Princess of Balbadd (Magi x Reader)

Dungeons to Dominate

You find him a ways down the hall, leaning into the wall. His body is shaking and even from behind he looks sweaty. You place a hand on his shoulder. Getting closer, you notice his eyes are wide with dilated pupils.

"Sin..."

His voice cracks as he speaks, sounding like he's talking to himself more than you. "We can't...Barbarossa's deal was not a good one. I can see...Sindria's destruction. Vittel should have died...but he didn't. He's right here as he's always been. Him and Mahad charred to ash...Mystras a monster...Rurumu..."

Movement outside the window catches your attention. In the courtyard, Ja'far is helping Rurumu with her four Imuchakk kids. Pipirika and Mystras, who recently announced they were dating, come out and wave to them. Everyone out there was so happy; no clue that Sinbad was suffering from seeing their demise right now.

"...and so many others..." Sinbad continues. He clenches his hand before him and opens back up to stare at his palm. "...and...and Seren...all gone. Zepar should have been mine..."

He looks like he's going to throw up. His hand comes up to clench his face.

In effort to calm him, you hold his arm and rub his back. "Shhhh...We didn't take that island and we're not looking back. Everyone is okay. This was the choice we made. Let's not fret over what could have been."

Shaky, Sinbad replies, "Sorry...just when Vittel mentioned that, all of those visions came flooding into my head. I just need a moment."

"Of course."

~*~

Why does Sinbad have to have such expensive taste? For weeks you and Vittel have tried to cut back on any unnecessary extravagant expenditures, but Sinbad keeps insisting on the best for the palace. He emphasizes housing should be provided at no cost to the citizens. When trying to explain the purpose of taxes, he won't hear of it. It's like he sees himself as some sort of savior that will solve everyone's problems all by himself.

You argue, "And how do you expect to pay for everything you want to provide?! All your company profits and Furfur's treasure have come up drastically short of what you want. I thought each dungeon had enough treasure that you could buy a small country so by now you should have three times that amount! At least that's what your adventure stories claim."

"The exact amount may have been embellished." Sinbad waves to the side like it's no big deal. "If we need more money to build Sindria, the opportunity will present itself."

Ja'far points out, "Sin, even projecting the max profits our company could make in the next three years, it would not be enough."

"Then we'll just have to make more," he confidently counters.

"And how do you propose to do so?"

"(y/n) mentioned it herself..." Everyone turns their heads towards you and you look confused. Sinbad announces, "...I just need to conquer some more dungeons!"

"WHAT?!" everyone gasps.

He reasons, "It will provide us with financial resources at a much quicker pace. Besides, they're dangerous things to be laying around for anyone to wander in and lose their lives. We'd be saving so many people in the process."

Ja'far says, "We currently have about a fifth of what we need. Are you up to taking on so many to fill the gap? That's pretty risky."

"Don't worry. For someone like me, it's a cinch! Let's gather information on places dungeons have been seen so we can go after them!"

"Um...Sin?" you bashfully ask, "Do you think I could come with you on the next one you explore?"

Sinbad looks shocked by your request, but overcomes that quickly. "Now (y/n), dear, I'm entrusting to you the most important duties to make this a success. I need you to oversee development, keep construction up to speed, mediate between involved parties, and all those important tasks. You're the only one who can do these things so our dream can be a reality."

You cross your arms in front of you and pout, "So you're going to leave me here working hard while you go off having fun on adventures."

"After Sindria is complete, we can travel the world together. I promise."

"Once we are ruling, we won't have time to travel."

"Then we'll make time. After all, I met the King of Balbadd in Reim."

~*~

Months pass and within that time Sinbad had journeyed north to the Mistania Republic where he secured a new trade agreement and the djinn Focalor. So far this was the biggest country to join the alliance so meeting their representative, a magician just younger than you named Irene, was a big deal.

Sinbad wasn't home for long before readying for his next adventure. He was going to investigate rumors of a dungeon that had appeared west of Parthevia.

A few nights before his planned departure, a palace guard bursts into your room. It wasn't just any guard, but the one that had accompanied you to Parthevia. The one that Seren could control with Zepar.

Before you can demand the meaning of his behavior, he collapses on the ground. He heaves and lifts his head with seemingly much effort.

"(y/n)? It's me..." he says in a familiar demeanor foreign for his normal self.

"Seren?!" You rush over and prop the guard into a sitting position.

"Please...help...get Sinbad..."

With that it seems as if Seren passes out, relinquishing control back to your confused guard.