Maude stepped out of the carriage, taking a hold of Jaspar’s hand. To the crown prince’s palace was in front of them. She couldn’t help but have her mouth fall agape, even if only for but a moment, at the majesty and the size of the building in front of her.
“It’s huge,” she said, carefully stepping down the stairs of the carriage.
Jaspar smiled. “Of course it is,” he said. “This building is where our future ruler in Aulbert lives. What is the empire’s palace like? Is it not as large?”
Maude shook her head. “It is large, but there are only a few buildings. I’m not aware of a whole separate area for the emperor’s heir.” The whole building in front of her was roughly the size of the Holloway manor, and it was intended for only a single person.
I can’t imagine what the actual palace is like if the crown prince’s building is so opulent, she thought.
“How is this possible?” she asked. She linked her arm through Jaspar’s and he started leading her towards the entrance of the building, where other nobles were creating a line to get into the ball.
“Aulbert’s government’s income is primarily through taxes,” Jaspar informed her. “And the best way to make more revenue off of taxes is to ensure that your people are prosperous to begin with. In a generation or two, the rulers of Aulbert have focused on generating wealth in the population here. More wealth leads to more tax revenue for the government.” Maude looked up at him, and he was smiling down at her. “The crown prince’s palace was built about ten years ago now,” he informed her.
Maude felt her eyes widen and she shook her head. “That’s the complete opposite of how things are run in the empire.”
Jaspar nodded. “One of the reasons why slavery is illegal in Aulbert is because with more citizens who earn money, the more tax revenue the government will have. So I’m not surprised that it would be so different in the empire.”
Maude couldn’t help but think of how close her father’s relationship with the emperor was. Is my father taking money from the emperor? She wondered.
“Corruption is also quite rampant in the empire,” Jaspar said. “Or so I have heard anyway.”
Maude shook her head. Somehow I get the feeling that my father would be involved in any corruption that may be going on there, she thought. I’d be willing to bet on it.
“So tell me about the crown prince,” Maude said as they stood in the line of nobles being announced into the party. “What’s he like?”
Jaspar had a cute, smirky little smile on his face. It’s as though he was hoping I could ask that, she thought.
“He’s one of my dearest friends,” Jaspar replied. “Probably one of my only friends, if not my only friend.”
Maude’s eyes widened. “I assumed you’d have lots of friends as a duke,” she said.
“I think it would have been safer to assume that as a duke I’d have lots of enemies,” he retorted.
She bobbed her head around. “I supposed based on what you’ve told me about your life so far, it probably would have been wiser to assume that you have more enemies than friends,” she said. He was back to the smirky smile.
“It’s alright,” he said. “I’m glad you would assume that I have more friends than enemies. That tells me a lot about how you see me as a person.”
Maude felt her face flush. “Whatever your assumption is, it’s likely accurate.”
Jaspar laughed out loud. “You never fail to amuse me at the most unique moments, Lady Maude,” he said.
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She chuckled softly. “So why is the crown prince one of your closest friends?” she asked. “Did you grow up together?”
Jaspar nodded with a soft smile. “My father was the grandchild of the previous king. And the queen was one of my mother’s dearest friends as I was growing up. Prince Erich and I would often see one another as a result.” His face looked as though he was recalling very distant, pleasant, far away memories.
“So I’ll get to meet someone who’s basically known you your whole life then,” Maude said softly, her heart fluttering with excitement.
“Indeed, you will,” he replied. “And he’s got plenty to blackmail me with, so don’t start fishing for embarrassing stories.”
Maude laughed aloud. “Don’t tempt me with a good time,” she said.
Jaspar chuckled lowly. “But as duke of the Aulbert kingdom, it’s also crucially important for me to work together with the king and the future king to help guide our country to success. So as an adult, Prince Erich and I have met often for business as well.”
Maude raised her eyes and nodded at him. His sense of duty to his country is very strong, she thought. What he must have thought of me when he found out the empire’s sword saint was shirking her duties.
“So what is he like then?” Maude asked, thinking about how they were still waiting to hear how she might be able to gain citizenship in Aulbert. “Is he nice?”
Jaspar laughed. “About as nice as a future king of a country can be.”
She wrinkled her nose at his statement. “What does that mean?” she asked.
“He has to prioritize the country’s well-being over his own desires, and the desires of those around him. People are selfish. That is no easy task for anyone.”
Her stomach twisted a little. She knew that what Jaspar was saying would be advantageous for a fair and just ruler, but she wished that she’d still be able to get a free citizenship pass.
“I understand,” Maude said. “At least he’s not like the emperor then.”
Jaspar let out a loud laugh that called attention to them. Maude felt her face flush from the attention. “The emperor is pretty tough to beat in terms of the worst person,” Jaspar replied.
In spite of feeling conscious of all of the eyes on her, Maude couldn’t help but let out a little laugh. “I suppose my father would likely come in second place, then.”
Jaspar cackled next to her. “There is no doubt about that.”
The line to the palace doors continued to move forward. They had nearly made it to the halfway point, to the doors from where they had started.
“But if you’re thinking about how much influence the crown prince may have over the king,” Jaspar continued, “I can assure you that it’s not all that much.”
So he knew where my mind was at, Maude thought. That’s not too surprising, since he would also be on edge from the lack of answer we’ve gotten from the king.
Jaspar lowered his voice. “And for your awareness, I have already talked to the prince about your predicament. So I’m sure he’s already influenced his father as much as possible.”
Maude nodded, feeling her heart sink into her chest. The light of hope she’d been holding onto for meeting the crown prince was snuffed out.
“I should at least thank him for any assistance he may have given me, then,” Maude replied softly.
“He’s also usually pretty happy to help one of his only friends, so I don’t think you’ll need to thank him too much,” Jaspar said with a smile.
How lonely it is to be at the top, Maude thought. I always thought it would be less lonely the more power someone had, not the opposite.
Maude started thinking about her own power, with her sword saint ability. Being the only one in the empire had always been suggested to be a good thing, but for the first time ever, she realized that it had intensified her loneliness.
What would the emperor have done if there was more than one sword saint? She wondered. Would he have put as much pressure on me that he did? Internally, she sighed. I will never know, she thought.
There were only three pairs in front of them, as they grew ever closer to the entrance. “Will we greet his highness right away?” Maude asked, craning her neck to see why the line had been so slow.
“Yes,” Jaspar said. “Part of going to any royal birthday in Aulbert is paying one’s respects to those who take care of the kingdom. As we go in, we will see his highness.”
“How tiring it must be to greet all of these people for your birthday,” Maude replied, shifting her weight between her two feet. She was starting to wish that she had insisted on wearing more comfortable shoes.
“It most certainly would be,” Jaspar agreed.
They were next in line. All of the sudden, Maude felt as though she was ready to vomit everywhere. I’m about to meet enemy royalty, she thought. And though Jaspar had just reassured her that his highness was nothing like the emperor, Maude couldn’t help but feel like a deer that had just gotten caught in a trap. She wanted to run. I want nothing to do with rulers of countries, she thought. I’m sure there are other ones out there who are like the emperor.
She took a deep breath in and held it as Jaspar told the announcer their names. I can do this, she tried to cheerlead herself. Jaspar is going to be right by my side. I don’t need to worry because he will be here to protect me, unlike my father.