Nine Tales [BL]

4.7

Renshu rested for a few more days before deciding enough was enough. Every step tugged at his wounds and ached but Renshu gritted his teeth. He needed to get moving. The sooner he got that information, the sooner he could proceed with his plans.

Rani followed, hovering like a worried momma bird. "Karim, perhaps a few more days of bed rest..."

"If you are going to complain, don't follow me." Renshu interrupted, moving slowly through the hallways. Rein Nett lit up the way to the prince with flashing arrows.

"I am simply worried about you." Rani protested.

"I need that information."

Rani gritted his teeth. "I understand wanting to free the genies but why the information about Ersa? You said, she is coming back, right? So why look up her whereabouts?"

"I simply want to make sure she's safe," Renshu responded. Plus, I need to know where her child is so I can read it a story. I need to up my Rank.

[Current Rank 4.]

"Thank you, Rein Nett."

The arrows on the ground disappeared just as Renshu looked up to see the prince heading this way with two servant girls by his side. Both women were beautiful, eyes demurely cast down and golden hands clean and soft.

Renshu stopped and thumped his fist against his heart, "Prince, can I have a word?"

The prince lifted his chin, staring down. "You have thirty seconds."

Renshu smiled flatteringly and said, "After being disciplined by you, I realized I must-" Slit your throat and drink your blood. "-be more of service to you."

The prince raised his eyebrow, "24 seconds."

"I thought and realized that as a prince, you must be awfully busy. Perhaps I could take some of the weight off your shoulders."

The prince sneered. "How could a flea like you help me?"

"I am your substitute, prince. Even servants confuse us. I could take your place at the few unimportant meeting while you focus your attention on more important things."

Rani signaled and one of the maids brushed against the prince, smiling seductively.

The prince's eyes roamed over her body, tongue licking his bottom lip. "I supposed I could allow you to serve as my substitute, Metin. I was previously interrupted from important work." He tore his eyes away from the women. "Fine. I'll send you some attire and have you sit in on a meeting or two."

"Thank you for the honor, prince." Renshu smiled. "You won't regret it."

The meetings were quite boring. Crop failure here, someone killed a merchant or two there and the discussions of what to do about it. Renshu didn't bother speaking up and it seemed to be the right choice because no one asked for his opinion. But that didn't matter. What mattered was the Prince being smitten at not being caught.

The next day, the prince summoned Renshu to his room, eyes shining is satisfaction.

"No one really noticed." The Prince said in awe.

Renshu stood at attention in the royal chamber, waiting for him to continue.

"Father praised me for my presence at all the meetings and not once did he notice a fake." The prince laughed. "The old man is going senile. How could he confuse us?"

[Host,] Rein Nett warned and Renshu kept his mouth shut though that didn't stop the steam rising out of his ears.

The prince studied Renshu, "What do you want?"