Terence Donkey Whip

"Locke, we're going shopping. Want to come?" Princess Sylvia asked as she entered the study.

"Huh? Didn't we spend all day shopping yesterday?" Lorist looked up from his book in surprise.

"What? Yesterday, we accompanied the new Queen around the palace all day. We looked at those so-called keepsakes left by past emperors of the Imperial Krison Royal Family, admired the rare flowers in the garden, played with the Queen's pets, and spent the whole afternoon drinking tea. That wasn't shopping. That was socializing, just like you men getting together for drinks.

"Today we're going to Royal Avenue, the Imperial Capital's most famous shopping street. I hear there are discounts during the celebration, and lots of new women's fashions have arrived from Molent City. We want to take a look..." Princess Sylvia stepped up to Lorist and tried to pull him out of his reclining chair.

Lorist rose with her pull, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her forehead. "Darling, I'll pass. I have visitors coming later; we arranged it at the palace yesterday. You go and have fun. Buy anything you like. Oh, and be careful..."

Princess Sylvia stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the lips. "All right, we're off. Don't worry about us. My godmother's coming too."

Princess Sylvia's godmother was Great Swordswoman Cindy. Lorist had only said it out of habit; the Imperial Capital was very safe these days. No noble's family, let alone his own, was likely to run into danger on the streets. Such an incident would be a slap in the Second Prince's face, and he would never spare anyone who caused trouble during his celebration.

Watching Princess Sylvia hurry away, Lorist rubbed his nose. *Women's love of shopping really is the same everywhere, whether on Earth in my past life or