
Lion merely shrugged, completely unfazed by the accusation.
"Your Majesty, you know how it is. As Governor of the Nile, I've been away long enough that all those tedious Royal formalities have slipped my mind."
Her tone remained casual and direct as she continued.
"Besides, my respect for you is genuine. If respect doesn't come from the heart, what good are elaborate ceremonies?"
The words sounded like an excuse, yet the logic behind them was difficult to refute.
Elizabeth stared at her for several seconds before deciding not to press the matter further.
Truth be told, she knew this was simply who Lion was. Forcing her to follow traditions like Belfast and the Royal Maid Corps was simply unrealistic.
Moreover, there were more important matters to deal with today.
Elizabeth simply gestured toward the podium and ordered, "Step down. Take your seat."
"Yes, yes, as you command."
Lion shrugged casually and left the podium without hesitation. She eventually took a seat across from Warspite and Vanguard, both of whom had long fought alongside her and whose strength she fully acknowledged.
Trafalgar followed behind her, her expression solemn.
When Elizabeth reached the head of the table, she lightly tapped her scepter, the symbol of her authority, against the tabletop. At once, everyone's attention focused on her.
Her expression was regal and penetrating as she surveyed every Royal Navy shipgirl in attendance.
Warspite, Hood, Illustrious, Formidable, Victorious, and the newly returned Lion and Trafalgar.
"Everyone," Elizabeth began immediately, not bothering with formalities. "As you have all seen, my servant, my husband, has returned."
Her voice rang clearly through the silent conference room.
"Now, what we need to discuss is how to keep those women from other factions from 'raiding our home.'"
The topic received unanimous support. The "high-definition remastered" Commander was like the purest nectar, and luckily, they were probably the first faction to claim a taste.
Iron Blood, Eagle Union, Sakura Empire, and the rest of those opportunistic rivals wouldn't simply stand by.
Elizabeth's expression grew graver than ever.
"We need to establish an impenetrable defense and keep all potential threats away from our dormitory."
With that, her attention returned to Lion, her voice carrying absolute authority.
"Lion, as one of the foremost representatives of the Royal Navy Fleet, I order you to take charge of this security detail. If the situation demands it, even if the methods are not entirely dignified, you will deter the other women in the port. Are we clear?"
In truth, Elizabeth had already prepared a full set of arguments.
She knew Lion's personality well: honorable and powerful, but equally difficult to manage.
Convincing her to willingly take on this tedious "gatekeeping" task would likely require some persuasion.
But after hearing the order, Lion agreed right away without even thinking twice.
"Yes, Your Majesty, as you command."
'It seems the speech I prepared won't be necessary after all,' Elizabeth thought, genuinely surprised.
The surprise only lasted for a brief moment before she calmly regained her composure.
She was not some naive young girl. Elizabeth knew perfectly well that in this world, such easy cooperation always came with a reason.
Lion was being so compliant because she clearly had something she wanted. So Elizabeth chose to address it directly.
"Lion, what is it you want? State your conditions. If it is within my power, I will do my best to grant it."
The smile on Lion's lips widened slightly. She appreciated Elizabeth's directness.
"Talking with someone as clever as Your Majesty really saves time. Since you're being so honest, I won't waste time circling the topic either."
She paused briefly, her tone turning playful, though a clear sense of possessiveness lingered in her voice.
"My request is simple. I want a private date with the Commander. A perfect date with no interruptions, belonging only to the two of us. During that time, everyone here, including the Royal Maid Corps, will serve only as my 'support.' There will be no 'sneaking ahead' or 'intercepting.'"
The bold declaration immediately caused murmurs among those present.
What they were whispering about was simple. While they could agree to such an arrangement, they had no control over who the Commander might choose to spend time with.
Lion knew her words would cause some controversy, so she turned and patted her chest, offering reassurance.
"Of course, if I truly cannot keep the Commander and he slips away halfway through, then I can only blame my own lack of charm. I understand the rules, so please rest assured, sisters."
Since Lion had given her word, the Royal shipgirls no longer raised any objections.
Satisfied that everyone had accepted the terms, Elizabeth gave a firm nod of approval.
"Very well, I accept your conditions."
Even so, Elizabeth felt the negotiation was still slightly one-sided. After thinking for a moment, a domineering smile worthy of a Queen appeared on her face.
"Not only that, but I will also allow you to meet the servant in advance. You may leave the meeting now and go find him. As for the remaining arrangements, we will send them to your Juustagram privately after the meeting concludes."
"You're serious?"
Lion immediately rushed forward, excitement written all over her face as she grabbed Elizabeth's hand.
"Your Majesty, you really are my sworn sister... no, my real sister! When I return this time, I'll definitely improve my Royal etiquette!"
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