Arc 8

Ch. 1 Mothers' Misunderstanding

The rain stops after a time because I've calmed down enough to think straight and I go to where I know there is a warm fire.

The kitchen.

I did miss lunch.

Charlie is there with Beth, my tutor. When I didn't show up for class and she was told I was in... distress, she went to her brother.

Charlie made me some warm soup with extra meat chunks and Beth had baked some cookies.

These people were so nice. Charlie was hard to understand sometimes with his accent but pretty soon the two of them had me laughing again.

I decide to pay back their kindness with a story, and with all the maids and cooks still in the kitchen with little to do, I decide to speak loud enough for everyone to hear. They are visibly excited to get such an opportunity. I spin them the story of the emperor and the smiling man. But without the special effects this time.

I have them enraptured. It's the first time I've told a story to an audience like this in a while. Several more servants peek in and I beckoned them to join us. I even have to stand on a chair so that I can see everyone.

When I get to the part where the smiling man says he takes a nap everyone laughs.

They all ask for a second story.

I begin to tell them the story of the ugly man and the adventuress. This time there isn't a dry eye in the room. Which I might add, has gotten full to bursting. It's a longer story, but everyone listens intently.

When I get to the end where the adventuress names the ugly man 'treasured husband' instead of monster. Several people get emotional and when I finish by saying they had many beautiful redhaired green eyed children the room applauded. I don't know how long I've been at this, but it should be about time for me to get changed for dinner.

Nobody wants to see me go, but they part like the red sea when I leave.

Now I feel a lot better. I even think I forgive dad.

Once I'm dried and changed I move to the family dining hall. I will give this world one thing, they sure do hold family values high. Or at least every home I've been in has.

Everyone seemed relieved when I greeted them with a smile and sat down.

Mom was the first to speak.

"It is good to see you in such high spirits again. I saw that you were in quite a state after returning from the market this afternoon."

I sighed. "Father completely misunderstood my intentions with miss Wildheart this morning. I sincerely found the merit in her intelligence and skills before she was known as 'The Succubus'. As well as the wholesome desire for a CHASTE maid servant. He judged her by her appearance and imagined that I desired her only for carnal interests. He made unnecessary modifications to the slave contract without my consent. Thus, he incited my ire despite his valiance this morning when I called on him to act. I am ashamed to say that I made a scene undesirable of a prince in that public place until the merchant did his utmost to rectify fathers blunder. Alas, on closer investigation, the solutions were quite inadequate." This is how I speak like a good noble to express my anger without burning the place down with a lightning storm. Which I should look into perfecting when I get the chance.

When I looked at my mothers, all three of them went pale...

I wasn't angry at them...

I'm surprise they aren't making a bigger deal of father hitting me... twice.

I guess I did cause a rainstorm this afternoon. I should work on that, I can't risk a natural disaster every time I lose my temper.

Sicilia spoke up first, "Perhaps it isn't so bad, a woman of her reputation would be easily unfaithful if left to her own devices."

Reina spoke up next, "I'm sure he was only thinking of you. I mean, you will be approaching that age soon when young boy starts to wonder about a woman's body."

Calypso finished. "I think you should remember that as a parent he was only trying to meet the needs of his mysterious son who buries himself in stories and martial training."

Wait a minute all three of them are acting awfully suspicious...

"What he did was go behind my back to inflict humiliation on a young lady. I understand his resentment toward her for her past, but I took measures to resolve those grievances this morning. After that circumstance, his actions were inexcusable. He'll need to do more than buy me a fresh new thing to win back my trust."

My mothers had deep shadows over their heads.

Even my sisters give me worried looks at their curious behavior.

...

Was it them?

"Mothers... your behavior is very unusual. Almost as if you were a guilty party in this farce. Do you perhaps have something to confess to me before I discover it on my own?" There was a veiled threat in there to investigate their suspicious behavior. One of them might be able to hide something from me for a time but if they acted together there would be cracks in their team work.

Calypso swallowed and the other two looked at her. She looked at her lap while her ears hung low in shame.

"Sebas, the alterations you father made were our ideas. We were the ones who misunderstood the situation."

"Eh?" I make a weird noise as my fork drops and clatters on my plate.

"It is true, we made you father swear to keep them from you until after the slave curse was finished." Sicilia squeaked.

"After the manner in which she was discovered, we thought you had already had your way with her. When you said she was your property... it only deepened the misunderstanding." Reina sounded like she was at the verge of tears.

"Your father was innocent in this incident. It was us who went behind your back to humiliate a young lady. We're sorry." Mom whimpered. And they all apologized.

...

...

"Pfft!"

Everyone turned to the source of the noise. Me.

My face was red, my cheeks full to bursting, and my eyes were tearing up.

I couldn't hold it in any longer.

"HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH!" I FELL OFF MY CHAIR!

I couldn't believe it haha. It was them!

They all looked at me like I was mad as I tried to climb onto my chair.

"So my mothers were the perverts the whole time!" I laughed. These dignified ladies had researched pleasure slave curses.

I imagined three noble ladies blushing while looking over a list with perverted curses.

I can hear their conversation now...

*

'Oh me oh my, I didn't know this was a thing.'

'For what purpose might one need such a spell?'

'Have you never tried it? I hear so-and-so did it once and now swears by it.'

*

The imagery! The sheer backwards logic!

My mothers strange way of perceiving things.

It was too much.

My mothers did not like being called perverts and tried to make me apologize.

"Shall I inform my sisters of the curses I chose verses the ones their noble mothers selected?" I tease still unable to contain my laughter.

Sicilia covered Noela's ears, since she was the closest, and looked properly scandalized.

"At the dinner table!" She gasped.

"Hahahahahah." I laughed.

I gasped for air and controlled myself. "To think I'd get to witness this shameful side of my mothers."

They blushed and were in a place between embarrassed by their behavior and angered by mine.

"Mothers." I wipe my tears away. "Thank you."

Their anger was somewhat lessened.

"I was in a foul mood because I thought my father betrayed me, come to find out it was only my perverted mothers looking out for me. I realize now I have been far too distant if this is your perception of me. Let's all make more efforts to get to understand each other so an event like this doesn't happen again." I explained.

Eventually, the drama of the dining room reached its end.

We set a schedule for meetings.

Normally martial training is only supposed to be an hour or two and then I have free time. But with my condition and Williams stamina we lose ourselves to time while sparing.

I am going to beginning training with William in the mornings before breakfast. Have free time for a few hours and then have tea time shortly before lunch. Then I'll study with Beth since my dancing needs A LOT of work. Then dinner, a short bit of personal study time, and then early to bed for early training.

Every day I'll switch who I have tea time with. First mom, then Sicilia, then Reina, then a combined gathering with my sisters, and finally one with all of us together.

This tactic is three-fold; first, to strengthen my bond with my family. Second, to learn about current events since they seem to be well stocked with information. And thirdly, how to learn from their talents to stock myself with information in the future. Recently, I've been flying by the seat of my pants. In the future, I'd like to know more before I walk into a meeting with the leaders of a group famous for killing.

Dinner ends, and I still have a smile on my face.

When I return to my room I find a sinfully attractive woman waiting for me in a maid uniform. The style of the uniform is a tad different from what I'm accustomed to, and I suspect my mothers of its design before we had our little chat. Her skirt is a little higher than the norm and her top is low cut. Normal maids had normal socks and comfortable shoes since they worked for a living. She had stockings complete with garters, and heels that only made her legs more tempting. Because they were under the impression that she'd be 'working' for a living.

"Welcome back, master." She tried to bow. Her form was only slightly off, so it was passible. But...

When was she going to stop shaking so much?

"Thank you, miss Wildheart." I began undoing the button on my neck. I had gotten used to the high-necked attire of the nobles but when I could I would unbutton it in private for comforts sake.

Lilith stuttered. "P-please master, that is too familiar for a slave, it's fine to just call me slave or dog."

"Calm down. Was your day so disastrous that you'd even cower in front of your benefactor?"

I sat on the bed and watched her.

"N-no. n-not at all. After master came to my rescue this morning everyone was very courteous to me. I don't think all the servants have buried their feelings yet, but no one said anything harsh that I did not deserve."

"Deserve?"

"I have worked as a waitress at a tavern once before, but I could not cope with the unrelenting harassment and expectations I received because of the way my body is. While training as a maid I have some skill, but no talent it seems."

There is a new feature on Lilith, a gold ring on her left horn glows orange if she is lying. Green if she is especially joyful. Purple if she has murderous intent for her master. And the added feature was to glow red... when she is 'in the mood'. Only I can see the color changes. It could be one of three variations. Iron for low class, silver for middle class, and gold for high class. They cost a pretty penny extra and are only given to select slaves. Since hers is gold it means that she is the slave of nobility and laying a hand on her is likely to end with unpleasantries, especially if it's me.

I can catch her in a lie if it turns orange, and I should stay away from her if it is purple or red. If I use the transformation curse ability, then it will turn into an earring or similar trinket based on her new race.

It's not orange so she's not lying.

"That's fine for now. I didn't keep you alive for your potential as a maid." I put my hands behind my head and lay back onto my bed.

"Don't worry I will satisfy you with my body until my last breath." She pounded her chest. I would have been a more heroic gesture if her breasts hadn't jiggled so much.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" I sat up.

She looked confused.

"Does... master not find me desirable?"

I rub my face with my hands. What have I possible done to make people think I was this much of a pervert?

I remember how I left her hanging in my room in an erotic pose after filling her with Aphro and leaving because the lewd noises she was making made it impossible to sleep.

"What were you doing before you became, the Succubus? What was your dream?" I ask.

Ch. 2 Alchemist's Dream

Sebas

She raised her eyebrow wondering if I had actually been listening.

"I was studying to be an alchemist, trying to find ways to help people..." She answered.

"That's the reason you still draw breath. You are a fine specimen of a woman. But your dream is a noble one. You were pressed into doing something detestable using the skills you had but fully planned on returning to your purpose when you had the funds. Correct?" I ask as scratch my ear.

Lilith nodded. No orange. "That was the plan."

"When I opened fox gate I was asked to ponder something. What is the difference between being of noble blood, and being truly noble? You killed no guards when entering the palace and even when you were an assassin you carefully chose your targets so they wouldn't go against your noble goals. I won't say I won't be caught staring, I am still a man after all, but I saved you because of your nobility, not your body. I mean to have you continue your research at the nearest possible interval."

Lilith's ring glowed a brilliant shade of green. But she looked scared.

"Master, y-you're not lying to me? It isn't nice to play with a girl's feelings like that."

"Have I lied or tried to deceive you once since we met?"

Seriously, one perverted thing and everyone just assumes I'm some kind of deviant. I'm just a kid, cut me some slack!

...

Lilith collapsed to her knees. She clumsily uses the fronts and backs of her hands to wipe away a flood of tears. Her body hiccups between quiet sobbing breaths. She may be older than me but right now she looks as defenseless and as vulnerable as a child.

The ring is glowing green to the point that it looks like a halo.

I get a poetic picture in my mind straight out of a story.

A noble demon saved from the depths of sin and given the chance to be an angel. What tears would she cry when in the moment of her greatest despair, she was pulled into the halls of salvation and handed a halo? What kind of relief would she feel when she was told that she didn't have to look back? What kind of feeling would she have when the person she wronged was the one who took her hand and chose to walk with her as her guardian?

I step from my bed and walk over to her. I place a comforting hand on her head between her horns. She hiccups at my touch.

"The man who raised me, a man I call papa, once taught me a valuable lesson. He said: there is a time to mourn. But there is always a road in front of you. And nobody who dies wants their precious ones to stop walking on that road."

I pull the lace head piece out of her hair and carefully pet her head.

"Cry my fair Lily, cry all your tears. Then in the morning, keep walking that road with those that are still around. People like me."

"Master..." Lilith buried her face in my chest. She reached behind me to grip the back of my shirt and pleaded. "Please tell me this isn't a dream... I beg you master." She sobbed. "Don't let this go away when I wake up. Not again." She clung to me like I was the only solid thing in this world. "Not again..."

"Unfortunately, this is a dream you'll never wake from. It won't always be a good dream, but we'll keep walking forward into a better one."

Lilith wailed, and her green halo glowed even brighter. "Maaster!... Thank you!... Thank you!... Thank you!"

I wrap my arms around her head like mama would often do to me when I was sad... or when she was sad... or when papa was sad... or when she was happy... or just whenever because it's mama.

"Cry, cry it all out. And when you're done we'll sleep until tomorrow."

*

When she had collected herself, I straightened my scarf and helped her to her feet. Her room was attached to mine as was the custom with personal servants. That way they could be called on for any matter day or night.

I leave her on the bed.

When I try to leave she grabs me by my shirt to stop me.

"... Cuddle?..." She pleads with her eyes. Her ring goes from green to a pink.

What's pink? If it's like red, then it won't end with cuddling.

"Last time you tried to cuddle me, you were going to kill me. Let's give it some time before I start letting my guard down around you at night."

"But I just want to cuddle..." She pleaded. I would have thought she was completely sincere until her ring began glowing orange.

"You're glowing orange..." I look at her unamused.

She reaches up to the ring and then blushes while fiddling with her fingers. "Okay I wanted to just a bit more than cuddling." She doesn't look at me, but both her face and her ring are red. "But I worked with aphrodisiacs for a long time before I developed Aphro." She looks determined. "I know how to control my urges." Her ring was blinking between orange and red.

"Maybe, but I don't. That's why I made it so you couldn't move or see me when we met. You're too erotic." I explain.

Lilith's face grew bright red from bottom to top until a puff of steam came out of her head. Her ring glowed green.

I didn't one hundred percent mean it as a compliment though.

Her grip slackened and when it looked like she wasn't going to stop blushing or stop me from leaving, I said good night and left.

Really, isn't this backwards? Aren't I the one that's supposed to be put to bed by the erotic maid and try to entice her to stay for a 'cuddle'?

Cuddling would be nice...

Plus she smells nice, maybe it's my fox nose but girls smell a lot nicer in this world despite the underwhelming hygiene advancements. And when her ring was glowing red she smelled especially pleasant. Can I smell desire?

I slap my cheeks with both hands and shake my head.

It is sleep time.

It isn't safe to sleep in here tonight.

I grab my blanket and jump out the window.

Ch. 3 New Morning

I wake up to Cheshire biting my nose.

"Wah! Ow!" I shout.

I sit straight up and rub my nose.

"Your highness?" Someone asks.

I turn to see a man with a pitchfork full of hay. Hay from the pile I'm sleeping on. He is a servant doing his morning duties.

I stretch and yawn.

"What are you doing in here this early?" he asks after dropping his pitchfork out of shock.

I rub my eyes, "Sleeping what are you doing?"

"Tending the horses, my lord."

My ear angles to the side and I can hear the horses in the stables below me. Last night the roof was still wet from my tantrum, I made the rain fall so hard it soaked everything. Cheshire said he knew a place since he'd catch mice or birds whenever there was no immediate danger and I followed.

He was good at hunting and he keep himself well fed. I guess being invisible and being able to fly gives you an unfair advantage. He was never gone for more than a few minutes at most.

"Keep up the good work." I yawn and try to brush the hay out of my hair as I take my blanket and make my exit.

Since it's daylight already I just take my blanket with me to morning practice.

William is surprised when I'm not only early, but I'm coming from the direction of the stables and I'm covered in hay.

"I heard you got a new slave, I didn't expect you to be on time this morning." William teased.

"It's not like that! She's just my maid!" I yell.

"Wasn't she the infamous Succubus, I hear she has a body that would even tempt a faithful man into sin?" He taps his blunted blade on his shoulder.

"She's just my maid!"

This is getting to be a problem. But there is no way out of it now. I should have just thrown her out the window when I met her. It would have saved me so much trouble.

"I know sire. You are too honorable of a man. I can tell by the way you swing your sword. I only wanted to poke fun." He laughed.

"Well at least someone doesn't think I'm a complete pervert." I sigh.

"I never said that your highness." He winked.

I pull off my shirt and scarf then throw them with my blanket somewhere the won't get wet or dirty.

"You're going to pay for that one." I threaten through my playful grin.

After that... he totally pummeled me.

Like usual, but I am getting better. I understand more thanks to his instruction. I'm faster, stronger, and cleverer than when I started. William is just three times my size and a monster on top of that.

This is good for me. I use this to keep me grounded. I may have enormous magic potential, but I can't get caught up in that. I must remember that there is always a bigger fish. In William's case, it's like facing the kraken and I'm a gold fish. No, I got to give myself some credit, a trout maybe? But that's without magic and as a seven-year-old.

*

When training is over, I go to my room and when I enter I find Lilith hopping off my bed.

"Lilith?" I ask.

"A- welcome back master." She looks nervous like I just caught her.

"Lilith what were you doing? And don't lie I'll know when you change color."

Lilith clicked her tongue and then pokes her fingers. "I was... smelling master's bed for his scent..."

"Why?" I ask. Do I smell funny?

"How are you going to make a lady say such a thing? Master is mean."

"Lilith..." I growl.

"Master's... " she was choosing her words carefully while turning scarlet. "...Master smells nice..."

"Ahh, is that all?" I can't blame her for a few peculiarities after what my mothers inflicted on her. "You won't find my scent on that bed, I don't use it."

I said peeling off my sweaty shirt. There was a warm basin of water for me to use. I dip a rag in the water and begin washing myself as best as I can. Even as a royal there are no showers. There is a bath I could use. It has been a while since I properly bathed in that way.

I turn and find Lilith staring at me.

"Take care of this." I set my scarf aside but hold up my sweaty shirt.

"Yes Master!" She hops over and swipes the shirt from me. She then presses it into her nose and takes a long whiff. "Ahhhhh!" Her ring turns red and her tail waves back and forth in long fast motions.

A vein pops in my head. "I meant to wash it, not smell it!"

"But master was taking about scent and wasn't mad when he caught me smelling the bed?" She looked pitiful like a dog who had her bone taken away.

"Certain things were put in the slave spell. I expected some perverted behavior, but that's no excuse for not doing your job as a maid!" I ground my teeth.

Lilith took three steps back, and began bowing. "Yes master, it was my mistake master, it won't happen again master."

Why did this seem familiar?

"Does master wish me to wash the rest of his outfit?" She stood up and asked like a proper maid.

I waited... there it is that red glow.

"I don't know, maybe I'd feel better if I let the other maids wash my pants and underwear..." I glare.

"Please, let me do it master. I won't do anything perverted I promise. Master has asked me to be his maid, so I will act like one." She pleaded.

Waiting.... Huh the red went away. no orange. Wait there is red again... no its gone.

Well it looks like she's at least trying to contain herself.

"Fine I'll trust you, but due to your condition... you'll turn around before I change."

"Yes master." She turned away from me.

I notice that the back of her skirt is slightly shorter than the front and grimace. There's no helping it now. I'll ask my mothers to get her a normal outfit at breakfast.

. . . those legs really are sinful. . . If I lean down just a bit. . .

No!

Ch. 4 Lily's Comfort

I grind my teeth. And turn around. I pull out a change of clothes and keep checking to make sure Lilith isn't peeking. I see her ring blink red every time my clothes shuffle around, but she shows no sign of moving. I change quickly and throw my dirty clothes on the bed.

"There, finished." I say when I'm done changing.

Lilith let's out a breath of air like she has been holding it in this whole time... She just might have.

"Am I allowed to turn around now, master?" She asked.

"Yes."

She turns around and smiles at me. "Master, is as handsome as ever." Her dreamy voice and the lack of an orange glow lets me know this is true.

My heart pounds hard, and fast. My eyes widen, and I run to the mirror on the other side of the room to look at myself.

Fox ears. Black and silver fur. Green eyes. Acceptable jaw line. I go down the list. This is my face but at the same time it's not.

"Master did I say something wrong?" Lilith panics.

No. it's just...

I seem to have forgotten how ugly I am.

In the mirror, I can't help but see my old face... grotesquely misshaped. Ugly. The ugly man who was called monster and was scorned by all who looked at him.

It's been over seven years since that day...

Did anyone remember that face?

Were there any pictures of me at my old house? I don't remember. That mom wasn't the sentimental kind like Amelia or Calypso.

Did anyone even remember he existed?

No, I was just a number...

Just a death toll in a tragedy...

The only reason anyone was even nice to me in this world was because of this face... if I were an ugly prince would they have cast me off. If Calypso were anything like my old mom she would in a heartbeat, for some pocket change for booze.

This face... is a lie... this isn't me. I'm not handsome. I'm a wretch. I'm a sad fool borrowing a mask but inside I'll always be that... nobody...

"Master you're crying..." Lilith sounded nervous. I must look like hell. I sniffle and wipe my eyes with my handkerchief. Julie's precious token. My treasure.

I stare it while I ask Lilith a question.

"Lily... do you only like me because I'm handsome?... No, I guess maybe you don't even like me, do you?"

"Huh?" Lilith makes a noise.

What am I even saying to a slave?

"Lily is so pretty. If I didn't look like this you probably wouldn't even talk to me." I turn away and clarify my thinking.

"That's not true!" She yells.

I look at her. I didn't expect her to yell.

"I liked master for a long time. When we met I didn't even see your face and agreed to serve you. If it weren't for master I would have been beaten, stripped, and raped in the prison! But nobody touched me. I was even given good food from Charlie because master asked. When we went to see Boss, master was fearless and heroic like a scene from a story. Many people came by and said if it weren't for master they'd do terrible things to me. I was scared, so scared. I thought I was going to die. But master was so kind. Master is the kindest! You forgave me even though I tried to harm you. I liked you before I ever saw your face. I thought if its master, I might live. When I saw master's face I had forgotten master was a boy. Then master was still kind, he was still master even with the face and body of a child. It was like a holy spirit came to save me. And when I was going to be struck, master defended me. Nobody has protected me before. I couldn't believe you would harm your own people for my sake. I thought I was going to be next, I was happy and scared. Then master said to treat me like a lady, imagine me, a lady! Then you healed him and said you'd take... my punishments for me... you made the king and the knight strike you for my sake... you were bleeding... for me... then when I was made yours. Master was angry for me. Master called me an accomplished alchemist and was angry because he felt like I was mistreated.... Master said.... Master said he'd protect me... nobody wants to protect a whore who murders people. But master is different! His is kind, and gentle, and scary. And and and... I love master!" Lilith was crying with frustration.

Her ring wasn't any color.

"Even though master is a child I love him, if master was ugly I'd love him too. Master is master." She declared.

Still the ring didn't change color.

"Maybe..." I mumbled not being able to come up with a retort.

"Master! What color is my ring!" She pointed at her horn.

"It's not any color." I answer.

"Then how is it a maybe!"

I look at the handkerchief.

"Is it possible it's the same for Julie and Ninni?" I wonder.

Lilith stomped over and grabbed my hand with Julie's token in both of hers.

"Did you bleed for them too?"

"Yes... a lot actually." I winced at the memory of fighting Rollo.

"Look... here, what is that?" She points at one of the red stains.

"Blood."

"She bled for you too. And this scarf, how was it obtained?" She pulled at the scarf I never took off.

"It's demon beast pelt."

"Did you bleed for her?"

"Yes." More like she made me bleed.

"People don't bleed for those they don't love and treasure. I don't know how much you treasure me or if you'll ever love me, but someday I'll bleed for you too." She didn't break eye contact with her big crimson demoness eyes.

...

The moment was ruined a bit when her breathing deepened. Then her ring turned red, and her cheeks flushed.

Our faces were really close. But she maintained her serious face.

"I'm guess I'm just being silly, huh?" I sniffle and wipe my face with my sleeve. Damn, I'm going to need to change my shirt again.

Lilith's face softened.

"Thanks Lily, I'm glad I didn't kill you when we met." I say with an innocent smile.

It looks as if Lily has just been hit by an invisible wrench and all the red from her ring and cheeks is gone. "Me too, master..." she says a little more grateful to be alive I think.

"Lilith..."

"Yes, master?"

"Can I have my hand back?"

Lilith looks down at her hands around mine.

She turns red and jumps back four steps.

"It's not what it looks like!" She stammers. Orange. "I was just comforting master." No orange. "I just love master as a master." Orange. "I'll wash these clothes and I won't do anything perverted." Orange.

She looked at the ring and tried to hide it with her hands. "This isn't fair master." No orange. "Master is mean..." Orange.

There is a knock at the door.

"Breakfast is prepared. The royal family have gathered in the dining hall. Will you be presenting your new attendant this morning?" Comes a butlery voice from the other side. The new head butler had an extensive background check before being hired.

"Yes, I'll be along shortly." I answer.

I return to my wardrobe and switch my shirts. I put on a slightly fancier one for the sake of actually impressing my family and include an over shirt as well. It wasn't until I became a prince in the capitol that I noticed I was wearing 'fantasy' clothing.

I turn around to see Lilith staring with her ring as red as her face. She caught herself. She placed a hand over the ring, which doesn't work since I could see it through walls and her hands if I needed to. "I'm sorry I forgot to turn around!" She waves her spare hand wildly.

"I didn't say you had to turn around, did I?" I wink.

She blushes, and her ring turns green. It's a very cute expression I think. At least she'll be fun to tease.

"Let's go meet the family." I say straightening my shirt and scarf.

"Yes, master."

Ch. 5 Maid Training

"This is my new maid Lilith Wildheart, formally known as the infamous Succubus." I say introducing Lilith to my family.

My sisters were staring at her outfit. But my mothers were staring at Lilith. The cold mom-stares turned the room a shade darker and dropped the temperature several degrees.

"My I remind the queens of how I resolved to take Lilith's resentment on myself. Or shall I stand while the queens take turns reenacted my demonstration with father?" I bow. Basically, saying stow it, or hit your son until you feel better.

"A fine female specimen." Sicilia remarks.

"Yes, it appears she has all the necessary components of a woman." Calypso observers.

"And they all seem to be in the right places." Reina chirps.

My mothers all commented and sipped their drinks at the same time while hiding their ire.

Meela leaned over and whispered. "Brother what is she wearing?"

"It's an outfit put together by our mothers' misunderstanding." I whisper back but it's loud enough to make all of my mothers' ears twitch.

I then address the table. "Speaking of which, I'd like to request some standard uniforms for Lilith's maid duties."

My mothers look confused.

Calypso answered. "She was provided standard outfits, we had her sized and everything."

I look at Lilith. And repeat Nelfa's catchphrase for when she doesn't understand something.

"Explain." I just regret that I don't have a staff. I'm going to have to look into that.

"Yes, I was given them. This one is just the most comfortable and it's easy to move around in." She's not changing color, but she looks as if she wants to do a twirl and catches herself remembering her place.

"Even the heels?" I ask remembering many women in my old time complaining about them being uncomfortable after wearing them for long periods of time. My old mom being one of the louder ones.

"Oh yes, master. They are very well made and very comfortable. I think it might be a demon race thing, but I often hear many other races won't wear them for long period of time or while working. But I feel lopsided without them. Many other demonesses I've spoken to share my sentiments." Lilith responds as coolly as her assassin blood.

No orange.

"I see..." my stomach growls. "Then I withdraw my request for standard maid outfits."

"Would you like more of that outfit?" Sicilia asked. She's not hinting at anything I think she's just being sincere.

"I'll figure that out later after I've eaten. As long as it doesn't interfere with her maidly duties and wears the standard ones into town and when we meet the Sudaven princess, I couldn't be less interested in her choice of clothing at the moment. If you have an opinion on the subject I can easily have her change or not."

I'm done with this topic. Lilith doesn't look uncomfortable and hasn't made any complaint. I'll just eat my breakfast.

Once I've gotten a few bites of food in me I had an epiphany.

"It occurs to me that I still know nothing about the princess you lot are throwing me at. Nobody even told me her name or speaks of her."

Everyone in the room freezes and even my sisters won't look at me. A dark aura hangs over the room and I get a bad premonition.

"Okay, explain. Just what am I in for? Is she much older than me or sickly?" I ask.

"No, she is your age and very healthy." The king says.

"Too healthy." Meela says under her breathe.

"Is she considered disfigured or prone to some type of behavior?" I pry.

Noela looks at me and with her childlike innocence she responds. "Minerva is very unpleasant, she is nothing like you. Even brother will hate her!"

"Noela Asmos Ti'en!" Sicilia used her full name... this can't be good.

I sigh. "Well I expected a certain measure of unpleasantness out of pure pessimism. I'd like to know what I'm in for."

What happened next could be compared to a collection of horror stories as they took turns sharing frightful tales about a girl who was to be my wife... maybe.

When we finished breakfast, I was beginning to think of Boss Tir as better prospect for a wife.

Minerva was a spoiled princess in every definition you could find. She had a vile temper and was prone to assaulting her servants. She felt entitled to everything under the sun. She had never been told no. She had nothing but enemies amongst those her age. Her manners were so-so until she was corrected. She didn't like to read. She didn't like to hunt. She didn't like to talk about clothes, fashion, or anything else. She was quite possibly the least sociable girl in the world.

In one word, bitch.

In two words, total bitch.

Yep, I am getting out of this marriage!

"From the sounds of it, it seems like it may just be easier to wipe the kingdom from the map." I laugh nervously.

"That may be your feeling, son. But as a Magus I can neither compel nor ask you to do that. And as your father I wouldn't think of putting that much blood on your hands." The king says.

"The world would lose nothing if they were gone though." Calypso spits.

Never talk about politics at the table, right?

"I'll do my best to survive the dragons den as it were." I stand up. "Excuse me, while I prepare my arsenal."

*

After breakfast, I have some free time before tea time with mom. I decide to follow the example of the Emperor's friend and take a nap.

I find some shade under a nice tree and lay down.

I wake up refreshed and go to meet mom. I ask her to tell me why she is considered the most dangerous woman in the city. She gives me a wicked smile and when she is done even I am afraid of being on her bad side.

Politics were a lot darker before I was born. Father united the country with his previously untapped charisma over the course of the war and with his battle prowess where he used inferior numbers to route the enemy at every turn while the corrupt nobles and their armies were decimated because of their pride. Soon after, he became the king the country settled down a lot.

I am really not cut out for this noble gig. I take lunch in my room while I do my personal study. While I am scribbling away Lilith comes back looking like hell. I know she was the succubus, but damn she doesn't look good.

"Master, may I sit down?" Lilith pleads.

"What happened to you? I thought the heels weren't a problem?"

"It wasn't the heels. It was the crash course training of being a proper maid before we leave for Sudaven." She groans.

"Yes, go sit over there at the end of the couch I'll find something for you to do so you won't have to move."

"Thank you, master." She trudges to the couch and collapses.

I look over and I get a very clear view up her skirt.

"At least sit like a lady in a skirt that short, or I'll make you wear the other uniform." I say while closing my book and stuffing the end of a honeyed scone in my mouth.

She yelps and covers herself, "Forgive me, master."

I walk over to her with my book.

"Ya ya, it's you, so I'll let it slide... move your hands." I order.

She has her hands in her lap pulling her skirt down. She slowly moves them, and I lay down on the couch with my head in her lap. I guess the polite thing would be to ask first, but she's my slave and I just don't feel like it. I crack open my book and find my place.

"M-ma-mast- wha- yu- yu-yu- what's- hu-hu- d—d-d- l-la-la-lap pillow?" She stutters unable to make complete sentences.

Her whole body is shaking since she's panicking.

"Didn't I say, don't move?" I say with the scone in my mouth.

She stiffens. That's better. "Good girl." I take the scone out of my mouth without prying myself from my book. I hold it in the air above me, "Wanna Bite?"

"B-b-bb- Bite? An indirect kiss, and to be hand fed by master!"

I can see the glow of her red ring from here, not that's it's stopped glowing since I laid down.

She hasn't taken a bite...

She's making a fuss and is moving again...

"Take a bite now or lose it forever." I warn.

"Yes master." She leans forward to take a bite.

On reflection, this was a bad idea as her fluffy pillows get dangerously close to my face.

After she takes a bite, I finish it off and she makes a racket again. I'm not really a germaphobe and the whole indirect kiss thing isn't my cup of tea.

After a relaxing read while Lilith was in La-la land. I go to my lessons and practice dancing for the second time. And I'm terrible. The only thing I have going for me is my inability to quit. And another part of me wants to be such a fabulous dancer that Minerva will hate me for it.

That's a long way off though.

Tonight, at dinner, Lilith is the one serving my food. She doesn't look nearly as bad as she did at lunch, but her form was better. I might do an experiment on positive reinforcement. Maybe I could put those flukes to a positive use. But I also remember her saying she was a serving girl once upon a time. Maybe this is the only thing she is good at?

Dinner passes with pleasant conversation, a report of how bad of a dancer I still am, and there are only a few passive aggressive comments at Lilith.

That night when we go to bed. Lilith wants to cuddle again.

Not buying it.

It is not safe to sleep in this room again tonight, where should I try next?

Ch. 6 Running Errands

The next morning one of the maids screamed when I came out of one of the cupboards in the kitchen. I greeted Charlie who could only wave dumbly at me as I carried my blanket and my sleepy body out to morning training.

Today William tosses me the training sword while I'm in the middle of a yawn and it smacks me in the face. Yes, that is how my morning began.

When I return to my room before breakfast Lilith looks really creepy staring at me while I'm wiping myself off with a rag and I once again I make her turn around when I change the rest of my clothes.

At breakfast, my mothers mention that rumors are spreading about my sleeping behaviors. I promptly inform them that my bed is a lovely decorative piece that I admire, but I have not slept in it a single night since my arrival. I also remind them of the many assassination attempts that have caused me to lose confidence in the safety of its sheets. When pressed, I do agree to try and make my sudden appearances less... shocking.

After breakfast I decide to sneak a peek on Lilith's maid crash course. She is being run ragged by the head maid.

A maid of the Ti'en house this... a maid of the Ti'en house that...

Posture, form, language. At the same time.

At one point, she is balancing books on her head while she dusts and quotes maid rules... those poor books.

Charlie is a lot nicer when she's taught to cook and prepare meals, but the Head maid hangs over her and really puts Lilith through her paces. Although I can tell that that is just more or less how the head maid is after the passing comments from other maids reminiscing their formal 'instruction' at the hands of the older authoritarian woman.

What impresses me most is Lilith's earnest behavior. She doesn't cry and doesn't do anything halfway perverted. It's true that she has no talent, but she's not complaining. She asks honest questions in order to improve and hasn't tripped, stumbled, or even wobbled once on those heels. Which is the only passing compliment she receives from her peers.

Once I decide I've seen enough I go to tea time with Sicilia.

I tell her about Ralla's End, Ralla and her cubs, and my fox gate experience when she asks.

I ask what Sicilia's specialty is. Sicilia is from a mercantile minded family. Sicilia has a head for business, fashion, import, export, trade, what is hot in one kingdom vs another. She has a mind like a ledger about everything big and small in the business world always looking for the next big thing. As she explains it to me I'm impressed with how involved she is.

I also realize how different Sicilia and Calypso's worlds are. Sicilia is the day to Calypso's night. With a competent mind and daring intellect Sicilia has the world you can see in front of her like a chess board as she moves her pieces back and forth in any way she wants.

With Fearsome cleverness and clandestine connections, Calypso has the underworld dancing for her like marionettes with spies and other agents in every corner of the kingdom and even has her claws in other countries. Two very different mindsets for two very different games of power. It is no wonder they clash.

They really are two fearsome women. But I also remember the petty argument they had over who's children were better. It seems at home as mothers is the only battlefield they can engage in without destroying the country. Which I hear they almost did until father stepped in as the war started.

When lunch rolls around, I return to my room.

Lilith rolls in looking worse than yesterday. When I tell her to sit on the couch again she perks right up. Her little demon tail swishes back and forth cutely.

Once again, I pop down on her lap. This time I have a cookie in my mouth I tell her 'good girl' and let her take a bite of the cookie from my hand, since she's into that. This time I hold it closer to her so she doesn't lean over as much. When she takes a bite, some crumbs fall into my ear.

She leans down to blow them out and when she does a tingling lightning shock goes down my back and through my four tails.

Not so subtly, I growl at her and she flinches. But I don't tell her off since she was only trying to help.

I've never had anyone blow in my ear before... I haven't decided if I like it or not, but let's not push it with Lilith. Only bad things can happen if she learns any of my turn-ons.

Next, my dancing... has only marginally improved since I began, and I leave with my head held high at the token praise my instructor gave me.

Dinner. I make my observations known about Mom and Sicilia and they claim they've never thought of the other as being two sides of the same coin. They have a bittersweet expression when I praise them both.

After dinner, it is time to get to work.

I reach into the back of the closet and toss her the bag with her Succubus clothes.

When I tell her to change she begins to unlace her bodice and I tell her she has a room for changing now.

She winks asking if I want to watch her change. When I growl at her she swiftly retires to her room while I put on my old clothes and cloak.

When she comes out strutting like she owns the place. I go in to serious espionage mode and she salutes and calms down.

"Lilith, I have been very careful to keep the true extent of my magic hidden in the capitol. You have already seen some of it because I allowed you. But from this moment on you are not to reveal any of my magic to anyone without my approval. To do so will be counted as a betrayal, and this dream you have been living will swiftly become a nightmare." I say as regally as I can.

"I understand master. I will not betray you." She kneeled with her hand over her heart like a professional vassal.

"Good, do you remember any of your slave curses?" I ask.

"They only told me a few of them." She admits.

"There is one that makes you weigh less, I chose that one for our purposes tonight."

"I understand master, I will do my best to lose weight from this moment on."

I chopped her on the head. "Idiot, I didn't say that. It is a gravity spell that will make you light as a feather, if you lost that much weight on your own I'd worry about health. Lilith is just fine the way she is."

"Master..." she was glowing green.

"Come, tonight we settle your debts..." I open the window.

"Master, we are so high up do you mean to jump? Even I thought it was safer to go through two dozen soldiers over using the window when infiltrating the castle." She admitted. "And the nightly patrol in the courtyard is seamless not to mention the wards-"

"Magic, Lilith. Now come." I climb into the windowsill and hold my hand out to her. She swallows. I can see that instead of salivating over getting to hold my hand she is processing in her mind how exactly to get out of the castle through the window. It's the first time she's ever shown me her professional calculating side.

When our hands touch I activate the feather spell and Lilith squeaks at the sudden sensation of being so light.

"If you scream I'm dropping you." I warn.

Lilith puts her other hand over her mouth as I pull her out the window. In free fall I scoop her into a princess carry and then use wink to take us high up into the sky.

"Hold on tight." I warn as I get higher and she wraps both arms around my neck while burying her face, and her horns, into my chest.

...

"Well, what do you think?" I say will maintaining my altitude was a steady stream of air coming from my feet. Like iron man, but magic.

Lilith slowly opens her eyes and looks out at the city and the night sky.

"Amazing... it's so beautiful." She gasps. She leans and feels herself tilt at which point she clutches back to me. "Okay yes, this was fun, ground please."

"Point me toward your house first, or at least where you stored your payment for my head."

Lilith peeks at the city and then points at the edge of the third ring. "There, I live in a room on the second floor of that building."

"Alright I see it... you'll probably want to close your eyes for this part..." I smile wickedly as we start to fall out of the sky.

Ch. 7 Lilith's House

Lilith is looking shaky as we enter her home through the window. Her eyes are spinning as she has to sit down for a minute to get her bearings.

Julie loved two-person-winking and going fast. Lilith doesn't seem to have the constitution for it yet.

"So this is where the assassin Succubus lived... I believe you mention something about panties before..." I say wondering if she'll tell me.

"Second drawer." She points at a dresser while her eyes are still spinning.

Hum... I would be rude not to check at this point...

I use fox fire to light the room and open the second drawer of the dresser she pointed to.

FOR SCIENCE!

...

...

I see a couple plain pairs simple white ones, a striped one, but why is there a bunch of lace and strings in this drawer too?

I pick one of the strings up and hold it to the light. I begin scratching my chin trying to decipher what this contraption is...

It isn't a weapon...

She said this was a panty drawer... might these be a version of panties in this world. But it's just lace and string. It's pretty much completely see through. This won't cover anything...

I pick up another and compare the two...

The length of string and basic design seem to be the same. The lace is a different pattern and in a slightly different shape...

I'll need a third one...

"Master!"

I look at the revived Lilith whose face is glowing red and covered with shame. Her ring isn't glowing... but her face is bright enough I might not need fox fire if it gets any brighter.

"Hm?" I tilt my head.

"You can't just go through a girl's underwear like that!"

"Underwear..." I look at the ones in my hand. "... are you sure?"

"Y-yes! Please stop... it embarrassing to have you put your face so close to them."

Experiment...

I look at her with blank eyes and place the lace part against my cheek.

"EEK!" She rushes over and slams the drawer closed.

I pull them away from my face. "So they are underwear..." I sniff them, but they just smell like soap.

"Don't sniff them, pervert! Eh... " She makes a noise as she tries to grab them, but I move them just out of her reach. "he... eh, eh eh eheheheheh". Training with William has paid off. Then I stick them in my pocket. "Master what are you doing?"

"Further research... everything that is yours is mine now, remember. I own you."

Lilith sagged to the floor.

... I'm not that stupid. I knew these were underwear from the beginning. Very risqué underwear. But being seven allows me a certain level of ignorance I can use to mess with her.

"The money, and the Aphro if you will." I say folding my arms.

There is a secret compartment under her bed where she stashed her savings. I get a good look at her butt while she wiggles around under the bed. I have no shame as I stare at it while she's not looking.

"Master are you staring at my ass?" She sing-songs while wagging it in the air.

"Yes." Okay, sometimes I just have no shame.

Her entire body flinches and she hits her head on her bed.

"Owie... Master you can't just be honest like that... it's not good for my heart..." I see green glow through the bed. "You need to learn how to talk to girls..."

"I do know how to talk to girls, I have three fiancés. But Lilith is Lilith."

I go over to her dresser and stash another handful of underwear in my pocket.

Lilith's tail droops and the green glow is gone at my retort.

She pushes out a box that scraps against the floor with a noticeable weight.

I check the top drawer and find her bras. Lace again... and pocket.

I move over to the wardrobe and pull it open. Inside on the left are a couple sets of regular clothes. The rest... lacey stringy revealing lingerie.

Lilith crawls out from under the bed to find me snooping.

"Got to say Lily, I'm really loving the lace."

"Master!" Lilith covers her breasts like I haven't seen them before.

Okay, here is the real reason I'm doing this.

I am alone...

With a smoking hottie...

In her room... all night possibly.

A hottie... who has made it very clear she not only likes me, but has already offered her body to me. If I don't keep her on the defensive by embarrassing her...

I.

Am.

Screwed.

Literally.

We need to get in get out and not come back here together any time in the near future.

Why am I taking her underwear?

She had nothing when she started living at the palace. Nothing. She had one outfit that was stashed in my closet and was wearing rags up until she was given the minimal amount of clothing for her job.

She had no time to move out. It's like she was kidnapped.

The least I can do is help her out by bring home a couple clean pairs of underwear... even if they are going to be torture for my resolve when she puts them on.

She poked her fingers and her ring began turning red. "Would master like to see me model them?"

Slam!

I couldn't close the wardrobe fast enough. "Not tonight." I shoot her down and the red disappears.

Get in, get out. Get in, get out. Get in, get out.

Eh... SHUT UP!

"Is your alchemy lab in a different location?"

She shakes her head, and moves to the dresser. She reaches behind it and I hear a click. Then the bottom two drawers open together, and her alchemy station folds out complete with all manner of technical stuff I don't understand.

"Just grab a few vials of Aphro and let's be on our way." I order trusting her.

"Yes master."

She does as I instructed, and we leave with what we came for.

Ch. 8 Boss's Language

Sebas

We show up at a different building than before. A tavern. Boss Tir (Pronounce Tear as in Teardrop) must move around routinely to evade... everyone.

When we walk up to the bouncer in the back he lets us in.

"My my, if it isn't my little 'friend'." Boss greets us with a big grin. "It's a very clear night to be walking the streets." She's alluding to my lightning.

"I guess you could just say that I'm as reckless as ever." I smile with my thinly veiled threat.

This is how you have to talk to Boss Tir. Like you're always holding a knife to her throat. It puts you on equal ground with her. The big test is finding out if that knife is real or not. Both Boss and I are very clear on the tangible nature of the other's knife. At the moment, I have at least one very sharp and deadly knife that's proven itself, and Boss has several dozen smaller knives that can all be pointed at me at a moment's notice.

Quality vs quantity. And a temporary understanding to leave 'which is deadlier' to be decided later, or never, if possible. That's only on the surface. We each have more than one ace hidden up our sleeve that we feel will give us an edge. But most importantly, fighting a war has little profit for either of us.

"That's a very heavy looking box you have there, mistress maid." Boss smiles, showing her canines.

"It's the gold I owe." She sets the heavy box on the table with a thud and opened it to show the gold.

Then I set a few vials of the Aphro on the table. "And a small donation. Just to say that there are no hard feelings about the other day."

Boss sighs. "I told those to muscle heads that the hit was off, but they had already spent the money and tried to finish the hit after I ordered them not to. They broke two of our laws and had to be punished. Mister friend, thanks to you, my herd has been thinned more than I would like, and I lost my five best showman."

"I did say it would be a waste of resources." I shrug.

"I will thank you, this will let me do a little house cleaning. Times are changing, and we are going to need some new blood. We may even start outsourcing to other kingdoms." Now we are talking in Boss Tir's other language, she's saying: (the money is drying up here and it's a good point in time to move if I can.)

"Like Sudaven?" I ask. (You going my way?)

"Perhaps, but that's only if a friend tells us of a good place to set up shop. That friend might even be owed a favor from the guild." She throws me some bait with: (I might have a job for you if you're are interested?)

"To have a guild in debt to you is a desirable thing for most people." I muse as if it doesn't concern me. But I'm saying: (I'll hear you out.)

"Yes, and if this friend were a traveling adventurer of sorts with dreams of seeing the world. Well... more cities, more favors." (There is a lot of profit if you want to help.)

"Spreading a dangerous guild that far and wide, a wise man might be hesitant." I respond with a: (and why should I work for you? This is a very risky business.)

"Perhaps, but if the guild takes a new direction... one that doesn't clash with the sensibilities of that 'wise man' then he might be less hesitant. Times are changing, but profit is profit, and smart organizations will expand their horizons beyond the art of killing." (I'm thinking of getting out of the assassin business... okay maybe not out, but if you have a better idea for making money I'm open to hearing it.)

"I see, an assassin guild that is not an assassin guild employing a wise man could be a lucrative move for both parties." (You've caught my attention. Now what?)

"Yes, but an unprofitable city is an unprofitable city. And neither guild nor man can change that." (Just that, I have a position open, but if you can't find something because it's a bad city then whatever.)

I laugh. "Ha ha. will if I find such a reckless wise man I shall let him know of it." (I'll think about it.)

She returned my laugh. "But such a man must be as wise in years as he is reckless in age. But I know you'll be a good judge of character when you meet such an existence." (Hit me up if you have a plan, you're a smart kid, and a good idea is a good idea after all.)

"It has been a pleasure Boss Tir." I bow my head.

"Mister friend, I desperately look forward to our next encounter. Your ability to charm me has no equal. And when you grow a size or two I shall only find you all the more charming." She says without revealing anything, but at the same time her words are laced with secret meaning.

"You'll have to wait in line, already both my body and my heart belong to women outside this city. They'd be rather forthcoming with their displeasure if you tried to side step them."

Boss bellowed. "Hahahaha, a little competition never hurt anyone, but if you are already so torn, I'll step aside. Lilith, it looks like you have your work cut out for you. Friend, take care of this girl, out of all of my chosen she was always the purest. She was never cut out to be a blade in the night. A doctor or lover maybe. But never a cold blade."

"She is in good hands. Farewell boss. I hope we do not cross paths again on the opposite sides of a war." I turn to leave.

"Go in health, friend."

*

We left and returned to the castle without incident.

Once inside, I walk Lilith to her room.

"What was that all about? Wise men and new directions?" Lilith asks while she sits on her bed.

"Boss was asking for my help in expanding her guilds influence, she want me to scout cities in my travels and look for opportunities for her business to expand. Smuggling, brothels, drug trade namely Aphro, dirty nobles who are looking to hire more assassins that kind of thing." I answer nonchalantly. You know, as if the leader of an assassin guild didn't just ask me to help her expand her business.

"And...?" She asks looking worried.

"I told her I'd think about it, and she said it doesn't have to be something I'm against morally. She also said that she doesn't blame me if I can't find anything. It will only waste her time and money to try and expand somewhere that won't make her any money. If I do help her out though, she'll be in my debt. The bigger the profit the bigger the debt and the less chance of her pointing another knife at my neck. Luckily, it's just on the table if I want it, and even if I take it there is no formal alliance to put anyone in a tough spot." I sigh in relief, she could have very easily pushed me into a corner with that kind of talk, and I'm not so sure she didn't if I'm being honest with myself.

"Wow... I can't believe all of that happened right in front of me and I had no idea." Lilith blinked.

"Speaking of which... here." I begin unloading her underwear on her bed. More than just the two g-strings she saw me stash earlier.

"Master!... where those in your pockets this whole time?"

I was negotiating with a powerful underground leader... with a pocket full of women's unmentionables.

"Pretty much." I shrug. "I figured you didn't have anything when you started living at the castle and a few pairs of clean underwear would help you adjust. And considering the amount you had stocked, these were your kind of thing."

"Master..." her ring turned green(Happy), and then red(Horny). "would you like me to show you how they look on me?"

I was already gone.

Slam!

"Master that was mean! You could have just said no!" She pouted.

"NO!" I said from the other side of the door.

Ch. 9 Teagon's Traditions

That night I sleep in my special spot on the roof and have a lovely nap before training.

In training, William spikes my ire to get me ready for training and we drill 'bar fighting'. He mentions that if I were a wee bit taller and wasn't a prince he might invite me to a bar to see how I'll fair but we both know that my mothers will have his head if he does that.

When I go to wash up Lilith looks really happy and is twirling her skirt back and forth. I then say that if she isn't wearing any underwear or purposefully tries to flash me with what we brought home last night I'll make her wear the long skirts. She is more devastated than I thought she would be. And when I make her turn around when I change my pants she has such a dark cloud over her I'm afraid she's going to cause a rain cloud and get all of my stuff wet.

She has been working hard...

And she was a good girl last night...

I guess I can throw her a bone... I'm going to regret this...

But it's not like she has anyone else in her entire life that actually cares about her happiness besides myself. At least she hasn't mentioned anyone special. When I have that thought I flash back and wonder about my old life and wonder what I would do if I had somebody who even cared.

Damn my bleeding heart!

I throw her a bone....

Is it wrong that I treat her more like a house pet then either Julie or Ninni who are cats and dogs, or Cheshire who is basically my pet? But they weren't as needy or as pitiful as this girl.

I tell her that I do like lace. No, since she's been good I confess that I love it. If she can find a tactful way to do it, and I stress tactful, she can flash the edges of her lace bras at me...

What am I even saying?

I have sunken so low... maybe I am a deviant?

No! I just live with one, dammit!

She perks up and I stress that she can't do it in front of my family, and if she gets caught by someone else I'll take away her lace.

She nods eagerly, and turns green. She promises to do her best, and there is no green. Then during breakfast she's as happy as a clam. She has a good poker face around everyone but me, and out of the corner of my eye I see her ring flashing between green and red.

She is both so easy, and so difficult.

For my break, I take a nap on the couch in the waiting room, the one where I had the fight in with my mother when I first showed up. I smile when I think about how far we have come.

Since I'm in such a good mood after my nap I stop by the kitchen and greet Charlie. I then request a fish for Chess. He looks at me strangely for a second and points at a box chilled by water magic. I inspect the magic circle. I've learned about magic circles in the past, but they never interested me much. They were time consuming and insufficient for my needs. But since I've reached a bottleneck with my research due to the constraints of the noble library. I start to seriously consider investigating them.

I grab a fish and when I'm sure no one is looking I leave it for a happy Cheshire before going to have tea with Reina.

I find out that Reina and my father's marriage really did happen recently. Within the last couple years. I also discover that she's around Lilith's age. Their marriage was one of political gain and not love. She was from the fourth great noble family and in order strengthen his claim to the throne when the war began he married her when she turned fifteen. She admired father before that and wasn't unhappily married.

She and father were trying to conceive and as soon as she got pregnant Sicilia was next. It seemed Sicilia was unwilling to part with Nelfa's baby conceiving charm, so I'd also have to wait for Reina to give me a sibling before Sicilia would have a son.

It is important to note how this world's and more specifically the Foxkin's view on marital relations and procreation in their polygamous society and how it ties way back to old traditions set by Teagon the hero himself.

Teagon was originally a small nation, the smallest of the nations founded by the heroes of the Phoenix age. Teagon foresaw a problem while being so close to the procreative humans. So when he began his nation he first started with a pilgrimage and gathered all the scarce Foxkin from wherever he could find them and settled down in the land he had chosen. His biggest issue was that many of the foxkin he had gathered were women. The accounts say that it was anywhere from seven to one, to as much as a twelve to one ratio of female to male of marriageable age. It was due to the war and the continued defense of his people that thinned the males and the predisposition for female births.

In order to grow his nation he made polygamy an active necessity and instead of a matchmaking-debauchery-ridden-male-dominated-harem-fantasy nation of barbarians he laid down clear rules. Yes, he gave the men power wealth and land, but he also took away their last name. Everyone from his kingdom would be a family after the name of Ti'en. Men who didn't already have a wife, were either assigned a first wife near their age, comely, and smart, or strongly encouraged to find one. The rest of the woman were assigned to men based on needs, and capacity. Less worthy or less competent men were given less land responsibility and wives.

They weren't rich as a whole, but they were clever and set many traditions in stone for the first time as a race. One long standing tradition was that a woman a considered full-fledged wife upon conception of a first child, successful pregnancy, delivery, or otherwise. The husband's main responsibility was to make sure that his family was provided for, happy, and organized. The wives were educated and given responsibility over finances, land, relationships inside and outside the family, and many other things.

In order to prevent his fledgling nation from devolving into a barbarian horde, a model of chivalric code was taught to boys to instill morals, honor, and fair judgement while the girls were taught how to be a lady and manage business, trade, warfare, childrearing, and a multiplicity of other skills. Family, was not a government where the men or women ruled on top of one another, it was a hard-fought game of survival where everyone had a job. Reproduction was strongly encouraged as a means of increasing the chances of that survival. Not just for their direct family, but also for future generation and internal warfare. Raising an army against one of your Ti'en brothers was strongly frowned against. Marriage into another family became a game of intrigue to be played. Especially since inheritance wasn't guaranteed toward the oldest or even to bloodline. The only benefit a first-born son had over his siblings or peers was a head start in time to prove his merits.

Teagon made this clear, he didn't want a nation after the manner or humans who squabbled over petty things like blood rights or war valor, but in the ability to maintain peace, inspire progress, and leave a wealth of joy. He selected three of his most trusted generals: Lapvis, Beylis, and Zeynis. They embodied his ideals of what he wanted their future as a nation to look like. Teagon's oldest son was better suited for a life on the battlefield then as a king and readily supported his father's decision after he passed the crown to one of the generals as they became king sequentially as one of the other's died starting with Lapvis. When Zeynis passed away, a new precedent had to be set, Teagon's firstborn grandson was a well-respected man, but the second-born was clearly more suited to be king. The heads of each of the other three families offered their worthiest daughters for his wives to show their support. After he passed away, the third oldest son of the Beylis family was the worthiest, he married his childhood friend and flame who was a girl from the Asmos Ti'en family as his first wife and then married from the other families.

Bastion, my biological father, was the clear choice of his generation and had already married Sicilia and my mom because they had fallen in love with him and him in return. A marriage of love was always priority over a marriage of convince or station thank to the first and sixth kings. Now Reina would bear him a child and be instated as an official wife under the old customs.

This custom is all well and good for us, we have a long line of deep culture and froth with tradition, both good and bad. I'm technically not the only one in line for the throne of Teagon, but when negotiating a peace with the humans they wouldn't recognize anyone who had such a loose claim of nobility or who wasn't a blood descendent of the current king. However, now that my recent accomplishments have come to light since coming to the kingdom I'm seen more and more as the heir-apparent and most worthy to lead our people as the next king.

Reina was a very intelligent and caring woman with a mind for progress, we talked about my efforts in Ralla's End. Her family was the lowest of the four noble houses, but that didn't mean they didn't have money or influence above the lesser nobles. It was just incomparable to the titans that were already established in the royal family; Mom, and Sicilia.

Recently, Reina's efforts have been mostly in recovery and reconstruction of the country. She had a pure simple desire to help people in her youthful naivety. But it is what this country needs at this time. She kept her ear to the ground and supplied needs to villages, towns, and cities that were harmed in the fallout. She was especially intrigued in her efforts when she found a quickly expanding town renamed Ralla's End, who hadn't asked for support despite their influx of refugees. She was equally surprised at its continued growth and self-sustaining potential despite the poverty.

This is the first time I've ever considered that my home town was impoverished. Looking back while thinking about it, it made since. But they weren't unhappy and that is what shocked her just as much. She remised the thought that a noble with the kind of potential of Vandiver was shut away so far from people that could desperately use his talents.

My heart swelled when I heard her praise papa like that.

I decided after talking with all three of my mothers that if Sicilia and Calypso were two sides of a coin than Reina was the ring around it holding it together while others were distracted over which side was flashier.

Reina was what could be called a Daisy in a bed of roses.

For lunch, I returned to my room after stopping by the library for a book on inscriptions.

Lilith was already there and was looking even worse than the day before. This time I let her lie down on the bed. I guess her happy mood put the head maid in a foul mood. Lilith's outfit was a mess. But this was my time to relax too, and I never used the bed.

I brushed off her lap and rested my head in it so where splayed out like a "T". I don't know how much I'll get to do this when we leave here so if I can take advantage of it I will. Lilith squirms a bit like the first time. When I just lay down and do nothing else besides each and flip pages she settles down.

You know, this bed is super comfy... why didn't I sleep in it again? I look up at Lilith who dozed off and has a pervy smile on her face.

I wonder if I should do something pervy to wake her up... nah she hasn't done anything special today. If I do too much, it will spoil her. I ended up smacking her on the forehead with my book and taking my leave for... dance class.

After dinner, I once again get to work when the sun dies down.

I tell Lilith to go to bed since she looked like something Cheshire dragged in.

Once she's gone I slip out with my backpack and return to Lilith's/my house. I do a little more snooping.

There is no chance of me getting caught and I will admit some of my teenaged virgin curiosity get the better of me while I'm snooping. Sue me, technically this is all mine.

For SCIENCE!

Ch. 10 Tiera's Talent

I'm there for about an hour letting my condition get the better of me. I can't openly admit that I was a perfect gentleman for that hour.

Finally, I do what I came for. First, I stuff Lilith's clothes in my bag. I don't know when she'll get a chance to wear them again, but I still think the gesture will make her happy in a world that only wants to knock her down.

Pretty much all of her clothes fit in the bag. She wasn't rich after all. But just looking at her wardrobe you could easily peg this room as being owned not only by a teenaged girl, but a lusty woman dubbed the Succubus. I mean, can some of this stuff even be considered clothing? The amount of lace, fishnet and other sheer material comprises most of her complete wardrobe.

I'll be honest, when I imagine adult Julie and Ninni wearing some of these things I get a bloody nose.

Then I have a thought...

Lace is all well and good (it's great let's be honest) but Lilith has an image problem.

If her days as a tavern girl and her moniker as the Succubus, and the behavior of my parents, serve as any point of reference she has always been judged by her looks. What if I gave her a new set of clothes? Nothing like these or the short maid outfit that just reinforce people looking down on her. Maybe something more professional.

Let's disregard the shameful display of overly sexual clothes in front of me and look at her merits.

She has a good heart. A noble one in fact. Pure, if you consider if in a year's time she only killed a total of eleven people. And they were the scum of the earth.

She is smart. Just looking at her hidden compartment and it's set up I can tell she put the whole thing together herself. She developed a drug that Boss Tir wanted. And a sleeping perfume that could knock out a contingent of guards. Not to mention that other perfume, actually no let's not mention that...

She really was suited to be a doctor if she poured her talents into that field instead of assassination, helping families and children get better. And it was her looks that got in the way... kind of like me... huh?

Let her be sexy when she wants, but let's also work on her image as more than just a pretty face. She had so much to offer the world and I didn't even know the contents of her research pre-succubus.

I'll come for the alchemy stuff when I know more about it.

*

I come home to find her doing something in the darkness of her room luckily there are sheets in the way and I avoid staying around to find out if it's lewd or not... knowing her, you know where my bets will go.

But let's give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she was just having a nightmare and couldn't go back to sleep. She has had a pretty crappy life in a lot of ways.

I toss the bag in and say that I want the bag returned when she's finished sorting it.

I leave and find a new place to sleep under the stars where I won't cause a commotion when I wake.

After training when go back to my room Lilith is a tomato, but isn't glowing. She only gives the barest of responses and won't look me in the eye.

Poor girl.

I guess I should come up with that outfit soon. I tell her my thoughts on making a new outfit, one that she'll find 'comfortable' but will also look professional so that people stop judging her by her appearance.

I make a bold declaration of my admiration for her intellect. And express my desire to come up with a new look that will better show that's she's not just a pretty face while still giving of the servant vibe of a maid.

She perks up and her ring turns green.

I spend my free time that morning with designs from my world and this world in mind. I'm thinking sexy secretary.

White shirt, pencil skirt, heels, and stockings. It has everything, but it's too much. It's from my time and will completely derail this world's common sense to the point of having the opposite effect. Tight fitting pencil skirts in an age of poofy Disney princess dresses and long robed wizards might be too much too soon.

Glasses are a thing here, so I think the toned back bun and glasses look is a go. But I wrestle with it until tea time. I've crumpled up more pieces of paper then I'd like to imagine.

Tea time is with my sisters today. They ask what's on my mind and I fill them in on my design plan, and how it's not going so well. I even tell them about the secretary design and they all agree it's too much and impractical for a maid. Meela is blushing the whole time, she's the oldest and most aware of those kinds of things due to puberty. Tiera has her same dull look, and Noela just looks confused but happy to be along for the ride as I take an opportunity every now and then to offhandedly feed her. I spout something like I'm a magus initiate and that I could start calling her my assistant rather than my slave or maid.

I'm surprised when Tiera asks for a piece of paper and the pen I brought along.

She tells me charcoal is better than a pen for this sort of thing, but furiously moves around paper. When she's done she has a rough sketch of exactly the type of thing I'm thinking about.

At the top is written the magus' secretary. The model has a bun, glasses, lace, and heels. But as I look at it, I realize just how ingenious it is. I swipe the paper and begin smiling as I look over it. It has the perfect amount of sexy secretary, mixed in with servile practicality, and hints of magician stylistic choices. It's sexy enough for Lilith, practical enough to still fit a servant's labor, it's sophisticated enough to portray intelligence, and covers just enough skin to keep my heart at bay and keep away the harsh judgements.

I ask Tiera and my sisters if they'll spearhead this project for me, and each one of them eagerly agrees except Tiera.

"Are you sure, it's not 'that' great. Just something I threw together." Tiera blushes and won't meet my gaze.

I think I'm seeing a new side of her today.

"No, it's great!" I argue. "In fact, it's better than great, Tiera I didn't know you had this kind of talent!"

After some more praising I see Tiera's first real smile as she agrees to help.

We have lunch together too and iron out all the details. They are now my go-to team for clothing needs. When we part I can hear them talking about outfits that will go better with my scarf they could design.

I have just unleashed your daughters on the world, Sicilia, you better support them or I'm taking the necklace back.

I'm in high spirits when I go to dance instruction and in low spirits when I come out.

Dinner comes by and my sisters look very excited. They don't speak much at the dinner table since the atmosphere is completely ruled by the mothers and father with interruptions from yours truly.

Reina takes the opportunity to ask what has the girls looking so fidgety and they energetically begin talking about their project. Noela has been choosing colors. Tiera's been on a design bender, and even brought her notebook under her skirt to the dinner table. Meela has been using her social connections to nail down fabric and able seamstresses. It's a three-fold effort.

Lilith keeps her composure, but her ring is glowing green upon hearing how excited the girls are about the project.

"Aren't you doing a little too much for that girl?" Sicilia asked, obviously irked.

"Am I?" I don't respond with a proper answer.

"I think you are." Mom agrees.

"Look at my sisters do they not seem more lively with the project? Is it a sin that I have awoken such a spirit in them?" I answer.

"That aside, why her? You seem to be going through a lot of effort for someone who tried to kill you in cold blood?" Reina piped up. Reina not you too.

"I'll remind you that out of the five notable assassin's that aimed for my life, Lilith left no bodies in her wake. She may have aimed for me, but all the guards protecting me were unharmed after she disabled them. Also, this is about appearances if I want to take a look at my current image, I am a reckless prince from the country, who bought a sex slave as soon as he had the means. The truth is that I am a Magus Initiate in need of an assistant with substantial knowledge in a field I am unfamiliar with. Now, I can walk into Sudaven the pervert prince with a sexed-up maid on my heels, or I can enter as a powerful magus prince with my Alchemist assistant as I fulfil my duties as a prince while pursuing a higher way of thinking. And my scholarly assistant may just happen to be an attractive woman and a slave. What kind of prince would you send into the world? Besides, is she not MY doll to dress as I please after the slave curse misunderstanding?"

They relented at my candor and offer my sisters their full support. They all knew they had yet to make up for that particular misunderstanding.

Lilith sniffled then excused herself and sat in the hall for a moment while her ring glowed green.

"In a world that only saw her appearance I was the first who saw her for what she could do and not who she could do..." I speak my mind out loud.

Everyone in the room casts their eyes down in shame.

I looked at my mothers, "Have you ever heard the story of the ugly man and the adventuress?... Well let me tell you a story about a man who was born so ugly not even his mother could look at him..."