Chapter 690 Nightly Commotion
After this insult of a meeting, Astaroth quickly left toward the throne room, after instructing guards and servants on what to do with Gerald Stinson.
He hurriedly stopped on the way, entering the head servant's office, where Chele could be seen working through some paperwork.
When he heard his door open, the Lizardman lifted his head, his eyes locking on the king and he slowly rose to his feet, taking a long bow.
"To what do I owe thissss honour, my ssssoverign," he asked, with his forked tongue flicking outside his mouth with every S he pronounced.
"Chele. I have some special instructions for you. We are having a diplomat from Themiscus in our guest rooms tonight."
The Lizardman looked at him with a wide smile.
"I will make ssssure he issss taken care of, my ssssovereign."
"Yes, yes. That's fine and all. But not what I want to ask."
Chele tilted his head to the side slightly, confused.
"I want you to make sure only male servants go near his room. I don't like how he eyed our female servants, and I don't want anything unbecoming to happen. Understood?"
The Lizardman's eyes narrowed.
"Sssshould we have ssssomeone keep watch?"
Astaroth raised his hands.
"No. Nothing so invasive. Just make sure no woman goes near his room until he leaves. I don't trust him to keep to himself."
Chele bowed again, saying, "Assss you wissssh, my ssssovereign."
Astaroth thanked him before leaving again. He wanted to go get Phoenix and warn her about the man as well before she had to cross paths with him in a hallway.
Although she would hardly pass for a servant, who knew how far this diplomat's mind had been twisted? He could tell the man was expecting to get royal treatment.
He found her in the throne room, still, head tilted to the side, as she was murmuring to herself.
"Ahh! There you are!" she exclaimed when she saw him come into the room.
"I think I found a way to make everyone happy for a future city guard."
Astaroth smiled at her, expecting nothing less from her beautiful mind.
"I didn't doubt you for a moment. But I need to tell you something."
Phoenix's train of thought abruptly stopped.
"Hmm? Yes, what is it?"
"The diplomat we were receiving today. Stay away from him. I don't like how he ogles the servants, and I don't think has a shred of sense to keep his hands to himself."
Phoenix frowned.
"If he's stupid enough to lay hands on me, then I guess it's his loss. Did you make sure he wouldn't cause an incident?"
"Yes. I spoke to Chele. He should only send male servants near that guest room. I just hope that is enough."
Phoenix didn't appreciate that they possibly had a predator under their roof. But they had to treat him right, at least as long as he respected their laws and held himself to proper etiquette.
The day was coming to a close, and dinner time rolled around. During the dinner, Phoenix understood what Astaroth had meant since they had to invite the diplomat to dine with them and be suitable hosts.
When she saw how he looked at her, or any other women around him, she almost felt sick to her stomach. She had to control every urge in her body to punch his face when she saw Gerald lick his lips as he looked at one of the maid's rear.
"Should we send guards in front of his door, saying it for his protection?" she asked Astaroth in a private message.
"That would only kick up a fuss, I feel. Let's just hope my precautions are enough to keep anything from happening," he replied.
As night came around, and everyone went to bed, Astaroth couldn't stop the nagging feeling in his mind that disconnecting was a bad idea.
Phoenix told him she agreed, but that they needed to log off for now.
"I'll log out in an hour. If nothing happened, we'll be set until the morning."
Phoenix nodded her head, agreeing that it was an excellent compromise. But she headed out first, claiming she needed some beauty sleep.
Astaroth lay there, on his back, keeping his senses peeled, both physical and magical, hoping the hour would be eventless.
**
Coral, who was used to her little routine by now, and would go into the monarchs' room once she was certain they had vanished, and tidy up, was currently walking in the hallway. She heard a commotion ahead, in the curve of the hall, and accelerated her step.
"What is it with this palace?! Treating me like this! Where are all the women?! Why do they keep sending man servants to my room?!"
Coral heard an object shatter, along with a weak whimper. She got to a run, wondering who was causing a scene.
Coral had been busy all day and wasn't informed women shouldn't go near a certain chamber. Since it was her day off, as well as Castien's, her betrothed, they had spent the day together on the fifth floor.
When she got around the corner, she could see one of her colleagues on the ground, his body covered in bruises, and a few cuts on his face. Behind him, a shattered vase.
"Luke!" she called out, recognizing the boy.
She ran to his side, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe the blood off his face.
"Are you alright?" she asked him, ignoring the man and his tantrum behind her. But it had become strangely quiet.
When she turned around, she saw the man in his night robe, looking at her with some of the most beastly eyes she had ever seen.
"Finally! Something worth my time! You will do just fine, girl!"
Coral froze as the words made their way into her brain. She quickly understood their meaning.
But it was too late.
Already, the man was grabbing her wrist and pulling her into his room.
"Stop! Let go of me!" she shouted, hoping someone would hear the commotion.
"Shut up, you little whore!" the man screamed at her, before slapping her cheek with so much violence she fell to the floor.
"Don't resist. You'll only make this worse for yourself."
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