Chapter 24 – Well, That Happened

Everyone had returned to the prince’s wing to find Prince James and LT Simmons weren’t there.

Sergeant Thorn was not concerned as he knew the lieutenant and he would not risk the prince’s safety. ‘I remember my first ball; I am sure he just found some fun to get into.’

Kira and Mira however were not so calm. They had wanted to start a search of the palace grounds until they turned up. Oddly enough it was Anara and Aeria who calmed them down.

“I bet you it was that bitch from the Rodchester line.” Mira exclaimed.

“It was not. I made sure of that after I saw how she was with him.” Anara commented before casting an ice shard and holding a wicked smile as she continued. “I followed her and her little click until they left the palace. She seemed flustered after her interaction with the prince but seemed more upset with her missed opportunity to ingratiate herself with Lady Firebrand.”

“OK we will unpack why Anara was following Ria later…” Aeria stated.

“What?! I just wanted to make sure she did not have any designs; I mean ill intentions towards our prince.” Anara defended.

“Right… So, as I was saying. I am sure the lieutenant is keeping an eye on him. If I recall Sloane was staying close to the prince all night as well. Let them be, we are his guards not nursemaids.” Aeria commented.

‘Besides the prince could use a chance to let loose and have some fun. Sad it is not with me, but I also would not mind some time with the lieutenant, I just want his hands all over…’

“You have a nosebleed Aeria, wow that is a gusher. Here stop moving around and let me heal you.” Kira said while casting her healing spells on her friend.

A few hours later LT Simmons and Prince James burst into the room in discussion, Sloane not far behind them.

“I’d say that didn’t exactly go as planned your highness.” LT Simmons said as they entered the prince’s private suite early in the morning.

“Nonsense.” Prince James replied.

“What didn’t go quite as planned?” Kira asked as they entered.

“The daughter of the Ambassador from the Feuhari Dynasty practically jumped the prince’s bones. We had to sneak the prince out the window and backtrack to this wing.” LT Simmons replied.

“What?!” Several of the female members of his personal royal knights said at once.

“I’ll kill her. How dare she lay a hand on the prince.” Mira said coldly as she drew one of her daggers.

“You can carve her up after I’ve turned her into an ice statue.” Anara said while her staff started to glow blue, and the temperature of the room dropped a few degrees.

LT Simmons and Prince James looked at each other. Simmons whispered, “I am not touching this one.”

“Really?! Now you draw the line? They are under your command.” Prince James admonished.

“They are your personal royal knights.” LT Simmons replied.

Shaking his head, Prince James spoke up. “Calm down. I think she just had too much to drink.”

“Well, you did challenge the delegation to a drinking contest your Majesty.” LT Simmons said.

Prince James glared at the man he thought was a friend.

LT Simmons just smiled back clearly enjoying messing with him. “What is the phrase you use? Oh right, I’m helping.”

“Yea, sure you are. As I was about to say, I read that drinking was a time-honored tradition of building rapport. If you can drink them under the table, it proves your endurance and virility. I was just improving relations with our neighbors.” Prince James.

“I bet you were.” Aeria joked.

Both Mira and Anara glared at her to which she just held up her hands.

“Hey, she jumped me the moment her father passed out. It’s not my fault.” Prince James protested.

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“She was googly-eying you the whole time, how could you not notice? Also how are you not drunk? I just realized with as much sake as you drank it would knock out a gryphon.” LT Simmons commented.

That only earned the prince more glares.

“Ah that, well technically alcohol is a type of poison. I just kept casting purify poison spell every time I could. Luckily, I can silently cast my spells, so it allows me the ability to be subtle in the use of my magic. Perhaps my focus on cleansing my body and winning over the ambassador had me distracted.” Prince James replied.

“Wait a minute, you can silent cast your spells?!” Kira asked astonished.

“You know, now that you say that I do not recall you saying anything when you cast that fireball spell in the fight against the necromancer.” Mira stated.

‘Ha, it worked. I thought revealing one of my secrets might get them off that train of thought.’

“The moment I could untangle myself I had LT Simmons escort me to the restroom and we snuck out the window. Fortunate for us, we both know body-enhancement magic, otherwise we might’ve broken something with that two-story drop.” The prince commented.

“He was a real gentleman all things considered.” LT Simmons said. That seemed to finally calm the ladies down a bit.

‘Now you say that! Just had to see me sweat, didn’t you. I am going to figure out how to get you back Lex.’ Prince James thought.

“I’ve seen the ambassador’s daughter. She is smoking hot. It would have been hard to say no to that beauty. I mean maybe if one of you ladies had asked but not her. The red hair alone, it’s like liquid fire and her breasts...” Cooper commented, swirling his words a bit as he talked.

It was clear he had been drinking but he didn’t get a chance to finish his comments as the girls’ rage found an outlet. Mira punched him through the door. Anara shot a few icicles into his rear-end as he went flying. Rita, like lightning, shot a few arrows into his backside as well. While Aeria used her wind magic to keep his momentum going until he crashed in the wall at the far end of the hall.

Aeria wasn’t really upset, she just thought it was funny.

Kira got up, “Excuse me your majesty, let me go heal him.”

A few moments later you could see flashes of light, each after a slapping sound as Kira was admonishing the man.

“Don’t...”

SLAP!

“YOU...”

SLAP

“Know not to...”

SLAP

“Talk that way…”

SLAP

“In mixed company!”

SLAP

Prince James, LT Simmons, and the other men just stared dumbfounded at the girls.

“Geez ladies. LT Simmons would you please go ensure Cooper survives Kira’s healing treatment.” Prince James said.

“At once.” LT Simmons said before heading down the hall.

LT Simmons could be heard saying, “Kira, I don’t think you need to keep slapping Cooper to heal him.”

“How do you know that. I must make sure the healing takes effect. He is clearly suffering from poison.” Kira replied.

SLAP

Shaking his head, Prince James ordered Leonard to go see to Cooper’s recovery. “Leonard, make sure Kira’s zealous healing doesn’t kill one of my knights.”

Turning to the remaining members of his personal royal guard, “I’m going to bed. I require a nap for a few hours. I suggest the rest of you try to get some shut eye. Good night.” Prince James said the last while looking disappointed at his female protectors before shutting his bedroom door.

Prince James flopped on his bed.

‘Geez Mikko was gorgeous. I almost gave in. Sadly, I think the ambassador would look unkindly at me deflowering his daughter while he and his men are passed out on the floor. Thank goodness LT Simmons was there. I think she had some kind of magical item because I was about to…’ Prince James thought before his thoughts were interrupted by Sloane.

“My liege, are you still awake?” Sloane said through the Party Link.

“What is it Sloane?” Prince James sent telepathically.

“You were correct about the artifact. It was designed to increase the biological drive in a man. The second part would affect the mind but that seemed to have no effect on your highness. Why is that?” Sloane reported.

“I made myself immune to such mental manipulations and intrusions with a Mental Shield. I had not accounted for my biological drives but that too can be controlled.” Prince James replied through their Party Link.

“Immune? How? Can you teach me?” Sloane asked telepathically.

“Perhaps one day. Give me time. Believe it or not I am still learning a lot. Soul magic is more my specialty over Mind magic though I do have some skill.” Prince James telepathically replied.

“Understood my prince. I was able to plant the devices on Behat and do some investigating while they were passed out.” Sloane answered.

“Good, we can discuss what you found later. Oh, I forgot to ask you, was Ria using a magic item? It felt like what I encountered while with the Feuhari delegation.” Prince James inquired.

“Your highness should know that in my spying on Ria during the ball, I discovered she too had a similar item. I overheard her tell her two friends her father ordered her to use it but she couldn’t after you came to their defense with Lady Nightshade. She said it felt wrong and her two friends agreed.” Sloane telepathically reported.

“Interesting. Perhaps there is hope for her yet. Her father on the other hand. Here I was worried about Duke Arcum. We might need to move up our timetables for Duke Rodchester. Keep me informed and start putting things in motion.” Prince James telepathically replied.

“At once your Majesty!” Sloane telepathically replied.

Before forgetting, Prince James decided to acknowledge everything Sloane did throughout the event. “And Sloane. Good work tonight.”

“Thank you, your Majesty!” Sloane answered.

Prince James could sense Sloane’s satisfaction, both from being so useful to the prince and in his praise. He could tell Sloane didn’t get jealous when he praised others or was distracted in the objectives he had to accomplish. It was like the trust Prince James put in appointing him as spymaster and acknowledgement of the man’s capabilities breathed new life into Sloane. Even Mira and LT Simmons had taken notice.

‘More to consider later. Time to go to my Realm and continue my plans for tomorrow I visit the Dwarves. I also need to give more consideration to finding a head butler and maid. People I can trust who could fill multiple roles for me.’ Prince James thought before opening a portal and entering his domain.