「We have confirmed it to be the Crest of the King.」

While I sat together with Lady Tannimeade and Agatha outside of a certain room inside Veruni Temple where a number of their high ranking clergy deliberated after intense scrutiny of the crest on my forehead, the door was opened and the Grand Clerist himself had come out to inform me of their decision.

「I see. So what happens now?」

Agatha had already spoken with them privately about my desire to at the very least not be on bad terms with them. They, however, took it as a sign that I was interested in having favorable relations with them. Honestly, I could have cared less either way, since amicable was my goal.

「There are two options. His Majesty can travel to the North and begin establishing a kingdom, or he can ascend the throne here in Veruni.」 he explained, holding up two fingers.

「Here?」

「Yes. Before the year turned there was a bloody battle for the throne. Aside from the Imperial Concubines and their children, all those of legitimate royal blood had succumbed mortally from either grievous wounds or lethal poison. Currently the throne remains empty, and the country is being managed by the Chancellor.」

I looked over to Agatha.

「What do you suggest?」

「I think you might have an easier time here in Veruni. But, it might be difficult to change things that are deeply rooted in accepted custom and practice. On the other hand, if you go North, though Milord Silan would have to start from scratch, you can create whatever customs and traditions you would desire in a Kingdom. However, It could take many years or even decades before you are truly recognized by the populace as a wise and capable king, and for there to give rise to a proper noble class able to support you.」

I turned my head to look at Lady Tannimeade and asked her the same question.

「I concur with Agatha. This country is in need of a King. Rather than an illegitimate heir, it would be better for someone chosen by the Gods to be a King to assume the throne and stabilize the country as soon as possible. I also agree with Agatha that any sudden changes may take time to be fully accepted, but that would go roughly the same even if you started a new kingdom as well.」

They were both telling me I should take the throne here in Veruni.

「Will my taking the throne here in Veruni disrupt any workings of the Temple?」

I directed my question at the Grand Clerist.

「I might inquire of the same. Does His Majesty intend to disrupt the workings of the Temple which we have already painstakingly established?」

「I can’t say I know what that entails, entirely. Does the Temple discriminate on women holding government office?」

「Nonsense. You saw it yourself that two of our High Clergy are women.」

「That is the Temple’s inner workings. I am referring to the Kingdom’s government.」

「With all due respect to the King, the Kingdoms governmental body is a matter for the His Majesty Himself to decide upon, is it not?」

「Then if I find there is such discrimination and wish to abolish it, the Temple will not consider that disruptive to its own ends?」

「Not at all. You wished for Agatha here to be your liaison with us, do you not? Then she would need to hold such an office for her to handle transactions between us in an official capacity. We would welcome that, in fact.」

I breathed a sigh of relief.

「Then, with the Grand Clerist’s support, and those whom also are willing to lend me their aid, I will assume the throne here in Veruni.」

「Very good. I–and this Temple–look forward to having pleasant relations with His Majesty in the future.」

Agatha stood up along with Lady Tannimeade. My meeting with the temple heads was over. They would issue a proclamation in three days’ time, followed by a coronation. However, that was only the first order of business.

There was a second order of business that needed to be dealt with, and with great urgency.

「We must head to the palace at once and make preparations. The temple will handle pronouncing the arrival of the new King three days hence, but first Milrd Silan will need to take care of a number of matters that only he can settle as the incumbent king.」

I nodded and joined by the guards Taybor and Gheel, the five of us headed straight to the palace. Agatha was in possession of a writ given to her by the Grand Clerist which cleared any obstacles in our way from the temple to the very throne room itself. When we passed through the castle’s gates and entered the throne room, both Taybor and Gheel waited outside at Agatha’s request, while she, Lady Tannimeade, and I entered the large room.

「Whoa. This place is huge.」

「Milord?」 Agatha glanced at me.

「Was it against decorum to say that out loud?」

Lady Tannimeade giggled.

「I’m sure every good king has said it before, if only in their mind.」

I didn’t care about feeling sheepish having blurted it out like a country hick. The throne room was impressive. Deep red and purple cloth were abound on the walls, draping all throughout the room. The throne itself was made of red fabric and cast in gold metal. On either side of the throne were two no less ornate thrones as well.

I walked freely ahead to see the thrones up close. Both Agatha and Lady Tannimeade stayed far behind.

「Aren’t either of you interested in looking at these things? They’re works of art!」

「Milord,」 Lady Tannimeade cut in 「It is not proper for a lesser noble such as myself to approach more than twenty paces from the throne.」

Upon Lady Tannimeade’s words, Agatha took a few steps back to stand next to her.

「Are you seriously standing on ceremony here?」

「Milord?」

「Lady Tannimeade, haven’t you ever, in perhaps one of your wildest dreams, imagined sitting up her and looking out at the wide hall, everyone in turn casting their gaze in admiration at you?」

As I said that, I took a seat in the center throne meant for the king.

「It would be more accurate to say they would be gazes of jealousy, Milord.」

「Lady Tannimeade, do you acknowledge me as your King?」

「Of course, Milord.」

「Then will you indulge me for the moment and be seated next to me? I wish to feel how regal I am with a beautiful woman seated next to me.」

「Milord, the thrones next to you are for whoever you would make your queen. I could not possibly sit there.」

「Agatha, how about you? Would you sit next to me?」

「Milord, I am a servant of the Temple. While I will assume an office as your liaison I also cannot sit next you on the throne meant for your queen.」

「Ah, boo. It would be nice to have someone with the courage to sit here.」

As I leaned back on the throne, my body barely able to fill it with my still boyish frame–for I was not done growing yet, I heard a voice call out to me from behind.

「Then, may I take you up on that offer, Your Majesty?」

「Who is it?」

「Pardon me, Your Majesty.」

A woman with a level of beauty that was certainly on par with both my mother and my sister had come from behind my throne and kneeled before me, lowering her head.

「And you are?」

「I am Rosewreath, Your Majesty.」

「Raise your head, Rosewreath.」

She lifted her head as I commanded and I was greeted with smoldering scarlet eyes staring right at me. The mark on her forehead was one I had seen almost every day of my childhood.

「You are an Imperial Concubine?」

「I am at Your Majesty’s command.」

「You have the courage to sit beside me?」

「Even if it is only for a moment, I have had such ambitions of sitting on the queen’s throne.」

「Then, you may choose the throne on whichever side you desire.」

She rose up without hesitation and walked to my right side before sitting down on the throne meant for one of my future queens. I did not fail to see the hardened gaze she levied to the two women currently kneeling before the both of us.

「Does the view please you, Rosewreath?」

「It does not, Your Majesty.」

「Oh, will you tell me what about it displeases you?」

「There are two things, Your Majesty.」

「Shall I guess what they are? The first is knowing that this moment will eventually end, and the second being that you have now obtained with the least possible effort what you’ve long since desired?」

Both Agatha and Lady Tannimeade gave me an incredulous look as I spoke frankly.

「It is exactly as Your Majesty has said. I have tasted it and so I should be full, yet my stomach remains empty.」

「Are you a proud woman, Rosewreath?」

「Pride has never once filled my stomach, Your Majesty.」

「Does your courage have a limit?」

「What does His Majesty desire of me?」

「Come to me. Spoil me. Call me Silan as you do.」

Rosewreath rose up from the queen’s throne and walked over to my own to sit down upon my lap as I desired. She pushed her bosom out while caressing my face with hands as soft as feathers.

「Silan, my handsome king. Shall I call for a servant and feed you grapes? Or would you perhaps prefer to feast on some… melons, which are more readily available?」

She was amazing. A complete class act by a royal whore.

「Rosewreath, are you the only Imperial Concubine left in the palace?」

「No, Silan. There are three others apart from myself.」

「Among them, which is the one most favored by the previous king?」

「As I have no pride before you, Silan, I must admit it is Roweena who was the most favored, having born the King a son a decade ago.」

「And where do you rank among them in the former King’s favor?」

「I am the least favored of them all.」

A nod from Agatha told me that she wasn’t lying.

「And how many heirs have you given birth to?」

「None Milord, though I have certainly tried to conceive.」

Well, she comes with experience. I suppose that’s not an undesirable trait in an inherited Imperial Concubine.

「I will skip the roundabout way of talking for a moment, and assume you are much older than I. Does my being younger bother you in matters of… what is expected of an Imperial Concubine, Rosewreath?」

「It is only men who become kings, not boys. May I touch your crest, Silan?」

「Only if I may do the same, Rosewreath.」

She nodded and I returned the royal assent with a grin.

My mother had never once let me touch her crest, and my sister had already done her best to leave the house and apprentice to that damnable Garvil before I could also touch her’s, because surely she would have let me. I didn’t dare ask it of Agatha or Lady Tannimeade for the personal nature of the act, yet here was this snake of a woman freely letting me do as I pleased.

My finger traced along a path so familiar yet so foreign. She did not recoil away nor slap my hand. In return she carefully traced the lines on my forehead that signified I was the new King of Veruni.

「Lady Tannimeade, you are familiar with the protocols of the Kingdom in regards to my Concubines?」

「Yes, Milord.」 She answered immediately.

「Is there any paperwork I would need to submit regarding who I choose to deem as my favored concubine?」

「You need only say it with words or actions, Milord.」

I looked at Rosewreath and put my thumb against her lips, kissing my thumb over her lips.

「You are now my favored concubine for so long as you remain courageous when I need you to be. Do you accept this role?」

A devilishly wide smile tore across her face.

「May I be so bold as to ask you for Aster Palace if I do?」

I gave a look at Lady Tannimeade who looked pale but nodded, letting me know I was allowed to grant her this request.

「Who are you tearing it from the hands of, my beautiful Rose, so full of venomous thorns?」

My hand went to her chin, thumbing it as I moved it back up to her plump lips while she opened her mouth not to speak but to nibble and suck on the tip of my thumb lusciously. With my other hand I placed it on her leg.

「I see you wish for me to have an interesting encounter later. I suppose I can humor you, considering that of all the Imperial Concubines, you were the most eager to come and serve me first.」

My hand slid upwards along her outer thigh and she didn’t even bat an eye. When my hand cupped the side of her ass, I halted and said she could go. With no complaint or further acting, she removed the arm she had somehow slung around my neck without my even noticing, rose gracefully and seductively off of my now overheated lap, gave me a peck on the cheek and slithered away back through whatever snakehole she had snuck into the throne room through in the first place.

When I was certain that she was clever enough not to return after hearing what I was about to say, I sighed as audibly as I could.

「How disappointing.」

「You are disappointed with Rosewreath, Milord?」 Lady Tannimeade asked.

「Of course not! I asked for a courageous person simply to share such a tremendous moment with me out of friendship, and the two people I have come to trust the most so far have both let a serpent strike at me from behind. My disappointment is, sadly, with you both. You two also seem to have some strange habit of reading into things I am unaware of, and unconcerned about at this time. Was this not the only moment I had left to breathe deeply without needing to guard from every angle, once I become well known as the king?」

Both of them looked at each other and frowns creased their faces.

「You were testing us, Milord?」 Agatha inquired of me.

I held up my thumb which had been nibbled on.

「As a rule of thumb, I treasure a friend more than a follower, and ability over appearance. I think you both are expecting a ready-made king, whereas I have only begun my growth into the role. Because my trusted friends refused to share in my simple goodwill over the decorum of my position, the first poison of my rule has been so casually injected by a sensual serpent.」

I went to lick my thumb, but instead wiped it on my sleeve.

「Since neither of you show any obvious interest or ambitions to be a queen, then there is nothing I can do but accept that concubine as my ally for now. If we’re done here, I’m ready to see whatever matters and paperwork require my attention.」

I rose up from the throne, the royal scepter pushed outward from inside my pants for my two loyal subjects to see. As a king, how could I be embarrassed at what my concubine has done to me, when I asked her purposely to do it?

I continued to ask Lady Tannimeade and Agatha questions as we traveled to our next destination.

「Who resided in this Aster Palace that Rosewreath mentioned before I gave it over to that succubus?」

「The favored concubine of the former king, Roweena.」

「She has had a child with the former king, did she not?」

「Yes, Milord. Formerly the eleventh prince, Katkan tor Veruni.」

「Will he be affected by my negligent whim?」

「Yes, Milord. As he is not yet of age, he is permitted to stay in the same palace as his mother. As you have now given Aster Palace to Rosewreath, both Roweena and Katkan tor Veruni shall be required to vacate.」

「I can assume to the palace Rosewreath has been using until now?」

「Unless you deign another palace for her to occupy.」

「Is there a palace other than the one Rosewreath occupies?」

「Stardoor Palace, probably, Milord.」

「Gheel.」

I called out to Gheel who was accompanying us along with Taybor.

「Yes, My King.」

「Please deliver my words to Aster Palace immediately. Tell Roweena she may select from Rosewreath’s Palace or Stardoor Palace when it is time to vacate. As she probably was trying to be polite and give me time to settle in before paying me a visit, I have done her an injustice already. At that when she has the time to see me, I should like to meet with her at her convenience.」

「At her convenience, Sire?」

「Those are my words, Gheel. Can I trust you to deliver them?」

He balled up his fist and smacked it loudly against his chest.

「At once, Sire!」

Gheel hurried away, and hopefully his swift delivery of my message can mitigate some of the resentment I will likely incur from the remnants of the former royal family.

「Pardon me for saying this, Milord. But she is just a concubine.」

「If I wanted a concubine, I would have taken the innkeeper’s daughter. She was simple girl who could probably love me honestly.」

「I can send for her if you wish, Milord!」 Agatha spouted happily.

A soft chop from me landed on her head.

「Perhaps in the future, if she remains untaken and remembers me fondly, then I shall invite her to the Castle.」

「Truly, Milord?」

I shrugged.

「Lady Tannimeade, when would I be expected to take a Queen?」

「Within the first year of your rule at the longest, but the earlier the better. The sooner you have an heir with one, the more stable and legitimate your rule will be. Ideally, however, it would be before your coronation.」

「There aren’t any Crests of the Queen, are there, Agatha?」

「There are, though, from what I understand, they appear only on women in lands where Matriarchies are commonplace. It is their equivalent of your crest. Do you wish to seek out a true queen, Milord?」

「Not at all. Rather, I hope I never come across one.」

「I’ll keep that in mind.」

We arrived at the Chancellor’s office and were let in quickly. Though I am now the king and can enter wherever I please in the palace whenever I please to do so, I thought it proper to extend a little courtesy for the Chancellor to gather himself up before we met for the first time.

I expected to see an old man, but instead I saw a boy barely older than I was with tan skin, short curly hair, wearing spectacles, and looking entirely out of sorts. He hurriedly ran up to greet me, and I was worried he was going to trip over his robes.

「Greetings to His Majesty! I am Babid Zechs, Chancellor of Veruni.」

We greeted each other with a handshake. His arm was as thin as a noodle, so I figured his brain made up for it by being thick as a slab of steak.

「I am Silan. You may relax, Chancellor. No need to stand on ceremony with me for the moment.」

He looked at me tensely for a moment before deflating.

「Thank the Gods you decided to rule over Veruni! I don’t know how much longer I could keep it going without a proper king!」

I could feel the stress from this young boy visibly deflating out of him like an air bladder.

「Hahaha. I’m sure you’ve been doing a fine job, Babid. How can I help relieve you of the worst of it?」

「May I speak plainly in front of you, Sire?」

「By all means, Chancellor.」

「Give me one day off. I haven’t been able to enjoy my wife’s pillowy breasts in over a week! I want to squeeze them and mash my face in them and let her pamper me until I melt like an ice cube in Southern Efreeti!」

I could feel the pain in his voice.

「Why not bring her here?」

「She’s an Elf… Sire.」

「Is… that a problem?」

If it was, I hadn’t a clue why.

「Milord. The former king of Veruni was a human supremacist.」 Agnes informed me.

「What does that mean?」

Agatha, Lady Tannimeade, Taybor who was silently standing by the door, and Chancellor Babid all looked at me like I was born way out in the sticks. Which, actually, happened to be the case.

「Sire, A-are you saying you’re not a human supremacist?」

「I wasn’t aware humans were innately superior to all the other races?」

「Does Milord fancy ladies among the demihumans?」 This had gained Agatha’s full attention.

「I don’t know. I’ve never met one before. I have heard that elves are strikingly beautiful and live for hundreds of years though.」

「Oh, Sire! If you are a man who understands the greatness of breasts, then there is no race among the demihumans who can even compare to the softness and thickness, and elasticity of an elven woman’s bosom!!」

I could see the beginnings of an eye twitch coming from both Lady Tannimeade and Agatha. Taybor on the other hand was quietly nodding to the gospel that my Chancellor was preaching.

I held up my hand.

「Babid. Draw up whatever papers you need to, that I need to sign off on, that makes it so there is no discrimination of demihuman races allowed in my castle. Unless… it would cause some kind of immediate revolt or something. Work on getting it done for the entire kingdom eventually as well.」

「Sire! I will serve you loyally until my last day of life!」

His entire body swiftly fell to the ground in prostration.

「Just hang a ribbon on the door so we know not to intrude when you’re getting a puff-puff in here or something.」

「A puff-puff?」 Babid’s head lifted up, and a moment later he was standing on his feet again.

「Yeah, a puff-puff. You know, where a woman wears some clothes that reveal extra cleavage and she goes kyuun~ and then they go poyon~」

I don’t know what the boy was thinking, but a little bit of blood began trickling down his nose as I described what a puff-puff was. I had read about it in a naughty book when I was younger.

The eye twitching of both Agatha and Lady Tannimeade started anew thanks to my big mouth.

「UOOOOOOOH!」

The chancellor suddenly broke into a high tension mode.

「Sire, I have a stack of documents I’d already prepared for you to sign if you are willing to trust me. If we can get through it, I won’t need to see you until the day after tomorrow, and it will take a lot of work off of my plate as well!!」

「Can you give me a quick rundown of what it is I’d be signing?」

「Certainly. Importation of Crespoberries from the United Beastfolk Kingdoms to the West, Approval of a one percent tax on luxury goods purchased by the nobility. Authorization from Aster, Moonglade, Dandelion, and Priphea Palaces for the concubines’ expenditures. Um, a Requisition from the Knights’ Order for a thousand new swords to be sent to the kingdom’s smithies… Ah, and Approval for Pocha tor Veruni’s Fifteenth Birthday Celebration.」

「When’s the celebration?」

「Next month. She will have her crest revealed by a visiting 『Crest Witch』 during the celebration.」

「And she’s one of the Imperial Concubines’ children?」

「Yes, Sire. She’s the daughter and sole child of Lady Pecha.」

I felt a tug on my shirt from Lady Tannimeade. When I turned to look at her, she was only shaking her head.

「Something wrong with Pecha?」

「Milord, would you say that the body type and appearance of Rosewreath is to your preference?」

「It is extremely safe to make that assumption.」

「Then Pecha would be in the other direction.」

「The… other direction?」

「Imagine a tree, Milord.」

「Okay.」

「One with a wide trunk.」

「Okay…」

「Imagine it wider than you are already imagining.」

「Uh… okay?」

「Wider still, and it’s still a tree trunk.」

「...」

「That is Pecha.」

She’s a wide tree trunk?

Chancellor Babid brought a hand to his forehead looking worried and nodded.

Uh…????

「H-how about Pocha?」

There was a strained silence.

「S-she is… she certainly resembles her mother…」Chancellor Babid tiptoed.

「I-indeed she… carries a remarkable resemblance…」 Lady Tannimeade added vaguely.

I held up a hand for them all to stop.

「What about the last concubine?」

I had already learned about Roweena, Pecha, and Rosewreath.

「That would be Kaya.」 Lady Tannimeade answered.

「Alright. Anything remarkable about this Kaya I should be concerned about?」

「No, Sire.」 Chancellor Babid said with noticeably less strain on his face.

「Rather than there being something remarkable about Kaya…」

Lady Tannimeade received a go-ahead nod from Babid.

「...the thing is…」

Was she drawing it out on purpose?

「...she’s rather… unremarkable.」

「Huh?」

There was nothing remarkable about Kaya?

Even Agatha was in agreement.

「If she’s unremarkable, then why is she a concubine?」

「Sire, no one knows. Simply put, it was either the whim or the will of the former king that she was being kept as a Concubine in the first place.」

「That’s it?」

Again, everyone nodded.

「To be honest, Sire, there is one point in which she is remarkable.」

「Elaborate.」

「She’s the least sore point when it comes to being a burden.」

「What do you mean?」

「I mean when it comes to needing funds for upkeep of her palace, needing to requisition new staff or new carriages to take her out into the city, just about anything where one of the other concubines would be extravagant or noisy, she is surprisingly quiet and frugal.」

「So she’s purposely flying under the canopy?」

「Canopy, Sire?」

「She’s intentionally avoiding becoming a person of interest?」

「T-that sounds about right, Sire.」

「Chancellor, we aren’t by any chance bleeding funds from our treasury, are we?」

「No, Sire. Our treasury is more than adequate.」

「Alright. Just a heads up for you, in case it causes you a headache’s worth of paperwork later… Rosewreath will be moving into Aster Palace. Roweena will be given the option of taking Rosewreath’s Palace or…?」

I looked at Lady Tannimeade for assistance, since I had forgotten the name of the other place.

「Stardoor Palace, Milord.」

「Right. That one.」

「Rosewreath? You have already met and given her your favor, Sire?」

「Let’s just say for now, I have.」

「I will make the necessary budget adjustments for the transition of palaces.」

「No rush. Go spend some time with your wife. If there’s a place in the castle she would like to visit, like some exclusive gardens or orchards, why not go wild and have a picnic there with her or something?」

「Sire is asking me to bring my wife to the King’s royal gardens for a… picnic?」

I patted the Chancellor on the shoulder.

「Let’s have a good working relationship from now on, Babid.」

A bright smile popped up on what was initially a tired and overworked looking face when I first met him.

「Yes, Sire! I look forward to your reign as King of Veruni!」

Chancellor Babid was a very animated person once you got to know him.

After signing a number of documents and using a special stamp that was pressed into a flat tray of ink, I left the Chancellor’s office with Agatha, Lady Tannimeade and Taybor.

「Where to next?」

「What you just did in there with the Chancellor was supposed to take the better part of half a day. To think someone with the Crest of the King can be so efficient at managing the kingdom already…」 Agatha looked at me with admiring eyes.

「It was supposed to take half a day?」

「It seems showing goodwill towards the Chancellor’s wife has some amazing benefits. I didn’t expect you to be so open to demihumans.」

「It just seemed right, you know? But the Chancellor… is he really the Chancellor?」

「He is. His father was the previous Chancellor and he has been following in his footsteps to be the kingdom’s next chancellor. His father was caught up in the battle for the throne and lost his life along with the former king at the same time.」

「Oh… That’s unfortunate.」

「It happens.」 Agatha said apathetically. 「This is why working at the Temple is a much better option for someone like myself.」

I guess I understood why she refused the invitation to sit on the queen’s throne.

「Would you like to have some tea and snacks outside, Milord Silan?」 Agatha suggested.

「Sure, let’s all enjoy a break for now.」

 

~~** The Royal Gardens **~~

「Excuse me! I’ve come to see the King!」

A rather tall woman wearing a yellow dress that ended in a bell shape approached the table in the shade where Agatha, Lady Tannimeade and I were having a snack at, just outside the royal garden. Her black hair was tied up in an interesting beehive shape, and her blue eyes had a great deal of ice hidden behind them.

Gheel and Taybor were nearby, relaxing in the company of two palace maids who were attending us. They were about to move to intercept when I held up a hand for them to stay where they were.

She was accompanied by three maids of her own, and she also held a hand up to have them stay where they were as she moved forward to the table I was sitting at. She took one look at me and bent her body slightly. I imagine it was some kind of curtsy, but her dress would have been far too uncooperative for it to be done properly.

「Would you care to have a seat, Lady Roweena?」

I signaled one of my maids and they quickly prepared a seat for the woman to sit down in.

I already knew who she had to have been, even though until this moment I had yet to meet her. As Pecha is unmistakable, and Kaya is unremarkable, and since I was already bitten by the snake known as Rosewreath, there could be no person with business immediate enough to seek me out other than Roweena.

She allowed the maid to seat her and serve tea. Once done, she sent up a hand signal of her own and the three maids who accompanied her relaxed and went to join the two maids who were in charge of serving me right now.

「I wasn’t expecting your convenience in meeting me to happen so soon, Roweena.」

She took a sip of her tea elegantly before responding to my statement.

「It is indeed an injustice, Majesty.」

I lowered my head, only slightly, in recognition of the inconvenience I had caused her.

「Have you decided which palace you will be moving to?」

「That is what I came to confirm at once, Majesty. Why are you offering me Stardoor Palace?」

「Given the nature of Rosewreath, I can only assume her palace is a dark hole under a rock. Besides, Stardoor Palace has a nice ring to it. Though I have yet to see any of these palaces in person yet.」

「Is that the only reason? Because the name of the palace sounded good to your ear?」

「Did I need a specific reason to offer you Stardoor Palace, Roweena?」

「She downed her tea in an inelegant manner this time and signaled a maid for a refill.」

「I have never not been the favored concubine of the former king. Yet in all that time he hasn’t so much as entertained the thought of giving me Stardoor Palace, though he knew I wanted it. Yet you sent that guard to inform me that the wench will be evicting me and at the same time to the place I wanted the most. I wished merely to understand why.」

「You suspect I have an ulterior motive?」

「Must you say it so directly, Majesty? Call it a… concern.」

「Unfortunately it truly was a coincidence. You can think of it as a twist of fate if you must. If Lady Tannimeade here hadn’t mentioned there was another palace, I would have felt only the tiniest bit of guilt with your relocation to Rosewreath’s former palace.」

With a look to Lady Tannimeade who responded with a nod, Roweena leaned back in the chair a bit easier.

「For how long will I be staying in Stardoor Palace?」

「I haven’t decided. But in all likelihood I have no need for the former king’s concubines.」

She nodded as if that was expected.

「That being said, I’m not an unreasonable king. Besides companionship I’m not certain I’m in need of, is there anything you have to offer me to stay at Stardoor Palace past such a point I might have need of it for someone else?」

「If not for companionship, what can I, an Imperial Concubine, offer you, the King?」

「It is with that exact consideration I have offered you Stardoor Palace as a place to stay in the interim, Roweena. I have inherited four Imperial Concubines, three of whom have given birth to the illegitimate heirs of the former king. I’m a young man of fifteen and quite frankly if I wish to engage in fatherhood, my interest in doing so would be with women closer to my own age who have not yet had children. The Chancellor has validated the budgets for each of the Imperial Concubines for now, so there should not be a decrease in the quality of life you currently enjoy.」

「And what of when it is time for me to leave Stardoor Palace?」

「Would a title of nobility and a monthly stipend satisfy you? If it’s within reason, I would be willing to purchase a reasonably sized manor for you and your child to live in. And, unless there is some stigma I am unaware of in regards to Imperial Concubines released by the palace, you would be free to find another lover or husband as you see fit.」

「You will not harm my son, Katkan?」

「Why should I? Is he a threat to me?」

「No. I will see to it that he is not.」

She lowered her head deeply.

「My apologies for my rudeness, Majesty. I will accept your word and generosity as the king on this matter.」

「I appreciate your quick understanding of the situation, Roweena. I do not know the future, so I also do not know when such a time will come to have you vacate Stardoor Palace, but know that you are not the only one facing this situation. This matter will most likely repeat itself with Pecha and Kaya as well.」

「Will you humor a question for me, Majesty?」

「Ask.」

「Why favor Rosewreath immediately before you had time to meet with we other concubines?」

「I wanted a villainess.」

「A villainess?」

「Though I have only spent a few minutes with her, I know she must certainly be a crafty and wicked woman. There may come a time when I need someone with that kind of quality. I would be remiss in my duties to establish my rule without such a capable individual at my call.」

「It was a calculated move on your part and not one made in a moment of lust?」

「I won’t deny my lust being an added motive for doing so, but I chose her for a simple reason: Her audacity. I wanted something done that she should not have risked doing, and she did not hesitate to do it for me. Ability is paramount in whom I select to be close to me.」

「Even if that ability is primarily tied to the bedroom?」

「I can think of no creature better at coiling around a body than a snake. Can you?」

A smirk came to her face. She took a sip of tea and then dabbed the corners of her mouth.

「I shall not take it to heart that I am undesirable to the new King. However, so long as I remain an Imperial Concubine, my Palace will remain open to His Majesty anytime he should feel so inclined as to pay me a visit… should his Majesty’s interest in herpetological things wane.」

「There may come a time when I do end up accepting your standing invitation, though if you find yourself with nothing else to do, meeting like this in such a way coincidentally might not be bad either, from time to time. Having tea with lovely ladies has so far turned out to be an enjoyable experience.」

She stood up and departed from the table along with her three maids. She was truly quite beautiful, and I wondered if having that crest had something to do with it?

「There goes mama bear.」 I said offhandedly.

「Mama bear?」

Agatha seemed interested in my comment.

「She came out quite aggressively, but that was because she had a cub to protect. It’s entirely by luck that we had the cave she wanted to hibernate in to placate her. I doubt she will cause any problems in the near future, but it may be wise to keep an eye on her from time to time.」

「Milord, did you mean that… about the other concubines?」

「You mean having no interest in the ones who have already had children with the former king? For the most part, yes. Though I am curious about Kaya.」

「Kaya? Not Pecha?」

I shrugged.

「It’s the quiet and unremarkable ones you really have to watch out for, Lady Tannimeade.」

I stood up from the table.

「May I interest either of you two beautiful ladies for a stroll through the royal garden? While I don’t know if I can appreciate the beauty of a such a place, I am confident I can appreciate the beauty of a flower on each arm.」

And so, I got to enjoy a stroll through the garden with Agatha and Lady Tannimeade, leaving Gheel and Taybor behind to do their best at flirting with the palace maids.

 

~~** Inner Palace – Royal Bedchambers **~~

「Silan, you missed me already?」

Entering into my bedroom here in the Royal Palace of Veruni Kingdom, the favored concubine of the current king–that is to say, me–Rosewreath, had come at my command.

「You can think what you want of it, but it is my first night alone in this castle, and I didn’t want to spend it alone.」

「And so you thought to call on me immediately?」

「Did you not want to be the favored concubine?」

「Fufufu~ I am certainly not complaining, Silan. I will serve you all night long if that is your wish.」

「Mm, I do like that you don’t hesitate to call me by my name.」

「It is my duty to make sure my King is left satisfied.」

「Only your duty, and not your desire?」

「Would you prefer that I desire you?」

「I wonder which would result in better work? If it’s duty, I did give you the palace you wanted. I can’t imagine palaces come cheap.」

「Neither do I, though it’s not uncommon for a man, even if he is a king, to want a cheap woman sometimes.」

「I don’t think I would be disappointed if you happened to come cheap, but I would feel deeply concerned if you ever came free. Even if I had the entire royal treasury at my disposal, I’m sure that the price would far to costly for a king to afford.」

There was dim candlelight in my room. Though we bantered playfully with each other, I had called her to my room in the capacity of a concubine, and she came dressed as one. It was a vicious murky red dress that separated into two parts. The top draped over her shoulders and the bottom was tied just below her belly button.

It was not my intent to do more than fool around lightly with her. I simply wanted to enjoy myself with a woman the same way I enjoyed that night at the inn with that nervously innocent girl named Tae. I was sitting up dressed in royal pajamas that had been prepared for me earlier, tied only at the waist with a cloth band. Aside from underwear which had been quickly hemmed to fit my waist snugly by a palace maid less than an hour ago, that was all I was wearing.

Agatha and Lady Tannimeade both declined my offer to take a room in the palace and returned with Taybor and Gheel to the Temple shortly after visiting the royal gardens.

And speaking of gardens, I had a very red rose seductively crawling into my bed.

I reached up to her face and she nuzzled her cheek against my palm.

Her body had fluidly slid onto my lap, sitting side saddle as it were, turning my face so that I was helpless but to stare into her smoldering crimson eyes as her sweet scented and plump lips joined my own. One of my hands wrapped around her back, and my other placed itself on her leg halfway below her knee. I slowly slid and squeezed my way up and she drowned me with a pleasurable kiss.

As a man I was already ready to go, but I fought back the urge, wanting to enjoy extending this passionate moment for a long while.

I have no doubts in my mind that I will be captured by her eventually, but for now, I want to maintain the upper hand. My motivation for playing hard to get for just a little while is simply because I think it would be fun to do so. Of course, I have no idea how good she is and I might very possibly succumb to her charms tonight. However, I have lived a lifetime with my mother and sister, and while there was never anything erotic between us as members of the same family, I feel that growing up with two women as beautiful as they were, I had some semblance of an immunity to the charms of a heavenly beauty.

Certainly, if it were Roweena here instead of Rosewreath, I wouldn’t feel the least bit of tension right now. But that’s both the danger and excitement when it comes to playing with fire.

And she was as red hot as a flame could get.

「Am I the first woman you will have bedded, Silan?」 She asked me when I managed to break free from her kiss for a moment, in order to calm myself and reorient.

「There was a peasant village daughter my age at an inn the night my crest was revealed. She was a nervous thing with a thick local accent. She had breasts the size of a half an orange and hadn’t been told exactly what to expect with me that night when her mother sent her up to my room.」

「And so you taught this peasant girl what it mean to lay with a king?」

「I was gentle with her. I was afraid if I did too much, she might not ever be satisfied with her life as a peasant ever again.」

「My, aren’t you a considerate lover, Silan?」

「It’s not in my nature to be rough with a woman, unless she’s the kind of woman who tells me she likes it rough.」

「Fufufu~ Both rough and gentle have their good points, it’s just a matter of knowing the best timing to apply each one.」

My hand had already moved up her thigh and after a firm but gentle squeeze, I slid my hand under her rear and gently caressed one of her soft bubble-like cheeks.

「You truly are exquisitely beautiful, Rose.」

「Your appreciation of my loveliness touches me deeply.」

「So I have permission?」

「To touch me deeply? Does a king need permission to touch his woman?」

Her lips pressed against my own again. Sightlessly, she reached behind her body and softly copied her hand over mind, leading it around the top of her thigh and pressing it up and underneath her hiked up dress. She opened her legs a bit, and while my hand creeped between her legs, her own hand was easily frisking for my kingship.

「Mmh~ Are you interested in seeing how deep things can get?」

I pressed up under her skirt and I felt a lack of a certain soft fabric that I expected to impede my progress. She leaned into my ear and hissed. It was followed by a playful nibble on my ear as she slid her hand along my rod which remained hidden beneath my underwear.

「Are you trying to intoxicate me with your venom, Rose?」

「Isn’t that why you called me to your chambers tonight, Silan?」

「I guess there’s no deceiving you. I do want to be poisoned by you, Rose.」

She adjusted herself so she was now sitting on my lap, with her arms around my neck and her warm breath exhaling on my chest. She adjusted herself until I was also feeling a special kind of warmth pressing directly onto a certain part of my lap.

To counter that, I let my hands slide up her red top and found purchase on the two melons she offered to feed me earlier in the throne room. They were both incredibly supple and squishy.

I was sure my immaturity in the bedroom would have been detected by her, and if it was she downplayed it perfectly, letting out a soft moan into my ear. That only caused me to swell further, something she had no intention of downplaying as soon as it was apparent.

「It’s nice to know what Silan likes the most about my body.」

「Oh, is that what you’re thinking? I was talking to the Chancellor who said if this was my preference, I should consider taking an elf.」

「I won’t deny that an elf’s charms might be more apparent in that area, but from what I’ve been told of their proclivities in mating, is that they take an awful long time to become aroused if it’s not something they secretly enjoy.」

「Truly?」

She began unfastening the cord on my pajama robe and peeled it off of me.

「That’s why I will always be a better choice to call upon, Silan. You see…」

She began grinding her hips along my royal scepter, her hands rubbing my bare chest and biting her lower lip as she proudly stuck out her chest before me, which I was still groping to my hearts’ content.

「...the idea of Milord being so young and healthy, handsome, and full of desire for me, has already taken care of such pesky time consuming barriers.」

I peeled my own hands away from her bosom, wrapping an arm around her back and pulling her closer to my mouth so I could taste the sweetness of her ripened melons.

「Mmh~ That’s right my bold King. Eat, drink, and be merry with your Rosewreath.」

I savored her body as much as I wanted and she didn’t complain that the main course was not put on the table. In fact, she didn’t seem to mind at all that the only things we did that night was partake in some deep skinship and enjoy some playful back-and-forth banter.

I fell asleep with Rose in my arms, and not until the morning came and I found she was still laying next to me in my bed, did I think maybe, just possibly, perhaps, I might actually favor her.

I certainly knew she was a dangerous and avaricious person, both her body and personality practically screamed it, and I was not a deaf or dense person by any stretch of the imagination.

Still, she was warm, and somehow felt familiar.

Comfortable.

A light stirring and a grab of my hand which brought it from her naked breasts to her lips where she kissed it repeatedly, the back of my hand first and then the tips of each of my fingers, as the tactile sensation of her warm and moist lips sent a welcome shiver up my spine.

「Seems a pity I gave you a palace prematurely. It would be more suitable to have done so this morning.」

「I’m glad Silan enjoyed my company. I too have missed the comfort of lying in this bed after so long.」

「Are you hungry?」

「Milord Silan would like me to feed him breakfast?」

「If you’re going so far as to offer, I certainly wouldn’t decline the invitation.」

She reached over to the nightstand next to where she lay and pulled on a string. It made a ringing sound outside and barely a moment later, a maid walked in.

「His Majesty desires breakfast. Also, bring some fruits, a light wine, and a good pipe.」

She spoke for me, doing all the ordering.

「Yes Mistress, Your Majesty.」 The on-call maid bowed and exited the room instantly.

Rosewreath rolled her body over and rested her head on my shoulder. Her fiery red hair was somehow still perfect after a nights’ sleep and a stray hand checked on her King’s health, as was her devoted duty to her occupation.

「Fufufu~ If Silan wants to reward his Rosewreath, then, she would be most enamored to have a bottle of the dwarven silver spirits that are kept in the royal wine cellar.」

「Why do I think I am being fleeced already? Perhaps the price of Aster palace is a pittance in comparison?」

「I won’t deny it is one of the best liquors to be found in the castle.」

「Very well. I will let you take advantage of me while I am not yet fully cognizant of what I am being robbed of, since I am feeling most excellent this morning.」

She playfully drew circles around my nipples and we just lay there quite content until the food arrived. Without any such need for decency as clothes, she got up from the bed, naked, in full view of the maid, almost in a practiced effort to declare her dominance as a woman–my woman, and took the cart, bringing it close to the bed and putting a number of things on a plate, which she passed to me first, before making one for herself.

There was a small basket with sliced apples, oranges, and a bunch of green grapes that was going to be for afterwards.

I guess the feeding me part was going to be limited to that.

Still, I had little to complain about. Breakfast with a gorgeous woman?

The only thing better might have been if it was with Agatha or Lady Tannimeade instead of Rosewreath.

While we ate, Rose talked about a few things I hadn’t been aware of.

「Silan, you may not know this yet, but aside from your concubines, the maids who serve you here in your inner palace are all prepared to be summoned if called… should you desire. So, if one catches your eye, it’s not unreasonable to satisfy yourself. I won’t be offended if I am not called to your bedchamber every night.」

「And here I thought I hadn’t been a disappointment last night.」

She chuckled between bites of rolled ham covered in some kind of gravy, the messy sort which had her licking her fingers quite erotically.

「Of course, if a maid isn’t enough, and Silan wants me as well. I will come whenever called.」

That was quite an invitation.

「Is there a reason you felt the need to let me know this?」

「Apparently there is already a rumor that Silan has no interest in the former king’s concubines who have given birth to his children. If that is the case, then my duties will have only increased, have they not?」

「So you want the position of favored concubine without the work that accompanies it?」

「When you asked me if I was a proud woman, I answered you, did I not? I was the least favored among the concubines because I was the most recently added. I know I am exceedingly beautiful when compared to the others, that is also partly because I am much younger than they are. But I could not offer the former king what he desired the most in his old age, and that is someone who could share his nostalgia.」

I see. She could lay with him, but the level of their conversation was superficial.

「I am no ingrate, Silan. If I am called, I will come. You can be sure of that. All that I am simply saying is that if you should take a fancy to something… there needn’t be any worry of jealousy on my part.」

I hadn’t expected her to be open about letting me philander as I pleased. Or even telling me who it was okay to philander with.

Though there was a ridiculous amount of food brought to us, I was satisfied with the single plate of it that Rosewreath had given me. Afterwards we shared a glass of the light wine, and then I put my head on her lap while she fed me orange slices and grapes as she enjoyed smoking something with a not so foul scent from the long metal pipe she had requested.

Honestly, how does a kingdom even run if the man at the top is subjected to this kind of lifestyle every day?