3 days after the explosion - The palace

The prince returned to the palace with the guards and Aria without problems but as soon as he got out of the carriage, his favorite servant was waiting at the doorstep of the palace.

"The duke wants to see you sir"(Servant)

Yeah, i can guess why(Prince)

"Fine, let's go"(Prince)

There has been a trend among the faction this last few days and it was a simple one, let's make the prince our ally since we don't know what happened to the rest. So far the noble and people factions were left, but since it was kind of hard for the people to contact him, the prince guessed the noble faction was the only one left.

The prince was taken to a room with to people waiting for him, a fat guy with fine clothing and a girl with a robe and a staff. he was really disappointed with the premise, he could see a repeat of yesterdays event

Another honey trap, seriously? i guess it was too much to expect something original from this lusting pig(Prince)

The duke had a reputation of having as many mistress as fingers in his hand, and 3 times as many bastards child's, and the prince knew she wasn't one of the legitimated ones.

"Hello prince, i have something to offer you"(Duke)

"Let me guess, she is another body guard,right?" (Prince)

"oh, you are a lot smarter than the rumors says"(Duke)

if you follow the rumors, even a comatose is smarter than me, at least he knows when to shut up(prince)

"Right, well I believe I have enough body guards soo I don't really see the point"(Prince)

"But there is a point you see, you don't have a magician as a body guard, and she is a double caster of ice and healing, i am sure she can be of really good use for you. Introduce yourself dear"(Duke)

"Hello prince, I am Susan Febrycad, nice to meet you"(Susan)

The girl was around the prince age, maybe a year older, and have brown hair and blue eyes. She was good looking(not a surprise since the duke wouldn't b-ng an ugly chick) but he had never seeing her before, so he was surpris to hear she had the duke last name

"oh, you are one of the duke legitimate daughters?Why I never saw you in one of the party before? I am sure someone as pretty as you wouldn't have escape my eyes" or Jorge for the case(prince)

Susan blushed a little and the pig duke started to sweat a little. The prince didn't mind getting a few brownie points by complementing the girl, but he was more interested in seeing how the duke explained why she hasn't shown herself in other social gatherings until now, masking the real question under simple curiosity.

"a yes.... father?"(Susan)

"well, prince, the thing is.... she was adopted to the family. You probably heard the rumors that I have many mistress, and even if they exaggerates the number a lot, I do have one or two..."(Duke)

yeah right, 10 or 20 more like it(prince)

"And?"(prince)

"and... well she is my illegitimate daughter. Since I couldn't bear to see her as an outcast without a father, even if I couldn't marry her mother legitimately, I could at least adopt her into the family"(Duke)

and it just happens that like all of your illegitimate adopted sons and daughters, she has a rare talent, is useful and loyal to you(prince)

She wasn't the first and wouldn't be the last being adopted into the family of the duke, and he always find a use for them, like marrying to someone powerful or putting them in key positions in an organisation. The prince respect and felt disgust with the guy, since he found a way to make his work and his hobby function perfectly together(and he didn't know which was the hobby and which was the job)

"look, thanks for the offer, but I already have great protection, its pointless to add more"(Prince)

"I am sure that knight Aria is a great warrior, and with the "insurance" you put on her (great work by the way ;-) ) I am sure you feel safe, but she is not exactly loyal, and there are ways to by pass a slave collar. That's why I believe that having a healer with extra fire power would be a great service for you right now"(Duke)

The prince really didn't like to have the pig approval for slaving Aria, since it felt like being in the same league....

"And the nobles are a little insecure since it looks like i am favoring both the mages and the army right now, so having a loyal watchdog would help them feel in the loop"(Prince)

"Well i wouldn't put it like that, but you are not wrong entirely"(Duke)

"and I am sure you are hoping it she ends up more than just a body guards"(prince)

"Again, not right but not wrong"(The duke smiled this time)

The prince took a second look at the girl. She was pretty, and she looked like the quiet type but another person following around was a bother and he wasn't sure his fiancé would be ok with it(50-50)

"Fine, i will give it a try, but if i find it annoying i will fire her"(Prince)

"Fair enough, I am sure she wont cause any problems, Right Susan"(Duke)

"Yes of course"(Susan smiled)

"Is there anything else, i have some matters to attend"(prince)

"Only that you give her a room in the palace, for convince sakes of course"(Duke)

"yeah.. i am sure we will find something for her"lecherous bas*ard(prince)

"well then, good bye prince, please take care fo my daughter"(Duke)

After that, the duke left the room, follow by the prince and his new body guard. Outside was the blond knight waiting for him by the door. Since most rooms have wards against spying, he was sure she shouldn't have heard the conversation even with her enchanted senses.

"Aria meet susan, susan aria. Looks like you two will be working together"(prince)

"Nice to meet you"(Susan)

"Don't tell me you got another slave"(Aria)

"Nope, she is the duke daughter and unlike you she knows how to behave"(prince smiled)

Aria got mad at that last part, but at least she learn not to attack pointlessly. Now all he had to do was explained to Elena the new body guard without getting killed and find a way to slip alone tomorrow. To bad he wasn't a religious man or he would start to pray to the gods

3 days after the explosion - Dinning Table

The prince was kind of intimidated since the table was full of women. There was his nice Lina, her maid, his fiance Elena and his two body guards Aria and Susan, making him the only man in the room

"Well girls, lets me introduce you my new bodyguard susan"(prince)

"Hi all"(Susan)

"Another one? don't tell me you also made her your slave"(Elena)

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, but no, she is the duke daughter and it looks like she doesn't try to kill me every time she sees me"(prince)

He got another glare from Aria

"And since all of you are new to the palace and need proper accommodations. I had a great idea"(Prince)

They all looked at him now, wondering what was he going to say next

"A day off for all of you to visit the town and buy all the stuff you need,try cloths, have fun etc"(Prince)

His niece and Aria looked exited, while the maid smiled and Elena gave him a doubtful look. As for susan she gave him a poker face.

"oh, that's awfully nice of you, what do you get of it?"(Elena)

"Why do you make it sound like I only do good things in my own benefit?"(prince)

"You don't!!!???"(Elena with a shocked face)

"Haha Very funny, i just want to help my niece get use to the new place, can't you help this poor girl?"(prince)

Both Lina and Elena got a little embarrassed because of that

"So we all going to town tomorrow?"(Susan)

"Ah no, I can't"(Prince)

"What do you mean you can't!? I can't go if you don't"(Aria)

"It's to dangerous for me right now, I can't go all over town without purpose when we don't know if someone is trying to kill all the royal family. That's why you girls take the day off, make sure to protect my niece, and i can enjoy some alone time in my room, I am sure nothing bad will happen inside the palace"(prince)

Again the girls had all different reactions, Susan still had a poker face, the maid keep her smile, but lina was sad, Aria was glad and Elena was mad

"You said all that but in the end it's all so you can have a day off!!!!"(Elena)

"Don't make it sound so bad, it's a win win for all of us. After what we all have been gone through, I am sure a day off is well deserved"(Prince)

Elena really got mad and left the table to her room, as for Lina, she had a sad face and it looked like she was about to cry at any moment, this made all of them to pay attention to her to see what was going on

"Lina, what happened"(prince)

"Uncle, I am a bother?"(Sad Lina)

"Why do you ask that?"(prince)

"Because.... "(Lina)

"because?"(prince)

"You are avoiding me like daddy. He always did stuff without me and leave me with other people"(lina)

Sh*t, I thought this was going to be simple, how did it turn out like this, what to do what to do......(prince)

"I don't know why your father did that, but unlike him i am really vulnerable you know? It's not like I don't want to go outside but that it would be too dangerous right now"(prince)

"But you go outside all the time!!"(Lina)

"That is because i move to one secure location to another with a proper escort of guards, body guards and a reinforced carriage. Walking all over town would be to eye catching and dangerous right now"(Prince)

"But but ..."(Lina)

"Look, next time I go out, i will take you with me, but go and have fun tomorrow with the girls. I am sure you will have a good time"(Prince)

"Fine"(Lina said reluctantly)

Well, that could have gone better, I hope nothing bad happens tomorrow(prince)

Tomorrow will be a looong day for the prince

note:thx megacrazy44 and wolves425 for pointing the mistakes

Back to Fiction Page