We set out of the room, passing by the hallways. I noticed that everyone was exceptionally busy today, going about either hanging up decorations or transporting items. There were more guards than there were yesterday moving about, scanning the area.
The palace was exceptionally lively and something told me that this wasn’t a normal sight here.
“The Annual Yorul Feast has been a part of our tradition since the second king, Anon Yorul.”
As if noticing my confusion, the Gate Keeper decided to explain it to me.
“It always happens every year, although this year is special, as was the feast 90 years ago.”
‘90? What’s so special?’
“Oh? You don’t know? Well, since you didn’t know what the feast was about, you wouldn’t know what this is. The king, ascended the throne 90 years ago.”
‘N-Ninety!? He’s older than my dead grandmother.’
“Ohohoh, I wasn’t even alive back then. The blood of royals truly is something else.”
He was basically saying that members of the royal family could live longer than the regular people? The king ascending the throne 90 years ago meant he was easily over a hundred years old.
Starting to think of how old the princess could grow to reminded me of a certain immortal queen back on Earth.
‘Ugh, a headache for close to a century, huh? I’ll need to stop communicating with her after this.’
While walking, a posse of guards was coming towards us. At first, we assumed they were simply passing by, but then they stopped in front of us. Behind them, a merman who was just as big as the princess if not bigger, stepped forward with a mermaid a bit smaller than the princess.
‘Kah… a total hottie!’
Like the princess, his upper body was like that of a human, with black tattoos over his large chest. His body was extremely muscled, proof that he had been training quite a bit. His tail was bright orange and his fins were a dreamy red, a belt was wrapped around his waist with a sword in it. His blonde frilly hair laid back on his body. He looked nothing like the princess, with his emerald green eyes that seemed to command authority.
Behind him, the bespectacled beauty that looked much like the princess, but older and less excitable. She had her hands folded in front of her, but gestured to the guy.
“Are you my sister’s new pet?”
He suddenly asked a question out of nowhere. The old man smiled at the prince, but didn’t respond, implying he wasn’t enjoying the prince’s aura.
The prince moved in closer, forcing the old man to shift aside. He came to a stop before me, staring me down like I was some kind of insect. Given his size, I looked nothing more than a child to him though.
‘Pet?’
‘How rude.’
‘I hope that’s not what everyone’s been calling me.’
“Are you not going to speak?”
The prince asked me, reminding me that he was asking a question. This guy didn’t look half as dull as I expected him to, given how his brothers looked. Maybe that was why he was actually a candidate for being king.
Then again, he was also trying to get rid of the princess. Meaning, this guy could possibly become an ally to me or an enemy, depending on if he will give me what I want. Although, I plan on getting what I want either way.
“This is his highness, Prince Nanek Tox Den Anon Yorul. Do not be rude to him any longer.”
His sister, Randy, ordered me to speak. She possessed an ability similar to the princess’, even going as far as possessing the same class. Except, her sub-class was [Minister]. Supposedly, it was different from [Governor].
‘Excuse my earlier rudeness. My name is Hinotori and no. I am not the princess’ pet.’
I replied to him and only got his constant cold gaze back. Randy, who hadn’t heard my message was on the verge of exploding. That is till Nanek spoke.
“Why do you not use your mouth to speak?”
I wasn’t expecting that question. No one had even bothered with that question really.
Even if I had to respond, I didn’t have an answer for him. I, myself was unsure why I did this. I just did. But I didn’t have to respond to that specific question.
‘I have my reasons.’
“I see. Would you consider coming to work for me instead?”
‘HUH?!’
A sudden proposal for me to switch sides. Even if he was a prince, there was such a thing as time and place. Everyone in the room was shocked, except for the Gate Keeper and Kawaii. Even the cool beauty I had assumed wouldn’t show any expressions had her eyes wide open.
“Kyohoho, your highness, I am afraid your sister is summoning us and we must be on our way.”
The Gate Keeper tried to get us out of this situation.
“Silence.”
The prince’s authoritative voice bore down on the Gate Keeper, forcing him to shut his mouth.
“Answer now. Join me or stay where you are.”
He asked me once again.
Honestly, if this was how the prince was, I saw no benefit in siding with him. He would basically throw all our plans out there without consideration for anything. As they say, a wise opponent is to be preferred to a foolish ally.
‘No. I’ll stay with the princess.’
“Is that so? I’ll leave then.”
‘Good.’
A gentle smile formed on his face and that was a very weird thought for him to have.
“Let us go, Randy.”
He swam past me and his posse followed after.
‘That was a weird interaction.’
“Kyoho… ho… ho… I need to give you more credit. You realised how bad a choice it would have been to choose his side and stuck with the princess. We could’ve been dead by now.”
The Gate Keeper said something weird as well and headed off towards the princess.
‘Eh? What’s that supposed to mean?’
“Let’s hurry up. Smart choice.”
Sunalla tapped my shoulder and tried to direct me towards the princess. Her comment made me feel like the prince really was dumb.
***
We arrived at the princess’ room, where she was sitting in a clam chair while reading a scroll. Osveta was standing at her side with his hands behind his back.
There was a round table set up in front of her with a massive map containing all the kingdoms. Atlantis was at the centre of the map with five cities, and then there were the other kingdoms. Other than Atlantis, the other cities weren’t detailed. The maps simply showed a vague estimation of how big the kingdoms were, making the Exsuole Empire to easily be the biggest out of the three.
The Sharkfang wasn’t even given a concrete area. It had been highlighted as an extension of the Bloody Seas and the Deep.
There were multiple scrolls piled up on the floor next to the princess, with most of them having been opened already.
“You’re awake, I see. Excellent. Let’s start planning for the invasion.”
She dropped her scroll carelessly and got off the seat. Her hands slammed down on the table mercilessly.
“Give me all the necessary details, now.”
‘Huh? W-What-‘
“Come on, hurry. You were coming to tell me all of this yesterday, right? So, tell me now.’
‘Ah-‘
This was all too sudden for me. I just woke up, was approached by the prince, now had to deal with this? I was just going according to the whims of everyone. That’s very annoying.
“Now that I’ve gotten my personal army, I can deal with this issue privately. Osveta will be in charge of reforming them for the next two days. Sunalla and You will join up with Dax-“
‘No.’
“Excuse me?”
‘I won’t tell you anything till I get my royal wish.’
I crossed my arms and glared at the princess. Osveta growled at me, his hand at his sword’s handle.
‘If you want another beating, draw the sword.’
I threatened him, forcing him to hesitate. My focus returned to the princess.
‘Like I said, without any immediate compensation, I’m not going to help you any further. I will just return home to find other means.’
At first, I had assumed the princess held me in high regards, which was why she was trying to stall me receiving this. But now, I knew for certain she didn’t think of me as anything special. I was just another pawn in her stupid game.
“That wish has been annul-“
Kawaii shot an acid shot a mere inch away from the princess’ head.
‘Say that again, and I promise I will personally decapitate you.’
I had wasted way too much time. Minerva was the most important thing, yet here I was, playing with an overgrown child.
Both Sunalla and Osveta grew agitated by our actions, but were forced to stay in place by my [Shadow Limbs]. Being able to cast magic was quite possibly the best thing that happened to me.
“I-I see. In that case, fine. Let us go.”
‘Huh? Right now?’
“Yes. Right now. Let’s go get your wish granted.”
<A/N: Finally! We're doing what we came here for. Also, give me your reviews, comments and power stones! If you like, join the discord as well!>
RECENTLY UPDATES
