Exalted Champion: Ch 3 (rough draft) (Patreon)

Chapter 3: Honorifics

You might think by now that I would be used to it, waking in a delightful soft bundle of smooth flesh and hot bodies. But no, I don't think I would ever get used to it.

The idea of waking up next to one woman was its own pleasant, surreal experience, but now that I continually woke up with two, if not more utterly blew my mind every morning.

The first rays of light began to cast themselves across the Bay of the imperial capital and filter in through the windows of our apartment high in the college. Ashley curled next to me, full breasts resting on my side. Rachel was a relaxed ball on my other side, tone body tight with all the promises of pleasure. Sasha and Milly were each next to me, sprawled in the mix, tails and skin smooth in their resting along my body. Each were naked and warm, coaxing a now familiar comfort throughout every part of my body, mind, and soul.

I slipped from the bed and went to the bathroom to wash and get ready for the day. enchanting, and my first day at the college as prince, well fuck, here we go. I thought as I finished putting on my school uniform. The black and gold a statement of imperial regal authority. Yet now, somehow drab.

I slipped from the door to my room and into the living room, Rachel was the only one not still in the bed. Ashley, Sasha and Milly would sleep for some time still.

“Good morning, Strafa,” I said heading to the couch in the living room.

Strafa brought over a steaming mug of cossa, “Good morning, master Eric, was your night restful?” she asked, voice sly with a hint of playfulness. She wore tight lace panties, bunny tail bush sitting on her tail bone and brown rabbit ears flopped over her lush brown hair.

“Oh, quite. Though Ashley was exceptionally hunger for my cock and seed. Is breakfast cooking?” I sat back sipping the dark drink, the flavors grounding me into the world. Fuck, I’m just happy I did not get sent to a world that didn’t have coffee… I wonder how it got here, or if it evolved on this planet naturally.

I mussed on idle wondering, letting my mind relax, “Lord husband, Mmm, good morning.” Rachel said, blue robe loose around her tone body. The edge of her pert nipples peeking from the edge of the fabric.

“Good morning wife, Enchanting?” I asked as she reclined on the couch, placing her feet across my lap.

Strafa placed a mug of cossa in her hand, “Mmm, yes. We need to think about Professor Trianna’s offer of private tutoring. It could prove… Educational…” her words trailed off, and I had no doubt Rachel would want to be thoroughly educated by her favorite professor.

“Ensuring a deep and penetrating education is always worth the time.”

“Mmm Humm. After class, are you going into the dungeon? We need to work on the needle. One a week wont be to taxing.” Rachel asked, blue eyes lidded with relaxation that came with the morning cossa.

“I was thinking we could probably make all 10 this weekend it wouldn't be too much trouble?” I said, my tone making it more of a question.

“Oh, we could, would take a day to get the coins, then a day to enchant them all, but do able. I think the trouble would come if we handed that many to the emperors against right out of the gate. Getting them done so quickly would mean we would be asked to construct more and in a shorter time as well. we’d be stabbing ourselves in the foot.”

“True, so we could make five or ten, get the needles out of the way, then when the agent comes just give him one at a time making sure we don’t bite off more than we can chew.” I said as I slid my hand up and down her smooth leg.

“Yes, that would be for the best. Are you going into the dungeon after class?”

“Yeah, need to speak to our little fire friend. But that’s it.” I said.

“Well wear your armor and take Sasha and Milly. Just in case.” Rachel said, giving me the eyes. Letting me know I had better be careful and not mess her plans up for a happy future.

“I will,” I said.

“Good morning, Master Eric,” Brie said heading toward the door of my room.

“Good morning, Master Eric.” Allie said.

“Good morning, to you as well, going to wake the monster.”

“Hehe, yes, its not so bad.” Brie said Taking a large mug of cossa from Strafa, who gave her a thumbs up.

“Good luck.” I said, smiling at the overly dramatic mornings Ashley always provided.

Allie and Brie gave me firm nods of their heads and put on their war faces as they headed through my apartment door. “You think she’ll ever be a morning person?” I asked Rachel.

“Doubtful, she was even like this as a little girl, so no way that’s going to change now.” She answered.

“not that I would want it to change, it is kind of cute.”

“I know right, I just love her early morning grumpy face. You should really try fucking her before cossa, she is the squirmiest most pleasant miserable mess.”

“I’ll have to try it, but I’m not looking to torture her. Well, maybe if she is really bad.”

“Ah, the best kind of…” Rachel trailed off as Ashley gingerly stepped from the door.

“Oh, Ahhh… Goddesses its early… I nearly forgot… Ahhh…” Ashley said letting out her long yawns.

“We probably shouldn’t have let you sleep in on our trip.” Rachel said.

“Oh, I cant wait to be out of school. I wont be getting up before ten ever again.” Ashley said, each word a punctuation in a declaration she had made many times and would make many more times.

"And yet here we are," I replied, pulling her close as she flopped dramatically onto the couch beside me, "bright and early for another day of imperial education."

"Don't remind me," Ashley groaned, burying her face against my shoulder.

Strafa appeared with Ashley's cossa, which she accepted with grabby hands and a grunt that might have been gratitude. The bunny girl smiled knowingly and retreated to the kitchen.

"So," I said, glancing between my wives, "how do we handle my first day as Prince? I imagine there'll be whispers."

Rachel's lips curved into a calculating smile. "Whispers? There will be an uproar. The entire social hierarchy of the college just got upended."

"Not to mention," Ashley added between sips, gradually transforming from sleep-deprived beast to functioning human, "we'll have to deal with Tiffany and Adelia at some point."

The mere mention of those names made my stomach tighten. "Can we avoid them for another day?"

"Unlikely," Rachel replied, stretching her legs across my lap. "They'll be waiting to ambush you somewhere. Better to prepare."

"Prepare how? I'm not planning to consummate anything with them." My hand traced idle patterns on Rachel's ankle.

Ashley snorted. "Gods no. Just remember your new rank. You're not just an Exalted Lord anymore—you're an exalted Prince. They address you first, and they must use your proper honorific."

"Which is what exactly? 'Your Highness'?" I asked.

"'Exalted Prince' in formal settings," Rachel corrected. "They should use 'Prince Husband' when addressing you directly. You may call them 'Wife' if you're feeling generous."

I nodded, committing this to memory. The imperial etiquette was exhausting, but I understood its value as both shield and weapon. “We are going to have to cohabitate with them, won’t we?” I asked knowing that we would it was college law, imperial law. Ashley and Rachel were not going to be happy about that.

"We are," Rachel confirmed, her voice cool and practical. "The college won't bend those rules, even for a prince. We’ll more than likely be moving into the prince’s old quarters."

I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache forming. "Fantastic. Two wives who hate me, and the two women I love living under the same roof."

"They don't hate you," Ashley said, now fully awake and animated. "They hate us. You're just... collateral damage."

"Sasha woke up," Strafa called from the kitchen. "And Milly. They're getting ready now."

I sighed, letting my head fall back against the couch. "So we're moving to Leonard's quarters today?"

"Tomorrow would be better," Rachel said, fingers tapping thoughtfully against her mug. "We need to inspect the space first, cleanse it of any lingering enchantments or traps. Leonard wasn't known for his hospitality."

"He was known for being a sadistic prick," Ashley muttered, her face hardening. "We'll need to thoroughly check every inch of those quarters."

I nodded, knowing they were right. The prince's death didn't mean his malice couldn't live on through carefully placed enchantments. "Fine. We'll inspect today after classes. What about his vault? That should be safe enough to check immediately."

"The vault at the bank?" Rachel considered this. "Possibly. Those are theoretically neutral ground, though I wouldn't put it past Leonard to have arranged something nasty there too."

Sasha padded into the room, her blue-tipped tails swishing behind her. She knelt at my feet, laying her head against my knee. "Good morning, Master."

I stroked her ears gently, feeling her lean into my touch. "Morning. Sleep well?"

"Very well," she purred, eyes closing contentedly.

Milly followed shortly after, her bovine features bright and alert despite the early hour. "Morning, Master Eric! What's the plan for today?"

"Classes, then dungeon," I replied, continuing to stroke Sasha's ears. "I need you both with me for the dungeon run."

"Yes!" Milly pumped her fist excitedly. "I've been practicing my stances."

"Good," I said, smiling at her enthusiasm. "We're keeping it short though—just need to talk to our little fire friend."

Strafa brought out breakfast—fresh bread, fruit, and strips of cured meat. The smell made my stomach growl appreciatively. As we ate, I mentally prepared for the day ahead. Prince. The title still felt foreign, like clothing that didn't quite fit.

“Imperial Tribune is here,” Faith said handing each of us our own copy.

I knew what at least one of the headlines was going to be, the death of a prince was not going to go unnoticed.

Imperial Tribune: October 21, 3212 T.E. Harness (Friday)

Victory on the Black Sand: Duel Ends with Death of Prince Leonard

Yesterday, under the thunderous silence of the Imperial Arena, the duel between Exalted Lord Eric Grayson and Prince Leonard Palebreaker concluded in brutal finality. With the emperor himself presiding, the black-sand combat saw the former heir of the Palebreaker line slain in single combat.

Emperor Amuilius Tagin named the victor "Prince Grayson," transferring all holdings, wives, slaves, and properties of the disgraced Prince Leonard to the Exalted Lord. In a dramatic conclusion, the emperor declared, "By imperial law, custom, and right, I confer the title of Prince unto you, Exalted Prince Grayson."

Witnesses claim the crowd’s silence was more deafening than its earlier roars, with nobles visibly shaken by the outcome. A new star rises among the noble elite.

“We’ll, everyone in the empire knows now…” I said, sipping cossa and eating the breakfast Strafa had made.

“There was never going to be away to keep that hidden, but more of the nobles will want to know about you… your other secretes might not have long in the shadows.” Rachel added, with a whence.

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Exalted Prince Grayson Receives Royal Holdings

Following the imperial pronouncement, newly titled Prince Grayson inherits the late Leonard Palebreaker’s estate holdings. These include:

A royal manor in the Noble Ring District of the capital.

A defunct merchant warehouse in Lower Tagin’s Bazaar Quarter.

A 500-acre agricultural estate near Laga’vast, rumored to have been underperforming for several seasons.

A royal college apartment (Unit 25-50, East Tower).

Sixty bound servants, two exalted noble wives, and a personal mother superior of the Temple of Alleystra.

When reached for comment, the Royal Bank of Tagin confirmed that the transfer included an untouched exalted vault, now held solely by the prince.

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WAR IN THE SCATTERED KINGDOMS RAGES ON: EMPIRE REMAINS UNSHAKEN

By: Tribune Senior Correspondent Candidus Fael

Reports from the southern warfront confirm that the scorched plains of the Shattered Kingdoms are soaked once more in noble blood and broken steel. After their crushing victories at Blood Rock and the Ridge of Ralford, the Southern Alliance of Alada and Ashmont continues its unrelenting push north.

Northern forces, led by the war-dukes of Setten and Hammond, have been forced into a desperate retreat, abandoning key strategic holdings in the fertile central valleys. Several towns have reportedly fallen to the advancing Southern banners. But this success has only deepened the chaos, as assassinations, betrayal, and sabotage within both coalitions reach fever pitch.

Imperial analysts remain divided on the conflict’s eventual victor. Though the southern forces are buoyed by battlefield success and the survival of their royal couple—Prince Quinten and Princess Tanya—diplomatic tensions and whispers of internal betrayal threaten to undo their fragile alliance.

The Empire maintains its stance of noble neutrality. No breaches have been attempted on the Saltum Pass, and the fortresses of Eastern Dawn remain quiet yet ever vigilant.

In the words of Tribune Oppius Corraidhin of the Sixth Cohort:"Let the children of broken crowns bleed themselves dry. The Empire watches. And we remember."

Long live Emperor Amulius Tagin. Long live the Empire.

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I set my paper down as Rachel announced, after checking the ornate clock on the wall, "Ten minutes until we need to leave, Your first class as an Exalted Prince. And it’s enchanting!" her excitement could not be hidden.

"Fuck, enchanting as a prince," I muttered, draining my cossa. "I wonder if Professor Trianna will treat me differently now."

"Oh, she absolutely will," Ashley said, finally looking human again. "Every professor will. You're not just another student anymore."

I stood, straightening my uniform. The black and gold fabric felt heavier somehow, weighted with new expectations. "Wonderful. More political games to navigate."

Rachel rose gracefully, her robe falling open to reveal the curves of her body before she cinched it closed. "Think of it as practice for court life. The college is just a smaller version of imperial politics. I’m going to get ready." Rachel went and got ready, school uniform of black and gold seeming more elegant today than it had before.

“Right, well see you after class,” I said bending and kissing Ashely.

“Absolutely, Prince husband.” Ashley giggled at the title as she kissed me back.

Books and notes in hand Rachel and I left the apartment to go and see what Professor Trianna was going to teach us today.