The hivemind is conquering for me?

Frustrated at coming up empty handed, Elaine walked back into her party and immediately began radiating positive energy to hide her failed search. ‘Where could he have gone? King Sigismund always has a purpose for doing what he does. He would not have just ran away on a whim’

Elaine closed her eyes and took a deep breath. ‘I have done all I can. Just enjoy your party and trust your guards to do there job. Though I could do with some fresh air.’ Before she was noticed, Elaine grabbed a cup of wine from the bar and made her way outside onto the balcony.

She was about to round a small corner that was secluded from the rest of the balcony view, but she then heard a pair of voices laughing. One was unidentified, but the other she knew all to well.

Your journey continues with

Peeking around to corner to investigate why the man she was looking for was hiding on the balcony, she took in a small gasp when she realised who Sigismund was talking to. ‘Why him? Why now? Is there actually a plot afoot that Eleni missed?’

Skulking from where she was would get no answers, so she decided to walk over to investigate, it was her party after all, she could go where she pleased. As she made her way closer, she heard a part of Sigismund’s story.

“- So then I cleaved its ugly head off with good ol’ Doombringer here, and In one fluid motion, I threw the head of their commander right at the Drakoshi’s second in command. Lets just say a mass route on their part was putting it lightly Hahahaha Gazik the Undefeated? Yeah right. Hahaha!”

“Am I interrupting anything important good sirs?” Elaine said having been able to sneak up on the most powerful human in Spartari. Sigismund turned around and his face fell upon seeing Elaine. “Aww crap. I mean, no nothing important Elaine. Apollo and I were sharing some stories about our respective swords. Let me tell you, he has quite the sword there, and for his age, he sure knows how to use it.”

Elaine flashed a smile and raised her eyebrow. “Oh comparing swords are we? How manly of you. Now get inside and enjoy the party before I kick your ass for running off the way you did.”

Sigismund stared down at the current civil Queen a moment as though looking for a weakness. Elaine held her ground however, and continued to stare at Sigismund like a mother chastising their son.

“Pfft fine, you are lucky my meds have kicked in or I wouldn’t be taking this shit. Come on Jocasta. Oh and Apollo, a pleasure to meet you.” Sigismund said before walking inside.

Elaine eyes budged wide as she watched Sigismund walk away from her. ‘Did that man really say it was pleasurable to meet someone?’ The man widely known among Spartari nobility for hating every single noble that is not currently enlisted or an active presence within Spartari military.

Elaine then turned back to the man who has become the centre of her attention this evening as the mystery around him continued to unfold.

“Um, hi.” I said as the Queen just leered at me. I would have walked away, but she was blocking the exit back to the main balcony so I just had to stand there while she did whatever she was doing.

After a short moment, she finally asked me a question. “Do you know the man you were just speaking to?” She stepped closer when she said that. For some reason I felt a certain weight wash over me as she approached. It was not Psionic in nature, but still I felt obliged to answer the woman.

“No, I just met him not too long ago your majesty. We did not exchange names or anything, we just began talking. I think he was a general in the army or something judging from how much he loved talking about killing Drakoshi. And don’t get me started on his Psionic presence. He is insanely strong.”

Elaine furrowed her brow as she stared at the man speaking truth in front of her. “Really, you don’t know the face of your own-” “Apollo?” A voice cut off Elaine as It rounded the corner. “Oh my Arcon there you are, sorry things took so… Long.” Hailey trailed off as she saw her step mother mere steps away from her future husband.

Hailey continued to walk forward in silence as she kept her eye on Elaine, trying to figure out what was happening out here. Eventually, she turned away from her step mother and looked at Apollo, whose confusion about what was happening was written clearly over his face.

To hide the fact who she was, Hailey went straight into casual conversation. “So Apollo, once again sorry for keeping you out here. I had some family drama that I needed to clear up with Aunty Kat. How have you been? Come lets talk inside.”

Taking the chance to get away from the domineering queen, I took up Hailey’s offer and began talking as I walked. “Oh I have been perfectly fine Centurion. Though I must say it is a pleasant surprise seeing someone familiar at this event.”

Elaine watched as the two walked away with shock on her face. From what she knew about Hailey, she was stone faced most of the time, not showing emotions other then anger and frustration. So to see her face light up and smile fully at the man next to her, Elaine had one simple question. “Who the fuck is that man?”

…

Making our way back into the hall Hailey began saying. “Goodness, It really has been a long time since I have been out of my Centurion outfit you know? I forgot what light clothing felt like. What do you think about my outfit by the way?” She wanted a genuine reaction from Apollo. She knew Kathrine and the old hag were wearing revealing clothing, so she had to find out if that was Apollo’s taste or not.

Turning my attention to only Hailey for a moment, I scanned her entire up and down, solely focused on her attire and how it complimented her body. Hailey began to blush upon realising it was too much having a man track his gaze all over her body. She was used to it from sleazy nobles as they only thought about sex, but Apollo was different. He was genuinely trying his best to give her an answer; which made her feel funny inside.

Hailey’s outfit was more ‘moral’ compared to Kathrine’s and Valerica’s. It was a beautiful red Stola with stitched in golden pauldron and an accompanying red cape and a golden engraved cummerbund around her waist. The material covered Hailey all the way down to her ankles while only showing a respectable amount of cleavage.

“I think you look very beautiful. Like a warrior princess from a tale.” I said genuinely. Hailey covered her mouth to hide her smile. “Really? Though do you think I would look better wearing something similar to aunt Kat?”

She said as she peaked over at Kathrine who was talking to her mother and some other guests currently. I also looked over to Kathrine before shaking my head. “No, I think you suit what you are wearing perfectly.”

Hailey looked saddened that Apollo would rather her remain modest before she listened to him continue. “If you look around the room, only a few dozen are wearing similar outfits to Kathrine and Valerica. The reason they are doing so is because they look so much younger than their age suggests and they want to show off is what I am garnering. You are still a woman in her prime and therefore have no reason to show off what you already know is an incredibly attractive body.”

Blood rushed to Hailey’s face and other regions upon the compliment to her body. ‘Ah shit.’ I thought, realising I didn’t turn my filter on. “Sorry If I upset you Hailey, sometimes I don’t know when to stop talking, ask Kathrine. I really do have no filter sometimes and things just blurt out. Is there anything I can do to make you forgive me?” I said, not realising Hailey was embarrassed and not angry.

Hailey’s ears perked up and her whole body came to attention upon realising she had an opportunity placed before her on a silver platter. “It is fine Apollo, we are friends after all. Complimenting one another is perfectly fine. Though if you want to make it up to me, we can have a dance and follow it with an old Spartari ritual?”

Feeling I had dodged a bullet, I looked over to Kathrine who was still preoccupied and I could still dance with her after Hailey. “Sure why not, you should teach me on the fly though. I am not familiar with Spartari dances having lived in the outer rim all my life.

As Hailey lead me by the hand to the dance floor, she had not realised in her excitement that a certain drunk King had made his way back onto his throne and was now staring at his little girl having her first dance with an unknown man.