With a truth and a lie

Liandra returned to the king´s presence, who was in good moods while chatting with his squire. He was very handsome, Liandra thought, and very courtly. Their conversation died as soon as she entered the room.

"Yes my daughter?" The king asked her, his jolly good mood unaffected. Perhaps, Liandra though, father had too much drink and that is why everything she was doing here was necessary.

"I forgot, sorry... I meant to give you this" She took the ring out of her hand, already sorry for the sacrifice she would have to make to save kendra.

"It is elegant, but I don't think anything that fits your finger will also fit mine" He found it very funny, and the squire did the same. Kavin, she remembered his name.

"It is a magic ring, papa... It allows you to know truth from lies" She handed it to him

"I don't know if I approve you wearing one of these, Liandra darling. These items are always cursed, for the ancient twin goddesses of magic, Liandra and Rinalda, were also the goddesses of sexual bliss." He examined the ring, but made no move to place it in his hand. Liandra had to give him reason.

"I know it is cursed papa, I just though it was more important for a ruler to know when someone was lying, when I bought it."

"So you already know what is its curse? I meant to ask the Royal Magician divine it in the morning." The King held the ring in a fist then.

"It makes you have... very naughty thoughts when you are eating. Ah, it makes you very excited, that is what I mean" Liandra was thinking about her picnic with Kendra earlier that day, and her cheeks grew scarlet. The King recognized it for what it is, and put the ring on his hand

"Liandra. Are you my daughter?" She was confused, but answered yes. "Are you a fish?" The princess though perhaps her father had gone mad, and then answered no "Are you a virgin?" Realization dawned her... he was testing the ring, and began making questions he wanted answered.

"I swear to you father, my virginity is as intact as on the day I was born" Liandra felt proud on her turn of phrase, but her father wasn't satisfied.

"Did you feel the effect of this ring´s curse?" Her father sounded very stern, but less angry now that he knew his daughter was still a virgin.

"Yes... I kissed a noble, and we touched each other... intimately. But the ring fell from my hand before we went any further." This appears to make him less angry, but he still wasn't satisfied. There was blood to be had, if one of his subjects tried to seduce his beautiful, pure daughter.

"Who was it?" he asked, but she answered "I rather not say, papa. We are friends" He sighed,and relented to his daughter´s wishes. It was enough that she was still pure, he didn't need to be so vindictive. Liandra noted with satisfaction he didn't take the ring from his hand. She took the chance to leave.

"What do you think of my daughter?" he asked his squire when Liandra reached the door. She paused shortly after stepping out, wondering what the handsome man had to say about her. "That she is very beautiful, but also kind and honorable" he said, he wouldn't share his thoughts freely with a father he just saw was very protective. But he was surprised by the king´s words "liar. you think all women are the same, a princess is just as good of a tumble as a milkmaid." The conversation was going from there to worse, so should perhaps Liandra leave? or go find Kendra? Liandra mildly feared facing her friend again without the auspice of the cursed item, being **** to find out how much of her feelings were her own, and how much were influenced by the magical ring.