A few hours later, the group gathered in a private parlor with King Reyd. Shizuka sat at a side table happily peeled and ate a banana. Akitsu leaned silently against the wall. James sat on the main sofa. Saya and Yuriko sat on either side while Tsukiumi stood behind them. Carptie laid on the floor.
"You're welcome to sit down," Reyd offered as he gestured to the open chairs.
"I'm fine right here," Tsukiumi replied as she crossed her arms.
Reyd cleared his throat. "To think that Ryuuto had been controlled by a demon all this time," he said. "It is a bitter pill to swallow," he added.
"It is unfortunate," Saya said. "However, as a King, you should have been more observant. You have failed in your duty to your people," she added.
"Power comes with responsibilities," Yuriko added. "Ignoring the rot in your own house nearly costs you your kingdom," she remarked.
James thought they were brutally honest.
Before Reyd could respond, the door creaked open. "Good day, Hero-sama!" a voice chirped.
Princess Ilyr hurried into the room. Her large, expressive green eyes sparkled with excitement, and her brown pigtails bounced as she moved. She wore a pink ruffled dress and her small fists clenched in front of her chest in a gesture of pure joy.
"Hi, Princess Ilyr," James responded with a warm smile. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Please, just call me Ilyr," she insisted as she hopped onto the sofa next to Reyd, her father. She looked up at James, with total adoration. "It's all thanks to you, Hero-sama. You saved everyone," she said.
"Well, technically I'm the owner of a dungeon," James said as he leaned back. "That basically makes me a Demon Lord," he added.
Ilyr's eyes went wide. "So... you really are a Demon Lord?" she asked.
"In some ways, yes," Saya added. She thought he could be a monster.
James smiled and reached around and held Saya`s waist sly.
Saya felt it and shot him a dirty look however she composed herself.
Ilyr looked around at the beautiful women surrounding him. "How are you all related to Hero-sama?" she asked curiously.
"We are his wives," Tsukiumi declared proudly. She also went red as she said that. She looked away.
"What?!" Saya and Ilyr shouted in unison. Saya's face turned bright red at the bluntness, while Ilyr looked shocked. Shizuka smiled and ate away.
Yuriko thought was she his wife. She looked to see James` hand around Saya`s back. She felt her heart beat.
"If you are a Demon Lord, then I can be your wife too!" Ilyr proclaimed as she stood up on the cushions. "And since you're a Demon Lord, you're supposed to kidnap the princess... so please, kidnap me," she said.
"James, you can kidnap people?" Shizuka asked as her mouth was full of bananas. "I want to be kidnapped too," she said.
"But I'm a princess! I should be kidnapped first!" Ilyr argued as she puffed out her chest.
Yuriko let out a dramatic sigh and faked a tear. "Oh dear, my own daughter has already been kidnapped by his charm," she remarked playfully.
Ilyr gasped, looking at James. "So he really is a wicked demon," she said.
"Mom, stop encouraging him," Saya groaned as she felt James` hand touching her waist.
"James!" Tsukiumi snapped as she clenched her fist. A small puddle of water formed at her feet. "You will not kidnap her! If you're going to kidnap anyone, you have to kidnap us first," she said.
James sat there and thought this was a very strange conversation to be having in front of a sitting monarch who was currently watching his daughter volunteer to be abducted.
Saya cleared her throat loudly. "Can we please get back to the matter at hand? We need to talk about business," she said.
Reyd nodded. "Ilyr, dear, could you leave us alone for a while? We have matters to discuss," she said.
"Yes, Papa!" Ilyr replied. She skipped toward the door and turned back one last time to wink at James before disappearing into the hallway with a giggle.
"She is a strong one," Tsukiumi remarked.
"She is and she believes you won't hurt her," Reyd said.
"James won't," Shizuka said as she smiled and ate away.
"I cannot thank you enough, all of you," Reyd said. "Please, ask me whatever you wish. I will grant anything within my power to repay this debt," he added.
"We expected nothing less from a King," Yuriko replied as she smiled.
"We have a specific set of demands," Saya added as she pulled out a small notepad from her chest.
James sat back and watched them work. He knew Saya and Yuriko were smart. They were brilliant, and he was more than happy to let them take the lead in these negotiations. He looked up and saw Tsukiumi`s H cups. They were large and covered in clothing right now.
"First," Saya began. "We require a written pact stating that the Haunted Forest is now a sovereign, protected territory. No one is allowed to enter without express permission, and any acts of aggression toward the area will be considered a breach of law and treated as treason," she stated.
Reyd nodded slowly. "A sanctuary. That can be arranged," he responded.
"Second," Saya continued, "we require high-level identification cards that grant us unrestricted movement throughout the country. Furthermore, we need the authority to issue more of these cards as we see fit, without oversight," she added.
"We are a growing family, after all," Yuriko remarked.
Tsukiumi huffed. She crossed her arms over her chest. She cast a sharp glare at James. "I am loath to admit it, but she is right. Our numbers will likely continue to increase," she added.
"Very well," Reyd responded. "But please keep it a secret," he added.
"It will be conducted discreetly," Saya responded.
Reyd stood up. "You have saved my family and my crown; tonight, you eat as my honored guests. Dinner is prepared and we have invited a very small group," he said.
"Food!" Shizuka said as she jumped from her seat.
"Thank you for the honour," Tsukiumi said.
"We are grateful," Yuriko added.
"We have plans to leave in the night so we can make it back," James responded. "So we will stay for dinner," he added.
The group nodded and made their way to the grand banquet hall, where they were joined by Carlotta and Nell.
"Wow it is so beautiful here," Nell remarked. She looked at the long oak table overflowing with roasted meats, exotic fruits, and bottles of the finest aged wine.
"Your majesty, Thank you for inviting us on this occasion," Carlotta said as she bowed down.
"This party is held to thank you all," Reyd replied. "So there is no need to be this formal," he added.
As the feast began, Ilyr wasn't content to just sit and eat. She hopped up from her chair and grabbed James and Nell by their hands. "Hero-sama! Nell! Come play with me!" she insisted as she pulled to their place.
"Why are you holding his hand," Tsukiumi said. She took a deep breath. "She is a child," she muttered.
IIyr hopped onto James` lap and sat down. "Let us eat," IIyr said as she started to eat.
Shizuka grabbed a fork and started to eat. "This is so good," she remarked.
"Sensei" Saya remarked as she took a bite with her fork. She smiled. She thought it was good.
Akitsu was using a napkin to wipe her mouth.
Yuriko was eating away. "Thank you King Reyd for this wonderful meal," she remarked.
The wine flowed freely. As the hours passed, the atmosphere grew warm and boisterous. Even the stoic Akitsu was sipping from a silver goblet. Her eyes looked a little hazier than usual, while Tsukiumi's laughs became louder and more frequent.
Nell's face was flushed from a few glasses of wine and the warmth of the room. She looked at James with soft, shimmering eyes. She leaned in close. Her breath smelled of sweet grapes. She closed her eyes and began to tilt her face toward his.
James smiled. She looked beautiful. "Not now, soon," James remarked as he put a finger to her lips. He could feel her soft lips on his finger.
Suddenly, Ilyr lunged forward and buried her face in James's chest and sniffed loudly. "Hero-sama! You smell like the forest and magic," she chirped. She started to drool.
Reyd noticed his daughter's over-excitement. "Alright, Ilyr, that's enough. It's past your bedtime, and our guests need their rest," he said as he gently scooped up the princess and gave James a respectful nod. "Thank you for being so patient with her," he added.
"No problem, Reyd. Thank you for the hospitality," James replied as the King led the energetic girl away. He noticed that Reyd was also drunk.
James turned back toward the main banquet table. He saw Shizuka had a dazed, happy look on her face. She was already fumbling with the fasteners of her shirt.
"It's so hot in here, she giggled as she started to pull her top off right in the middle of the dining hall. "I think I need to... air out," she said. She was in a white bra. Her J cups were out. She went forward to James. "Kiss me," she said as she went forward. Her breasts touching his chest.
"Shizuka, we are in a royal palace," he said as he grabbed Shizuka and held her. Her breasts touched his chest. Her large breasts felt good on his chest. He thought this was in a royal palace and a big breasts girl in her bra was trying to kiss him.
"But Jamesie," she pouted. Her cheeks flushed a bright cherry pink. "The wine is making my skin tingle. Don't you want to see if I'm still soft?" she asked
"You are very soft," James said as he moved his hand and squeezed her breast.
Shizuka moaned. "Time to put it away, you can be free back home," James replied.
"Oh, stop being such a prude, James," Yuriko teased as she swirled the dark red liquid in her glass. She leaned forward. "The King is gone, the guards are outside, and we've just saved a nation. If Shizuka wants to celebrate her freedom, who are we to stop her? In fact," she said as she reached for the top button of her own blouse. "It is getting a bit stuffy in here," she added.
"Mum," Saya responded as she looked dazed. "He is my boyfriend," she said while drunk.
James thought they all were drunk.
"He is mine too," Yuriko said as looked at her daughter. She was flushed.
Tsukiumi slammed her goblet onto the table. "Silence! If anyone is going to be 'airing out' for my Ashikabi, it will be me. I am the primary wife. I have seniority in all matters of skin," she said as she looked drunk.
Akitsu, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly spoke up. "Ashikabi is warm. I agree," she remarked.
Nell was still blushing from her failed kiss earlier. "Is it always like this with you guys?" she muttered.
Carlotta let out a hearty laugh. "This carpet is soft," Carlotta remarked as she touched Carptie. "I want one as well," she remarked.
James chuckled. "Well, it is time for us to leave, " James remarked. He thought he had finished what he wanted to do here. It was time to go back. "Carptie, help me to get them back to the Humvee," he said.
Carptie moved and flew across the room. She gathered everyone on her back.
James got up. "Until next time Nell, we will be here for you," James said as he touched her face and gently stroked it. James then leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "I will not let anything happen to you," he stated.
Nell fell asleep with a smile on her face.
The carpet dipped in acknowledgment and picked up everyone.
James stepped onto Carptie. "Thank you," he said as Carptie flew out of the castle and to the Humvee.
James began the heavy lifting. He carried Saya first who was surprisingly light, her head lolling onto his chest as she muttered about "logical sleep cycles." He tucked her into the passenger seat of the lead Humvee. Next came Yuriko, who managed to blow him a sleepy kiss before she was buckled in. Finally, he loaded Shizuka, Tsukiumi, and Akitsu into the back.
James climbed into the driver's seat and gripped the steering wheel. The engine roared to life. He looked in the rearview mirror one last time, then shifted into gear.
"Let's go home," he whispered to the quiet cabin.
The tires gripped the dirt road as the Humvee surged forward. The headlights sliced through the darkness of the trail. He was heading home, back to the Haunted Forest.