Accidental King 3

Chapter 1

“It’s been incredible,” Kashiann said with a jovial grin. “The crops are thriving, and it’s all thanks to you, Your Majesty.”

“I just had the idea,” I chuckled. “You and the farmworkers deserve way more credit than me.”

I gazed out at the new crops around the formerly ruined village with Yori by my side. So much had been destroyed by the Drolg when they invaded the peasant village, but with the help of my new Master of Agriculture and the hardworking people of the village, the crops were returning.

On my first visit to the village shortly after I’d been sucked into this strange world and became King of Nalatria, I’d been horrified by the burned buildings, ruined fields, and death toll. Now, just a few short months later, they were recovering better than I could have hoped for.

In the past, the people of this village had depended on rainfall and transporting water by hand to their crops.

I’d been able to use my admittedly limited knowledge of aqueducts to improve the situation.

I’d understood just enough about the watering system ancient Earth cultures had developed.

Then, with the help of my Masters, we’d drawn up plans and executed a prototype system of channels to bring the water from the nearest river directly to the fields in Kashiann’s home village.

“It’s the best thing I’ve ever seen,” Yori said, and she looked up at me with adoration in her wide, brown eyes. “You’ve improved these people’s lives more than you’ll ever know.”

I smiled softly at my dark-haired lover. I knew exactly how much I’d changed these people’s lives, and I was ecstatic to have been able to help.

“Do you have suggestions for how to improve the system, Kashiann?” I asked.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” he said. “I’ve been working directly with Jakab to figure out where there are issues and how we can fix them. He’s taken very precise notes of everything they encountered during the digging process.”

“Excellent.” I held out my hand for the paper Kashiann offered me and scanned it.

The ground in this part of Nalatria was very rocky, and it looked like the biggest hurdle my people had to overcome was clearing the path in a direct enough route to make sure the water continued to flow.

“Did you only use shovels for digging?” My eyebrows furrowed as I studied Jakab’s notes. “You don’t have pickaxes?”

“What’s a pickaxe?” Kashiann asked in confusion.

“Sounds like Helga and Gertrude would be friends,” Yori joked as she patted her twin axes where they were holstered on her back.

I rolled my eyes affectionately at my warrior woman. Even though we were plenty safe in the village after I’d defeated the leader of the Drolg, she never left the castle without them.

“It’s a specific tool,” I said with a smile. “It’s got a sharp point and a flat side. It will make clearing stones a lot easier. I think they can also be used to break up rocks, but I might be wrong on that point.”

“Oh, that sounds like a very useful tool,” Yori said. “For digging or for impaling heads.”

“Um, yes,” I laughed. “I’ll get my weapons designer on it. I’m sure he’ll be able to take what I know about them and produce designs for a very effective tool.”

“That would be great,” Kashiann said. “The digging took the most time for this process.”

“I’m not surprised by that,” I said.

I took a moment to scan the fields. They were lush with growing green things that would grow into a verdant wealth of food, not just for the people of the village, but for the country as a whole.

The villages in the eastern part of my new home provided a lot of food for people all across Nalatria, and as their king, it was part of my duties to make sure my people were fed.

Of course, these villages weren’t the sole source of fruit and vegetables, but they were a major one, and the destruction a few months back had been a serious issue.

Warmth spread through my chest at everything Kashiann and the villagers had been able to accomplish.

“How soon will the aqueduct plans be finalized?” I asked. “I want to get this system up and running in the next three villages within a fortnight.”

“They’re nearly done, Your Majesty,” Kashiann replied. “Jakab was finishing a final, clean copy of everything this morning.”

“Great.” I grinned. “I’d like a copy sent directly to the castle, too, please. I want one kept safe in the archives. This information is too critical to risk losing it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Kashiann nodded.

“And I’ll have the pickaxes designed and produced by my smiths as soon as I can,” I said. “They won’t replace the shovels, but they will help speed up the process a lot.”

Kashiann, Yori, and I discussed a few more details before my lover and I headed back to my carriage. It was a fairly long journey back to the castle, and I wanted to get home before dark.

As I helped Yori up into King Oberis’ old carriage, it looked like every single peasant in the village gathered around to bid us farewell. The people’s faces were bright with hope and gratitude as they waved us off, and pride settled like a warm drink in my stomach.

Yori and I waved as my team of soldiers and servants moved us away from the village. Then we settled into our seats for the hours-long ride back to my castle.

It still felt a little insane to think about the fact that I was a king in some medieval-era country in a world I’d never heard of.

I never would have dreamed that my 2015 Chevy Malibu would have crash-landed on the old king and left me inheriting his throne, his country, and his harem of beautiful women, but here I was.

“What are you thinking about?” Yori asked, and she leaned forward to walk her fingers up my thigh.

“Hmm?” I hummed and shifted my attention to the present. “What?”

“You look very lost in your thoughts,” she giggled. “But in a good way. I was wondering what you were thinking about.”

I sighed. “I was thinking about how much things can change in such a short time. It was only a few months ago that I didn’t know anything about this place… About you, Nalatria, or the village. Now, I’m making a really good, positive impact on so many people’s lives.”

Yori’s brown eyes warmed with love as she looked at me.

“It feels good,” I said.

“It sure does,” she teased and squeezed my upper thigh.

She laughed and leaned back in her seat across from me.

“How long do you think it will be before the aqueducts are all across the country?” she asked.

“Oh,” I laughed. “It’ll probably be a while.

I want to spread the plans around fast, but I also want to make sure they’re effective and efficient before we invest all the time and labor into the infrastructure.

It would come back to bite us in the ass if we rush ahead before we work all the bugs out. ”

“That’s a good point,” Yori said with a nod. “You’re so fucking smart.”

I snorted. “Maybe.”

I suspected I was just lucky to have come from a world with more advanced technology. I had plenty of Earth ideas to share, but it wouldn’t have done anyone a lick of good without the practical, hands-on knowledge of my Masters and the teams around me to put them in action.

Yori smiled and lifted her feet up to prop them on the seat beside me. I picked up her right foot, shifted it into my lap, and tugged her leather ankle boot off.

“Ooooh,” Yori moaned as I pressed my thumb into her arch. “That feels good.”

The corner of my lips quirked up in a lazy smile, and I laid my head back against the headrest. Yori and I settled in for the ride, and I massaged her feet until all the knots were gone.

Then she insisted on doing the same for me, and her strong fingers worked their magic on my aching arches until I fell asleep.

The gentle rocking of the carriage let me sleep away most of the journey, and when I opened my eyes, Yori was snoring softly across from me. I smiled at how sweet and adorable my fierce warrior looked in the comfort of sleep.

Yori had lived a hard life before I came into it.

She had been born into a peasant village and worked the fields until Oberis had chosen her to join his royal harem.

It would be easy to assume that becoming a member of the king’s royal harem would mean a life of lavishness and luxury, but the king before me had been an ass.

He’d betrayed more than a few of his subjects, and he’d never given Yori the care or attention she deserved.

She’d still been wearing the peasant clothing when I’d come to Nalatria, and it had taken me weeks to convince her she was worthy of high-quality clothes, even if she didn’t want to wear fancy dresses like Serra or Tanell.

Yori’s new wardrobe consisted of pants and blouses that were sturdy enough to endure her active lifestyle, but they were elegant and fine in a way her old clothes never had been.

Now, instead of scratchy canvas and rough wool, she wore clothes made of the softest cotton and finest linen.

She had a coat made of the softest leather, and her boots were made to stand up to her energetic and feisty personality.

I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to make up for all the hardships my lovers had endured at the hands of the former king, but I was ready to spend the rest of my life trying.

“Whoa!” the driver called outside the carriage, and the horses came to a stop.

I reached over, tucked a long lock of black hair behind Yori’s ear, and stroked her soft cheek.

“We’re home,” I murmured.

“Yay,” Yori mumbled as she rubbed the sleep from her face. “I’m hungry.”

“No way,” I chuckled. “My Yori? Hungry? Never.”

She smiled at me and playfully slapped my hand.

“Your Majesty.” One of my footmen knocked on the carriage door. “We have returned to the castle.”

“Thank you,” I said.

The footman opened the door and offered his hand to help Yori down. She stretched, took his hand, and climbed out of the carriage. I followed right behind her and had a long look at my home.