Guy looked out the window at the airport at a white wide body airship with the royal Mouse family's shield on the side. 'I guess that's ours.' he said.
He had booked ordinary tickets to Mami's home world because she didn't like the fuss surrounding royalty, but as soon as the girls and Guy arrived at the airport they were directed to another lounge and notified they were going on a different flight. They were served drinks and snacks while they had to wait for the airship to get ready.
'As long as we can have this, I don't mind waiting a bit more.' said Cani and took another bite out of a big piece of cherry cake.
Mami eyed the two men in black suits who stood outside the lounge entrance. 'This is why I don't like the fuss.' she said. 'I feel I can't be myself when they keep an eye on us.'
Guy nodded. 'Yeah, I wonder how it'll be while we're with your family.' he said and chuckled once. 'I'm sure they'll disapprove of me when we act like we do at home.'
'You're not the only one they'll disapprove of.' Mami said and put her hand on his arm. 'But I don't care. We're going back to our own home when we're done there.'
Guy smiled and put his hand on hers. 'And nobody is going to take that away from us.' he said. 'From our own family.'
A little later three mouse flight attendants came up to them to let them know they could board the airship. They carried the hand luggage while they escorted everyone to the covered walkway that led to the ship.
There they were led to a spacious cabin with couches and low tables in white and light grey colours, and a view from full height windows on the side. The captain introduced himself and laid out the flight in a few words. When he left another attendant came up and took orders for drinks and left a menu for later.
Guy looked around at the simple interior with just a few pictures of landscapes on the walls. 'In stories of old times royalty always surrounded themselves with many ornamental things.' he said. 'Quite the opposite of this.'
'We don't have a taste for things like that.' Mami said. 'I guess it's because in our nature we try to keep a relaxed environment. Simple colours, few distractions that draw our attention.'
Feli nodded. 'I can imagine when you think about how you evolved from a prey species.' she said. 'Any movement and change around you might indicate danger.'
'Luckily we can distract dangers with other things nowadays.' Mami said, watching Cani lick her lips when she got another large piece of cake.
Cani looked back at the others chuckling and watching her. 'What?'
The girls and Guy spent the time on the trip by reading, some writing, a couple of movies and a relaxing nap after they had lunch with a wide selection of Mouse specialities. By the time they arrived at their destination they felt refreshed and ready to meet the family.
A stretched van awaited them on the landing field and after clearing a few formalities they got in and were driven to the royal palace escorted by security in two cars.
The drive took them into the heart of the city and what struck them was the wide variety in the heights of buildings. Buildings up to a dozen storeys were mixed with others down to a single storey and some had walkways between them. There was no pattern to be detected.
'Yes, yes, I've seen the similarity with the elaborate mazes some pet mice get from their owners.' Mami said when Ara pointed out the window and grinned at her.
'For a species that likes simple interiors, the city is quite chaotic.' Ara said.
'Our species likes to walk around.' said Mami. 'Most engage in a firm walk daily, which led to many paths going through the city to keep it interesting.'
The palace was situated in a small forest in the middle of the city and seemed to be mainly constructed of round towers. Most were the same height, in contrast to the buildings in the city.
Servants came down the low stone steps, took their luggage and led them up to a large room.
'Now what?' said Feli.
'We wait for a bit.' said Mami, looking out a window. 'I expect grandmother will come for us.'
Guy stood behind her and laid his hands on her shoulders. 'So, how does it feel to be back here, and this time with all of us?'
Mami leaned back against him. 'It's nice to see grandmother, but I think you guys won't feel very much at home here.' she said. 'Okay, maybe Cani will because they have good food here too.'
'Hey!' said Cani. 'I care about more things than just food! Guy has to be there too! And you guys, of course.'
Mami chuckled, then sighed. 'And I have no idea how the family will react to our news.'
'What's the worst they could do?' said Guy. 'Certainly not keep us apart.'
Mami smiled softly and put her hands on Guy's. 'True.'
A minute later the doors to the room opened and in came Mami's grandmother, Liana.
'Grandma!' said Mami and hurried up to her to hug her tight.
'My dear, it's so good to see you again.' Liana said and looked at the others. 'And all of you. How have you been?'
'We're good, majesty.' said Avia and made an elegant bow with her wings spread out a little.
Liana chuckled. 'Leave out the majesty when we're amongst ourselves here.' she said and looked at Mami. 'I think some of her rubbed off on me, or I'm just getting too old for tedious formalities.'
'Grandma!' Mami said in mock shock. 'Behave! As Feli would say.'
'Hey!' said Feli. 'Don't blame me!'
Liana laughed and ruffled Mami's hair. 'So good to have you back here.' she said. 'Come, I'll take you to the guest tower. You'll have it all to yourself while you're here.'
The girls and Guy followed her through several hallways and ended up at a wide spiral stairway leading up to the top of the tower. They went up five storeys and walked into a large suite where their luggage stood behind one of two couches.
'Here we are.' said Liana. 'There are three bedrooms with private bathrooms on each side, and if you like it, there's an indoor pool in the basement.'
Guy nodded approvingly. 'Luxurious.' he said.
'And a necessity when receiving foreign dignitaries.' Liana said. 'I'll have dinner served here if you like. My daughter Liadan, the queen, will be back tomorrow for you to meet her.' She turned to Mami. 'Only Tilia is here now.'
Liana went back to the suite doors. 'I wish you all a good night, and I'll see you all tomorrow morning again.'
The girls and Guy wished her a good night and checked out the rest of the rooms.
'Well, everything's big enough for someone like me.' said Ara as she peered into one bedroom and the bathroom.'
'The bed looks big enough, even though it looks like we won't have much spare room to wiggle on it.' said Cani.
'Ah, remember they don't know about us yet, so we can't have them see us together in one bed.' Feli said.
Guy nodded. 'The rooms must look like they have been slept in.' he said. 'Let's all choose one before they come in with dinner so it looks like we sleep separately.'
Guy took one of the rooms furthest from the suite doors and the girls played rock, paper, scissors to decide who gets which room and settled in just before a knock was heard on the door.
'Enter.' said Mami and a couple of servants came in with trolleys.
They swiftly set a table on one side of the room and presented several dishes to choose from. One servant showed Guy the small collection of wine in a cupboard which also held a mini bar.
When they had served the first round and poured the wine they waited at the side of the table.
Guy leaned closer to Mami who sat at his side. 'Let me guess, they stay until we're done eating?'
Mami nodded, then beckoned the servants closer. 'You guys go back.' she said. 'You won't have to attend to us any further, thanks.'
'Are you sure, majesty?' asked the older of the two. 'What about clearing the table afterwards?'
Mami chuckled. 'We'll manage.' she said. 'We don't have someone like you at home for that. And we don't like to eat while others have to wait and watch before they can eat, so go and eat your own dinner now.'
The servant smiled softly. 'Just leave the trolleys outside the door when you're ready and we'll pick them up in the morning, majesty.' he said and gave a bow to everyone. 'Enjoy your meal and have a good night.'
The second servant bowed and followed the first one out the door.
'Thank goodness.' Cani said. 'Things like that make me uncomfortable. In our society we don't let others wait before they can eat.'
The others nodded and dug in, sampling everything and leaving almost nothing left when they were done. Feeling satisfied they occupied one couch to watch a movie and let their stomachs digest in peace. Guy sat in the middle with Ara and Avia next to him and Cani sat on the floor between his legs with Mami and Feli at her sides on several pillows.
They were only a few minutes into the movie when Avia heard something at the doors. When she looked she saw one door handle turn slowly and nudged Guy softly.
'What is it?' Guy whispered and looked at the doors when Avia pointed at them.
The door opened a little and a dark snout appeared around it.
'Hello.' said Guy. 'Who's this?'
The other girls followed Guy's gaze and saw the dark snout pulling back a little.
'Tilia.' said Mami and stood up. 'What are you doing here?'
The snout of Tilia peered further around the corner and she blinked her eyes.
Mami walked up to her and knelt down. 'Did you sneak out again?' she asked.
Tilia nodded slightly at Mami and looked at the couch again.
'Ah, I see.' said Mami. 'You wanted to see them for yourself?'
Tilia nodded again.
Mami chuckled. 'Okay. But you should come closer then.' Tilia pulled back a little but Mami held out her hand. 'Don't worry, they're my dear friends.'
With a little hesitation at first, Tilia took Mami's hand and appeared in tiny steps from behind the door. The others saw now she was one head smaller than Mami and wore a black night shirt. Her arms and legs were as dark as her snout.
'Let's go meet them.' Mami said and Tilia looked up at her and gave her a nod.
They moved closer to the couch while Tilia pulled closer to Mami. She stopped at the opposite couch and put her arm around Tilia's shoulder and everyone could now see she had very dark grey fur and red eyes. 'Guys, meet Tilia, my youngest cousin.' she said. 'Tilia, meet Feli, Cani, Avia, Ara, and Guy.
Each gave a nod and a smile and Mami felt the stiffness in Tilia's shoulder lessen.
'Nice to meet you, your majesty.' said Guy.
Tilia looked up at Mami who chuckled. 'She's not into the whole royalty thing either.' she said. 'In fact, she's hardly treated as royalty by the family either since she doesn't participate in most events.'
'Oh?' said Feli. 'Why that?'
'She was born prematurely when her mother suffered a brain stroke.' Mami said and squeezed Tilia's shoulder softly. 'She never spoke, and because she's very shy and her growth was stunted she looks like a youngling, even though she's close to adulthood.' She gave Tilia a smile. 'They keep treating her like that although she's smart enough. I caught her reading biology books in the library at night and it's been our little secret ever since.'
Tilia smiled a little at Mami as she chuckled.
'We'll keep your secret safe.' said Feli.
'May Guy turn into a frog if we don't.' said Ara.
'Hey! Why me?' said Guy.
Ara poked his chest and smirked. 'Would you allow any of us to be turned into a frog?'
Guy sighed. 'No, of course not.'
'See? You're the only one who can be punished.' chuckled Ara.
'I suspect I'm already punished for being nice to you girls.' he said.
'And you would be absolutely right.' said Cani. 'Your own fault that we fell for you.'
Tilia tilted her head as she looked at Mami.
Mami nodded. 'Yeah, Guy is our man.' Mami said. 'No idea how he did it, but he captured our hearts and now he's ours. But almost no one knows yet, so this a secret we share with you now.'
Tilia nodded and smiled.
'So, want to watch the movie with us?' asked Cani.
Tilia nodded again.
'I'll get a few more pillows so we can sit here then.' said Mami but Tilia pulled on her arm. She looked at Tilia who gave a little nod at the others and Mami looked at her in surprise. 'You want to sit with everyone?' Tilia gave her a smile again and Mami nodded. 'Okay then.' she said.
Cani held out her arms, smiling wide and wagging her tail tip. 'You're so cute, want to sit with me?'
Tilia shook her head a little and surprised Mami again when she crawled on Guy's lap, leaning back against his chest.
Guy looked just as surprised at Mami. She shrugged and sat back next to Cani. 'Just don't get any ideas.' she said.
Guy chuckled. 'I'm too confused for that.' he said.
When the movie ended they found Tilia sleeping soundly.
'I should take her to bed.' Mami said.
'I'll carry her.' said Guy and lifted Tilia carefully up in his arms.
'Like a knight carrying his princess.' Ara chuckled.
'Only with less tin cans covering my body.' Guy said.
Mami chuckled. 'Follow me, good sir.' she said and the two of them left the suite while the rest prepared for the night.
'What about her father?' asked Guy when they walked down the stairway.
'Tilia's father?' said Mami. 'He's a businessman and is a lot on the road, so he's not here often. But he does love her very much and spends as much time with her as he can when he's here.'
Guy hummed his understanding and they walked through the silent palace with only their footsteps echoing softly in the hallways. Mami led them to another spiral stairway and the top floor of a smaller tower. Mami led Guy there into Tilia's bedroom where he put her on the bed and Mami tucked her in. They went back to their suite as silently as they came.
The girls had cleared the table and put the trolleys to the side of the doors and had ruffled up the beds enough to make it look like they've been slept in.
Cani patted on the empty spot in Guy's bed and grinned. 'Hurry up, we're waiting for our knight.'
Guy chuckled and teased them by undressing slowly like a stripper, then got pulled in bed and covered by the girls.
'What's the queen like, by the way?' asked Feli.
'She's strict, but fair.' said Mami who laid on Guy's chest and closed her eyes. 'And I have no idea how she'll react at the news tomorrow.'
Guy gave her a kiss on her forehead and she smiled softly as she slowly drifted to sleep.
***
The girls and Guy spent the morning at a garden pavilion at the back of the palace with Tilia. Liana was also pleasantly surprised at Tilia's cheerful attitude when she dropped by before greeting her daughter at her return.
They watched several cars enter through the back gate and pull up at the back of the palace later.
'There's queen Liadan.' said Mami. 'She's the one in the dark red dress.'
Everyone watched her walk up the steps at the back, looking back briefly before disappearing inside.
'The one in white dress with one dark ear is Amilla, one of my cousins.' she said. 'She'll become an adult soon and get her own province to rule over.'
'Just like that?' asked Guy.
'This country is divided in seven provinces, and the first princes and princesses are assigned a province each.' Mami said. 'It's the first step in learning to rule the people and to prove they can rule a country if the time comes. If they can't handle a province they won't be in line for becoming the next king or queen.'
Guy nodded. 'Smart.'
'One of my cousins failed his position and had to step back.' Mami said. 'He did his best but he just wasn't cut out for it. I think he's happier to head up the smaller department of archaeology. It's his hobby. Amilla will be expected to take over his province.'
Just before lunch time they packed up and went to the palace to have their audience with the queen. They waited in one of the rooms at the front of the palace when Amilla walked in carrying a few books on management.
'Hello, Mynami.' she said and gave Mami a nod.
'Amilla.' said Mami and nodded back.
'I thought you lived in the human world now?' Amilla asked, glancing at Guy.
'I came back because I have something serious to discuss with aunt Liadan and grandma.' Mami said, looking out the window. 'It's going to make some news here.'
'Ah.' said Amilla and gazed at her books.
'Excuse me, your majesty.' said a servant at the door. 'The queen sends her regrets but she just received a call from the prime minister of the feline species and it may take a while. The earliest she can see you is tomorrow before lunch.'
Mami hummed. 'Can't be helped then.' she said. 'Tomorrow then.'
'Very well, your majesty.' the servant said. 'I'll relay the message.'
Mami watched him leave and Amilla tapped her books. 'I'm going back to studying.' she said as she walked out. 'See you later.'
'See you later.' said Mami and looked out the window again. 'Shall I ask Tilia to join us for lunch?'
'I think you know the answer.' said Guy.
After lunch they all took a stroll through the forest surrounding the palace. Tilia had taken a pad with her to point out some of the wild plants and their uses.
Guy saw Mami smile as she looked at her cousin. 'You're in a good mood.' he said.
Mami nodded. 'I can imagine she doesn't get much of a chance to spend time like this with people who don't treat her like a dumb kid.'
Guy smiled softly and nodded.
After the walk they thought about what to do next. They were just walking toward the stairway when Guy's eye caught the doorway to the basement pool. 'A dip in the pool would be fun.' he said.
'That would be nice.' said Feli.
'Oh, but you can.' said Mami.
'Yeah, but we don't have our swimsuits.' said Guy. 'And I don't think it would be decent to go around uncovered while there are others around.'
Mami grinned. 'Definitely not for you.' she said. 'But there are swimsuits available. Just in case there are guests who want to do the same thing.'
'Really?' Guy said and watched the girls. 'Shall we then?'
They all agreed and went down into the cool basement engulfed in a soft blue light reflecting off of the white tiled walls and floor.
The first one to arrive at the large pool was Guy. He heard the girls giggle while they changed and before long they walked out of the dressing room. They were dressed in various bright coloured bikinis and he smiled at the sight.
'So, what do you think?' asked Cani as they posed in front of him. Only Tilia hid a little behind Mami.
Guy whistled. 'If I die and this is the only image I'll see for eternity, I'll be a very happy man.'
Cani chuckled and gave him a big kiss. 'Now you'd better cool off.' she said and pushed him over the edge into the water.
He came up spitting out water and grinned. 'It's not my fault you're a very sexy bunch of girls.' he said.
Mami chuckled when Tilia pulled closer to her. 'Don't listen to him.' he said. 'He's just nuts.'
Everyone got in the pool and swam and floated around. Guy noticed a small current and asked Mami about it.
'The pools in the palace are fed from an underground stream.' she said. 'From here it goes back underground where it eventually ends up at the lake just outside the city. They say this water has some healthy properties because of the high mineral count.'
'It does feel more invigorating than the average pool I've been in so far.' Guy said and floated further on his back.
When they all got out Guy waited while the girls dried themselves in the air showers and chuckled as they came out.
'What?' asked Mami.
'You all look extra cuddly now with your puffed up fur.' he said. 'I might just need to jump in the pool again.'
'Beast.' said Mami and poked his chest. 'Behave in front of Tilia.' She saw Tilia looking away. 'No, you'd better stay away from him. Getting more girls will only make him worse.'
Guy chuckled and growled playfully. 'Me beast! Devourer of innocent females.'
'Save that for later.' said Ara and slapped his behind. 'I'm getting hungry for food now.'
Back in the suite Mami found a note with her name on it, asking her to join her grandmother at the lounge. 'I think it won't take long since it's almost dinner time.' she said and looked towards Tilia. 'Will you be fine here?'
Tilia smiled and nodded.
'Good.' said Cani who was looking at the menu. 'She can suggest us what to ask for dinner in the meantime.'
Mami chuckled. 'You're insatiable.' she said and left the suite.
By the time the trolleys with dinner had arrived Mami hadn't returned yet.
'I suspect her majesty will be having dinner with her grandmother then.' said the same older servant from the day before. 'She usually eats at this time too. I can check if you'd like.'
Guy thanked him and suggested to start dinner then.
When the servant came back he twitched his nose nervously and wrung his hands. 'I'm afraid I have to report that her majesty hasn't been seen by her grandmother, and that we don't know yet where she is.'
