“And? Your decision?” Lucina was sitting next to me on our bed while I was flipping an envelope over in my hands.
It contained an invitation to a massive banquet, one held in honor of the people going off to our miniature war. It was to be held the night before the war game. Raiden had acquired the invitation upon his visit to the capital today, and had decided to leave the responsibility of attending or not to me.
“Prick.” I muttered under my breath, and stood up. I had just finished my daily training and taken a shower. The sudden movement caused drops of water to fall from my hair, travelling down my naked body.
“Come now, he just recognizes you as the leader.” Lucina said softly, hugging me from behind. Her hands started to caress my abdomen and chest, and her left hand started to drift lower…
“Ow.” Lucina said in a monotone voice as I slapped her hands away. She looked at me like a scolded dog, and I shook my head.
“Not now. We have to actually make preparations. This is the perfect place to put our plan in motion.”
Lucina pouted and sighed, but followed me out of the room after I put on some clothes. Unfortunately, I was right. Since the banquet was being held at the Warrior King’s estate, in the city nearest to us, we had a lot of things to do.
---
“Ha ha! Prince Raiden, you charmer. I never imagined that your side would accept our invitation. This is such an auspicious occasion… speaking of which, how do you feel about marrying into my family?”
Raiden’s expression twisted briefly at the suggestion, but didn’t last long enough, and soon returned to his charismatic smile. “Thank you, Primal Queen of the People. However, I am currently in engagement talks with another family, so it would not befit me to pursue such a relationship here.”
The newest member amongst the Primal Monarchs, Queen Laina Secela, seemed to take the denial quite well, with a smile even appearing on her face. “I see. Then perhaps I should go to your mother directly.”
“With all due respect, Queen Secela, I’m not sure if she would be enticed by the prospect of engaging me to a princess of one of the Primals.”
Contrary to his expectations, the Queen merely smiled, and leaned in closer to the princeling.
“Please, call me Laina. Who said anything about princesses, dear Raiden? I was talking about a betrothal to myself. The position of King has been recently vacated, if you weren’t aware.”
Laina entwined her arm around his, and brought his hands close, lacing her fingers between his. The feeling of her breasts pushed against his upper arm, along with the scent of her bittersweet perfume left Raiden reeling.
The Metronian prince shuddered, and took a deep breath. He had to force himself not to explode at the Queen, and instead placed another one of his trademark smiles on his lips.
“Thank you for the offer, my Queen. I believe there will be a lot of trials and tribulations for us to overcome should we become an item. If you truly do wish to wed me, then do send a proper proposal to my father. We will consider it in more detail at that time.”
“That’s right, you slut! Go back from whence you came!” Laina sighed as a small, old man with a long beard came to Raiden’s rescue.
“Machine King Sovix. To what do I owe this pleasure?” Laina said through gritted teeth. It was obvious to Raiden that there was no love lost between the two sides.
The Primal Machine King himself, while only reaching up to Raiden’s waist in height, was clad in pitch-black armor, with various tubes and wires running in and out of it.
In all, he cut an unassumingly dashing figure. “Bah.” Sovix scoffed, taking a large drink of the alcoholic beverage in his hands. “If only the rest of us had it as easy as you, Queen Secela. Since you’re thoroughly enjoying yourself by seducing a man half your age, I suppose you’ve already gone through the documents concerning the transition of power, and have requested a proper Triumvirate Ascension… haven’t you?”
The Queen of the People growled at Sovix and walked off to the catering area. Raiden turned to thank the old man, only to flinch when he saw the figure standing next to him. “Warrior King Ramire. What an honor to be in your presence.”
Raiden bowed, and when he looked up, he saw the man in question sending a smug look at the Machine King beside him. “People really do respect the physical form, don’t they, old man?”
“Bah!” Sovix scowled, which seemed to delight Peter Ramire even further. “You young'uns these days! So concerned with grooming the physical, that your beliefs and mentalities all look like shit.”
Sovix left in a huff, leaving Raiden alone with the physical specimen that was the Warrior King. “How have you been, Raiden? Do tell your father and mother I send my regards.”
“With pleasure, sir.” Raiden said, standing up from his bow. “We thank you for allowing us to use the property we purchased on your land at the beginning of your reign. And yourself? How have you been faring recently?”
Ramire sighed in exasperation, and Raiden could see the man visibly deflate with each passing second. “I’ve been alright for the most part. There has been one thing that has been bothering me recently.”
“Really?” Raiden was incredulous. It wasn’t every day that a leader such as the respected and venerated Warrior King had problems. “If you wouldn’t mind, how about we speak over a glass of wine?”
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The Warrior King grinned, and patted Raiden on the back, almost knocking him over because of his massive frame. “I’d like that very much. Have you ever tried contamination? I have the perfect vintage for an occasion like this.”
They moved to a small table outside of the main building, overlooking the courtyard below. Raiden had to reluctantly admit: there was a certain charm to living in a place surrounded by nature.
Contrary to what he’d lived his entire life surrounded by, the ambient nature of the Primal Kingdom relaxed his soul, and he couldn’t tell why. No matter. Raiden decided not to dwell on that feeling too much, and simply enjoyed it for what it was.
Contamination, as it turned out, was very much like the country’s famous dirt chicken in execution. It was a red wine that contained many spices in the bottle, and was poured through a strainer to only get the wine. It scalded Raiden’s throat, although the wine itself was pleasant on the whole.
“And then she told me she wants to move to the Luong Empire! How am I supposed to discourage my daughter from expanding her horizons!?” Ramire sniffed as he retold the tragic tale of his youngest daughter’s recent distancing from him, and subsequent reveal of her desire to leave the household.
“And what’s worse,” Ramire said, leaning in close, is that this is all caused by a Starlords damned tourist!” He shouted the last part, nearly blowing out Raiden’s hearing altogether.
A tourist from the Luong Empire, at this time of the year? Raiden considered it for a moment before his heart sank. Lilian, what the fuck have you been up to!?
“Don’t worry, your highness. As long as your daughter is happy, I’m sure that all will be alright.” Raiden gave Ramire a reassuring smile, and the king wiped his eyes, then blew his nose.
“I suppose you’re right.” Ramire smiled back at Raiden as well. Although, I heard from Christna that her new man is going to be at this banquet. I’d truly be surprised if he was such an important person.”
Raiden chuckled nervously, and looked at the clock in his HUD. He took another sip of contamination as he counted the seconds until Joshua’s arrival.
---
Viina was overseeing the party, as her mother told her to do. She wasn’t too pleased with how Viina had caused a mess in the Warrior King’s territory, so Viina was treading on thin ice.
‘Should you try to pull another stunt like that, I’ll have to treat you like a child again and use the belt. Am I clear?’ Viina shook her head in disgust as she recalled the words her mother said before they opened the hall doors.
Her mother had made herself abundantly clear. She knew that the queen would not hesitate to spank her, even if she was a fully grown 26 year old woman.
It couldn’t be helped though. Paladin Joshua Cole absolutely had to die. Because… well, it didn’t really matter, did it? Her senses told her that it was the best course of action, and so, she followed them.
“Ahem!” Viina’s attention was turned to the center of the ballroom, where a young, good-looking man in a hot pink dress suit was standing up. Viina did a double take upon seeing her younger cousin, Christna, sitting next to him with a smile on her face.
So that’s Christna’s new love? He isn’t much to look at. Oh well, more power to her, I guess. She watched on as the man began to tap on his glass of wine, attracting the stares of those around him. Soon the music had quieted down as well, and he had the attention of the entire party in his grasp.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” He spoke in a pleasant voice. It didn’t seem as though he was shouting anymore, leaving Viina to believe he had somehow hooked himself up to their Home Judgment System.
“Somehow…” Viina muttered as her eyes fell on Christna, who was looking at her man with rapt attention.
“Thank you all for listening. I would like to announce the arrival of the main star of the evening!” Murmuring began, and speculation as to who this mystery arrival could possibly be.
Even Viina couldn’t help herself as she mentally went through a list of her cousins who had not arrived yet, or those who had been banned, but were prone to making a scene. Right on cue, the door opened, and a whole host of people walked through.
First was Paladin Cole’s maid, who was wearing a form fitting white dress with a slit up the left leg. Her silver hair was done up in a bun, and her white choker was very pronounced against her black skin.
Next to arrive was Princess Akahime, who was in a short crimson dress, with one long sleeve, and one sleeveless on the torso. Her long hair was done up in a ponytail, and fell over her left shoulder.
After that was Princess Reya, who wore a bronze gown. The long, puffy dress accentuated her torso, and drew eyes to her modestly covered chest.
Then, next would be… Viina rolled her eyes as she gazed upon Princess Lucina. The woman wore a dark blue dress, which ended above her knees, and had a deep v-cut to expose her breasts. Under the dress was a white bondage harness, complete with a collar. The collar, as fate would have it, had a chain coming from it. That connected two white leather cuffs on either of her arms to her neck. Her lips shone with a glossy, dark-blue lipstick, and made her current smile stand out.
What a showoff. Viina couldn’t help but smile. The woman was honest with what she liked, even to a fault. However, the next person to walk in made the hair on the back of her neck stand up.
Paladin Joshua Cole strode in, with a confident smile on his face. He had on dark red pants, a dark red dress shirt, and a black blazer.
One thought permeated Viina’s mind: ‘He survived.’ Viina sneered, and walked forward with a steady gate, coming to a stop in front of the Paladin’s entourage.
“Why, it’s a pleasure to see you again, Paladin Cole. To what do we owe this pleasure?” Viina’s words were tinged with venom, but Joshua didn’t seem to mind. Instead, he walked forward, got on one knee, and took her hand.
“Princess Viina. May I ask you to a dance?” Viina was about to answer, but found that she couldn’t. She couldn’t physically open her mouth.
‘Don’t mind me.’ A woman’s voice echoed in her head. ‘Now, consider yourself indebted to us.’
Viina heard the sound of glass breaking, and some memories were thrust into her mind. Late night meetings with the C.U.H. representatives about the war game. Going out to drink with them afterward. Fast forwarding to Barett leaving the establishment early, but Viina staying behind in a show of good faith.
Then, came a to heart to heart with the C.U.H.'s Hector. What they both wanted to accomplish for the sake of the Kingdom. Then…
The massive body appearing behind him. Once the blue being snapped his fingers, Viina’s mind went hazy. He ordered her to kill the incoming Paladin, and use any means necessary to do so, when he gave her the signal.
Viina’s mind travelled back to the meeting she had with Paladin Cole, and as she looked at the fruit stand, the word that seemed out of place, and stood out on the store’s pricing list: DIRE.
Viina slumped to her knees, as Paladin Cole stood up. “Oh dear, it seems like my sudden proposal was a bit too sudden for Princess Secela.” He said for all to hear. “Winter, could you help her to a table? After that, we can enjoy ourselves for the rest of the night.”