"No! Release me this instant!" Timothy was immediately apprehended while thrashing around as he was dragged off through the muddy ground back to the castle.
Henry, meanwhile, watched the scene with crossed arms and a smirk.
As for the two thugs, they'll be brought to prison for questioning. Henry already found them familiar and later he'll have Flynn provide the details he knows about the two.
Everything that just transpired was partially in line with Henry's plan. He was already aware that Timothy would find another way to get through him, it's just that he wasn't expecting him to move this early when he just got back today.
Thankfully, everything was resolved all thanks to Ariel. As of now, without Alex in the Kingdom and Timothy under the strict supervision of the Queen, Henry finally has the breathing space to proceed with some of his plans.
Obviously, Timothy wouldn't just settle into strict supervision. Normally, a direct or indirect attack on a royal member would result in the guillotine but since Timothy was also a royal member, it would complicate things.
But Henry wouldn't let it end there. He doesn't want Timothy to get away with everything he has done. He would make sure that his half-brother would face the severe consequences of his actions.
He has long accepted the fact that his two siblings are far from salvation. If Henry were to give them another chance, it's like giving them another opportunity to learn from their mistakes and strike him again.
'Sorry brother. But guillotine it is.' Henry murmured under his breath. Honestly, he preferred this way to executing proper justice, hence why he didn't ban it despite it being removed back in his previous world.
There are just times when justice is better executed through justified killing rather than lifetime prison.
Of course, this sort of justice faced various oppositions especially from the church but they're just part of the minority. Most of the people don't have complaints about executions.
"Henry!" Lily's voice echoed behind him and he turned around to crouch as he caught her in his arms.
"I was so scared! But Ariel was there to save me!" Lily tried to explain everything that happened earlier but the further she goes, the less Henry understands her explanation.
She first went from a normal explanation of how Timothy and the two thugs attacked her to Ariel turning into a water goddess who descended to cleanse this forsaken world.
The last part was where Henry lost her.
Heck, even Ariel behind her was just as confused as him.
"I see. I'm glad that you were fine, little bud. You were so brave, I'm proud of you." Henry simply smiled in return before placing his palm above her head and caressing it.
'I knew it. Henry's pats are better than Ariel!' Lily resolutely said in her heart as she closed her eyes, letting her focus on the familiar sensation above her head.
After that, Henry carried her and approached Ariel, "I don't know how I'll thank you. But still, I want you to know that I'm grateful for what you did."
Facing Henry's smile, Ariel almost felt herself passing out at that moment but thank the heavens she managed to hold on.
"I-It's fine, really. You said it yourself, right? Do whatever it takes to do what's right. And I just did what I think is right." Ariel nervously waved her hand in dismissal, acting like saving a little girl from three bad men is a normal thing to do.
"…Come with me. I'll introduce you properly to my parents. I'm sure you already got yourself familiar with my mother." Henry didn't even need to convince her much as she instantly agreed the moment he brought it up.
"Let's go! I'm dying to get to know your family!"
As the three went back to the castle while the crowd finally dispersed, leaving with many murmurs and snickers, Flynn Rider stayed behind, staring at the same spot where the two thugs were dragged from.
He was getting the jitters. He's a hundred percent sure that the two thugs saw his face and he's afraid that they'll drag him down with them.
No one else knows this but the two twins were actually his former partners in crime especially during the heist of the prized tiara from the Corona Kingdom.
'This is bad…They saw my face, I need to get them not to tell on me…' Flynn nervously paced around, getting weird looks from nearby knight patrols but made no effort to come in contact with him.
Which is good because he's bad at lying once he gets nervous.
'Maybe I should tell Prince Henry the truth. He might be able to help me…'
———
"You must be Ariel. I just want to tell you how thankful I am to you for saving my daughter. Whatever it is that you need from me, as long as it is within my capability, you can ask for it."
In the dining hall, the royal members sat around the long table, with King Maximus sitting at the head and his Queen on his left, right beside Henry.
And beside Henry is Ariel while Lily sat on her lap, constantly being fed by Ariel herself.
On the other hand, Samantha sat in front of Henry, lazily playing with the food on her plate using her fork. While the three concubines sat at the further end of the table, away from the King and his wife. Their expressions were either emotionless or glaring straight to the side of Henry's skull.
If looks could kill, this would be their chance to eliminate their greatest enemy. But alas, such a thing is impossible—for them at least.
When Ariel heard Maximus's earnest words, her cheeks grew beet-red, "I-It's okay. I'm just doing what is right, Henry was the one who taught me that." She snuck a glance at the man in the topic while saying so.
Maximus mentally snorted, "As I expected. The boy couldn't live a single day without steering someone to the path of righteousness." He then continued after a shake of his head, "But still, you have done us a great service. Henry's friend or not, you deserve a reward, so just ask for it and we'll do our best to meet it."
For some reason, when his father said those words, Henry felt a bad feeling in his heart.
"Father, perhaps it is only proper that I d—" He didn't even finish his words when Ariel spoke up after a brief moment of contemplation.
"I want to be your son's concubine!"
"Pfft!"
The entire dining hall immediately turned into a bunch of choked coughings and looks of disbelief towards the blushing Ariel.
When Maximus recovered, he stared at Ariel and asked, "Are you really sure you want to be his concubine? Why not set your sights on being his wife instead?"
Ariel was quick to shake her head and refuse, "Someone already occupies that position. I am in no right to fight for it."
Both the King and his Queen's lips thinned, they're already aware of the current situation and it's not their place to meddle in it.
And so, Maximus simply threw Henry under the bus, "How about asking Henry himself? I'm in no position to force you to take you as his concubine." He then gave Henry a sharp glance, "But knowing him, I'm sure taking you as his concubine wouldn't be a big deal."
Henry gulped his saliva hard, he was about to deny or perhaps try to steer the discussion to another subject but after glancing at Ariel's hopeful face, that's when Henry knew it was inevitable.
It's either he accepts taking Ariel as his concubine and face the wrath of both the King of Atlantis and Elsa or risk disappointing Ariel by leading her around without firmly addressing her feelings for him.
'Fucking hell, I didn't expect it to be this difficult. We haven't even reached the stage of marriage and getting children and yet I feel like this is the hardest part in having a relationship with multiple women…' Henry wanted to rub his temples now and then but he's afraid Ariel would see it in the wrong way
'Fine then, let the consequences be damned. I'd rather risk bringing the wrath of a god than hurt Ariel's feelings.'
"…You're right. I do love Ariel just as much as she loves me back. I'd gladly take her as my concubine. But our official marriage would only happen after my wife's." Henry's official declaration garnered various reactions from those at the table.
Samantha raised an eyebrow in both surprise and interest while the King and Queen sighed in an unusual mix of relief and defeat.
While surprisingly, Ariel simply looked away with a blush, not even attempting to ask about the last few words he said.
On the other hand, Lily was finally finished with her food and with bursting cheeks, she turned to Henry with a cute surprised expression.
"Fou haf a woyf!?" It sounds like what she was trying to ask is if Henry has a wife.
He cleared his throat but didn't deny after nodding his head, which further cemented Lily's surprise.
"Disappearing for an entire month and coming back with a wife and a concubine. As expected of the Great Prince Henry." Samantha snorted.
The rest of the dinner was spent in silence. Although the concubines wanted to press more on the matter, perhaps in hopes of acquiring more information or material against Henry.
When Henry noticed this, he made a short note to himself regarding the matter of the concubines.
———
Evening arrived, and Henry was on his way to Master Elias's study, when all of a sudden, Flynn came up to him with a slightly nervous expression, the same expression he's constantly been wearing the past few hours.
"Is there any problem?" Henry asked.
"About earlier. Those two big guys who are with your brother, Prince Timothy. I-uhm. I'm familiar with them, I'm not saying we're close or anything like that. We're just acquaintances, we had a few heists here and there but nothing that makes me affiliated with them…" Seeing that the man is having a hard time explaining, Henry chuckled and decided to relieve the man of his suffering.
"It's fine. I understand. You're not close with them, just job associates." Henry nodded his head in understanding.
"…Although I don't know what a Job Associate means but I take it that you understand what I'm trying to imply. Ooh, that's a relief." With that, Flynn left with less burden on his heart.
Meanwhile, Henry resumed his walk to the study room. Before he could even knock, the door was pulled open, and Master Elias came out in his full glory.
"Took you long enough boy. Get inside, we have much to discuss. Tomorrow you'll leave for the tower."
His words surprised Henry while at the same time, he felt like he was expecting it.
"I think I have a vague idea how you know about the tower." Henry pointed out before entering the study, following right behind the old man.