sbi royalty

the scheme

It was later that day, once again, Wilbur found himself cooped up in his study, with preparations for his father's imminent return, he had a lot to do.

He gazed out though a small window, he could just about make out two figures in red duelling. He stood staring for a while.

'They're at it again huh...'

While he didn't enjoy fighting, despised wearing any form of armour, even, Wilbur still managed to feel some kind of longing for Techno and Tommy's fights.

'Simpler times I suppose, do I have any free time? It would be nice to say hello again...'

Wilbur knew the answer to that question already, but checked his schedule quickly anyway.

Thoroughly bored with the papers he had to read and sign and read and sign, he grunted and stood up. He made his way out onto his balcony, and placed his hands firmly onto the various small pillars that formed the barrier between him and a several hundred drop to flower beds below.

From his position, he could just about make our guards performing drill manoeuvres in the main courtyard, with the two figures gone now.

However, the much larger thing he noticed, well, many small things he noticed were the decourations. Bunting hung along every rail and spiralling down every pillar. The edges of the square lined with stalls in many bright colours. When the King returns after a long trip, they make sure to celebrate.

Many men and women of the household staff bustled about. This was to be a grand celebration.

Wilbur gave a sigh and decided he'd go and oversee the preparations; while unusual, it was part of his job after all.

'At least that's what I tell myself anyways, I'm sure it's fine.'

He was secretly hoping he would meet someone interesting to talk to, not just someone who felt they needed his attention, or his orders, or his permission. Or a great many
other things, actually.

He descended the right spiral staircase down to the floor below and down again, until he reached the outer passageway leading to the square.

Though by the time he walked under the archway and the yard revealed itself, it was barren. The decourations blew quietly in the wind, but that was the only movement Wilbur could see. A couple servants milled about also, but the huge mass of soldiers had disappeared.

'Did they see me coming? No, wait, so the soldiers were dismissed, and the servants? That doesn't make sense. No one would do that apart from...'

He spun around just in time,"Ha! You're not getting me this time!"

Tommy was laughing his head off, while Techno smiled smugly behind him.

"I told you, you're not scaring him twice and getting away with it Tommy." Techno looked at Tommy, clearing expecting something from him.

"I was incredibly close! You have NO idea!"

"Yeah right, alright I won the bet so cough it up."

"Fine, fine." Tommy exaggerated by rolling his eyes and throwing his hands in the air."Here you go."

He procured a flat, square package and reluctantly handed it over.

"Well, I've got work to do so I'm going back now! Bye!"

And with that, he dashed around the corner and out of sight in the blink of an eye.

Wilbur gave a puzzled look to Techno, "What's that?"

Techno inspected the parcel, then opened it carefully."It is one of his music discs. Well, I'm assuming it's a fake, when he said he'd give me a disc, I was very skeptical, he loves those things. So, I made sure I took something in return for being 'scammed', as he calls it."

"You planned all of this?"

"Yup, as soon as I heard music disc and saw him obviously lying to me, of course."

"Right, so what did you take?"

"Ah..." Techno chuckled to himself, knowing how things were about to play out."I took his juke box."

Techno tried to hide his smile behind a layer of bravado, but seeing Wilbur absolutely crack up laughing, he couldn't help but join in.

"Oh my days, that's really quite brilliant. You've outdone yourself." Wilbur gave him a pat on the shoulder, causing Techno to flinch, but he still continued laughing nonetheless.

"Thank you, thank you." Was all he said.

"How long until Tommy notices?" Wilbur asked.

"Hmm, I'd say twenty minutes give or take a few, he'd expect me to come after him, so it will take a few minutes after he realises I'm not coming."

"Man that was great. You're going to wait for him?" Techno nodded."But do you not have work to do?"

"I suppose I do, but I gave the soldiers the rest of the day off, they have honestly worked hard enough."

"You've gotten soft in your old age."

Techno's face turned to scowl immediately and he reached for the hilt of his sword.

"You want to say that again? I couldn't quite hear you." He growled taking a couple steps forward.

"OKAY! Okay, please don't do that again!" Wilbur put his hands out in front of him and backed up slightly. His shouting even drew the attention of nearby staff who came running over, but Wilbur dismissed them quickly.

"Don't you have work too Wilbur?"

"Uhhh maybe? My job is actually nearly over, I'll get some time off soon when Dad is back."

"Hey that's pretty nice, I need some of that too."

"That can be arranged, you know." Wilbur offered. "We could get some fun family bonding in!" Wilbur half-joked, he knew how chaotic it would be, but he thought it would be worth a try.

"Yeah I guess...I-"

However, before he could finish his sentence a whiney voice pierced through the air from above.

"WHERES MY JUKEBOX! HEY!" Tommy emerged from a nearby balcony on the floor above and peered down at them.

Tommy started shouting many more things and probably some profanities. Though, most of it got lost to the wind and Techno simply put his hand to his ear and shrugged, signally he couldn't hear him.

Tommy glared down, then withdrew from the edge and ran his hand through his hair.

He ran all the way back to where his brothers were standing, however, all he found was a palace tutor impatiently tapping his watch and scowling slightly at him.

'Shit, not again..."

Wilbur watched on from a distance and chuckled as Tommy slowly spun around and headed back to study more...

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hope you guys are enjoying this, see y'a next time!