He decides to head back home

Casimir bows to Catherine.

"With your leave, Your Majesty, may I return to Sarmata?"

Catherine gave a nod of her head. "Yes. Do not hesitate to contact me if matters become more dire at home."

Casimir gulped quietly, unsure if the Queen was subtly threatening him or not. "I will keep that in mind, Your Majesty." It took every ounce of self-control Casimir had to not dash out of the throne room. When he left a seemingly disembodied voice spoke.

"He's an interesting one." In a blaze of purple-black flame, an adonis of a young man appeared at Catherine's side. He had shoulder length black hair, was clean-shaven, icy blue eyes that matched Catherine, with a lean, but well muscled physique, shown off by the stylish but form fitting nobleman's clothes he wore.

Catherine gave a genuine smile at the presence of her favorite son. "Piotr, you're back early. I take it your negotiations with the Duke of Nuras went well?"

"Yes, though I did have to improvise a bit." He waved a hand, causing a a beautiful chair to suddenly appear. He continued to speal as he sat down. "Apparently he is one of those types that believes every bit of gossip he's told. He got the wild idea in his head that my mother is some manner of witch."

That caused Catherine to chuckle. "Really now?"

"Oh indeed. Normally I would be most..put out at someone insulting my beloved mother like that, but I remembered what you taught me. There's always more than one way to achieve your goals. His young wife proved much more receptive to your offers of alliance."

Catherine grinned with devilish pride. "I imagine she wanted you from the moment she saw you."

"Negotiating with her was very, very satisfying," Piotr said, matching his mother's grin with one of his own. "She's agreed to arrange an "accident" for her fool husband. When she becomes Duchess, and a respectable amount of time has passed, she will "suddenly" receive a necessary offer of alliance from the generous Kingdom of Zelassia."

"She sounds like a woman after my own heart. We should get along famously." Catherine's countenance took on a more serious tone. "Piotr, I have a new task for you."

"Oh? Does it involve the young prince who has caught your interest?"

"It does indeed," Catherine confirmed.

"May I ask a potentially indelicate question, Mother?" Piotr asked respectfully.

"Of course. There are few whose words I value more," she said honestly. Most of her children, while loyal, couldn't be trusted with important secrets or proper etiquette. As a result Piotr held a special place of affection in her dark heart.

"Is there a chance the young prince may be your son? If I am not mistaken you and his father had a tryst or two when you were younger."

It was a valid question. She had indeed seduced and made Casimir's father her secret, willing sex slave for some time. "I had no children by Branislav. While handsome, he did not have the right balance of strength and intellect I look for in potential consorts. His seduction was done merely to establish a foothold within Sarmata's royal family." Catherine was very picky about which men she allowed to beget a child upon her. Only those men with the finest qualities were worthy of impregnating her.

"I see. It's been some time since you last took a consort. You believe the young prince has the traits his father lacked," Piotr ventured.

"I do. I will have him. However, I am a patient woman. Making him submit will be more satisfying than it would be if he had just succumbed on the spot. His devotion to his bride is strong, which leads me to your task, Piotr," Catherine explained. "I want you to seduce Princess Velimira. I want you to show her the decadent pleasures a man of your talents can give her."

"A pleasant task indeed, Mother. How far am I to take it?"

"As far as she allows. It would please me greatly indeed if I were to learn she willingly allows you to impregnate her," Catherine said with a smirk.

Piotr grinned wickedly at the thought. "You spoil me, Mother."

Catherine chuckled, bringing a hand up to caress her son's cheek. "You always do me proud. I am happy to do so."