Walking forward, with only the soft crunch of gravel under-hoof to be heard, you stride purposefully towards the ornate flowing arches of the front door.
Standing there stoney and silent, were two of your Royal guard, faces half hidden by shadow their armour glowing dully in the moonlight.
At your approach they stiffen; wings clamping tighter to their sides. "Good evening, Majesty" they chime in gruff unison. With a small nod of acknowledgement you move past them and on, through the massive front door that moves without a squeak of protest.
As your eyes scan the grand entrance hall for the night butler, you spy him,tucked into a alcove under the sweeping central staircase. Moving now soundlessly towards him across the recently cleaned marble you realize what has grabbed his attention. There, in the cushioned oval alcove, your night butler was playing stud horse poker with a chamber-mere and two janitors. Eyeing the pile of bits near his elbow he was clearly winning too.
The party, still unaware of your approaching presence continued playing until one of the janitors suddenly exclaimed "damn it Fleetwick, how'dya do it?" "Yeah," said the other flinging his cards down in disgust. "That's three games in a row now, if me and Sheen here find out you've been cheating...."
"Glint, Sheen, calm down. You know as well as I do these cards are unicorn-proof. If they weren't do you think Miss Flitter would have practiced poker with me here every night?" With this he turned to smile at the chamber-mere who blushed meekly back. "Sorry boys it's just good old fashioned practice."
To this the janitors could only mumble moodly in reply. So wrapped up in their game they didn't even notice you until you poked your head around the alcove with a whispered "gotcha!"
The reactions in all four of them were priceless. The janitors Glint and Sheen jumped back into the cushions with shock, Miss Flitter dropped her cards with a gasp, but poor Fleetwick just sat there, colour draining from his face to a sickly grey. "I do believe you have missed a spot over there" you said, addressing Glint and Sheen, gesturing with a imperious nod towards the far corner of the hall.
"Yes ma'am, straightaway ma'am" they said, dashing quickly back to their mops and sprays, vigorously cleaning the already spotless marble. Pleased to see them hard at work you turn back around to face the chamber-mere; "Flitter, I should like to have some tea with the usual compliments. "Yes ma'am" she said eyes respectfully looking down as she backed out of the alcove, reversing towards the kitchens. "Oh, and leave it outside my chamber door this time please." "Of course ma'am" She said betraying no sign of curiosity to this request and with a final nervous trot was gone. Now your full attention was on Fleetwick his face still pale, cards and bits forgotten.
"Ma'am, I was ah, just a little uh, not much to do..." he stumbled, clearly afraid of the disappointment in your gaze. "Be silent. I have a most important task for you," you say cutting him off.
He gulped comically, a single bead of sweat just forming around his horn. He had heard rumors of what happened to staff who angered the princesses nothing substantiated, only gossip of instant dismissal and kinky torture. "You are to alert the staff and prepare the guest room for the arrival of a diplomat from the Coral Kingdoms."
At this his expression changed slightly to puzzlement; "Yes of course, but how are they to..." "I shall see to their breathing requirements. Just let the others know not to open the guest room door, unless
they wish to flood half the castle." The tiniest of smiles playing on your lips. "I see, of course ma'am," turning perhaps a little too fast he moved towards the staff-rooms. "Oh Fleetwick," you add, just before he vanishes."Yes ma'am?" "You forgot these" magically handing him his winnings. Relief, finally adding some colour to his cheeks he bows low to you before finally leaving.
Moving on, taking the stairs up and out of the entrance hall, you could not help but congratulate yourself on such a clever ruse. The coral kingdoms; it was perfect! Found far west of the Ursa isle, deep under the Antlertic ocean communications with them were rare but not unknown. Some p0nys still used the derogatory phrase sea-p0ny to describe them.
All the better, as water breathers no one could enter their room for fear of flooding, making it was the perfect excuse to have a guest bedroom out of bounds without arousing suspicion.
And yet, once reaching the right landing you could not help feel the first pangs of tarnished morality, this act of deception, clever though it was still made it no easier to lie to your little p0nys.
Resolute, you harden and push through any feelings of doubt, knowing that however thick your web of lies may become it is all for the greater good.
Finally, after a short walk along the art covered corridor you arrive at your chamber door, pleasantly surprised to find a full tea tray, still hot and waiting for you.
Lifting it tenderly so not to spill a drop, you unlock the door and enter your private chamber to find anon reclining comfortably near the fire, mesmerized by your presence and magic.