“I followed her here! I know she is here! Why the fuck are you lying to my face?” A woman’s voice booms in George’s shop lounge. “Do you have a death wish or something?”In the back room, Bree, Sasha, Naomi, and I stare at each other in silence. Even though I strain to hear, the deep, bass notes of George's voice fail to penetrate the door, drowned out by the high-pitched shrillness of the woman's boisterous rant.Frozen like statues, we wait for her to leave. But instead, her voice gets louder. “Fucking shit! I need to see her! Is that so hard for you to understand, you idiot?”The widow steps closer and taps my shoulder. “David, I think I recognize that voice. It sounds familiar.”Bree draws closer, her voice laced with caution. "Do you know who she is, Naomi?"The widow's gaze turns distant. "There was a time when I encountered a girl with a voice as fiery as the sun. She went by the name of Alex. But I haven’t seen her since way before I married."To further solidify the certaint
[Daddy, are you sure you’re ready for this?]I’ve had enough nonsense to last me a lifetime. Bree, Naomi, and Sasha are all in agreement that we need to find another way into the palace. I'm just so sick and tired of all this never-ending nonsense! Turning myself in is the easiest way to get inside.They want me? Fine. They can have me. [...]The King’s palace is an impressive edifice: lofty towers, robust battlements, and heads on spikes. Next one might be mine, especially since I have no extra life. Fuck! Maybe I should have taken an extra life instead of more Harem Hideout Points.As I approach the palace guards, the tension and absurdity of the situation mixes within me. The guards eye me suspiciously, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords."Halt! State your name and business!" one of the guards barks.I stop in front of them, attempting to maintain an air of nonchalance despite the nerves prickling at the back of my mind. Unaware of my true identity, the pair of unsus
I spent five long days or so rotting away in this godforsaken dungeon, surrounded by damp walls and an orchestra of squealing rats. The only visitors I've had are the foul stench of stale bread and a bowl of broth that looks and tastes like it's been strained through a dirty sock. Let's just say the culinary delights of the palace aren't exactly Michelin-star-worthy.But today, something's different. The clanging of armored boots echoes through the stone corridors, growing louder and louder until it stops right outside my cell. As he opens the door, the light coming from his torch blinds me.I have to blink several times until my gaze focuses on a guard with a perpetually scowling face, keys jangling on his belt."Get up, prisoner," he grumbles, his voice as welcoming as a swarm of hornets.With a slow motion, I push myself up from the cold, damp floor, my stiff joints protesting after being deprived of movement for so long."Finally, some excitement!" I say, feigning enthusiasm. "Wha
“Darling!” Kaya takes Prince Theodore’s hand. “It is time for you to announce to everyone what we discussed this morning. Remember?”She then waves toward the executioner to lower his ax and take a step back. As the hooded man lets me go, a sigh of relief escapes me. My week’s worth of stubble had almost become one with the wood. Prince Theodore steps forward while I struggle to push myself up from the damned log, my legs weak from days spent confined in the dungeon. Balancing on wobbly feet, I steady myself, my eyes fixed on the prince.He looks every bit the royal heir, his princely attire immaculate, his hair perfectly coiffed. Addressing the crowd, Prince Theodore clears his throat, his voice carrying a hint of unease. "Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, today marks a significant turning point in my life... and in the future of our kingdom."Whispers ripple through the crowd, curiosity and confusion etched on their faces. Prince Theodore continues, his voice growing stronger
The grand hall remains steeped in a charged silence, like the calm before a tempest. The weight of the recent revelations hangs heavily in the air, threatening to unleash a storm of uncertainty and conflict upon the kingdom. I stand at the center of it all, keenly aware of the growing tension surrounding me.The crowd begins to stir, whispers of disbelief and skepticism swelling like a rising tide. As the news of Prince Theodore's abdication spreads through the hall, murmurs and gasps can be heard among the assembled courtiers. Some of the more impudent nobles have already begun to voice their doubts about my legitimacy, but I am prepared to prove them wrong. Among them, influential nobles step forward, their expressions hardened and their eyes fixed upon me with disdain.Lord Harrington, a man known for his cunning and manipulative ways voices their concerns, his voice dripping with scorn. "This is an outrage! How can we allow a mere blacksmith to assume the mantle of leadership? It
All eyes remain fixed on Alex, her sword lowered and dripping with Lord Avery’s blood. The silence lingers, pregnant with the weight of the decision that hangs in the balance. Princess Kaya and I exchange glances. This reminds me that I haven’t ever seen her without her redheaded companion. But Leah is not around. I wonder what happened between the two. Suddenly the puzzle pieces start to fall into place. Memories of Alex's interactions with Naomi flash through my mind—the lingering glances, the subtle touches, the way they stood close at the table at George’s shop. Maybe I'm not just imagining things. It was way more than friendship or sisterly affection. They had a fallout, probably because Alex wanted more. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but it’s worth a shot.I meet Alex's gaze. “Mark would have been proud for his sister to take his place in the royal guard,” I say, attempting to inject some levity into the situation. “Also, Naomi would be here too and you two would meet
“You?” Kaya asks with a raised eyebrow before letting out a chuckle. “Didn’t take you long to step into your new role I see…”Alex — dressed in the resplendent armor of the royal guard —- steps forward, her gaze unwavering, and her voice resolute. "Princess, since I have accepted the offer, I am here to fulfill my duties as a member of the palace guard. But first I have to have a talk with David, or Wrenn, or whatever his name is…" She turns to me. “While we were handling Lord Avery back at his mansion, Bree told me about Naomi. That she's a member of your... harem… Is it true?”Kaya's eyes dart between Alex and me. "David? Harem? I don't understand... What have you been up to behind my back?"I rise from the bed. "Kaya, I planned to tell you when I’d have the time."As I look at her, I realize the princess can’t possibly comprehend my needs, even if she’s going to be my wife and the surrogate mother of my child — or Wrenn’s child, or whatever. Not like Bree or Naomi… The thought of
Kaya, Alex, and I turn our attention to the window. Who could possibly be knocking on the window of this top floor chamber this late at night? I think it’s midnight or something.With caution, I approach the window, my hand hovering over the latch. Alex and Kaya stand close behind me. Taking a deep breath, I slide open the window, revealing the familiar face of Bree peering in as she clings to the outer ledge. My breath catches in my throat at the audacity of her position, knowing that one wrong move could result in a fatal fall."Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Bree says playfully, her eyes scanning the room. "Looks like I stumbled upon an intriguing gathering."I lean closer to the window, my voice laced with both surprise and amusement. "Bree, what are you doing here? And how did you manage to find us on this top floor?"Bree shrugs. "Oh, you know me, always finding my way to where the action is. And as for why I'm here, well, let's just say I couldn't resist the allure of