Chapter 414: Bath Time
The royal carriage rolled steadily through the towering gates of the Violet Palace as massive iron doors slowly swung shut behind it with a deep metallic rumble. Damian quietly watched through the window, his eyes taking in everything beyond the palace walls.
The estate was enormous. Calling it a palace no longer seemed appropriate.
It was an entire city.
Wide stone roads stretched in every direction, connecting magnificent buildings crafted from polished black stone and violet marble. Towering spires pierced the heavens while elegant bridges linked upper floors between distant structures.
Everywhere he looked, palace servants hurried about carrying scrolls, baskets and trays while soldiers in matching black and violet armor patrolled every street.
Officials dressed in elaborate robes moved briskly through courtyards discussing matters of state while palace maids carefully tended vibrant flower gardens surrounding elaborate fountains.
Entire districts appeared dedicated to different purposes. Some buildings clearly housed government officials while others resembled military barracks, libraries, archives and academies.
The Violet Palace wasn’t merely the Prince’s residence. It was the beating heart of Velmora itself.
"The Royal Court will convene in two hours," Amon calmly reminded him. "Please allow your Grand Chamberlain to manage Your Majesty’s schedule without resistance."
Before Damian could respond...
Clank.
The carriage door opened.
Waiting outside stood an elderly green skinned demon wearing an immaculate black eighteenth century suit tailored so perfectly it looked as though it had been stitched directly onto his body. His neatly combed silver hair contrasted sharply with his thick goatee while a pair of polished spectacles rested comfortably upon his nose.
Tucked firmly beneath one arm was an enormous leather bound book so thick it looked capable of crushing an ordinary person beneath its weight.
Damian blinked. Something about this entire place continued confusing him.
His attendants dressed like elegant noblewomen from ancient India. His Minister of War resembled a scholar from imperial China. Now his Grand Chamberlain looked as though he had walked directly out of eighteenth century Britain.
The mixture of cultures was so bizarre that it genuinely made his head hurt.
Rah stepped out first and Damian followed immediately afterward. The royal carriage quietly pulled away the moment both of them had fully exited.
The elderly demon bowed deeply.
"My Lord, I am William. Your Grand Chamberlain." He said respectfully.
Damian merely sighed. He walked past the old demon without saying anything. Every passing minute strengthened the growing suspicion that returning to Earth would have been infinitely simpler.
Life there had certainly involved danger. But no one scheduled his day by the hour or dictated where or what he could eat.
William calmly fell into step several paces behind him. His voice remained measured and professional.
"Your bath has already been prepared."
He gently gestured toward six waiting palace attendants.
All of them were beautiful succubi dressed in elegant silk garments that exposed far more skin than Damian believed any official palace uniform reasonably should.
The six women bowed gracefully.
"Your Majesty, Your bath awaits." they greeted together.
Several of them couldn’t help letting out soft playful giggles while stealing curious glances toward him.
Rah immediately frowned.
Without saying anything, she instinctively wrapped both arms more tightly around Damian’s.
Damian silently looked away. He could practically feel blood rushing toward his face.
Fortunately, the strange emotional numbness lingering within him allowed him to suppress the embarrassment before it became obvious.
Instead he turned toward William.
"Where are my girls?"
William adjusted his spectacles.
"Your wives and concubine currently have duties assigned throughout the palace. They shall rejoin Your Majesty once today’s obligations have concluded."
His answer remained perfectly matter of fact.
Damian slowly closed his eyes.
"So...They’re busy? "
William nodded.
"As is Your Majesty."
Damian stared toward the distant palace buildings before speaking again.
"Can’t I just make a clone and have it do all this?"
William actually considered the question seriously.
"In the future... Yes. But for now... Your subjects have waited ten years to witness their Prince’s return. They must see you not a clone."
He slowly shook his head.
Damian felt Rah slowly loosen her grip around his arm. She gently rested one hand upon his chest before smiling reassuringly.
"It’s alright. We all knew you’d be this busy during the first month or two. After everything settles down, We’ll have all the time we need."
Her fingers softly brushed against his robe and Damian quietly looked at her briefly before nodding.
Rah left while the group continued deeper into the palace. They ascended one grand staircase after another while servants respectfully stepped aside the moment they appeared.
Damian eventually glanced backward.
"William."
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"Who are you loyal to?"
The elderly Chamberlain looked genuinely surprised by the question. Then he smiled faintly.
"To the Prince."
His answer came without hesitation.
"My family has served the Princes of Lust for generations and we have remained loyal to the Crown through every generation. Our loyalty has never once wavered."
Damian silently studied the old man’s expression. There wasn’t the slightest trace of hesitation.
Puff!
A cloud of violet smoke blossomed beside him.
Rin casually appeared mid stride before continuing to walk alongside Damian as though he had always been there.
None of the attendants reacted Apparently a Prince’s familiar appearing from nowhere had become completely normal within palace life.
"He’s telling the truth," Rin said. "The Grand Chamberlain is the only person inside this palace whose loyalty belongs solely to the Prince."
His tails lazily swayed behind him.
"Even your attendants. They all come from the noble families serving your wives. The palace guards are no different. You have nothing to fear inside these walls. Your enemies are outside."
Damian slowly nodded. The image of Amon’s calm owl face immediately resurfaced within his thoughts and his expression subtly darkened.
"If I may, Sire..."
William suddenly spoke.
Both Damian and Rin turned toward him.
"You may?" Damian replied, his uncertain tone making several attendants quietly giggle among themselves.
William politely ignored them.
"Upon receiving news of Your Majesty’s recovery ten years ago..."
He gently lifted the enormous leather bound book resting beneath his arm.
"I began compiling this. It contains every major noble family in Velmora and every faction currently competing for influence within Velmora."
"I believe once Your Majesty fully understands your realm, you’ll know exactly how to reshape the Royal Court and replace those whose loyalty is... questionable."
Damian blinked. Slowly he turned toward Rin.
"Are all Grand Chamberlains this amazing?"
Rin immediately burst into laughter and the attendants joined him.
"Just ours."
Even William couldn’t completely suppress the tiny smile forming beneath his mustache.
Several minutes later, massive obsidian doors slowly opened before them.Warm fragrant steam immediately rolled into the hallway.
Damian stepped inside and stopped. The bathhouse resembled something reserved for royalty.
A gigantic pool of crystal clear water occupied the center of the chamber while fresh steaming water continuously poured into it from an enormous fox sculpture carved directly into the far wall. The fox’s open mouth acted as a fountain, filling the bath with a constant stream of naturally heated spring water.
Thousands of delicate pink petals floated peacefully across the shimmering surface, filling the room with an elegant floral fragrance.
Golden pots rested neatly beside the pool. Some contained warm milk, others fragrant oils, rare herbs, perfumes and more flower petals.
Several palace attendants stood waiting quietly nearby with enormous towels folded neatly across their arms.
Rin slowly grinned, then looked toward Damian with unmistakable mischief dancing within his violet eyes.
"Welcome to the best part of being a Prince."
He chuckled.
"Trust me."