"Haaaahhh!?"
All the guards narrowed their eyes toward the senior.
"What?" the senior guard asked them, glancing around at every guard present.
"You said we need to meet the general to get the voting slip!"
"Heh... I just said that because I wanted to see your reaction. Rooookieeesss~"
"Ugh! Senior!"
The senior guard just put his hands on his hips and laughed loudly.
But the guards around him suddenly went silent, standing stiff and rigid, saluting with fists over their left chests, heads bowed.
"Oho? This is how you all should respect a senior like me." The senior grinned, puffing out his chest, but all the guards around him remained frozen, sweat beading on their foreheads.
"Huh? Whatās wrong with you all? Enough with that respect salute. I can clearly see youāre mocking me, eh?"
"Razem?"
The senior guardās posture instantly stiffened, his spine straightening as he heard the familiar voice from behind him.
He turned on his heel with a sharp, military pivot, his foot tapping the floor once before bringing his fist crisply to his chest in a formal salute.
"General!!!"
Hesbeirn narrowed his glare around the group. "What are you all doing?" he said, his face flushed red but his expression deadly serious. "Hic... You all know my standing order, right? No slackinā off!!"
"Yes, General!!" everyone saluted and bowed in unison.
"And you, Razem."
"Yes, General!"
"King Garius is nearby and wants to see you."
"Ehhh!? Now!?" He swallowed hard.
"Yes... now. So follow me."
"Yes, General!" Razem saluted once more, then fell into step behind Hesbeirn.
He slowly turned his head back toward the rookies, his eyes wide with a mix of panic and warning. He mouthed a silent, urgent command:
You. Go meet Prince Javier and inform him about his Pekkoās behavior! Now!
The rookies snapped into a salute, watching their senior disappear with the General.
"Our senior is so lucky," one murmured once they were out of earshot.
"Yeah... not everyone gets to meet our king so easily. Let alone be summoned by His Majesty."
"True."
"So, what are you waiting for? Go meet Prince Javier now."
"Alright, alright! Sheesh."
"Lucky itās Prince Javier. If it were Prince Marcellus or Prince Cedric, youād be swallowing hard and sweating buckets. Probably on full dogeza by now."
"Eh? Why?"
"Because those two are way more serious than Prince Javier."
"Ah..."
"Go on. And good luck~"
"Whatās with the āgood luckā?"
"Well... heh..." the other guard trailed off, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as he gave a vague, dismissive wave. "Nothing...nothing.~"
Meanwhile, in Javierās bedroom.
Liana slowly stirred, still feeling a little tired.
She sat up slowly and yawned, glancing around and noticing only Gloria and Felicia were on the bed with her.
Hmm? Where are Mimi and Delya?
She shook Gloriaās shoulder gently.
Gloria slowly stirred, blinking her eyes open. She glanced at Liana while rubbing her eyes. "Mm... what?"
"I think itās already evening. Wake up. Young Master is probably done working in the office. Donāt forget to wake Felicia too."
"Mou! I just want to rest a little longer." Gloria stretched her body, a soft sigh escaping her lips.
"Oh? Donāt tell me youāre still tired from just one round with Young Master~?" Liana teased, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "My my... I thought you could handle more, especially after how eager you were last night~"
Gloriaās eyes narrowed slightly, a playful smirk curling her lips. She reached for her glasses and put them on gracefully, nudging them up the bridge of her nose with a playful glint behind the lenses.
"At least mine was complete and satisfying, not cut short by someone barging in with a territorial hiss~" She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "And from the way a certain someone is wincing with every move... Iād say your āmultiple roundsā left you more battered than blessed, Miss First Wife~"
Lianaās expression remained perfectly serene, but a faint, competitive gleam lit her eyes. She leaned in, their faces now so close their lips were almost brushing, their gazes locked in a silent, charged standoff.
"Battered? Oh, Miss Second Wife~ I believe youāve misunderstood. Yes, Iām exhausted... because āsomeoneā lost himself completely in the real pleasure. It clearly showed where his deepest preference lies. And I doubt you could handle that same... intensity."
Gloria chuckled, a soft, musical sound. "Ara~, such confidence from someone who canāt walk straight after breaking our agreement. One round each, remember? Greed doesnāt become you, Miss First Wife."
Their eyes remained locked, a playful but sharp challenge hanging in the air between them.
They didnāt notice Feliciaās eyes watching them, wide with curiosity and a touch of innocent confusion.
"Are you two... about to kiss?" Felicia asked softly, her head tilted, her ears twitching slightly.
Both Liana and Gloriaās eyes widened, and they glanced at each other before looking back at Felicia in mild panic.
"Weāre not kissing!"
Gloria puffed her cheek while glancing at Felicia. "No... weāre not going to kiss."
"Oh... because from what I saw, I thought you two were about to kiss." Felicia rubbed her eyes and raised her hand gracefully to stretch.
"Mm~" She glanced around after Liana and Gloria slipped off the bed. "Where are Mimi and Delya?"
Gloria exhaled and adjusted her glasses. "I donāt know. Perhaps theyāre in the dining room."
"Yeah, I believe Mimi tried to wake me up earlier. If Iām not mistaken, I told her to go to the dining room," Liana said while helping Gloria tidy the bed.
"Oh," Felicia slipped off the bed and stretched again. "When you mention the dining room, I think Iām hungry."
"You think?" Liana shook her head with an amused smile. "After sleeping this long, Iām sure your stomach is growling, Felicia. Letās get ready and go find them and some food."
Felicia blushed lightly, her tail giving a soft, embarrassed flick.
"Now go wash yourself, Felicia."
"Mm... okay." Her tail swayed gently as she smiled.
Gloria nudged her glasses with a playful glint. "Or... do you want to go together with us~?"
"Eh? Umm... I... I think I can wash myself."
Liana and Gloria glanced at each other with mischievous smiles.
They rushed toward Felicia from both sides, leaning in close to whisper in her ears.
"Ara~ Donāt be shy."
"Mm~ Yes~ We can help each other, right~?"
"Eeek!!! Nooo!!! H... Husband!!! Helppp!!!!"
( End Of Chapter )