Nobility 4

“Be at ease, everyone.” Everyone turns to face the voice. A dainty looking young man with bright blonde hair stands there. “Oh? It seems like there’s somebody else here.” Win instantly picks up on the fact that the person in question is him.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness. My name is Winfred Lufian, heir to the title Margrave Lufian. Lady Adalhaid had asked me to accompany her. I hope my presence does not displease you.”

“Not at all Winfred, it’s a pleasure. I suppose you’ve become acquainted with everyone?” Another one of the nobles answers the prince.

“We were just engaged in a conversation about our territories, Your Highness.”

“All is well I hope?”

“Indeed it is, Your Highness. Why, our territories are practically paradise right now.” Win can’t believe that they’ll keep up their lies even in front of the prince. Without thinking, he lets his true thoughts slip out.

“That’s wrong.”

“Excuse me?” Although he hadn’t planned on it, Win cannot fall back now.

“Your territories cannot be in as good a state as you claim.”

“And what would you know about our territories?” Win gets irritated at their accusatory tone.

“At the very least I know that my father’s men are out there risking their lives for the sake of your people.” When he articulates the point in this specific way, his hate of this whole gathering grows even stronger. “And all the while you all sit around safe in the capital, pretending not to see it as they live in fear and go hungry!”

“Do you really mean to say that we are liars?”

“A lie is a lie, no matter who speaks it, you damnable weaklings!” It seems Win’s presence frightens them, and the nobles shy away from him and go quiet. Adalhaid looks at him with worry clear on her face. The prince, however, is unfaltering.

“Calm down, Winfred, what’s a white lie between friends?”

“A white lie?! Do you really intend to act as though the suffering of people can be ignored for your social harmony?!” Win looks at the prince with cold eyes, and only then does he flinch back. “You’re the worst of them all!”

“How dare you! A brute like you! I’ll send for my sword. We’ll settle this with a duel.” Win draws his sword.

“Don’t bother. Feel free to use mine, Your Highness.”

The prince takes hold of the sword with gritted teeth. Win forms a blade of dirt in his hand. They both take their stance.

The prince charges forward and slashes. Win finds it sloppy. He parries the blow gently, all without any of the dirt of his blade falling away. The prince redoubles his efforts. Win continues to parry each slash patiently. The prince’s swordplay is so dull to Win. He assumes it must be some kind of trap and holds back on his own assault. As he slashes at Win, the prince tries to make conversation.

“What does it even matter if the people are suffering? It will all work out in the end anyway! No point in worrying ourselves to death!”

Win cannot find any words in response. He realizes that the weakness was no trick. He parries the prince’s slash once more, pushing the blade into the air. He lunges forward and presses the tip of his dirt sword into the prince’s sternum, pushing him back as he holds himself in pain.

Suddenly, electricity builds up in the prince’s palm. Win hadn’t expected to see any magic in their duel, but he supposes that there was no reason not to expect it. The electricity jolts forward in an arc approaching him. Win takes an unshakeable step forward. He catches the magical bolt in one hand and claims the spell as his own. He closes his palm around the electricity, seemingly snuffing it out. He dashes forward and opens his palm as he forces his hand around the prince’s face. He drags the prince to the ground as the electricity bursts out. Win lets him go and stands above him, glaring down.

“You have no strength, no wisdom, and no kindness. How do you expect to become a proper person, much less a king!”

The prince says nothing in response, instead opting to drop Win’s sword and flee. As he runs, he calls out behind him, perhaps a final attempt to maintain his honor.

“I suppose that will be all for today!”

With the prince gone, the noble children begin to disperse. Win stays standing in place as he thinks about the foolish thing he had just done. He returns his sword to its sheath with a simple earth spell as his dirt blade falls away. Much to his surprise, he hears Adalhaid call out to him from behind. He turns to face her; he cannot read her expression.

“Lord Winfred, shall we return now?”

“So I’m still accompanying you even after all that?”

“Does it displease you?”

“It’s foolish, is all. Would you like for us to have some privacy, and to leave without notice?”

“Perhaps that would be for the best.” She laughs softly.

Win again casts a glamour, though this time over them, and they leave without a trace. They walk together in the afternoon light falling onto the streets. Win would prefer if they could remain in silence. Adalhaid begins to talk.

“Lord Winfred, may I ask something strange?”

“Sure. Nothing could top what I had just done anyway.”

“Would you like to become engaged to me?” Win is caught entirely off-guard, and assumes he must have misheard her.

“I beg your pardon? Could you repeat that?”

“Would you like to become my husband?” She’s put it even more bluntly, and Win cannot find a way to avoid the topic entirely.

“What possibly could have brought that on?”

“My father has had little luck in finding a suitor that he believes can stand beside me. However, I’m sure a promising future margrave could persuade him. And I’m sure you would never bring me harm.”

“So it’s all just for convenience?" Although she hadn’t been looking at him, Adalhaid subtly averts her eyes. “I’m the sort of man who picks a fight with royalty. You’d be better off never associating with me again.”

“I cannot help but believe in your character despite that. I suppose I may be a fool for that. And that besides, I’m sure it’s not so easy for you to reject a duke’s daughter as your wife, especially when you too are not yet betrothed.” Win decides he must give a proper reason.

“I have no intention of becoming the margrave. I’ll leave that to my sister in the end. Such a lackadaisy man isn’t fit for you. I cannot marry you.”

“Is that so?”

“It is. In fact, let’s pretend this conversation never happened, Lady Adalhaid.”

She goes silent once more at that. They walk together until they reach the Leafa manor. Once inside, Win drops his glamour and they part.