Dominic sat in one of his father's old studies across from the man who his brother choose -bought to be his Shira. He brought him here to talk to just the two of them to start to know each other. Dominic was only hoping to get a good starting base. Maybe they could work together, as there was nothing short of a divine intervention that would stop what was to happen. Even then, he suspected that wouldn't even budge his brother off the path he has chosen.

Now Dominic was locked in a glaze at this blond, which he had just told that he did not want. Which was true; he only reeled on the harshness of his words after. Though his Shira to-be didn't seem hurt, just confused, under his checklist, this wasn't a bad reaction. If anything, this was a good one and one that could be quickly fixed.

"Then why am I here?" he sat there with his head cocked, staring at him.

"My brother, he set this all up. Even purchased you from another country so that you couldn't have the ability to back out under your own free will." Dom leaned forward, placing his arms on his knees.

"I take it that isn't common?"

"It's utterly illegal in our country; in fact, he enraged half of the council and went directly against the better judgement of all of his advisors. So no, yours and my situation is not common; it's not even heard of"

He watched as the blond started to laugh; it was strange first how he acted when Dominic guided him to this room, now laughing.

"I'm sorry," he was still chuckling, "This really isn't normal for me; this whole venture isn't normal."

Dominic nodded, "I see; I don't wish to distress you any longer."

"I mean, you did say I'd be here for a while." he finished his drink, "Is there any way you can keep me from having to go back to that Ball. I am not a huge crowd person."

"Certainly, I'll have someone escort you to your room. I'll tell everyone that you were weary and wished to retire for the time being." Dominic stood and fetched a maid.

"Uh, thank you." he started to follow the maid out when the blond stopped. "What do I call you?"

"Dominic."

"Just that, or titles included."

"Just Dominic, given the situation."

He nodded his head, "Tacitus, sense you also forgot to ask."

Dominic waited for Tacitus to leave and then went to the cabinet to pull out a different decanter and drink right from it. He sat that back down then spoke to the empty room.

"Nicodeme is going to turn me into an alcoholic, papa." he felt his chest gain some weight but quickly brushed it down. Dominic ruffled his own hair and headed right back for the Ball. Reading his act as the perfect Prince.

"That was exhausting," Milovan said, coming up behind Dominic as he was seeing the last of the guest to leave."

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Dominic glanced back at the guard, "What could have possibly made your day exhausting?" he turned around and said his thank yous to one of the Dukes from the lower regions.

"Let's say some crazy peasant tried to climb the walls during the Ball. She was more a nuisance than something dangerous, and yet that was still just as exhausting." Milovan tucked at his sleeves.

"I think that was more exhausting than my day,"

"No... no way. Though that does bring me to my slue of questions." Milovan wrapped his arm around Dominic's shoulders, and the two walked inside.

"I will not be answering any of them," Dominic stumbled over his feet as he walked.

"You drunk already?"

"No, I will be quite soon."

Milovan patted his back, "I will make sure that happens, and I will get those questions answered."

Dominic could only shake his head, "Is it only going to be you? Or can I expect a pleasant surprise from others?"

"Casper is already upstairs waiting on the two of us to meet him." Milovan pointed up at the castle.

Dominic followed his hand; he saw dark clouds rolling in over the castle's towering walls. "It will storm."

Milovan agreed, "Noticed that earlier coming in off the mountains,"

The two old friends travelled their way into the castle and started towards the staircase when the Former Queen and current Queen stopped them.

"Queen Aveline, Lady Belmont", Milovan greeted them with a deep bow. Reminding Dominic of the different status between him and his friend. One he often forgot as there were no titles or formalities between the two.

"Ah, Loyal Gaurd, it is good to see my brother is taken the company in someone honourable even though you aren't what we would hope." Queen Aveline looked between the two before settling her sight on Dominic. "The King wants you and your Shira to greet us for morning meal tomorrow. It is also expected for you to be seen with him as often as possible; keep that in mind as you continue your daily from here on forward."

"Of course, I will see you and my brother in the morning." he looked the queen over; as far as he could tell, she didn't look pregnant. However, the oversized dress that she wore could have covered any belly that showed.

"Dominic, one more thing before you leave."

Dominic stopped his movements as he had already started to walk away. He faced her, "Yes?"

"We will be moving you, Shira, into your Chambers by the end of the fortnight."

"Great-" he grumbled and continued up the stairs. Milovan was quick to keep up with him as they climbed the grand staircase. He watched as the Prince dug into his pocket and pulled out a small pouch.

"I almost feel bad for excepting this," Milovan said, taking the pouch from Dominic's hands.

Dominic chuckled, "Don't lie. You only feel bad for being right."

When the two got to Dominic's quarters, they found Casper already lounging on one of the sofas. With a book open being held in one hand and a mug of ale in his other.

"There is our favourite egghead," Milovan said; Casper looked up from the book staring at the two. Setting the ale down, then flicked his fingers at them. A light breeze appeared, blowing their hair around and ruffling their clothing.

Dominic pulled his hair down from the ponytail it was in, flipping it over his head; he ran his hands over the dark brown hair quickly for a few seconds before pushing back into the proper place. "How was the trip, Casper?" he asked, taking his home on a chair, grabbing one of the blue glass bottles that were placed on the small table.

"Rough, on most days wet and cold, on the best days cold and windy." He said, closing the book and tucking it under him. "Though it wasn't horrible, the Tanbori countryside is nothing to mock."

"Were the bigger cities like what I was told?" Milovan pipped in as he poured himself from ale from the same blue bottle Dominic has grabbed a moment before.

"I couldn't tell you. We never got to the inner cities; we met the sellers in a small artisan village. What I can tell you from just being there is even the lowest class has access to luxuries some of the nobles here would reel over the thought of having."

Milovan looked over at Dominic, "Didn't I tell you?"

Dominic shook his head, "You did say something about Tanbori having some technological boon. You and I both know we could do the same with our mages if my stubborn brother and the council would let the people be allowed to use it more freely."

Casper agreed to Dominic's statement, "Even Capory and Naples have fewer restrictions on the magic use of their lower classes, and they seem to be thriving. We may have military prowess over them, but they have an economic standing we could never dent even if we tried."

The three men were quiet for a short time as they thought over some of the information they all just shared.

"Dom, is there any way that you could play nice with your brother?" Casper sat up, shifting his body to face the Prince.

"I could, yes. Though I don't think that would do much but raise my brother's suspicions as we have fought for years now over a lot of things." The Prince stood and walked over to a string placed against the wall. He pulled it a few times and returned to his seat.

"We do need a way into his graces, and Dominic, you are our best option right now. If you slowly started to come around,"

"I'll think about it, but let us not continue this conversation. I wish to get drunk and forget for a few hours that I am the Prince," Dominic chugged his drink and went to refill it.

"That is right, you met your Shira, and I have questions on how the first meeting went?" Milovan quickly turned the conversation like Dominic wanted, just not to a conversation he wanted to start with.

"You met Tacitus finally? You didn't scare the poor boy, did you?" Casper quickly started his statement after Milovan's.

Dominic pinched his nose. He knew there was no escaping the following hundred questions that were about to be asked, even though he spent no longer than five minutes with Tacitus.