A Prince's Harem

Breakfast

Scott and his fiancé were the last to arrive at breakfast the next morning, though they were not late so it was let slide by the queen.

Aurelia stood off to the side, looking rather sour and displeased, though that was usual for the primary wife of the King.

"Your Majesty," Will bowed to the Queen, "My most sincere apologies for leaving the festivities so early last night and for stealing His Royal Highness away too, there were some issues in regards to Captain Merton."

"Worry not child, we are surprised Scott showed up to begin with so all is forgiven," Aurelia waved him off.

Will immediately returned to Scott's side, bowing politely at the woman he was speaking to, "Princess."

"Duke," the woman with flowing ruby red hair bowed her head, "Please, call me Maria, we are to be family by some odd meaning of the word."

"It is nice to meet you Maria!" Will perked up a little from the positive interaction.

"Now Scott, I'm stealing your fiancé and Devi, Trixie and I are going to have a consorts conversation with them if that's alright with both of you?" Maria questioned, offering a supportive smile to the newly engaged couple.

"All fine with me if it's alright with you dear? I won't be too far away from you guys," Scott asked gently.

"Of course, I'll see you in a little bit," Will bowed his head before following Maria to a corner where a raven haired woman and a brunette were making conversation, leaving Scott to go talk to his younger brother.

"Dee, Trix, meet Will, he is Scott's fiancé," Maria introduced with a smile, smiling at her fellow consorts.

Before Will could even tilt his head, he was ushered into a seat by a woman with black hair, "Welcome dear, I'm Trixie Denholm."

The brunette took a seat across from Will, "And I am Divinity Denholm but I go by Devi," she offered a gloved hand for Will to shake.

Will took the outstretched hand, "It is truly nice to meet you all, I am Will, son of Viscount Renais and the late Duchess of Aquatia and Frostine."

"We wanted to talk to you as current consorts to a future one, although none of us are the primary consort but we are a lot nicer than Aurelia would be," Maria explained, sitting on another cushion.

These three specific consorts did not like their Queen and chief member of King Hudson's harem, she had always been demanding and horrible, it is no wonder that Hudson had picked her to be his Queen, they were a match of each other.

"I must admit, I have had nerves the past day but I trust Scott. I appreciate this chat though, thank you for bringing me in," Will smiled politely.

"Sometimes it feels bad, knowing your husband is also married many times, but it depends on your relationship with your fellow consorts," Maria began slowly.

It was Devi who picked up the train of thought with no hesitation, "For example, Trixie, Maria and I have no issues with each other, we are friends as well as wives. I know them and trust them not to try to sabotage my relationship with Hudson, not that I want an active relationship with him anyway."

"However, one key difference between our place in our marriage and yours is that you are first. You will help run and maintain the harem. And I know Scott, he will allow you to approve and disapprove any marriage he wants to pursue, he won't do anything to make any of us consorts uncomfortable," Trixie shrugged slightly.

"Why would he need my permission? He is the prince, he doesn't need my permission for anything, especially not who he can marry," Will spoke up.

"It is because he respects you," came a voice from behind him.

Will turned to come face to face, or more accurately, face to knees with his dear friend, Prince Acho.

"Hey Acho, want to join us?" Devi offered, smiling as the prince sat with them, settling into star's pillow.

"He does not want a repeat of Madame Francine, he despises her," Acho shrugged nonchalantly.

Devi and Trixie shared a nervous look, it seemed that the mention of the final of the King's wives made them sober up, it was a shift in the mood of the conversation.

It was Maria who spoke up to break the awkward silence, "I was the king's second wife, meaning I saw every marriage from within the harem aside from Aurelia's. I met everyone before they became wives, and I liked most of them. However I did not like Francine, she was rude and physically harsh but Hudson did not believe me. He told me to mind my own business and remember that I was nothing without him. Hudson married her anyway and that was the day I went to live with Devi and Trix, only returning for formal events or at Hudson's command."

"Madame Francine forgets herself in polite company far too often, more often than the wife of the king should. She is the only one of the Madames who refuses to call me Acho and also rarely addresses me as Prince," Acho explained, taking a piece of apple from the spread near to them.

"So what I'm hearing is that when I inevitably have to meet Madame Francine, I will not enjoy it nearly as much as I have enjoyed meeting you three?" Will commented, smiling between the three ladies.

"Well when Scott becomes king and you become his Prince Consort then we, a the former king's wives, are at your will and mercy. You can do as you please, and we will obey," Maria shrugged, she had known the day would come when Scott would marry and ascend to the throne.

"Well you three will always be welcome anywhere I have the authority to allow you," Will promised with a smile.

"You are such a sweet boy, you will do well with Scott, he will love you and treat you like a good prince should," Devi passed an array of breakfast drinks between her fellow consorts, the second prince and Will.

Maria raised her apple juice into the air, "A toast to Will, the future Prince Consort to our beloved Crowned Prince."

"Too Will!" The small group chorused before Aurelia broke the group.

"Madame Divinity, Madame Trixie, you both have dress fittings now before you are free to return to Soldera Manor. Axton, you have lessons. Madame Maria, your carriage is arriving soon to escort you to your sister's party. Scott and Lord Renais, you both need to finish preparing for your departure," Aurelia called from her place in the corner.

With a flurry of clothes, the room stood and showed respect as their Queen left the room, all exchanging quick goodbyes and affection between them before they all went their separate ways to go on with their days.