Press an ear to the door before you decide

When you do you hear some giggling followed by laughter. That doesn't seem sinister, and yet hear you stand, too scared to open the door to confirm. Stretching your perception into the room you feel the women slowly gathering in the middle of the room. At that point you decide you have been involved in enough royal rituals at this point and need a break.

It only as you take your first step away from the door do you remember you aren't wearing a shirt. Your leather pants had managed to stay around your lower half for the duration, and you have decided to try and keep them if possible. Your scale mail shirt however was left on the floor. You sigh and ponder the chances of you being at some point difficult to strip, or at least how long it will be before you start stashing a spare set of clothes everywhere you go.

Heading for the changing room you had been dressed in you listen for any approaching strangers. Not like it matters at this point, you are fairly sure most of the city has at some point seen you in less clothing. The memory of you going for a naked flight after you'd recovered your magic entered your mind. You should ask Delilah how they make their clothes, suddenly seems like a thing you should know.

Entering the changing room you are unable to locate another set of mail so instead opt for a light grey tunic. Now dressed you head back to the party. Maybe this time you could find Clare and Edin. On your way out of the palace your ears catch something.

"An ambassador?" It was Aurora's voice so you diverted to listen in. "Why now?"

"Could be we aren't the only kingdom being moved against." Lady Demise's voice made you hesitate slightly. Something about her being the mother of someone who increasingly hates you makes you uncomfortable.

"If that's the case it would confirm the worst case."

"I've still not received any confirm. Do you think Mary will convince him?"

The pair suddenly stopped talking and you winced thinking you'd been caught. "Ana is the safer bet. Where are those two?"

"I believe my daughter sent them off to join Mary's initiation." There was an exasperated sigh and a mirthful reply. "You were hardly restrained Rory. Besides it's it better they are keeping Christopher engaged?"

"Only so long as the correct daughter is engaged. I'll need Mary for the meeting. Have her bring Christopher."

"I will send Green right away."

"Good." There was a slight pause before a softening voice continued. "And you're right, we weren't very restrained." You can hear the sound of lips meeting and feel really awkward.

"At least you had the throne clean afterwards. Most of the time."

There was a chuckle and you started to leave, feeling like this is more intruding than you had intended. "Mother was so angry when she sat in my ..." You left earshot at that.

Aside from a bit of warning for whatever is coming next you didn't get much out of eavesdropping. Well you did also learn they it is easier to eavesdrop on the Queen and Lady Demise than you'd have expected. It is the moment you finish that thought when you turn around to see Lady Demise smiling at you.

"Sorry." You say as earnestly as you can.

"I'm sure I don't know why you are apologizing." Her eyes were smirking at you and you bit your lip in embarrassment. "However Princess Mary may wish for your company in a few days. I'm sure you wouldn't want to disappoint her, for the first time." That last bit was added softly and with a smirk. "The party is that way." She pointed down a corridor and you hurried down it.

Hanging around royals was getting complicated. The sheer amount of manipulation that was constantly going on must be exhausting for everyone involved. How Aurora manages to maintain her poise is probably a better indication of her capacity to rule than you understand. Delilah had offered some lessons in this crap, when you learn the magic clothing magic, you'll get her to give you a run down of court intrigue as well.

You push open a set of door and end up outside. It takes a second to orientate yourself but after that you make your way to where you had last seen Delilah. As you did there was a light from the outside of the Palace ground and you look up at the right moment to see a set of motley coloured scales breach the horizon. The sight attracts a lot of attention from everyone around you as gasps of surprise make those who missed it look for the reason for surprise.

A wing appears and then the Lucia's dragon follows. It was about the same size as her grand finally at the last performance you'd seen. The dragon rose until it was high enough for you to be sufficiently impressed by her much improved control. You hadn't been with her to practice for a while so you hadn't seen her progress. She's really put the work in over the last two weeks.

Her dragon drew up its head and burst. Rainbows arched out of where it had been and you could hear the applause even from here. You hoped she wasn't totally exhausted after that, you'd carried her back to her room last time and you don't know if she has anyone who can help her this time.

You feel bad for Clare and Edin. After all this time and you aren't even going to go looking for them at this point. Heading towards the palace gates you get a view of the bottom of the hill. Unlike the top the party down there was a lot rowdier. You could see people drinking very happily, dancing in groups, playing games and eating lots of food. By compassion up here seems very stuffy, which shouldn't surprise as much as it does.

Using the last position of her dragon as a guide you scan for Lucia. It takes a moment to spot her since there is no stage set up but you succeed. One of the throngs of people seemed less focused on drinking and partying and more of applauding. You give a quick look around you to make sure no one is rushing towards to to pull you into yet another gang bang, orgy situation, then head down the hill.

It's quite the trip. Every few paces down the hill someone will approach you with drink or food in hand to offer either that or themselves. Something that a cursory glace into the woods skirting the hill, confirms as a very common offer. The soldiers seemed to be remarkably successful at getting people pants off, another tradition maybe, no turning down the returning heroes. You don't engage regardless, you've satisfied enough soldiers to feel like your service has been completed.

Nearing Lucia's performance spot you are pulled aside by a familiar woman and a flood of awkwardness hits you. "Hello Delilah."

"Lord Christopher. Are you hear for Lucia or..." Delilah trails off with a suggestive lick of her lips.

"Just Lucia this time." You say with a polite smile. Delilah looks disappointed but not for long.

"She's just recovering with Lady Auria over there." She pointed you towards a small pavilion. "Do you need anything else My Lord?" The added emphasis on the last part was done by pulling at her top.

"No," you look around and see a soldier that had noted Delilah's pulled top, "however I think she does." You direct Delilah to the woman and slip away towards Lucia. When you near you linger for a moment extending your perception into it. You don't want to walk in on Lucia and her girlfriend having sex, even if said girlfriend is Auria who would be into you stumbling upon them in the throws of passion. There is no sex happening so you approach calling out, "Lucia?"

"Christopher?" She answers.

Auria appears one of the pavilions flaps and smiles at you, she is wearing a familiar motley costume, for her is mostly two triangles covering her nipples and a thong barely covering her pussy. "Hey, why are you here? Is Oriana with you?" The look of worry on her face at the mention of her sister was cute.

"No, I saw Lucia's dragon from the hill, wanted to make sure she was ok."

"Oh right." Auria stepped back and you entered seeing Lucia. She was laying on some cushions pale skin, sunken eyes, dim aura. She was exhausted alright. "I wanted to make sure you were ok."

She doesn't respond just waves at you. "She said she'll be fine soon." Auria said for her.

"Sure she will, need a hand getting her back to the academy?"

"Flight?" Lucia asked half asleep.

You raise an eyebrow at her suddenly thinking she might not be as exhausted as she seems. "Maybe another time." You look back to Auria. "Want me to help carry her?"

"Nah, I've gotten good at picking her up." Auria said happily, "Easier to eat her pussy when I hold her up." She beamed at Lucia who blinked in response. Auria suddenly seemed to have a light bulb moment and gave you a knowing look. "Oh do you wanna come with us so we can fuck?"

"Auria." Both you and Lucia said in unison the laughed together.

"So is that a yes or a no?" Auria asked earnestly.

"No." You said for Lucia. "And if you two are good to get back alone I'll leave you to your girlfriends, tend mercies." You say with a smirk at Lucia who smirks back. "Nice costume by the way."

"Thanks." Auria said, beaming with pride at helping her girlfriend's performance. "Lucia said I can wear it whenever." She tugged at the string between her tits. "Bet this would make titjobs way easier." She gave you a wink and licked her lips.

"I'm sure. Get home safe you two." You leave the pavilion and look around pondering what to do next. You could return to the palace or you could explore the lower party a bit more.