CHAPTER 98 I Ask for Decorum and Restraint

Keith

Keith wondered why it seemed like every single person in the entire world was trying his patience.

Not that he was surprised, mind. He'd visited this palace before and knew what was to come. This was probably revenge for his necromancer cavorting with her unwed daughter for the past six months. The woman was a brilliant leader … whose sole joy in life outside of magical crafting was teasing the youth and matchmaking. This was why he only attended one of her events every year. Chloe could take the rest.

He realized with a pang of guilt that his princess had probably been blindsided.

Said princess was standing perplexed. "Our suite?"

The duchess simply raised an eyebrow. "I've given you two a private suite in the east wing, far from any … unpleasantness that might occur from other visiting royals."

Ria's voice was similar to one of his automatons. "With multiple bedrooms, though?"

"Of course; you're not married yet," the duchess replied, scandalized. She stared pointedly at Keith. "So I ask for decorum and restraint." She then turned an equally pointed stare at Henrietta. "That goes for you too, Princess."

Keith felt embarrassment inflame his cheeks as it hadn't since he was a boy, his hand caught in Feliwyn's hoard looking for high-level spell books he wasn't ready for. "I think you are mistaken, Your Grace."

She turned back to him, stately and poised, but Keith gave as good as he got. "Unlike some unnamed royal heirs, we are more than capable of controlling our wanton ardor."

"Keith!" Henrietta, who was still in shock that the most graceful and innovative mind on the continent was a veritable tease, gasped.

"What?" Keith shrugged.

The duchess nodded, sharing the joke with a warm smile. "I can't imagine what royal house would allow such impropriety. Surely you can't mean such scandals are occurring in your own castle? Truly, Nilheim is the den of iniquity they all claim."

"Jealous rumors. You will see for yourself when you come for the wedding," Keith said, getting in another jab.

"Unless I convince them to move the wedding." Her light smile and tone was ruined by the determined glint in her eye. "Now, if you would please excuse me, it appears that I must see to my next guest." The duchess made a delicate shooing motion with her hand. "Our weather foreteller has called for light showers this afternoon, so take your time settling in. Let Daj know if you wish to dine with us or in your rooms tonight."

"Thank you, Your Grace," Keith replied, and they followed the attendant into the palace. Daj was a very long-eared and lithe man, so brown he could be mistaken for markleberry spread.

Conveniently, they entered just in time to miss Crown Prince Deryl yelling at his valet for being slow-witted.

Keith almost wished he could stay and listen to how Calisto handled the boy. Instead, he enjoyed the wonder on Henrietta's face as they made their way through the crystal palace, slowing down to explain what he knew of the building and its artefacts. "The entire palace was constructed by the late Grand Duke Lysander as a wedding gift for Her Grace," Keith explained. "The previous estate was burned down by the prince of Sumbria during their courtship."

"I can't imagine coming home to a burned down castle," Henrietta said, angry on their behalf. "The history of Sumbria is depressing, even more so as I get to know the legends from that time."

"Your Highnesses." Daj bowed. "We've arrived at the elevator. We ask that you refrain from any magical workings or combat while in transport, or we may upset the construct and fall to our death. Thank you."

Ria tensed beside him. His eyes swept the small room, bright and welcoming and made out of the same shimmering opaque magical crystal aesthetic that the rest of the palace was crafted from. It would be a tight fit for the three of them. Keith slipped her hand into his and gave it a slight squeeze.

She hesitated but lightly squeezed back.

"Which floor are we on?" Keith asked Daj. He'd never been in the eastern tower, but all of the palace operated the same way.

"The fifth floor, Your Viciousness."

"Then if it's all the same to you, I'll take the stairs." He smiled down at his princess, explaining, "The alcoves in each staircase have historical artifacts and abandoned magical tools that Her Grace left half finished. You wouldn't mind accompanying me on a tour, would you, Henrietta?"

The look she gave him almost made his knees go weak. A smile bloomed across her face, and he ignored the fact that Ria simultaneously looked like she wanted to kiss him or burst into tears. Or both. "I'd love to."

"As you will." Daj bowed and closed the doors into the magical transport. He gestured for them to follow and led them to a sweeping stair that spiraled around the inside of the outer wall. One side of the stair had tall, peaked windows that looked out over the trees, interspersed with cut alcoves full of wonders.

"I've read a number of books on Calisto's unfinished works. This"—Keith waved at one ornate round dome the size of a garden sundial, with divots and an elaborate carved enchantment on one side—"was meant to send messages across the kingdom. The System has a number of perks which allow us to speak with our party members at great distances, or even send written messages between the notification interface. She was trying to recreate that."

"What stopped her?" Henrietta examined the device. They had passed by self-moving armored sentinels who could only wave (not very useful against intruders), swords that always glowed in the light (but not in the dark), and a machine that blew hot or cold air (but only if you blew on it first).

Magical enchantments were finicky, as Keith knew, and perfecting new ones resulted in many leftover rejects. He hadn't had the chance to see these ones in person before.

They took a while to ascend, partly because he spent so much time examining the tools.

Which meant that by the time they arrived at their suite, Lilith and Sithli had already unpacked. They had a shared bathroom, lounge, and work desk, with two bedrooms. Lilith and Sithli would stay in the servants' quarters on the same floor.

After some debate, Keith and Henrietta decided to eat dinner together that night in their lounge. Tomorrow would be a light afternoon tea with the debutants, several hours to prepare, and then the Spring Ball.

He fondly remembered the year Rufus, Chloe, and himself were first invited. It had been a Winter Ball, and they'd arrived late due to snow on the roads. Rufus had been so stressed that he'd thrown up. Chloe had drunk too much of the spiked cider and accidentally [Raised] the roast unigoat …

He just wished he could attend the afternoon affair with Henrietta tomorrow. He trusted Duchess Calisto, but he was still worried.

Before Daj left, Keith had asked to be informed when the Drendil royal couple arrived … and there was still no word even after they retired for the night.