The rest of the party members returned a few hours later.
Geoffrey and Gregory entered the room, looking as impeccably dressed as ever, though clearly this was their version of ‘dressing down’ - they weren’t wearing ostentatious clothing or armor. Hagerd followed shortly thereafter, all smiles. Apparently, Fergus’ brother returning was a really big deal.
As the other party members made small talk near the door, Charlie and Palseks waited quietly in a corner of the room. The wolf stared at the control collar that had reformed around Palsek’s neck - he had been trying to come up with a good reason to free Paul for the last hour. Unfortunately, Gregory was technically her “owner” and Charlie didn’t want to risk a split in the party before he had a chance to explain the situation.
Which meant a very emotionally charged conversation.
“So, my slave is no longer an immobile milk tank.” Gregory sniffed as he glanced at the faint sheen where Palseks had been milked “”Don’t tell me you actually milked her! How outrageous! Have you gone soft Charlie? Treating my property like that!”
“No.” Charlie said.
“No?” Gregory stared at the black-furred wolf as though he’d grown a second head, “What the hells do you mean, no?”
“That kobold is Paul.” Charlie said, looking at Hagerd and Geoffrey.
“I was wondering what had happened to him!” Hagerd exclaimed. “But why a female? And a kobold slave? Kinda kinky, ey lass?”
Palseks shrugged as her gaze lowered to the ground, “Palseks like dragons, made bet with dra… Finn to be big dragon. Palseks lost.”
Palseks paused before looking up at Hagerd, “is ok though, Palseks made bet where Palseks win either way…”
Gregory sighed and rolled his eyes. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you Charles. She’s a slave, nothing more.”
“No,” Geoffrey said, brushing the mink’s fur, “That’s not true my liege. He was transformed into that form. Paul is one of our friends.”
“I believe I would remember that if it were true.” Gregory sniffed.
The group stared at him.
“Why are you all looking at me like that?” Gregory asked.
“Gregory, you know how you can drink a soul essence and think you are that person, you know, get lost in those memories and thoughts if they are particularly strong?” Charlie said, keep his voice soft.
“Yes, Glitz did warn us about that.”
“And you know how Tailoring is just like soul essences.”
“Right, which is why we took the jars there. Basic principle being the same.”
“And you were ‘tailored’ into Prince Gregory.”
“N-no, I just resumed my normal form,” Prince Gregory stammered.
The room was silent.
“This…This is nonsense! T-Tell them it’s nonsense, Geoffrey?” The mink turned to the polar bear, who reached out and hugged the small prince in his big arms. “Geoffrey?”
“Being a Prince is fun, right my liege?” The polar bear said sadly.
“...Jeff?”
The polar bear kissed the top of his head. “I love you, Greg.”
Greg started crying. “I don’t want to just be Greg!”
“You aren’t, you aren’t,” Geoffrey soothed, rocking the little mink tight. “You’re the Prince now.”
“I-Charles, please tell him I’ve always been a Prince! Geoffrey’s being a big silly bear!”
Charlie embraced the mink two, “I love you, Greg.”
The mink sobbed in their arms for ten minutes. Then he pushed them both away, straightened his clothes and went to the bathroom to freshen up. Geoffrey waited outside his door dutifully. When the Prince returned, he was much more composed.
“Alright. I accept that I may not have originally been royalty. Obviously, Glitz… has his own agenda, and I was… Gregory was stupid to trust him to turn him back. But I am now the Prince.” The mink raised his chin imperiously, “And I choose… to free the slave.”
The room clapped politely.
“Don’t patronize me!” Gregory snapped. “As I said, I’m the Prince now and I fully intend to reclaim my throne. If I forgot my former life, it’s clearly because it wasn’t nice.”
“Who wouldn’t want to be a Prince, my liege.” Geoffrey intoned.
“Absolutely right, Geoffrey. And I will never call you Jeff. Never. Fuck Jeff!” Gregory exclaimed.
“Yes, my liege,” Geoffrey sighed.