Seirun shocked by his father's sudden outburst, nearly spat out chunks of beef, but thankfully managed to hold on to it. Why is father acting so strange lately. I've done my best and exceeded his expectations in nearly everything! I was praised by the men at arms for my skills regarding swordsmanship and horsemanship. Even those peasants took time to shoot me with admiring glances. Who cares if I haven't listened to etiquette, a duke is basically second to the king and I'm the heir!

As they silently finish up their meal, the servants hurried and bustled about carrying their dishes towards the kitchen, and serving wine to their lords, especially to Lord Seirun. The head servant ,with graying dark brown hair, respectfully approached the Duke and asked what they wanted for dinner. He also discretely slipped a letter next to the Duke's peripheral view.

"Ah! There you are Romen, I was just going to ask you to reduce Seirun's stock of alcohol. Oh and I would like a beef pie."

Perking his ears in visible anger, Seirun struggled not to yell at his father right then and there but chose not to. Father is already not pleased with me and I would probably be hiding beneath the latrines if I were to anger him again.

"Father, that was a delicious beef steak and make sure to give my compliments to those lowborn... hardworking chefs. Now if you would excuse me."

"No," promptly replied the Duke with a hint of impatience and subdued anger. "Going back to your lessons, I have summoned baron Hensfield back to the Grey Palace. I expect you to be in the same room and be on time. You should be there when the sunclock hits a quarter, and until the sun sets."

Seirun stared in disbelief. That's four hours of etiquette! That's double my normal lessons! "You'll be there father?" Seirun meekly accepted the inevitable.

The Duke ignored him and quickly broke the wax seal on the parchment and promptly read. His bloodshot eyes becoming even redder with fists clenched. The Duke relaxed back towards his chair and took a silent but powerful breath. Wrestling with his innate Leidorf temper, the Duke quickly stood, startling his son. "No... But If I hear a whiff of complaint from Baron Hensfield and Romen then perhaps a long overdue strapping are in order," the Duke practically growled.

Timidly, Seirun wondered why he mentioned that upstart peasant and asked, "Why Romen?"

"He'll be there to discipline you in my absence or find you when you skip the lesson."

"But I'm nearly shy of my coming of age! I don't need to be disciplined," Seirun disgustedly drawled out the word.

"Your still a boy of fifteen, but that doesn't matter. What I say is the Law and the law shall be obeyed and I don't care how old you are. I will not have you embarrass yourself in front of Yusley's court and shame House Leidorf. Do I make my self clear." The Duke commanded.

"Yes father."

Albrecht hurried out of the dining hall leaving his son uncomfortably squirming with rage and humiliation. Getting punished by a mere peasant! Not even the men at arms would dare lay their hands on men, outside of bouts and duels of course. What makes this upstart so special? Why is he getting such a treatment from father? Why!

It doesn't matter in the end... I guess i have to behave my self just this once. Fortunately, Seirun remembered he has a few hours to spend with his attractive consorts, with no alcohol.

Alex Hensfield enjoyed the noon sun in his castle's balcony. Savouring a wide range of dishes before him and sipping some exotic sake imported from the far east. The Baron frowned remembering how truly exorbitant these drinks are. Hmm... Definitely more flavourful and elegant than wine, and much better than ale! At least this drink is nice and sweet with a nutty aroma. Nutty? I'm pretty sure those unscrupulous merchants said they were fermented from white beans, well whatever I've got a painting to finish after my lunch!

He was abruptly interrupted by his raven master carrying a capsule with a rolled up message inside.

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"I assume that message is for me," Alex hurriedly stopped himself cursing Allure's sacred name. I was busy painting and asked not to be disturbed! Allure damn it all!

"Yes it is milord. As soon as I saw the seal I had to come deliver it to you. Forgive me for disturbing you milord."

"Give it here and leave."

The raven master scurried away before his lord can shoot him again with an irritated look.

A seal depicting two halberds crossed together with a blazing torch in the middle, was immediately recognised by Alex as the seal of house Leidorf, and with rapt attention broke it to read what was on the parchment.

Alex frowned when reading the message. Why was I being summoned back into the Grey Palace! Just when I thought I'll never see that insufferable brat again. Me and nearly all of the court prayed to Allure that his time in Deorum, will do the kid some good and his vast fortress of arrogance and bratiness be swept away and replace with something useful to the duchy! At least now Duke Albrecht realised his heir's major fault, and I have the most dubious honour of rectifying that for four hours a day in a week! Is he going to finally listen? Is he still going to be a brat? Will he endlessly mutter that I'm just a peasant? Perhaps or perharps not! But I have a duty as his tutor to teach him the way of the Imperial Court... Especially the Court of Intrigue.

I was still reeling from the unexpected shock that the Duke would send his only son and heir to that court. Alex noticing the perilous position of the Duchy if something were to happen to the brat is sending shivers down his spine. Does the Duke not know the rumours swirling around about that court. Does he know how much potential danger he's putting that brat? Perhaps he puts so much faith in his friend, the spymaster, that he could easily dismiss such rumours.

The Baron quickly ate and put the finishing touches towards his painting but with no time to admire it. He took a swift dunk in the warmed bath and combed his long dark brown hair and tied it in a neat ponytail. Dressed as smartly as he could, he boarded his carriage with the Grey Palace as his destination.

Without fanfare, he arrived and was brisk walking towards the intended room, passing by familiar grand hallways. Decorated with archaic knights armour, taxidermied deer and boar heads and with seals of House Leidorf placed at fixed intervals. The Baron couldn't help but admire the novel paintings decorating the walls and woolen carpets with fancy patterns. By the looks of it these get cleaned everyday! Must be expensive to hire this many servants.

He then arrived and was suprised to see a kid with short cropped blond hair, with hazel-green eyes glancing nervously towards him. This brat is actually on time! And not trying to escape. Looks like the Duke finally put his foot on the ground and put his lustful and drunken son back on the right line. Now to see if he has the patience to last for four hours!

"Your Grace, it fills me with great hope and joy that you're on time and seem... Ethusiastic," the Baron sincerely said.

"You should be honoured to impart your knowledge to me, the duke's heir!"

'This seems to be his signature phrase everytime I start the lesson,' thought the Baron as he rapidly squash down the growing sense of annoyance. Remember that I should be honoured to teach this brat.

Baron Hensfield tried to lecture Seirun the importance of etiquette but was bombarded with constant interruptions instead. "Why should I care about etiquette, the Duke is basically second to the Emperor!" 

"I see that you've paid attention to the Empire's peerage system."

"Of course! I'm the heir and I'm supposed to know about these stuff." The Duke's heir proudly retorted.

"In terms of the heirarchy you would be correct. But people in position of power have to explicitly display their power, and one of the ways to do this is by knowing how to act around your vassals and courtiers. To do this they must know court etiquette, so they can focus more on the bigger picture."

"Bigger picture?" He's actually listening!

"Yes, it's how your father makes his decision as he navigates around conflicting interests and views and how it could benefit the Leidorf Duchy without stepping on too many toes. Sometimes he sides with one side and dismisses the other or acts as a mediator to force a compromise. He can easily do this because his vassals and courtiers trust him to make the right decision."

"How does this relate with court etiquette?" Seirun replied with a noticeable scowl. He's losing his patience and Allure curse this Leidorf temper!

"Since the Duke has impeccable etiquette, he's able to make many acquaitances and connections. Your father also has good manners meaning many in the court respect him as a steadfast leader that will listen to them. Obviously, this garners your father immense political support."

"So court etiquette is important because I would develope better manners. Which means I could easily straight up lie and say 'I care about you and I will definitely listen to you' to those lowborn peasants, that my father calls courtiers and vassals. Because of all that hassle, they'll like me and will do anything I say?" Seirun sarcastically responded with an incensed impression.

At least he's honest. But I have to correct him on one thing.

"Your grace, that's a superb summary of what I said but I have to correct you on one thing. Since your father is a Duke, meaning that his vassals are basically anyone below him based on the Peerage system. So those are barons and counts with the latter having a higher rank. Peasants are not on the Peerage system."

"Whatever," Seirun said with a recalcitrant smirk.

Alex huffed and sighed. This is going to be a long week...

Unknown to them, they were being observed within the gaps in the walls.