After James woke up from from the mass of muscle and boobs suffocating him all night, they were back on the road.
The fourth day was smooth and easy, no battles and the only stops were for meals.
On the fifth day day, James started noticing the road was more serviceable. Less bumps and smoother roads allowed faster travel.
Around noon he saw another horse drawn carriage on the road for the first time since they left Creekrock.
'I guess this means we are finally getting closer to civilization.. thank god. No one has bathed in almost a week and the musk is getting thick in here.'
As the carriage was pulled along, more and more other travelers appeared on side paths connecting to the main road.
As the sun started to lose its light in the sky, they approached a massive wall intending to stay in a city before completing their journey tomorrow.
Hundreds of feet tall was a dark black stone, chiseled neatly. James could barely make out the top of the wall where huge ballistas sat taught with power.
'Is this really nessacary!? Why is it so insanely big!'
"Why is this wall so.. gigantic? Is there really a need for it."
*Fufufu* "Other than keeping away stray packs of wyverns.. not really."
His mother continued with a smile.
"This is the greatest city in all of Minthra, Skythorn. I had the outer wall constructed a few years ago to show off the prestige of the Cromwell Ducal family. Isn't it impressive dear."
Her smile broke to sorrow when James responded.
"Not really. It seems like a giant waste if all it does is show off to others.. I hope tax money wasn't used for this, I'd be pissed if I were a citizen here."
"But this city.. it's one of the great prides of the Cromwell family.."
"Okay? I think the only people who care about that stuff are other nobles.. again if I was a resident here, I would think that the people in charge are morons. Why build such a grandiose wall when you could've built a multitude of orphanages or parks or anything actually useful."
James went on while ignoring his mothers completely deflated body.
"Unless everyone takes great pride in living in the Cromwell Duchy.. this just seems like you're intentionally showing how much better off you are than normal people. I bet while it was in the process of being worked on there was more criminal activity and city folk morale was very low. Most citizens probably felt very neglected by this display of wealth, when that money could've been used to actually improve their lives."
His mother now looked like a crumpled husk.
Mallory took every admonishment like a hammer blow, in the past several advisers warned against the wall for this very reason. She didn't pay heed to them and thought that the people would get over it. It was her land after all.
But now she really felt the burden of being an incapable Duchess under her sons calm and correct assessment. He hadn't even entered the city and had already found a symptom of discontent.
"Mommy is an idiot.. mommy is unfit to be a Duchess.. mommy is an...."
His mom rambled to herself while James cast his attention back out the carriage window.
Instead of going through the main gate which had a huge line even at this hour, they broke off to the left.
James noticed a group of soldiers wearing fancy gold and black armor waiting to receive them.
There was a smaller gate on this left side and looked immaculately maintained. They finally neared the soldiers when they heard a command.
"Halt. State your rank, business, and personal. Nobles under the rank of Countess are not permitted entry."
He heard Captain Susan answer back.
"Lady Mallory Cromwell, Duchess of Cromwell. Her son, Prince James Cromwell. Five personal guards."
The relaxed and almost bored tone of the guard immediately changed as she heard the passenger list.
"The Lady herself!? And the p-prince.. he's been found.. thank the goddess for her mercy."
James stuck his head out to get a better view. He smiled and waved when the guards noticed him and he saw one stumble.
The six guards bowed and presented entry into the city.
"Thank you for blessing Skythorn with your presence!"
James had an idea to get a head start on spreading a good image and increase morale all at once.
As they passed the guards James gave an order to Captain Susan.
"Hey, can you stop the carriage for a minute. I want to thank the guards for their service."
"Understood Prince James!"
Everyone in the carriage looked at him incredulously, wondering why he would do such a thing.
James stuck his head out the window and pointed to a guard at random.
"Hey you, what's your name."
The guard looked around then pointed to her chest as if to confirm he was really talking to her.
"M-me?"
"Yes yes, you."
"M-my Prince, I am sergeant Nelly Hall."
"Well Nelly, I just wanted to say you girls are doing a wonderful job. Keep up the good work, I am grateful to have such strong and beautiful women protecting the city."
After saying this he blew a kiss.
The guard fell directly backwards and passed out.
'I think I'm starting to feel like the main character now.. these women are too easy to tease!'
"You're good to move on now, Captain."
"At once, Prince James."
His mother gave him a stink eye and asked why he did that.
"Well mother.. you seem to have damaged our reputation a bit. If I do small things like this it'll breed more familiarity between us and those who are under us. Believe it or not, but being noticed by a superior for your efforts keeps one satisfied with their work. In turn they'll work harder for your benefit."
'This is just something I noticed in the army.. if the bigwigs came down range to talk to us, we felt seen and didn't feel like just a statistic waiting to be recorded.'
"My son is so capable.. already fixing my mistakes.. I'm unworthy as a mother.."
"It's okay mom, you just need to start paying attention to the needs of your people. Not just here, but all four cities. Going around and presenting yourself as appreciative for everyone's hard work will improve your standing in their eyes dramatically. It won't be long before tales of how great the Cromwell family is spread throughout the kingdom. In turn it will make the land more prosperous."
"My son.. are you actually a political genius?"
'Political genius!? Is this woman an idiot.. this is just common sense.'
"I wouldn't say that.. but I would like a land where everyone is happier about their daily lives, even if it's only slightly."
"Mommy understands.. she is going to make the Cromwell Duchy the greatest land in the world!"
His mother was now enthusiastic as she now had a goal which would make her son happy.
'I didn't really notice it that much before.. but why does she keep referring to herself in the third person when she's talking to me. It's kind of embarrassing..'
The carriage rolled through the city streets until it parked outside a giant estate.
James could barely recognize that they were in a city now.
A massive property was nestled on land of green grass and trees.
They were outside the residence of the Countess who governed this city directly.
'Nobles really don't do anything small do they..'
A voice came from a few patrolling guards outside.
"State your purpose for intruding on Lady Helena's land!"
His mother sighed and opened the door before Captain Susan could answer.
"I'm Lady Mallory Cromwell, guardswoman. I'm here to rest for a night before I leave out tomorrow, is that an issue?"
There was a hint of a threat in her voice.
"Uh- err no my Lady, I will go inform Lady Helena at once."
Before the guard could execute her retreat, James called out to his mom.
"What did we just talk about.."
He gave her a disapproving look.
His mom immediately panicked as she realized she just completely disregarded their earlier conversation.
"Wait, guardswoman."
"M-my Lady..?"
"Thank you for your help, I greatly appreciate it."
The guards voice went high pitched as she responded.
"N-no problem at all my Lady. Please wait while I get Lady Helena ready to receive you."
She then dashed away, not in fright this time however. It looked like she was on a mission that carried a great weight.
"See mother. Although it was hard to tell, that guard took pride in her duty after your compliment. I bet she'll tell everyone she works with she got personally thanked by the Duchess."
"I guess so.. dear I'm going to have to practice this a lot. I fear I'm not very good at it.."
"And that's okay mom, as long as your trying. I want the world to see how great my mother is!"
"My baby!"
She immediately leaped back into the carriage and strangled James in a bone crushing hug.
"My sweet boy is so worried about his mommy.. *Kyaa~~* I must be blessed by the goddess."
She was rubbing her face up and down on his like cat. Then she pulled back slightly to rush her lips forward against his.
He felt her long tongue explore every inch of his mouth. James fought back and pushed his tongue to the back of her throat.
After a moment they broke away and stared at each other, a thin string of saliva connecting their lips.
'One day I'm going to be able to push her down and dominate this aggressive woman.'
A short while later an entourage of neatly dressed maids escorted them inside the massive home.
Inside were a row of maids to the left and right and a woman stood in the middle of them as she waited. There was another woman behind her, but James payed her no mind.
Her height seemed normal enough, letting James decide she was a regular woman.
She had fiery red hair done up in extravagant display. Her emerald green eyes showed signs of exhaustion and worry. Her slender neck made the potions on chest stand out even greater as a dress covered her in the same color of her hair.
She had a tiny tiara on her head decorating her hair and she seemed younger than James would've guessed.
Despite this the woman had a confidence about her.
James's eyes went wide.
'Her boobs are almost as big as Emily's! They look insane on her smaller frame.. her wide hips are trying to rival Veronica's too.. I must have this woman at all costs.'
The Lady Helena was about to make some sort of greeting but James couldn't wait.
He dashed forward and stood face to face with Lady Helena.
Her eyes went wide at the shock of seeing a man in her home.
James leaned forward and kissed her on her cheek. He then bowed deeply and made his case.
"Lady Helena, I am James Cromwell. As soon as I laid my eyes on you, I knew that I needed you. Would you give me the honor of taking a spot on my quota?"
James waited a moment for a response but when it didn't come he looked up at her.
'That's weird I thought that would surely work unless Captain Susan lied about women liking forward men-'
His thoughts cut off when he saw the woman's face.
Her hand was on her cheek and her face was now the color of her hair. Her mouth was open and vacant expression told him nobody was home.
James then took her hand in his own and went to a knee, he kissed her hand and looked up at her.
"My Lady please accept me.. after seeing you today.. I don't think I could ever remove you from my mind. I need to see your beautiful face forever and always."
'That should seal the deal.. I was a bit dramatic there but god this woman is hot!'
James heard an awkward cough behind him. Turning he saw his mother staring at him, a little bemused.
"James dear that isn't the Lady Helena's hand you're holding.. that's Princess Violet, third in line to the throne, daughter of Queen Anastasia."
She coughed slightly and continued.
"You just asked for her hand in marriage.."