3 Outwardly calm

{Southern volcanic waters}

{Kingdom of Vokalyic}

~

Steam rose steadily within a simple but luxury room.

A bed laid in the middle.

The frame made from the tyrant, which dwelled in the hollows of the underground caves. A creature over fifteen meters tall with a long, flaming form.

Even dead for a full hundred tide years, it still held heat.

Within the fiery watery depths, the boy unfurled his form. It was a pitch-black with a glance but it was actually a very dark grey, with a silver underside; stark against the red-orange of the Kelpie sheets.

Servants who had stood guard on the outside of the bed chamber became alert after hearing the slight movement.

All of their thoughts were in sync; the master has woken!

Even though the boy is merely sixty tides old, he is smart and already showing the power of a ruler.

The eldest among his siblings hatching a full ten tides before the second young master.

This proved his power, this proved that he is suited to being the next ruler.

What even made it much more a credential feat is that the young master was birthed from the egg belonging to the now deceased Queen.

"Inform my King father that this eldest Prince wishes to see him,"

The voice was childish, but it held power. One of the high-ranking servants quickly made an affirmative sound and then retreated, swimming away with a few moves from his six sub-tentacles.

The eldest Prince in his room stretched his barbed main tentacles, each one was stretched out on each side, while the eight others stood straight.

The eyes on his spear-shaped head were four, two smaller above two larger.

Upon his teenage tides, which will be in ten tides from now, he will have his other two tentacles grown, which were already budding.

After that, he will grow at a rapid pace mature at the age of eighty tides freezing into his immortality.

The eldest Prince flicked his tentacles after he had finished his morning exercise and then left the room.

He had a strange dream.

Such a strange thing.

He felt loss; he needed to inform his king father who is among the eldest and wishes among their kind, but; he felt that it may not be wise since Father had become smitten with his left consort who is the mother of the third, fourth, seventh Princes and the first, second and fifth princesses.

As the eldest and crown prince, he may be seen to her as a threat since she had become the beloved of the king but since she is unable to become the Queen, he knew her sly mind, that she wanted one of her sons to become the next king.

How is that possible?

Only if he died or his queen could not survive within the scorching depths.

The eldest Prince did not wish to give up his throne and abandon his people but, that girl who had died and had been disposed of... How can he allow her to suffer such a fate again?

He felt the string connecting to her. He had died almost as miserable as her.

Madness.

All of that had been because of the left consort!

Allowing the servants to place the ring ebbed with volcanic red fire stones and white Rhidarnic gems. The eldest Prince then presented his tentacles to have the rings applied before he swam accompanied by his entourage.

On the way through the grand halls of the Palace, the eldest Prince nodded to the servants who saluted him.

A while later, he arrived in the Grand Hall where his father half floated dining.

"This eldest Prince son, greets the king father, may your reign continue for ten thousand water tides."

"Mm, rise,"

The eldest prince swam at a pace not too fast or slow, each of his tentacle movement showed his aloof and Royal temperament.

From his tastefully gemed form, to the way he swam attracted the servants and the King himself.

The king felt proud of this eldest Prince.

His queen had such valuable eggs, her genes were also flawless.

Strength, temper and form.

The Queen was a worthy duxess.

He may have fallen for his left consort, but he is not muddled to the point he would not know the worth of his own hatchling.

"Come, and dine with this king father,"

The king watched the young hatchling swim towards him and took his place on his left, soon after the right consort entered.

"Greetings to the king and Crown prince."

She was a beauty with two long slim main tentacles, a slim shapely head and slightly oval eyes, giving her a seductive look.

The kelpie's sheer garment slightly hiding her tentacles gave off an allure that slowly aroused the king.

The King stared longer before he focused once more on his hatchling on his left. The King can always wrap her later.

Silently, they ate their meal. Halfway in between, the left consort arrived with her hatchlings.

Before that dream, the eldest Prince would have given her some face at least, but now... Hehe.

She should know her place along with her brainwashed hatchlings.

"This left consort greets the king and crown prince,"

The king and eldest Prince nodded. The right consort continued eating her meal, ignoring the left consort.

They were never on friendly terms, so it didn't matter if they greeted each other or not.

The rumour had always been that the eggs, the only ones a Duxess female can produce once her entire life had been destroyed by the left consort.

No proof can be found, but after that incident, the right consort had changed into an icy beauty, ignoring the king who had constantly dotted on that Duxess!

Since the Queen had always shown her a bit of friendliness, the right consort had focused on doting on the eldest prince. She had no hatchlings, so this can only be the result.

The small hatchling is so tiny right now he is merely quarter her size.

Many hatchlings die before their teenage tides, so they must be guarded.

The left consort scanned the sizeable area and frowned. That hatching had taken up the position on the left side of the King!

Where would she float?

Trying to stay calm, the left consort made a small motion to her hatchling princess and sons who quickly rushed forward towards the king, but who knew that they would be scolded immediately before even reaching his side!

"Impudent! As royals, one must act accordingly! Rushing while one is having a meal shows the class of a commoner and those from the sub-species!"

The eldest Prince scolded.

His gaze was sharp, his entire form gave off that suited to a royal. The king placed down the prongs he held, which contained the flesh of one of his favoured prey and frowned.

What the eldest Prince had said is true. He had wanted to reprimand these hatchlings as a whole, but upon seeing his beloved he could not bring himself to and therefore continually allowed it to slide.

Now, though, he would rather they be forewarned now and discipline after each offence.

"The crown prince is correct. Hatchlings their age should adhere to the rules of Royal etiquette. They represent the Royal family. When visiting the commoners outside the Palace they must show the bearing of a royal and not that of a commoner. This king had given his warning. Making a mistake like this again shall result in punishment. Failure to adhere after punishment will result in their expulsion from the Palace grounds for a quarter of a world tide where they will be rigorously taught until they understand. Continual failure will result in demotion to a noble."

The left consort almost collapsed, losing her appetite immediately.

The eldest Prince stood and bowed to the king his entire being outwardly calm, but was filled with gloating inside.

"This eldest Prince hears the Royal worded law of Father and will hereby adhere to these worded laws. Thanking Father for his wise words."

The crown Prince raised his primary barbed tentacles and did the appropriate movements to the king before turning to the right consort and finally the left before retreating.