[AUTHOR NOTE: I can't put a poll up here, but there is one up on both RR and SH about what days you would like the double-releases to come.
Head over to one of the following sites... or both to cast your vote on what two days you would like.
https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/123686/spector-a-sci-fi-space-adventure-with-fantasy/chapter/2850552/chapter-399-surprise-statement
https://www.scribblehub.com/read/1672529-spector--a-scifi-space-adventure-with-fantasy-elements/chapter/2044939/
]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Welcome, Princess Tessa and Becky," Lorelie said as she welcomed them into the suite after they rang the doorbell to announce their arrival.
"Thank you for having us. How is Tephe? Has she awoken yet?" Tessa asked with concern.
"Not yet, but according to the AI on Adam's ship, she just needs time to recover the energy she used," Lorelie said while leading the pair into the living room.
"That's good," Tessa said with a relieved smile.
"Hey, everyone," Becky said with a smile as she waved at everyone happily.
"Well, look who's here," Aphrodite said with a smile.
"You're here as well, Diva Aphrodite? And I thought we were early," Becky said in surprise.
"You could say I never left," Aphrodite replied with a smirk, making Adam and the women roll their eyes while Tessa and Becky's eyebrows narrowed slightly in suspicion.
"Stop causing misunderstandings," Stacey snapped.
"Is it a misunderstanding, though?" Aphrodite asked in return.
"You know very well it is, you horny pink-haired slut," Rowena stated.
"Guilty as charged," Aphrodite declared proudly.
"Honestly, this woman has no shame," Rowena sighed and said in a defeated tone.
"I'm not sure this is an appropriate conversation topic to have in front of a princess," Adam stated.
"Why not? She's still a woman with needs," Aphrodite replied before turning to Tessa and asking with a wink, "right?"
"Errr," Tessa replied at a loss for words at the sudden question.
"Hehe, I wouldn't count on it," Becky replied with a giggle, which earned her a glare from Tessa.
"Haha," Adam suddenly chuckled, causing all the women to suddenly look at him.
"Sorry, my apologies, I meant no offence, Princess," Adam said in a more professional tone.
"It's perfectly alright, but might I ask what you find so amusing?" Tessa asked curiously.
"I was just expecting the conversation to be more formal and serious, like last time. On my home planet, royalty always portrays themselves in a serious light and I've never seen them lose that professional attitude, even when smiling and greeting the general public.
I just found it humerous that you were at a loss for words and that you and Becky are so close that she can get away with teasing you when you're not alone."
"Well, this pink-haired idiot does have a way of turning serious conversations into light-hearted ones," Rowena commented.
"Rude," Aphrodite pouted.
"Says the woman who was asking an Imperial Princess about her needs in the bedroom," Rowena scoffed.
"Well, I am the diva of sex; it is kind of my forte," Aphrodite replied proudly.
"Do these two always bicker like this?" Adam asked as he and the others stared at the two oldest women, probably on the planet, bickering like little girls.
"No idea," Stacey replied while the others indicated that they also didn't know.
"Anyway, Tessa has never really been too bothered about her identity as the Imperial Princess since she had so many siblings," Becky suddenly stated with a smile.
"Becky," Tessa sighed before turning to the others and apologising, "I apologise for my loose-lipped cousin. We both grew up together, and it's made her rather easy-going with me, not that I mind.
She is correct, though. I was never too fussed about my role as an imperial princess before, and only ever attended events that were mandatory for the whole family. However, since the recent massacre," at this point, Tessa stopped for a moment with a sad look before continuing, "I have had to step forward and take over some of the Imperial Family's responsibilities and duties. Such as attending the UMB Cup opening ceremony."
"I guess in a way you're like the first Solarian Princess, Liluth Solar; she too very rarely appears in public except for her race's important ceremonies," Rowena stated with a knowing smile before asking, "What is it you did instead for a living then, Princess Tessa? Are you also a scientific genius like Princess Solar?"
"Haha, I wish I were as smart as Princess Solar," Tessa replied in a polite tone and laughed before continuing, "though it's embarrassing to admit because of my lack of success. Officially, I am part of the Terran Empires' Universal Affairs department.
Unofficially, however, my one and only goal has been to try and rebuild our relationship with the Solarian race."
"I see why you're embarrassed by your lack of success," Lorelie stated in a sympathetic tone.
"I thought the Solarian race had pretty much cut off all relations with the Terrans after what happened?" Aphrodite asked curiously.
"They have, it is essentially only our two galaxy senators in the Universal Senate that still communicate, and that's only sporadically when the Galamedees Galaxy Senator has no other choice," Tessa replied.
"How have you been attempting to fix the rift then?" Rowena asked with a hint of mirth in her eyes as if she was enjoying herself for some reason only she knew.
"One way by attempting to build closer ties with the Solarian race's closest allies …" Tessa began to explain, but stopped as the large holographic screen positioned along one wall that was still broadcasting the Newscast on a low volume suddenly made a jingle that announced breaking news.
As the group focused their attention on the large holographic screen, the presenter began to speak.
"We at USNN have just received an official statement from the first Princess of the Solarian Royal Family, Princess Liluth Solar," the presenter said before the statement appeared on screen, and the presenter began to read it.
"I, Liluth Solar, first Princess of the Solarian Race, was greatly saddened to hear about the recent events that took place on Trillion and Terrana Five, and it got me considering my race's position towards the Terran race since that incident took place over thirty years ago now.
Our two races were once close friends before that event took place, and I honestly believe that we could be so again, just as Princess Tessa Terrana believes, as she has worked tirelessly to try and rebuild our race's friendship.
I, therefore, in my position as Solarian First Princess, officially invite my Terran counterpart, First Princess Tessa Terrana, to visit me on Solarian Prime so that we may reopen communication between our two great races and take the first steps of rebuilding our former friendship into one that hopefully becomes even stronger than before.
Liluth Solar
First Princess of the Solarian Race."
"Huh!" Tessa and Becky said in shock as they read and heard the statement by Liluth Solar.
Not only were they shocked by the sudden invitation, but also by the fact that the statement specifically mentioned Tessa working tirelessly to rebuild the friendship between the two races.
This was, in fact, just a cover story that was used to excuse Tessa's absence when she was serving in the TISF as Tessa Kirkmeld.
"Wow," Aphrodite said with wide, surprised eyes.
"Is this some weird coincidence or something? Grandmother had only just mentioned Liluth Solar, and now an official statement from her appears on the news cast," Stacey stated in surprise.
"It seems your role as Imperial Princess is about to get far more hectic," Rowena said in surprise as she was also surprised about Liluth Solar mentioning something she knew was fake.
"This is a huge opportunity for the Terran race, but you need to be careful when you travel to Solarian Prime. Princess Liluth Solar might be willing to open talks with you, but many of the Solarian race still hold grudges against the Terran race for what happened," Lorelie said with concern.
"It seems we should wrap our business up quickly since you will no doubt be leaving Felinia Seven today," Adam said as he placed a datadrive on the table before him.
"Yes, mother is already trying to reach me," Tessa said as she sent her a quick message before noticing the datadrive and asking.
"A datadrive?"
"Yes. I was originally going to ask you to insert it into one of the consoles of Royal Entertainment upon your return to Terrana Five, but now it seems I need to ask you to send the program on it to your mother or someone trustworthy and have them install it," Adam replied.
"What sort of program is it?" Tessa asked curiously.
"It's a program that will allow my ship's AI to link up with Royal Entertainment's network."
"Might I ask why your ship's AI needs to link with Royal Entertainment's network?"
"It's simple, really. I honestly have no idea how to run a company, and while Rowena and Lorelie have offered their help…" Adam began when Aphrodite suddenly cut in by saying.
"Oh, I'll help too."
"What do you know about running a company?" Rowena asked with a scoff.
"More than you, I bet," Aphrodite replied with a wink.
Adam ignored the two and continued before they could begin bickering again, "Even though they have offered their help, they are not experts on running a company themselves.
My ship's AI, on the other hand, can continuously monitor Royal Entertainment and manage its day-to-day operations while approaching me when a serious decision is needed."