It pays to look like the undead, when the paranoid emperor holds all first born nobles hostage in the Royal Academy. Particularly when the promiscuous crown prince treats the place as his own personal harem. That's why the infamous royal recluse, Lord Patrick Siccus, doesn't mind that he looks like a dehydrated goblin, or that his eyes bulge out when he's too excited, and how his mouth fills up the rest of his face when he tries to smile.  After all, he went there for the library.