"So now that we've figured out I have no family, we should move on and forget about it." James said with a knowing voice.
Lady Justine had been reading the message for several minutes now and her hands were now trembling a little.
Noticing her struggle James continued, "It's fine, really Lady Justine. I really didn't expect-"
"I was right… holy goddess I was right.." her voice quavering.
"Yep, I understand Lady Justine. I have no relatives- Eehhhh! You were right, what does that mean!?"
Justine's face went pale as she kept reading the letter over an over.
"Lady Justine, snap out of it. What's going on." James said waving his hand in front of her face.
She yelped when she saw how close James was and back away like a frightened rabbit. She had dropped the letter and was muttering to herself.
'What's the deal, I know who I am so it can't be that shocking.'
Picking up the letter he read:
Dear Viscountess Justine Clement,
I haved received your inquiry about the description of my son. The description you gave matched quite spectacularly to his. I'm currently making my way to your territory with all haste to confirm the identity. I expect to arrive by dawn of the 11th day this month.
With kind regards,
Duchess Mallory Cromwell
———————————————————
'What the, someone is actually coming?'
"Who the hell is Mallory Cromwell and when's the 11th day?" James asked suddenly.
Since Justine wasn't functioning properly Emily chimed in, "The Lady Mallory Cromwell is a Duchess whose authority is second only to the Queen herself. In fact she's actually the sister of Queen Anastasia. And I believe the 11th is tomorrow, why do you ask?"
"Apparently she'll be here tomorrow at dawn if I read this correctly." James said picking his ear.
Veronica and Emily both swayed on their feet.
"T-then t-that w-would make y-you…" Veronica sputtered.
"T-then h-he's… a-actually.." Emily was just as frightened.
"Prince James Cromwell!" The women then collapsed in a heap.
'Prince? What the heck are they talking about, I'm a nobody.'
James turned back to Lady Justine was biting her nails she was still muttering to herself.
James caught "Lady Mallory.." "I was right.." and "tomorrow.." the last word was seemingly too much and she grabbed fistfuls of her hair and rocked back and forth on the ground.
———————————————————
There was a flurry of activity in the manor as every able bodied person set to doing one task or another. James was currently annoyed at his companions, because every time he had tried to talk to them they seemed frightened of his presumed identity.
Sitting in his room after the last attempt at conversation failed, James threw up his hands and said
"If you two don't start speaking normally to me, I'm going to banish you from ever appearing in my sight again!"
'This is so annoying I'm not some Duchess's son with Royal blood making me a prince. I'm in a fantasy isekai not some crappy transmigration story.'
His words had seemed to slap the two and panic began to fester.
"Prince James, I-"
*grrrr*
"J-James.. I'm sorry, we were just a little schocked to find out your a Prince is all." Veronica said with her head down.
"That's it! I'm giving you two a special punishment tonight for pissing me off."
They froze at his words and red colored faces were soon trying to hide eager smiles.
"After dinner, get ready for the longest night of your lives." James said tersely.
Instead of going to the tavern, the three had went down to the manors kitchen and grabbed bowls of stew and fresh bread.
Going back to the room after eating James immediately barked a command, "Strip."
The Ascendants couldn't have gotten their clothes off faster if they tried. But they had slightly disobeyed.
"I meant all of it." James said sternly.
With that both women were entirely nude.
'Good god Emily's breasts are huge. She could give herself a titjob.'
Both were excited under his gaze and James asked, "What should I do with you two hmmm.."
"Please punish us severely!" Emily's mouth was open and breathing in rapidly.
"Since you asked me so nicely, I'll think about it." Saying this he hopped in bed and started reading a random book he pulled from one of the shelves.
After half an hour, the two finally understood that this wasn't the good kind of punishment.
The book James had selected was actually somewhat interesting, it described in great detail the pros and cons of intercourse with different races.
James had been so absorbed in the book, he actually forgot he was punishing Emily and Veronica until the words in the book went fuzzy with lack of light.
'I should stop here, I don't want them to be haggard tomorrow from standing around all night, plus I got an early morning appointment to attend too.'
"All right, I'm done being mean. If you need to um.. take care of things, go ahead. I'm going sleep now, good night." He said while pulling his bed sheets over him, not meeting their eyes.
Now that he wasn't frustrated with them anymore, James was slightly embarrassed by the situation.
——————————
James was soon asleep, his dreams did not turn into the regular nightly spat he was having with the stick.
Instead, he was riding in a hazy car and was staring out the window as trees rushed by. He heard the ghostly echo of a long forgotten voice and turned and looked to look at the front two seats.
Misty figures sat there, but one had turned around while speaking to him. The mist was swirling and formed into the outline of a human with long hair.
The figure had no face but still it's voice sounded.
"Did you like your birthday party kiddo?"
A moment passed as it waited for a response, then it started talking again as if it had gotten one.
"Haha! I'm happy you did, I love y-"
Tires screeched and the view outside the car was spinning upside down as metal collided with asphalt.
The dream vanished instantly and reformed into a room with a couple desks. James was sitting again looking at at person who was typing into a computer.
James looked around the room at the various memorabilia that comes with having a career in the army.
His head had snapped back to the man as he had begun talking.
"After I get this sent out to your social worker, you'll be fully eligible for early enlistment. But I have to ask why your so impatient to join kid, the army's not goin' anywhere."
Again there was a response James couldn't hear and the man started talking once more, this time with comforting smile.
"Ah damn kid. Well I'd say you've chose the next best thing, this is a brotherhood that will give you a new family. Everyone looks out for one another always."
The man paused for a moment then continued.
"Alright I just sent the packet out, as soon I get the signature you'll be good to go. Now, let me be the first to welcome you into the army, private Cromwell."
James suddenly woke up in a cold sweat. His mind was racing.
'That first dream.. I thought I had gotten over that after all this time… But that second one. Why would I be thinking about my enlistment?'
James pondered for a while, that's when he realized something that had been teetering on the edge of his mind since coming to this strange world.
'My last name is Cromwell.. why had I forgotten? I've had that name my whole life since I never got close enough to another family for them to adopt me.'
The recognition of his name was making his head throb for some reason.
'Holy crap, why am I getting such a violent headache right now.'
James clenched his eyes and held his head tightly, as if to squeeze his uncooperative brain. Then as suddenly as it had appeared, the pain vanished.
'Did I just have a slight aneurysm or something.. I wonder if healing magic can fix that..'
James's thoughts slowly rambled on until he fell asleep again.
Before he knew it, a hand was gently shaking him awake. His bleary eyes took in the dark room and he wondered why someone would wake him at this hour.
"James pssss James.. you should get up. It's an hour till dawn and we need to get ready." Veronica said gently.
"I don't wanna.." with that he closed his eyes and tried to sleep again.
"James if you don't get up we're going to have to bathe and dress you ourselves." Veronica now teased.
"Go right ahead.. I don't care.." then James really did fall back asleep.
Veronica looked at Emily in a panic but the other woman just shrugged and went over to pick up James.
A feeling weightlessness passed over James and then he felt hands taking off clothing. James mind didn't fully comprehend the situation until his underwear was tugged free and two cartoonishly loud gulps sounded.
He snapped his eyes open and he covered his body, "Okay! I get it! I'll get ready on my own now."
When they didn't move James had to say, "Jeez, go away you perverts."
They pulled themselves together and he saw Emily hold her head up and pinch her nose as she left with a stumbling Veronica.
When he was done with his bath, James noticed the clothes provided for him today were quite fancy. He ditched most of it and only kept the nice black dress pants, and collard shirt which happened to be black today as well.
'I need to invent belts here, these suspenders lose their charm after awhile.'
James was going to put on his running shoes, but decided against it. He didn't want to put Justine in a tight spot if his clothing upset the woman coming today.
His outfit was all back except for the bone white suspenders, his appearance was giving off mafioso vibes.
'Or fashionable emo highschooler..'
James hand combed his hair and gave himself another 9/10 in the mirror as he smiled.
'I'm quite handsome these days.'
James left his room to find three people standing outside, all looking very nervous.
Veronica and Emily only slightly fidgeted but Lady Justine was looking around everywhere all at once, trying to find anything that might seem out of place.
When he closed the door, Justine noticed him and bowed to him deeply while saying in a shaky voice,
"Good morning Prince James, I hope you slept-" *Ahh* a sound of surprise cut off her words.
James had walked over and placed his hand on her shoulder, raising her up.
"Come on Lady Justine.. no need to be like that. We still don't know if I am a prince. So please just treat me normally." His smile was warm and inviting.
Justine had actually blushed and looked away while saying, "I'm sorry, I got a little ahead of myself."
"Even if I am some sort of royal descendant, I hope you'll still speak normally with me.. You're cool and collected demeanor is so beautiful." Saying this he hugged her.
'It's been awhile since I've teased her hehe.. this should loosen up her nerves a bit.'
James felt her dagger again and thought, 'She really is prepared, that must be uncomfortable to hide a weapon at all times.'
"Stop playing around.. we have an important guest today." Justine's face was bright red and her earlier anxiety was dismissed.
"I know.. how long until dawn though, I want to sleep some more.." James said while yawning.
Justine pulled a pocket watch from her pants and froze.
"20 minutes.." she said blankly.
They made their way downstairs and stood by the manors open door, waiting to receive the Duchess.
James put his arms out and yawned, "Hey Veronica.. pick me up. I want to sleep for a bit."
Obeying immediately, she scooped him up and held him tenderly.
His eyes closed and he drifted off again.
Then as if he had blinked, was soon awoken by cries of outrage from a very angry woman.