Phebisian

Steeling yourself for what was going to be a tough conversation you enter the room without knocking and slam the door behind you. It was dark in the room. Only lit by a single candle on a nightstand by the shabby bed that was inside. There was a smell that lingered in the room that was reminiscent of the slums of the Capital back at Itheria. There was no doubt now, Count Erwin would be in an uproar to find his daughter in such conditions, it was a miracle that Victoria had not stormed to you in complaint about these lodgings either. It was something that would be remedied with her marriage to Duke Magus anyways, but all that still left one question—Where was Victoria?

The dark room was small and dank, so it should not have been much of an issue for you to find the voluptuous beauty inside, but it was then that you heard the locking of the door behind you. Turning rapidly, you finally find your quarry.

Victoria was holding a silver blade in her hand and was disheveled beyond belief. She was the kind of woman that would normally spend a lot of time on her appearance to help keep eyes on her and always wore the latest fashion of Itheria, but right now, she was terrible. Given the late hour it would have made sense to see her this disheveled if she had a night gown on and was scrambling out of bed, but no. She was in full court attire…if a riot had passed through court. Her dress was torn (in all the right places, you noticed) hair a mess, and her expression was blank. It was not what you expecting to see, and naturally, you froze.

“…The room isn’t so bad,” She spoke in a whisper to no one in particular, “It’s the place that the whorish servant girls come for a good tumble so company is frequent.”

Taking a closer look, it did seem and smell like a place that sex ran rampant. A perfect whore house. It was clear now that Duke Gregan would need a stern talking to after this. Then, you observed as Victoria eyed the blade in her hand with intent.

“Also…a good place…to hide a ****…” Now she looked at you, hatred burning in her eyes, “Bed me, seed me, and kill me…is that the plan? The one you told me you were conceiving earlier, Bryce?”

“Enough!” The shout made Victoria flinch, “I have come with good news. You are to be a duchess and your child a duke, in due time. If you would fix yourself up and play the part it would greatly benefit Itheria.”

“…Not Queen?” said Victoria, sadness saturated her voice before anger returned, “You lied to me Bryce!” She was pointing at you with the dagger as she spoke, “Phebis was just supposed to be a formality, a far off place to get your dick wet by meaningless women! Now a Phebisian is to wear a crown that was already mine! This arrangement does not benefit Itheria, it only benefits you, and this is our child. You’re a fool for not killing me!”

Victoria rushed you with the blade, but it was a lame attempt at your life. At the very least it did not have the ferocity nor skill of Lady Sera’s attempt weeks earlier. You grabbed the wrist with the blade and twisted it. Victoria dropped the blade from the pain, and you used the hold to manipulate her as you pleased, bringing her close. There were tears in her eyes, and she looked scared as you took control.

“When a king of Itheria beds you, you are to only be grateful. When that king fills you with his seed, very grateful. And when he grants you the Frostpeaks; extremely grateful. It’s certainly more than what an ungrateful count’s daughter deserves. Princess Clara awaits me on my bed in the finest lingerie, eager to please and showers me in gratitude. You await me with a blade and torn clothes. Yet you think you deserve to be queen? I think not.”

“M=My dad would never approve me wedding Duke Magus knowing it’s your child inside me, nor will the Duke accept a random courtier like me!” She was grasping at legitimate straws that you had already worked around. Her smile would disappear quickly.

“It’s quite the contrary,” You whispered into her ear. Your lips touching her soft skin, to deliver the final blow, “I have a letter from your father telling you to go through with this, and I delivered the one with Magus’ name to him personally. Which he accepted.” You pulled out the parchment from your coat pocket and very delicately shoved in between the Itherian beauty’s ample bosom. You made sure to get a good handful of them as you did, “Payment for all the times you helped empty my balls. You were a living cumdump like no other.”

With a forceful shove you push Victoria aside. There was enough weight behind the action that Victoria fell sitting on the bed, head down. The soft whimpering escaping her lips was just slightly more audible than your footfalls as you approached the door. You had hoped to fuck her one last time, but she was so utterly broken now that she didn’t even stir your loins anymore. Plus, you’d be lying to yourself if this wasn’t hurting you a little. Sarah was just a maid-peasant born to be used by her betters, but Victoria, a sex goddess among nobles in your court…she may have been a little more than a lustful tryst. Alas, it was time for the final nail in the coffin, “In the end, I suppose it’s fitting that your in the room the whorish girls lay.”

[You break up with your lover, Victoria.]

[Victoria and Clara have become rivals.]

You close the door.

You take one step away from the door before you here a scream and a thud. You take a quick look back, genuinely concerned for Victoria, until you see what you believe to be the tip of a blade piercing the door. Perhaps you really were a fool for not killing Victoria, but it was also proven that she was not fool enough to commit regicide either. It would certainly explain her lackluster attempt on your life if she was capable of piercing that oak with such an impractical blade. You continue your walk down the corridor in the direction you thought you came. The agonizing screams from Victoria’s room were echoing behind you and you could hear the curses spat at Clara, who was nowhere near this side of the palace. As they faded into the darkness you became alone again, but it wasn’t long before a certain feline walked beside you. Seemingly out of nowhere.

“Such a heart breaker,” Akina immediately rubbed salt in the wounds, “Yet something tells me that didn’t exactly go as planned. There was far too much **** that was far too close to you for your usual schemes. You **** last minute?”

“I don’t want to talk about it. It’s done, and now you and Vessa can rest easy.”

“Oh, I seriously doubt that,” Akina’s whole figure was disbelief, “Even if you swore an oath of celibacy in front of me there would still be those that lurk in shadows. Figures you don’t see, thanks to me. Demons among men that thirst for the wine in your blood and the riches your crown promises. Your parents worked hard to make sure your succession would be smooth. One heir, everyone around him trustworthy.”

“And I haven’t?!” You stop along your journey and turn to the slim catfolk assassin. Akina stopped with you, looking entirely unimpressed by the outburst, “I’ve barely slept a wink since I’ve become king, trying to make that same reality for mine! I’ve made errors, sure! I’ve even felt the jester of the gods with some of the hands they’ve dealt me! But make no mistake—I work tirelessly for the same. I can’t be the saint my father was who only had eyes for my mother. So I’ll just have to mend those mistakes as I go.”

You continued your walk to your bedroom. Akina followed suit. She was thinking to herself that you were missing the point because you didn't let her finish. Something you said did catch her ears though.

“I’ve never known any Man to have eyes for only one woman.”

“My father did.” You say confidently.

“Hmm. Perhaps its just naivety that’s your issue. That’s cute though. It’ll always keep you sort of young.”

“I will not tolerate you mocking me.”

Akina sighed, “I’m sorry, Bryce. It’s just…in some of those dark places I told you I lurk, there’s writing on the walls. The words tell stories that often conflict with what many tell me is reality. Keeps me doubting illusions like truth. But forget about all that, are you absolutely sure you want to marry Clara?”

Why was she suddenly questioning that now? She knew the plan. Shooting a quick glance her way didn’t reveal any jealousy or **** to follow your orders. Maybe it was just her way of confirming if all this effort was worth it.

“Yes.” You reply.

Akina simply nodded. Before you knew it, the both of you were at the door of your bedchamber, with the usual duo of guards standing out front. It was a measure you were going to maintain being in Phebis, too many crazy things had happened since arriving to sleep comfortably without knowing they were there.

You dismissed Akina and headed inside. Normally there was a Princess inside, but you had escorted the tipsy princess back to her room to free yourself of the distraction while you handled Victoria. It was no matter though. Clara would be happy to hear the news of tonight’s breakup in the morning. It brought you joy somehow, knowing that it would make Clara happy. So you perform your usual nightly rituals before taking off your clothes to go to sleep. Tomorrow would be long, just like everyday since leaving Itheria. Despite that, it will be an easier day than all the others that came before it.

You fade off into sleep. You dream of home, and Countess Marissa entering your bed.