The princess knows how to motivate you

As the catgirls are no longer a secret you decide that today might as well be the day for average city folk to get their first look at them. Besides, hiring enough carriages would take forever and carriage drivers are the biggest gossips in town apart from the nobles. Speaking of which, you'll still have a chance to surprise them - the ones in the palace won't know about this until after you've arrived and the ones arriving from out of town won't talk to anyone local while making a beeline for the seat of power.

You ride with Lessia at her insistence. Through the curtains of her slow moving carriage you can see people stopping in the street and gawking as your parade of freshly clothed catgirls swarm by. It seems to be going reasonably well - the close proximity of Lessia's guards and her carriage with its royal crest ensuring that people take a more positive view of these strange and beautiful women than they otherwise might.

It's so distracting that you don't notice the building nervousness inside the carriage until you catch a tail flicking back and forth, rapidly twitching in a way that indicates either annoyance or anxiety. Bethany is trying to sit still, Lessia is wringing her hands and trying not to look at you.

"You've got to," says Bethany. It's so quiet you barely hear her, but she sounds determined.

Lessia tenses up even further and looks fearfully into your eyes for a moment. Then she seems to focus on your mouth or perhaps your neck while she starts to speak. "Mmm Master John..." she sucks in a breath and steadies herself. "Have you ever thought on the matter of your succession?"

Some part of you wants to toy with her, but she's so nervous that you decide not to. You need Lessia back in form by the time you reach the palace. "I would guess that you have given some thought to yours."

She blushes and looks up again for a moment.

"Let me guess - once Davris claims the throne you're worried about whom he might owe favors. Who might have aided him in exchange for a close tie to the royal bloodline?"

Suddenly the words tumble out. "Yes, and worse than that my father gave my sisters Cerralla, Yandelle and I the right to choose. The right! He knew how much our mother feared and suffered, how only after he stayed by her side through a long fever did she stop worrying at what kind of a man he really was. She convinced him before she died and he promised we could choose... and now it might all disappear like a puff of smoke."

"Do the princes know? Did your father tell anyone?"

"Yes, yes. Davris knows. Maran was too young. My father also told the royal chamberlain, the chancellor and the three most senior members of the council. But..."

"I see. Davris might have reason to keep quiet. The royal chamberlain was exiled after that ruinous 'summer festival' that people called the bribery parade..."

"The three most senior councilors are all driven by gold and shrewd as demons..." she says through gritted teeth.

"And the chancellor, of all things, managed to drown just two weeks ago."

Bethany perks up and says, "Yes, in his bathtub. They say it was really his heart. Everyone would think foul play..."

You sigh and finish the train of thought, "Except that the three prostitutes, five loyal servants and two guards all swore it was an accident. So no one knows about your special privilege who can't be bought, particularly if the people in question can gain handsomely from three unwed royal daughters."

She nods and takes your hands, starting to tremble. "I need people to know - somehow. It's not just for me. Yandelle has friends among the powerful merchant families, she might be alright, but it would crush Cerralla. Like caging a wild bird. And that would still be the better option considering what else might happen."

"For my part I'd worry almost as much about whoever got caged with her. From what little I've seen Cerralla is rather handy with daggers."

"Whatever she does she would still be lost. By every right it should be her crown. I know Davris didn't do anything to my father, but he's moved so quickly to take advantage of the situation. If Cerralla is pushed she will push back. She would marry a powerful duke, claim the throne by blood..."

"A civil war. Doesn't Davris realize what he's risking?"

"I saw it in his eyes. As soon as father started to falter I saw the avarice come to the fore, burning bright. He's always been second in line but he hid so well the fact that second wasn't good enough for him."

"I will have to think about it."

She recoils a little, looking stunned. "Am I not good enough?!?"

"No, no," you laugh, "I will have to think of a way to prove you and your sister's rights. Or find some way to loosen his grip on power long enough for Cerralla to return."

"Oh." There's a long pause. "And what of myself?"

You take a closer look at Lessia. She's trying to look less tense now that you've promised to help, but her muscles are still tight in all the wrong places. There's even a sheen in the corners of her beautiful blue eyes. It's hard to see in the dim light but you know she's on the verge of bawling.

"Surely if I do help then you'll have the chance to marry as you see fit. You must have a few young noblemen with well turned legs interested in you. Are you suggesting that you and I...?"

"Yes! Yes, I mean you and I. John, I'm asking you to marry me. I want a man who isn't the king's monster, but whom others fear. A man who thinks of those who cannot help themselves. Who does good." She says that last while taking Bethany's hand.

You adjust your collar as though you're a little uncomfortable. "You, um, know that I am... involved with Doe. And Renee, and -"

"Yes! Yes!" she says, laughing and crying at once. "That only makes it more perfect. You see I, uhm..." She finally just grabs a rather surprised Bethany and gives her a good, long kiss. The way your shy catgirl reacts there is no way that this is their first kiss. When they part she looks at you and with her secret revealed seems to recover some of her dignity and poise. "Let us say that I appreciate your living arrangement."

It's a surprise to hear what was almost a sultry tone coming from such a shy girl, but there's no denying what it's doing to your manhood. You had thought that your catgirls had deadened you to human women, but Lessia has found a way to stoke that fire.

"I know that I," she takes Bethany's hand, "or rather we, would have to discuss the matter with your other wives. I want to know that if you wish it, then I will ask if they wish it."

You think about how the girls reacted to Lessia today and you suspect you could give their answer right now. But a princess begging them for the chance to join the family? Far to precious a moment to miss. And the act will only cement the bond between her and them.

"What about you?" you ask Bethany.

"I don't know how much I like men, but with you? The man that saved me, the man my princess speaks so highly of? I would like to try and see whether you could be the one." He deep green eyes latch onto yours as if she's trying to read your soul.

"Even if you don't find men to your taste I could always use the help in keeping my other wives happy."

"Oh..." she says, suddenly looking a little distant. Then she snaps back to the moment and eagerly adds "Yes, I think I could help."

Obviously the idea of servicing your other wives never crossed her mind, but now that it has she's almost bouncing with excitement. Both of them look so happy. They even start holding hands and grinning stupidly at each other like any pair of young lovers would. It's funny - you know Bethany is just 18 years old. She acts so grown up most of the time that it's hard to remember that. Only in moments of pure joy like this one does she look as young as she is.

You give Lessia a warm smile and tell her "I would love to. A wife who is intelligent, gorgeous and even a princess? A fantastic woman who actually appreciates my bevvy of catgirl bedmates? I couldn't ask for more. And even better I think I've felt a strong connection since we shared that night in the observatory." To really seal the deal you take her hand, gently tug her silk glove off and kiss the bare back of her hand.

Lessia sniffles and tries to stop crying. She's smiling from ear to ear. "Yes, we've got to spend more time there. I want to show Bethany, show all of them the stars." She takes off her other glove and touches her fingers to the spot where you kissed her hand, almost as if she's savoring it. Bethany's head is pressed to Lessia's shoulder and she's purring loudly enough you can hear it over the sound of the moving carriage.

It's a shame you have to break it up by saying "looks like we're almost there."

"Oh no! I've been crying. Quick, Bethany, help me."

With that it seems like time speeds up. Before you know it you, the princess, her entourage and your many catgirls are all inside the palace grounds. Then you're all busily setting up in the so called ambassadorial wing, the princess directing servants, catgirls and even guards in every direction like she's preparing an army for war. You suspect half of them are jumping to it out of sheer surprise. Most have probably never heard Lessia speak above a whisper.

When she notices you she tells you to round up your chosen girls. "Get out there and make some friends," she says, giving each of your catgirls a kiss on each cheek for luck. That wouldn't be proper for her to do with a man, but for you she has something else. A small silver pin. It's an old token of favor, rarely used these days - but to the older nobles it will speak volumes. You can almost guarantee that princess Lessia's pin hasn't been seen in at least a decade. That will draw more interest than if you had walked in wearing a bright pink robe and a flaming crown.

Now you just have to convince a country worth of nobles to look favorably on an unheard of race, slow or stop Davris' plans while at all times appearing to be his faithful servant - despite him possessing a magic nullifying artifact, maintain your position against any of your rivals (if you fail to do so they will know something's up) and, on top of it all, somehow keep thirty three catgirls - no, wait, thirty four counting Bethany - with varying degrees of social training and curiosity from causing the wrong kind of scene. Easy!