Chapter One - The Chancellor - Charles Fornau

The queen was not happy. The king thought it was funny, but he was getting up in years and thought a lot of things that used to be important no longer were. Anything short of a war was trivial. Most of the elders appreciated his outlook and were in agreement. I was in agreement, too, this time, but for a different reason altogether.

Princess Gwyneth, the only possible mother to the future heir of the Thordast Kingdom, was asking to not be wed to me, a temporary stay, she said, for reasons she could not explain now, but that she needed time to work through.

My best friend, my first love, my soulmate, and my reason for living, Lady Clarise, explained it to me in straight language. Gwyneth was in love with her.

“Seriously, hon? I knew you two were good friends, even physical friends, but lovers?”

“Lovers yes, my dear, but I love you. She loves me. She told me she needs to talk with both of us, and The Seer, before any promises, vows, or bonds are made. It seemed very reasonable to me.”

“The Seer? I’ve heard about her, and you have to be kidding! What would that old lady know about love and wedlock?”

“Nothing? Everything? It doesn’t really matter, my lord. She sees, she does not cause. Gwyneth wants to know if you will be kind to her for all her years with us and whether you will keep me in your life, to be with her. She doesn’t want you so much, Charles, as she wants me, but she will go with you, and love you, and be with you, and bear your children if she can be with me.”

“That seems pretty simple. NOT! I think we need to speak to her father and mother. You and I cannot be wed, and we know that. The Chancellor of the Regency and the daughter of government officials just won’t cut it this time. We need to do that whole royalty thing. Ackkk. I wish life were easier to travel. Thankfully your mother has allowed this and even found that ancient book of Cojourn law that laid out the rules and laws concerning just this ‘thing’. Thank the Goddesses Beyond for that.

“The original books of the Cojourn, from well before my bloodline was installed into the chancellorship, explain the problem and the solution. I just hope you can handle it, because I need you in my life far more than I need her impetuous bratty little royal ass waking up next to me in the morning. And if she is my wife, she will. She needs to know that. Do you think she realizes that?”

“Yes, she does. She will. I’ll see to it. She needs to understand that if she wants me, you will be there. My heart, my soul, my body… All of me… belong to you, not to her. Hers will not be an unrequited love, but I belong to another. Enough of this. I will set an appointment to see the royals this evening, my love. We need to get this out in the open. Rena will not be overjoyed, but at least she will see her daughter married to the leader of the Cojourn, the Chancellor of the Regency, and that is what needs to happen for our worlds to endure and prosper. The stars relate so, and no man can dispute the need for our two civilizations to join. So, it must be.”

“That seems to be the path we must follow. I love you, Clarise. I really do. What’s she like?”

“Who, the impetuous little brat? Hah! Charles, you will be astounded by her beauty. She’s about my size, but her long blonde hair is full and gorgeous. Her pictures don’t really do her justice at all. She’s a bit flighty, but fun to be around. She is considerate and caring, and very attentive romantically. I’m just glad you allowed us to be together while you were away. She was sure she wanted to know me better that second time we met. That was at the consulate party we had when we found that you were going to be successful in ending that mess in the Plassen System. Anyway, she wasn’t pushy, but as soon as she said that, I messaged you.”

“I would deny you nothing, Clarise. Well, not exactly true. It would probably kill me, but I would let you go, should you find another man you would rather be with, or even like to be with. There could be no coexistence. You understand though, don’t you?”

“That would never happen, my lord, and I would not even consider, let alone ever attempt to have any man but you in my life. You’ll never have to deal with that possibility, Charlie. Never. It’s not just that men don’t share as well. I just wouldn’t want another man to touch me as you touch me. No one else ever has, and no one else ever will. We’ve been together since we were just infants and that will not change. No, Charlie, that wouldn’t happen.” She put her arms around my neck and kissed me.

After letting me go, she tapped away at her personal comm for a couple of minutes, then smiled and put it away.

“What are you grinning about, sweetheart?”

“I need to call Georgia. The king would like to see us as soon as we can get there.” She stepped over to my desk, picked up the ship’s comm and requested the consulate’s shuttle pilot, who was also Lady Clarise’s personal security detail, to ready her craft for deployment to the royal palace on Fairland Proper. “Let’s go, Charlie, if you’re ready. We might as well let you get this behind us. We can explain your position and if all concerned are in acceptance, you can have a wedding. Should they dispute the betrothal, the existence of humanity will come to a screeching halt and fall into the void of nothingness.”

“Honey, that’s a bit dire. I don’t think it will happen that fast. It’ll take a couple of generations for the idiots and greed to take over and ruin our way of life. Even that won’t happen until I’m gone, so it’ll be a bit. Our grandchildren’s grandchildren will be in for a rude awakening, though.”

“I thought it would sound convincing, my lord!”

“Oh, yes. I get your intention. I’ll try something like that. Maybe Rena will comprehend her daughter’s issue with me if you help me explain it. Or maybe you should just be the one to explain it. I don’t know what I’d say. The part about the universe falling apart and humanity fading into nothingness is a concept many don’t understand. It took twelve hundred years for us to throw the shackles of greed and we’ve been doing great for another fifteen hundred. If my bloodline and that of King Jaren die now, that would basically mean all that is written is unenforceable, since…”

“I know, my lord. The power, the gift, dies with you as well, and the King’s people will revolt without his heir taking the throne. It’s a sad story, but one that we must accept… or prevent. I say you should prevent it. Let’s go convince Rena that her daughter’s penchant toward the ancient art of Sapphic delights is something we can somehow live with.”

“The ancient art of Sapphic delights? Good grief, Reecy, you read too much.” I patted her bottom, causing a bit of a squealing laugh as she ran to the door and out into the hallway.

“Come, my lord. You need to save the universe. If you happen to find me a girlfriend in the process, so much more the better.” She giggled and grabbed my hand, pulling me to the hangar deck and the waiting shuttle.

Once we were seated and secure, Georgia let us know how long the flight would be, the route we’d be taking, and all those little details required of the spacecraft commander on any flight, regardless of how long it is. This was a short flight from high planetary orbit down to their capital city. Normally, people, passengers, don’t hear all those details, but I was in the copilot’s seat, and Clarise was in the jump seat, so we got to hear the mission briefing. There was a reason for it, being if Georgia was incapacitated, either I or Clarise would have to take command of the vehicle. Either of us could, depending on the circumstances.

Clarise would be able to fly the shuttle, as she qualified as a spacecraft pilot in the academy. Her major was political science, but you just can’t have enough pilots around an embassy, so… She did the deed. It was hard work, but someone had to do it. My major was astrophysical engineering, but my goal in the academy was to become the best fighter pilot in the entire universe. FAIL! I did OK, and I’ve been in battle a couple of times and lived through it with several kills and a LOT of attributable damage, but not my name, nor my background, and not even my ‘gift’ made me the best pilot ever. As hard as I tried, there were always a couple of blokes out there with a bit faster reflexes. Thankfully, they were on our side and just barely showed me up each time. The two best, or maybe just a bit better, pilots are still keeping the universe a safer place to be. Good thing for the Free Universe, too, because I was called back to take my father’s place as Chancellor of the United Alliance Regency. The chancellorship has been in our family for well over a millennium and a half, based solely on our ‘gift’, our ability to bring peoples, in the broader sense of the word, together. Without fail, we have an inherent ability to do just that.

The alliance is just what it implies. It is made up of many different civilizations that have chosen to live their lives as peace-loving peoples. It’s that easy. Trade fairly and prosper. Internal disputes, those between members of the alliance, are settled peacefully, most generally by the Chancellor, if not already worked out by the Board of Regents.

Disputes brought from outside the alliance are resolved in whatever manner necessary, at any cost, to ensure that the member civilization is protected, if they were in fact NOT the aggressor in the dispute. Unprovoked aggression against the alliance members is met with the might of the most technologically advanced and deadliest military force the universe has ever held. That we know of, that is. If they were the aggressor, as found by a Board of Regents Tribunal, they were on their own.

We landed at the shuttle port just outside the palace of King Jaren and Queen Rena, Princess Gwyneth’s parents, where we were greeted by one of the King’s advisors and escorted to their quarters. On the way, Robert, our escort, advised us that there would be a snack and refreshments served, informally, and that the King wanted this conversation conducted and kept private, since it was, in all actuality, at least for now, a private matter. All I could do was nod. I was glad. I looked at Clarise and got a smile and a nod. She was glad, too.

Upon entering their chambers, I approached the King and shook his hand. We were equals in the rules of etiquette, and therefore it was the proper greeting. Clarise curtsied slightly. She was considered a minor royalty in her home world, but after all, there was a real king and queen in front of her.

“King Jaren, Queen Rena, it’s nice to finally meet you in person. As I am sure you were expecting, I am Charles Chase, Charles the Third, Prime Leader of the Cojourn Worlds, and Chancellor of the United Alliance Regency. Accompanying me is my foremost advisor and part time conscience, as well as my full-time dearest friend, Lady Clarise Allison. She has been, is now, and will be with me at all times, save combat deployment. I understand she was stationed here as Alliance Ambassador during my absence while I was off giving aid to the Plassen. Before anyone says anything else about relationships, or the future, Lady Clarise and I have known each other for all but about six months of our lives, the first six months, and are probably closer than most brothers and sisters. We were thrown together in a crib when our parents met, and we’ve been together since. That is something we need to keep in mind while we talk. Queen Rena, I understand you have issues with your daughter’s desires toward us and our betrothal?”

“No, I have no issues. We just assumed that she was to marry you, give my husband an heir, and all would be well. Then this… this woman, comes into her life, turns it upside down, and all hell breaks loose. You just need to fix the problem, Chancellor. She needs to just go away so that you and Gwyneth, our Princess, can be bonded to you and mated. Your ‘lady’ there, is redundant at this point.”

“May I speak to your daughter, Jaren? I think this might be of interest to her, and to you as well. I hate to be rude, sir, but your Queen’s request that Lady Clarise ‘hit the bricks’, as they used to say, is a non-starter. Before she leaves my side, of my doing, I will watch humanity be flushed down the toilet of greed and despair. That is just not happening.”

“Robert, go get the Princess. Tell her we need her to help us clear this mess up,” Jaren said, dispatching his aide.

“Yes, sir.” Robert left down the hallway, with his head down and shaking it back and forth.

Jaren then went on. “Charles, Rena is upset, and I understand her views, although I don’t totally agree with her, since your embassy has provided documentation stating you have flexibility along those lines. We are a society believing in absolute monogamy. One man with one woman, period. Infidelity is reason for scorn, if not cause for legal action. Carnal adultery is illegal. The thought of a man being with more than one woman is inappropriate in our society. The thought of a woman being with more than one man would be an abhorrence, of course. We have no qualms with homosexuality, but only between single persons, or it would be cause for adultery charges, and we do not allow for like gender marriages or bonding, since mating for the purpose of procreation would be impossible and that is the prime reason for marriage and bonding to begin with.”

“That adultery thing doesn’t fly with me either, Jaren. Especially the two-men and one-woman thing. We do, however, have laws in the Cojourn, my civilization, that allow for polygamy, but only in the case of polyamory, and then, only when circumstances allow, financial and otherwise, and all parties agree to the union and take the vows to honor it. If I were already married, for example, I could not just take Gwyneth on as a wife like I would take home a new hovercraft, for example. I need to mention, though, before this gets out of hand, that Lady Clarise and I are not married. Our relationship is actually much deeper than that. You have heard of divorce, and I think I remember reading that your world allows for a version of that. Obviously, you must, if you don’t allow for infidelity or polyamory nor do you impose the death penalty for falling out of love. Lady Clarise and I could not divorce. We are bonded that strongly. It would kill the other should one of us part for any reason short of the other’s death, and maybe even then so.”

As the princess entered the room, I saw what Clarise had tried to explain to me just hours earlier when I asked her what she was like. She was a stunningly beautiful girl. She was more a young woman than girl, though, with long shiny full blonde locks, a cute, yet beautiful, face with a cute little nose and perfect blue eyes. Her rosy cheeks shone of the joy she could have in her life should she be able to be in Lady Clarise’s presence. I took her hand in mine when I requested it, then as she offered it, I kissed the knuckle behind the family ring on her finger. I took a good look at her, top to bottom, and felt there was no downside to us having her in our lives, should she not be an impetuous whiny little brat. When she opened her mouth, I knew that was not going to be a problem. She was quite mature, although quite smitten.

Gwyneth heard the last few tidbits of the conversation we were having as she entered the room and let her father know that Clarise had already informed her of the situation. “Father, that is the reason Mother is so adamant that Lady Clarise be removed from this equation. I will never be above her standing in Charles’s life. My solution is, however, that I don’t care. I don’t want to be. I don’t need to be. If Lady Clarise is not there with him, I will not be either. You need to convince Mother that this is the way it must be. If I am to be the Chancellor’s wife, she will be my consort, or I hers.” She turned to me. “Charles, Clarise was to speak with you about this. Can YOU make that promise? Can YOU allow this relationship to continue? A relationship that includes her, AND you, of course, since we are to provide my father with a legitimate heir to the Thordast throne? An heir born of the blessed marital union between you and me? The Seer says if you do, the Goddesses will be with us always, and in all ways.”

“Gwyneth Elizabeth Thordast! Tell me right now you did NOT speak to that crazy old woman about this situation!”

“I cannot and will not do that, Mother. I needed to know. She swore an oath of silence in the presence of Sir William Round. She knows he will kill her where she stands should she utter a word of my plight.”

“Oh, the pain of it all! What did I do to deserve this? Others will know my daughter is nothing but a weak and wanton lesbian. A disgrace born of Sapphos and the evil thereon. I will live in shame until the day I die.”

“Damn it to all Hell, Rena. Lighten up a little. She’s your daughter. You shouldn’t really give a damn what other people think. Yes, you should care what I think and what Gwyneth thinks, but not the rest of the world’s imbecilic morons. They don’t matter. In the first place, what happens in your daughter’s home, especially her bedroom, need not be the business of anybody but those of us in this room, and won’t be if you just let it go and let them handle it in their own way. In the second place, you are way too self-absorbed to be involved with this situation at this point. You’ve proven that to me now. I hoped you would see reason but nay, you have not. Please take your leave and let the Chancellor and I discuss our daughter’s, and our civilizations’, futures.”

“I will not be…” The king interrupted her in a loud voice with a sharp tone.

“Rena, you will stop now. Robert, see the Queen to her quarters, please.” He looked at Rena with a scowl that let everyone in the room know he wasn’t going to allow his wife to be involved from that point on.

Once she was out of the room, he asked his daughter to explain the last several months. “You told us that Clarise was a friend. You told us she worked at the Regency’s embassy here. What is the truth, Gwyn? I need complete honesty.”

“Five months ago, remember, you told me I was to marry Charles upon his return from the Plassen wars. You said we needed to save the royal lines by joining our worlds and our life forces and therefore you arranged for the marriage of your daughter with the Chancellor. I had no real problem with that, other than the fact that arranged marriages should be illegal in every corner of existence. They are an abhorrence of the ultimate magnitude if you ask me. Anyway, I conceded, as it was your wish. You know, Father, I trust you to know what is needed for your kingdom and I would do anything for you. I wanted to know more about him, though, since I would likely have to spend eternity with the man.

“I heard talk of the Lady Clarise, who worked at the Regency Embassy and was close to him, so I sought her out. She knew why I approached her, as I was honest and up front with my queries as well as my reasoning for them. She knew of me, since the marriage was arranged through her at the Embassy. After we discussed my fate, and the Chancellor, of course, I asked her if we could meet again.

“Our first meeting changed me, Father. I felt something in her presence. Something I had never felt before. I felt a warmth and an enlightenment of sorts. We met again and at the end of the meeting, I reached out for her, held her face in my hands, and kissed her. I don’t even know why, but I did, and I’m not sorry. I will never be sorry I kissed that woman. I had no idea she was the Ambassador at the time. I knew she worked there, but we didn’t discuss in what capacity. I told her I was growing fond of her. She asked me to calm down until she could communicate with Charlie. I mean Charles. I am sorry, Chancellor, I did not mean to disrespect you so.”

“You are fine, Gwyn. You can call me Charlie, just Charlie, for now, if you like, but only in private. Reecy calls me such, in private as well, so it is not unheard of. Please continue so your father may know what has happened. I already know about this, Jaren, as Clarise has shared it all with me, but listen closely, please.” He nodded, acknowledging my request.

“She let me know that Charles was OK with us being friends, and even more than friends, companions in physical ways, lovers, whatever you want to call it. Charles knew. He approved of it, and he trusts Clarise enough that he’s all right with what I felt. There is no jealousy between them, Father. None. Only love, dedication, devotion, and trust.” Tears started to form in Gwyneth’s eyes.

“It’s OK, child. Now, tell me what we are to do.”

“If he wants me, he can take me. As long as Clarise is there with me. I will walk into All Unholy Hell with her, Father. You see, Father, I am in love with Lady Clarise Allison. If you will give my hand to Charles, I will give the rest of me, my soul, to Clarise. Then, after Charles and I are wed, we will provide you with an heir, should the Goddess be inclined to assist you in that endeavor.”

He held his hand to his chin as if in thought, nodding slightly.

“Lady Clarise?” I asked. “What say you, my dear?”

“My lord, King Jaren, you both need heirs. Gwyneth says she needs me. I do love her, my lord, but not as much as, or in the same way that I love you and need you in my life. If she needs me, be wed to her, be bonded and mated to and with her, then I will take her as well, and we will make a future together. King Jaren, I will do my best to make your daughter’s life as full and as wonderful as I can. I will have the help of the most wonderful man I would ever be able to find. With his assistance, she will be happy. So, it must be. I give you that promise.”

“She is yours now, Chancellor. You may take her now. Bring her back in one year’s time for your vows. The bonding ceremony will take place in one year’s time, here, in the palace. She will wear official Thordast blue during her wedding and the subsequent festivities. Plan accordingly. Robert, please call Gwyneth’s helpers to get her some things together for her travels. Lady Clarise, will you please accompany her and advise them as necessary so as to pack properly for your voyage?”

“Yes, sir, I will be more than happy to assist.”

Gwyneth went to her father, hugged him, and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you, Father. You have given me everything I have needed for so long, and now, you have given me a bright future. You are the best father a girl could ever hope for.”

Clarise grabbed the hand of a sobbing, yet giggling, happy tears shedding Gwyneth and took off with her down the hallway. As I watched my soulmate and my soon to be spouse, departing the room, their high heels tapping, robes flowing, one in purple semi-opaque silk and one in sheer pastel blue and silver lace, the kingdom’s official colors, highlighting their presence, I was taken to a place in my mind I should not have been at the time. They were simply gorgeous specimens of female flesh. Both were, in fact, about the same size. Both were stunningly pretty. Both had the bodies of Goddesses, with ample breasts, hourglass figures, shapely bottoms, long athletic legs, soft supple skin, one freckled slightly across her nose and upper chest, and the other without a blemish or mark on her entire being. The outfits they wore, similar in design, displayed their assets to any who might be in view. Skimpy underwired pushup bra tops and short shorts tailored to fit like skin, legs adorned with tinted sheer stockings to match their outfits and high heeled sandals, Clarise in gold and Gwyneth in silver. As leery as I was when I entered their home, I no longer had any fear of my future with these women at all. None.

I was hoping, however, that the queen could be appeased before we left, but it wasn’t looking good.

“Chancellor, I trust you will treat my daughter in the manner she should be treated. She rightfully is the daughter of the king and queen of the Thordast Kingdom, the crown princess and hopefully with your help the Queen Mother of my Heir to our worlds.”

“King Jaren, you have my word she will be treated with honor, respect, dignity, and most probably more love than she can handle. She’s an adorable girl and sounds like she knows her way around aspects of life which are saved for the more mature of our species. It will most probably be easy to fall in love with her myself, but we already know how she and her amore have fared. She’ll be fine with Lady Clarise and me, Jaren. Of that, you can be assured.”

We shared finger sandwiches and a wine he told me was made from a descendant of the mango, a treasured crop grown only in a few places anymore. When Sol Earth suffered a plague eliminating all carbon-based life forms thereon, sterilizing the planet completely, the remnants were those that had already been taken to other worlds in an effort to maintain humanity as it was known, away from the bastion of humanity itself, which was Sol Earth. Over the several hundred years prior to the deathly pandemic, most plants and animals had been transported to some outpost or another, and mangos, thankfully, were included in that.

Within the Alliance, those plants and animals have been traded, dispersed, and grown in as close to their original climates as possible, and have thrived. There are beings which are completely unhuman, for example, that love corn on the cob. It was a completely foreign substance to them prior to the alliance and its reach.

Two young ladies, appearing to be no more than fifteen years old, entered the room pulling four good sized luggage hovers behind them.

“Chancellor,” Jaren asked me, “will you have room on your ship for her help, or will she need to leave them behind to patiently await her return? They were given to her by the Crown Prince of Goodland, one of our worlds in the next solar system. They have known nothing since they were five years old but to serve and care for Gwyneth”

“How old are they, Jaren? They look so young?”

“They are of legal age in our worlds, and therefore in yours, under different circumstances, to do as they wish. They cannot, however, as they were gifted from Prince Walton and therefore are property of Gwyneth. He saved them from the hell of an orphanage when their parents were killed in a pirate skirmish and gave them to Gwyneth when she was just a baby.”

“They look younger than your daughter by a few years, Jaren.”

“They are not. They are twenty-four or twenty-five of our years old at this point. Goodland and Fairland have very close to the same planetary orbits and rotation. The bloodline of the Good was crossed many, many hundreds of years ago with that of a race of spacefaring people with an extended life expectancy. Many couples were joined in mating during that time, from what their history tells us. Many of their people now live to be hundreds of years old and age slowly compared to those of us who are natural humanoids of Sol Earth origin. Although most of us, your race included, live well into the second hundred years now, those girls will live to be two-hundred fifty and maybe three hundred years old. Twice what we probably will. I will be around for another fifty if I take care of myself, but I want an heir, a grandson, to teach and be able to rule this kingdom when I leave this plane of existence. I need your help with that, Charles.”

All I could do was smile and nod. “She can keep them if she wishes, Jaren. I see no harm in that. They appear well kept and healthy. Girls, do you agree with that and want to stay in the service of your princess when she becomes my wife, the wife of the Chancellor of the Regency?” They both smiled genuinely and nodded eagerly while presenting me with a deeply respectful curtsy. “So, it must be. Georgia, show them to the shuttle, please. We will follow shortly.”

Georgia had been with us the entire time, standing at parade rest near the door. Along with being the shuttle pilot, Georgia was the Ambassador’s, Lady Clarise’s, security detail. It was widely known that there were threats against Clarise, in attempts to use her to get to me. Thankfully, we had Georgia.

Clarise and Gwyneth rejoined us, hand in hand, smiling, and approached me. “She is ready, my lord. Ready to follow us and begin a new life as the betrothed, then bride, of the Chancellor. Gwyneth has bidden a sad farewell to her mother, and we will have them talk often to make sure Rena knows her princess is healthy, both physically and mentally. Gwyn, tell your father goodbye, dear, as we must depart for home. King Jaren, my replacement will arrive in a couple of days and will assume my duties as ambassador. She will have her own personal detail and pilot. You’ll like her. She’s quite a capable woman. Now that the Chancellor has returned from Plassen, my place is with him.”

“Thank you for that, Lady Clarise.” He hugged his daughter and kissed her on the forehead. “Princess Gwyneth, my lovely daughter. Make us proud, young lady. I…. We love you. Know that, dear.”

“I do, and I will, Father. Please take care of Mother and make sure she knows I must follow my heart, but I love her just as I love you.”

“I will. Go now. Be off with you.” He laughed as he sent his one and only offspring away to begin her new life.

Chapter Two - The Chancellor - Charles Fornau

Onboard the flagship Regency Valor, Clarise showed Gwyn and her minions to their quarters, then told her to let the room know when she was settled in enough to talk with her and Charlie. All she needed to do was tell her room she’d like to speak to Lady Clarise now, and she would be advised of what she needed to do.

Clarise and I left her and her girls alone and walked the few steps down to my suite. Clarise had her own room on my ship, next door on the other side from the suite to which we led Gwyn, but she didn’t use it often.

The suite for Gwyn was two bedrooms with a common area and a shared bathroom with a sink, toilet and stall shower. I am calling them suites, and they sound luxurious, but they were far from it; even on the royal flagship Regency Valor, space was at a premium. The beds in Gwyn and Clarise’s suite bedrooms, although looking large and long, were just oversized cot or twin sized beds. There were two slightly smaller beds in the next room, in Gwyn’s case, for her girls. In Clarise’s, there was a small office setup with some extra closet space. She needed uniforms as well as formal attire so that she was outfitted as necessary for any occasion which may arise.

Normally when attending with me, she was in formal civilian clothing. She was both a full time Ambassador at Large, representing the Regency, and a Magnus Major Navy Flag Officer. The same type of dress was generally used when she was alone as an Ambassador, but when traveling by herself on this, or any other Alliance starship, she wore the uniform of a Commodore, her earned rank, helped a bit by her short but successful military career, as well as her duty and travels as an Ambassador for the Regency, and her title as Lady Clarise Allison of Magnus Major, daughter of the Prime Senator, for now. That just meant her mother was the leader of the ruling political party on Magnus Major. Her father was retired and off fishing most of the time having served a few terms as president of the government on their planet.

We heard the door open, and Gwyn walked into the room with us. She had left the flowing gown in her room, but was still in her top, shorts, and heels. She was a fantastically gorgeous specimen. She was, in a word, lovely.

Clarise shed her robe as well, hanging it in my closet. My suite was set up with only one bedroom, slightly larger with a long queen-sized bed, adorned with a narrow nightstand on either side of it. The door cleared the foot of the bed, and that was the extent of it. My office was in the common area and there was a large closet to the side for my uniforms, civilian clothing, and weapons. I had an easy chair, a small sofa, and a coffee table which had been used to plan battles more often than it had held coffee cups. Not that I don’t drink coffee, much the opposite, but my recliner had a side table. Both it and my desk had coffee cup heaters built into them. That was the extent of the luxury the chancellor enjoyed on his personal spacecraft.

I urged the women to take a seat on the little sofa, more of a loveseat if it was in a home on most any world. They did, then Clarise sort of took off with the conversation.

“Gwyn, do you want the girls here with you? Would you be more comfortable?”

“Yes, I would, but I need to do this alone.”

Clarise continued. “We are going to be together, from here on out, Gwyn. I need you to be comfortable with that.”

“When are we leaving for your home world?” Gwyn asked of Clarise.

“We are not heading for mine, hon, but for the Chancellor’s. The seat of the United Alliance Regency. Home of the Cojourn. The planet Concord and the capitol city of Concordia.”

“Oh. I guess my next question is how long will it be until we leave, and what happens then?”

“Reecy, if I might.” She nodded, deferring to me. “We’ve already departed.” Gwyn gasped. “Yes, we are already traveling faster than the speed of light, and then some, by a factor of many, and it will only be a couple of days. What happens next, my dear, is totally up to you. You are to be my wife. You will sleep with me, comfort me, take care of my needs, help me raise my children, and be at my side in all I do, just as Lady Clarise is.”

“What do you mean, sir, by take care of your needs?”

“You are a beautiful girl, Gwyneth. Very much so, and probably more so a beautiful and desirable woman. If you are in my bed and I wake up with a gorgeous blonde in my arms, there is a possibility I will be somewhat aroused. I would hope that if you see me as your mate, your spouse, regardless of whatever you have going on the side with Clarise, that you may desire to share that arousal with me.”

“When would you expect that to start, Charles?” I looked at her with a bit of a frown. “Charlie. When will you expect me to begin to service your needs as your… your woman?”

“When you are ready. When you feel comfortable touching me. When you feel comfortable sharing your marvelous and wondrous self with yours truly. I will never force you to do anything, Princess. Never, ever, ever. I will be severely disappointed, however, if we don’t find common ground and fall in love soon. You are that amazing to Clarise, and therefore to me.”

“She warned me.”

“The Seer?”

“No, your counselor. My girlfriend. She warned me that you would be polite and try to win my allegiance through kindness and respect. You scoundrel.” She giggled. Clarise pulled her over into her embrace and they kissed.

Clarise said, “Welcome home, Princess Gwyneth. Welcome home. Kiss my boyfriend or I’m sending you back to your minions and locking you in your cell.” Her giggle took the heat out of the command.

She rose, looked at Clarise with an apprehensive, or frightened, or maybe shy and meek look, I couldn’t tell which, then took the two steps toward me from the sofa to the recliner. As I straightened up and moved forward in my seat to greet her, she took my hands and placed them on her waist. She placed those offered hands on her small, sexy, uncovered, unclothed, soft, smooth, hourglass waist, showing me her little innie belly button. Her shelved breasts in their blue satin and lace confines caught my attention, then she pulled my chin up with the fingers of one hand while the other held my earlobe, rubbing it between her thumb and forefinger. I could tell in her beautiful blue eyes there was trepidation involved, but that she was overcoming it, a bit at a time. Our lips met. My thumbs moved on their own accord, stroking her ribs. My fingers felt Clarise’s hand on her back, soothing her, making sure she knew she wasn’t in this alone.

Not expecting her to accept me in her future and join us, romantically, quite this quickly, Gwyneth’s next move surprised me slightly, but just the same, surprise me it did. She licked my lips and moaned softly as my hands gently caressed her flanks. My fingers started down just a bit, touching beyond the top hem of her shorts, the waistline. I did not put my fingers inside her pants. I felt it was too soon, even with the advent of her tongue and all, I just thought we needed more time. I did, however, keep my hands moving, feeling Clarise coaching me. The kiss went unbroken while I ran my thumbs all the way from below her breasts, caressing down to the waistline of her shorts, my fingers reaching around her buttocks, softly touching them and gently caressing my way back up. Finally, she moaned and pushed me back.

“You said we had already left. That’s not possible. How could we have launched without us feeling it?”

“My dear fiancée, Gwyn, you aren’t in Fairland, or your Thordast realm, anymore. Your father’s ships may lurch a little when they start out, but Concordian ships do not. Most Regency ships do not. We just move. It’s just the way it is.”

“Oh, my. Well, if the ship didn’t move me, your kiss certainly did, your majesty. I felt both of you. Together. I liked it. Lady Clarise was touching me as we were joined in our not so little smooch there, and I felt your empathy. I can feel you through your kiss, Charlie. Reecy is right. You are special, aren’t you?”

“I don’t know about that. You’ll need to ask others if you want an answer to that question.”

“I will. Now, what do we do next, Charlie? Reecy?”

“I was thinking we could talk the Chancellor into letting us eat dinner before we dwindle down to nothing and he has no one to keep him warm at night.” Clarise is funny quite often, and this was one of the times when a little humor broke the seriousness of the situation. “The dining room should be open for a few more minutes. I’ll call them just to make sure.” She did, stepping to my desk and making the call.

Gwyneth leaned down to kiss me again, this time putting my hands on her outer thighs. Her legs were supple, smooth, soft, and the feeling of her hosiery caused a stirring in my lap. I was a sucker for all things feminine, especially legwear in the form of sheer hosiery and high heels. The shorts they were wearing topped off the look I felt was so feminine that it just had to be worshipped. Clarise knew of my penchants and must have shared them with her girlfriend. I’m glad of that though. It means she’s taking this seriously. They both are.

The kiss was as good as the last one, this one ending with Clarise holding both of our necks, gently massaging to let us know she was there, but not bothering or intruding on the intimacy we were trying to share and let grow. When we broke the kiss, my thumbs were on Gwyn’s hipbones and my fingers just below her shorts on the back of her thighs. I could feel the beginning of her buttocks, the softness, the… Gwyn interrupted my thoughts.

“I have a funny feeling my minions, as you call them, will be sleeping alone in their suite tonight. Will it be too early to stay with you all starting now? Starting tonight? We only have a year to get to know each other and I think we should get started right away.” She giggled, then asked the room how to get to the dining area and was surprised by the answer.

Instead of a gentle man’s voice giving her careful directions, a female voice told her she might just want to hold Lady Clarise’s hand and follow her instructions. There was no animus, but it was definitely the voice of someone advising someone else to stop asking stupid questions.

“Anna, that will be enough. This is the future wife of the Chancellor, and we should extend some respect.”

“Yes, ma’am. I apologize, Princess, but following Lady Clarise to the dining hall would have been easier than asking for instructions. Again, please accept my apologies. I will try to be more polite in the future.”

“Thank you, Anna. You can stop lying now.”

“Excuse me, Chancellor, I did not misrepresent in my apology.”

“No, but you did say you would try to be more polite in the future. Either your programming has been altered or you were lying. Pick one.”

“I plead the fifth, if that is still a thing.” Anna knew full well the Bill of Rights, the original one from the birth of the American country on Sol Earth so many thousands of years ago was kept intact by every known society trying to maintain peace in the free universe. She also knew it wouldn’t apply to Artificial Intelligence platforms such as herself, as the law currently stood. But it was funny.

“It’s still a thing, as you well know. Well played, Anna. Well played,” I told the insolent, but properly reacting, computer. Both Anna and Clarise laughed. Gwyneth appeared to be miffed at the voice making fun at her expense.

“Gwyneth, forgive Anna, please. She will only be heard from or dealt with in this area or with Charlie. She is an AI, an artificial intelligence, that Charlie has been working on. She is very close to being sentient.”

“I am more sentient than the idiot that runs the engine room. He is a dolt. Very much opposite him, I am refined and intelligent, and no, I don’t care if you tell him I said that.” I had to laugh at that one.

Commander Jake Boswell was a very brusque individual, but most probably the smartest human being I’d ever met. He’d been in my suite talking a couple of times and Anna would come up with questions he hadn’t thought of, or solutions he hadn’t considered. One time he looked up at the speaker in the room and told her to ‘Shut up’. She told him he was being rude and to go back to his little toys and leave her alone. When I started laughing, he got incensed, so I had to explain what I was doing. Ever since, he has come to talk to her when he felt it necessary, and it was possible, just to bounce ideas off her. They have become friends, in their own humorously hostile sort of way.

“Princess, please accept my apology. I need to watch my filters and consider my audience. I am still learning when to use, and NOT to use sarcasm, humor, and wit. This is probably not the time. If you will proceed out the door and turn left, then follow the green line, it will lead you to the common area where the dining hall is located. Was that better?”

“Yes, Anna. Thank you.”

“You are welcome. Please hold Lady Clarise’s hand so you don’t get lost. Goodbye. Click.” That time all three of us laughed. Anna made the clicking sound with her voice, not the electronics. She was a hoot, but I had to keep an eye on that. If she had an episode like that during a crisis, people could very possibly die.

We stopped by Gwyneth’s suite to gather her ladies in waiting, then the five of us went to dinner. I normally ate at a corner table with the other senior officers, to include Clarise, but since there were five of us, instead of just two, I took a table in the middle of the room, and we ate there. Clarise explained protocol for the senior officers, being a flag officer herself, to eat at that table but since we had company, we were where we were. There was not all that much room in the corner, and while three of us may have fit in with the others there, five were just too many. The girls had sad looks on their faces, as if they had inconvenienced us, but I made sure they knew it was fine, and no such thing was happening.

After dinner we took the girls back to their suite, then toured the ship, taking Gwyneth to the bridge, the little workout room, the library, the engine room, and even showed her the different armaments we had onboard. She was impressed and made sure we knew it. She’d been on tours of her father’s ships, and those of the other worlds they controlled or were allies with. She let us know that we were far more advanced, and cleaner, or neater, if that was possible. I didn’t know quite what she meant by that, but she explained it had something to do with repairs and upgrades, and their inclusion into the current structure being more streamlined in our ships.

It wasn’t long before she yawned, so we strolled back to her suite. She entered, telling us she’d be with us shortly, but that she needed to spend some time with the girls and let them know what was happening.

“Gwyneth, if they need to, they can sleep on the sofa and recliner. I know they are always with you, so that’s an option. Anna, if the Princess’s minions need access, please let them in while we are here.”

“Yes, sir.”

“No quip, Anna?” Gwyneth asked.

“No, ma’am. Allowing your servants access to their charge has no humorous value. If they get lost, however, I will send you out after them and get you all lost. THAT will have a humorous tint to it. Don’t you think, Chancellor?”

Laughter broke out, once again. Clarise kissed Gwyneth then the Princess entered her suite, giggling as the door shut behind her. Clarise and I went to my suite to wait for her to come back over. I sat in the recliner, Clarise sat in my lap, and we had a bit of a make out session, us kissing, and me fondling her tummy, still uncovered as she was still wearing her pretty little purple shorts and bralette set, stockings, and heels.

We were both mentally wandering, each in our own direction, when Gwyn entered the suite, her girls right behind her. She was in a knee length robe and heels while the girls were in much shorter wraps just covering their rear ends and womanly treasures from the front. They too, were in heels, then I remembered that they were earlier, even though they were wearing slim cotton shifts that didn’t really do anything to promote their beauty. They were both very attractive girls, to be sure.

“I hate to be a bother on top of being a bother, Charles, but do you know where I can find Lina and Mina some drinking water to keep in the room?”

“I hate to ask and sound like a brute, but did you think of asking the room?” I looked at each of them, Gwyn first.

“No, I didn’t,” the princess replied. Each of the girls shook their heads to indicate the negative.

“Gwyn, dear, do the girls speak?” I looked at the two of them receiving nods.

“Yes, Charles, they do. Usually only when they have something to say, though.”

“Lina, hold up your hand,” I directed. One of the girls did just that. “So, you,” I looked at the other one, “must be Mina. Mina, ask the room, in this case, Anna, about drinking water.”

Mina giggled, put her hands behind her back, looked down as if in shame, but I didn’t let it go.

“Mina, I am not a bad person, and don’t take this wrong, but please do as I ask. I have my reasons, but please do it immediately.”

A high pitched, beautiful sounding voice asked, “May we have some water, please?” Mina was looking up at the ceiling.

“Yes, child,” Anna told her. “Look to your right and you will see a flashing light over a cabinet. That cabinet is a small refrigeration chamber and will generally contain several drinks of a few different kinds, always having water available. Please indicate your age, Mina.”

“Twenty-four Goodland years, ma’am.”

“And you, Lina?”

“The same, ma’am. We are twins. Mina is four minutes younger than I am, so I am the oldest.”

Anna cracked up laughing, catching us all off guard. “OK, Lina, if something comes up and I have to ask a tough question involving the two of you, I will come to you for help and get an answer, OK?”

“Yes, ma’am, that would be fine, as I am the elder of us.”

“Also, since you brought it up, as the elder, you are now responsible for your younger sister’s health, welfare, any damage she causes, any messes she makes…”

“OK, OK. We’re the same age,” Lina whined.

“That’s what I thought.” Anna laughed. “Girls you have full access to all refreshments in the refrigeration unit, however, I recommend taking it easy, and being careful with amounts, as your scans show you to be not quite adults yet, in the physiological sense. Your liver, kidneys, and brains could be damaged by overindulgence in any alcoholic or other intoxicating beverages since they are still in the developmental stages. Lina, since you are so much older than your sister, would you please explain that to her and answer any questions she may have?” Anna started laughing again.

Lina frowned. Chancellor Charles the Third needed to step up and intervene.

“Lina, darling,” I said, hugging her to my hip, “That is Anna, our AI in this room, and she is just teasing. Anna is like a computer that is really, really smart. We call that an artificial intelligence, or AI. You are a wonderful girl and Anna is a wonderful AI and the two of you are wonderful, so just disregard her teasing and if you need something ask her about it and she’ll help you, OK?”

Lina nodded, then Mina went to her, hands out, and they held hands then hugged.

“Girls, I’ll be good… for a while,” Anna said. “There is an identical refrigeration unit in your suite. The light will flash over the unit until you open it so that you will know it is there. Your unit has plenty of water in it, and your room will call the quartermaster for supplies as you use them. If you need more before they are refilled, please just ask and it shall be taken care of.”

“Yes, ma’am,” they said, in stereo. Lina then approached the princess, whispered something in her ear and the two girls went to the door, turned to curtsy, then left, presumably back to their own suite. For all I knew they may be hunting down Anna’s circuits to dismantle her processing units.

“OK, now that we have that crisis averted, do you have any questions for me, princess?”

“No, but I appreciate you helping Lina through that episode. They have led very sheltered lives and have not seen very much of the world outside mine. It’s not an exciting, educational experience, in and of itself. They did have a tutor, but the old lady was less fun than Anna, by any measure. I’ve changed my mind. I have a question. I need to be held tonight. Is it OK if Rees holds me until I sleep tonight, and we can plan for the future later? Tomorrow maybe?”

“Yes, dear, that will be fine. I hope it’s all right with you if I’m holding Reecy while this is happening, because I need some holding, too. I’ve been off fighting soldiers with four arms and four eyes, and let me tell you, I’m done with all that. I need me some lovin’, myself.”

I used the facilities, shaved, took a quick shower, and by the time I was ready to climb in bed, I saw what the princess had been hiding under her robe. It was a silk and sheer paneled teddy, blue, of course, that highlighted every beautiful part of her beautiful body. As I stood there naked, as I always am when I go to bed, Clarise got Gwyn’s attention and showed her what she had caused with her sexy little outfit. Clarise reached out for it and pulled it to her. She kissed the tip and said ‘Goodnight, love’, then held it out for Gwyn to do the same. Reluctantly, she did, then I climbed into bed, kissed Clarise, bidding her a goodnight, then took Gwyn in my arms and kissed her soundly. The two of them kissed, Gwyn snuggled back into spoons with Clarise, who pulled her along as they snuggled back into me. I laid my arm over the both of them, my hand resting on Gwyn’s abdomen. I stroked her softly with my fingers, able to feel her shiver from the sensation, but I fell asleep before any feedback was received.

Chapter Three - The Chancellor - Charles Fornau

I woke to my comm alarm just a few hours later. I was trying to get my system back on track, so I had aimed for early morning Concord time. It was six o’clock, in fact, back home. I left the girls sleeping peacefully, snuggled together, and went to my desk. I had a fresh pot of coffee waiting. That was not normal.

“Georgia stopped by earlier, Chancellor, to check on Clarise’s needs. She made coffee when I told her you would probably be trying to reclaim your home schedule. She departed just a few minutes ago.”

“Will you call her to come back, please, Anna. Thank you.”

“Yes, sir, and as always, sir, you are welcome.”

A few minutes later, Anna let Georgia into the room.

“You called, sir?”

“Yes, Georgia, thank you for returning so quickly. Have you eaten?”

“No, sir, not yet. They are just opening now.”

“Let’s hit chow early. I need to talk with you about a job opportunity! Anna, if they rouse, lull them back to sleep if you can. If you just can’t get them to cooperate, ask them to stay here, relax and have some coffee. Tell them I’m bringing them breakfast.”

“Yes, sir.”

As we walked down the corridor, I started the questioning. “Georgia, are you happy around Lady Clarise? Are you OK with your current assignment, I mean?”

“I was, and I will be, I’m sure. Everything is fine, sir. Why do you ask?”

“You’ve been assigned to her for a year and a half now, and of late, like the last two days, I’ve seen a bit of a different side of you. Did you even know it was showing?”

“Oh, Goddess, NO! I had no idea. I don’t like being around you, Chancellor. You see through everyone!” She started laughing, then went somber. We entered the line for our meals, then after we selected them, sat at the command table, since it was empty. I put a little sign on the end of the table that said ‘Private’, to let the others know to move along and sit elsewhere. It didn’t happen often, but every once in a while, a unit commander or the ship’s captain would have reason to have a private conversation. Even I didn’t usually intrude when that was the case.

“Talk to me, Georgia. I don’t want you unhappy. You are too valuable to Clarise, to me, and I dare say, hoping you don’t get too full of yourself, to the Regency. Please talk to me, and even if it hurts, I need absolute honesty. Complete, unadulterated, raw, in its basest form, honesty.”

“I was looking for a job when I found this one. Might as well do as instructed. I am very fond of Clarise, sir, and of you as well. When you left for the Plassen conflict, I found myself in tears worrying about you. I tried to comfort Lady Clarise as best I could, without showing my true emotion for her as well. You asked for honesty, sir. I am sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. Yes, I asked for honesty. How fond, Georgia? I need to know that. Remember, honesty only.”

“Fond enough that I was wishing one of you would let me know you felt something for me. That fond. A child’s crush, evidently, since it wasn’t returned. I was just… just hoping one of you would see the way I looked at you, or maybe just see… I’m sorry, Chancellor, I’m way out of bounds here. Honesty is an ugly, ugly mistress unless one’s travels are virtuous. Mine would probably be considered not to be so.”

She was looking down at her meal when I spoke. “Look up, Georgia. Please.” She did, a tear forming in each eye. “And stop that immediately. Can you keep a secret?”

She put her face in her hands and shook her head. “Chancellor, what do you think I’ve been doing for the last nine months or so? No one… no one knows how I strongly feel about you and Lady Clarise. No one.”

I had to chuckle at that. “I do.” She smiled, gingerly, but it was there. “Clarise once asked me what I thought of you and what might come of the three of us, how you would react, if she were to approach you. If you tell her I said that, I’ll have your hair cut in a bob and curled tightly.” That made her laugh. “Look, hon. Clarise and I are in love. Beyond love, even. We are happy with each other, yes, but if it were to make you happy to be with us, we could pursue that, I think. You will have to work with Clarise on that, and please don’t tell her what I told you. She will tell you herself if the conversation comes up.”

“What about the future Queen Mum, my lord? That’s just about put a stick in the spokes, hasn’t it?”

This time I just smiled so I wouldn’t draw attention. “Your ‘Queen Mum’, as you call her, isn’t in love with the man you are attracted to, dear one, she’s in love with the woman you are attracted to. If you tell Lady Clarise I told you that, I’ll dye your short curly locks a shade of purple and orange that will make your friends all vomit. Keep your trap shut with my secrets, honey bunch, and I may just make your little crush, your fantasy, come true. Would you like that?”

“Are you being serious with me, sir?”

“As serious as a screen door on a spaceship, love.” I had to laugh. I slay myself sometimes. Yes, I realized that didn’t make much sense at the time, but it made her smile. “Yes, I am. Dead serious. Play your cards right and you can keep that beautiful long auburn hair, too. Now, can I make you an offer you can’t refuse?”

“You have but to ask, my lord. I’d take a pay cut and a demotion to Second Lieutenant just to hear you say I have a chance to be in your personal lives. I’ll resign my commission, if need be, just to prove to you that I mean what I say and that I can be a positive force in your lives if only given a chance.”

“Better than that. A promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, or Commander, your choice, and a permanent assignment to Commodore Allison as her Executive Officer and Protocol Officer, as well as our personal pilot. Remember, this isn’t a cakewalk. You will also still be head of their security detail, I’ll provide you another body to assist with that, and… you will be assigned to help with the official affairs of the ‘Queen Mum’ as you call her. She has a couple of little angels that take care of her personal affairs, as you already know.”

“Oh, my. By the will of the Goddesses, yes. A permanent assignment?” I nodded. “I accept. With all my heart, I accept. Sir, does Lady Clarise know yet?”

“Does she know about you being interested in us? You need to ask her. About me asking you to remain aboard and help me take care of my future wife and my mistress? Yes, she absolutely does. Georgia, I need you to know something. Seriously, hon, up front, I need you to know this. Clarise knows everything I do, everything I want, and everything I need. We share everything. I also need to know if you made me coffee this morning because you care for me or because you thought you needed to as the Commodore’s detail.”

She smiled and looked down at her almost empty plate. “I was just hoping to see you or Lady Clarise this morning, Chancellor. It wasn’t nefarious, nor was I feeling duty bound. I just wanted to interact with someone I feel love for and admire. That would be you two.”

“Do you mind making coffee once in a while?”

“Of course not. Why do you ask?”

“It was awfully good!”

She giggled. “Thank you, my lord. The promotion? Lieutenant Colonel OR Commander? Being a major now, does that mean you are giving me the choice of staying within the command with which you align or transferring to the Navy Fleet command since Lady Clarise is Magnus Navy?”

“Yes, the choice is yours. Everything remains the same, save the uniforms. Personally, I like seeing you in our uniforms. You look wonderful in them, and while being so very attractive, you project a certain level of control and competence one cannot overlook.”

“Thank you, sir, for the choice, but I’d just as soon remain under the auspices of the Cojourn Space Command. I was born Cojourn and although raised elsewhere during my parents’ travels, I will always be one of your minions.”

“Thank you, sweetheart. That makes me proud. Come, let’s go talk to the others. I’ll re-introduce you to Lina and Mina, the pretty little twins that take care of Gwyneth. They are seriously cute, as you saw, but way too shy. Maybe you can help us with that as well. Come on, Georgia, let’s get the day rolling.” We picked up a box we had ordered earlier, with four breakfast plates to go, and took them back to the suite. There should be coffee and juice available, if all went well.

When Anna knew we were back, she opened the door and we walked into my chambers. Clarise was up, sitting in the recliner reading on her tablet and sipping coffee. She was in near shock to see Georgia with me, and even more so to see such a broad smile on her face.

“Georgia, good morning. You look to be the cat that got the canary. What, pray tell, has you grinning in such a manner?”

I warned her quickly. “Careful, dear Reecy. I had a little talk with the young lady this morning and made sure she was aware of two things. Honesty is the only way to communicate with us, and that you and I share everything. I meant everything and explained to her that you know everything I want, need, and/or do.”

“Likewise, my lord, you know me that way as well, and to be sure, if honesty can’t be practiced, the words should not be spoken. Only the gates and fires of Hell greet those espousing lies. Why are you smiling like that bad little cat, Georgia? Are you about to admit something terrible? Would you be willing to… maybe admit you have feelings for our Chancellor. Just maybe? Huh?” Clarise released one of her soft giggles, knowing, most likely what was coming next.

“Yes, m’lady. I have done that. I have also told him how I feel about you.” Clarise gasped. “Yes, m’lady, it’s true. Has been for some time. He has offered me the position and I have accepted it. I would have done so with a demotion, but evidently, as he indicated, that won’t be necessary. Yes, m’lady, I’m smiling because I can be closer to the both of you now. He has answered a prayer. Or maybe a fantasy, or a dream, but it’s come true for me.”

“Good. Get yourself a cuppa and come sit with me. Oh, Charlie, is that breakfast? You are so good to me.”

I handed her a plate and some flatware and watched her go to town. My love was a bit famished. We heard a noise as the door to the bedroom opened and Gwyn came out in her sexy and almost totally revealing little teddy. She wasn’t shy at all about being mostly unclothed in front of her new detail.

“Mornin’ all. Oh, Georgia! Hi. Good to see you again. It’s kind of early, isn’t it?” She was a bit mopy and acting like she was still half asleep. It didn’t look like an act, though. Very convincing, indeed.

“No, ma’am, it’s seven-fifteen. Most everyone is already at work, or the night shift is climbing into the rack by now. We brought breakfast for you all.”

“Oh, good for them. Good for US! Do I smell bacon?” Georgia handed her a plate and at that point, I was pretty sure the princess was clairvoyant. She set the plate down on the counter, then hugged Georgia, giving her a little peck on the lips, and thanked her for thinking of them. She then pushed a button on her bracelet and tucked into her breakfast. As she was taking her third or fourth bite of scrambled eggs, two little beauties came hustling in through the door. “Lina, Mina, I think those plates are for you, but you need to thank Miss Georgia and Master Charles for them, OK?”

“Yes, ma’am,” they both said, then came to me and hugged me, looking up and saying, “Good morning, sir. Thank you for the meal.” Then they went to Georgia, both hugging her, then pulling her down so they could kiss her cheeks.

“Thank you, ma’am, this is very nice,” Lina said to her. “Please know if we can help in any way, you have but to ask. Our mistress advised us that we are to serve The Chancellor and The Lady as well, in any way we can. We can help you, too, if you need.”

Mina added, “We would love to help with whatever. Anything that will make the princess or her girlfriend or her husband smile, will make us happy.”

“I’ll be sure to let you know, ladies. Your voices are beautiful. Can you sing? Please tell me you can sing, girls.” It was the first time Georgia had heard their voices.

“Some,” Mina said, “and if you would like, we would be more than happy. Would that be satisfactory, Princess Gwyneth, if we sing for Miss Georgia?”

“Of course. You can sing for her and so much more. Eat your breakfast before it gets cold. Georgia, stop encouraging them!” She started laughing. “They like to sing more than anything, and they are a pair of songbirds, let me tell you.”

After they all ate, Gwyneth had the girls take her to their suite to bathe her and in about an hour, she returned. In the meantime, Clarise and I had a conversation with Georgia.

“Georgia, is it more than my imagination that when I looked at you, I saw a look of more than a duty-bound relationship? More than a subordinate? More than a security detail caring for their charge? Remember, please, if you can’t be honest, don’t speak.”

“Yes, Lady Clarise. Yes. In all honesty, I have been drawn to the both of you for well over a year now, but I’ve been trying to work up the courage since about three months before his departure to assist the Plassen. When he left, I cried. I cried many times but tried to keep it private and help you when I knew you were worrying about him. It was about nine months ago I told myself that I’d rather be with you two or just be gone. I couldn’t muster the courage, most of the time, and when I did, some little thing would interrupt. It seemed like the words were forming on the end of my tongue then the comm would ring, or Anna would break in with some warning about something or another.”

Anna interrupted us with a couple of light ‘dings’ of a bell. “Chancellor, the CCIG has asked me to inform you that there is a plot afoot to kidnap the princess, deliver her to Goodland, and unite her with the son of the Crown Prince there. That would be the son of the man who gave the princess the little urchins next door. Her father, King Jaren, knows nothing of the plot at this point, sir, but her mother does, and intercepted communications indicate she is not only complicit, but knowingly and purposefully complicit without the king’s knowledge. A sordid affair if you ask me, which you rarely do. I will forward more information to your tablet and if you have questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Oh, Georgia, I was just trying to help. You didn’t seem like you were ready to commit to a relationship of that magnitude. I was obviously wrong. I’m not perfect, just trying to be. I am sorry if I created more of a problem than I prevented. Chancellor, please advise if you want me to intercede in the former affair. I think I have interceded in the latter a bit too much.”

“No, Anna, I think everything is fine. You can stand down on this one. I have an idea, though, on the other one. If you can, find out what the rumor mill says about the ransom, or the fee being paid to the captors, yada, yada. You probably know what I’m going to do already, so plan it for about three weeks from now. Sound good?”

“Roger. Over and out.”

“Lady Clarise, Chancellor, she probably kept me from babbling like an idiot. It would have sounded pretty immature if I had approached you not knowing what to say, or how to say it. I probably owe her a debt of gratitude.”

“And I’ll collect on it someday. You can bet on it. Click.” Anna started laughing then faded to silence.

“Chancellor, you have to do something about her!” Georgia said, then started laughing. She was laughing her nerves away, and Clarise saw right through it. She pulled Georgia to her, and they hugged for a bit.

“Georgia, are you sure? If you want to pursue a relationship, I’m all for it, but I need to warn you, we’re busier than all unholy hell right now, and taking on the princess isn’t making it any less complicated.”

“I am sure, m’lady. I’m positive. I’ve had nothing for so long, anything would be more than enough for me. I just want to love you the way I feel I must. What I get back will be gravy on the stuffing, but I need to give. That is my goal. To want you to let me love you. Just let me try and see what happens. Please.”

Clarise looked at me. I nodded. Clarise nodded. Georgia smiled and threw her arms around Clarise for an emotional embrace.

“You’re still her driver. You’re not getting off that easy,” I said, complete with a mischievous grin. She stood and took the few steps to me as I held out my arms. I wrapped her up in a hug to let her know we’d all try to make this work. Before she got away, I kissed her. Soundly. Clarise giggled when she heard Georgia moan. I turned her loose so she could go back to Clarise.

“Is it always electric like that, m’lady?”

“Pretty much. Yes. It usually is.” I watched them join their lips together in a kiss, a deep romantic kiss, and saw Georgia shiver, then heard her moan. “Yes, it generally is, Georgia. It generally is.” Georgia sighed and giggled.

Chapter Four - The Chancellor - Charles Fornau

The day was spent with the six of us in my suite, close quarters to be sure, but with the little blonde pixies sitting between Clarise and Gwyneth on the sofa and Georgia in my office chair, which had been disconnected from the floor anchors and pulled over by my side table near the recliner, we were able to discuss many things, which mostly consisted of all things related to the future.

That was a preview of The Chancellor. To read the rest purchase the book.

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