Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 148 Authority

"I'm... coming with her?"

Prince Lance merely chuckled, patting Rhys on the shoulder. "Of course, lad. You're to be a part of the family soon, aren't you? It's high time you meet your future in-laws."

"But..." Rhys's voice trailed off, his eyes darting over to Lina who was staring at Prince Lance with her arms crossed over her chest.

"I don't think that's going to happen, Prince Lance," Secretary Karen finally intervened, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "Rhys Wilder is a-"

"With all due respect," Karen was silenced by Prince Lance as he raised his hand. He then turned to her, and even though his lips were covered by a thick layer of mustache, the smile that was crawling on his face could still be seen, "Your conditions are not required, dear Karen. The jurisdiction of my country outweighs the interests of your office."

"And why should we comply with your country, Prince Lance!?" Karen's voice was cold and firm. But under her stern facade, everyone could see the slight twitching of her lips and the narrowing of her eyes. She was not amused, and she was not backing down.

Twice now in just a few months someone had questioned her authority - General Banner, who also happens to be related to one of Rhys's girlfriends, and now Prince Lance, who also happens to be related to another one of Rhys's girlfriends.

Just what sort of luck does Rhys Wilder actually have?

"Because you don't have a choice," Prince Lance's voice was softly eloquent yet commanding, the subtle authority ringing clear in his words. His calm demeanor seemed to only fuel the fire in Karen's eyes, however.

"Choice?" She scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Rhys is a person of interest. He isn't going anywhere until he answers our questions."

"You're forgetting one thing." Prince Lance let out a chuckle that seemed to echo throughout the room. The tension hung heavy in the air, yet he seemed untouched by it. His eyes straying away from Karen as he looked Rhys in the eyes.

Prince Lance adjusted his coat before answering, "Rhys is also a person of interest for Enkland. And as I said..." He then winked at Lina playfully, "...If little Linette here wanted, she could just use her diplomatic immunity to protect him."

"Why would I do that!?" Lina pointed at Prince Lance, "I am no longer part of your stupid family!"

"Because if you don't, then there is a chance that Mr. Rhys Wilder will be apprehended by this country before this day is over," the tone of Prince Lance's voice turned deep as he looked Lina in the eyes; the elegance that his eyes once held, completely replaced by a hint of tyranny. It did not last long, however, as the smile returned on his face as he looked at Secretary Karen,

"Is that not the case, dear Karen? I heard you even have a lovely prison ready for our friend here."

"What...?" Ayesha was the first to react as she stood up from the chair; her eyes, glaring at Secretary Karen, who could not help but instinctively take a step back.

"N...no," Secretary Karen whispered, trying her best not to look scared. But how could she not be, when she had heard all sorts of things about Ayesha and her temper? "That is not-"

"I believe we've wasted enough time here." And before Karen could finish her words, Prince Lance loudly clapped his hands together, the smile on his face, now almost escaping his mustache, "Shall we go? There are many people eager to meet you both in Enkland."

"Maria..." Lina turned to look at Maria, "...Is it true they are going to try and arrest Rhys? In what charge?"

"I don't know," Maria shook her head; the tone of her voice still monotonous as she glanced at Secretary Karen, "But knowing them, it is probably true. They have already attempted to arrest Rhys once in fear of his political views and power. And since your family has now inserted themselves in the picture, Rhys's priority just went up by a mile.

If you are asking my advice as the most intelligent person in the harem...

...then we should go."

"I... have already cut ties with my family and I don't want to see any of them," Lina closed her eyes as she took in a very long and deep breath, "But if it's for Rhys, then I'll do it. My friends and I are going with you, Lance."

"I've only been to Enkland once, weather up there is bad," Ayesha groaned, "But I can always just sleep down in the Underworld."

"What about the guild...?" Katarina sighed, "I don't really want to leave it to No. 1, she's... perverse."

"Oh..." And as Katarina and the others were discussing what they were going to do, Prince Lance let out a loud gasp as he looked at them, "...It would seem there was a slight misunderstanding, only Linette and Rhys Wilder will come. It will not really look good if Rhys's mistresses are to be seen with us, I hope you will understand."

"...Mistresses?" Katarina's eye started to twitch, "Maybe you should just get arrested, Rhys. We can just think of a plan to break you out."

"...It would seem all of you need to discuss this first," Prince Lance cleared his throat as he gestured to the group to leave the room, "I actually have a helicopter ready just in case, it will take you back to the headquarters of Wilder's Harem so that Rhys Wilder and Linette could say goodbye to your soldiers-sorry, to your members first. After all... what is worse than an absent monarch...

...is an absent monarch who did not advise his vassals that he would be gone. Now, shall we go?"

"Wait... I have not permitted any of this! We-"

And before Secretary Karen could say anything more, Katarina left the room obviously mad about the turn of events. She was followed by the rest of the group, with Ayesha just raising her middle finger at Karen as she stepped out.

"You think..." Karen gritted her teeth; blood, trailing down her lips from how hard she was doing so,

"...you think you can just get away with this!?"

"Dear..." Prince Lance glanced back and sighed,

"...They already have."