As the wind howled in the fields of Ranate’s northern territory, I found myself coming to a sense of peace. A sense of bliss almost. As if my ordeal was over, that my mission and goal that I had been assigned to were over.

What was next for me? It was simple, a reflection. The need to reflect on what had transpired over the past month. It was just that. A small, not complicated process. I found it to be relieving. While atop my trusted steed with Anglo, I began thinking as we approached closer and closer to Ranate’s capital city.  

‘What went well? What didn’t go so well? What aspects did I need to improve?’ I explored in my head. 

It was important. It really was. If I really believed in becoming someone worthwhile in this land, then I needed to change. I couldn’t be satisfied with just a step in the right direction. I had most certainly gotten stronger, but had I really become better in the context of what really mattered? 

Why did I get stronger? It was to prove myself of the challenges set by the despicable council women. The giantesses that opposed Ana’s rule and morals. Strength was key, no doubt there to be had. However on the table on which our politics were discussed, what would that strength really do?  In reality I had gotten marginally stronger and achieved the task so I could even be worth sitting with Ana in that council. So I could have the right to be there at all. My actual abilities in understanding the issues within Ranate, the issues humans in this country face, the issues this country faces with its neighbours. All of that was still gravely unknown. With the exception of the conflict with Marvialasia, I had little knowledge of anything else.

Ana was the type to spoil me, to stow me away to the safety of her being and keep me out of trouble. I had experienced such treatment for a month since I first wedded her. However, that also kept me ignorant of it all. Of everything she did in her duty, along with the responsibilities I had. This war, in all of its atrocities, was also what had led to my own realisation that I needed to be more active in my role. The married men of queens of this country in the past served to sow their seed to Ranate royalty. After that their very existence wouldn’t be needed. However, that concept had changed. And to put that concept into the right direction, I needed to set a good example. 

If I had to guess, the next step for me would be further educating myself on what to do next. On what someone as weak and lost as I should be doing. 

“Are we almost there, Leon?” A voice called out. It was Anglo, the dwarf. We were both heading back to the capital city out from a cave that expelled us from the western side of the country. That cave connected to a vast cave network that seemingly appeared to split off in all directions. I was rather curious about the sheer scope of it but decided to put that matter aside for the time being as my worries on seeing Ana again with new intel were more important. 

“Almost there.” I replied. 

“Apologies for the slight delay, lad. The cave route into Marvialasia and back is a little quicker usually. The rock formations and some stray earth falling apart since I last used it had made it a little unfamiliar to me.” The dwarf answered back. 

“No worries there Anglo. This was still a whole lot quicker than me going from the route I originally took.” 

There was a brief moment of silence between us. During that silence I reminisced about the past couple weeks. It had almost been a month but I had been out of Ranate for so long. I missed the comfort of this country very much. Or more specifically, I missed my wife very much. My thoughts however were interrupted by Anglo. 

“Let's say we win, let's say that Ranate defeats the oncoming threats from Marvialasia and whatever possible allies they have, what next?” Anglo questioned. “ What will Ranate do to these defeated lands?” 

“...”  I listened in silence, as if further drawing out a response. 

“Leon, If I’d have to guess, Ranate will probably pillage the resources, kill and punish many civilians and probably eradicate almost all the nobles. Their land would be taken and used for the giantesses. I imagine many scores of humans will be taken in and thoughtlessly toyed with. I couldn’t imagine a worse fate for the common Marvialasian.” Anglo exclaimed. 

“I disagree.” I voiced. “ The nobles and their prince will most certainly bite the dust. But I don’t think most of the civilians will be harmed. As for land and how it’ll be utilised, along with the economic impact and all that. I’m afraid I don’t know. Such areas are rather unknown to me.” 

“Ranate will spare the innocent?” Anglo, wearing  a shocked expression, shouted. 

“The days of cruelty are over, or at least they are etching closer and closer to being over.”

“That alone is not sufficient enough of a reason lad. I think you are severely underestimating the implications of war-” 

“-With all due respect, “ I interrupted him. “ The Ranate of today is not anything close to what Marvialasia described it to be. Humans are more than a resource, they are recognised as a people. Ranate with their giantesses have recognised that they need humans to help them with tasks, to help them do activities and jobs unsuited for giantesses.”  I argued, though even at heart I found it somewhat troublesome to believe in my own words. The realist in me remembered the councilwomen, that being Lisa, Rheas and Elysia. There was also the magic user that wasn’t present at the meeting too. Out of those 4 councilfolk, only 1 seemed to be remotely on my side. 

I remembered Anglo’s words from before, about his rather binary perspective on the war. The black and whiteness of the options, to either win or lose. Conquer or be conquered. While I agreed with his logic back then, now that I was back here in Ranate, that binary fell apart. His words kept me doubting if such a bleak perspective was really right. Or rather more specifically, his cruel viewpoint of today’s giantesses struck me badly. 

Once again, the council came back to my mind. Ana desperately needed some more influence over the group, some leeway so to speak to proliferate her world view. With such an alarmingly blatant fact still present, I couldn’t help but find my words to be at least partially shaky. Once again it all looped back to me being ignorant of the ways of this country, where even though I had gotten stronger, it didn’t change how I’d argue against people like Anglo. With how my words seemed hollow, with no backbone to them. 

“My perspective will not be changing, Leon. The giantesses I’ve heard about are fierce, strong and terrifying. They may as well be considered the most megalomaniac creature on the continent. I doubt there is a species of people out there that can even match their desire to relish in their absolute power. While most species of sentient beings thrived here in their own territories, it doesn’t take a genius to see that there is something different about these giantesses.” Anglo reasoned. 

“When you meet the queen of this country, I’m sure you’ll come to understand.”

“Queen or not, I have no doubts that there will be a horror show on the prince if he were to be captured.” As Anglo muttered those words, I couldn’t help but partially agree. I knew with rather strong confidence that Ana wouldn’t ever advocate to harm innocent civilians… But the ruler of the country and his bandwagon of nobles? Most certainly so there would be some atrocity to happen to them. The thought of Ana crushing humans wasn’t a foreign concept in my mind. I had already expected the fact that she’d taken at least a few lives before. It came with the job of being  a ruler or person of power. In this world where injustice roamed rampant, the easier solution to problems always seemed to be married to violence and terror. 

“If she did issue a penalty or punishment to the prince of Marvialasia, what then? Is that what you’re asking?” I decided to continue arguing my piece, but my own voice seemed to come out as a question rather than a rebuttal. “What would I do at that point…” I pondered before arriving at a rather disappointing answer. “Probably nothing.”

“Nothing? Really lad? Your perception of your partner, the person they are or what they may become won’t become muddled? Can you really see your queen in the same way again?” Anglo seemingly put his foot down, maintaining his stance on the topic. 

“I-I just don’t have the right to criticise her. Ranate’s conflict with Marvialasia isn’t something I’m really familiar with. Their history and past, their hatred for one another. I’m ignorant to almost all of it. If she decided that the prince needs to be punished, then that’d be a decision I don’t think I can rebuke. Simply because I can imagine how annoying it would be for a foreign human to criticise another nation’s war.” I answered. Slightly annoyed at how my own words seemed to ostracise me out of Ranate’s culture. 

“Hmm, I see. Here I thought you’d tell me how you’d be too chicken to talk back to her ‘cause she’s a literal goliath to you. Seems you humans aren’t all the same after all.” Anglo replied. I thought it was odd how he referred to Ana as my ‘partner’ despite me never mentioning that to him, but he seemed to have figured out there was more to our relationship than I’d let on.

“Haha, yeah well, I told you already. You’ll see when you meet her.” Soon after a new question entered my mind. “Oh yeah, so what kind of deal did you want with Ranate again?”

“A non-taxed trade agreement between our lands. Along with a business opportunity where excess minerals, ores, gems and such can be sold off to us, trust me we could really use the coin. We can also set up a dwarven embassy in one of your cities where we would like a giant sized workshop constructed.” Anglo explained.

“A workshop?” I questioned.

“Picture this lad, a gigantic workspace full of a good chunk of us dwarves in your territory. We can help you all with refining materials, smithing, all the like. In exchange, we’d like a monthly supply of food and liquor to be gifted to us. It would not only be a symbol of our friendship but allow us to deal with each other in the future.” Anglo explained. 

“Y’know for as important as it all sounds, you just made all these demands up, didn't you?” I asked, my curiosity had gotten the better of me. Parts of this story didn’t make sense. He was a captured dwarf in Marvialasia, how would he have gotten the power to make such a deal?

“Well, I’ll be honest I thought I’d be rotting away in a cell right about now. If fate has me be the dwarf to create a life changing alliance with the giantesses, where our food shortages would be solved, then I’m sure my people would be proud.” Funny how it seemed that a mere scouting dwarf could make such an assumption. 

“You’re not just any old dwarf are you?” I inquired. 

“You aren’t just any human either are you? Presumably, It appears I’m talking to either a mere toy of the queen, or the king consort of the nation himself.”

“Ana has no such toys.” I immediately corrected, slightly irked by the suggestion that she would keep humans as ‘toys’.

“King consort it is then, lad. Or would you now prefer your majesty?” 

– – – 

“We’ve arrived at the capital gate.” 

Approximately 20 minutes had passed, both Anglo and I continued on as we made small talk between one another. 

“Zleuser. Not Ranate’s most impressive city but certainly one that leaves an impression.” Anglo commentated. 

“It definitely gives off a feeling of authority and power. Though I’d argue that's the whole country when you’re just a mere human.” I answered back.

“The southern parts of Ranate from what I’ve been told are rather different in culture compared to these northern parts.” 

“Are they? I wouldn’t know, the most south I’ve been is somewhere in between the road of Zleuser and Egulba, the trading city.” I responded.

“Lad, you really need to work on your yapping. I’ve known you for only so long and I can already tell that you’re a rather inexperienced king consort. Probably one that was coddled a bit too hard. If you were taken hostage, it wouldn’t be that hard to imagine what your queen would do to have you back.” Anglo reprimanded me and my abilities in letting information go. It wasn’t an incorrect assumption, as while I felt rather safe in my own home country and next to Anglo, it was an action rather unbefitting of a king consort… At least I think it would be. 

“...” 

“Your silence speaks volumes, I’m sure you’re very much aware of that.” Anglo continued. It was followed by a ‘tch’ clicking sound from my tongue. Honestly I was getting tired of being lectured by him, but I couldn’t refute him either. If anything his words seemed to sting simply because there was some weight behind them. “I’d love to meet this queen of yours, so please lead the way into the capital city.”

“Alright, alright.” I answered as I took the steed forward, towards a guard who was keeping watch by the side. It made more sense in my head to notify her of my return than to venture into Zleuser normally. After all, this city was hardly hospitable to humans. The roads, houses and settlements within are all designed specifically for giantesses. It made the very act of entering difficult as danger loomed across every corner. A bare moment of carelessness is all it would take for an unaware lady to step on us, and grind our bodies to the filth. I’m sure I’d be fine, but Anglo was a different story. I could imagine a bloody scene, with a grotesque crunch as the weight beneath a foot or shoe helplessly crushed both of us, with only one of us to recover. It was a horrific thought, but one that needed to be considered.

“Halt, humans like you two are strictly not allowed in Zleuser right now, return to your village settlements outside the city.” The guard interrupted my thoughts. It appeared she didn’t notice Anglo wasn’t a human, which was a rather insulting insinuation to him I’m sure. But what else could these giantesses do? They were simply so massive that the difference between a human and dwarf would seem miniscule. 

“I’ve returned back with critical intel, surely Ana has informed you of my eventual return!” I shouted back, I was well aware of how easy it was for my voice to be drowned out. “It’s me, Leon Darlington-Bliss. Tell the queen her husband has returned.” 

The guard squatted down, an action that made my heart beat in terror. Such a simple thing seemed so utterly humanising to me, so humbling even. It was a  reminder of the size difference between us. It appeared she was attempting to get a better look. 

“Eh, you’ve got a lot of nerve sayin-” Her words were abruptly cut short as her pupils dilated in anticipation as her eyes fixated on the royal insignia I was proudly holding up, it would have been barely recognisable to her. “Y-your majesty. My apologies, I will get the queen right away!” She  hurriedly fixed her tone of voice and shakily jumped backwards. As if assuming a stance or salute of some kind. “Please make your way up to our watchtower, we will fetch the queen here, the faster the better.” The guard reassured me. Politie was an understatement. It was made clear that people of lesser status respected the hierarchy of the nation, unlike the council women who seemed to challenge it. It begged an important question in my mind, that at what point could one challenge authority? Could authority only be challenged with authority? Were the only people that can make change happen in a country be the ones in power? It seemed like a dystopian thought to have, especially for someone like me that had escaped Vascar. I didn’t like the idea of a ‘power rules all’ monarchy. Alas, ironic as it was, I didn’t have the power to do anything about that if it did come to pass here in Ranate. I was weak, helpless, uneducated and uncultured. I had only my loyalty to Ana to boast about. In the end, I didn’t even know the bare minimum about our policies in other cities and settlements to make such a judgement. 

“To think a giantess would take orders from us tiny folk… What a weird era to be alive in.” Anglo interrupted. His confusion was voiced aloud as we on top of the steed climbed up the watchtower. 

“I told you so. Times have changed. People are changing. Culture will change. It takes a competent ruler, and someone with a good eye for how society should run to make that change.” I proudly declared. I suppose I couldn’t help but praise my wife. It was as if the very act had become instinct in me. 

“The ruler and their people. A ruler is nothing without their people, I can agree with that. If intel serves me correctly, that's how Jade the Cruel was taken out. Her methods simply became too extreme for even the giantesses to stomach. People saw her recklessness as a disaster to the country. So, she was usurped.”

“She was usurped? As in forcibly removed from power?” Puzzled by my own lack of knowledge on the topic, I wasn’t sure if I was misremembering such a crucial detail or if I simply never knew. Point was it really showed how much room I had to grow. 

“I’m not sure by who, my intel’s a little foggy lad. I’m sure the people here would know more. The point is that I’m surprised to see such a drastic change in Ranate compared to the time when Jade was running things.” Anglo pointed out, leading into a moment of silence before he continued. “That being said, corruption is not an easy foe to vanquish. Even if your queen has made the people of Ranate more welcoming to a new culture, It wouldn’t be hard to find people who still hang on dearly to the older times.”

“I suppose people will believe what they wanna believe. Doesn’t mean we can’t try too.” I answered. 

A few minutes passed as Anglo and I, who were still on top of the Bullorg, continued to climb up the stairs of this watch tower. It was a spiral pattern that went in circles steadily rising in altitude. As per building requirements in this city, it was created with a sturdy stone that could hold up the weight of these giantesses. Along with expert engineering and architecture that divided the stress of the building in a way that wouldn’t let it break easily. Which of course meant it wasn’t made for us tiny folk, that being Anglo and I. Each step of the stairway was at least double my height, to climb meant to get on the bullorg and let it hop upward, one step at a time. Without it, I’d doubt I could make it up here on my own, at least with what I had on me. 

The guard's watchtower was made on the outer wall of the city, right beside the gate. Obviously it existed to keep watch over the nearby inhabitants and survey the surroundings. Not quite a place for a human like me, and not one for Ana either. It made no sense for someone of her status to be visiting a watchtower when in reality it was more sensible to get a guard to visit her. Which begged the question on why I was being asked to venture into the watchtower instead of towards Ana? The rational answer was that she happened to be nearby, perhaps on an errand of some sort. The city did seem weirdly closed off today. Normally there’s free entry and exit for humans, it just wasn’t recommended for us to enter. However today the guard on duty was adamant on blocking our entrance entirely. 

‘How strange.’ I wondered briefly. ‘Perhaps an incident happened nearby? Zleuser was close to the eastern border with Vascar… They also are a big part of the war.’ 

I concluded that some sort of incident had happened with Vascar, it was the only logical outcome that flashed into mind. While I was nowhere at the level to be making educated guesses on matters of politics and foreign policy, I had the bare minimum understanding of how Zleuser operated as a city. ‘Sure, I stay at the castle on Ana most of the time, but I do pay attention somewhat.’

“Anglo, I think something’s happened with the land near east.” I explained. 

“Makes sense, It did seem weirdly quiet when I peeked into the town earlier. Have any ideas why?” He questioned. Already up to speed.

“The kingdom of Vascar is also part of this war, they’re a scummy monarchy with greed forever bound to their souls.” My own contempt for Vascar began showing, unbeknownst to me my tone had become harsher just by uttering the very name of this kingdom.

“You reckon they’re the reason why everyone’s probably indoors right now? Would explain the lack of hustle and bustle in the city. I mean I know capital cities ain’t the most populated places out there but this is a tad too much.” Anglo added on.

“People are probably on high alert, possibly keeping the streets clear so it's easier to spot any intruders. Grouping families together also helps keep every household at least somewhat safe. I can’t believe Vascar had the gall to participate this extensively in the war though. Frankly I find it hard to believe. We’r- I mean, they’re a weak country… Poor understanding of magic, outdated technology, weak soldiers. It doesn’t make sense.” I elaborated, though my little slip up did cause Anglo’s eyebrow to raise momentarily. 

“Maybe your divine queen, being the epitome of kindness as you’ve described her, struck first.” Anglo coldly suggested. A statement that gave me a tinge of annoyance, but I couldn’t rule it out either.

“It wouldn’t be like her to do so, not without a solid reason at least.” 

“War is war, people fight and die. If she saw an opportunity to fight and claim victory, maybe she just took it. No shame in that. It is how a conqueror conquers.”

“A conqueror may conquer, but we aren’t savage beasts either. I’m sure there’s a reason or some piece of a puzzle that we’re missing. And that is assuming she was the one to instigate as well.”  I desperately refuted Anglo to the best of my abilities. It was admittingly getting more and more infuriating to argue back with him on the simple fact that giantess society today had changed, and the current queen wouldn’t simply fight for the sake of fighting. 

“Hmm,” Anglo pondered. “ It appears you ruling class folks really do see the world differently. Perhaps it's the responsibilities casted upon your shoulders.”

“How so?” I wondered. 

“Trying to assign reason to war, for people’s need to fight and bathe in the blood of their enemies.”

“War is with reason.” 

“War is war, reason exists for the privileged who can afford to consider it. I’ve seen commoners fight and participate simply because they need to participate. People like you and your queen who can view the world through a bird’s eye, like pieces on a hnefatafl board are the only ones that can see it with reason.” 

“Is that a bad thing? It seems oddly reductive to say war is just war.”

“No lad, I agree with you. I’d just like to point it out, that you and I see things differently. That there are people out there that don’t even have the ability to see things the way you see them. You and I both stayed at Marvialasia, we’ve seen some things there. Things that we could never convey to the folks here who refuse to see humans as nothing more than pests.”

Anglo brought out a point, one that brought dismay to my heart. In the end I got to experience the brainwashing of Marvialasia first hand, with their corruption on full display. Of how innocent people watched giantesses be tortured, and the idea of non-humans being bad shoved down their throats. Anyone who opposed this line of thinking was outcasted and forcibly fed to their captive giantess, who would then make an example of ‘why giantesses needed to be feared.’

They were ripped away from their own agency and right to think. Of their right to think freely. People from higher positions would be swayed with monetary interests and their social standings, binding them to their corrupt positions in society. People of lower positions would be forced to unite all together in blissful hate toward a common enemy, all to give them some sort of sense of false autonomy, that they themselves came to the decision to hate their common enemy. To an outsider like myself, it begged the question of what exactly was their common enemy?

‘They have their right to hate the tyranny of giantesses, but what after then? Let’s say the Marvialasians win the war. That they hypothetically exterminate every giantess, what's next for such a country? Obviously, these guys would attack the dwarves, then the elves, then the next species to the next after that and the next after that.’ I thought to myself. 

There was no end game here, no grand plan at play. Not once was there any depth to the shallow ideas of hate these vermin possessed. It was merely the pride and greed of their prince wanting his ideals over anyone else's and forcing that choice on behalf of his people. Not for them. 

It was why one noble didn’t support the prince. It was why Anglo and I were able to return back to Ranate with intel. It would be why Marvialasia would lose this war.

 Once the source of their land's hate was gone, the people would be forced to come to their own decisions about why they hated the giantesses. Whether hating them would do them any good, if they should move on. Perhaps many won’t. Probably many won’t. I can’t say for anything if the giantesses and their atrocities in the war deserve to be idolised once they win over Marvialasia. As I told Anglo before, that wasn’t my call to make. 

‘ I don’t know what the right call to make is. I really don’t. But I can’t help but look at the conflict between the lands and scoff at how pointless it seems.’ I concluded. 

Marvialasia started this conflict, Ranate perpetuated it. Marvialasia continued this conflict, Ranate fought back against it. Now, we’re at the end. At a point where either Marvialasia or Ranate will be the sole victor. The winner will be seen as the just one, as their thoughts and beliefs proliferate through the captured country’s territory.

Despite the conclusion of this war going something along the lines of that. I found it hard to care too deeply about it. I was roped into this all by the councilwomen, who did so as a response to the looming threat of this war. Allowing me to see their side of the story. To which I couldn’t help but feel a sense of bitterness towards. These Marvialasians were devoid of a choice their whole lives, all forced to conform to their country’s ideals with no room to work around. Can such people really be my enemy? They were human just like me. 

‘Which is why, I find it hard to say whether I can justify either side here. I think all I’d like at the end of this war is for Ana to be safe, our lands to be welcoming towards humans, and for the people of Marvialasia to be able to make their own choice on what they want to do going forward. They need rehabilitation, not extermination.’  I’d wish for them all to come to the conclusion on their own that they are not our enemy. That we don’t need to be enemies. That really this conflict is wholly pointless. A feud between the ex- corrupt queen of Ranate and the current obsessed prince of Marvialasia. A duel between megalomaniacs that should have ended years ago. ‘How utterly pointless.’

When all these details swayed in my head, it seemed like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. As if I knew what I wanted at the end of this conflict, not Ana or what the country needed but an outcome I could be proud to oversee as the king consort of Ranate. It finally felt like I belonged in my position, as if I had reached the starting line of what it meant to be the husband of Ana-Darlington Bliss. 

‘With all that clear… I’m starting to see why those council members want to keep fighting the war. I’d bet they wanna steal some humans off of Marvialasia and pass it off as a spoil of victory… Or maybe even some worse things.’ I thought and pondered. 

As our land was right now, even if we won. Even if victory was achieved of what was good for Ranate, I couldn’t help but feel that Ana and I would be losing on what we really want for this land. We need to win against the policies of the schemers on the council, that being Rheas and Lisa. The goal for us is then not the annihilation of Marvialasia but rather-

“-Boy? Lad? ‘Bit rude to be lost in thought right about now. Your queen will be entering the room any minute now. Make sure to introduce me in a quaint manner.” Anglo interrupted my thoughts. It seemed I was lost in my head for a while, we had already entered the watch tower observatory room. It was empty, with a few windows pouring in sunshine. It was one of two light sources in the room, the other being an extinguished lantern which was most likely used for the night shifts. Anglo had taken his invisibility cloak partially off too, it seemed that the Bullorg had parked us on a table of sorts. Another thing to note was that there was no door between the entrance to the stairway and the empty room Anglo and I were located in.

“Hmm, sorry. I was.”

**Stomp, Stomp!**

Twice I was interrupted in a row. This time however was a pleasant one. I could recognise those footsteps from anyone, they were of an agile person frantically climbing up the watchtower spiral stairway. 

“Leon?! Leon!” The familiar sweet voice called out. Slight exhaustion from climbing up the watchtower was evident in her voice, her breath huffed in and out. Her hair was slightly messy but it was all as I remembered. “Leon. There’s my adorable little man.” She possessively exclaimed as she spotted me on the table. I could hardly even react.

Before I could even react, her hand came in from the side. Like a hungry carnivore ready to devour its prey, it swept me up and captured my whole being in one swoop. Gently of course, or at least a mix between gentle and excited. She was most certainly excited as the pervasive sweat in her palm seemed to give off a salty smell. One I was all but trapped to experience. 

My whole world began to shake. Upside down became rightside up only to return back to upside down in a matter of seconds. My entire being was being hurled up to her face as she dragged me up to get a closer look at me. Her soft, clenched hand relaxed to form an open palm. Where I was I was standing in the middle. She had taken a few steps away from the table too.

“...” There was only silence. I tried to talk but I didn’t even know where to begin. Was I meant to ask if the past month was okay? Or to tell her if I was okay, or the intel or the dwarf or about Marvialasian culture itself? Maybe about the realisation I just had? My own head was being flooded with thoughts. I couldn’t get a word of it out. As I stared up from her palm, her eyes loomed over me. Her pupils shifted ever so slightly. Her gaze dawned upon me as a whole and was searching around my body. Ana’s facial expression was almost neutral, she seemed worried with her mouth only slightly open. Think like a resting position of someone too focused on a task. It was like that.  Just the sight in front of me made me forget about everything that was preoccupying my thoughts. 

She raised her palm higher, I was at level with her lips. She shifted them as they touched one another tenderly. Perhaps the wrong word to use, but it was what came to mind. It was the only way I could describe the sensation I was looking at. My mind was blank, I had seen my wife for only a matter of what felt like seconds and I was already at peace. I couldn’t help but wonder if she felt the same as she returned my silence. 

Her breathing. It had been a long month, but the rhythmic sensation of feeling the cold Ranate air being sucked in and returned out as a warm breath was not lost on me. It was weirdly calming. Instinctively I knew what was next. I closed my eyes in anticipation. 

**Smooch** 

The gentle folds of her lips, the pinkish red structure was the size of my body. It wouldn’t even be a challenge for Ana to poke her tongue out and take me away into her mouth. Yet, despite that ease she didn’t. She wouldn’t do such a thing. I knew that and it was for that reason that my heart rate steadily rose rather than sharply. I wasn’t in a panic, far from it. The dryness of her lips, probably caused by the cold Ranate air, was made apparent to me as that was all I could feel. She was gently pressing me onto her lips. 

**Pweh**

She pulled me back, my form had begun to merge with her muscular folds. Sticking slightly, with the remnants of her saliva acting like an adhesive trapped me in place. So she lightly ripped me away, which created a strange sound.

 From her perspective, I’d reckon I was about 2 cm (0.7 inches) away from her jaw. Despite all that I’d seen in Marvialasia, with humans being eaten alive, I couldn’t help but feel that if Ana were to take me prisoner to her mouth, I would hardly even complain. Perhaps that was my libido talking over my sense of rationality, or maybe it was simply how much I missed home. I didn’t care. This was bliss, and that was all that mattered at that very moment.

It lasted a couple seconds, only for a couple and yet it was probably the most worthwhile thing that had happened to me all month. I wondered if it was the same for Ana? She pulled me closer to her mouth once again, albeit a bit more lazily this time which indicated she wasn’t going for another kiss. Instead, only a feeble whisper. One so gentle that even with how colossal she was as a giantess, I reckon only I could have heard her speak. 

“Welcome home, dear.” 

“It’s good to be back, honey…” I answered back. Slightly embarrassed, which warranted a slight giggle from Ana. She seemed ready to tease me, mock me oh so affectionately. Her face contorted slightly as she perked her lips up a little, as if gesturing something to me. A message I understood immediately. It was for me to complete my sentence, and more importantly for me to express the only thought I had in my head right now.

 “I love you, Ana.” 

“I love you too, Leon.”  She reassured, though I didn’t need reassuring. I felt it loud and clear. She adjusted her palm to squish up against her right cheek, as if to push me right into it. Skinship was important after all, and it was painfully obvious we both wanted more now that we’d reunited. She shifted her head towards the table, it appeared she noticed Anglo. Which made Ana don a slightly pouty face and a sigh, noticing that we’d have to stop our little reunion for a bit. It seemed she was ready to enter her ‘queen’ persona. “Before I forget, remember what we agreed to when you left. You owe me a foot rub later, little man.” It was her final whisper. Before she started taking steps towards the table once more. Lowering her palm, it was now only at her waist height. Loud enough for her to hear me and Anglo still if she tried to listen. 

“Who might this be, Leon?” She captured an authoritative voice once more. Though she gave up on maintaining her usual demeanour, which made sense. Anglo had just witnessed us two a moment prior. Keeping that extra level of domination as a queen wouldn’t do anything.

“This is Anglo, a dwarf that I found captured in Marvialasia. With him, I was able to find some critical information regarding their plans, as well as a way to take them down.”

Ana’s eyes widened at the news. A dwarf? News about Marvialasia? Plans? All of this was exactly as she’d hoped. I could tell. To be honest, I’d be shocked hearing about all this too. Finding a dwarf, that alone would warrant a lot of surprise. Anglo had also decided to remove his most outer layer of clothing, that being the invisibility cloak to fully show his bearded face.  

“I’m Anglo Shackshount. I cannot quite reveal my complete identity at the moment so I preemptively apologise. However, my thanks for your husband, the king consort of this nation can not be overstated.” Anglo’s formalities had taken me by surprise, it did seem weird how he seemed to interchange between his mannerisms. Regardless, it wasn’t in me to pry. “We’ve both discussed ways on how to prepare against the war with Marvialasia, and have created a plan. I’m sure Leon will fill you in with that. However, now that I’m here, I too would like to create an alliance with the giantesses of this country. All in hopes to ultimately wipe out Marvialasia, but also to save my home.” Anglo made his case. Appealing to common interests. “After the war, our land and yours would like to have business. We can discuss this later.”

Ana analysed the information given. She seemed satisfied with almost all she heard. Almost.

“I’m afraid I’m not here to wipe out Marvialasia, no that isn’t my goal. The goal of Ranate is not the annihilation of Marvialasia, but rather the upstaging of the corrupt nobility in charge, in essence it is to allow Marvialasia to rehabilitate itself under our governance.” Ana proudly declared. A statement that made perfect sense of what I was thinking before, of what I had concluded before. As Ana brilliantly put it, the goal is to allow the rehabilitation of Marvialasia. Anything less would be admitting defeat to the corruption of our own land, of Ranate. It would mean admitting defeat to Rheas and Lisa’s policies. It would only add fuel to their fire of what they could say about humans. We couldn’t afford that.

The idea that Ana and I were on the same page, despite not having talked for a month was almost enough to bring a sole tear to my eye. 

“You won’t annihilate Marvialasia? Or take ownership of their people?” Anglo questioned. 

“We will take ownership of their land and country, but I wish to let Marvialasia still be its own culture. We simply need to just change the parts of it that are damaging to us and our beliefs.The start of that begins with removing the current heads of the country, and letting the people make change. There already are some that want it, I can verify that.” Ana answered. 

“... Rulers really are something else. No. That isn’t it. There aren’t many out there that would consider this a viable option. This extends further to something else. Something only you two would do.” Anglo exclaimed. 

“There you go again.” I complained. 

“We live in a world of conquerors and conquered. Yet, here I am watching a giantess love a human, and a human wanting peace with the giantesses. Lad, it really is funny.” Anglo remarked. 

“ Not everyone deserves redemption. I know that. Don’t belittle me, little dwarf. That being said, I’ve seen innocent Marvialasians desire redemption. Many humans from our land are from Marvialasian origin. A soldier may be a weapon of war, but the hand that dealt them to such a position needs to be considered too.” Ana answered. With confidence in spades. 

“I can’t believe this. Everything you were saying lad, it wasn’t all just wish wash. You both realise the people of Marvialasia will hate Ranate still for a long time.” Anglo explained. 

“Naturally, we can’t force them to like us. But if there’s an option where we don’t have to mindlessly kill each other, I’d like to try it. Whether they ever warm up to us will depend on how we treat them.” Ana rebuked. 

Anglo chuckled in a very expressive manner. “I see, I see. You both are really interesting y’know that. Nothing like the humans or giantesses I’m familiar with. Alright, I’ll remove the clause of wiping out Marvialasia from our agreement. I have nothing to gain for causing more trouble to my saviours.” 

“Very well, Anglo Shackshount. I’m in a position to consider your offer.” Ana walked away from the table, where I was still atop her palm which she held up. She began yelling, as she faced the spiral stairway. “Guards, take our guest to the castle suite. Treat him like you would any ally.”

Faintly I could hear footsteps from the bottom of the stairway. It appeared Anglo would be staying somewhere in the castle, guarded, for the time being. As the guard arrived, Ana gave her a set of instructions, some to rely on to someone else.

“Anglo, make yourself at home. I’ve assigned the castle librarian to be your caretaker. We will resume our talk regarding our countries in a bit.” She explained.

“Yes, your majesty. I will be waiting.” Anglo politely gestured as a guard came up in a rush, to gently hoist Anglo up her palm and carry him down. The guard seemed a bit tired too. As for Anglo, I had the feeling I would be seeing him again later, so I didn’t pay our lack of goodbye any mind. Though it was unfortunate. 

“Now, Leon. It’s just the two of us. We have a lot of catching up to do.” 

“Sadly, not the fun kind eh.”I cheekily responded. Trying to lighten the mood.

“It’s unfortunate, sweety. But a lot has happened here on our side, and from the sounds of it a lot has happened with you too.” Ana muttered. “I’ll go first since it's better you know this now rather than later.” 

My ears perked up as I gave her my full attention. As I anticipated the unexpectable. 

“We’ve captured the acting king of Vascar, and a few key members of his forces.”