The doors to the reception room swung open, revealing Princess Griselda's arrival. She entered with a regal bearing, a train of maids and heavily armed royal guards following closely behind her. The princess moved with an inherent grace, her every step radiating an air of noble elegance.
'Ah, she's here,' Alaric thought, his ruby eyes observing her with keen interest.
Princess Griselda was indeed a sight to behold. Her figure was undeniably plump, bordering on voluptuous, with curves that seemed to accentuate her femininity in all the right places. Her slender waist cinched in her royal blue gown, flaring out into a skirt that flowed with her movements. Long, shapely legs were hinted at beneath the fabric, promising a captivating silhouette. And her face… it was truly beautiful, with delicate features, rosy lips, and eyes the color of a clear summer sky.
Alaric smiled inwardly. 'She certainly fits my tastes.' He had a penchant for women with a bit of healthy weight, their curves a testament to their vitality. Princess Griselda possessed that in abundance.
However, despite her undeniable beauty, Alaric wasn't as affected as he might have been before. His recent encounters with Lyra, Cassandra, and even the captivating Saintess Ceanna had somewhat desensitized him to mere physical attractiveness. Princess Griselda was beautiful, undoubtedly on par with them, and she carried herself with a hint of Royal Pride that added to her allure, but his heart didn't skip a beat.
Princess Griselda, for her part, was equally taken aback by the sight of the young man waiting for her. She had heard tales of Alaric Steele's exceptional handsomeness – his striking blonde hair, his piercing red eyes, his perfectly toned, muscular physique, his overall charming appearance. But seeing him in person was a different matter entirely. A wave of unexpected nervousness washed over her, and she could feel her heart pounding against her ribs, threatening to escape her plump chest.
'He's even more handsome than the rumors suggested,' Griselda thought, her cheeks flushing slightly. She took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure and the regal composure befitting a princess of the Eloriath Kingdom.
"Master Steele?" Princess Griselda asked, her voice surprisingly steady despite the turmoil within her. "I presume you are the one who bears the Royal Decree?"
Alaric stepped forward, offering her a polite bow. "Indeed, Your Highness. It is an honor to finally meet you." He produced the rolled-up parchment and presented it to her.
Princess Griselda accepted the decree, her delicate fingers tracing the royal seal. She unrolled it and read the contents carefully, her brow furrowing slightly as she scanned the familiar script of her father. After a moment, she looked up at Alaric, her sky-blue eyes filled with curiosity.
"My father… he has suddenly betrothed me to you," she stated, a hint of confusion in her voice. "May I ask… what prompted this rather… abrupt decision?"
Alaric met her gaze directly, his expression casual. "It is because I have achieved the rank of Grandmaster Mage, Your Highness. And I also played a role in the battle at the Demon Fortress… I even managed to defeat an Archdemon." He delivered this information with a nonchalant air, as if it were an everyday occurrence.
His words landed like a thunderbolt in the reception room. Princess Griselda's eyes widened in utter disbelief, and a collective gasp echoed from her entourage. A seventeen-year-old Grandmaster Mage? And he had defeated an Archdemon? It seemed utterly impossible.
'A Grandmaster Mage at such a young age… and he fought an Archdemon and survived?' Griselda thought, her mind reeling. 'His talent must be truly extraordinary.' It suddenly made sense. Only such a prodigy would be considered a worthy match for a princess of the Eloriath Kingdom, especially one as admired as herself.
Many of the princess's subordinates exchanged awed glances. They had always considered Princess Griselda to be the most beautiful and sought-after woman in the entire kingdom. Only a man of exceptional talent and power could possibly be worthy of her hand. And Alaric Steele, it seemed, was exactly that man.
Alaric, sensing their awe, pressed his advantage slightly. "So, Your Highness," he said, his gaze meeting hers with a hint of playful anticipation, "what do you say? Should we perhaps proceed with the wedding now? We could leave this troubled capital behind and seek a more peaceful life together."
Princess Griselda's cheeks flushed a deep crimson at his bold suggestion. Her heart, which had finally begun to calm down, started to race again. Marry him now? It was so sudden, so… unconventional.
"Master Steele," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper, "while I am… honored by your proposal…" She paused, gathering her thoughts. "The Royal Palace is currently facing unprecedented unrest. The people of the capital are… agitated. I believe it would be best to wait for this matter to settle down before we consider… wedding."
Alaric nodded, his expression understanding. 'Perfect,' he thought, a wave of internal delight washing over him. This was exactly the excuse he had been hoping for. Staying at the palace longer would give him ample opportunity to pursue his true objectives.
"That is perfectly understandable, Your Highness," Alaric said, his voice sincere. "The safety and stability of the kingdom must come first."
He spent a little more time conversing with Princess Griselda, exchanging pleasantries and allowing her to become more comfortable with his presence. He answered her questions about the battle at the Demon Fortress, carefully omitting certain details, of course.
Eventually, Princess Griselda, citing the need to attend to matters of state amidst the ongoing unrest, excused herself and returned to her own palace within the royal complex.
As she left, Alaric allowed a wide, satisfied smile to spread across his face. 'Excellent,' he thought, his ruby eyes gleaming with anticipation. He had come to the Royal Palace with a specific goal in mind, and it wasn't just to meet his betrothed.
His gaze drifted towards the Sunken Pearl Palace, the King Thaleon's harem. 'So many beauties confined within those walls,' he mused, a flicker of lust in his ruby eyes. 'Especially someone like the most beautiful concubine… or perhaps even the Queen herself. Subduing them, having them under my control… the thought is rather… exciting.' The chaos in the capital and the vulnerability of the Royal Family presented a unique opportunity, and Alaric Steele was never one to let a good opportunity go to waste.
Alaric knew that a direct assault on the Sunken Pearl Palace was out of the question. Even with his enhanced abilities, tangling with an Archmage, especially one whose sole purpose was protection, would be unnecessarily risky. He could clearly sense the potent magical signature emanating from the harem's location, a familiar yet powerful energy that spoke of immense arcane skill.
'An Archmage,' Alaric thought, his ruby eyes narrowing. 'Thaleon must have left one behind to guard his precious playthings. Makes sense.'
It was a logical precaution on the King's part. With the kingdom's main forces decimated, leaving the royal harem vulnerable would have been an invitation for all sorts of opportunistic threats. This Archmage was a significant obstacle to Alaric's desires.
'As long as she's there, the Queen and those delectable concubines are off-limits,' Alaric mused, a hint of frustration in his thoughts. 'I need to find a way to draw her out.'
And that's when his gaze drifted back towards the sounds of the ongoing revolt outside the palace walls. The angry shouts and the rhythmic banging against the gates, while currently ineffective, sparked an idea in Alaric's cunning mind.
'Those disgruntled citizens… they might just be useful after all,' he thought, a wicked smile forming in his mind. Until now, their efforts were nothing more than a nuisance, a venting of public anger that posed no real threat to the heavily fortified palace.
But Alaric could change that. He could turn their harmless protest into a strategic opportunity. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✶𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✶𝓷𝓮𝓽
'A little… directed chaos,' Alaric mused, his mind already formulating the details. He decided he would secretly create a breach in the palace defenses, not at the main gates where the guards were already focused, but somewhere unexpected, somewhere that would trigger a genuine alarm.
His gaze settled on the majestic structure of the Dragon's Ascent Palace, the residence of the King's male heirs. 'That seems like a suitably sensitive target,' Alaric thought. An attack on the princes would undoubtedly provoke a strong reaction.
He planned to use a carefully controlled burst of magic to blast a section of the wall near the Dragon's Ascent Palace. It wouldn't be a destructive blast, just enough to create a significant opening, an apparent vulnerability that the revolting citizens could exploit.
'Once the mob starts pouring in and attacking the princes,' Alaric reasoned, 'even the Archmage guarding the harem would have to make a move.' Her primary duty would likely extend to the safety of the royal heirs, not just the King's consorts. She would be forced to leave the Sunken Pearl Palace to deal with the immediate threat at the Dragon's Ascent Palace or perhaps even the Moonlit Blossom Palace, where the princesses resided.
'That will be my chance,' Alaric thought, his heart quickening with anticipation. As soon as he sensed the Archmage's magical signature moving away from the Sunken Pearl Palace, he would make his move.
His plan was simple: head straight for the harem under the guise of offering protection. He would gather the Queen and any beautiful concubines he could find, telling them they needed to follow him to safety. Given the sudden chaos and the absence of their primary protector, they would likely have no better option than to trust the powerful Grandmaster Mage who had suddenly appeared.
'I might even need to embellish the story a bit,' Alaric mused. 'Perhaps suggest that the Archmage has been delayed dealing with a particularly troublesome bishop from the Radiant Church who has joined the rioters.' That would explain her prolonged absence and further solidify their need to rely on him.
Once he had his hands on the royal beauties, Alaric had no intention of sticking around. With his incredible speed, enhanced by the Azure Spirit Lion's energy, he would fly far away from the Royal Palace, putting as much distance as possible between himself and the capital.
'Even an Archmage would have trouble tracking me down after that,' Alaric thought confidently. 'By the time she returns and realizes what has happened, I'll be long gone.'
Now that the rough outline of his plan was firmly established in his mind, Alaric felt a familiar surge of excitement. He was never one to hesitate once he had made up his mind. He was a bold and decisive individual, and the thrill of the challenge only fueled his determination.
As night descended upon the capital city of Eryndal, casting long shadows across the Royal Palace grounds, Alaric put his plan into motion. Under the cloak of darkness, he stealthily made his way to the vicinity of the Dragon's Ascent Palace. Ensuring no guards were nearby, he focused his magical energy.
'Time for a little… demolition,' Alaric thought, a mischievous glint in his ruby eyes.
With a silent incantation and a subtle gesture, he unleashed a focused blast of concussive force against a section of the wall near the Dragon's Ascent Palace. The impact was muffled, more of a contained implosion than a violent explosion, designed to create a significant breach without alerting the entire palace immediately. Dust and debris settled quickly, revealing a sizable hole in the once-imposing wall.
'Perfect,' Alaric thought, pleased with the result. He then cast a powerful illusionary spell upon himself, rendering him invisible and silent. He found a secluded spot nearby, hidden amongst the shadows of the palace gardens, and settled in to wait.
An hour passed slowly. The only sounds were the distant shouts of the remaining rioters outside the main gates and the occasional footsteps of patrolling guards. Then, just as Alaric had anticipated, a murmur began to spread amongst the crowd outside. Someone had discovered the breach.
The murmur quickly escalated into excited shouts and cries of triumph. The revolting citizens, emboldened by this unexpected opening, surged towards the damaged wall, their anger and frustration finally finding an outlet.
Within the Royal Palace, the discovery of the breach sent shockwaves through the guards and servants. Alarms began to sound, their shrill cries piercing the night air. Torches were lit, and frantic footsteps echoed through the corridors as the palace erupted into chaos.
'Excellent,' Alaric thought, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips beneath his illusion. 'Just as planned.'
Now was his moment. He deactivated his illusion and moved swiftly and silently towards the Sunken Pearl Palace, the King's harem. He navigated the palace corridors with ease, his senses sharp, avoiding any patrolling guards.
He slipped into the Sunken Pearl Palace unnoticed. The air within was thick with the scent of exotic perfumes and the soft rustling of silk. Beautifully adorned lanterns cast a warm, inviting glow on the luxurious surroundings.
'Time to collect my prizes,' Alaric thought, his heart quickening with anticipation. He moved through the opulent halls, his senses searching for the most alluring presences.
He soon located the Queen's chambers. Queen Margaret, he sensed, possessed a regal aura, her magical signature strong, though not at the level of an Archmage. He could also sense the presence of several other women, their energies softer but equally enticing.
He was just about to approach the Queen's door when a powerful surge of magic rippled through the palace. Alaric froze, his senses on high alert.
'That's the Archmage,' he realized, a hint of annoyance creeping into his thoughts. 'She's dealt with them already? That was fast.'
He could sense the Archmage's immense power swiftly moving towards the breach at the Dragon's Ascent Palace, her presence a beacon of arcane energy. But the speed with which she had quelled the revolt was faster than he had anticipated.
'No time for subtlety then,' Alaric thought, his plans needing immediate revision. He wouldn't have the opportunity to charm and convince each woman individually.
He made a swift decision. He located the Queen's chambers and, with a silent burst of magic, bypassed the lock. He stepped inside to find Queen Margaret, a woman with a mature and voluptuous figure, her curves still evident beneath her nightgown, her dark hair cascading around her beautiful face. Her eyes widened in surprise and fear as Alaric entered.
'Magnificent,' Alaric thought briefly, taking in her beauty.
He then moved quickly towards another chamber, sensing the most alluring presence nearby. He found himself before a room belonging to a concubine. He entered to find Josephine, a woman with a plump, curvaceous body, her skin like honey, and long, flowing auburn hair. Her startled gasp was quickly silenced as Alaric acted.
'She'll do nicely,' Alaric thought, his eyes briefly admiring her ample bosom and the enticing curve of her hips.
Knowing he had mere moments before the Archmage returned, Alaric didn't hesitate. With a flick of his wrist and a silent incantation, he cast a powerful sleeping spell on both Queen Margaret and Josephine. Their eyes fluttered closed, and they slumped into unconsciousness.
'Easy enough,' Alaric thought, a hint of triumph in his mind. These women possessed little to no magical resistance.
He quickly levitated their unconscious bodies, one on each side of him, and made his way back through the silent corridors of the Sunken Pearl Palace. He exited the harem as stealthily as he had entered, his pace quickening as he sensed the Archmage's power drawing closer.
He burst out of the Royal Palace grounds, taking to the skies with incredible speed, Queen Margaret and Josephine floating silently beside him. He didn't look back, putting as much distance as possible between himself and the capital city of Eryndal. His daring plan had been executed swiftly, albeit with a slight change of pace due to the Archmage's unexpected efficiency. But he had what he came for. And now, he was leaving.