"I informed Talla that she has to slow down building the city. The people moving there wont reach the city for another two and a half weeks anyway. In the meantime, I ordered her to think about the new city’s name, and she seems to be considering it very seriously." I exhaled loudly. Being crystalized was a nerve-wracking experience that I never wanted to experience again.
"That's good... Theon, I think that at least one of us should always accompany you from now on." Amber was much calmer now since the danger was averted.
"That's understandable..." I sighed.
"Oh? I was expecting more of a fight." Irene replied with a bit of amusement in her voice, but in truth, she was relieved.
"I fully deserved this, my Darling." I hugged her and kissed the top of her head. "But yes. No fighting on my side. I can't see or make the World's System inform me about my Humanity levels. I'm probably still in shock, so maybe I will still feel weird for the next few days... But... No. I won't. I love you, my Ladies, so this might be a good chance for us to have more time together."
"If I didn't know you better, I would have thought you staged this..." Luna smiled warmly and kissed me while the rest of my queens started laughing.
"But you do feel better, yes?" Lavender asked meekly, standing behind me.
"I will live..." I smiled as she leaned over me, resting her head on my shoulder and wrapping her arms around my chest, hugging me and kissing my cheek.
We sat silently for a moment, which I knew wouldn't last long. At least it was evening, so no one would be that alarmed by the sudden disappearance of the Queens. I suddenly started chuckling, which not long after evolved into laughter. My wives looked at me suspiciously, so I tried to explain myself. "You see, my Darlings, I just discovered a completely new area where I am stupid."
•••
We woke up the following day very early. As always, the reason for this was all the things we had to do. Even Irene had woken up by now and was preparing for the hopefully merry day. I looked over the reports, and only a few people noticed something odd, which was fine. With that relatively good information in my head, I took my morning shower, which Lavender playfully disrupted. When we came out, I saw the telling smirks on my other wives' faces. I grabbed something to eat and focused on my to-do list while my wives joked and laughed.
"Are you ready, Theon?" Amber asked for a second time, but she still was smiling.
"Yes. Yes, of course, my Dear! Sorry, I was distracted by checking if everything was ready."
"The people have been gossiping about these festivals for the past few days." Luna finished her hot chocolate.
"I think everyone deserves a day off." Amber sighed as she couldn't decide what dress she should wear.
"Okay... So we have like two hours for the glorious return of Blair, Ban, and all the forces under their command." I managed to cover my yawn. "I'm sorry... Anyway, I can't wait to see their victorious parade. Are you sure you don't want to lead them?"
"Sorry, but no." Amber frowned. "I have no desire to smell like a horse, and leading the parade from a carriage is silly."
"Okay..." I decided not to argue.
"The people are so excited it is beyond our dreams." Hestia meekly smiled. "Zeus, Zephyr, and Hera will be with Blair and Ban when they bring Cridia's symbols of power in front of us."
"Then, at noon, the Metaka delegation should arrive," I reminded them and heard their moans. "I know that will leave us with barely two hours until the Grand Ceremony, but I have an idea how to cheat that one. We just say a simple hello to Metakans, and I will then invite them to the Grand Ceremony. I already informed them about this, and they seemed happy with that arrangement."
"That is great! We will welcome them officially during the party, right?" Irene was trying to decide on her gown but was no more successful than Amber.
"That is actually a great idea." I nodded after rubbing my chin. "So I guess... Let's get ready?"
Then I learnt the sheer terror of the six women arguing and deciding about dresses and dress codes for the entire day. There was no escape for me...
•••
The parade ranks of the Guardsmen, wearing their black and silver armours, slowly entered the city. The crowds were cheering, young girls and children threw flower petals in front of them, and the Guardsmen walked proudly, presenting their shining gear. Rows of shield bearers with shining halberds slowly scaled the wide streets of Avalon, and seeing the people genuinely cheering for them made many of them barely hold back their tears of happiness. Banners stretched over the streets welcomed home the victorious army. But the Guardsmen knew that it was not exactly the case. Scions Galahad and Morrigan had led the first and second Legions, as well as one thousand Praetorians, to quench the rebellion that had already broken out. So, only the remaining Legio Aegis and the rest of the Praetorians had returned with them. However, the Guardsmen followed their great commanders and the three Gods who led them in front of the large podium where the King and the Queens were waiting. The battle of the Cridia's capital was not one-sided, and many of the legionnaires were killed during the confrontation, as well as a few hundred Guardsmen who lost their lives during the securing of the city itself.
Lords-general Blair and Ban led over twelve thousand Guardsmen through the cheering crowds. They rode their war horses slowly and waved at the crowds. Right behind them, the three Gods of Arcadia were floating in the air, spreading the air of authority and cheerful smiles. The closer they came to the central plaza of the Middle Castle, the faster Blair's heart beat, and he had to force himself to not hasten his horse. With barely hidden happiness, Blair finally noticed her. Callicarpa, his Beautyberry, sat on the same platform as Annika, Ban's wife. They were right next to the platform of King Theon and his Queens, smiling proudly at them. The first Guardsmen battalion filled the plaza, and the rest of the soldiers marched, saluting the Royal Family on their way towards the garrison. Silence befell the crowds as Blair and Ban jumped from their horses, and followed by the three Gods, approached the King and the Queens.
"My King and Queens! We have brought you the symbols of power that the rulers of Cridia once proudly wore." Ban started with a bow, followed by Blair. The Gods took their place near the Goddess Queen of Avalon.
"Welcome home, brave soldiers of Arcadia!" the King's proud voice rolled through the plaza.
•••
"Oh... My... Gods..." Cassmira moaned meekly, seeing the walls of what must have been Avalon.
"This is a dungeon!" Leonard was in the same shock as his sister. "I know they assured our safety, but... This is a little too much to believe."
Their carriage passed the imposing gatehouse that dwarfed the gates of Yranta, the capital of Metaka, and the twins could only stare at each other in poorly masked terror. However, they soon emerged on the other side, unable to believe their eyes. The smooth and broad road that connected the two gatehouses split the lush green grass of a calm meadow full of beautiful and colourful flowers.
"This is not a thing you’d expect instead of a dungeon..." Leonard carefully observed the surrounding area.
"Oh, do tell me..." Cassmira sighed sarcastically. "Imagine that I never was in a dungeon."
"I know..." The Prince looked at his hands, and she knew he was trying to confirm something with his skills. "But this can't be right..." he whispered. "A safe zone?!"
Cassmira nervously chuckled as their carriage swiftly covered the distance between the two mighty gatehouses. Once they merely crossed the invisible boundary inside, their eyes went wide. Their carriages slowed down, and the twins were shaken to the core by the sight in front of the window. A number of lovely, unblemished buildings overlooked the road they were following. The bustling streets of Avalon were full of life, and people were occupied with something interesting.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
"The Grand Festival..." Cassmira paled, seeing the incredible dresses of some of the women. "Leo... I really hope the King lets us go after a brief hello..."
"Whaaaa...?" Her brother managed to groan, but he couldn't take his eyes off the views outside.
"Leo, my Brother, look at me..." She cradled his stunned face in her hands and was very close to flicking his forehead when he finally returned to his senses.
"Have you seen that blacksmith store?!"
"Leo... I really have to step up my game to not look like a beggar. This is no Cridia, and we are not in Metaka where I could outshine even Vettalia!"
"Whaaa...?"
"Leo, we have like three hours till the start of the Grand Ball, and trust me... I'm going to turn your life into hell and quite possibly kill you if you don't briefly say hello to King Theon now so we can prepare!"
"Ughh... You seem suddenly more interested..."
"Leo?" She unceremoniously interrupted him, giving him a somber gaze.
"Yes?" He asked, knowing fully well what he was going to hear.
"Shut up..." Yes. There it was.
He laughed, but in truth, with each passing moment, he was increasingly intrigued by everything he saw. If they could manage to stay alive, this assignment might turn out to be the best thing that happened in their lives. They fairly quickly travelled the last strides towards what seemed to be an upper castle, and they marvelled at the scenic architecture and incredible parks they passed along the way. Their carriages stopped at the impressive courtyard in front of the palace. Lady Lanka and Major Thiule were already waiting for them with the honour guards. Cassmira had quickly come to like the Nekomi, who turned out to be an extremely entertaining conversation partner during their week-long journey to Avalon. Leonard had also seemed to form some unexplainable bond with the Major, with whom he practised sword fighting on every single occasion to great dismay and an even greater headache for Captain Hassam. It was a fight her brother has yet to win...
They briefly exchanged pleasantries and followed the Arcadians. They entered the grandeur halls, and as the descendants of one of the oldest royal families of Aderon, they knew exactly the reason behind such decorations. This place was built to show the greatness of its master; its intimidating sizes and lavish decorations were meant to instil fear and awe. But the precious materials used to build this place wouldn't be enough to impress the twins, if the rest of the city was in shambles. But it wasn't. They had seen the city and the people who walked its streets, and the sight was nothing short but awe-inspiring. They stopped in front of the set of extensively large gates made of enchanted wood, exchanging nervous looks. On their way to Avalon, they spent many hours imagining and preparing for this very scenario. But standing in front of these gates, they simply felt outclassed. Even worse was the fact that they were incredibly short on information regarding the King and his Queens.
They had managed to get some scarce information from Lady Lanka and Major Thiule. However, they knew that these two wanted to see the reaction of the Royal Twins, so they were not very cooperative. From what little they learned, however, the King was probably the most powerful warrior that had ever existed. It was a bold claim, to be fair, considering the fame and tales of ancient Heroes summoned by the Gods thousands of years ago. According to every Arcadian they managed to ask, each of the Queens of Avalon was an unmatched beauty. The twins could hardly believe that either. Somehow, Cassmira was expecting an older man, still capable of fighting but well past his prime. However, according to the hastily made projections of intelligence, that man would be extraordinarily sharp-witted and cunning since he managed to achieve so many hidden achievements despite so many prying eyes. As for the Queens, they both agreed it was relatively common to hear that any Queen was the most beautiful woman in the Kingdom. Yet... The uncertainty and anxiety quickly loomed over their hearts as they felt a power that dwarfed the aura of the Praetorians just beyond these very doors. They felt as if they had been standing in front of those doors for ages, yet only a few seconds had passed before the doors opened.
The twins entered an enormously large room full of even more grandiose and lavish decorations than the chambers that led here. Gilded statues of various animals stood along the aisle to the central platform. Vast and vivid paintings of beautiful scenery adorned the walls and the ceiling. The standards of the Legions of Avalon proudly marked their path, hanging from the massive pillars supporting the ceiling, making them feel small and irrelevant. The thrones of Arcadia stood on the high platform, which led to ten steps made of white marble with veins of precious metals and gemstones. As they slowly strolled, overwhelmed by the untold riches that allowed them to build a city like this, they noticed many captured Cridia's flags and standards displayed across one of the walls. In a display cabinet, clearly placed there to be seen by anyone approaching the thrones, they noticed the crown, sceptre, and mantle that was unmistakably Cridian. The symbols of power of one of the three strongest countries of Aderon had been reduced to simple trophies. The standards of the First Holy Army of Berna were displayed on the other side of the room, which meant that Arcadia was far more capable than anyone back home imagined. The twins only needed a single glance at each other to convey their shock. Then they turned their gazes with the King of Arcadia, and were stunned. He was not only young but surrounded by six women of unprecedented beauty. However... The friendly but impatient smile on his face and the angry grins of the Queens confused the siblings. Their confusion grew considerably as he, the master and lord of this magnificent city, stood up, and followed by his Queens, stepped down off the dais. With his arms open wide in a friendly gesture, he welcomed them as long time not seen friends.
"My name is Theon Avalon, Princess Cassmira, Prince Leonard," he started with a friendly tone and shallow nod, acknowledging their royal position. "I welcome you at my home with open arms as a friend and hopefully an ally of your great Empire. Please, allow me to introduce you to my wives."
After a brief nod from the surprised twins, he started to introduce his Queens before they could react any further. The women gently nodded and warmly smiled at them after their introduction, bewitching anyone unprepared, but the royal siblings accepted this form of a welcome with relief. In the meantime, the King continued. "As much as I wanted to welcome you properly at my home, I must beg for your understanding of our situation..."
"Indeed, King Theon, I wish to assure you that our Father sent us to establish a friendly relationship with the Kingdom of Arcadia," Cassmira replied with a shallow but respectful bow, catching her brother completely off-guard. "I thought I was fully aware of the circumstances, but now I think we need all the time we could spare to prepare for the upcoming event. With great pleasure, we accepted the invitation, and now, with even greater anticipation, we await the celebration. Thus, without further ado, we should all prepare."
"I'm thankful for your understanding, and I can't wait to see you at the party."
While the Royalty of both countries conversed, the members of their diplomatic retinue deposited the official letters of instalment and accreditation in the hands of Arcadian officials. In turn, they obtained keys to the mansion prepared for the embassy of the Empire of Metaka. They would be guided there by the Praetorians in the shortest way possible. On their way out of the Palace, the Prince and Princess were silent, but once they closed the doors to their carriage, they looked at each other in shock.
"HE HOPES TO BE OUR FRIEND?!" Leonard ruffled his hair. "Gods! I hope that no one gets the brilliant idea to try to attack Arcadia back at home... He completely controlled that meeting!"
"And his high class style? The way he stepped down from that platform and the way he greeted us really showed his good intentions. It's one thing to listen to someone like him claim to be your friend as you see him look down on you from up there and another when he walks down and shakes your hand..." Cassmira shook her head in disbelief. "I think he is honest, brother."
"Oh, undoubtedly... With his wealth and power, he can afford to be that honest. As father used to say: real honesty is a privilege reserved only for those wielding absolute power."
"I noticed that as well. During such an event, father's court would be full of his ministers, advisors, and important nobles. He had just a few lower-rank diplomats, exactly enough to facilitate our lower-rank diplomats... He knows far more about us than we know about him, brother..." The Princess heavily sat in her usual spot, and the carriage moved towards their new mansion.
"How will you hold yourself back, Cass?" Leonard carefully studied his sister's thoughtful face as she sighed.
"What is that supposed to mean?" she asked, appearing offended.
"You know full, goddamn well, sis. If you fall for him and somehow manage to convince him to marry you, that will create a nightmarish situation for Metaka!"
"I..." She raised her finger but blushed and dropped her hand. "You are right... But fortunately, I don't think he is interested in complicating things between our countries. What about you? I saw your panic around the Queens and, if I'm right, their Ladies-in-waiting who were standing nearby."
"Don't be crazy! Having a man like King Theon as their husband, I'm outclassed and outmatched. So no, I don't have any stupid ideas. And YES! The Arcadians were not joking even one bit! They are absurdly gorgeous!"
"I like that you are looking at this soberly. But I still haven’t heard you say anything about their Ladies-in-waiting..."
"Mhupkhummm..." He mumbled something inarticulate as he turned his face towards the window so she couldn't see his face.
"Leo?!"
"*Sigh* They are attractive as well..." He sighed. "But it wouldn't be so politically outrageous if..."
"I don't know!" Cassmira cut his reasoning short. "Everything we know and prepared for was thrown into the trash bin, and that trash bin just landed in a smelter!"
He looked at her carefully and slowly exhaled before nodding in agreement. "Yes. We have to be careful, but not to the point where we come off as impolite."
She merely nodded and stayed silent, observing everything outside the window. But they crossed the tall fence gate just a moment later and stopped in front of an impressive mansion. The four-story tall building was like a small palace with two, three-story wings that overlooked the relatively large and functional courtyard.
"You gotta be kidding me..." Cassmira nervously swallowed, seeing the large, royal flags of Metaka waving on the central building.