Dessert landed flawlessly.
Jax had personally ensured the sweetness balanced the spice profile of the wyvern. The final bite sealed the evening as legendary. Even seasoned nobles leaned back in disbelief.
"It pairs perfectly," someone whispered.
The King overheard the head chef murmur to an assistant:
"I truly hope His Majesty allows expanded trade. Those Solmere spices are revolutionary."
The King made a quiet mental note.
Trade.
Spice routes.
Influence.
Power.
After the plates cleared, Legos and Heiron rose in unison and approached Jax.
Friendly.
Pushy.
"Well," Legos said, clapping him on the shoulder, "now the real celebration begins."
Heiron grinned. "Time for your last night of freedom."
The Vixens tried to look composed.
They failed.
Nyxian leaned toward Zee. "Strip club?"
Bunny whispered, "Brothel."
Zee muttered, "Or both."
They weren't angry.
They were jealous. They expected a night of curling hair and sipping sparkling wine.
Which was worse.
Jax stood near the King as his future brothers-in-law circled him like conspirators.
"I don't know what your sons planned," Jax said casually, "but if it's strange having your future son-in-law around on his final night of freedom, I understand."
Then he added lightly—
"You're welcome to join us, if you'd like."
The King blinked.
Join… the bachelor party?
He barely remembered his own.
He was fairly certain it did not include parental supervision.
Before he could answer—
Llandra turned to her mother.
"Mother, you are welcome to join mine as well."
The Queen's eyebrow lifted.
"Oh?"
"It will likely be mild," Llandra added diplomatically.
The Queen smiled slowly.
"I would love to attend. If you'll have an old woman such as myself."
She looked perhaps early thirties.
The King looked barely forty.
Neither resembled their actual age.
But they played the part.
The great hall had been divided.
Not by walls.
By tradition.
The eastern wing belonged to the ladies.
The western wing belonged to the gentlemen.
According to generations of royal custom...
The men would celebrate loudly.
The women would celebrate with grace and dignity.
The bachelorette gathering assembled inside a private chamber within the castle.
Cylvia, Llandra's older sister, presided proudly.
Candles.
Wine.
Pixie Mead.
Soft cushions.
Elegant music.
University friends embraced Llandra.
Old laughter returned.
Glasses filled quickly.
The Queen rose first.
"Llandra, my youngest," she began solemnly, "I regret that I have never prepared you for what tomorrow may bring. With your innocent mind and untouched body—"
The room froze.
The Vixens went pale.
Llandra nearly choked.
"I am here to answer any questions about what to expect from your husband."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Then—
"I'm kidding!" the Queen burst out laughing.
"From everything I've heard..."
"...I don't think you're the one who needs advice."
The Vixens stared.
Stunned.
Nyxian blinked once.
Then smiled wickedly.
"Well, Your Majesty… would you like to hear some real juicy stories about your daughter?"
The room exploded in want and excitement.
Wine nearly spilled.
Cylvia clutched a pillow to her face.
The Queen leaned forward eagerly.
"Go on."
And just like that—
The night changed tone.
Jax followed Legos and Heiron into one of the palace's older reception halls.
Long tables overflowed with roasted meats, fresh bread, cheeses, and enough ale to keep a dwarf smiling for a week.
A roaring fireplace crackled against one wall.
A pair of musicians tuned their instruments near the corner.
The atmosphere was warm.
Relaxed.
Comfortable.
Legos spread his arms.
"Welcome to your final night of freedom."
Jax looked around.
"...This is it?"
Heiron frowned.
"What were you expecting?"
"I don't know."
"A little chaos."
Legos laughed.
"Oh, there'll be chaos."
He pointed toward the stack of drinking mugs.
"You'll lose at every game we play."
Back at the bachelorette party—
The wine flowed faster.
Nyxian was in full storytelling mode.
Bunny interrupted frequently.
Zee attempted to remain composed.
Failed.
Cylvia listened with wide eyes.
University friends leaned closer. Dawn was close by as well.
The Queen asked pointed questions.
Llandra buried her face in both hands.
"...Mother."
"What?"
"I'm happy for you."
The laughter only grew louder.
Back at the West Wing—
Legos slammed another mug onto the table.
"You cheated."
"I won." Jax stated firmly.
"There must be something different with your drinks."
"You poured them."
Even King Thalorien laughed.
"You might want to challenge him at something different."
Heiron looked horrified.
"...Father."
"What?"
"Unless you plan on getting used to losing."
"We just need a new game."
The group laughed.
Stories grew taller as the evening continued.
Each version of the hunt somehow gained another Ironhide Wyvern.
By the fifth retelling...
There were three.
By the seventh...
One hunter who with them that day, insisted the creature had been the size of the palace.
Vaelrith quietly rubbed his temples.
"I was there."
"No, you weren't."
"...I beg your pardon?"
"The real story is much better."
"I distinctly remember how it happened."
"So do we."
"It happened differently."
The Spy Master stared at them for several long moments.
"...I've decided not to argue."
"A wise decision."
Jax misquoted a famous saying from his world. "I never let the truth get in the way of a good story."
The men continued drinking and telling embellished stories. No real scandal or debauchery occurred. They never even saw another woman. In terms of a bachelor party, it was pretty tame, but somehow fun.
In the East Wing-
Cylvia stood on a chair.
"To Llandra's final night as a single woman!"
Glasses raised.
The Queen raised hers highest.
"Now the real entertainment begins!"
The men of Entertainment entered the room.
The room erupted again.
The Vixens looked at one another in surprise. The married noblewomen lost their minds in excitement.
Two parties.
Two very different energies.
And neither unfolding as anyone predicted.