“Julian! My son!” Grand Duchess Callisto swooped down the palace stairs. The other members of his party gave them space.
Julian dismounted and accepted a welcome hug. “It’s good to see you, Mother.”
One of the attendants, an elf named Bensen, took charge of everyone’s horses. Callisto looked them over with an approving nod. “It is good to see all of you made it safe.”
His party members made polite bows, though Tully started with a friendly wave before Visha elbowed him.
“Everyone’s rooms are ready, and a hot bath is being poured as we speak.” Callisto's eyes found Julian’s again, “You came at the perfect time. We’re about to go over the ceremonial schedule with Their Royal Highness.”
“Do I not get to wash?” Julian raised an eyebrow.
“[Cleanse].” His mother replied, casting the spell on him to get rid of the dirt from the road. He could still use a proper bath, but it would have to do. She offered her arm. “No escaping.”
Julian accepted and escorted his mother inside. The rest of his party hung back. Cowards. He asked, “I thought you were officiating?”
“Rowen’s been marrying people left, right and centre this year, and I think they like it. They’ve asked and Chloe said yes.”
“Married by a fox.” Julian shook his head. They entered through the main doors, and into the entrance hall. It shimmered like they were walking underwater as the sun shone on the coral motif of the walls.
His mother squeezed his arm, “Does that mean that you want me to do the ceremony when you get married?”
Julian stiffened. His mother’s well timed comments always made him stumble, but now that his Dexterity was over 20, it was easier for him to keep his balance around her. He didn’t outright trip, though he needed a moment to figure out the perfect response. “I think I would… when I find the right lady to marry that is.”
“I have a list.” She replied, succinct. “Some you saw at the Spring Ball and some you will have the opportunity to meet at the Summer Masquerade.”
“Mother, I don’t think it’s the right time–”
“Nonsense.” Grand Duchess Callisto squeezed his arm again, reassuringly even as she cut him off. “There is never a wrong time to fall in love.”
Behind us, Sir Tully coughed to hide a laugh. Julian glanced over his shoulder at his party members. Visha was glaring at Tully as he covered his smile with a hand, and Jeffry just shook his head. Pram remained stoic and Johnathon remained silent, the pair ignoring Tully’s outburst as they were want to do.
“If there was ever a wrong time to fall in love.” Julian stated, “It would be when I need to leave for the Untamed Ice Fields in three days.”
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“Four days.” Callisto corrected.
“Three–”
“You are not sneaking out of the masquerade like you did the ball.” His mother stated, her voice firm. She led the pair of them into her new contraption, an elevator, and left his party members behind. They would have leave to settle in, while he was going to be dragged around for the rest of the day no doubt. He resisted a sigh even as his mother instructed, “You’ve already missed the first few days of the celebration, and you will stay until the closing ceremonies the morning after the ball. Do I make myself clear?”
He hesitated, unconsciously pressing the locket he kept under his shirt. Inside was a picture of his family on the right, and on the left was a piece of the arcane crystal from his father’s staff. He wanted to get back... but it was true that he hasn't been there for them as much as they want him to.
The elevator was semi-transparent, and the pair looked out over the city and the countryside as they raised higher and higher. The elevator took them to the top of one of the outer towers. It wasn’t the tallest tower, but it let them gaze out over North Sumbria as far as the eye could see. Julian loved the pockets of forests, and winding road over rolling hills. It was his job to protect it in his father’s place, but...
“Alright.” He even managed a polite nod. This was where the passive ability of his [Natural Poise] perk came in handy.
[Natural Poise, passive effects: perfect posture and an air of confidence. Effects can be identified by anyone with an equal or higher Charisma. When activated, +1 Charisma for minutes equal to Charisma.]
“Good,” His mother smiled. “Now, here is a list of marriage candidates with their family history and features. Memorise it. And here is a list of duties you are required to perform while you are here including joining us for family dinner after the meeting, judging the finalists in the fighting tourney tomorrow, and your tasks for the wedding the day aftermorrow. There will be an afternoon tea with all of the elegibles before the Summer Masquerade after that, and then the final day’s closing ceremonies.”
Julian felt his heart sink with each list his mother handed him. There was so much more to do then the few things she chose to actually mention, and even his [Quick Read] perk couldn’t have let him flip through each page before the elevator deposited them on the top floor. He gave up and put everything in his storage ring so he could greet the five people sitting around a table waiting for them.
“Duke Julian, we were just going over the proceedings.” Their Royal Highness Rowen of Peldeep nodded, greeting from their seat at the other side of the round table. The shifter had taken the appearance of a stately green-skinned elf gentleman wearing an arachne silk black tunic and trousers. King Keith and Commander General Rufus Triever of the Dark Enchanted Forest of Nilheim sat to the left of Rowen. To the right sat his sister, Countess Julia von Slyke and her intended Necromancer Chloe Watercress.
His sister smiled at him warmly and he tried to return it. He always felt guilty that he couldn’t be there for his little sister while she was growing up... and now she was starting a family of her own.
He took a seat beside his mother as the fox ruler continued, “The first to enter will be the commander general– ah, my apologies Rufus, are you going by just Rufus now?”
Julian saw the teasing in the fox’s eyes and assumed it was deliberate. He hadn't heard that Rufus was deposed of his title, and made a note to catch up on current affairs before the masquerade.
“As you say, Your Highness,” Rufus brought his hands together on the table and leaned forward. “I’m using my class title ‘Protector’ for now.”
“Good good.” The fox approved. “We will have you escort Gladiator Hana Lanora from Julia’s adventuring party, and King Keith will follow next escorting Striker Wendy Lanora…”
Julian sat and listened while everyone laid out the wedding ceremony, the reception, and then backtracked for him to explain the proceedings leading up to the event. He only had a small part to play in each that came down to ‘stand here’, ‘escort Julia there’ and ‘exit over there’.
It took two hours.