08

Breakfast for the majority of the castle’s staff was served before the Royal Family’s wake-up time. Today’s meal was eggs, potatoes, fruit salad, with a glass bottle of fresh milk. The castle’s staff was populated by many different species, and all of them seemed to be in outstanding physical condition.

Milk from the royal family was primarily used in magic-based medicinal practices and revered for its healing properties. Hospitals, both domestic and international, kept it regularly stocked. Some high-end beauty products and protein powders also claimed to use it as an anti-aging property. Depending on how the milk was processed, it could have wildly different results.

While the magical-medicinal properties were highly publicized, other combinations were kept strictly secret.

Knights and other military personnel were given a glass bottle of pure, unpasteurized milk as a gift for completing each semester. After drinking, many claimed to be able to run faster and had increased stamina. It was rumored that one soldier (a few years before Kai and Ringo’s graduating class) experienced such intense muscle growth overnight that he needed to be fitted for a new uniform. Kai didn’t believe it, but he never felt the need to argue against it.

Curiously, there were a few soldiers who experienced the inverse effect. The milk made their skin softer, hair fluffier, and some even woke up with breast buds. There were many theories why. Maybe their batch wasn’t properly quality-tested, maybe a strain of wheat was accidentally mixed in the bottle (triggering the feminizing properties of the milk). The most popular rumor was that the milk acted on their deep desire to be a woman. The milk did respond to magic, and much of magic was linked to the manifestation of desires. In these rare cases of feminization, the recipients were thrilled at these surprise changes.

One of Kai’s classmates experienced profound overnight breast growth after his first sip of royal milk. It was so extreme that he quit military school to pursue professional adult endeavors. “I’m sorry. But these new breasts need to be shown to the world. They’re incredible.” His supervisor solemnly nodded in agreement (“This environment will only hold back your potential,” he said, while signing his discharge papers.) The freshly-feminized soldier packed his things and said goodbye. By the time he was done packing, his breasts had tripled in size. His classmates didn’t blame him for leaving, but many wish he had stayed.

Personal castle staff were given this prized milk daily. It was a bit of a chicken-and-egg rumor. If only the most qualified and capable individuals could be employed at the castle, they would naturally stand out in a crowd. So, how much would drinking the milk every day contribute to their impressive bodies? Did they only get a boost the first time? Did it need to be infused with magic to take full effect? Furthermore, not every employee drank the milk every day. Some sold it, though this was handled with the utmost secrecy.

But a quick glance around this room proved that this staff was extraordinary. The average castle employee boasted impressive muscles and height (Kai and Ringo, by comparison, were of average height and weight. They looked tiny compared to the other men in the room). There were a handful of female-presenting staff. Some carried themselves with an enormous weight of muscle, while others had a more traditionally feminine, curvy body (and yes, these curves were disproportionately large).

One of these rare female employees with an incredible breast size squeezed past Kai and Ringo, who were both sitting at one of the many cafeteria-style tables and eating their breakfast. She turned herself sideways and hefted her chest above the two. It seemed like something she was used to doing. Once she was gone, Kai discretely signed under the table, “The fruit salad is delicious.”

“If you’re trying to point out big tits to cheer me up, forget it,” Ringo signed back, without any attempt to hide his gestures.

That wasn’t what Kai meant, but he didn’t feel like correcting himself.

“Last night, did you really do what you said you did?” Kai was referring to Ringo’s masturbation. He wasn’t going to try to stop what had already happened, he just wanted to know how Ringo was feeling.

Ringo replied verbally, “I didn’t. But I wanted to. And that’s what counts. And I’m mad enough that I’ll do it again tonight.”

After the staff’s breakfast concluded, the two were directed to the dining hall for the royal family. This room was significantly more ornate than the staff lunchroom, as might be expected. Kai and Ringo took their places and stood at attention behind Ushida’s assigned seat. The Royal Family, very orderly, found their places, before the kitchen staff served their meals with a dazzling amount of flair.

Ringo had a scowl during the entire presentation. He eventually nudged Kai, and started moving his hands behind his back. “Look at all these beautiful women.” signed Ringo, to the best of his ability. Keeping his arms firm and his hands mostly stationary made using sign language difficult, if not nearly impossible. But Kai knew Ringo well enough to understand his muffled words.

With an equal stiffness, he signed in return, “We’re not supposed to have personal conversations during their meal.” Well, he wanted to sign that. What came out was “S-t-o-p.”

Ringo was quick with his reply. “They said no talking. They didn’t say ‘no signing.’”

It was a technicality that, unfortunately, made Ringo right. So Ringo continued his thought, his hands still obscured behind his back. “All these beautiful women. And I could’ve had easy access to at least one of them. But noooo.”

Some time passed, and Kai finally signed a stifled reply behind his back. “Well… I shouldn’t encourage this, but don’t be so sure she’s dismissed you as an option.”

“Wait, what did you say?” Ringo said out loud.

“Nothing,” Kai openly signed back.

At this breakfast, the most human-like member of the Cow Kingdom Royal Family announced she would return to Humanland for her fall semester of college, a humanoid bovid announced she secured a trade deal with Wolfland, and Ushida shared that her bodyguard had found a backup. And with that, the morning mealtime/meeting was adjourned.