Another Princess?
The Royal Palace.
Ferum, Hertalese
…
An entourage of knights and soldiers rode through the palace gates.
Leading the group was a valiant looking man riding a white noble steed. A delicate, exquisite-looking rapier was strapped to his waist and on his person was a magnificent set of body armour.
Prince Everhard dismounted his rare Galerain steed expressionlessly, with the aid of servants and walked into magnificent Palace.
Easily rivalling the Algrian royal palace, the structure was a sight to behold. But despite this Ever's eyes no longer had the same look of pride whenever he looked at it, just mild solemnness.
He remembered how quickly the Orlando's abode was levelled and reasoned that his once insurmountable home could also suffer such a fate.
Walking into the palace, he passed by ignoring the subservient, adoring and envying gazes directed at him by both knight and servant alike, heading in the direction of the throne room.
Just as he entered he heard a peal of boisterous laughter that he was ever so familiar with and a small smile formed on his face.
"My worthy son!" King Tukhus declared with even more boisterous laughter.
"I am back father," Everhard replied falling on one knee.
The overweight king hobbled of his throne and walked towards his son.
With a hug and another burst of laughter he spoke.
"You won me a kingdom, my son. You accomplished what had not been done in over a century!" The king said with a voice filled with pride.
"It's all thanks to sovereign Father's teachings," Everhard replied hugging the somewhat sweaty man in return.
"Hahaha! Good!" The king declared again. "Return to your chambers and freshen up at once, I have prepared a great feast to welcome your glorious return."
"Yes, father." Prince Ever replied.
Walking out of the throne room filled with bursts of jubilation as the king addressed the remaining knights prince Everhard headed in the direction of his chambers.
Reaching there, he saw a line of women waiting at the entrance of the room.
The said women were all great beauties of extraordinary status. Some were daughters of great merchants acquainted with the king, others were the proud daughters of aristocratic households but there they stood all in line waiting upon the prince.
Everhard walked past them, ignoring their greetings.
The prince entered the room and allowed women to remove his armour and undress him.
Walking into the bath the women fearfully followed behind.
He laid into the stone bath permitting his concubines to wash him down with scented water.
The prince glanced at one of the newest women and smiled, faintly reaching out to fondle her.
Noticing the outstretched, the young lady subconsciously flinched backwards.
A frown appeared on the prince's face.
"What's wrong?" He asked
"N-nothing, your highness." She replied moving closer so the prince could reach her.
The once prideful young woman was evidently fearful. Cowering pitifully under his withering gaze, she placed his outstretched hand on her bosom.
Although she had just joined the prince's harem a few weeks ago, after receiving the young prince's 'training' she knew her future wasn't as bright as she had once expected it to be.
"Iris." Shutting back his eyes, the prince muttered contently as he groped her bountiful chest.
Quietly the women bathed him, not daring to make even the slightest noise. Only the sound of splashing water could be heard.
Soon Everhard finished freshening up and made his way to the castle's main hall where the feast was been hosted, much to the relief of his concubines.
Despite being the main attraction of the party the prince surprisingly managed to avoid being the centre of attention, content with staying in a corner with a cup of aged wine.
But that didn't last long though. Two of his father's trusted aides approached him.
"What is wrong your highness?" One asked seizing a bottle from a passing servant and filling the prince's cup with wine.
"It's nothing." The half-drunk Prince stuttered.
"I just feel like the entire invasion was waste of time, we conquered the entire kingdom but couldn't capture just one woman, Just one! And look, we even ended up getting invaded as well for what? Nothing!"
The knight frowned slightly, looking to his partner until he remembered it was prince Everhard he was speaking with.
'It's not strange his priorities would be different.' The first knight muttered staring at the young prince strangely.
'Hmm, If I remember clearly the prince has started collecting women similar in persona to that Princess, What was her name again?' The other replied softly taking a sip from his cup.
'Yes, I remember now. I think it was Iris.'
'Yes, Iris.'
Turning back to the prince they struggled to find the right words to console him.
"Don't worry, your highness, our men will eventually find her."
"You think so?" Ever asked raising his glazed eyes to look at the knights.
"Of course! We basically own Algrim now" The men reminded the prince whilst filling his cup again.
"Besides," One of the men said whispering into his ear.
"I heard that King Lendar of Verum is going to visit Ferum later this spring and I heard he has a daughter just as beautiful as Princess Iris."
"Another Princess?" Everhard muttered groggily.
"Yes." The knight chuckled suggestively.
"No," Everhard muttered shaking his head stubbornly.
"Huh?"
"No, only Iris."
"I only want Iris."
The Knights: "…"