章 24: They’re back
Castle Armal:
The king walked through his garden of roses- alone.
He was the leader of the united council.
And he was perhaps the oldest king in the history of his country.
After all, all the kings before him never made it to his age…
“My king…” A rather decorated soldier bowed behind him. Middle-aged, wearing heavy dark armor. “The heroes have returned.” Deep voice.
The king’s expression didn’t change.
Rather he just stared blankly at the man below.
There were certain things that had to be done. And the heroes did accomplish quite a few.
But- there was a catch.
A very deadly catch. “Accommodate them. And send word to the council members. If the messengers are to be believed, it’s high time we had another meeting.”
He was already aware of the situation and what went down on the battlefield.
However, he still couldn’t believe quite a few things…
Perhaps he wasn’t drunk enough. “And bring me a bottle of wine and ask Sophia to get here as fast as she can.”
His head throbbed a bit. He hadn’t been this sober in a long while.
“Your majesty, if I may be so bold-”
“Go on.”
“Prince Trigone, the earl, is having secret discussions with various nobles…” He stared at the king’s eyes, sharp. “He might be planning a coup.” The soldier was quite loyal to the king. Perhaps too loyal.
The king was getting old, the beard was getting rather white and his strength was leaving him. ‘Is this my limit…?’
But he chuckled, no, he laughed out loud. “I’m surprised it hasn’t happened yet. If it were me, I’d have killed the king ages ago.” He laughed some more before calming down and looked at the sky with a smile. “Time doesn’t wait for anyone Pasponte, I’ve had my fun. Nature always choses the most suitable candidate for each era.” He looked back at the soldier. “And my era’s over.”
“Your majesty…” Pasponte mumbled.
“Now,” The king glared. “Where’s my damn wine and Sophia?”
“Ri-right away your majesty!” He was in heavy armor but it didn’t stop him from dashing through the palace halls.
The clanging sound made the king chuckle again.
But he sighed. ‘The end of my era…huh?’
He needed a drink. Badly.
***
Upper floors (Armal):
“Your highness, they’ve arrived.”
A maid knocked on the door and came in.
Someone was sleeping, someone was sleeping too comfortably.
The princess of the human empire: Princess Ermilanya Ji Norcava (II).
Her hair was everywhere and her head was melting into the cushion.
The nightgown looked more like a crumpled-up curtain than something royalty would wear.
“Wh..at? Who?” She opened her eyes, yawned and sat down, head bobbing back and forth.
“Lord Jay and others your highness…”
“Huh!?” All the sleepiness disappeared and she stared at the maid with surprise. “Truly?” Her golden locks were a mess and some hair even went to places they shouldn’t have… sometimes she wished her hair wasn’t so long.
“Yes.”
Her face brightened up almost instantly. Her heart raced and she wanted to head there right away.
But the head maid came in and stopped her. “You can’t just go like that? You have to get changed and wipe that snot of your face already!”
‘Snot?’ The princess touched her face and to her horror found some slimy stuff.
She twitched once and then twice before giving up. “Fine…”
With a satisfactory nod and grin the head maid clapped her hands. More maids came in. “Now let’s get you properly cleaned and changed, your highness.”
***
Frist floor (Armal):
Jay and the others had arrived at the palace.
“Still makes me wonder how they pulled this off. Their tech ain’t that great you know…” Layns wondered.
“Are you forgetting they have magic?” Duran shrugged.
Human magic was vastly inferior to even think of making something like this eight-story palace- so that probably wasn’t the best answer.
Layns rolled his eyes and didn’t bother replying.
“Welcome Heroes!”
The second prince of the country- Erphanse Ji Norcava had come to the front gate to personally welcome back the heroes.
It was odd.
Very odd.
“What’s the prince doing out here?” Shreya whispered.
“Let’s wait and see.” Jay whispered back and stood forward. He bowed slightly. “Yes, your highness. We’re back.”
The rest also bowed slightly.
None of them got on their knees and frankly, none of them had any intention to either.
They exchanged some pleasantries and before long a crowd of soldiers, nobles and maids formed a ring of sorts around them. Everyone just sung their praises, but it didn’t take a genius to understand- they were just flattering them.
Some high nobles invited them over for dinner and parties and whatnot.
But they’d already agreed- they weren’t going to go on any- at least not for the first few days.
They were heroes and they had much more stamina than typical people of this world. But they weren’t inhuman.
And they needed at least some rest and free time.
“Karvilel, escort them to their respective quarters. They’ve traveled far- they need their rest,” The prince said.
“Yes, your highness.” Karvilel, the young man in white suit, bowed and stared at the heroes. “Please follow me.”
The heroes also made another bow before following Karvilel out of the royal grounds and into the palace.
‘How very thoughtful… so you came here to get on our good sides…’ Shreya had a hunch but she remained quiet and followed the other heroes.
***
On their way, they saw Princess Ermilanya taking a stroll.
Jay wanted to say hi but he couldn’t conjure up the courage.
How could he walk up to such a beautiful dignified lady and say something so crude as a ‘hi’?
The moment he first saw her, he had a crush.
But he knew it’d never work out.
Once he was done with this world’s problems, he’d leave.
It wasn’t like he was having an inferiority complex over how short he was compared to the princess or anything, okay?
“Ah, Lord Jay. You’ve returned.” The princess spoke in an elegant tone. Her tone almost made Jay lose his mind.
Everyone bowed once.
Jay pretended to be composed: he was not. “Yes, your high-ness. I ha- I mean, we have returned.” ‘The hell am I screwing up for!!!’ He started sweating.
All the heroes except Jay took a few steps back so only Jay remained in front of the princess. He as a good seven inch shorter than the princess at exactly five-five.
“You must be tired, please go rest and-” She paused. It was almost as though she was hesitant but she spoke regardless. “Would you mind having a cup of tea this evening?”
Jay pointed at himself. “Me?”
He couldn’t believe reality- no.
Just why would such a beautiful dignified lady ask him of all people to have tea?
“Umm, yes. If it’s not too much of a bother. “The princess actually spoke casually rather than in her usual formal tone. “Though I suppose you’re far too tired…” Her complexion grew grim. She stared at the floor, sad?
“Ahem!” And got the stare of disapproval from her head maid just seconds later.
Royalty weren’t supposed to act like this.
“No- no it’s not a bother at all!!!!” Jay couldn’t keep his pitch low. It was almost as though he was going through puberty all over again. Actually- he wasn’t quite through puberty yet. ‘I still have some chance to grow right!’ He was definitely not giving up, that’s for sure.
He’d also make sure to exercise twice from tomorrow onwards. ‘Even one inch is worth it!’
“Well, then, if you’d excuse me.” The princess continued her walk. The glare from her head maid was proving to be a quite an ordeal.
Jay and the others also walked.
On their way, Duran elbowed the guy. “Lucky you, eh?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Though Jay’s face heated up and he complained, they all just laughed and moved into their individual rooms anyway.
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