Mercy’s response to that is a giggle and I already know that this isn’t going to be easy. We head down to the suite and once everyone is comfortable I start telling my story. I am only a few minutes into my story when the comments and teasing start.

I don’t really mind, it is just a show of affection, but it makes the telling take longer. The puppy wakes up during the story, gets moved to my lap and fed, but doesn’t go back to sleep. So, I end up sitting there petting him as I continue telling my story to Victoria.

For her part, Victoria listens intently, but she doesn’t react to the comments or the teasing. Some of it she seems to understand, but I catch her looking confused a few times. She mostly seems confused by the teasing, her common knowledge probably doesn’t include adult fun.

That is not a conversation that I want to have with her, better if one of my wives handles that. It will also probably be best to wait until she at least looks older to make it easier. Telling someone who looks like a child about that stuff would totally be uncomfortable.

By the time I finish my story and explain the current situation I am thinking it is time for dinner. However, when I go to take out food, Lin tells me that we will be eating with King Vex. Apparently, there is going to be a feast and it is in my honor so I have to attend.

When Mercy agrees with her I know that I am not getting out of this dinner no matter how much I want to. Asuna quickly volunteers to stay to take care of the puppy and keep Victoria company. Honestly, she probably just wants to avoid the dinner and I wish I could join her.

With my two wives pushing at me, I change my clothing to something appropriate and head downstairs with them. King Vex is seated at the head of the table and as the guest of honor I get seated to his right. Amn is on his left and the rest of the rulers and my wives occupy the other seats.

Mavel ends up being the one to my right, but that’s fine since I get along decently with her. There are several other tables filled with nobles, but I don’t have to interact with them. Shortly after I sit down, Vex stands up and gives a long winded speech to thank me for saving his people.

When his speech ends, there is some applause, but it is obvious that it is just the nobles being polite. Most of them don’t care about a few peasants being freed, or they only care because Vex does. Vex sits down and the servers come out bringing a massive amount of food, but Vex doesn’t look happy.

“What’s wrong? Shouldn’t you be happy about the situation?”

King Vex says “I am happy about my people and the others being freed. Some were taken by bandits or pirates and that is as expected. What I wasn’t expecting is that some of them were sold by my nobles!”

“That doesn’t surprise me, nobles can be really greedy. Just execute them and be done with it.”

King Vex says “I can’t, as much as I want to! The testimony of a peasant is not enough proof to execute a noble. That is the law and I won’t break it.”

“That law needs to change, but you can just get around it for now.”

King Vex says “How would I get around it? I would love to get rid of them!”

“Use the peasants testimony to get them on the stand, then use a truth spell to make them confess to everything. Then execute them.”

King Vex says “Truth spell? Where would I get a truth spell?”

“The clergy. I’m not sure what pantheon your kingdom worships, but surely one of them would have a truth spell.”

King Vex says “The populace of my kingdom worships two pantheons, which makes things a little complicated. I’m not sure who would be best to ask.”

“So, ask them all, if just one can use a truth spell then it is simple. If one from each pantheon can, use both. If they question it, simply tell them that the truth is too important for bickering.”

King Vex says “You make it sound so simple! The politics involved in such an action would cause untold numbers of problems.”

“Are you the king or aren’t you?”

King Vex says “Of course I am the king!”

“Then stop making excuses and do what’s best for your people.”

King Vex gets a look on his face like he just swallowed something sour, but he doesn’t argue with me. He calls over a servant and I hear him issue orders for messages to be sent to every temple in the capital. It looks like he is at least going to attempt to try out my idea, but he doesn’t have much time.

We should be leaving in the morning after I open the gates to send the slaves home. Although, if the route through beastman lands can save us some time, we have some to spare. I’m sure the other rulers wouldn’t complain about another day to rest and recover.

Not that they have done anything that would need them to take time to rest and recover. The most strenuous thing they have done is sit in a carriage all day and sleep in a tent. Of course, just that much is enough to have Gremshow complaining constantly.

Even now, I can hear him further down the table, complaining to whoever got stuck next to him. Whoever it is has my sympathy, but better them than me, I’d be ready to kill him already. Chatting with Mavel, who is next to me, is far more pleasant than dealing with his whining.

The food is pretty amazing, mostly fish dishes, and there is enough that I can eat my fill. I also manage to add a few new dishes to my pouch which is always a good thing. After a while, I notice Vex listening to a messenger and after that he leans over to speak to me.

King Vex says “It turns out that one of the temples does have a priestess capable of casting a truth spell. She says she would be overjoyed to help me try some nobles. Do you mind if I interrupt your feast?”

“It’s not my feast, I was told I had to come.”

King Vex says “The feast is in your honor, therefore it is your feast.”

“Fine, whatever. In fact, watching some nobles sweat would be good entertainment. Go ahead.”

King Vex doesn’t interrupt the feast right away, he has to wait for the priestess to arrive. I go back to chatting with Mavel and fill her in while waiting for the fun to begin. Watching a group of nobles get just what they deserve is definitely going to be fun.

“King Vex, how do you normally execute the guilty?”