Chapter 86 – Royal Invitation

Chapter 86 – Royal Invitation

"Oh come on Petra! Do I really have to wear something like this?"

"Have you ever been to a royal party before Ikarus?"

"..."

"That's what I thought"

We've ended up back in a fancy clothes store and wouldn't you know it, I've been stuck trying on fancy looking dresses and gowns for a while now. Petra is surprisingly picky when it comes to this type of thing, I guess I do understand her reasoning for such a thing, it is supposed to be a special occasion. My main issue is just being able to move about, most of the clothing in here would be terrible to fight in, I'd probably have to cut off any skirt just in case. I really ain't into cutesy things and I doubt I'll ever be even if Petra likes doing this type of thing.

This boutique... is that what it's called? I don't care but this place is pretty full right now, I'm guessing some of these might be attending the party or it's just shopping season in the capital or something like that. The prices in here are disgusting though, it's a good thing Petra's already stated she's paying for all this otherwise I'd have second thoughts about the whole 'kill the royals plan'. I joke but seriously though, they do want to put me off it, this dress in particular basically costs an arm and a leg.

"This might be the one, give me a little spin"

"Not happening... are we done yet?"

Of course, Petra's preference is something that looks kinda cute rather than revealing and hot, I don't really care about revealing clothing that much but it's at least easy to get around in. I guess this thing is a lot easier to get around in then most but it does looks more like something that Penelope might wear, think extremely feminine, maybe Victorian fancy clothing except it's not pink, it's like a pale yellow. Yeah, she would definitely wear something like this.

"Heh, yellow does go with your hair pretty well"

She's just ignoring me now. Even if I'm moaning, it's still better she sorts all this crap out since this type of thing isn't my speciality, got to keep reminding myself I was a guy at some point even if that seems like ancient history now.

Luckily enough, Petra seems to be liking this one so it looks like we're done here now, only took around six hours of trying on different outfits, no chance I'd have been able to put up with this back when my patience was terrible. Oh well, at least we're finished.

As I'm taking off the dress and other crap that goes with the outfit in a dressing room, I'm also speaking with Petra through the curtain door thing.

"Why has this taken so long to find an outfit? Seriously though, we could've been done hours ago, it's not exactly like we need to impress anybody"

I might be a little cranky, we did miss lunch because of how long we've been looking for clothes, I'm actually the one who suggested to get this done before going to eat, unfortunately I didn't know how long it would be. This isn't impatience, this is hunger!

"Just trying to be careful and practical Ikarus, I'm not just trying to doll you up here believe it or not. Preparation for this is key after all, expecting there might be a problem with getting weapons in so trying to decide what the best thing to wear would be, also helps for moving about purposes as well"

Wait, is this why she's picking something kinda over the top, so we can smuggle weapons in under the skirt? We're obviously making sure to speak quietly in this store.

"Why would that be a problem? I can just use storage"

"Think though, what if they take the ring off you before entering Ikarus? What if they have something that can stop my storage as well as magic? Just trying to be extra cautious since anything can happen"

Oh, she really does think everything through, I still feel like this is just her having fun with me but I guess she does have a slight point, should be easily able to smuggle something in and it be ignored if we get a shakedown or something by the guards.

It's risky, sure but doesn't hurt to have a backup just in case, it still seems unlikely seeing the number of times I've visited the prince and never been disarmed though.

"You sure you're not being a little paranoid? It's not like they've ever taken anything before"

"True, might be but it's just more a cautious feeling more than anything else, thinking my presence there could spook the mage if she thinks something is going on. Don't forget, wasn't assigned to you like priestess or the knight, get the feeling they might be a little more cautious than usual on that night, it will obviously be meaningless if their arrogance plays its part"

I guess it's more of a gut feeling she has but I might feel a little naked if they confiscate my ring, at least the bastard would return it afterwards. I guess we've still got the option of going weapon less if it happens though, magic is useful and all but the mage herself is supposed to be a master in that so bringing a blade or two isn't the worst idea.

Also, all aspect of gigantomachy needs is just one hit, a single punch would do the job. Huh, all I need to do is go bald and then I've just completely ripped of an anime. Jokes aside, we've still got a little more to discuss and then it'll be showtime.

"Well... I'm all done now, normal clothed, uncomfortable Ikarus returns! Hang on, you haven't got anything to wear yet, you're not going to the party like that, are you?"

I mean, Petra looks good in anything but that wasn't my point since she is a one outfit person like me... I wonder if I can get her into another set of lingerie or something as well if she's buying something, maybe white this time seeing that she only ever seems to wear white after all.

"Heh, already have something perfectly suited from a while back"

Well crap, that plan failed, now I'm depressed. Okay, I am slowly turning into a perve over her but I'm trying to fight it, alright? At least she's smiling even if she hasn't got a clue what's going on inside my head.Fôll0w current novÊls on n/o/(v)/3l/b((in).(co/m)

"Let's just get something to eat..."

__________

"Next in line!"

"Yes! How's everything been? Did the last dungeons go well?"

Priestess definitely seems the more excited out of the two to see us once again, she's probably high on cake right now seeing that there definitely was some that had been sliced into at the buffet.

I'm honestly a little exited seeing those two here as well, been trying to keep an eye out for them in the capital and haven't seen a single trace all week, they've probably been helping out preparations for this party as well thinking about it.

(Ikarus) "Yeah, they went fine priestess, I'll give a quick sum up but basically the next one went like..."

So we had a little chat with them about what me and Petra had gone through since they left, obviously excluding the confidential parts and as I was finishing, someone else called them over to have a discussion. I guess priestess is still considered a celebrity even in this room full of nobles so it makes sense why she would she would need to move on and chat with everyone. And besides, my hunger has now skyrocketed from that kinda long conversation, just please let me eat in peace now! Even if I started the conversation, stupid brain.

Now that I've finally grabbed a plate of food, I can finally start to eat. I'd ask Petra why she isn't eating as well but maybe her nerves are playing up too, she isn't an emotionless drone after all, even she is going to be a little on edge. Hopefully, Jekyll comes through for us and sends the targets away to the place he described.

A little time passes with me eating and Petra by my side and thankfully enough as I'm finishing off my food, it seems it's time for the royals to make an entrance.

"Everyone please leave the stairway and make room for her highness, the princess Media"

The nobles on the stairs do as asked from the guard that has moved onto the middle part of it and quickly after, the princess makes this party her stage, everyone quietens down and watches her come into view.

Coming down from one of the stairways that connect into the middle, think it's called a half landing, a woman sharing a very similar appearance to the bastard makes her way walking down onto it. She's wearing a red, long dress that looks really revealing basically showing off her two bosoms and seems to have an odd smile on her face, kinda similar to her brothers Blake and Alistair thinking about it.

"Thank you everyone for coming to my birthday party! All of you lovely people have made me feel so special in coming here today and I'd like to thank everyone for doing such a thing! You really have made this princess feel like the centre of the world!"

I honestly can't get over how similar she looks to the bastard Desmond; you can tell she's a little younger and obviously female but they really do look nearly identical. She's even got the blue eyes he has as well, I guess their father clearly has a type even if his first child was apparently illegitimate, all of them are blonde with pretty similar looks.

(Guard) "Long live the princess!"

"She really is most beautiful"

"The prince is really lucky to have such a lovely sister behind him"

I can't help but also give another thought as the crowd and guards are lapping her bullshit up, there is something else I noticed about her.

'Don't like her, she seems fake as fuck'

After she's had her little greeting and the crowd have lapped it up, the prince makes his entrance coming down the other stairway being joined by the mage, Leone might be the only person in this place not dressed up fancy like just wearing her normal clothing, she's in her usual white outfit with the prince in a military looking uniform like a lot of the other men, his is clearly more prestigious though.

At least Leone is in comfortable clothing for what happens later...

The prince continues walking down the stairs and starts to talk before he joins his sister.

"Thank you all for coming to see my sweet and adorable younger sister's birthday. It's been a tough year with everything that those scandalous rebels have been doing but thankfully enough, we can take this day to appreciate everything we have and can celebrate this empire's continued devotion to caring about its citizens"

"Long live his highness!"

"The prince is definitely getting more handsome as he gets older"

"Agreed, any woman would love to share his bed, me included"

Same thing again, people lap up this empire's bullshit, I can why Petra never liked them in the first place.

'He's so full of lies, he despises his sister from that reaction... Wait, why do I know that? Is my lie detector working?'

[<*Sigh*... Is -user- seriously still stuck on ability -eye of wisdom-? It's not hard to understand>]

'It is Aesa! It feels no different yet something like that felt natural as fuck, it's irritating cause I can't tell if it's me or the ability doing it!'

This probably isn't the time to bring this up but Aesa decided to speak to me first this time, fucking distractions.

[<-Eye of wisdom- ability lacks knowledge even for Aesa but it seems able to detect when -user- wants to know when targets intent is true or false. It is not that hard to understand>]

Urgh, forget it, that still isn't a perfect explanation since I could tell he despises his sister, not that what he says was a lie. I'm just being pedantic with Aesa so let's move on.

'At least, three of the targets are now in sight, no idea about the emperor but Desmond said he'd have that sorted without us worrying. All we need to do now is wait...'

To be continued...