Vela finally putting Saoirse in her place was probably the whole highlight of the morning, and nothing save for the adventurous night that Lewis had experienced could really top it. The mad harem woman didn’t say another word through the rest of breakfast, and disappeared shortly after.

Lewis had avoided the marriage question, unsure of how to answer it. Vela, of course, had a plan, and pulled the King aside the moment he was free.

“Listen… I would make the wedding sooner, rather than later,” she said in a hushed tone.

“Look, if this is about the se-”

There was a serious look on her face, “Oh who cares about that right now. Look..Saoirse is up to something. I don’t know what…but she’s definitely trying something…”

When pressed for details, though, vela didn’t have anything relevant. She apologized, but promised to keep an eye out on her.

“Thanks,” Lewis said. “For watching my back…”

—

Near the end of the day, a knight rushed into Lewis’ office, holding a letter. “My Lord! It’s urgent! There’s been a sighting of Lord Alvaro to the south!”

Lewis jumped up. “No. That’s impossible. I killed him…” The King tore the note from the knight's hand, and read it for himself. Surely enough, it was sealed with the Crest of Flames of the Southern Kingdom. “That bastard…”

By morning, Lewis was ready to ride. Rhenakos and Drake were at his side, and he had decided to leave Xeik and Vela in Auclair to run things. “For all intents and purposes…Xeik is in charge.” He gave a look to Vela. “That means you too…”

“Be careful.” Simone came out from a passageway and tied a tassel to Lewis. “It’s short notice so it’s not well made but… Women make them here for good luck.” She gave him a smile. “So just come back to me alright?”

Vela smirked a bit, “You two are adorableeee.”

“Please take care of me,” she bowed to Xeik and Vela.

“Leave your safety to us, princess.”

Of course, that was what they said but… The moment Lewis had left trouble started to brew in Auclair.

“Announcing Prince Jerome of the Flores Kingdom.” A messenger from the Flores kingdom came in with Jerome to announce him.

“Oi, this isn’t good Xeik,” Vela whispered.

“Our king is out and if you need something… I hope we will be good enough,” Xeik said.

“I’m just here to accept his proposal. Alliance with Kalitoya… For Simone’s hand in marriage.”

“Wait… What?!” The messenger offered up the letter.

“This is his handwriting and his seal but…” There was no way that Lewis would give Simone away when they were due to be married. What was going on?

Vela’s face drained of color.

“You two tell Lewis,” Simone spoke to them. “If we try to fight while we don’t have most of our resources it will end badly…”

Vela left after Jerome had carted Simone off. She was soaring fast towards where Lewis was headed. “Lewis! We got massive amounts of trouble! You need to get back to the castle now! This was a trick!”

It had only been a few days since Lewis had left, and to his surprise, there were few, if any, leads on Alvaro. In fact, the whole ordeal seemed rather odd. He knew that the letter itself was suspicious, but even if it was only a rumor, he had little choice but to take up arms and go hunting. Besides, with Xeik and Vela, there was little to worry about. They could handle just about any threat that would show, and if they couldn’t…

“Oh no,” Lewis said to himself as Xeik and Vela appeared on the horizon.

—

Lewis arrived in Auclair in half the time that it took him to leave. He had pushed his horses hard, and stormed into the castle gates. He was furious. Not because of Xeik and Vela’s failure, but because he was tricked. The Tyrant Phoenix King would have to show himself once more to the world…

“It seems that this…Prince Jerome guy was once engaged to Simone.” Xeik had left some scholars behind to find out what exactly they were up against. Surprisingly, between Felix and Jurian, the two had more than enough information on the bastard. “He broke it off when he found someone from the Northern Kingdoms. From what I gather, it was a better arrangement than with Simone. Something about wealth and land. Turns out…well…that fell through.”

“So…he’s merely trying to raise his status.” Lewis smirked. “Well…he’ll be lucky to keep what he has once I’m through. Drake! You’re with me. It’ll only take the two of us.”

Drake grinned. “Oh…we get to do that bit, huh? This will be fun…”

—

Lewis rode up on the castle of Prince Jerome on his own, and demanded entry. To his surprise, the gates opened, and he was met with a retinue of knights, and Jerome himself. A disgusted Simone was at his side.

“Well met, Prince Jerome,” Lewis stated with his regal tone. “It seems there was a misunderstanding in my letter to you…”

Simone was sitting across from Jerome in the carriage, “You disgust me. You know that right?”

“Your attitude seriously needs adjusting…” Jerome glared at her. “I am saving you from that savage king.”

“Please, you're the savage one. Even if I was to marry you… I will resent you for the rest of my life. Also, I’m never giving you an heir so fuck you. This line dies with you.” Simone leaned on the side of the carriage.

“That’s what ropes and drugs are for my dear Simone,” Jerome smirked.

“Animal,” Simone glared at him. “So, who was it?”

“What do you ever mean?”

“You fucking moron, Lewis and I were getting married. There’s no way he would sell me off to a prince not worth shit. Oh I’m sorry, you couldn’t get marriage to Vesta so you came crawling back to me.” She got a bit too mouthy so Jerome knocked her out.

–

Simone stood there next to Jerome. She had rope around her wrists and Jerome’s left cheek was bright red. He was a little worse for the wear. Though it did look like Simone got slapped once or twice herself.

“Are you talking about breaking the alliance with me King Lewis? This wench is mine~ Authorized by yourself. We’ll be married by dawn tomorrow.”

Simone took her foot and stomped on Jerome’s foot. It caused a reaction from Jerome as he backhanded her knocking her out. “Take her back inside right now! Give her some of her cousin’s special treatment.”

Lewis snarled when Simone was hit, and he held up his hand. “You move her an inch, and I’ll burn this entire kingdom to the ground.”

Jerome gave Lewis a haughty look. “Do you not care for my alliance, then? Shall we declare war? Last I checked, your resources were drained in the siege of Auclair…” It seemed as though he had done at least some research into it. Either that, or he was being fed information from within the Kingdom of Auclair…

The King of Kaliyota smirked. “Do you not know who I am?” Once again, the regal tone was back, but this time there was venom behind it. “The Tyrant King? The one who never takes no for an answer? You dare threaten me with war!?” He laughed. “I am the embodiment of war… Whatever lands I lay my eyes on belongs to me…whatever path I tread belongs to me… How DARE you bar me from my possessions…”

“That includes Simone…” Lewis stepped off his horse, and crossed his arms. “Bow before me…”

Jerome seemed a little intimidated at first, but the knights around him started to laugh. It was one person, against an army of knights and their Prince. What could he do?

“Fine,” Lewis replied as he snapped his fingers. Magic resonated, and rang across the fields. And there was a reply. The ground shook, and there was a mighty roar that echoed back, answering Lewis’ call. Without warning, a great shadow appeared, and the roaring grew louder, until finally, a massive red dragon slammed into the ground behind Lewis. It let out another cry, bellowing blistering flames into the sky.

“What say you, Jerome!?” Lewis explained, a madness in his eyes. “Do you still dare defy me!?” Flames circled Lewis, his royal cape flapping in the wind. He looked less like a king, and more like a demon…

“Bow before me…”

“Now, now, now,” Jerome held up his hands. “King Lewis, this girl really can’t be worth all this trouble to you. Look at her skin how marred it is with scars. She was once the crown jewel of Auclair but now she is reduced to this sad woman in front of you. I’ll tell you what King Lewis… Give her to me and I’ll give you a beautiful woman fit for your stature.”

Jerome was watching Lewis and the dragon as he looked down at Simone. “Don’t you worry that she’ll bring ruin to Kalitoya? She’s already been the source of Auclair’s destruction. So just leave her here with me. I’ll even sign Auclair over to you officially. I’ll make sure she tells you all of its secrets.”

His lips curled up into a smile, “After all, I was the one who offered her friend up to Felix to gain immunity. I can be useful to you as well." He was more or less saying he had helped overthrow Auclair but his motives were unclear. Did he just want Simone? But why?

There had been small clues in all of the paperwork about Jerome’s influence over the fall of Auclair, but there was nothing concrete that could prove his guilt in the matter. Lewis had, for the most part, overlooked most of these things, but it had not been lost on Xeik. And, as an advisor to the King, it was Xeik’s responsibility to inform his majesty of the potential issues that may have been found.

So, while it wasn’t a surprise to Lewis that Jerome was a traitor to Auclair, it was a shock to hear just how paramount his dealings had been.

Lewis stared into Jerome’s eyes, wondering if the man’s vile truth had anything more to it than the desire to control Simone. In the end, though, Lewis barely cared. Simone was hurt, and that pissed Lewis off.

“Drake. Eat him,” Lewis said, snapping his fingers.

“Aww…really boss? Humans taste weird,” Drake complained, staring down at the group. “Can’t I just fry him?”

“No. I want to make an example…”

“Fine…” Drake groaned, and swiftly picked up the Prince, tossing him into the air. His screams were cut short by a sudden crunching sound, followed by Drake spitting out the chunks of armor that had remained. “Actually…that’s not too bad…can I eat the rest?”

Lewis looked to the now quivering knights. “I don’t know…can he?”

His screams were what woke Simone up. She pulled herself up in a daze. Her outfit was more ceremonial. After all, Jerome was planning on wedding her. It was luxurious silk despite the crude rope around her wrists. “Wha–” She was dizzy a bit but she steadied herself. “What was that?”

“The monster! The monster ate Prince Jerome!” The knights cried out but they had all fallen to a knee to avoid the dragon eating them.

“He did?” Simone was coming around more and her sight was restored quite a bit. Once she focused on Lewis she tilted her head. “Can we give the dragon a medal?”

Lewis had rushed over to her and cut her bindings. “I understand that rescues have to be dramatic but… a dragon? Did you really bring a dragon to save me?”

Lewis had rushed to her side the moment that she awoke. Her comments brought a half smirk to his face as he checked her over. “Not too bruised… and Drake already had a medal. Several in fact.” He picked her up in a bridal carry, refusing to let her stand on her own for the time being. “And yes…I’m a Tyrant King, remember? Dramatic is what gets the job done.”

The kingdom was fast to surrender to Lewis and Drake, which allowed Lewis and Simone to stay and rest. Drake, under Lewis’ command, was sent back to Auclair to gather a group to bring back to oversee the new acquisition. Which meant…

“So…do you…want to get changed out of that?” Lewis asked as he finally set Simone down in a guest bedroom. He had chosen not to use Jerome’s chambers until they were thoroughly checked over. “I mean… I don’t mind it, but…it also wasn’t something you chose. I can send for better clothes…’

She looked at the dragon and then looked at Lewis and then back at the dragon. “No wonder Vela keeps saying sexy, sexy dragon under her breath when she looks out the window.”

Wrapping her arms around his shoulders she looked up at Lewis before looking at the knights. She had a look on her face as they were suddenly begging for not only her forgiveness but Lewis’s for their ignorance.

Looking down at her dress she grimaced, “It’s horrid. Pink is not my color first off… Second off, that bastard tried to marry me in it. Get whatever you want and I’ll put it on over this stupid thing. Fetch me a flag pole after I get new clothes,” she yelled out to the castle help.

Meanwhile, back in Auclair Saoirse was pacing back and forth in panic. “What’s wrong Saoirse, did your little plan not work?” Vela stood in the doorway.

“What plan? I am merely worried for King Lewis. He shouldn’t have gone after her. It is far too dangerous to risk his life for her’s.”

“Don’t you get it Saoirse? We’re witnessing the blossoms of looovvvveeee,” Vela dragged out the l-word and Saoirse was just seeing red.

“No matter, as long as the lord is safe that’s all that matters to me,” Saoirse was content taking her involvement to the grave.