Novel Bin Chapter 43: Meeting The Princess
"Wow! You look like a show-off!" Ryuji said with a huge smile on his face.
"Aww, you\'re so cute," Alan said, placing his hand on his chin as he approached Ryuji and stroked his face. "It\'s such a shame I can\'t have you wear the same flashy suit, though I must admit, you still look great in that. My little niece should find you quite appealing."
"Niece, you mean the princess?"
"Ah, isn\'t it amusing? Few know, but my big brother is actually the king! Haha."
"Wait, then how come Qwass speaks down to you?" Ryuji asked.
Alan let out a sigh. "I used to spend my time travelling across the land, and when I came back, we gave me the title and claimed I\'m a distant relative. My brother knows I hate being put against him. Others would seek to use me to overthrow him, and you know what people are like."
"Wouldn\'t the king\'s daughter be a problem if you wanted to rule the kingdom?" Ryuji asked.
"Again, I can\'t really rule, so it\'s not an issue for me," Alan said as he pulled Ryuji close and slapped his shoulder. "Now, let\'s go see the little witch. She might be snappy, but don\'t let her fool you."
\'I hope Yumiko is doing alright...\'
***
Walking through the palace, Alan and Ryuji approached a large wooden door with a handful of guards guarding the entrance.
"Duke!" one guard shouted as they all lined up in front of Alan and bowed.
"Sigh. Stop that... ugh, just open the door for me," Alan said.
One guard stood forward and knocked on the door, opening it once Alan and Ryuji walked up to it.
However, they stopped the tall and muscular Ryuji and patted him down as if looking for weapons. Ryuji knew to remain calm because Alan had taught him, and he didn\'t mind it was just like the airport because he looked menacing and his family name.
"What\'s this...?"
It seemed one of the female guards accidentally grasped his member.
Her eyes widened for a moment before looking up at Ryuji, "Apologies, Tyrant."
"No, no, it\'s fine!" Ryuji said. "Haha."
"My, aren\'t you a lucky woman?" Alan said with a smug grin.
"Duke!"
The head guard seemed to scold the female knight and Alan before opening the door into a wonderland.
Ryuji felt amazed the moment they stepped into the princess\'s royal bedroom. He couldn\'t help but stare at the beautiful flowers and vibrant colours that filled the room with life and energy. It was so well decorated that he couldn\'t help but feel in awe.
Several maids rushed around, with one who wore a strange version of the outfit similar to Yumiko with armour added. She quickly looked at Ryuji and then at Alan before walking up to him with a flat face.
"Duke Alan, the princess has been waiting so long!" she said. "Please do not keep her waiting!"
"Ahh, of course! How could I have kept our precious little witch waiting?" Alan said, quickly passing through the white doors onto a grand terrace and sitting down on one of the nearby seats.
The maid knight looked at Ryuji, then spoke. "Please do not cause trouble, Sir Chosen. The princess is not your enemy."
Ryuji felt taken aback for a moment, assuming that she had been one of the few who understood his situation. "I understand."
\'I want to trust her, but I need to see her first before anything else.\'
With that, the maid knight held out her hand and guided Ryuji to Alan. She had him stand behind a curtain.
"Hey, where\'s that handmaid of yours, Lia?" Alan asked a question to the beautiful woman sitting across from him.
The princess with long, flowing crimson hair full of volume and body swayed behind her seat as she stared forward with piercing blue eyes.
Her presence commanded respect, awe and admiration while she crossed her legs, her soft, thick thighs squashed together, creating an erotic sight. With arms folded, making her deadly assets into something that could instantly kill the normal boy of Ryuji\'s age.
"You are late, Alan," she said in a charming, melodic voice.
Alan scoffed. "Oh please, dear niece. We both know I would never be late to meet someone as beautiful as you."
"Hogwash, you know I only wish to see the man able to make Lord Qwass almost cry!" she said with a sudden outburst of emotion as she leaned forward in her chair. Ryuji noticed her aura change from one of an alluring succubus into a deadly viper, ready to strike her enemy at a moment\'s notice.
\'This... is the princess?\'
Ryuji looked on with sheer amazement.
"Such passion, it\'s like looking at my big brother again! Haha," Alan said before covering his mouth. "Is he still giving you a hard time? You know you can ask me to handle it for you."
"No, Uncle Alan. Father is kind; he seems to be overjoyed at the number of helpful heroes this time; he hates playing the villain, you know that. But we are on the brink of defeat. If we cannot raise warriors strong enough, not the demons, but other human kingdoms will swoop in and destroy us!"
"Like you said, the demons are all gathered in the Demon City. So how about you let them gather there so your father can send his army to their doom? Haha."
"Uncle!"
"Sorry, I know he has to be harsh, but these kids didn\'t ask to come here. I hate seeing them perish or lost to the darkness of the brothels and gambling dens when they cannot become stronger."
"I agree, Uncle." The princess relaxed into her chair and let out a sigh. "How long must I sit here and wait? You still have not introduced me to your companion, and I have yet to see him!"
"So impatient, someone would think you found your future husband, little Lia." Alan chuckled as he looked back at the maid knight who had returned and now stood beside the curtain. "Bring my companion to Lia."
Ryuji felt the maid grasp his wrist and pull him through the curtains. Alan noticed the princess\'s expression transform.
"..."
"My, such a handsome young man!" Alan said, standing up from his chair and pulling Ryuji next to him. "This is the young warrior I told you about."
"..."
"Isn\'t he dashing, and those eyes, oh dear, you really know how to pick them? I love it!"
"Uncle, please be quiet."
Lia observed Ryuji silently as he did the same. To him, whether a princess or goddess, he didn\'t care. Their eyes clashed, crossed, and they admired each other for almost three minutes while Alan sat down, his face seeming to sweat.
"It is my pleasure to meet you, Chosen Ryuji Vincenzo."
"The pleasure is mine, Liana Grigor. May I ask how you know my name, as such a refined woman?"
"Fufu, because of your delightful entrance. I cannot forget such an amusing Hero."
"I am glad to bring such amusement to such a wonderful princess."
"Hey, I\'m right here, you know?!" Alan said.
"Uncle/Alan, please be quiet," they said in unison.
The two of them continued as if playing chess. Each time they moved, it seemed to be a test for the other.
"May I ask why a beautiful princess would meet with a low C-Rank Hero such as myself?" Ryuji asked.
"Chosen. There are many reasons. This is one of them, though I must admit the temptation to see you was a desire I could not refuse."
"I\'m glad I could see you, Princess. Such beauty is a treat for this young hero."
"Such boldness." Liana looked away as her face blushed. "I applaud such courage to speak so openly with me."
"You seem the type to enjoy bold and powerful things." Ryuji did not care what this world thought of him. He knew the first step was to create a foundation and become strong. Whether he could trust her would take time, but for now, he would show his true colours.
"That is direct but true, Chosen," Liana said, her lips curling into a seductive smile as she giggled. "I love things hard, powerful and direct."
"What a coincidence," Ryuji said with a subtle smirk.
Alan looked at both of them and sighed. He couldn\'t believe the level of chemistry they had. "It appears you two get along swimmingly. This poor old man will eat these biscuits alone..."
Snap! The moment he tried to take the expensive butterfly-shaped biscuits with lovely fondant art, the maid knight slapped his hand and gave him a cup of water.
"Enough of this," Liana said as she looked back at Ryuji and addressed him. "I will be blunt, Chosen. I need your help."
"My help? As in?"
"To protect me and ensure I survive the next month."
"My lady! Please, I can protect you myself!"
Lia looked back at her maid with a scowl. "Kathryn, no, that is my command."
"Yes... princess," the maid knight bowed her head in shame, and Ryuji looked at her with sympathy.
"I cannot make any promises, but I will try my best to help you survive. But I have my life, desires and goals."
"Name what you want. I can grant it."
"I like to earn things with my effort."
"Very well, I accept. In return, you will guard me whenever I leave the castle or travel for the next two months. If I call you, then you will come to my side; should you fail, I will expel you from the castle."
"Then what if I succeed?"
"How about I give you myself?"
"Liana!" Alan roared, causing her to back against her seat and shake her head.
"Never mind, I will find a suitable reward."
Ryuji glanced at the knight, Kathryn, who seemed saddened by the loss. "Then I have a request: Will the princess hear me?"
"Speak," Liana said as she glared at him.
"I hope she will be with us, too." Ryuji pointed to the maid knight.
Liana smiled as she nodded her head. "Very well. Kathryn will also join you."
"I look forward to working with you, princess."
"You as well, Chosen," Liana said as she called over another maid and whispered something to her before dismissing her. "I must leave, but you two will stay and have tea with my uncle."
"Alone, two men having tea. Hahahaha~ how beautiful."
Alan sat while oblivious and poured himself some of the expensive tea, while urging for the new maid to serve Ryuji as he sat down.
"See, my little niece is a witch; she wanted Kathryn to join from the start but made you ask as if it was a favour." Alan laughed and grinned while slapping his stomach and patting Ryuji on the shoulder. "Don\'t feel too bad; she has pulled one over me too many times. Hahaha."
"Uncle!" Liana shouted out from beyond the room as Ryuji could only smile at the cheerful Alan\'s demise.
"I will tell my father!"
"!?" Alan\'s face became white as he dropped the biscuit from his hand and stopped drinking his tea while whispering. "damn witch..."
"Ahh, this tea is delicious," Ryuji said with a bright smile, tasting the floral flavour.