Herald of Steel

Aside from that single distraction, the remainder of the swearing ceremony came to a swift, and eventless conclusion, with most of the people choosing to simply forget the incident.

Except for two people- Philips and Queen Parthia, who for the rest of the party could neither feel the taste of food nor the sweetness of the wine, such was their worry.

And it was a state they were made to endure for the entire night as Alexander would change the scheduled meeting with Philips from that night to the next day at the last moment because the ceremony and preceding lavish feast lasted far longer than he had anticipated.

So by the end, Alexander, after being forced to drink toast after toast made by all the various nobles, was so drunk that he could not even see properly what was in front of him, much less discuss anything with anybody.

"Master! You must punish her! Harshly! How dare that bitch does such a thing! Aghhh!"

"I too agree. Princess or not, she must be made an example out of! Or she will just keep repeating it!"

These two remarks were made by Ophenia and Gelene respectively, with the former pacing around the room restlessly like a caged lioness, her beautiful face now twisted in utmost fury, while Gelene sat on the couch, calmer than her sister but still silently grinding her teeth.

It was currently mid afternoon of the next day, and the duo were in Alexander's study.

Both of them had been present last night and thus watched with sheer terror and horror the events unfolding back there, at one point even wishing to shout to the guards to slay that unruly princess right then and there.

So to say they were disappointed seeing how soft Alexander was to Camelia would be an understatement.

The man had not even detained the woman for the night, but simply let her return to her room after the party was over, much to Ophenia and Gelene's shock.

They feared Alexander was being too soft and thus they were here, urging Alexander to not this transgression just go.

While Alexander, sitting behind the desk only smiled and listened to them.

He was waiting for Philips.

*Knock*, *Knock*

And he did not have to wait long as the CP swiftly made himself present on time, and the man was not alone.

For accompanying him was Queen Queen Parthia and the star who started all this - Camelia.

Alexander had not invited the duo but allowed them to enter anyway for he was intrigued, and noticed both the women looked noticeably different from before.

The Tibian Queen, today dressed in a simple pure white dress somehow looked even paler than last night, her face marred with a dark undertone, producing a lonely, forelore visage.

While the Princess, sporting a fashionable hat as well as a full, flowery scarf, looked equally pale and quite haggard, with deep, inky eye lines underneath her bloodshot eyes.

Clearly, she had not been offered the comfort of sleep in the last twelve to sixteen hours as both her brother and mother must have grilled her for hours on her reckless act.

Alexander also noticed the girl wore much heavier makeup than from last night, with her right cheeks appearing particularly fair.

And it took him no time to figure out why- because she was trying to hide that red handprint she had gotten from her brother last night.

The trio quickly conducted their ritual bows and then took their place on the couch that Alexander offered, as they turned to look at the man with caution and apprehension.

And then, it was the eldest of the trio, Queen Parthia who decided to open the conversation, once again pleading,

"My lord, we are extremely sorry and very ashamed of what Camelia has done. Truly!" The lady emphasized as she hung her head low.

"Hmmmp!" But this only got her this imperious snort in reply

But not from Alexander.

Instead, it was from Ophenia who was observing them from the corner of the room.

Or perhaps the better word would be glaring with fury as she found the words entirely laughable, lacking any sort of sincerity.

And if not for the fact that this was an official setting where she had no right to interject with Alexander's express permission, the girl would have had much more to say than a simple snort.

This priestess of Gaia might be tame as a sheep in Alexander, but when anyone slighted him, she could be extremely vindictive.

Thus it was with great annoyance that Ophenia silently shared the space with her sister Gelene, and heard her master speak in a gentle voice,

"It is okay. I understand children can be unruly. I'm sure this was just a one off thing."

The sincerity with which he spoke greatly smoothed Philips and Queen Parthia's hearts, while it made Ophenia and Gelene seeth in anger and frustration.

They could not believe their master was being so soft, like a lovestruck fool.

'You were not like this before, master.' Ophenia even silently shed a tear in her heart.

While the other side regaled Alexander with cheers of gratitude and promised to never allow this to happen.

"There is one last thing though." However it seemed both Ophenia and Philips were counting their chickens before they hatched for Alexander added so, before turning his head to look at the young princess and stating, "I would like to know why she did it. That is important."

"Because I'm a princess! There is no way I'm going to be a statusless concubine!" Was the instant reply, right from the horse's mouth, swift and direct, as Camelia even turned to glare at Alexander.

"...."

The sharp pitch and the ingrain imperiousness with which this was said left the room stunned, not by its impressiveness, but by the sheer incredulity of it all.

Even when Alexander was being so generous, this spoiled girl seemed totally oblivious to it all.

And by this point, Alexander even saw Philips literally slap his forehead, eschewing all the etiquette expected of a man of his status, and murmur in a low, aggrieved voice, "Why the fuck did I bring you here?"

While Queen Parthia appeared stunned.

Alexander guessed the trio must have come here with a plan to sincerely apologize to him but the princess decided not to play ball at the last second.

Towards the princess's reply, Alexander felt he could reply with a variety of responses.

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The most obvious being- she was no longer a princess.

Defeated, subjugated, and conquered, she was at best a fallen one.

But Alexander decided not to respond to this child of a girl who showed no signs of understanding the reality she was currently living in.

Instead, turning to Philips, Alexander frowned a bit as he commented, "This is a rare sight. Girls are never this disobedient."

In a patriarchal society like the current one, girls were taught from birth to revere male authority figures like their father, brother, and husband with absolute deference and without question.

"I'm sorry my lord. It is all my fault." Queen Parthia choked almost tearfully as she replied so, while Philips silently cursed his father for spoiling his youngest daughter this much.

But neither gave any solution.

Tap… Tap… Tap.

So facing this dilemma, Alexander then had this to say,

"Given the current developments, I hence find it hard to continue our previous arrangement, Philips. But I still want a member of your family to join my harem. So I wish to propose a change in the deal."

"Princess Camelia will join the temple of Gaia as a priestess, and," Alexander very nonchalantly dropped the bombshell, "Queen Parthia will be my concubine!"

"What!" No sooner had his words left the mouth that instantly, the lady in question, squeaked in both terror and alarm, literally jumping up from her couch in shock, and shouting, "Impossible! I will die before…"

"Do it mom!"

But even before Queen Parthia could finish her piece, her daughter suddenly interjected like so, and then turned to face her and shouted, "This is a great deal. You are already so old. Nobody will want you. If the pasha wants…"

"Shut up!!!! *Slap*!!!!" The lion like roar and the solid slap that cut her off from these insane words of course originated from Philips, who landed the hit once again on that right cheek and just like before created a clear second red handprint.

And then turning to Alexander, the CP quickly kneeled and in a crips voice pleaded,

"My lord, being the youngest sibling,Camelia has been spoiled rotten by my father."

"If she stays any longer with us, she will only bring shame to our family. Thus I wish to hand her over to you."

"It is said that it is a husband's duty to educate his wives. Do whatever you wish to do educate her and make her obedient. We will not interfere."

By now, Philips had given up the idea of trying to save his sister and decided to try and salvage his family.

And the only way he could see doing this was by cutting off his cancerous tumors which seemed determined to drag all of them to their death.

'What is this? Taming of the Shrew?' While Alexander smirked at the offer.

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