The next "morning", I changed to the ceremonial armor from the parade, put my helmet underneath my arm, and blasted the doors open.
"His Highness [The Fierce Imperial Prince] Percival has returned!" The sentry cried as we emerged from the tunnel into true sunlight.
The Labyrinth garrison quickly formed ranks to salute me. I stood impassible and pretending to be irritated as I waited for them to finish maneuvering. The commander approached from the far side.
"Your Highness," He said as I felt the sting of an {Appraise} attempt on me. The guy had no subtlety. "Welcome back. Ladies," he nodded at the armored girls by my sides and back at me. "How was your delve?"
"Very productive once I got rid of the traitors, poachers, cowards, and otherwise useless people," I replied with a bothered and disinterested tone.
The officer glanced behind me and then at a [Scout] nearest to the Tunnel. The scout dashed into the Labyrinth, probably to check on base camp.
"I see. Level seventy-four, that's impressive, Your Highness. What about your escorts?"
I knew he had attempted to {Appraise} them and failed miserably. Not only they were wearing their veils but also under the effect of my own obfuscation Ability. And yes, I attuned both to stack.
"None of your business," I growled. He took a step backward.
"Of course, Your Highness, forgive my curiosity."
"Ready the carriages, I'm tired, bored, and want to go home."
Bored [Imperial Princes] were dangerous to linger around. Only the Gods could fathom what they would do to entertain themselves. He still made me wait until the [Scout] came back.
"There's no living people anywhere in the near Labyrinth, sir!" The soldier reported as he saluted the commander. "Base camp is clean but I could see signs of fighting in the walls and floor. The door was blasted from the inside too."
The commander glanced at me. I scowled and glared back, daring him to ask me something. I held both girls' gauntlets and started to walk forward, which was also in his general direction. With a start, he jumped out of the way and bowed. The soldiers also bowed as I went, and once I was ten meters away he barked to the same scout, "Go and make sure His Highness' carriage is ready. He'll need only the one."
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As I suspected, it was already Spring in the Empire. It was important to return after the thawing of the snow because the debutante was always held in the Winter solstice. Now I gained another year to further my plans before I was introduced to society in full. After the delve, a few nobles would approach but these contacts were far apart and sporadic. Law forbade them from introducing their daughters to me, for example.
I had no interest in taking noblewomen to my bed but I would have to as Madge and I talked yesterday. An unspoken contest between the princes tallied how many noble ladies they laid with, with black-market betting on the scores. The unspoken reputation of each Imperial scion hinged on that score and I couldn't suffer gossip about my masculinity reaching Rhiannon's ears. She was happy with my recent accomplishments but her frail mental fortitude required constant vigilance.
In that regard, unless I resorted to heavy Mental magic, it would be hard to heal her. Increasing her mental Attributes would help and once I got permission to travel to Raswaria to revive the salted and burned highland country, I would use the creatures I had with me and level her up. Her Class' rarity was (very rare) and social-focused, so her mental progression was rather good as her points were skewed away from the physical and mystical aspects of the Status Sheet.
We reached the front of the garrison and already a lot of people and Adventurers gathered to see me. The former wanted to see the Prince because of his celebrity status, the latter wanted to be the first to rush to the grand reopening of the Labyrinth. The carriage waited for us.
"Saddle three horses and ready the cavalry for the parade back to my Palace. I'm not riding this stupid carriage!" I shouted before everyone. Turning to the driver and footmen team, I continued, "{Disembark from the vehicle}!" They obeyed the {Royal Order} as I brought the Adamantite great club out of the item box and brought it down across the carriage, smashing it to splinters even though it was enchanted. It was a display of power and a statement. The crowd remained silent for a few seconds until a few Adventurers started to cheer.
Percival's public image and how people would react to him depended on how I acted on these public appearances. Killing the expedition, smashing the carriage, giving zero fucks to idiots who knocked at my gate, eliminating the mage who coveted my power either to steal or to make me his apprentice, all of these actions should mold public opinion about me.
Percival would suffer no fools, no scheming people after a quick profit off of him. To the Empire, I would be ruthless, mindlessly devoted to the [Emperor], and intolerant of silver-tongued nobles. I wished to cleanse the Empire of all parasites and I would start with whoever crossed my path.
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Splendid horses appeared as if conjured by magic. I approached the barded destriers and ran my hand over their necks, exerting a bit of Mind magic on them to build rapport and make sure they would obey my commands. With an order from me, the girls mounted on their horses at the same time as I did.
The cavalry came galloping to escort us. Usually, it would take a lot of time to get everyone out of the Labyrinth, kiss the ground in thanks for returning safely to the surface, and then get everyone back on the carriages. But as the expedition was a complete wipe and I knew a ton of contradicting rumors would spread like wildfire, the protocol was thrown out the window. Defenestrated, as the French say.
We rode back to Rhiannon's Palace through the snaking streets of the Imperial Capital, our impromptu victory parade necessary so people could confirm the [Prince]'s level. A lot of betting money would change hands as I got one of the highest levels among all my brothers. It was important to establish my status as a powerhouse as the nobles would prey on the weak and many would like very much their puppet [Prince].
The silent and mysterious women in shining plate armor rode close to me, as I kept the rapport link with their horses, making sure they would stay in my obfuscation range. I even gained two points of {Appraiser} for my troubles. I knew rumors about who they were would circulate and boost interest around me. I had to keep an Empire on their toes, guessing stuff about me. This way they would be on the back foot when they came to negotiate with me.
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Finally, we came upon the expanded walls of my palace. They built a second set of walls around the original ones, and a gatekeep to host the bureaucrats assigned to me. The usual magical scrying sensors quickly gathered on the air high above us, watching my return.
"Open the gate! His Highness Percival returns victorious!" The crier shouted from the top of the square gatehouse.
The portcullis rose and we entered the narrow but wide courtyard between the two walls. I checked my enchantments and they stood strong. Nobody had tampered with them and I would know if it happened. The knights escorting us turned around and departed. We dismounted as the portcullis clanged on its rail.
"Here we are, back home," I told the girls. "Now, let us make haste. Take the horses in with us."
I layered an illusion of the gates on top of the real ones as they opened. Nobody shall peek inside.
"Your Highness," the same bureaucrat from before approached. "Welcome back home. How was the labyrinth?"
"We killed scores, hundreds of monsters as we ranged nonstop through the tunnels. I have all of them here in my ring," I pointed at one of the empty and depowered storage rings in my finger. They were just for show. "But now we're going home. Keep up the good job securing our gates."
"About that, would Your Highness grant us..."
"No!" I glared at him. "I know what you're going to ask, everyone inside is fine. Did the supply transfer artifact I gave you work?"
"Yes, it worked splendidly. We were wondering if we could meet the master enchanter who made them and reinforced your walls. The Empire needs such talented people."
I expected they would try to reverse-engineer my enchantments and fail.
"Too bad he's not here. It was a traveling master, one I hired on a whim. He surprised me too," I lied.
The bureaucrat didn't buy it but took it in stride. He bowed deeply. "Very well. Thank you for your time, Your Highness."
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Rhiannon, Amina, Marion, and most of the Palace staff came to the front door to meet us. They looked hale and healthy and that put a smile on my face.
The girls used their storage rings to remove the cumbersome armor from their bodies, quickly swapping for the more comfortable battle dresses. The veil was gone too, as we were safe inside my enchanted walls.
Most of the open space was converted into pastures for the silk cows or crop fields. I could see wheat, golden and ready to harvest, corn, barley among other crops. On a corner next to the walls, a baby orchard tried to rise above the fences separating the areas. The silk cattle were happily grazing, the peapura clucked and chirped in their pen.
We dismounted and ran to greet the important people we left behind all these months. Rhiannon's grin was enormous and warm as she noticed my official level. Marion was amazed at the girls. Their improved Attributes changed their bodies slightly, pushing them to more adult and curvaceous shapes as their improved Charisma could also be felt on a subconscious level. They now felt dangerous and powerful, just as I intended.
"Mother, I am back, victorious."
I hugged her and she covered my cheeks with kisses on both sides. "I'm so proud of you, my [Prince]! Level seventy-four!" She exulted. "And the girls too! Marvelous!"
Mona and Madge curtsied before the [Concubine-Queen] as protocol demanded.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Percival treated us very well," Mona purred out loud, making some malcontent gold-digging maids grind off an eighth of an inch out of each row of teeth they had.
Madge just chuckled as she elbowed her adoptive sister. Rhiannon raised a worried eyebrow and stared at me.
"You're wise, my son," she replied cryptically as she sighed in relief. "Marion, Amina, follow us. Madge and Mona, you're promoted to Percival's personal maids."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The four women replied as the palatial staff parted like water to let us through.
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I erected a privacy ward as we secluded ourselves in one of the many sitting rooms in the palace. Amina and Marion couldn't hold their anxiety as they fidgeted, curious to know why they were summoned to follow us.
"Before we address the reason for this meeting, I want to thank you for taking care of my mother," I told the two women. "Marion, your daughters had no want or danger in the Labyrinth. I protected them as they both were very precious to me. They didn't slack on their training either as you can see in their levels."
Touched and reassured, Marion sighed and bowed deeply, "Thank you, Your Highness."
"Stand, Marion. You're like a second mother to me. You'll always have a special place at my table and my heart. Isn't it right, mother?"
"Absolutely," Rhiannon said with a regal tone. "Marion, your service to this House was inestimable. We hope to have you with us for decades more."
"Your generosity warms this old woman's heart, Your Majesty," Marion replied.
"Amina, your loyalty was not overlooked," I continued. "I shall grant you one wish. Ask for anything your heart desires, and it shall be yours."
The [Healer] sniffled, "I wish to see Raswaria rise from the ashes, Your Highness."
Mona chuckled. I glared at her. She imitated a gesture I did back in the labyrinth and zipped her mouth shut.
"Your wish is granted, Amina. However, I cannot count that wish against your boon for it is the burning desire of the Raswarian Royal Family to see their Realm rebuilt. Think about it and ask for another boon later."
"I vow to serve Raswaria and our Royal Family until the day I die."
"And beyond, I hope," I said in jest.
Amina misinterpreted my joke and knelt, "I pledge my soul to you if you rebuild Raswaria, Your Highness."
I approached her and drew my sword. "Amina, your pledge has been heard and witnessed by the Matriarch. I now bestow in Her name the blessing of Priesthood. No longer a [Healer], you shall be a [Bishop] in the Matriarch's faith, if your pledge is true."
She whimpered as the notifications popped in front of her. It was a huge retroactive promotion to (ultra-rare) considering her (uncommon) Class. As she accepted the changes, she became aware of the Divinity around her and the two senior priestesses next to me. Amina prostrated herself, touching the floor with her forehead.
"Praised be the Matriarch and her infinite kindness and protection."
"Praised be the Matriarch!" M&M replied in unison.
> Amina's Faith rose by 3.
>
> Mona's Faith rose by 1.
>
> Madge's Faith rose by 2.
The only business better than being a deity was to run a credit card company.
"Arise, [Bishop] Amina. Stand by the side of your sisters in faith. This promotion was not your boon. I still wait to hear your heart's wish."
Amina nodded and was helped back on her feet by the girls. Marion and my mother already knew about the girls' classes but not that they were (unique). But Rhiannon looked at me with a puzzled face. She knew granting Classes and stuff like candy was not something I should be able to. Fortunately, she didn't ask about that straight away.
"Now that the greetings are done, let me tell you. I told the girls all of our shared secrets while in the Labyrinth. Mona has some words for you, mother."
I took a step back and the bubbly girl (who let her title show at that very moment) jumped on Rhiannon's neck, sobbing and giggling at the same time. "Mother! I love you, mother! Thank you for letting me live!"
The Queen's decade-plus accumulated guilt overflowed as she hugged her daughter. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Mona! They would've killed us all if I hadn't done that!"
"I hold no resentment, mother!" She cried back. "I know how painful it was to see me but treat me like a stranger. Yet I always felt kindness in your eyes." Mona turned around to look at Marion. "You're still my mom. I'm blessed to have two mothers and two twin siblings now."
"So it should be, my daughter," Rhiannon replied and {Appraised} Mona. "How?" She shouted. "How does she have the title?"
Mona activated her {Hidden Royalty} Perk. "Worry not, mother," she giggled to disarm Rhiannon's concerns. "Percival taught Madge and me how to hide our Royal status."
"Mona!" Madge protested. "I wanted to tell them that! We agreed!"
The [Princess] put the tip of her tongue out and giggled. "Oops. Sorry, Your Majesty."
Three women stared at Madge.
"I married Madge and crowned her [Queen-in-Exile] of Raswaria. Madge, show them your title. I'll show mine as well."
Rhiannon checked both of us and turned to Marion. "Marion, my dear. Not only do we share a daughter but we are in-laws now. But I cannot recognize this marriage!" She said, imperious.
That struck Madge like a sledgehammer. She almost cried, "Why not, Your Majesty!"
This is what I wished was Rhiannon's normal demeanor. Happy, light, and calm. But it was just the euphoria of my triumphant return and the results of four months of hard work. I should've talked to her and offered treatment one more time. I didn't because I feared ruining the mood.
Mother and daughter laughed, probably reading each other's minds. "Because we need a wedding party, silly!" Mona chirped.