Adella has a plan for secrecy

After thinking it over Adella concludes it would be best not say anything about the journey to her father.

"If we ask for an escort or ask for permission, we could be specifically told no. The way it is now, we haven't technically been forbidden to go."

Courtney raises a skeptical eyebrow. "I don't know if your father will go for that explanation."

"Perhaps not, but it will only be an issue if we get caught, and we're not going to get caught."

"Surely your presence in the palace will be missed," says Courtney. "How will you explain that?"

"Just watch and see," says the Princess, mysteriously.

About four hours later Adella in a different part of the castle. She climbs the second-highest turret and as she climbs the stairs, the sound of laughter, music and merriment grows ever louder, reaching its peak as she comes to her destination -- an imposing wooden door. Adella knocks on the door, and when she receives no answer, she pounds harder.

After an interminable wait, punctuated by more sounds of revelry and at least one crash of broken glass, the door opens. Adella finds herself face-to-face with an obviously intoxicated young woman of about her own age, clothed only with a small blanket that is wrapped around her naked body. She looks at Adella and yells back over her shoulder, "Here's another one! How many of us did you invite, anyway? Your dick is going to fall off if you try to bang any more of us!"

Adella looks beyond the young woman and sees a veritable sea of flesh. From her vantage point, she sees no fewer than half a dozen women, with nary a stitch of clothing between them. Two appear to be dancing with each other, sensuously kissing and running their hands over each other's body. One woman is either asleep or, more likely, passed out on a sofa. The other three are in a tangled, writhing heap in the center of a bearskin rug. Music from string instruments is coming from somewhere out of Adella's view, as well as some additional voices.

"Another one?" says a voice, emanating from the middle of the three women on the rug. "Is it Eliza?"

Adella looks and sees two male arms emerge from under the three women, parting them. She then sees a sweaty face with rumpled hair come into view. It is her brother Stewart, Crown Prince of Mirantia.

When Stewart sees his sister, he smiles broadly. "Adella! So you finally decided to come to one of my parties! I'm sorry there aren't any guys here for you, but Diedra and Monique over there swing both ways, and they can do things with their tongues that you will want to tell your great-grandchildren about!"

Adella ignores the invitation and attempts to block out the distraction of the debauchery around her. "I would speak with you right away, Stewart."

"Right now? Can it wait? Something has -- um -- come up... and it needs my full attention." The ladies around him giggle.

"It cannot wait, Brother. I would talk with you right now."

"OK, OK... Just give me a second. Ladies, if you wouldn't mind, my sister needs me, but don't go anywhere, because I definitely need you!"

Stewart climbs out from the tangled pile of female flesh, and Adella averts her eyes as her brother retrieves and robe and drapes it over his sweaty body.

"This better be good, Sister," he says. "Do you know how rare it is to find triplets?"

Adella gets straight to the point. "I need a favor from you, Stewart. Courtney and I are going to go away for a few days, and I need you to cover for me with Father and Mother."

Stewart regards his sister carefully. "Courtney? That name should mean something to me...."

Impatiently, Adella says, "Courtney. My lady-in-waiting.... I believe the two of you have been -- intimate."

Stewart breaks into a smile. "Oh yes! The one with the birthmark that looks like a pegasus! I forgot about Her! Did you bring her with you?"

"No, I did not! I think you have more than enough ‘guests’ as it is, don’t you?”

“You can never have enough, my sister! Not that you would know that, of course, being the designated virgin and all, but that’s beside the point. They’re not all for me. Well, they are all for me, but I’m also sharing. Duncan will be joining us shortly. I know how Mother was always after us to play well together and share our playthings? But I digresss. You're going away? Where are you going?"

"That does not concern you. I just need to breathe some fresh air after being confined here with all these responsibilities. If you cover for me, Father and Mother will not be worried, and I can go in peace."

"Cover for you? Why on earth would I do that? If something happens to you, just think how that would impact me? You're asking me to stick my neck out, and you're not giving me a good enough reason."

"Perhaps it is not your neck that you have been sticking out that should trouble you... It's another part of your anatomy you should keep under control." replies the princess. "I think I have something to offer you in trade for your help."

"What is that?" Stewart asks, suspiciously.

"That's quite a party you have going tonight," she says, motioning toward the women.

Stewart laughs. "You think Father and Mother don't know I am no longer a virgin, my sister? You'll need something more compelling than that to get my help."

"As I was saying, that's quite a party you have going on tonight, but I'm even more interested about the party you had last night."

Stewart's eyes narrow. "Last night? Whatever do you mean?"

Adella says, "I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable explanation for why the wife of the ambassador from Sveltania was seen leaving your room at 3:00 this morning. I understand Sveltania's king is planning on gifting a matching set of their finest horses next month at the state visit to honor the improvement in relations between our kingdoms. No doubt he would be thrilled to learn just exactly how much certain relationships have flourished."

Stewart glares at his sister. "You wouldn't."

"Don't try me on this, Stewart! You and Duncan get to do whatever you want, with whomever you want while I live a life of splendid imprisonment. You can do this one thing for me. You will do this one thing for me!"

Stewart considers his sister for a few moments. "Very well, I will see what I can do. When are you leaving?"

"The day after next. I will give you more details about our departure later -- assuming you are not too hung over to receive them."

One of the naked party guests stumbles drunkenly to the royal siblings, and drapes her arms around the prince. "Come back to the party, Your Highness. You promised to let me wield your royal scepter."

Adella rolls her eyes in frustration and says, "Remember, Stewart. Not a word of this to anyone, or I promise you, Father will wield your royal scepter and send it in a lockbox to the king of Sveltania!"

With that, Adella leaves Stewart to his companions and returns to her bedchambers to plan her adventure with Courtney.