No. Use her.

Taking Akina’s uncharacteristic tears into account you’re aware that she will punish herself enough for what almost happened with Lady Sera. In fact, you are sure that despite this lack of regard for your safety that Akina may have already been taking steps to mend the situation and help perform her tasks more to the benefit of Itheria. You get up out of the bath and walk towards the remorseful feline without bothering to cover yourself with a towel. Much to her shock you start out with a simple demand to start taking the steps necessary for the future.

“Dry me.”

Your tone was assertive and curt. It was good to remind yourself that you were King of Itheria. And almost seeing your end today made you put your more lustful thoughts aside for the time being. Lady Sera was clearly just an agent of Countess Eria, and she would be at the party tonight. It would be good to assume that this was not the only plan up her sleeve to rid of you, and the lessons that Lord Gilbert had taught you were re-emerging from the recently lust-bogged gears of your mind.

“Y-yes, Your Majesty!” Akina grabbed the soft white towels provided by the servants for you to use after the bath and got to work drying you carefully. Seems the kitten responded more to this than the spanking that was supposed to teach her some respect the last time you were in a bathing room with her. Perhaps her recent failure had humbled her a bit. You did like that playful Akina, and the blowjob you got from her right after, but this was not the time. Right now, you needed to figure out how to survive the night. The irony of course being that Phebis was supposed to be an allied nation.

“I assume you haven’t been idle, or you would’ve been her much sooner.” You got to business almost as quickly as Akina did to dry your cock, “What have you found out, and what can I expect to happen tonight. Speculation is good too.”

“I managed to get an agent to infiltrate the dungeons and confirm that Lady Sera was meant to seduce you into a private room and kill you. Obviously things did not go according to plan and the little whore decided to take steps that weren’t part of the plan. I must say that I’m impressed your usual fecund dick didn’t stick her too.” You caught a smirk on Akina’s face as she dried you. Perhaps there was still a bit of playfulness in her.

“Do you have anything I don’t already know.”

“Sure, while there is a lot of hearsay that Countess Eria is behind this, no physical evidence or trail was able to be discovered by me or the agents I have in Phebis.” She began drying your hair and looked you deep in the eye for this next part, “But her motive is obvious, she does not want this marriage proposal with Princess Clara to bear fruit. She leads an independence faction that seeks to break all ties with Itheria and strengthen relationships with Neighbors to the east that have also been seeing and influx of Elven refugees from Elileithel. Her county is closest to that region and she seems to hate them like many other bordering regions seeing their numbers rise.”

“Elves?” You were not expecting them to have any part of this. Why would they be leaving their life of seclusion in the forests anyways?

“Yes,” Akina affirmed, “Pointy ears, like me. Not as sexy though, and always have a bow stuck up their ass. They’re distant and not as important though. Your life is my concern. Countess Eria will be at the party tonight and it’s clear that your life means little to her ambitions. There will be lots of food, Phebian wine and a lot of sexy nobles. You need to keep your guard up like you did with Lady Sera. This time—I’ll be watching your back.”

You were pretty dry by this point and were pondering some of the facts that Akina was relaying to you. Punishing her would've definitely been a mistake, she was much more useful like this. Seems the scare that almost claimed your life was making her more attentive.

“Dress me, too.” You commanded, “The clothes I’ll be wearing to the banquet are in that chest.”

Akina gave an annoyed look, but did as she was told without complaining. Seems she did feel really bad.

“During the festivities I’ll be watching who is serving you and what it is they’re feeding you. Poison is just as effective as a blade. Sir Garret will be nearby in case the Countess wants to use a blade for some grand statement.” Akina was pretty good at dressing you, at the very least she was doing it a lot faster than you had anticipated.

“Should I just refrin from eating and drinking in general?”

“No!” Akina tightened your belt more than she needed to with that, “That will insult Claudius’ fragile ego.”

“Right, of course.” You should’ve known that but you guess Akina talking about attempted assassinations on your life was making things a little fuzzy.

“You eat, you drink, you have a good time. Sir Garret and I will handle the rest.” Akina had finished dressing you and looked you up and down in silence for a moment, “You look good, Bryce. ...A shame Clara won’t act on it even if your knob was against her pussy. Have you made your decision?”

“No.”

You still weren’t sure if you should marry Princess Clara or take Lady Victoria as your wife. Your lust for Victoria was certainly overwhelming, you even passed up bedding the barmaid on the way to Phebis just to fantasize about her while pleasuring yourself. That’s something no King should have to do, though admittedly, you did it a lot before becoming king when Lord Gilbert had you holed up learning and away from the flesh of any woman. The doubt you had about Victoria’s action didn’t help either, she was clearly just trying to fuck her way to a Queen. Princess Clara on the other hand was firmly under the dominion of her father, it was him pulling the strings. Where his intentions good or bad?

“Well...if it helps, Victoria already smells of your child, as does Marissa. I think Marissa will play it as her husbands though. Victoria does not have that luxury...yet, but it can be arranged quickly.”

“How did you know about, Countess Marissa?”

“I know many things, like how your maid masturbates while whispering your name. At least she didn’t get pregnant.” Before you could continue that conversation, Akina held out a dagger to you, “Here, take this. It may come in handy.”

Forgetting Akina’s most recent comments you nod and take the dagger, hiding well under you kingly garment as she places a replica crown on your head. After she’s done you slap her hard across the face and she hisses at you much like an angry cat would, only to stop herself in embarrassment.

“That,” you say while pointing at her, “Is your punishment for earlier. Don’t disappoint me again.”

Holding the reddening hand print on her cheek it was she could do but mutter, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

You walk out of the guest room with Akina at your side. It seems Princess Clara was already waiting for you outside, clearly puzzled as to why a beastfolk was exiting with you when you were supposed to be bathing. The Princess would be your date for the night and greeted her with your most gentleman like manners.

“D-does my dress please you, Your Majesty?” It was more of a whisper leaving Princess Clara’s mouth, and she curtsied in a lush and modest gown.

“It would please most men. Unfortunately, it wears the face of a woman who rejected me yesterday.”

You comment made Clara visibly sad. Despite he beauty, she struck as a woman who thought herself plain despite turning heads. Her discontent didn’t bother you though, you had not made the choice of marrying her yet, so there was no need to be too nice. Besides, whether she liked it or not, she would be your date for the evening.

Only thing left was to head to the feast. Or maybe you could get Clara to open up to you more with another ‘tour.’ If nothing else, this may be the time to get info out of Clara to see if her father’s intentions for marrying her to you are good.