Princess Hannah of the Jade Harem CH 26

White petals rained from the sky as Hannah, Frank, and Umtha stood at the top of the steps of the grand plaza. The palace floated above, with a magical projection of the goings on like a giant movie screen. A carpet of green silk ran down the center of the plaza between the columns and up the steps to where the three waited.

Heather wore her lovely white gown, the bands of color to indicate her lovely wives. Frank looked handsome in his dark suit and sash, displaying his title as prince, champion, and now harem master. Umtha was in white silk, holding a bouquet of green and yellow. Her face was concealed behind a veil, and her tail was tied with a lovely white bow.

Hannah thought the bow was a nice touch, but Umtha had fought against it. She lost the battle when Gwen insisted it stay and threatened to add them to Umtha’s hair if she kept arguing. The others had them as well, with the exception of Hannah, whose tail was wrapped in a golden net interlaced with white flowers instead.

Below them, the plaza was lined by hundreds, come to witness the royal wedding. Breanne, Quinny, and Blackbast were officially becoming wives, with Umtha being reannounced as a full wife already. It had been done once when Hannah made her public speech about her past, but there would be a more formal show of it now.

Bells rang across the city as the hour of the wedding arrived, and Hannah waved to the ranks of harem girls standing in the front row. Rageen, Zillix, Roric, and Chandice had a special area with thrones to sit and watch the ceremony. Gwen had a place behind them where she would oversee the ceremony with the chief priestess of the order.

Part of the plaza had been set aside for goblins, and they stood in attendance by the hundreds. There were so many they rivaled the players and acted as the first public display of just how many goblins lived below. The air above was filled with magical effects, and players on flying mounts or other devices, watching the event unfold. Above them on the palace balcony were the nobles and lords from nearby kingdoms, given every available comfort. They were attended by a dozen harem girls who volunteered to work during the service.

Alexandria, Lydia, Santos, Drellis, and Finneous were among them, acting as both representatives of the city and spies. Santos, in particular, was there to listen and see what was being said as the various events unfolded. First, they would witness Frank and Hannah marry three more women, and then they would hear that the Jade Harem would be a major player in Gwen's kingdom. But the most important announcement would be the plan to make all monster players minor nobles, thus protecting them from being reset inside the kingdom.

The wedding began with the three women walking down the green carpet escorted by harem tiger men. They chose the tiger men instead of city guards to play up the strength of the Jade Harem. Hannah didn't want any of her distinguished guests to doubt who was in charge here.

People cheered as Gisley led a group of harem girls in a song, as others added musical talent to the mix. It was a beautiful backdrop to what was happening, and the entire thing was shown over the magical display. Hannah looked at her three approaching wives and had to smile. Blackbast hadn't wanted to be part of the ceremony, preferring to marry in a small private affair. Gwen would have none of it, leaving the poor woman no room to negotiate. She was going to make this event as grand a spectacle as possible, raking in the social points at the cost of Blackbast's discomfort.

Now, the moment had come, and the three women walked flanked by their guards. The tiger men held aloft long poles, holding up banners to display the new emblem of the jade harem. It was a round disc with a twined dragon around the edge and a red ruby in the center. The disc was jade, of course, and the words love, compassion, and service were written on it. The girls wore the emblem on their collars, but the masters had a slightly different one. Their disc was over a pair of crossed swords, indicating that they were knights of the harem and wore it like a medal.

It was almost too good a match for Gwen's green and cream coloring and felt like a natural addition to the theme. The people cheered as the girls went by, throwing flower petals in every color of the rainbow at their feet. They came up the steps, each woman holding a different bouquet that matched the color of their skin. When the three arrived, they stood to face Hannah, Frank, and Umtha, and it finally began.

Vows were exchanged, and promises of love were made as the three women officially became wives and princesses. Gwen then took over to preside over the ceremony. She started with Umtha, announcing her as Queen of the goblins and wife of Frank. She explained how Hannah and Frank were also King and Queen of the goblins before officially welcoming the goblins to her kingdom. Then she pulled Quinny forward, announcing her transition to a full daughter. She then explained how it came about, leaving out Quinny's pain but highlighting Hannah's sacrifice. The people cheered to hear Hannah's selfless action, then even louder when Gwen explained Hannah's ascension to the title of silver princess.

Hannah couldn't believe how loud the cheers got as the magical display focused on her to reveal her blush. She waved to the crowd as it roared, and Gwen put a hand on her shoulder to praise the silver princess of Ellowshire. When that shock had passed, she went on to announce the Jade Harem as the rulers of the city and province. Gwen ensured the people understood the harem had her full backing and support if needed. The symbol of the harem was unfurled on great banners from the floating palace behind them, and Hannah wished she could see the reactions of their guests.

Hannah looked at Frank as Gwen stepped aside and motioned to him to step forward. He nodded and stood in a magic circle that would ensure his voice was amplified to the entire city. Hannah was so proud as Frank boldly addressed the city as a human and then changed before them into the towering ghoul. Now, as a monster, he thanked them for helping to make the kingdom the resounding success it had become. He sounded sincere and compassionate as he insisted that the people were just as important in making this work, and he had a new idea. The crowd went silent as Frank first explained how the reset system worked and how monster players were trapped in their lairs. He told the stories of how easily they were reset and how particularly cruel players would drag them from their lairs to do just that. Then he laid out his plan to add a new wing to the adventurers guild where monster players could register. They would be given a minor title, enabling them to travel safely inside the kingdom. Thus, they were free to let players know where their lair was and invite them to plumb its depths. Both sides would reap the rewards, and together, the kingdom would grow stronger.

If Hannah thought the cheers for her title of silver princess were loud, she was mistaken. Now, they were deafening as the people replied with enthusiasm, praising the name of Prince Frank. Gwen arranged for fireworks to go off at the completion of his speech, and the air above the palace was suddenly alive with lights.

“I wish we could see their faces,” Gwen said to the nearby women as she smiled. “Oh, I bet the local rulers are raging.”

Hannah suppressed a smile at how much her mother enjoyed angering her neighbors and how excited she was to find out if it had worked. The magical screen zoomed back to show the wedding party as they waved, and the air filled with white doves. A grand open coach pulled by unicorns arrived at the base of the steps as Gisley started another song. As a group, the girls linked arms and flanked Frank as he led them to their ride.

“I wanted to avoid all this,” Blackbast said nervously as she looked through her veil.

“Oh, just enjoy it,” Breanne said as they passed cheering people. “I have never been so happy.”

Hannah nodded as she squeezed Quinny’s hand to see the woman was crying under her veil. “Sweetheart, why are you crying again?”

“Did you really do that?” Quinny asked as she looked over. “Did you tell Gwen you would give up being a princess for me?”

“Oh, she didn’t tell you before now?” Hannah said in shock as they passed hundreds of people. Quinny shook her head, and Hannah pulled her into a one-armed hug. Hannah assumed Gwen had explained it while she and Quinny were alone. How terrible it must have been to find out while front and center of a public ceremony. “Just lean on me, and let's get to the carriage.”

They arrived and piled in with Hannah, Ensuring Quinny was in her arms to hide her face so she could cry. Off the carriage went on a tour through the city, the outer lands, and into the Lovewood. Hannah held the crying Quinny the entire time, cradling her head tightly as she rocked gently.

“Why is she so upset?” Frank asked as he reached over to rub her back.

“My mother didn’t tell her about my offer to step down,” Hannah said before looking at Breanne. “And neither did you.”

“It wasn't my place to tell her,” Breanne said. “And to be honest, I assumed Gwen explained it all.”

“All she told me was that Hannah had asked her to make me her daughter,” Quinny said. “She never said you volunteered to give up your status as her daughter and a princess so I could be one.”

“Sweety,” Hannah said softly as they passed through the green fields outside, where clumps of players stood along the road waving and cheering. “I would have done anything for you.” Quinny's eyes filled with tears, and she started crying again as Hannah's words touched her.

“I love you!” Quinny wailed and clung tightly to her waist. “I promise to be a good wife.”

“Quinny, nobody ever doubted that,” Hannah said. “We love you exactly as you are and know we will be happy with you.”

“I love you,” Frank assured her as he leaned over and hissed the back of her head. “My zombie queen.”

Quinny switched arms, turning to him and lunging into his chest. She cried that she didn’t deserve to be so loved and that she finally had a family.

“We are all a family,” Breanne said as she joined the hug. “And you are my wife forever and ever.”

Even Umtha joined the hug as Hannah leaned into Blackbast, who was still nervously twitching.

“So, why so against a public wedding?” Hannah asked as they headed away from the city.

“It is not my nature to be so in the public eye,” Blackbast replied. “Look at the class I play. It is meant to be remote and hidden, a treasure to be found by those who search hard for it.”

“Are you an introvert?” Hannah laughed.

“No, but I enjoy the peace my isolation gives me,” Blackbast replied. “There is something soothing in the quiet calm of my temple. The guests are welcomed moments of change that come and go.”

“Hmm,” Hannah said as she considered the woman's words. The temple was a place of beauty and calm where she enjoyed the peace. But, she felt that the harem with its girls was more her style. Maybe she needed to spend more time there to appreciate it as Blackbast did.

The trip to the Lovewood became a welcomed reprieve as the players eventually faded out, and they were left to talk openly. They spoke about the new monster player portion of the guild, trying to guess how many would come to register. When they reached the forest, they finally began to play, leaning in for kisses and caresses as the beautiful colors passed.

“This forest is so beautiful,” Breanne sighed as she curled into Blackbast’s arms. “I could spend every day here.”

“It is beautiful,” Blackbast agreed. “Of all the places I have hidden my temple, this one is the most appealing.”

Hannah nodded in agreement, but something nagged at the back of her mind. She turned to Blackbast and asked if she missed the desert kingdom she had once been a princess of. Blackbast did her best to describe the beauty of the capital city with its terraced gardens and ornate fountains. She told them about the girls and how slaves and commoners often wore silks.

“It was commonplace for women to go with nothing but a silk at the waist,” Blackbast explained. “It was very much like your city is now. The harems were a part of life and had some influence in the kingdom.”

“Do you think other harems will come here now?” Umtha asked.

“Well, the druid is another harem,” Hannah replied. “And so is Alexandria’s estate.”

“How is that coming along?” Breanne asked. “I haven’t heard a word about her since the incident.”

“She’s taking her time building it,” Frank said. “She has been experimenting with styles and making constant changes, but she hasn’t settled on a final design.”

“How do you know so much about it?” Hannah asked as she looked at him funny. “Have you been sneaking off to date her?”

“No, we promised to help her get it going, so I have checked in on her a few times to see if she needed anything,” Frank replied. “She sent word to her girls, and some have replied that they are coming.”

“Good for her,” Hannah said as she thought about the poor woman who had to hide her girls to avoid them being punished. “I hope she recovers and returns to a normal life.”

The carriage rolled deeper into the forest, eventually reaching the elvish village where the NPCs were waiting with a song and tosses of flower petals. Breanne joked that she could live here, blending in with the elves like she was one of them. Frank encouraged her to do it, spending a day or two here when she felt like it. He even suggested she plan it with Evalynn so they could enjoy the experience together.

Further down the road, they crossed a bridge where two players waved as they passed. Hannah blew them a kiss and waved as the carriage passed and continued on its journey. The carriage eventually reached Chandice's giant tree, where Chandice stood waiting.

“Driver, stop,” Frank called, bringing the NPC carriage to a halt. He then leaned over the side as Chandice walked up and stood on her toes.

“Congratulations, girls,” Chandice said with a smile.

“Did you run through the magic doors to get ahead of us?” Hannah laughed as Chandice nodded.

“I wanted a chance to tell you all how wonderful you are and how glad I am to have met you,” Chandice said. “You have changed the lives of so many people, and that guild for monster players idea was inspired.”

“That’s Frank,” Hannah said as she smiled at her husband. “He claims he just wants to be left alone, but then turns out to be the best leader anyone could want.”

Chandice nodded and climbed up the side of the carriage to whisper in Frank's ear. He nodded, then looked surprised before Chandice stepped back and waved them on. “Don't let me keep you,” she said. “You have to get back to your party.”

The carriage rolled on as Frank sat back, smiling as Hannah nudged him.

“So, what did she say?” Hannah pressed.

“It was just an idea she had,” Frank replied. “I will tell you later.”

“Oh, now he's keeping secrets,” Hannah protested as they rounded a bend in the road. He held his tongue but did smile as Hannah glared at him and folded her arms. Quinny laughed and sat in her lap, holding tightly as the carriage turned around to travel back. They were back at the palace in an hour, arriving in the central hall where music was playing and guests were dancing under floating crystal lights. The wedding party arrived to claps and cheers as Gwen strode up with a big smile.

“You seem pleased,” Hannah remarked.

“Oh, I have been speaking with Santos,” Gwen said over a glass of wine. “The lords were shocked that I made you my avatar but nearly speechless when Frank made his declaration,” Gwen replied. “One of them even dropped her glass and shouted that we couldn't do that. Then they argued I wouldn’t have the points to make so many lesser nobles until they realized their presence here was paying for it. Oh, the moment was simply delicious.”

“Must you enjoy antagonizing them?” Hannah sighed.

“Yes,” Gwen replied before sipping her wine. “I am going to savor their anger all night.”

“See, this is why she wanted a big event,” Hannah explained to the others. “It had nothing to do with the points. She just wanted to make her rivals annoyed.”

“My daughter is brilliant,” Gwen laughed. “Found me out already.”

“You and Hannah are too much alike,” Frank sighed.

“Like mother like daughter,” Blackbast agreed as Gwen smiled wider.

“Shall we dance,” Hannah said, changing the subject and turning to Breanne. “Will you dance with me?”

“I would love to,” Breanne replied and took her hand. They headed down the steps to join the guests already dancing to a lovely slow song sung by Gisley, who wore a lacy purple gown. Hannah took her hand, and they began to sweep along the floor, staring into one another's eyes as Breanne smiled.

“This reminds me of a dream I had once,” Breanne remarked.

“Oh,” Hannah replied with a smile. “Did it end well?”

“It certainly did,” Breanne laughed as they twirled. Hannah fell into the music, sweeping the ballroom with their lovely gowns as the music played on. She caught a glimpse of Frank dancing with Blackbast, the two looking hungry for what came later. Quinny and Umtha were together, giggling as they danced awkwardly, enjoying themselves.

When the song ended, they shared a kiss, and Evalynn asked if she could take Breanne for the next dance. Hannah nodded and wished them well as a new partner tapped he shoulder.

“I would like a chance to dance,” Rajeen said as she stared at Hannah with intense eyes. Hannah was taken aback to see the woman fully clothed in a lovely dress of black and gold. She took the woman's hand and let her lead, sweeping her up into the next song.

“I would like to congratulate you on your marriage,” Rajeen said as they moved in unison.

“Thank you,” Hannah replied with a smile.

“I would also like to say you are an amazing woman,” Rajeen added. “You would have given up your status as both daughter and princess to make another happy?”

“Well, it's not like it was just anybody,” Hannah insisted. “It was Quinny, and I would do anything for her. I would do anything for all my family.”

“You are remarkable,” Rajeen said. “Never have I known a woman like you. Now I see that Umtha tells the truth when she says you had your chance to escape but wouldn't go because you promised to take them with you. What you have done for Quinny proves you are that woman, and your heart is strong. Even when your heart's desire was at your fingertips, you would not abandon the ones you love.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Hannah asked as she spun, her mind trying to put it together. Rajeen was bringing up a secret from her past, where her alter ego, a woman named Hathlisora, was hell-bent on escaping New Eden. As part of her plan, she included the goblins, promising Umtha and the goblins that she would get them home as well. As the legend goes, Hathlisora created so much trouble for the server that the visitors offered her a way out. But they only offered it to her, meaning she would have to leave Umtha and the goblins behind, going back on her promise to the woman she loved. Hathlisora refused, and what happened next is unknown, but it didn't end well.

“I tell you because I know you are afraid that if you regain your memories, your heart for your family will change,” Rajeen replied. “I say you are wrong. You now have proof that love means more to you than your own desires. Even if your memories returned, you would not abandon those you love. Likely, you would only love them more for standing by you even when they had no idea if they were in danger.”

Hannah nearly stumbled as she considered the woman’s words. Was Rajeen right? Did she place such a high value on love that she couldn’t turn her back on it, even when offered a chance to escape? It was true that Hannah feared facing her memories because they might ruin what she had. But now Rajeen had thrown some doubt on that. Maybe recovering her memories wouldn't destroy her current life. Maybe Rajeen was right, and nothing would change except for her love growing stronger.

That thought passed through her mind all night, reaching a crescendo when she finally reached Frank's arms and looked into his eyes. This was the boy who had stood by her through everything, accepting her tantrums and chaos without flinching. Looking back, Frank never once failed her, even when she didn't even know he was holding her up. She realized that there was nothing that could change her opinion of him, and her memories were just that, memories. What she had with Frank wasn't going to go away just because she remembered her past.

With that in mind, she leaned into his chest, savoring his closeness as she smiled. She danced the night away, parting with Frank so Gwen could dance with him. She watched as her mother and husband danced and talked, enjoying the wedding night as her family grew by three wonderful girls.

Then came the time when Hannah, Frank, and the others gathered up to thank the Kings and Queens who attended the wedding. They saw some familiar faces from the interrogation, many of whom nodded with feigned acceptance of their thanks. Hannah knew it was because they had contributed to Gwen's social points, enabling the creation of the monster guild. She wondered why trying to help the poor monster players overcome such a crippling handicap would make them so angry. Surely they could copy the model and enjoy the same benefits in their lands?

There was dancing and gifts until midnight when the event was finally called to an end. It culminated in Hannah standing on the balcony and singing one of her lullabies to the city. Gisley flew overhead in great spirals, the bright moon causing her to shed glitter in great clouds. It drifted over the city and blessed its residents with pleasant dreams as the final gift from Princess Hannah.

Then they settled in for the night, with Hannah holding Blackbast’s hand as the five wives retired to their private bedroom. Frank shut the door, and they spent the night affirming their love as a family. When the passion finally settled, Hannah found herself with her back to Frank while Quinny slept in her arms. She looked across the bed to see the huddle of beautiful women arrayed around the greatest man she had ever known.

“I am so grateful,” she whispered, kissing Quinny's head. “I love you all.”

“They love you too,” Frank replied, rubbing her arm. “For that matter, the entire city loves you.”

“They love you,” Hannah countered. “That monster player's guild idea was genius. Did you hear how loudly they cheered for the idea?”

“They liked the idea, but you're the one they love,” Frank insisted. “Princess Hannah is the face of the city.”

Hannah smiled as she enjoyed her rub and the warm snuggle of the pile of women. Frank went on to say that Hannah was important to the people, as she kept expressing her love for them. In many ways, she was dating the city, constantly reminding them that she cared for them all. It was a funny point to think that she was dating the entire city, but in a way, it was kind of true. She did flirt and loved to fly over them, blowing kisses and bestowing buffs. She had come to love singing to make the city's flowers bloom and could spend hours looking down at her people.

The entire city knew she was part of the harem, but that only seemed to add to her allure. That she dressed in lingerie probably helped as well, but what really mattered was that she had shared her heart with them. She told them of her struggles and pain, opening her heart to the people and making a connection. Now, she wasn't just some faceless princess in the palace that floated overhead. She was somebody that people had an emotional tie to, somebody that felt close and approachable. They had seen her marry twice and shared in every new experience. The city's people were a part of her life, and she would care for them.

She smiled as she closed her eyes and slipped into sleep, knowing they were a family. Frank was their rock on which the women stood strong, united together in love, and a dream for so much more.