Prince of Wives

by Jason Hale

  "Sorry!"

  The eunuchs still in cages observed this scene with horror. How was it possible for them to have fallen in the hands of a pureblooded demon? Was there still hope for survival?

  And as if he aware of their thoughts, Konnor turned toward them.

  "There is still hope for you. Condense your entire cultivation bases into pills, and I will erase your memories then allow you to leave."

  They were five high-level True Knights with the weakest being at the seventh step and the strongest being at the ninth step. If they condensed their entire cultivation bases into pills, Konnor could use them to improve the cultivation of his women.

  But the price would be the loss of a lifetime of hard work.

  Still, they didn't hesitate.

  After collecting the pills they produced, Konnor used his incubus abilities to erase their minds and implant some false memories within before sending them on their way.

  He then brought Jasime and Freya out of the miniature world.

  After obtaining a half-succubus bloodline, Jasime's innate charm had risen to a brand new level. Still, she looked at Freya with wariness.

  Clearly, that mature vixen was one of the thieves!

  "Remember, you only have a week. Act fast."

  Freya nodded, but then, a nefarious thought flashed within her corrupted mind.

  "Will master also give me "that" kind of reward?"

  "Certainly."

  Freya beamed, but Jasime's eyes burned with fury. What kind of reward could "that" be?

  Obviously, it was the sexual kind!

  She wrapped her arms around Konnor's neck to signify ownership and glowered at Freya.

  "Look, bitch, he's taken! Go get your milk elsewhere!"

  And instantly, Konnor's forehead was full of black lines.

  Chapter 28 - When Five Words Crash All Your Plans

  "The nerves! Who the hell are you?!"

  Submitting to Konnor was one thing, being verbally abused by a nobody was another. As a pureblooded golden-eyed lioness, if there was one thing Freya didn't tolerate, it was being disrespected by those she deemed inferior. And while Jasime's cultivation had risen to the first step True Knight Rank, Freya didn't put her in her eyes.

  "Your new mistress!"

  Jasime announced with complacent glee. But at that time, Konnor chose to bring her back to earth.

  "Actually, if Freya can complete her task, I might promote her."

  "I'm the master of the contracts and can adjust them however I wish to."

  "Meaning that I can also modify yours if I wish to."

  "Do I wish to…?"

  Konnor murmured while rubbing his beardless chin, and his words caused Jasime to unfasten his neck and stare at him with stupor.

  "You…tricked me!"

  She complained while aiming her now wobbling index at his self-satisfied face.

  "I am a demon!"

  "Tricking is my birthright!"

  That girl was too brazen. If he didn't start putting some shackles here and there, wouldn't she try to overturn the world?

  Wanting to deprive me of my beauties? In your dreams!

  I will have you, and I will also have them!

  "Now that you've joined my household, you cannot escape. So, you might as well make the best of it. Think of this as a test of virtue. If you perform well enough, who knows what will happen in the future?"

  Initially, Freya had been incensed by Jasime's rude and possessive behavior. But now all discomfort had been replaced by deep satisfaction. A woman's status in a polygamous husband's house often depended on the dowry she brought.

  She was going to bring more than fifty million purple crystals!

  Could that little maid compare?

  "When I'm promoted and my cultivation restored, I will properly deal with you!"

  She inwardly swore with a radiant smile.

  And Konnor who had unobstructed access to her thoughts couldn't help but blink.

  "Hum, hum. Back to proper business. For how long is your pass valid?"

  The reason why Freya could come and go within the palace was that thanks to Else, she had obtained an imperial pass. That pass was only granted to women that had strong connections to the inner court and could only be used for a certain amount of time.

  Past the deadline, renewal was necessary.

  Freya had been using hers for some time already and should be close to its expiration date.

  "I still have three weeks."

  "That's more than enough."

  While she completed the task, he would make some additional arrangements and gather as many resources as he could.

  "It's unfortunate that I have to leave this female paradise so soon…oh well, to enjoy beauty, you first need to breathe."

  Although he managed to keep his neck so far, Konnor didn't want to take extra chances. Even if he held no interest in the faraway Barbarian Continent, he wasn't going to sit and wait for the Holy Flame Church to come knocking on his doorstep.

  How was that different from courting death?

  He could return with great pomp when he was powerful enough!

  The girls were sent on their respective ways with Jasime still fuming and pondering her future course of actions.

  Konnor then woke Ralph and Alan, his two eunuch subordinates and gave them errands.

  "Ralph, your job is to contact Hans for a new business opportunity. This time, tell him to get ready for an auction. But the goods are not things he can take responsibility for so he should prepare accordingly. Just tell him that we're going a full grade higher and insist on the plural of "the goods." I give him four days and will send someone to deliver them when he's ready."

  "As for you Alan, I want you to obtain a complete map of the imperial palace as well as the hierarchy and cultivation levels of guards at key locations. The more you can find the better. You have three days."

  The imperial palace was not a mill. You couldn't get out because you wanted to. And even with Konnor's current cultivation level, escaping it would be no simple feat.

  Hearing his task, Alan was puzzled.

  "Are you trying to smuggle something in or…"

  But the glower he received from Konnor shoved the rest of his words back down his throat.

  "I hope I do not need to remind you of the importance of discretion. Execute these tasks well, and I will handsomely reward you."

  It seemed he attached extreme importance to those tasks. That being the case, there surely was great wealth to obtain!

  "Rest assured that we will not fail you!"

  They proclaimed and immediately went on their ways to tend to the tasks. As for the kitchen shifts…to hell with that!

  For the sake of great wealth, they could certainly endure some punishment! In any case, the weather was not that good recently. It was time to call in sick!

  And seeing them disperse, Konnor no longer wasted another second and headed toward the embroidery department to meet Ilaina.

  With the news of her new status having spread, her treatment had undergone drastic changes. The title of maid was removed and replaced with that of Honored Palace Guest. She also received an entire courtyard and several maids to attend to her daily needs.

  But although on the outside it appeared this change was out of consideration for her changed status, it was nothing more than a new way of monitoring her.

  If they truly wished to show consideration, they could have just sent her back to her household.

  But they didn't. And perhaps until the day her father died, she would have to stay within this mockery of a golden cage.

  From times to times, the figure of the unruly Konnor would flash within her mind to improve her otherwise sullen mood.

  But today, as she sat at the edge of the spring where they had wrestled for their lives, it wasn't in her mind, but in the spring that she saw his figure manifest itself.

  "Really? Am I now starting to hallucinate?"

  She wondered with a fro
wn.

  "Not quite. But then again, I suppose I am the physical manifestation of all female fantasies."

  A smug voice came from her back.

  She spun, and her eyes widened to the sight of Konnor who looked at her with his usual mischievous grin.

  "Don't flatter yourself. Beside Daphne, no one fantasies about you."

  She retorted. Daphne had not wasted any time to corrupt her ears with Konnor's "exploits." Something she most definitely didn't want to be aware of.

  "Why is it that I sense the unique smell of jealousy?"

  "Because you're a conceited manwhore."

  "Flattery will get you everywhere."

  "Unredeemable!"

  But through that small exchange of words, her mood had already been lifted.

  "Since I've nothing better to do, I might as well listen to all the nonsense you have to say…"

  From her tone, it looked like she was doing him a mighty favor. But Konnor was well aware that should he now turn heels, the quality of her day would only worsen.

  He sat by her side, and for the next hour, brightened her mood through stories and pleasantries.

  They were now lying on the ground by each other's side, and unbeknown to her, Ilaina's head was getting increasingly closer to his.

  "Do you want to leave the palace?"

  "Of course I do. But that's impossible."

  She replied to his inquiry.

  "That might not be true. If you want to leave, it's not difficult. Kiss me, and in a week when I'm ready to leave, I will come to fetch you."

  "What?"

  Ilaina turned toward him with incredulous eyes.

  "You want to flee the palace?"

  "Flee is such a terrible word. I'd rather say I want to go sightseeing."

  And hearing the confirmation from his lips, concern replaced Ilaina's initial shock.

  "Don't be rash. If escaping the palace was that simple; many would not have died trying to do so."

  Not everyone was willing to spend a lifetime within the confines of the imperial palace, and many had died trying to escape it.

  "I will naturally not do something I'm not certain of. If I say we're ready to leave, then we are ready."

  While his confidence had alleviated some of her fears, Ilaina still wasn't convinced.

  "If you can really pull it off. No need to say one. I can give you a thousand kisses."

  "You got yourself a deal! See you in a week."

  With that said, he stood up.

  "Leaving so soon?"

  Ilaina blurted out, then realized she had betrayed herself.

  "Oh? Is that longing I feel?"

  "Humph!"

  But as she turned her gaze away from his, he planted a soft kiss on the right corner of her lips, then vanished in a haze of light.

  "Unruly…"

  She cursed with her cheeks flushed red.

  ...

  Following that little escapade, Konnor returned to his assigned kitchen duties and handled both his work and his errand boys' to avoid raising too many questions. But while he prepared the last radishes, a trio of eunuchs walked into the small kitchen.

  From their attire, it was clear they were head eunuchs.

  "Are you the low-ranked eunuch Konnor?"

  Asked the one at their helm.

  "I am indeed. What can I do for you?"

  "The Holy Empress summons you!"

  The radishes he held within his hands dropped onto the ground while his black eyes widened and droplets of sweat formed on his forehead.

  "Are you sure there isn't another Konnor?"

  Chapter 29 - I Respectfully Decline

  So fast? How was that possible?

  Konnor was not just taken aback by the head eunuchs' sudden words. He was horrified. The timing was too perfect for this to be a coincidence and made him reminisce how his predecessor had been sent to his maker.

  "You know, I'm sure there must be a misunderstanding. With such a vast inner court, an innumerable amount of Konrads must exist. Surely, you've mistaken me for another one but fret not, I won't take offense."

  "By the way, Konnor is not even my first name. It's just a nickname used by the buddies. My real name is…Darnok. Yes…Darnok."

  "Have a good day."

  He politely replied while picking up his radishes. For the first time in his life, he clung onto legumes with greater passion that he would a woman!

  The head eunuchs exchanged confused glances. Why was that boy having such a strange reaction? Could it be that they'd really gotten the wrong person?

  Impossible!

  They had especially been instructed to come to this place, and his face perfectly fit the "Konnor's" description.

  "Are you challenging the Holy Empress' verbal decree?"

  The most senior of the three asked in a threatening tone.

  "How could I dare, but I'm only a small fry within a sea of giants. I have no connections and only tend to legumes and cooking within this small kitchen. How could the empress have ever heard my name? To say nothing of my name, how could she be aware of my existence? That's why I say you must have found the wrong person."

  "My life is not important, but if you accidentally offend the Empress…the consequences..."

  His voice trailed with a long, sorrowful sigh that caused the trio to question the accuracy of their information. His words were logical. Only one with significant background could enter the empress' sight. Who was he to receive the honor of being summoned by her majesty? It made absolutely no sense.

  For an instant, they didn't know what to do.

  "Should we first go back to verify the information?"

  "Go back empty-handed? How are we to explain the failure of such a simple task?"

  "If we have to fail the task, at least let's have something to show. Also, that boy looks fishy."

  "Yeah, Darnok? Isn't that Konnor in reverse? Does he really think we were born yesterday?"

  "Sons of bitches! Was it not for me not wanting to risk getting ahead of myself, I would have already slapped you to death!

  Damn!"

  Konnor silently cursed while being dragged toward the empress' palace. And following a series of teleportation circles, he was brought to the entrance of a massive residence that stretched across two hectares with tall supporting pillars evoking ancient Greek architecture.

  Without ceremony, the eunuchs pulled him inside and brought him over to two personal attendants that awaited their return.

  During all this time, Konnor adopted the meek and submissive attitude befitting a low-ranked eunuch while silently cursing all the ancestors of his "guides."

  Soon, they reached a white marble door in front of which the two attendants stopped.

  "Your majesty, the eunuch has been brought over."

  In a creak, the door opened, and the two attendants led Konnor inside a brightly lit room where thirteen other attendants played card games alongside a silver-haired woman whose eyes had yet to meet Konnor's.

  "You can all leave."

  She declared and instantly, the attendants by her sides as well as the two that brought Konnor over, all exited the room.

  The woman then rose to her feet, but Konnor who kept his eyes locked onto the ground below couldn't appreciate her beauty.

  "Why the sudden display of bashfulness? As I recall, when you shattered Wenzel's "jewels," you didn't have such reservations."

  "End! My life ends!"

  But then Konnor recalled the blurry sight of the woman that saved his and Jasime's lives and vainly hoped that the one standing in front of him was his mysterious savior.

  "Hum, hum. Your Majesty must be jesting. How does a little servant like me dare harm the belongings of the sixth prince? I do not have that courage."

  Even at the pillory, he would not admit to it! But his words caused a light chuckle to escape Verena's lips.

  "Look at me."

  Konnor's gaze rose and fell upon a sight that forced him to stare dazed for a fe
w seconds. In terms of beauty, beside that mysterious, blurry figure, the woman in front of him effortlessly eclipsed all those he had ever met. But that beauty didn't just come from her natural charms.