25 — Joezand's Mission

The excited chatter from all spots of the table filled the room. The royals, knights, and nobles seemed to be chit-chatting about random minutiae to pass the time while they gorged themselves on some food that the maids and butlers brought to them.

Which was really good. Inexplicably so.

The meals he ate at the palace during the past month were really good, but they still didn't beat the best of the best in Tokyo. But this was something else. The meat was extremely juicy, the sides were salted just right and the wine was fruity and delicious. Everything was perfectly made. Just the thing he expected from a deliciously decadent banquet from a royal court.

He didn't include himself much in the conversation the others were having, but he tried keeping an open ear. Especially to what the new arrival had to say.

Duchess Agnes von Styria.

She is his twin sister, even if she doesn't look all that much like him. Although he clearly was more lucky while in utero. While he has no physical defects, at least none that he could see, both of her feet are useless to walk on. She's clubfooted, and can't really move around without her crutches.

Regardless, her being here makes him a bit apprehensive.

He has learned how to deal with the other people here, for better or for worse. A new face could throw a wrench in his plans.

"So," Agatha speaks, looking at Agnes. "How are things going in Acquatia, Duchess Agnes?"

"Better than ever, Empress Agatha." Agnes says. Her voice is raspy, almost like an old smoker. But she's only eighteen years old, like Joezand. Maybe it's another inbreeding defect? Her parents are father and daughter too, after all. He takes the opportunity to glance at Cecilia. She's still sad, even though her other child is here. "We've established a trade with pretty much everyone," She continues. "Even the Karamanids and Andalusians . We're raking in some really interesting goods from the new world from them. The mistal trade is still going strong, too. I was able to get away and leave some advisors in charge. The duchy is basically running itself now."

"Mistals, huh?" Thaddius interjects. "I've been thinking about if they're more worthy as servants than these soft maids we have. They're not really present on Styria proper, more on Magyla and Acquatia, but I was thinking we could import them."

"I wouldn't recommend that." Agnes answers. "They're only really good for construction. Their disgustingly vile savage nature isn't good for anything indoors. I also wouldn't want to be inside of a room with a foul-smelling beast." She chuckles. "But who knows? I could send some of them who've outlived their usefulness for you to hunt."

What the hell are mistals?

He thought it would be some sort of spice or trade good, but they're talking like they're... living beings. What's going on?

And if they are, that's an incredibly cruel way to describe something who's alive. Even if it's just an animal or something.

Agnes turns to Joezand, realizing he's staring at her.

"What's wrong with you?" Agnes asks. "Why do you keep looking at me like that?"

"O-Oh, uhm, nothing." Joezand says, averting his gaze.

"Maybe he's flirting with you?" Thaddius jokes, laughing with his deep voice.

And no one found that funny. Awful, awful joke.

Immediately, the empress by his side looks incredibly uncomfortable, averting her eyes. Cecilia does the same. Lorelai, who's just watching the conversation, grimaces, while Pult, who's by Joezand's side and haven't said anything, doesn't really react.

"Ew." Agnes says. "Wasn't being a complete failure enough? Now you're lusting after your more-accomplished sister? Shameful, really."

He takes a deep breath, but doesn't bother answering her. Shoveling another slice of delicious whatever-it-is meat in his mouth is way better, anyway.

"Not a failure anymore, missy." Lorelai says, joining the conversation and trying to change the topic. "He just won a duel against Pult, you know."

"Huh. Is that so?" Agnes says, looking at Pult. He keeps silently eating his food. "I asked you a question, knight. You'd do well to answer your superiors."

"That's right." Pult grumbles. "We fought and he won. That's all there is to say on the matter."

"How?" Agnes asks. "Last I've been informed, Joezand was missing for weeks. How was he able to beat the Empress' personal guard?"

"He came back weaker than before," Lorelai starts. "But he trained a lot and earned that victory. I was very proud of-"

"Is that so?" Agnes repeats, leaning over at Lorelai. "Prince Joezand? Training? That's a bit uncommon, isn't it?"

Oh.

Oh, no.

"Yes." Lorelai says. "He started right when he came back."

"Hm. I see, I see." Agnes says with a smirk on her face. "Maybe something that happened to him during his trip made him change his slobbish ways. No better way to confirm that than to ask the source, right?" She turns to Joezand. "Care to share with the class, Prince Joezand?"

Oh my god.

She's not buying it, is she?

He has no idea how to reply. If Sunnaria was here, she'd know what to do. She'd tell him what he needs to say to throw her suspicions off, but...

"Y-Yes. That's right." Joezand replies.

"What was it, then?" Agnes asks. "Come on, my dear brother. Tell me."

Hm.

What to do, what to do...

"I've got nothing to say to you." Joezand says. "It was deeply personal. I'm not about to tell it to a stranger."

"Stranger? What are you talking about? You've known me your whole life."

"I've lost my memory of my time in the palace." Joezand explains. "The curse of von Styria manifested, and it gave me amnesia. That's all you need to know, Duchess Agnes."

That's the best he could do.

He doesn't know where he was when he was summoned to this place. He doesn't know what's around there. If he told her that he spoke to some people who changed his view on the world, she'd just start asking for names. He's not that great in creating big, elaborate stories.

So instead, it's easier for him to just not tell her, using privacy as a crutch. But he really needs to develop an elaborate lie about that quickly.

"How interesting." Agnes says, turning her whole body towards Joezand. She still has that convinced smirk on her face. All of a sudden, she's interested in him. "Forgive this stranger for asking, Prince Joezand... but what do you plan on doing now?" She asks with a predatory gaze.

"I..." He looks at Thaddius and Agatha. "Now that I've earned my freedom, I wish to... Oversee potential territories that I could take up. And one that I've read about that greatly interests me is the village of Kivul. I wish to be sent there with a small but capable group. Anneliese would accompany me for provisions, and Lorelai would act as my bodyguard. If that's fine with you, Emperor Thaddius."

There's still the chatter of other nobles from the other side of the table, but this side falls mostly silent. With the exception of Lorelai, they look at him with a doubtful expression. Cecilia especially, even though she hasn't said a thing all night or even touched her food, has wide eyes. Agatha clears her throat.

"Prince Joezand, while I understand where you're coming from..." Agatha says. "You've ran away not too long ago. I have some reservations in letting you out so soon."

"He shall be accompanied by me and Anneliese." Lorelai says. "Don't worry, Empress Agatha. I wouldn't allow him to run away."

"It's not that I don't trust you two." Agatha replies. "But I still think someone else could go. Pult, would you be able to..."

Joezand looks at Pult, and his eyes glare back with hatred.

Yeah, it's better to help the knight out of this. Lest Joezand dies on the road.

"B-But who'll protect the crown?" Joezand says. "Lorelai is already going, and the Emperor is a great warrior who can definitely fend for himself." He says, looking at Thaddius. He smirks at that definition. "But someone needs to protect you, Empress Agatha."

"In that case..." Agatha sighs. She looks at Agnes. "Since you said you're free, could you go with your brother, Duchess Agnes?"

Oh.

Well, that's even worse, isn't it?

"Splendid idea, Empress Agatha!" Agnes says, clapping her hands. "That way I can keep an eye on him. And if he's telling the truth, I can even share some ideas on how to administer his territory properly!"

"Kivul is under Florian's control." Thaddius says. "I say we'd need his permission to go there first. But..." He grins. "It's nice to see you finally becoming a man. I'll allow it this time, we'll just send him a letter warning him that we're coming. You're really growing into your own, Joezand."

"Thank you, Emperor Thaddius." Joezand replies with a hint of disgust. Thaddius is the person he's least concerned about making proud.

"Now let's continue eating! Maids, bring in the desserts!" Thaddius booms again.

Joezand takes this opportunity to stuff his face. He doesn't know if he'll be able to eat that much on the road.

And he also needs to make up a story about why he changed and what he remembers after he ran away. Agnes will definitely pester him about that at some point.

Still, he's one step closer to his goal. He can only hope that he can contact Sunnaria again before it's over.

He gorges himself on the food with reckless abandon, as the banquet slowly winds down to an end.