Arc 7

Ch. 1 Smiling Man

With many fox fires I lit the room, careful not to light the room itself on fire.

Waving my hand around I created a figure with water magic. I was getting good enough I could almost give them elaborate clothes. Thus, I put on a play with magic like I had done so many times with the children, only on a larger scale.

"There once was a man born with incredible power."

*

Since he was a baby, everything came easy for him. He was the fastest, and the strongest. He could swing a plain sword with enough force to split a mountain without breaking a sweat. He could summon a storm to fit his mood. He never got sick, he never needed healing. He could do whatever he wanted, and nobody could stop him.

In fact, he did. He started wars so that he could be a hero, he crushed nations because its king displeased him. In his boredom he made a mighty empire because none could stand against him. Hundreds of years passed, and he discovered that he could no longer be satisfied.

He was unhappy. He could do anything he wanted. All he had to do was point and a woman would fall in to his arms. If he grew hungry he could grow a tree for its single fruit in moments. Or a wild boar would come and die at his feet. His whole life he had everything he ever wanted. And he never worked a single day to accomplish any of it. In a desperate attempt to satiate the hole in his heart he sent out a challenge. Whomever could name and solve his problem would be given his power.

For one hundred years many came, but none obtained his power.

In a state of depression, he went for a walk. A simple walk. He could do that if he wanted to.

After two weeks of walking. He stumbled upon a curious sight. There was a man who was smiling, singing even. He was a happy man. Who had something that the emperor didn't. A smile.

He followed the smiling man to uncover what the man had that he didn't.

At first, the man chopped down a tree. A single tree. It took him most of the morning.

The Emperor could cut down a forest in an instant. So it wasn't his ability to chop trees.

Next the smiling man went down to the creak and stuck his head in the water to wipe off the sweat. He was smiling still.

The Emperor had many baths and had been in many rivers so that wasn't it.

The man grabbed a nearby rod and fished. It took him another hour to catch the fish, but he was especially happy with it when he pulled it from the river.

The emperor could catch the biggest juiciest fish just by holding out his hand.

He started a fire and cooked the fish, then ate it. He sang about how delicious it was as he chewed.

The emperor had many fish larger and rarer. The man didn't even season it with anything more than a pinch of salt.

Next, the man returned to the tree with his axe. He then began to chop away the branches, prune it, and then chopped it into pieces only a little larger then himself.

Once it got dark the man returned to a small house at the edge of the village. Inside the house the man was laughing with someone.

The emperor peeked into the window. The man had a wife who could only be described as plain and was sitting down for a meal that was plain, while having a plain conversation.

The emperor had a large house, beautiful women, extravagant meals, and riotous conversations about his many accomplishments.

This man had nothing that the emperor did not. For days the Emperor watched the man trying to divulge his secret. On the fifth day he learned the man was building a house. On the seventh day the man shared a meal with other men from the village and their wives. On the ninth day, the emperor lost patience. He could not solve the mystery. Why could this man find so much happiness when the emperor could not.

He confronted the man and said, "I am the emperor. Tell me your secret and I will give you my power."

The man was confused. "I have no secret and I do not desire power."

The emperor was at first confused and then furious.

The man told him to calm down. He didn't say he wouldn't help.

They reenacted the man's nine days in one. The emperor cut down many trees and chopped them perfectly into the sizes the man told him, and began constructing a house. He held out his hand and caught many fish in an hour. They ate the fish, but they weren't as tasty as the man's face had shown. He showed up at the man's house and shared dinner and stories about his triumphs, but the man's wife was not impressed. He even slept in the man's house.

When they woke up the next day the emperor was no closer to happiness. But the man had a plan.

"Maybe it's because it's too easy? Give me all your power until you only have that of a normal man and the ability to take it back, I swear on my honor I shan't use a speck of it until you say. Then tomorrow do what I do."

With nothing to lose he gave all his power to the man. In turn, the man gave him an axe.

The axe was heavy in the emperor's hand, it was a new sensation. In the morning he began chopping a single tree, but was unable to make it fall. When they went to the river, he was sweaty but didn't dunk his head. Then he wasn't able to catch a fish. He returned to the tree and was unable to make it fall. He returned to the man's home disheartened. But the food tasted good since he hadn't eaten all day.

The man's wife tried to cheer him up by telling him about a young woman in the village that was marrying age and very kind. The Emperor listened intently since he was unable to brag about his accomplishments when he hadn't accomplished anything that day. That night the emperor's body was tired and even though he slept on the floor he slept well.

When he returned to the tree he finally managed to knock it down.

"Look, I finally did it," the emperor exclaimed joyously.

The man then had the Emperor dunk his head in the river, and the emperor felt refreshed. That day he caught a fish. It was half the size of the fish the man caught on the first day, but he thought it was so delicious it might not need salt.

When he returned to the tree the axe slipped and it cut his leg. He experienced pain for the first time. The man gave the Emperor his shoulder and they limped back to the man's house. At that time the Wife was chatting with the previously mentioned village maiden. She could only be described as plain, if not a little prettier than the man's wife.

Together the wife and maiden wrapped his wound. The man did not have a spare bed so that the emperor could properly recover, but the maiden claimed that if the man trusted him she would let him borrow her brother's, who was often away.

The man carried the emperor to the maiden's house. They placed the injured Emperor on the brother's bed and gave him some simple ale to drink. The man then left, claiming the Emperor was in good hands. The emperor felt ashamed to be in a state and to be helped by a stranger. He tried to tell her that he was the mighty Emperor, and he bragged at his accomplishments.

But she merely laughed at his imagination. The Emperor could do anything and would never be so clumsy, she claimed.

Near dinner time the maiden cooked for him and then fed him. At first, he was ashamed by not being able to get his own soup. But he was charmed by her simple kindness. Since he could not impress her with his tales of conquest, she would only claim it as a fantasy, he asked her about her about herself.

She was delighted to tell and regaled him with her simple pleasures in life. She wasn't special by any means, but she charmed him with her naivety. Any other woman in the world would fawn over him before throwing herself in his bed. But that night he didn't sleep with her, and in the morning, she made him breakfast and fed him. Lunch and dinner followed in the same manner. They would talk since he was bedridden, but he never felt himself being more entertained. She showed him the crafts she proudly sewed she displayed her replicas of animals, to custom dresses, to her brother's shirts she'd mended.

When he finally healed, he returned to the man's house and asked for an axe. Together they went to work. And spent their days together. When night came the Emperor returned to the maiden's house who had dinner ready for them.

A year's time passed, and the emperor had finally constructed a house of his own. He had even won the love of the maiden.

At the end of the year. The man smiled at the Emperor and the Emperor smiled back.

"I know what your problem is, and I have solved it." He proudly proclaimed that he had known since the beginning.

The emperor eagerly asked, in truth he had found happiness, but he could not name why.

"You never knew sweat, toil, or failure. I have shown you the hardness in life and the true accomplishment when you build something with sweat, toil against time, or persevere after failure. For the first time in your life you earned a woman's love, you built something with your own hands from start to finish, and you have created bonds with strangers out of necessity. By taking away your power I have solved your problem."

The emperor smiled he had finally found his answer it had taken a year to do it but that only made it sweeter.

"You have my eternal gratitude, name your price I will give you anything. I will give you everything."

The man already knew what he wanted.

"Let me keep your powers for one more day to use as freely as I will, and then swiftly take them back."

The emperor thought it an odd request, but consented. The next day the emperor went to work like always, but didn't see the man the entire day. He spent the entire day wondering what his friend would do with that power for a single day. His anxiety grew and grew when he imagined what one person could do with his power for a single day.

He returned to the maiden that night and expressed his anxiety. She comforted him and said to trust the man, he was his friend after all and had done nothing but keep his word since the beginning.

The next morning the two friends met.

The emperor took his power back and asked. "What did you do yesterday?"

"I took a nap." He laughed.

"Unmatched power and you took a nap?"

"I haven't had a nap since I was married. I was able to complete my work for the day swiftly and took a nap."

"All my power and you took a nap?"

"Naturally, I quite enjoyed it too. But if I do it again even my wife might start calling me lazy. And that's not how I want to be remembered."

Ch. 2 My Mother

I looked at Calypso when I finish that last quote of the story.

"Mother, how do you want me to be remembered? I have all this power, what should I use it for?" With a flurry of wind, I open then curtains to let the light in.

Calypso fidgeted.

Damn. Did I do it again? Where I just open my big mouth, and let all manner of dribble come out.

"That's not the story I was hoping to hear son. But I understand why you told it after our first meeting went so... wrong..." She tensed and then looked really defeated.

"I know lots of stories mother. Mama read to me every night since the day I arrived. I know stories of heroes, witches, wizards, dragons, trolls, elves, dwarves, sprites, men, women, adventurers, princes, princesses. You name it mother, and I can tell it or make something up." I start squeezing my fists. But I want to make up with this woman. She did a lot for me she brought me to this world she gave me my first real family, my first real home. As sort and sweet as it was.

"I- um- you-" she moved her mouth but nothing came out.

"Take all the time you need. I was taught patience at an early age."

"That!" She looked excited and then sheepish again.

Just what did she want? Spit it out MOM!

"That, those stories. Your stories."

She sighed after she finally said it.

"I got so worked up that day. I have no excuse for what I did or said. I want to know about you. That story told me nothing about you. I don't know about these girls you treasure or how my sister raised you. How she and her husband are doing. I didn't even know she had children... it must be too busy. But I did tell her to limit the letters she sent so you wouldn't be discovered. I want to hear your story Sebas." She was getting worked up as tears lined her eyes.

"You're wrong mother." I put my hands on my hips and puffed out my chest. "That story is one of my dreams."

"But I thought you said you didn't want to be an emperor."

"I don't," I point my thumb at my chest. "I'm going to be remembered as the happiest man who ever lived." I deflated a lifted as I told of the moment near and dear to my heart. "It was a day of a snow storm. We all gathered in the living room. The biggest room in the house, and it wouldn't even fill half of this library." I held my hands out emphasizing the space. "We sat around the fireplace: Zorlo, Hilda, Iliza, Julie, mama, papa, and I. Mama and papa stood up nervously and announced that they were going to have a baby. We all cheered, mama was glowing. But I remember the look on papa's face to this day. That day I had a thought. One day I hope to be as happy as papa. I want people to look at me and think the same thing."

"Were those the triplets?" She asked timidly.

"They were, Mama got huge! She couldn't even walk. They were born right after my birthday in the same month...."

I sat down with Mother. We talked for a long time. As soon as the sun went down the king came looking for us to make sure that we hadn't killed each other. I admit things were tense for a while, but I feel like I'm finally starting to reconnect with my mother.

She drops me off at my room and fidgets for a bit. We stand there awkwardly for a while and I know she is trying to gather the courage to say something. Finally, she throws her arms around me and tells me 'welcome home.' I forget that she's new to this whole mom thing, but I think she'll get used to it. I'll probably get more hugs when I tell her just how clingy mama was... is.

I have a good feeling when I return to my room that night. I feel refreshed.

Then... I scan for intruders. Flixin said only three were hired but that doesn't mean I can let down my guard. When me and Cheshire confirm that there is no one lying in wait. I go to my closet and grab my bag. I carefully remove the vials and set them back in the closet. The only one I leave is the spray bottle full of the sleeping spray. I pull out my old clothes and air them out a bit.

I put on my old clothes and no longer look princely. With a cloak I bought along the way here just for a purpose like this, I start wanting to wave around a stick while making electric. 'zzzzzzuuuu zuuzuz' sounds.

Be one with the force young Jedi. Zzzzuuuu zuuzuu cshhh!

Once I overcome my inner nerd... and my inner pervert as I make sure the leather outfit doesn't have any hidden weapons. I stick the Lilith's leather outfit and... are these heels? Wow I didn't know this world had heels this tall.

Focus.

That perfume is getting to me again I can feel it.

Leaving through the window. I put the next part of my plan into action.

*

"Get up." I say to the defeated girl wearing nothing but a sack for clothing.

The dungeon was only lit by a few torches here and there. Standard fantasy dungeon, large stone brick walls, cramped cells, iron bars everywhere.

"Master? Is that you?" The maiden asked.

"You haven't even been in here for a full day, why do you look so terrible?" I ask as I confirm that there are no other residents in the cell.

Lilith looks up from where she's huddled into her knees. She has tears streaming down her face. "Master is mean. Making me drink a whole bottle of Aphro and then leaving me." she sniffled.

Ah yes, I do remember that.

Good times... Cough cough. Damn Perfume.

"You weren't mistreated, were you?"

"Master, you are terrible! I was needy... and you said I can't. But luckily none of the guards would even look at me, because master said no touching... " She sniffles in a pathetic mess, it's seriously not even sexy anymore as her make runs down her face. She's still hot but just her personality is ruining it right now. "...and then the Aphro wore off and I was left ashamed after remembering how much I begged for it!" She sobbed.

I do remember that too. The Aphro thing was something I tested on her in my weakness, but I didn't she'd be able to control herself, even while in heat. That's some serious self-control now that I think about it, I'm impressed, especially after what just a drop did to me through my poison resistance. Just being able the think after a vial of it is commendable.

"How long does one of those vials last?" I ask.

"Eight hours, master." She cried. "I just recovered..."

I guess that would mean...

"Master..."

"Hm?"

"Next time, at least tell me when you are leaving." She poked her fingers together as her pointed ears turned red. "You didn't even say goodbye... I was lonely, and we never even cuddled..."

That's what she was mad about?!

Ch. 3 Boss Tirlilian

"Lilith..." I say in a serious tone. I no longer feel guilty! And we have more important things.

"Master." She replied.

"I can leave you here, I can even petition for your release after I leave the city. Or you can serve me. I leave your destiny in your hands."

Lilith didn't even hesitate. She jumped and skid to a halt in front of me leaving skid marks and a dust trail in her wake. She pressed her head to the ground at the edge of the bars in front of me in a full seiza bow. "Let me serve master. If I try to go back to the guild like this, I'll be cast out or killed. If I stay in the city the nobles will be after me. I have nowhere else to go. Please, let me eternally serve master!"

"Will you willingly agree to a slave contract?" I say solemnly.

"Anything for master. Please don't abandon me to die..." She began to sob. She really is pitiful. I can hardly believe she's an assassin in this state. "...you're my only hope..." she peeped.

She just had to make an accidental Star Wars reference while I'm wearing this cloak.

You know, "Please obi-something something, you're my only hope."

I know the risks. She's a talented alchemist. She could slip poison into my food at any time. I'll need to either break her, or make her fall in love with me...

I grimace. Right now, I can't decide which option is less appealing. I'm going to have to brain storm for a better idea and soon. Hopefully, outside the influence of psyche-altering drugs.

On the other hand, she could be extremely useful in the future...

"Lilith Wildheart, raise your head." I command.

I can't decide if I'm feeling more Sith lord or king with this outfit. But a sex dungeon vibe hits me and makes me sick to my stomach.

Lilith look up at me with pleading eyes.

I flung a whirl ring with my tail at one of the iron bars. It cuts clean through it. All the color leaves her face as she looks at the clean cut in the solid iron.

"Any treachery will be rewarded in turn. And this isn't even the least of what I can do." I make eye contact with her giving her my most threatening power stare. "And I'm not the only one you have to worry about... Cheshire..."

Cheshire growls. The low rumble echoes through the cave sending chills into the bones. Then he slashes the wall behind me. Four long gouge lines in the wall were made with terrifying power that shook the floor slightly.

"Do you understand what it means to betray my trust?"

Lilith swallows and nods. "I-I-I understand. M-M-master."

"We're going on an outing." I toss her the bag. "Get dressed, you're going to take me to the Assassin's Guild."

"Y-y-yes master."

*

Lilith shivers in her leather outfit as the rain pours down on us in blankets. Lightning lights up the night as we slog through the slums.

"T-there." She points as we approach a building made for lewd things.

A brothel. Of course, it's a brothel. And I'm not even old enough to appreciate it.

"Just do your part." I answer.

"I'll do my best, master."

Lilith takes us inside through the back. And leads us up some stairs.

"Little lily, I didn't think I'd see you again. Didn't you and two others get done in by a noble welp?"

Lilith's persona changes. Now she's dripping with elegant sex appeal.

"I was caught off guard, and ended up in the dungeon. But now I'm here and I brought my benefactor who saved my life to meet the boss."

"The boss is a busy person. What business does your small benefactor have with the boss?"

Lilith lays on the charm and starts touching the bouncer's chest while making sure he has a good view of her cleavage.

"Oh Georgie, you know I never bother the boss unless it's serious..." she moves her leg into a very precarious position for a man and a woman. "...all I's got is a little debt to repay is all."

"Georgie! Quit taken advantage of the Succubus and let her in. I want a report of what the hell is going on in the castle." Says a feminine voice from the office.

"You heard her..." Georgie opened the door to let us in.

Standing by the window was a blonde half-Demon looking at the rain. "Shit weather we're having. It gives me the willies, like it ain't natural."

That's because it isn't.

She turns around, she had a big scar on the right side of her face and half of her horn on that side is missing. Over her damaged face is an eyepatch. She looks at me. "I take it, this... man, is the reason you made it out of the castle alive."

"Yes boss." Lilith answers in a more business-like tone than I thought she was capable of.

"And the prince?" The demoness asks.

"... he can be kind, but he is truly frightening."

"He's just a boy..." the boss raises an eyebrow.

"He's a Magus initiate. They don't just hand out those titles to people who fall under the 'just a boy' category. Boss." Lilith responds.

The boss sighs. Then looks at me. "Well we've kept you waiting long enough, your majesty. I can only assume that you are here for a reason."

I smile. "it was my size, wasn't it?"

"It's your magic." She points at her eyepatch.

"You know my name, I believe it's common curtesy to introduce yourself." I smirk. I knew getting here was too easy.

"I'm surprised that Lilith didn't already tell you."

"Lilith has told me very little. Except when she begged for her life and force fed me her sob story about not being able to find a husband. By my command, she brought me to you to talk. Flixin was the woman who sung like a bird." I answer.

"And Miles?" she asked.

"I didn't give him much time to say anything after Flixin told me everything I wanted to know."

She sighed, "Flixin never really was good under pressure. And Lilith is too self-centered to talk about anything but herself."

"Boss, that's mean..." Lilith's tail dropped.

"My name is Boss Tirlilian, or Boss Tir for short. You know like a Teardrop." She winked, at least I think she winked with the eye under the eye-patch.

"Down to business then." I say. "You see, having assassin out for my neck is an inconvenience. I was hoping to come to an understanding."

"An understanding you say?" She raised an eyebrow with a dangerous curiosity.

"Precisely, you see. I am what one would call a feral animal in a cage. I had plans for my future and when I became a prince it threw a wrench into my plans. I find myself easily irritated these days until I find a way to rectify my situation to a satisfactory degree. As such, I find myself swiftly biting back..." A lightning bolt flashes in front of the window. "... when my cage is prodded."

Ch. 4 Demon's Friend

"Have you come here to make threats, boy?" She asked with an unreadable expression.

"No. I've come here as a matter of curtesy. This is simply the way of things, and I have no intention in starting a war. I've simply come to advise you to stop throwing away your resources. Flixin, Flixin's men, and Miles are dead. Lilith, I have claimed. She is mine. Losing any more of your best would be bad for business." I say.

"My my," she props her head up with her hand. "A gentleman. I like gentlemen, they always have much more interesting things to say. Like 'you advise me to stop throwing away resources'. That's a new one. You're very confident aren't you, mister gentleman." She laughs.

"I'm merely hoping to avoid an unnecessary blood bath."

"You sure are something, kid. But even you wouldn't call down lightning on yourself. Do you really think you're faster than me?" she tenses her muscles with an evil grin.

I hold my hand out with my palm up. "The reason I was recognized as a Magus Initiate was not because of my overwhelming war potential, it was because I'm trying to add a fifth element to the Elemental magics." Lightning bounces around my hand. "I've been playing with hero and master level magic in order to make a new element. I think the question you should be asking is, do you think you are as reckless as I am?" I put my hand back down. "Shouldn't be too hard if I just open Fox Gate again." I tilt my head back and smile wickedly from under my hood.

Tir laughs. "You've got me on the reckless part."

"In addition, if we find a peaceful solution here we may be to reach a mutually beneficial arrangement. Consider it, an investment."

"Are you saying you'll owe me a favor in the future?" She asks with the evil cunning of a viper.

"I'm saying, friends cooperate a lot better when they don't have each other's blood on their hands." Some thunder strikes in the distance, but that one wasn't me.

"Friends, is it?" She remarks.

"I can't make any promise that I'll owe you a favor. But I can promise I'll find a way to bite back if I'm provoked. I'm still young, but in the future, you may regret burning bridges over making them."

Lilith had begun shaking a little in fear as Tir considers my words.

Tir snickered. "I like your spunk, kid. Very well, I'll forgo 'wasting any more resources' on you for the time being. I formally recognize The Succubus, Lilith Wildheart, as your property. If she or you take any aggressive action against me or the guild as an organization, I'll take it as a declaration of war. I hope you'll speak with me before that happens, since we're such good friends now." Her wicked charm started replacing her sinister aura. "Hunting kids always left a bad taste in my mouth, anyway. Oh, and Lilith has to return the commission for the request she failed. That's just business."

I nod. "It's only natural."

"And since we are playing nice, I wouldn't mind if Lilith donated a few vials of her Aphro to my personal collection." She sticks her tongue out at us playfully.

"I think that can be arranged. Friends look out for each other, right?" I smile as innocently as child.

Tir leans back against her chair with her hands behind her head with a big grin.

"I look forward to an interesting 'Friendship' Prince Sebas. Be careful of the enemies you make, even the heart of a friend can only take so much temptation, you know." She warns.

"Life is all about choosing your friends and your enemies very carefully don't you think?" I remark with wisdom beyond that of a simple child.

"Make lots of friends, Sebas. For any friend of the prince is a friend of mine. Now get out of my guild before your mommies finds out you were out past curfew at a brothel."

*

"How did you do that, master?" Lilith asked from inside her cell.

She was changing and although she's my property as recognized by Boss Tir, I give her a little privacy.

"Do what?" I ask ignoring the sounds of fabric as she throws the leather clothes through the bars.

"Make a deal like that with Boss? She doesn't like anyone, and all you did was threaten her."

"I only offered her what she wanted."

"By threatening her?" Lilith balked at my response.

"The assassin's guild is a business, when you lose valuable employees it hurts business. If you throw money at a project that won't yield any results, then you're just losing money and credibility. I was just telling her to do what she was already planning on doing. I just gave her more reason to do it."

"I don't get it." Lilith sighed.

"Don't worry your pretty little head about it. You haven't already spent the gold, have you?"

"No, I was going to spend it today to move somewhere else."

"Good," I stuff her clothes in my backpack.

"Wait, master. You won't forget about me, will you?" She asks while gripping the bars to the cage.

"I can't afford to, thanks to you I'm in debt with an assassin's guild until you take back the money and deliver the Aphro."

I make sure to light a few torches and toss her an extra blanket since she has been soaked from the rain all night.

*

I was able to get a few hours of sleep before breakfast. This morning breakfast is much less awkward. And the king comments on it.

I'm still very tired.

During training the first time William knocks me down to the ground I don't get up.

"Boy prince," he pokes me with his stick. "I know you ain't given up yet, we just started."

"..."

He pokes me again.

"I'm dead bleh. Continue without me..." I moan into the mud.

He laughs at my joke.

He picks me up and walks to the stables nearby.

"Well a corpse won't mind at all a dunk in the trough." He tosses me in the icy water. I gasp and sputter around in the long wooden box of wet death that the horses drink from.

"Wahahaha jaja na haaa haaa" I make weird noises as try to find the dry ground again.

William is just laughing at me.

I laugh all the same once I'm out. I didn't think he'd actually throw me in. Despite my attitude I am still a prince after all.

"I'll show you a dunk in the trough!" I splash water on him. Then I tackle him, and we wrestle around for a bit getting our clothes all muddy. I say wrestle, but he really just tosses me around like a wet rag doll.

Ch. 5 Speculative Days

Zorlo

"You know when I watch him like this, I sometimes find it hard to believe some of the things I've seen him do." I observe.

I'm standing next to Bastion boy and Sir Fredrick on the third story of the castle watching William and Sebas play.

"He was never so energetic while training me." Fredrick scratched his chin.

"Indeed, even I worried about William training a brat his age." Bastion commented. "I was convinced after the first day of being beaten black and blue he'd run to me or Calypso crying to make him take it easier or find a new instructor."

"I heard he was all smiles, he even refused healing." Zorlo laughed.

Bastion laughed. "The wives were a terrible mess. I'd say it's because they've never had a son, but my brat sure is something else."

I laughed recalling a fond memory. "I remember the first day Sebas came home with a bloody nose after practicing magic in secret. Lady Amelia was beside herself. I told her what to expect when raising a boy. But that boy, in order to not make his mama worry he took it upon himself to learn healing magic. He then roughed himself up with far more than a bloody nose after that. He'd always come home with his clothes a complete mess, but never covered in a single scratch."

"Still, to take beatings like that and keep going back for more. He even charmed William. Hell, he's darn near charmed the whole court, Sicilia included. And we all know the queen's temperament." Fredrick smirked.

"It's a shame he seems so against being king. He'd make one hell of a king, and emperor if he keeps winning over princesses left and right." Bastion remised.

"I wouldn't be too sure." I pat him on the shoulder. "He has a strong disposition to protect, as soon as he matures from his wanderlust and figures out that he can protect a lot of people as their ruler, he'll do it."

"Even if it's impossible at that point?" Fredrick asks.

"Especially, if it's impossible!" I reach over Bastion and pat Fredrick on the chest while leaning on the king's shoulder.

"I see both you and my son seem willing to make a stepping stone of me." The king jokes.

We share a laugh. Bastion is a good king. He is wise, kind, and when he needs to be he is cunning. He possesses seven tails and is considered a sage, a fox without peer in this day and age.

Bastion the sage king. His name is one for the history books. But I fear he'll soon be overshadowed by his son. Sebas, the Kitsune Emperor.

"I'm looking forward to the future," I say as I watch William dunk Sebas in the trough again.

** ** **

Sebas

Thanks to William I was able to wake up for the day. At lunch, Mom and my sisters joined me in the library and I told them my own embarrassing love stories with my precious friend (Julie) and the Grandine princess Ninni.

I didn't think about it at the time, since Banks wasn't very kingly. But being the future mate of a princess, his daughter, has become a much bigger deal then I imagined.

When reflecting on it, the kings in this world are nothing like I expected. Between Banks and Bastion other than the overwhelming power their presences have. If you get to know them they are almost less kinglike than I am princely.

Either way, I'm going to avoid becoming king if I can help it.

This has been a busy week, but it seems like I'm finally growing accustomed to how things are done here.

My new instructor is not an overweight middle-aged woman, she is more of a plump woman. On careful inquiry, I found out that she is Charlie's older sister. She was an etiquette teacher for minor nobles and wasn't treated very well because of her appearance. When her brother was named one of the heroes who saved the prince's life, she had applied to be the prince's new instructor.

She was hired on the spot, when her relation was discovered.

She was a timid woman, she had never been anywhere as grand as the palace before. Since she didn't fit the qualification of a tiny woman she kept her distance from anything that look breakable.

It took some time to get her to loosen up. I even offered to escort her to the kitchen where her brother was after our lesson.

Charlie had mixed emotions about seeing me again. But I easily disarmed him when I asked about dinner and expressed my delight.

Once again, the king missed dinner in the dining room, but I no longer needed him to save me from my family. I finished the night by reading about the slave system in a final attempt to see if it was needed or just how much it might help.

Lilith was unbelievable submissive and obedient already. She complained about me being mean but didn't show any malice towards me after I thoroughly humiliated her. I even consulted Cheshire on if she was dangerous and he laughed.

When I'm done reading I look out the window at the stars and think that it's a beautiful night.

I grab a small blanket and sleep in the nook outside that I found earlier for napping. It is under an overhang of roofing which makes it hard to see, dry from the rain that is gone now, and shaded from the sun. I cuddle against a full sized invisible cat and drifted easily to sleep. I have often dreamed of sleeping under the stars as an adventurer. And something about sleeping under the stars on a castle roof had a unique novelty to it that I might have missed if everything had gone according to plan.

Ch. 6 More Assassins

I wake up the next morning as the sun is cresting on the horizon to Cheshire swatting my face with his tail.

I groan but he keeps swatting me.

"Nnnya okay I'm up." I sit up. My hair is a mess with the bed head of a good night's sleep. My ears flick back and forth, and I hear a commotion in the castle.

"Greeaat." I yawn as I pull my shirt down. "Is it bad?" I ask Cheshire.

Chess is his invisible-house-cat size, and is flicking his tail back and forth.

Tail flick bad.

Not meow bad.

Not growl bad.

Not hiss bad.

Nor bad enough to actually speak to me.

I've gotten to the point where I can read him without words. But if he would just SPEAK to me, I would know exactly what is going on!

No helping it. I yawn and stretch.

Tail flick was somewhere between minor annoyance and something that just barely needed my attention.

I hop through the window of the library and walk out the door passed two guards holding my blanket while looking as if I was just roused... because I was.

Useless cat.

"I know we checked the library this time." One of the guards stressed.

"Prince are you unharmed?" The other asked.

"Another assassin?" I ask rubbing my eyes. This is not a question a seven-year-old should be asking so casually.

"Sire, the guards outside your room were slain and your room was ransacked."

Good thing I slept on the roof. I was able to get a good night sleep tonight.

It was either Lilith looking for her stuff, or more guild assassins. The only problem was Lilith's M.O. was to sleep with her victims and leave them for dead. Even the day she stormed the castle there wasn't a single casualty. She was out. Assassin's then?

It had only been a day, I can't expect Tir to have struck out against me just yet. It must have been an independent loose end I haven't tied up yet. I'll give her a couple of days to straighten it out and if I don't hear from her or if there is another incident I'll approach her directly.

"You guys have the worst job." I tell the guards and walk to my room to check the damages.

My bag and Lilith's stuff are still in my closet. My sheets have a bunch of holes in them. my pillows are wrecked. There are goose feathers, clothes, and broken furniture scattered everywhere.

Yep this is ransacked. I throw my blanket on the destroyed bed casually.

The guards and maids are making a racket around me. I get pieces about how they'd looked everywhere for me and were searching the town for the assailants. Many are relieved to see me alive and well.

I begin picking clothes off the ground and inspecting them until I find an undamaged set to wear to breakfast.

At least I didn't destroy my clothes this time.

If Hilda and Iliza saw this, they'd already be budgeting cloth and thread for mending and new clothes. Many of these would probably just be replaced now that I'm a formal prince.

My family were all relieved to see me walking into breakfast like it was just another morning. They were emotionally somewhere between fearing the worst and getting used to living with me. I also think that some of them were worried I'd be grumpy again after another night assassination. But that was mostly because of my mixed-up emotions on top of being sleep deprived. Last night I got a good night's sleep, and didn't lose anything important in the ransacking.

Today is a happy Sebas day. As I casually start the morning conversation out as if it were any other morning. Everyone expresses their relief that I am ok. The king says the same, but adds on a smug 'I told you so' at the wives.

During training, I ask William to teach me bar fighting. He looked confused, so I explained about the time Ninni and I had a fist fight and papa said he hadn't taught me bar fighting yet since I was too young.

He laughs my story and says he'll split the lessons between swordplay, and how to fight like a proper scoundrel.

Today I learn that William doesn't have fists, he has cinderblocks for hands. He shows me how to block and informs me that endurance is the most important thing as he proceeds to pummel me. But that is just how William teaches.

I thought I had good endurance before, but William's cinderblocks teach me otherwise.

I don't have lunch with anyone that day, so I do a proper study session in the library.

For lessons, since Beth, my new instructor, hasn't caught up on the current events she decides that it's a good of a time as any to teach me how to dance. She even invites my sisters Meela and Tiera to help.

I think it's the first time I've seen Meela and Tiera so visibly frustrated with me.

Since my youth when I was developing Winking, I have been naturally inclined to walk on all fours. Even when no one is looking I still find myself doing it. Walking on two feet is like writing with my left hand. I'm competent enough after years of practice and training. But I am far from athletically coordinated.

In other words, I literally have two left feet and no talent for dancing.

My sisters who are all naturals at it, start growling at me while we dance.

As an adventurer, I never thought it would be a skill I'd use so I ignored it. After about an hour of beating up my sisters' toes, Beth has me do independent concept training. That's just a fancy way of saying she made me dance by myself so my sisters wouldn't hate me.

All my power and my four tails, and dancing is where I find my greatest weakness.

But I'm not going to give up. I remember how many times I crashed landed while developing winking. I'm going to do this.

That evening at dinner I learn a little more about my would-be assassins.

"I heard an interesting rumor around town today." Calypso started.

She was always hearing rumors around town. Her information network was otherworldly, there was a reason she was one of the deadliest women in the capitol.

"A fascinating subject if it peaks your interest." This is Sicilia's tsundere way of saying she wants to hear it.

"Those men who ransacked the palace last night. Were found." Mom states.

"Oh my, where did the guards find them?" Reina asks.

"Everywhere," Calypso answers.

Ch. 7 Mom's Rivalry

Calypso has perfect manners. She speaks while sitting straight up as she takes small calculated bites of her food. Not a drop or scrap finds its way anywhere but her mouth. It's a thing of beauty to watch.

Sicilia is the same way, but if you were to compare the two. Calypso is enticing the food into her mouth like she is a goddess and they eagerly await their turn. While Sicilia is leading a dance, and devours her meal like a femme fatale devours men.

It's like they are competing even at the dinner table. The air of rivalry between them is one of longstanding impasses and mutual respect... at least at this point. I was sent away when I was born.

I sometimes get lost watching them. It is not until I've met them that I truly understood Etiquette is just another weapon for the battlefield of politics. Not understanding this was part of what caused the distance between us when the king misses supper. Now I'm used to it.

Calypso dabs her mouth, which means she has something long to say instead of a passing comment.

"They were two names of worth in the Assassin's guild. It seems that they were found in pieces all around town with a notice from the Assassins. All designs on Prince Sebas's life have been banned until further notice. Any in the guild who disregard this will meet the same fate as Crazy Caze and Snake-eyed Dagger. The notice confirmed that after they had been informed, they disobeyed a direct order and sieged the palace. At the end, it wasn't signed it only said, 'apologies to our friend'."

Despite their manners everyone looked at me.

"Sebas dear," Mom's eyes were kind but accusatory. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about this?"

"I do." I take a bite of my food and chew. An action that says either I don't understand how big of a deal this is or that I don't feel like it's a big deal. It's both.

"Sebas, are you affiliating with the Assassins?" Reina asked, despair and shock wreathed her face.

"Affiliating is not a good word, it's more like a..." I tap my chin. "... mutually beneficial understanding of non-aggression."

"Sebas, did you threaten the assassin's guild?" Sicilia asked.

"Threaten isn't the right word either, I merely met with their leader, explained the situation, and asked them to stop." I sipped my drink.

"You met with their leader?" Mom's angry vein was showing. "If you had just asked I'm sure one of us could have come up with a less reckless alternative. I won't even ask how you found him."

"Her," I correct. "Really scary looking, just what you expect, maybe I little younger than I imagined."

Mom's eye twitched.

"She can be agreeable if you know how to speak her language. She did ask me if I thought I was faster than her. I spoke her language and asked her if she could be as reckless as me. We came to an agreement after that." I took another bite of my food. But by their reactions it appeared that I had done something troublesome.

"What kind of agreement, exactly, did my son reach with the leader of those cold-blooded murders." Mom was forgetting her manners and began speaking through her teeth in an attempt to control her anger.

"Let's see... She recognized the Assassin, Lilith 'The Succubus" Wildheart, as my property. I'd then have to return the fee she was paid to kill me since she was unsuccessful. She asked for a donation of several vials of a substance of Miss Wildheart's alchemic research, called Aphro. She then agreed to non-aggression so long as I don't start a war or raise my bounty to a point she can't refuse. I made no promises of favors or debt. After Lilith's debt is settled, we'll stay out of each other's way for the time being. On that subject, I'd like custody over Lilith as soon as that is possible. It seems I'm in need of a servant since the last two tried to kill me, I'd like to employ one on my own terms."

You could hear a pin drop. Yep, I said something impossible.

"Let me understand this correctly. You met with the ever-elusive phantom leader of the Assassin's guild." Mom began a list. "Inclined 'her' to cease all designs on your life, without threatening, bribing, or making any promises for favors. At the same time doing all three. To the point she killed her two best men as a warning to stay away from you. You are claiming property over one such assassin who tried to kill you, who you now wish to employ. Doing all of this without forming any alliance or formal ties to that guild. And without indebting yourself beyond some gold and a couple vials of aphrodisiac. And you did all of this within the last two days?"

I nodded my head, counting the things in my head while waving my fork like a pen.

"...Sounds about right. I still can't dance though."

Mom looked like she was going to break. Then she made an uncharacteristic laugh. Everyone looked at her like she was crazy, even me.

Between her giggles she summoned me to her side.

When I got close she grappled me in what could be called a hug as she nuzzled her face against her face.

"You're so amazing! You're even better than me at my own games! I don't know how you did it, but my son is so cooool!" She squealed that last cool as she nuzzled more. "HA!" She pointed a finger at Sicilia. "Have as many sons as you want, Sebas is mine! I did this! He can't dance, and has no common sense, but he's only been here a week and has done more than you or I combined!"

Mom laughed energetically.

Sicilia slammed her fork on the table, and pointed her knife at mom. "I will! But even without them my daughters are natural dancers, and they are often praised by the noble sons as the prettiest in the kingdom! I know, I was eavesdropping at the last banquet! They wouldn't stop talking about how soft and fluffy their blonde fur looked!" She named a few boys and quoted them word for word until my sisters couldn't handle it.

""Mother!"" Meela and Tiera blushed.

"Well Sebas has unique Fox Gate hair! Nobody has ever seen this before, I even hear that when you cut it, it stays this way! Besides look at this unique scarf!" Mom tugged on my scarf. "Sebas is going to bring winter fashion trends to the capitol! The local designers are already looking at starting a movement and are researching enchantments to make them more appealing to men!"

"Well my Daughters...!"

They continued like that for a while. I was being smothered and my sisters were so embarrassed I thought they might turn into redheads. All the while, Reina continued eating her food with a relaxed smile.

I think I'm beginning to see the true face of Mom and Sicilia's rivalry as they try to one up each other with petty details. All in all, mom seems pretty happy while she's bragging about me. I guess comparing children wasn't something she could do before. I even catch Sicilia smiling.

I don't think they'd admit it before, but I think these two have a good relationship.

Everyone seems to have forgotten everything else. I'm starting to feel a weird sense of home here. It's not the same one like in Ralla's End. But it feels like a family-

Stop squeezing so hard mom, my ribs are out of practice from mama's hugs.

My back! My back!

*

Ch. 8 Manly Display

I sleep on the dresser again tonight. I'd like to sleep under the stars, but after Mom's bragging tirade I don't have the energy. I do some light reading and fall asleep with a book in my hand.

In the morning, I ask dear old dad about letting me have the homicidal mad scientist assassin as my live-in maid. Calypso backs me up saying something along the lines of 'if it's MY son then we have nothing to worry about.'

Mom then brags about me to him, covering what we talked about last night. She was embellishing some of the details tactfully. But it was an obvious show in front of Sicilia who had fumes coming out of her head.

Reina leans over to me and says that Sicilia is finally getting a taste of her own medicine.

Dear old dad chuckles and agrees to let me keep Lilith.

In some ways, it feels wrong to treat her like pet animal, but after getting to know her I can't think of many other ways to treat her that wouldn't degrade her anymore.

Dad assumes I'm after her only for her body. I retort with her accomplishments in the field of alchemy and the unblemished interest of having a maid that who won't catch me by surprise if she tries to kill me. Citing the assassin's guild endorsement.

I'm also after her for her body, just a little, but that's not something I'm going to admit in front of my mothers and sisters.

That morning we skip training.

Dad and I go down to the dungeons to find the pitiful figure of a young maiden curled in the back of a cell.

"Lilith Wildheart." The king gets her attention and she begins to cower in front of his imposing figure. She sees me, and her eyes widen. I guess she hasn't properly seen my face yet. Oh well.

"Due to your crime of the attempted Assassination of my son." Dad doesn't stop but Lilith begins to press herself into the wall away from him. "Your punishment is death."

Lilith looks like something in her just broke.

"However... My son has found your life as having some value. I sentence you to a life of slavery under Sebas Asmos Ti'en. Your life is in his hands to do as he pleases. Should he no longer find use for you, only death awaits. If you betray him, only death awaits. If you are not completely obedient to his every whim, desire, or need, only death awaits. If you don't agree to these terms on the absolute control over your existence, only death awaits."

Lilith looks at me like she was looking at her savior.

"My son has determined that as a servant you will be trained as a proper maid in order to serve his needs. You will receive intensive instruction for the remainder of you time in the capitol. You will be provided a uniform, a room, and food at his discretion. Since you will not receive a wage in regards to your training. Any wants or needs will also be given to you from Prince Sebas. Any property, possessions, or finances you own are now under the ownership of Prince Sebas. You, who was pronounced dead are now alive only through the grace and mercy of my son. If you betray that mercy, I will personally see you regret it for the remainder of your days." Dear old dad flashed her a dark look that even made me scared.

The king nodded at the guards and they opened the cell. She shies away from them as they encroach on her.

"Wait." I tell them to stop as I've finally had enough of Lilith's pitifulness. She doesn't need to be scared or humiliated anymore. "Guards step out of the cell, she's my property and I won't have her damaged by careless hands."

The guards step out of the cage as ordered.

I held my palm up to her. "Lilith, Come." I order. She slowly crawls to me and reaches for my hand. With the king and all these fully armed guards it's no wonder she's so scared.

When she touches me, one of the guards shouts.

"You'd dare touch his majesty!" He raises his gauntleted hand and brings it down to back hand Lilith's face.

I slapped his hand away. "Did you just try to lay a hand on my property?"

The guard looked shocked. His gauntlet parts as if cut in twain and his blood stars to pour on the ground.

"The next person who tries to discipline her for me, loses a hand." I look at them.

The guard kneels. "Forgive me, your highness."

After a long moment I tried to match the kings dark ferocity and then subtly lighten up.

"... Forgiven," I help Lilith to her feet, then turn to the guard. "Let me see your hand." I offer my hand to the guard.

The guard was sweating. "Yes, sire." He places his damaged hand in mine and I suddenly pull off his gauntlet. There is a long cut lengthwise from his knuckle half way up his arm. I place one hand under his and one over the cut. I 'chant' the healing spell to keep up appearances.

When I'm done I give him a smile. "There. I can't do anything for you glove. Just treat her like you would a lady, and there will be no problem." I pat his hand. "Why don't you try putting the chains on her now, so we can get going." I pat his hand again.

He is much gentler with Lilith now.

I want to make it clear right from the start that no matter how justified they feel, I will protect her if they try to harm her. Nobody needs to lose a hand, let one broken gauntlet be proof enough.

"Father," I hand the gauntlet back to the guard. "Issue this guard a new gauntlet, I'll personally pay for it if you want."

The king laughs defusing the tension. He pats the guard on the shoulder, "Don't let it get to you. Sebas fought off the king of the forest to protect a girl who hated him. It would damage his manly pride if he let you hit his new maid."

I met the eyes of the guard. I need to make sure there are no hard feelings among the guards. The last people I need enemies of are the soldiers who are supposed to protect me. A display of manliness should suffice, but damn this was going to hurt in the morning.

"He was only doing what came natural for a man who loves his king and country. He is devoted and loyal, I expect every guard to look up to him and strive to follow his example in striving to protect things they hold dear whether it be honor, your families, or the royalty you're sworn to serve... But this woman is now under my protection. If you would protect me, protect those I protect. I will bear the weight of her sins. If there is any here who would strike her, they will strike me instead."

Nobody moved. This was not going end well if nobody stood forward, but I have an ace in the hole.

I turned to my father.

"I am a man of my word, father. As king and as a father, if you feel any hatred after she aimed for my life, it is your responsibility as king and father to strike me. Show these men the proper form a man takes when he strikes another."

Father grimaces. I have him trapped. No good father willing lays their hand on their child for no reason. At the same time, if he doesn't strike me it is the same as admitting he has no feelings for me.

He raises his hand and back hands me so hard I stumble.

I turn back to him.

"I have struck one of the men sworn to protect this kingdom for her sake, what will you do?"

He slapped me again.

I turned to Fredrick.

"Sir Fredrick, I was raised by your brother and sister-in-law. As the brother of the man who raised me, I see you as family. Do you feel no resentment toward the one that aimed for my life?"

Fredrick sighed. He loosened the straps on his gauntlet as he stepped forward.

I stopped him, "Would you remove you gauntlet before striking her?"

"You're really something kid." He tightened his gauntlet and struck me.

That one hurt me, but still I didn't fall.

I looked at the remaining guards.

"This is my resolve!" I stand tall with blood trailing down my face after that gauntlet took its toll on my princely skin. "If any of you bare any resentment let him show it in this manner. If that is what it takes to also protect that which I would protect. If you do not wish to strike me, then aid me. Bury your resentment here and now, and stand at my side. If you will not stand by my side, then take your leave of this place and never return, for you do not share my level of resolve. And this kingdom has no need of men protecting it who will falter so easily in the face a single girl."

In one unanimous motion, the guards kneel before me.

Nobody left, and they all pledged loyalty to me as the crown prince. Check.

Manly display, check.

Pain... ow. Check.

Ch. 9 Slave Clause

Sebas

After my display of manly foolishness, we went to a seedier part of the Merchant district. We went in a royal carriage. Inside the carriage was Father, Lilith still in rags, me with Cheshire floating on my head, and Fredrick.

The person I feel sorry for is Lilith. Even though there is four of us she is sitting between father and uncle shaking more than the carriage on the uneven cobblestone and dirt roads.

I feel like this situation is backwards; normally if you have a father, an uncle, a girl, and a boy in this kind of situation. It's the boy surrounded on all side by the intimidating men.

"You know Sebas..." Father is the first to break the silence. It has been very quiet since my little display. I healed myself as soon as we got in the carriage, so I wouldn't get blood everywhere. But I let the guards all see me as we walked through the castle.

"Hm?" I answer.

"I've been thinking about it..." he suddenly gets very pale. "...And I have no idea how I'm going to explain this to your mother..."

"That's easy." I said. "You have two choices. Lie through your teeth, or tell her the truth." I wink.

He doesn't get any more color after my answer.

"If it were me," I continue, "just say you knew Sebas was pulling one of his theatrics and you were an unwitting participant. If you did nothing, it would be like disowning me in front of the guards. If it's mom, play up the story on my behalf so that she can brag about it later. She'll be mad no matter what you do, but she'll be happier down the line if you give her ammo to use against Mother Sicilia."

Father sighed. "You really are your mother's son aren't you. How did you get so devious?" He smirked with no small hint of pride.

"I've read a lot of books, father. I just do what those heroes or adventurers did, but with style." I explain.

He smiles and then turns to Lilith.

"You better be grateful! He just saved you a lot of trouble! He even wrapped me, the king, up in his schemes!"

Lilith cowers.

"Father that's enough. Or should I explain to mom why we had to pull over and go another round of proving resolve."

The king's ears bowed and her turned away from Lilith in a huff. Then he muttered. "So this is what a stepping stone feels like."

Fredrick snickered, "Sebas, the man who uses kings as stepping stones. It will be quite the tale one day."

"You're wrong... It's just going to be called 'the happiest man who ever lived.'" I cross my arms and puff out my chest. "or maybe even 'Sebas, the man who no fate could cage.'"

"You hit that second one on the nose, I think. I look forward to watching it unfold before my eyes." Fredrick said.

The king smiled after a thought hit him. "I got a better one. How about simply: 'Sebas, The king of Adventures.'"

That one makes my heart skip a beat as my eyes sparkle.

Both my uncle and my father laugh at my elation. It is like that until we reach our destination.

*

The short balding man greets us as we pull up.

Fredrick leads Lilith by chains into the building.

We get out and are led into the building with several guards who have recently renewed their oaths.

We are led into a waiting room where both father and I are offered seats while uncle holds Lilith's chains, but neither of us sit down. It's a very get-in-do-the-thing-and-get-out kind of scenario.

"For both the new prince and the king to come by, and with the Succubus in chains. Are you coming to sell her, I'll pay a handsome price." The sleazy slave merchant practically salivates as he rubs his hands together.

"She is to be the Prince's. For the crime of attempted murder of my son she was sentenced to death. But due to my son's benevolence she will live in his service for the rest of her days." My father says with his business face on. "We have come here to bind her to him with a slave contract."

"I see, we could have just come to the palace." The man says courteously.

"We don't want a cheap contact that just any slave gets." Father says hinting at something obviously more expensive.

"Yes, those types of contracts do take some time and require a few items that cannot be moved around so easily as a knife and a bottle of ink. Your majesties, would you like to join me while we talk about the particulars. I have other appointments, but nothing that can't be moved around for royalty." He bows low.

We step into his office and leave Lilith with Fredrick and a few guards, while two come with us into the short man's office.

With a normal slave contract which binds a slave to their master. They receive a jolt of pain if they try to harm their master, or if the master wills it. It can even kill them with a few coppers thrown in.

Then there is the complex contract which restricts their freedoms further. This is what father wants. Complete and total obedience. I am here as a buffer since I still want her to be able to competently do her job.

When I was studying slave contracts there was an unusually extensive list around Pleasure(sex) slaves. Things that would increase libido, or prevent attraction to anyone but their master, and the obvious sterilization clause. This didn't even scrape the top of the list since there were so many deviants in this world. Who all happened to work in the slave spell research division!

I combed over every type of slave and clause and decided to pick the best combination for someone who may be traveling as my adventuring companion in the future.

Endurance, for long traveling.

Minor Fire resistance, for fox fire accidents, or being too close when I use smite.

An activatable effect that lessened her weight, a gravity magic so that I could easily wink with her.

The ability to change her appearance at will, in case I ever have to go incognito and want to take her with me.

A decreased libido toward other men, because I don't need her running off with another man, or finding true love and knowing my bleeding heart I'd let her go.

Slowed age progression, a spell to keep her fit longer, besides her body is already well proportioned she doesn't need to get any more tempting. Older women like Boss Tir were devastating in their own right. However as I was thinking about it, boss Tir emanated some kind of magic that may have made her look younger... or maybe older.

Loyalty enhancement and a sterilization clause, for obvious reasons. The sterilization clause as opposed to permanent sterilization can be lifted. So if in a few years something happens and I don't need her anymore I can send her off into the world far from this kingdom and she can finally find that husband.

And a truth ring. A magic ring that goes around her horn, it tells me if she's lying.

At least that is what I wanted. My dad said he'd iron out the details, I thought he was talking about money. I shouldn't have left because they interpreted my intentions wrong. Very very wrong.

** ** **

Ch. 10 Foolish Father

When dad handed me the paper after it was said and done. I looked over the "minor" details.

I recognized many of the "Additions" were not standard Maid necessary skills enhancements.

They were all from the Pleasure Slave category... with these she really was going to be a Succubus. It was hard enough dealing with her in the dark when I didn't have to be too close to her. With these she'd be purring in my lap even if I wasn't in the room.

I raise my voice at him.

"I told you she was just going to be a maid, what is all this!" I wave the paper at his face.

"You said you wanted a servant..." Dad did not expect me to be furious. I'm sure he was "nudge nudge wink winking" that low life in there about it.

I can see it now...

*

Dad: I'm getting my son his first sex slave, he's going to be a man soon and is going to have needs.

Baldy: Congratulations! Let me upsell you all these extra deluxe features. It only costs extra!

Dad: No price is too high! Tack it all on I want him to have a good time!

Together: HA HA HA HA HA HA!

*

"She was an accomplished alchemist, and you've turned her into an even more perverted bi-curious bimbo who can do yoga on the ceiling, who likes to be slapped and called a bad girl!" I am fuming. Steam is coming out of my head and I'm pretty sure I'm actually raising the temperature in the room.

I don't know if I've been this angry before in this world!

And what is worse is that the contact can't be altered for at least one year! And it can't be nulled for ten!

How am I supposed to get any work done!

I'm seven, I can't have a girl a decade older than me hanging on me every second of the day talking about 'needs'!

This is me, this is all my fault! If I hadn't let my little gentleman call the shots, or if I hadn't been a gentleman I would have just killed her before I sympathized with her!

Curse my bleeding heart!

And then I went through that whole show in front of the soldiers for her sake I can't just ignore her!

DAMMIT!

Julie and Ninni are going to be so pissed!

Mom and mama aren't going to be happy either!

I'm such a virgin, how did I screw up this much!

I point at dad with the calm calculated precision of a super villain, "I'm telling mom that resolve display where you hit me was your idea from start to finish." My eyes are deadly serious.

I could see his soul leave his body.

Dad was saved thanks to the bald gentleman. Who was rubbing his hands.

"For a little extra we can weaken some of the more, adult centered effects. We can't remove any but if your careful you'll hardly know they were there."

I give dad the stare of death. I'm not one to throw a tantrum to get my way but this farce was inexcusable.

"I'll do it, we'll do it. Please just don't tell your mother." Bastion pleaded.

"I'll think about it." I look at the bald man. "Fix her." I order with enough bloodlust to make him and everyone in the room shutter.

When I cornered the man about how much change we'd honestly see, I learned that there would only be about a thirty percent decrease, and only in a few of the abilities. When I express my displeasure with those results he gives us a hefty discount.

You could say I went on a tirade. I don't even remember what I said, but I get a permanent discount forever with every slaver between the four corners. But I can't imagine I'll need another slave anytime soon. Least of all from that place.

In the carriage ride home, I am still on one side of the carriage with the other three on the opposite side. Only this time they are all shivering in fear.

Dad made promises about taking extra special care of Lilith's needs.

When I glare at him harder he states that wasn't what he meant.

I tell him I want an increased budget to take care of her. With designers on standby for meeting her clothing expenses and plenty of suppliers for her alchemic research.

Lilith doesn't make eye contact with me for the entire ride back home.

Dammit, I can't even protect her from my idiot father.

It's around lunch time by the time we get home.

I don't want to talk to anyone and I'm not hungry. I grab a training sword and take my frustration out on a training dummy.

Fredrick has undone the chains in an attempt to appease me and takes Lilith inside to begin her maid training. And hopefully get her some proper clothes.

Bambambambambambambambambambam.

Bambambambambambambambambambam.

After twenty minutes pass, clouds gather, and it begins to rain. Another hour passes, and it is pouring.

Why am I still out here pounding away? Because I summoned the rain to cool my head.

Luckily, I'm finally calming down.

It's not dad's fault. He simply misunderstood the situation. It was my fault for not being clear. And it's not like Lilith is hurt or anything, she's just going to be a little hornier than a normal girl. And she's safe from being raped by another man on top of that. At least I got dad to leave out that clause about her dying if I die.